Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 418: Chapter 415: Showing Up

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After listening to the two men, Chu Zhiyuan let them go.

He stared at their panicked retreating figures, frowning and contemplating.

Is this the second rebellion that Gao Jiuqu mentioned?

One man is a personal soldier from the General Mansion, and the other is a clerk from the Feiniaoying.

The Feiniaoying is located thirty miles north of Wanghai City, stationed at Feiniaobao.

Feiniaobao is a bustling port, with countless ships coming and going.

After the Feiniaoying rebels, they will directly board a ship to leave the Eastern Territory, leave Da Jing, and head towards Da Lie.

In Da Lie, there are already people waiting to connect with them.

If the rebellion of the Daliuying can be considered an internal conflict, the rebellion of the Feiniaoying is an act of treason.

What they have stolen is the defense map of Jihai Town.

Once they obtain this, Da Lie will have a grasp of the entire defense situation of Jihai Town and can move in and out with ease.

Da Lie’s elite forces can enter the Eastern Territory through Jihai Town.

In such a vast Eastern Territory, it would be extremely difficult to eliminate Da Lie’s elite forces once they enter.

Chu Zhiyuan’s face turned grim.

This move by Da Lie is actually retaliatory against the Phoenix Camp, a tit-for-tat response.

Since encountering the Netherworld Secret Guard, Chu Zhiyuan knew that Da Lie would not take this blow silently and would surely seek revenge.

The revenge happens to be here.

Truly, what audacity!

The Feiniaoying needs a thorough purge.

As for letting the two go, he wasn’t worried about them raising the alarm or acting prematurely.

They have taken his ”Poison Pill,” so they wouldn’t dare to speak carelessly if they wanted to live.

They would even have to pass on intelligence for him, coming to Wanghai City once every three days.

Chu Zhiyuan returned to Wanghai City, found another inn to stay in, and continued to roam the city, gathering all sorts of information.

——

Wanghai City

Tianshui Pavilion

As night fell, Tianshui Pavilion became bustling, with guests flocking in like clouds.

Four middle-aged men, guarding a thin and short, haggard middle-aged man, walked up to Tianshui Pavilion.

The sharp-eyed four middle-aged men, at a glance, were clearly masters trained in the military.

The thin and short middle-aged man, looking exhausted, casually sat down by a window at a table.

The four middle-aged men took two positions, each occupying a table, with the other two sitting at the same table as the small middle-aged man.

The guests at Tianshui Pavilion were either wealthy or noble, all with keen eyes. Seeing the setup of these men, they knew not to provoke, quickly shifting their attention elsewhere as if they hadn’t noticed him.

The thin middle-aged man, meanwhile, had no intention of ordering and blankly gazed out the window.

The other two middle-aged men exchanged glances, called over a waiter, and casually ordered a few signature dishes.

When the food was served, one middle-aged man said, ”Master, take a few bites to fill up your stomach.”

”Hmm.” The thin and haggard middle-aged man picked up his chopsticks, took a few absent-minded bites, and then put them down.

Really, he couldn’t eat anymore.

Another guard advised, ”Master, let your heart be at ease, eat when you must, drink when you must.”

The thin middle-aged man reluctantly smiled, ”I won’t starve; I’m in good health.”

Just then, the waiter approached and was blocked by one of the middle-aged men.

The waiter, smiling apologetically, pulled a letter from his sleeve, handing it over, ”I wonder if this gentleman’s surname is Ding? A young master asked me to deliver this letter to Mr. Ding.”

The guard took the letter, examined it carefully, then tore open the envelope, took out the letter, looked and sniffed it, and finding nothing unusual, turned to present it to the thin middle-aged man.

The thin middle-aged man took it, his face changing slightly, and turned his head to look at a table not far away.

At that table sat only a young man, with fair skin like jade, sharp eyebrows, and bright eyes, strikingly handsome.

He wore a mink coat, a jade pendant around his waist, with a long knife slung at his side.

Clearly, he was a person of wealth and nobility.

It was none other than Chu Zhiyuan, who had been waiting here all along.

...

Seeing Ding Shaoqiang looking over, Chu Zhiyuan raised his wine cup slightly in acknowledgment.

Ding Shaoqiang hesitated, looking towards him.

Chu Zhiyuan used sound transmission into secret, ”General Ding, stay quiet.”

”You are...” Ding Shaoqiang also responded with sound transmission.

