Chapter 10, The Winds of Luoyang
Good day, dear.
Lang Zhengwei pondered for a moment and said, "If we don't even give this little bit of face to Master Fan, the Dragon Head will be the first to blame me. Master Fan's visit this time was sudden, and we received no prior notice. Is there anything that my brothers can assist with?"
Lang Zhengdao: "But may I ask two questions! What is the relationship between Master Fan and him?"
Ding Chong took a few hurried breaths, then calmed down and nodded, saying: "I understand! Master Fan is doing this for my own good!"
Upon thinking of this, her heart became lively, and she reached out to the table to untie the small bundle.
This idea held great appeal for him, yet he lamented the inability to put it into action. As he pondered, he leisurely passed by the burly man who had pushed him, as if the other party had made way for him, brushing past without incident. The burly man, with one hand pushing at empty space, stumbled forward two steps due to miscalculating his strength.
The military officer began to prepare the horses with his subordinates, pulling him aside to explain the changes in the imperial throne. Finally, he said: "The Grand Palace Supervisor has given orders that the imperial physician should return and first go to see him"
At the entrance, everyone was eager to greet him. Fu Taiyi still did not remember that he was the 'Ugly Divine Doctor' and was at a loss. At this moment, the leader of the guards stepped forward respectfully and said: 'Your Majesty has been eagerly awaiting the return of Imperial Physician Wang, and now it has finally come true'
The soldier, as if granted a royal pardon, mounted his horse and departed
After the Emperor left Luoyang, Ji Chuna took over as the General Manager of Luoyang. Lang Zheng then led a large group of followers to Luoyang to assert dominance over the territory. They initially targeted the brothels, with the first objective being the Fanghua Pavilion of Master Yi. Night after night, they sent people to cause trouble there, resulting in several violent confrontations with casualties on both sides, creating a state of panic among the people of Luoyang. Ji Chuna, however, showed favoritism towards the Northern Gang, leaving Master Yi filled with resentment but unable to do anything about it
At this moment, leaving the residence of Ri An Ju, it is extremely difficult to avoid the watchful eyes and ears. In broad daylight, it is also challenging to search the entire city; thus, I can only wait until after sunset, during the dark and windy night, to first go to Cui Qiao Lou and try my luck, to see if Tai Le Xu Yun is still hiding in the tall building. It has been a whole year, and Tai Le Xu Yun should have fully recovered. If Tai Le Xu Yun is still in the building, the only reason would be the Northern Gang, which means he has a great chance of overhearing the latest conversations regarding the situation.
Long Ying pondered that the Northern Gang had indeed treated "Fan Qingzhou" with great courtesy. The only leaders of the Northern Gang he had interacted with were Le Yan and Lang Zheng, both of whom were exceptionally skilled in martial arts and, notably, were individuals who understood the bigger picture. Given the caliber of their subordinates, it was not surprising that Tian Shangyuan could rise to prominence and pose a significant threat to Tai Le Xuyun's northern plans; this was certainly not a coincidence. He said: "Riyuanju is where I will be staying, please inform Leader Tian. After Luoyang, I will head to the capital, and upon my arrival, I will pay my respects to Leader Tian. Ha! This is a meeting that is a year late!"
Long Ying Dao: "How could Luoyang have become like this?"
Long Yingdao: "Since we have friends in Luoyang, could you, for my sake, spare me the trouble of asking a few questions? I trust you will grant me this favor, Brother Lang."
The last phrase "Chang'an seen" allowed Long Ying to set down the heavy stone in his heart, as at least until Li Xian's relocation of the capital to Chang'an, this fellow had not yet been exposed as an impostor
Nearby, curses and shouts erupted as two individuals approached from either side. One of them struck him in the waist with a punch, while the other delivered a palm strike to his shoulder, showing no mercy in their assault
Long Eagle Path: "Boss Ding is a businessman and should not be involved in the disputes of gangs and the underworld, nor is it within your purview to manage. As long as I, Fan Qingzhou, am here, the people from the Northern Gang will not dare to touch Boss Ding; otherwise, they will be at odds with me, Fan Qingzhou"
In the next moment, he leaped onto the horse
Fu Tai could not resist the curiosity in his heart and said: "Mount!"
Riding on horseback, love can take you wherever it wishes, how free and joyful it is
Lang Zheng's demeanor roughly outlines his current relationship with the Northern Gang. Of course, Tian Shangyuan would not show any particular leniency towards "Fan Qingzhou"; it is solely because of the need to unify the North that he cannot afford to be distracted. "Fan Qingzhou" is also a stepping stone for his southward journey, a formidable piece against the Zhu Hua Gang, and a partner for making substantial profits, hence he is making every effort to win him over
Ding Chong exclaimed in surprise: "Huanghe Gang!"
