Chapter 13 Where is the Guard?

"Bi Xiaoqing, where is the guard now? They can't still be in Suifeng Town, right?" Ye Tao asked.

Bi Xiaoqing felt a little awkward. It was his idea to have the guard follow them at a distance of about half a day. He didn't think he could really hide such a move from Ye Tao, but it wasn't good to be exposed for pulling strings in private. He responded carefully, "Their current location should be in Shuojin Village. It's about four hours away from Ninghe Town."

"Send someone to notify the guard. Tell them to set off tomorrow and meet us in Ninghe. Also, inform Lu Dan about the situation here and have him send a strong detachment to the vicinity of Ninghe as soon as possible." Ye Tao ordered, "Tomorrow morning, we'll reveal our identities and enter the Ninghe County government office to work. Tomorrow is when Han Dong and the officials under the Canal General Governor's office will report on their duties and discuss the next phase of the work plan. The day after tomorrow, I will receive some local gentry, merchants, and representatives of the people in Ninghe. The day after that, I will inspect the progress of work on the canal section. Feng Zi, I'll leave these things to you to arrange."

Feng Zi nodded calmly.

"Han Dong, tomorrow I will temporarily appoint you as the Ninghe Town Defense Commissioner. The Ninghe County Constable and the soldiers in the town will be under your unified command. This appointment will be revoked after the tense situation in Ninghe Town and the surrounding area is completely calmed down. Do you have any objections?"

Han Dong was taken aback. Ye Tao was gambling, gambling on the Western Liang side, gambling on how much interest Dao Ming Sect had in him, how much hostility they had towards him, and how much they feared him. As a governor, openly revealing his identity and grandly receiving officials and local figures here, inspecting work, if Dao Ming Sect had greater interest in Ye Tao, they would naturally stop their so-called revenge arrangements and study how great the opportunity to assassinate Ye Tao was and whether it was worth the effort. During these days, they would naturally not make a rash move, and would definitely pass peacefully, even if only on the surface. If Dao Ming Sect was concerned about Ye Tao's authority as a regional governor, they would also restrain themselves slightly, and would certainly not make their "revenge" affairs a town-wide sensation. Ye Tao summoning the guard and having his elite troops come to the vicinity of Ninghe Town clearly showed that he was prepared to pounce on and kill the Dao Ming Sect's Eagle Hall forces as soon as there was an opportunity. If Mo Leng had indeed come to Dongping and was indeed near Ninghe Town, it would be wonderful if he could be eliminated.

For Han Dong, these arrangements were all beneficial. Ye Tao was essentially taking the most troublesome burden off his shoulders and carrying it himself, and also taking on the responsibility for this part. That temporary appointment as Defense Commissioner, although temporary, would be written in his official resume without any discount, which would be of great benefit to his future career development.

Han Dong couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, because in that instant, Ye Tao's decision could be said to be very decisive. He could smell the bloody aura in it, and could see the heroic spirit of Ye Tao, a governor whom these aristocratic children treated more as a friend than as a superior. At least, Han Dong knew that if his elders were here, they would never handle it this way. For those who had been in the officialdom for many years, appeasement was almost the first consideration in doing many things, as for the effect and consequences, they would be put off until later.

Han Dong pondered for a moment and replied, "As you command. But, sir, if things come to the worst, please think twice before mobilizing the army to suppress the Jianghu people. Even if the Jianghu figures do have transgressions, once such a large army is sent in to suppress them, you will not have peace around you in the future." Han Dong's hint was very clear. Doing so would touch the nerves of some Jianghu figures, and assassinations, attacks, poisoning and other means would probably be staged around Ye Tao endlessly in the future. Naturally, even with the degree of importance Ye Tao now received in Dongping, it would be very difficult for various methods to threaten him, but it would be a trouble to some extent.

Ye Tao laughed openly and said, "Western Liang and Dao Ming Sect are not Wulin figures, not Jianghu people, they are already enemies. And for enemies, there is never any reason to talk about. If they are willing to die again and again, then let them come." Ye Tao glanced at Bi Xiaoqing provocatively and said half jokingly, "Bi Xiaoqing, what do you say?"

Bi Xiaoqing stood up straight, with his head held high and his chest out, "Don't worry, sir, these petty thieves will not disturb you. My brothers and I make our living doing just this."

Ye Tao nodded with satisfaction and said, "Then pass the orders down."

Han Dong asked some specific questions about the arrangements and then took his leave. After Bi Xiaoqing conveyed Ye Tao's instructions to his men to carry out, he returned to Ye Tao's side. Ye Tao asked, "By the way, do you know how to contact the Internal Affairs Guards? They should know more about Jianghu affairs."

The Internal Affairs Guards were one way of referring to Dongping's secret intelligence system. The reason why these strangely sourced fellows were called "guards" was probably because the establishment and operation of the entire secret intelligence system was operated by the Dongping royal family, and the funds also came from the royal family's expenses, and this organization was actually only responsible to the lord Tan Xiao Pei alone. But Bi Xiaoqing himself was from the Imperial Guards, and had dealt with the Internal Affairs Guards to some extent, and Ye Tao's contact and cooperation with Zeng Man, although not on the secret front but in business, could be considered acquaintances after all, plus he was now a regional governor and a definite imperial son-in-law, so it was not surprising that he knew about this.

Bi Xiaoqing nodded and said, "I know. When I went out just now, I left a mark on the corner of the street. The Internal Affairs Guards should be here to report soon."

The situation report from the secret intelligence system came earlier than they expected. Zeng Man was the kind of person who liked to think more about everything, to think ahead, and this time, when he arranged the forces to protect Ye Tao, he did not simply deploy those people around him, but also took advantage of the fact that Ye Tao was not very picky about the people around him who served him, and did not insist on choosing himself, and through Lu Dan and later Bi Xiaoqing, he also arranged a coachman for Ye Tao.

An expert? Not really, but this coachman was definitely the kind of person who could protect Ye Tao at a critical moment, a guy with good intelligence and ability. Aware of the strange atmosphere in Ninghe Town, the coachman Meng Tian even connected with the dark guards arranged around Ye Tao earlier than Bi Xiaoqing, and contacted the Internal Affairs Guards active in Ninghe Town through those dark guards, and learned the first-hand situation.

Mo Leng had indeed come to the territory of Ninghe Town and was now settled in the Wang family manor in the west of the city. The number of Dao Ming Sect's Eagle Hall members who had sneaked into Ninghe Town that could be confirmed was as many as twelve, and the two who were recognized by Han Dong's family servants were still lurking in the town. One of the tricky characters known as the Four Heroes of the Eagle Hall was in Ninghe Town.

Meng Tian did not show his face. Subsequent contacts with Bi Xiaoqing were made by those dark guards. Although Bi Xiaoqing knew his identity, he still tacitly allowed him to exist as a final guarantee by Ye Tao's side. Meng Tian and the modified four-wheeled carriage he drove were likely to play a key role at a critical moment.

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Chapter 3, I'll put out Chapter 4 tonight, these two days have been too tiring....