Chapter 2, Snow Kill (2)
Lan Xishu clenched his back molars, his eyes squinting into a narrow line. He overturned his original plan and started anew. His heart raced with urgency, yet he let out a long sigh of relief.
Xu Sanyuan! The third figure of the Eastern Factory! It is said that she is enchanting to the bone, rendering the three thousand beauties of the harem colorless! No! Colorless!
Xu!" Ding Ya quickly turned around and gave a glance to Lan Xishu: "Xu Niang is not old! Xu Sanyuan, the third head of the Eastern Factory!"
Time is torturing the hearts of us brothers, time waits for no one!
The sound of the strings wafts like smoke, drawing near, accompanied by the clatter of hooves and the creaking of the wagon wheels
Xu Sanyuan learned quite a bit about the gossip from Jing Maoan, mostly concerning how sordid it was. However, there is one point that Lan Xishu finds important: Xu Sanyuan was a household servant during the reign of the Yongle Emperor or the Prince of Yan, having followed Zhu Di in raising the banner for the Jingnan campaign, which speaks volumes about his foundational background
Barely hearing their voice without seeing the person
Since the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, the border residents have migrated several times. It is not only the Longmen area; apart from a few prosperous towns like Datong and Xuanzhou in the nine borders, the rest are sparsely populated. During times of war, although tens of thousands of troops are often mobilized back and forth, it is a scene of chaos with iron hooves and restless horses, the clinking of armor echoing in the air. In places where golden spears and iron horses clash, the sound of silk strings is like a heavenly melody.
The narrowed eyes of Lan Xi made the brothers feel a chill in their hearts
I said! San Shao! That kid Chen Wufu is following Xu Niang Bu Lao around like a sycophant!" Jing Mao'an chuckled, while Hu Dage was indeed practical, counting little by little with his big head.
Lan Xi repeatedly filtered through the details of the plan
Lan Xishu and the others had long since figured out that apart from his notoriety for lewd affairs, Chen Wufu was nothing of substance. However, this Xu Niang, who was not aging, aside from this flashy nickname as the emperor's courtier, they had no knowledge of her fundamental political inclinations, which left Lan Xishu feeling uncertain and gave rise to greater unease
The tall, dark figure beside Chen Wufu's carriage was straining to hunch over, making an effort to angle himself as he greedily peered through the gap in the swaying curtain. Due to his own instability and the varying speed of the carriage, the scene inside was not clear. This dark figure, somewhat impatient, stretched his neck forward, hunched his back, and strained to look in, his lewd expression was truly repulsive
Seven! Hu Dage glanced at Lan Xishu and reported the count: "Not including those in the car!"
The hearts of the group quickened with a flurry of excitement, and they were all a bit stirred up
The pipa player was not sufficiently dedicated and stopped at that moment
All the plans flowed through his mind like a stream, as Lan Xishu turned his neck to look westward. Xu Sanyuan's large troop had already wound around the western foot of Yehu Ridge like colorful ribbons, and the flags, swaying like reeds, completely disappeared behind the mountain, with the sound of chaotic hooves fading away.
A faint and elusive sound of strings lingers in the air
The chaotic hoofbeats made the road exceedingly muddy. Lan Xi Shu did not follow the carriage tracks; his brows relaxed, his slightly squinted eyes revealing no trace of emotion, as if he had been shaken off the vibrant procession and was now trailing behind, extending like a muddy serpent along the contours of the official road imprinted by the tumultuous hoofprints.
The tense nerves of the group relaxed as Lan Xishu's expression eased, even becoming somewhat dejected. With the situation having changed, Lan Xishu decided to abandon the plan and reassess the circumstances before making further arrangements
As the group listened intently, the sound of the pipa strings became significantly clearer.
Ding Ya lay slumped beside Lan Xishu, holding her breath as she followed Lan Xishu's gaze.
It should have been words of anger spoken in an angry tone, yet when they came from Lan Xishu's mouth, they were delivered with an air of calmness. A different kind of excitement surged through Lan Xishu's entire being; he possessed an innate bloodlust for battle, and even the slightest provocation would ignite an inexplicable thrill within him
Lan Xi's gaze was like a torch, fixed intently on the source of the pipa's sound—at the foot of the Eastern Mountain of Wild Fox Ridge
Lan Xi's book was filled with resentment as she bit down on her back molars and smoothly slid down the snow slope
Damn it! Is it that the heavens do not favor our leader Xia Shiyu, or is it that Chen Wufu's lifespan has not yet expired
This greatly surprised Lan Xishu, as he did not expect Chen Wufu to be so low-key
Hu Dage covered his dog-skin hat, peered over the ridge, turned back to wipe the snow foam off his face, and with a coarse voice that resembled a mosquito's buzz, reminded, "San Shao! It's about to pass!"
