Niao Ni
Chapter 683: The Loneliness of a Single Carriage Entering the City
Since the rebellion in the autumn of Qingli 7, the Qin family had been annihilated. Jing Ge, the Silver Mask who had publicly challenged Qin Heng before ten thousand eyes in the Imperial City, had become a legendary figure. Especially in the past three years, as Chen Pingping deliberately decentralized power and cultivated new forces in the Overwatch Council to ensure a smooth transition of the Council to Fan Xian, Jing Ge, as Fan Xian's confidant, naturally took over the position of commander of the Fifth Bureau's Black Knights.
The moment the old man in the wheelchair was carried into the carriage at the foot of the hill, a surge of despair and anger welled up in Jing Ge's heart. He spurred his horse, ready to lead the Black Knights down the hill to rescue him. He simply couldn't bear to watch Director Chen embark on a road back to the capital that would surely lead to his death!
Back then, he had been bullied in the army camp. During a routine exercise, he had cried out and defended himself, inadvertently killing the eldest son of the Qin family. From that day on, he was thrown into Qing's death row, and his family and wife back home were secretly murdered by the Qin family in retaliation. He was already a dead man, but Chen Pingping secretly rescued him and placed him in the Black Knights, wearing a silver mask to conceal his true face. For revenge and to repay Chen's kindness, he had risen through the ranks to become the vice commander of the Black Knights.
Fan Xian had given him the opportunity to avenge himself, so he was extremely grateful to Fan Xian. However, he knew even better that Chen Pingping had given him a second life. In his heart, Silver Mask Jing Ge regarded Director Chen as his own reborn parent.
With the Black Knights on the hill and Chen Pingping's wheelchair loaded onto the carriage, a murderous intent rose in his heart, and he was about to charge down when the bald man beside him coldly grabbed the reins.
Jing Ge turned back angrily, his eyes, as deep as the abyss, glaring at the bald man through the openings in the silver mask. However, he did not act, because the bald man had more seniority in the Overwatch Council than he did and had once held a more important position. This bald man was the former director of the Seventh Bureau whom Fan Xian had met in the Overwatch Council prison.
"Director said your mission is to lead these four thousand Black Knights to escort the convoy out of the country, and then be sure to deliver all four thousand Black Knights, without exception... into the hands of Master Fan."
The bald man's face looked particularly old and tired today. In the depths of his heart, he was filled with sadness and anger, just like Jing Ge. However, he was Chen Pingping's most trusted old subordinate. His presence among the Black Knights today was to carry out the old director's order to suppress any potential unrest among the Black Knights.
"Do you know that if the Director returns to the capital, he will never be able to leave again?" Jing Ge looked at him coldly, slowly asking each word.
"This is the Director's wish. Everything I do is in accordance with his old man's will," the bald man replied calmly, unwavering.
Jing Ge stared blankly at the official road, then saw Chen Pingping at the carriage door, looking back with that sharp gaze. His body trembled, and he slowly raised his right hand, clenching it slightly to restrain the raging emotions in the hearts of his men.
After a long time, watching the black convoy slowly embark on the road back to the capital, surrounded or escorted by three thousand elite cavalry from the Capital Garrison Division, Jing Ge took a deep breath and slowly removed the silver mask from his face, revealing the terrifying, tragic scar. He remained silent for a long time.
He bid farewell to Chen Pingping, knowing that he might never see the old director again. The usually cold and indifferent Jing Ge's eyes became slightly moist.
The bald man stared silently in that direction, a slight smile on his face, but his eyes gradually filled with a joyful determination to die. The bald man dismounted and knelt down on the quiet official road, kowtowing respectfully.
Jing Ge was slightly startled by his expression, knowing that once this senior completed his mission of watching him leave the country, he would probably follow Director Chen... A sense of sorrow arose in his heart, but he said nothing, only watched him quietly, then dismounted and kowtowed in that direction.
All the Black Knights soldiers dismounted at the same time, kneeling densely on the small hill, bowing to the now empty official road, bidding farewell to Director Chen.
After a moment, Jing Ge carefully put on the silver mask, and with a hoarse voice issued the order: "Dismiss, head east."
Yes, these four thousand Black Knights were the strongest and most reliable force of the Overwatch Council. No matter how His Majesty the Emperor wanted to deal with Chen Pingping, no matter what methods the court would use to weaken the Overwatch Council to offset the potential backlash caused by Chen Pingping, the Black Knights would be the top priority in the eyes of the court.
And Jing Ge, under Chen Pingping's orders, had to safely and completely deliver these four thousand Black Knights, without exception, outside the borders of Qing, into Fan Xian's hands. This was one of the last gifts Chen Pingping was giving to Fan Xian.
Silver Mask Jing Ge knew his mission was heavy, so his back was also heavy as he led the Black Knights down the hill.
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If Chen Pingping was really willing to openly go to war with His Majesty the Emperor, there was no doubt that these four thousand Black Knights, who roamed the prefectures and counties of Qing, could start from within Qing and cut countless deep, bone-deep wounds in Qing's abdomen. Coupled with the spies the Overwatch Council had planted in various departments, ministries, border armies over the years, if Chen Pingping made a desperate gamble, it wouldn't be difficult to plunge the entire Qing into turmoil.
However, Chen Pingping did not choose this path. He would rather return to the capital alone to face the incomparably powerful Emperor than let his loyal Overwatch Council subordinates tear apart their relationship with the court and start a great war. He protected the interests of the Qing court to the greatest extent because he was loyal to Qing.
Of course, as cunning as Chen Pingping was, he would never allow his Overwatch Council subordinates to be manipulated by the court, by His Majesty the Emperor, because of his return to the capital. He knew that under His Majesty's great strength and the powerful machine of the entire Qing, even if the Overwatch Council tried its best to shake it, it could only plunge the world into turmoil at best, and could not guarantee its own survival.