He too was in the Grandmaster Realm.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Chu Zhiyuan, ...I have been sent here by imperial decree to assist General Ding in resolving the Daliuying matter, and to bring General Ding back to the capital.”

Ding Shaoqiang hesitated, ”Are you truly the Fourth Prince?”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”I came ahead of time. The Phoenix Camp is following closely behind us. Let’s find a place to talk first.”

He removed the jade pendant from his waist and tossed it over.

Ding Shaoqiang caught the jade pendant, his face changing slightly, confirming the identity of the Royal Heir.

Turning his head, he gave an instruction.

One middle-aged man quickly summoned the waiter, asking him to lead them upstairs.

Ding Shaoqiang and the four middle-aged men, led by the waiter, arrived at a room on the third floor.

The window overlooked the streets below, also offering a view of the distant sea.

In the sky hung a bright moon, casting a shimmering, mysterious light upon the sea.

A moment later, Chu Zhiyuan knocked and entered.

Ding Shaoqiang rose and saluted, ”Greetings, Fourth Prince.”

Chu Zhiyuan returned the salute, ”General Ding, no formalities. Let’s get to the point.”

The reason why he dared to meet Ding Shaoqiang in person, even mentioning bringing him back to the capital for questioning,

was because, during these past days of insight, he observed Ding Shaoqiang’s actions, read his letters, and understood his character.

Ding Shaoqiang believed in being dedicated to duty, acted with ferocity but also sought quick results; despite his small stature, he had a fiery temper.

Even with the Daliuying rebellion affair, it didn’t throw him off balance or drive him into frenzy.

Revealing himself wouldn’t cause Ding Shaoqiang to lose his rationality but could instead calm him down.

...

Ding Shaoqiang handed the jade pendant back with both hands.

This jade pendant was impossible to counterfeit, only Da Jing’s princes and princely heirs could wear it.

Chu Zhiyuan took the jade pendant and re-hung it at his waist.

To outsiders, it was just an ordinary jade pendant, nothing special.

Only officials of Third Grade or above could recognize it.

”Please be seated, Your Highness.” Ding Shaoqiang quickly gestured, slightly bowing, showing utmost respect.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”Let’s sit down and talk.”

”Yes.” Ding Shaoqiang solemnly nodded.

The two took their seats.

Chu Zhiyuan looked up at the two guards in the room, ”Let’s talk about the Feiniaoying first.”

He had been keeping an insight on these four guards and noticed they showed no reaction upon hearing Feiniaoying.

”Feiniaoying?” Ding Shaoqiang was puzzled.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Feiniaoying intends to defect to Da Lie, does General Ding know about this?”

Ding Shaoqiang’s face changed drastically.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, understanding that he was kept in the dark.

This included the four guards.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Feiniaoying plans to defect to Da Lie, and Da Lie’s elite forces will seize the opportunity to invade, starting from Jihai Town, sweeping through the entire Eastern Territory.”

Ding Shaoqiang’s face turned sullen.

With a pointed chin, his face was small, lacking the majesty of a General; instead, he resembled a down-and-out scholar.

Now, with a sullen face, there was a hint of harshness between his brows.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Da Lie’s elite forces are not comparable to Daliuying. When the time comes, will General Ding be able to capture these fellows?”

Ding Shaoqiang’s face darkened, slowly shaking his head.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”First, clean up Feiniaoying, then deal with Daliuying.”

”Yes.” Ding Shaoqiang solemnly nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”Regarding Jihai Town, I’ve roamed around these days, it indeed can’t all be blamed on you.”

Ding Shaoqiang showed a look of guilt, clenching his teeth and shaking his head.

Ultimately, it came down to his lack of ability and insufficient prestige.

Unable to assert dominance over various factions or cleanse the Court of these pollutants.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Can the Feiniaoying be dealt with?”

”I will dispatch people to arrest the officers of Feiniaoying immediately.”

”...Deploy Feiniaoying to the mountains to suppress Daliuying,” Chu Zhiyuan suggested helplessly, ”Let them return halfway, once tossed about, almost half the strength will be worn out, then summon their officers to discuss, and directly arrest them.”

”But...can’t we just summon Feiniaoying’s officers now and arrest them directly?”

”What if Feiniaoying hears the news and defects outright? Do we have to exterminate them?”

Chu Zhiyuan said calmly.

He sighed inwardly.

Ding Shaoqiang indeed was not suited for leading troops.

”...Alright, then first mobilize them to suppress Daliuying.” Ding Shaoqiang sternly said.

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