Long Ying smiled at this, still not quite believing it. He opened the bottommost volume and flipped to the last page to read the final sentence
Fu Tai expressed his disinterest in meeting Grandfather Tang, saying: "Let me return to the Taiyi Mansion in Shangyang Palace to take a bath and have a rest before discussing further. It seems you are unaware that I have just traveled several thousand miles."
The dragon eagle swayed left and right, and when the two struck at the empty space, they suddenly accelerated, passing through the wall of obstructing people before anyone else could react, heading towards the group surrounding Ding Chong
The date is the 15th of March in the Year of the Divine Dragon.
The coup occurred in the first month of the lunar calendar, and Fu Tai must have hurried back to Luoyang after parting ways with Long Ying without any delay. This indicates that Fu Tai had a positive attitude towards enjoying another "life" as a disguised divine doctor.
Fu Tai's "Ugly Divine Doctor" had not yet descended from the Yellow Bridge, and due to his unique appearance, he was immediately noticed from a distance by the guards stationed at the entrance, causing an uproar.
Luoyang is no longer the "Divine Capital" he once knew; he must learn it all over again
To read one volume and burn another was the agreement between him and Fu Tai. At that time, he did not foresee any issues. Now, faced with the written record, he realizes that what was burned was the painstakingly crafted work of Fu Tai, and he feels a twinge of reluctance.
Ding Chongdao: "In fact, including myself, not many people in Luoyang are clear about this. What is certain is that Old Yi has encountered trouble. Lang Zheng believes that the leader Yi has hidden in Ri Anju, and after a thorough search yielded no results, he pressured me to reveal his whereabouts. Alas! How would I know? The last time I saw Leader Yi was more than ten days ago; he was so busy that he didn't have time to say much. However, judging by his expression, it seemed he was dealing with a very tricky matter, though I never imagined it would escalate to such a serious situation."
This time it is Long Ying's turn to call for his mother, wishing to read the complete four volumes. Even if he can read ten lines at a glance, it would still take him several hours to finish.
Long Ying forgot all his misfortunes and focused intently on untying the cloth knots one by one. Fu Tai was excessively cautious, wrapping the "Chronicle" in five layers of cloth, which intrigued Long Ying. Given Fu Tai's character, the only reason for valuing the handwritten records so highly was that he regarded them as the treasured fruits of his labor
Although the opponent is numerous and powerful, apart from the expert with purple-blue eyes who can contend with him, there are fewer than five others capable of withstanding several blows. Such strength is sufficient to dominate the martial world. However, compared to Long Ying, especially in the past six months, he has successfully integrated the "Huang Tian Da Fa" taught by the Celestial Master into his demonic skills, solidifying the "Zhi Yang Wu Ji" technique. He is confident that within a few breaths, he can incapacitate all others, leaving them unable to rise, and then focus all his efforts on dealing with the expert with purple-blue eyes. Especially in the past six months, he has successfully integrated the "Huang Tian Da Fa" taught by the Celestial Master into his demonic skills, solidifying the "Zhi Yang Wu Ji" technique. He is confident that within a few breaths, he can incapacitate all others, leaving them unable to rise, and then focus all his efforts on dealing with the expert with purple-blue eyes.
As Ding Chong was being escorted to the carriage parked outside the back door, Long Ying had no other choice but to shout in a deep voice: "Wait!"
My mother, in a densely packed and crooked, unsightly handwriting, filled four volumes without any embellishment, surpassing even Qian Dai's "Medical Practice Records". Who could have anticipated this beforehand? Now, if I were to speak of it, those who know Fu Tai would surely not believe it.
Behind Long Ying, shouts and reprimands echoed as several individuals rushed towards him
The commander was taken aback and said in a pleading voice: "Absolutely not, military orders are as heavy as a mountain. If the higher-ups hold us accountable, how can the subordinates bear the responsibility"
Fu Tai secretly reminded himself that he was currently playing the role of the ugly divine doctor, and feigned surprise as he said, "Your Majesty?"
Long Eagle said: "Absolutely not, would I not become a strong figure in the underworld."
Fu's curiosity was piqued, and he asked: "Does Your Majesty still reside in the Eastern Palace?"
The action of the Han man reaching out to push was seen by the dragon eagle's eyes as slow and clumsy, leaving an open target. If he were to strike, a single move could send him to the afterlife, but of course, he would not do so unless he intended to unleash a massacre
I never expected to encounter Fan Ye here. Just a few days ago, Da Longtou was still praising Fan Ye in front of us
His grandmother! Now he is truly in trouble, and a great disaster is looming. At any moment, lives may be lost and help may be shattered, while he can only stand by and watch. The helplessness in his heart is difficult to express to others
Six or seven people surged out from the back door, among them was none other than Ding Chong, the big boss of Ri An Ju. The usual chubby smile on his face was nowhere to be seen; his complexion had drained of color, and he bit his lip, yet his gaze remained resolute, indicating that he would not easily yield
The only effort that can be made is to find the still-at-large Yi Tiannan and assist him in fleeing to the south. However, this matter can only be conducted discreetly before making a public appearance. Now, if "Fan Qingzhou" were to announce "I have arrived," it would undoubtedly attract close scrutiny from various forces, making it easy to shake off pursuers, but it would also raise suspicions.