It was only then that Lan Xishu realized that his plan was still quite immature; this pair of individuals alone could not be dealt with. Taking the head of a single person amidst ten thousand troops is as easy as reaching into a bag, but that is merely the boast of storytellers. Not all of these Jinyiwei colleagues are merely living off others and putting on a facade. If he cannot achieve his goal in a short time, it is uncertain whether he can retreat unscathed. Lan Xishu must ensure that the few individuals he brought with him return without losing any limbs.
This grandson can calculate and predict, right! Jing Maoan threw out a tattered cloak and followed it up with a piece of nonsense
The group was somewhat bewildered, as the sound of the pipa fluctuated between fast and slow, sometimes like a torrential rain of rapid strings, and at other times like a gentle stream flowing. The distant sounds of metal and stone resonated, indescribably exquisite.
Lan Xishu was unsure whether Xu Sanyuan was part of the Crown Prince faction or the Han Wang faction. Regardless, he decided to take it one step at a time. Lan Xishu withdrew his thoughts and turned back to lie on the snow slope.
A strong horse rounded the eastern foothills of Wild Fox Ridge, closely followed by another robust horse. The distinctive emblem of splendid attire and spirited steeds was immediately recognizable, signaling the arrival of the anticipated companion.
The cavalry's front column had just turned past Wild Fox Ridge, and the luxurious and grand carriage was passing directly beneath where Lan Xi was located. The exquisite silk curtains swayed like waves, the four corners of the eaves with their tassels danced gracefully, and the intricately carved deep purple lacquered wooden carriage body was clearly visible, while the rumbling wheels diverted the gaze of the few who were following.
The person riding the five-flower horse in the south kicked the horse forward to intercept the wine pouch, grumbling and cursing incessantly.
Lan Xishu coldly observed the slowly approaching team, his expression unperturbed while his mind was racing to calculate the speed at which Jing Maoan was encircling from behind Dongshan, the tension between the fast and slow movements creating a deadly confrontation.
Lan Xishu had already made an estimation in his heart. Chen Wufu's private investigation could not possibly involve a large number of people. If it were three to fifty individuals, complete annihilation was not out of the question. Even if there were one hundred or one hundred eighty, Lan Xishu's surprise attack to eliminate key figures like Chen Wufu and the books, followed by a swift retreat, would still have a high chance of success. At that time, all the blame would fall on the Tartars, and no one would suspect it was Lan Xishu's doing. Even if it might slightly implicate Xia Shiyu, there would be no evidence, and the grievances expressed in plain language would remain unvoiced, akin to a mute eating bitter gall. Weighing the pros and cons, this operation was worthwhile. Lan Xishu's surprise attack to eliminate key figures like Chen Wufu and the books, followed by a swift retreat, would still have a high chance of success. At that time, all the blame would fall on the Tartars, and no one would suspect it was Lan Xishu's doing. Even if it might slightly implicate Xia Shiyu, there would be no evidence, and the grievances expressed in plain language would remain unvoiced, akin to a mute eating bitter gall. Weighing the pros and cons, this operation was worthwhile.
The plans that had been in place for many days have fallen through, and the brothers do not even know whether the intriguing carriage truly contains Chen Wufu
Isn't it said that the bamboo pole is the wolf, Li Jiumu?" Jing Maoan gave Ding Ya a slight nudge on the shoulder, and also leaned down, facing the half-seated Lan Xishu: "Will the third section of the Eastern Factory come to Longmen? Isn't it enough to perform in Datong and Xuanzhou?
Perhaps the situation has changed! Lan Xishu gloomily scooped up a handful of snow and rubbed it on his face. The mountains are high and the emperor is far away; the court's situation changes rapidly, and it is not surprising that information cannot keep up: "This Xu Niang seems rather difficult to deal with! What is he doing at Longmen? Although he is said to be patrolling the border, no imperial envoy has truly come to Longmen yet. I hope he does not get involved with our boss."
It is rare to find such charm in this desolate wilderness
At this moment, seeing the expression on Lan Xishu's face, the brothers fell silent, as none of them wanted to disturb Lan Xishu's train of thought. At any time, they all relied on Lan Xishu to make the decisions!
Hu Dage and Jing Maoan climbed up, leaning against Ding Ya, following Ding Ya's line of sight, looking very intently, yet truly saw nothing at all
Lan Xishu always thought that Chen Wufu would be surrounded by thirty to fifty people whenever he went out
A wine pouch was tossed back and forth between the two Imperial Guards at the front, while the little tune played, and the wine was sipped, creating a lively and indulgent atmosphere.
In fact, what Lan Xishu is most concerned about is that it is best not to be associated with the Lan surname! Do not get involved with the old man! Do not get entangled with certain hidden political forces!