Ding Chong said in a trembling voice: "What should we do? Can Master Fan come up with a solution?"
He originally guessed that Lang Zheng was the master of the Tiger Hall outside of Le Yan, but little did he know that there were at least two others of the same rank as Lang Zheng, possessing such strength, which greatly exceeded Long Ying's expectations
The dragon eagle perched on Lang Zheng's shoulder and quietly asked, "Brother Lang, may I ask what trouble you are seeking with Boss Ding?"
The master with purple-blue eyes stepped forward among the crowd and sighed with a smile: "I almost experienced the 'flood that washed away the Dragon King Temple.' I am Lang Zheng, one of the three great generals under the command of the Northern Gang's leader, Tian Da Long.
After taking a couple of sips of hot tea, Ding Chong, regaining his composure, waved away the maid and sighed, "This time is a great fortune amidst misfortune, thanks to Master Fan for coming to my rescue"
After Ding Chong left, Long Ying took out the "masterpiece" of Fu Tai and placed it on the table, but his thoughts turned to Tao Xianyang
Long Ying sighed, saying: "I am afraid it is indeed the case. The Northern Gang took advantage of the Yellow River Gang's arrival for assistance to launch a full-scale ambush. The Luoyang Gang, having no other choice, exerted all efforts to rescue, but was suddenly attacked by another ambush from the Northern Gang, resulting in a complete defeat. Master Yi managed to escape back to Luoyang by luck, only to attract the Northern Gang's indiscriminate search and slaughter in the city."
He was forcibly brought out, with two burly men holding his arms on either side. The man who caught Long Ying's attention the most followed Ding Chong with his hands behind his back. This person was tall and robust, around thirty-one or thirty-two years old, with eyes that sparkled with brilliance, and his pupils exhibited a strange purple-blue color, which was certainly not natural but a result of practicing some extraordinary skill. From this, it was evident that he possessed remarkable abilities, and his martial arts were not inferior to those of Le Yan, the leader of the North Gang's Dragon Hall.
The dragon eagle suddenly accelerated, evading the downward strike aimed at his back by the unrestrained opponent. He came to a halt about five steps away from Ding Chong and his group, appearing relaxed and natural, as if he were casually strolling down the street and happened to arrive at this spot.
The soldier respectfully replied: "Indeed!"
Without any obstruction, Ding Chong clearly saw that the interferer was actually "Fan Qingzhou", and his face immediately showed joy
But if I have not exerted myself, how can I justify it to myself, and how will I explain it to Wan Renyu and Nie Fanghua in the future
Long Ying said with pleasure: "I am a businessman, and I came to Luoyang to seek business opportunities. Brother Lang, could you arrange for Fan to meet with your esteemed leader?"
The Dragon Eagle inquired: "What is the reason for this?"
Both individuals control the volume, so that others cannot hear their conversation
The name "War General" itself is already filled with a sense of murderous intent and will provoke the court's suspicion. The Northern Gang still dares to act so recklessly, which indicates how powerful the forces supporting them from behind are
From his words, Long Ying understood that he was being patient and very restrained, thus realizing that this group had an agreement with the authorities. Although the authorities allowed them to operate within the city, they should not be permitted to disturb the citizens. This understanding is crucial; currently, the other party is endangering legitimate businessmen, and although they still have connections with Yi Tiannan, they may have crossed the boundaries set by the authorities. Such cooperation is clearly a collusion between the authorities and the underworld, indicating that the clear governance of Luoyang during the reign of the Empress has irretrievably vanished. This understanding is crucial; currently, the other party is endangering legitimate businessmen, and although they still have connections with Yi Tiannan, they may have crossed the boundaries set by the authorities. Such cooperation is clearly a collusion between the authorities and the underworld, indicating that the clear governance of Luoyang during the reign of the Empress has irretrievably vanished.
Dragon Eagle clasped his fists and said: "Great River Fan Light Boat, may I ask which online friend you are?"
After a prolonged contention, Ding Chong's resolve was unwavering, and Long Ying had no choice but to accept it, thus having to decline the beautiful maid's kind offer
Ding Chong's expression changed as he asked: "What is Fan Ye thinking?"