Lan Xi looked down at the snow-covered wall, momentarily lost in thought; this was somewhat unexpected for him
Ding Ya did not move, his head still resting against the snow wall: "I said, clearly this Chen Wufu left the capital first from the Eastern Factory! How is it that both *Tu* and the old Xu Niang have arrived, where did he die?"
Unexpectedly, Xu Sanyuan appeared out of nowhere!
Lan Xi took the lead in scratching the back of his head, and the others exchanged glances, remaining silent, collectively feeling an itch
What is not seen! The snow is heavy, swirling and falling. Looking across the entire east-west direction at the foot of Yaohu Ridge, the world is vast and indistinct, enveloped in a flurry of snow. The mountains stretching north of the official road are blurred in their outlines by the snow.
Listen carefully with your ears perked up! There seems to be a faint sound that resembles an auditory hallucination; when you feel down and stop listening closely, that string sound becomes undeniably clear.
As long as it is delayed further, Lan Xishu knows that the old man will not remain inactive.
Lan Xi Shu slapped his forehead, his face radiating with joy, feeling exceptionally pleased. The situation was much better than he had anticipated: "This scoundrel brought a woman on his business trip? Allowing this scoundrel to catch his breath is utterly unreasonable"
Beneath the Wild Fox Ridge, only a winding path of mud remains, as the pair of horses and riders beneath my eyelids turn around the Wild Fox Ridge, and even the flagpole adorned with colorful banners has vanished from view
The slow and unsteady carriage was indeed followed by seven attendants, all of whom appeared to be of mediocre quality. A qualified officer of the Jinyiwei, regardless of their location, carries an unmistakable air of alertness and sharpness, a deeply ingrained professional instinct, much like the individuals on Wild Fox Ridge.
The group was chattering away, each person’s eyes fixed on Lan Xishu. Habitually, when Lan Xishu remained silent, they felt uncertain.
Lan Xi did not speak, but the brothers all noticed it
Lan Xi looked down at the seven companions on the mountain, contemplating which one would be the most time-efficient to start with
Lan Xi is still squinting intently, with an upright palm signaling everyone to be quiet
There is no need to be entangled; although Lan Xishu is unwilling, he would not commit such a foolish act of hitting a stone with an egg. The brothers watched as Lan Xishu poked the bump on his forehead with his fingertip, and no one spoke. This group of people, like colorful ribbons boiling over, came galloping under their very eyes, banners waving.
Damn it! What a waste of effort! Jing Mao'an is responsible for logistics support, and the props for this operation—the Tatar costumes—were provided by him. Well, it turns out they were not used.
Lan Xi remained silent, her brows furrowed, lips pressed together, and her gaze piercing into the undulating snow-covered highlands of Lingnan.
In just an instant, Lan Xishu calmed down, fortunate indeed, the heavens do not forsake me
The group felt a bit of unused energy, all looking at Lan Xishu, who remained silent.
The cavalry is heading precisely in the direction of Longmen.
Lan Xishu suddenly leaned against the snow wall and pulled down Ding Ya, who was half a body taller than the mountain ridge.
Lan Xi furrowed her brows slightly, let out a quiet sigh, and decided to take things one step at a time
One, two, three, four ? ? ? . ? ? A cart appeared, and although its grandeur was far inferior to that of Xu Sanyuan, in the eyes of Hu Dage, it was still quite impressive.
Apart from the howling north wind and the wild cries of wolves, when have we ever heard the sounds of romance and beauty in the wind, flowers, and snow?
According to Lan Xi's estimation, while such a distance may not be absolutely secure, as long as one acts swiftly, it can be done without drawing any attention
Lan Xi clenched his fist excitedly in secret, his tongue pressed against his teeth and lips, sharpening himself, awakening from the slightly ticklish sound of the strings with a small pain.
Lan Xi raised his eyelids, his gaze cold and sharp
As long as Chen Wufu arrives right under his nose, eliminating these few captains with lightning speed will not cause much of a commotion. The brothers have long understood the capabilities of the incompetent Chen Wufu; apart from his well-known prowess in bed, there is nothing else worth considering.
I came here just for this bump
Not a single strand of human hair, not a single rabbit!
Lan Xishu never allows himself to harbor the slightest sense of complacency
Oh my mother! This demeanor is comparable to that of an imperial envoy inspecting the borders Hu Dage was smacking his lips, his mouth corners stretched all the way to his ears
No one is speaking, this is urgent
Hu Dage first slipped down the slope, and Jing Maoan began to loosen his clothing. He could not tolerate the smell of the ill-fitting Tatar robe either
Wow! This commotion is still so familiar!
Jing Mao'an patted his backside and left, while Ding Ya also stood up and brushed the snow off his body