Lang Zheng once again shook hands warmly with Long Ying, then led Long Ying to stand before Ding Chong, bowing and saying: "I hope Boss Ding will be forgiving of any offenses caused by Lang Zheng"
The seven burly men who blocked his path all displayed a fierce glint in their eyes, as if they were looking at a madman seeking death.
Not a single city guard could be seen nearby, as if they were all deliberately avoiding the scene, allowing this group of ruffians to disregard the imperial law and act with impunity. The pedestrians who were blocked on this side turned around and left in droves, either out of fear or perhaps unwilling to witness the unfolding events, leaving only Long Ying alone. The seven or eight burly men blocking the road all fixed their gaze upon him.
Long Ying sighed inwardly, thinking that if Yi Tiannan had been willing to heed his advice, he would not have found himself in such a predicament. Suddenly recalling something, he exclaimed: "Oh no!"
At this moment, he should absolutely refrain from intervening, and even contemplating such an action is futile, unless he reveals Long Ying's identity to Tao Xianyang. However, there is still no certainty in this regard. Currently, anyone with a slight understanding of politics knows that one should not get involved with Long Ying.
Hand division
The more than ten subordinates beside the master with purple-blue eyes all had their hands on their weapons, their eyes revealing a murderous intent
The soldier expressed hope, saying: "There are several possible reasons, as it was heard from the subordinates. Could we explain it to the Grand Physician while walking?"
One person reached out towards the dragon eagle and shouted, "Do not cause trouble!"
The dragon eagle leaned against the back of the chair, took a sip of hot tea, relaxed, and read the book carefully
The three characters "Chang'an Jian" are prominently displayed
Lang Zheng replied briskly: "The Great Dragon Head is engraved in the capital, and it will not arrive in Luoyang in the short term. I will immediately send a message via carrier pigeon to inform him. How long does Master Fan plan to stay in Luoyang? Where will he be lodging? We have a place to host Master Fan, ensuring that there will be beautiful attendants to serve him closely"
On that day, Master Fan was treated as a distinguished guest at the residence in Luoyang, rather than just a visitor. All expenses were waived, and shortly, I will send two beautiful maidservants to attend to Master Fan
The expert with purple-blue eyes scrutinized Long Ying intently, also commanding his subordinates to halt. His eyes emitted a look of uncertainty and suspicion, not solely due to Long Ying's astonishing agility and footwork, but more so as if he recognized who he truly was.
Fu Tai lost his voice and said: "It is still the Eastern Palace! Why not go to the Grand Palace Supervisor's Office in the palace city?"
Caught in a dilemma, thinking about it has caused him endless headaches
Although more than thirty armed men gathered outside the back door of the residence, everyone was quietly going about their business. Even when they blocked passersby, they merely gestured with their hands. Bystanders remained silent, and the only sounds came from the passing carriages. This section of the street was largely engulfed in silence. When Long Ying spoke up, it shattered the stillness, immediately creating an effect akin to "a stone shattering the heavens," drawing the attention of all the ruffians towards him.
Of course it is Master Tang. The imperial physician, please mount your horse, and your subordinates will lead the way
In moments of tension, it is no less captivating than a beautiful woman loosening her garments.
Fu Tai frowned and said, "Who is the Grand Palace Supervisor now?"
Recalling the joyful times spent in Chang'an with the young leader of the Yellow River Gang, I had once promised him in person that if Tao Xianyang were to encounter difficulties, he would certainly lend a helping hand
The soldier did not dare to stop him, almost crying, with a pained expression he said: "Master Tang is in the Eastern Palace"
The gaze involuntarily fell upon the heavily wrapped "The Chronicles of the Ugly Doctor"
Stop!
One must always be cautious of others; therefore, it is not advisable to reveal too much to Ding Chong, whom I have only just met.
Lang Zheng walked up to him, extended both hands to shake his, and displayed a sincere attitude
Long Yingdao: "Given the current situation, Lang Zheng undoubtedly possesses the strength to strike down the Luoyang Gang in one fell swoop. However, the deliberate creation of this stalemate is akin to 'Xiang Zhuang dancing with a sword, aiming at Pei Gong', a strategy to lure the snake out of its hole"
Then he said to his subordinates: "Go!"
After unwrapping the numerous layers of packaging, there remained a layer of moisture-proof oil paper. Once removed, what came into view were four volumes, each an inch thick. On the cover of the volumes was a note that read, "This is for you, you bastard! Once I started writing, I couldn't stop; damn you!"
Long Ying sighed, picked up the first volume, and turned to the first page
Where has Yi Tiannan gone
Fu Taixin pondered whether Laozi could bear the responsibility, saying: "Where is Lord Tang? As someone familiar with the palace, I know the way; just tell me the location, and I will understand how to seek it."
Long Ying felt a sudden shock in his heart