He did not want the Overwatch Council's subordinates to suffer any harm, so he chose to leave the capital with the convoy, and then, in Dazhou, he skillfully gathered those he wanted to protect, those forces he wanted to leave to Fan Xian, and let them leave the dangerous place of the capital far away.
Including Wang Qinian, including the beauties and luggage on the convoy, including those Overwatch Council officials who were most loyal to him, including the old director of the Seventh Bureau who had followed him for thirty years, and of course, including the four thousand Black Knights he had secretly cultivated for many years.
These were all the people Chen Pingping thought must survive, and also the people Fan Xian needed. And these people were now moving forward in silence and sorrow in the darkness, preparing to cross the borders of Qing, penetrate deep into Dongyi City, which had already been controlled by Fan Xian and the Eldest Prince, and from then on, break free from the control of His Majesty the Emperor of Qing and truly become an independent and powerful force in Fan Xian's hands.
These forces were the bargaining chips Chen Pingping left for Fan Xian, the bargaining chips that would allow Fan Xian to negotiate with His Majesty the Emperor.
However, the bargaining chips had their own emotions and their own loyalties. The Black Knights sought mountain roads around the official road, advancing like ghosts. Under the cold gaze of the bald director, Silver Mask Jing Ge had no choice but to eliminate the idea of sending troops to slaughter the Capital Garrison Division's cavalry and rescue the old director. And those on the convoy they were protecting, those Overwatch Council officials and secret agents, had even more profound thoughts.
Wang Qinian's disguised face was not only stiff at this time, but even aged. He glanced at Gao Da, who was covered in blood beside him, and after a long silence, he suddenly said, "The Director's return to the capital... is only seeking death."
Gao Da was still in a semi-coma. The mute woman could not speak, and she looked at this lord in astonishment, not knowing who this sentence was spoken to.
Outside the slowly moving carriage, someone suddenly sighed. An ordinary-looking Overwatch Council official opened the carriage door and walked in, sitting opposite Wang Qinian. After a long silence, he said, "Everyone knows, but no one can stop it. You should know that the Director is doing this for the benefit of the Council. He doesn't want to cause turmoil in Qing, and he doesn't want the Young Lord to get involved."
"Zong Zhui, you've been following me all along, are you afraid I'll notify Master Fan?" Wang Qinian had no intention of joking tonight. He just looked coldly at his partner across from him and said, word by word, "If the Director dies, it's impossible for Master Fan not to get involved. In that case, why not take action in advance? In this world, the only person who can prevent things from happening in the capital... is him."
Sitting opposite him was Zong Zhui. This person and Wang Qinian were known as the two wings of the Overwatch Council, traveling thousands of miles, hiding traces, and were among the strongest two in the world. He looked at Wang Qinian and said calmly, "Before the Director left, he gave you a strict order, strictly forbidding you from notifying Master Fan."
Wang Qinian's brows suddenly furrowed, and he said, "It is said that Master Fan has already left Dongyi City and is being pursued by many Dongyi rebels on the way... How did those Dongyi rebels know the Overwatch Council's route back to the country?"
Zong Zhui did not answer. Wang Qinian stared at him and said, "The old Director leaked the information. He wants to prevent Fan Xian from returning to the capital ahead of time. He wants to settle these matters before Fan Xian returns to the capital."
Zong Zhui acknowledged this point.
Wang Qinian slowly lowered his head and said, "It will still take some time to return to the capital from Dazhou. If I leave the convoy at this time and rush to the east of Yanjing to notify Master Fan, he should still have time to rush back to the capital."
A very complex emotion suddenly appeared in Zong Zhui's eyes, and he said, "Over the years, I have been following the old Director, and you have been following Master Fan. The Director's mission for me is to keep an eye on you." He sighed, "The Director is right, people who have followed Master Fan for a long time will become different from us, becoming too impulsive and not considering the consequences."
Then he said very seriously, "I must carry out the Director's orders and not let you drag Master Fan in."
"Can you stop me?" Wang Qinian stared at him.
"We have never determined a victor, even in the years when you were doing clerical work," a strange smile appeared on Zong Zhui's face.
Immediately afterward, his smile froze on his face because the handle of a knife was silently pressed against his waist, causing half of his body to go numb. Then, Wang Qinian turned his palm into a knife and chopped heavily on the back of his neck. He didn't even hum before falling on the wooden planks of the carriage.
The mute woman, holding the child, looked at this scene in shock, unable to speak.
Holding the knife tightly, Gao Da opened his eyes and took two very difficult breaths, saying to Wang Qinian, "Let's go."
Wang Qinian looked at him and nodded slowly, saying, "Master Fan said that living is the most important thing. I think he would also want the old Director to live."
Gao Da coughed twice, coughing up blood, and said in a hoarse voice, "Time, nonsense."
Wang Qinian smiled awkwardly and turned around, lifting the black carriage's curtain and rushing out like a gust of wind. At this time, the night was dark and heavy. Zong Zhui, the only person in this world who could catch up to him, was unconscious in the carriage. He was going to notify Fan Xian, and probably no one could stop him. He just didn't know if there was enough time. When Fan Xian knew everything that had happened in the capital and Dazhou, would Chen Pingping still be able to sit safely in his wheelchair when he rushed back?
The night was as cool as water, as dark as ink, and when mixed together, it was like ink in water, transforming into countless shapes of wind and sand, difficult to grasp.
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Several days later, the Capital Garrison Division's cavalry finally returned to the outskirts of the capital. Because there was a black carriage in the cavalry unit that could not travel too fast, the entire speed was suppressed to a very slow pace. However, no one had any objections; they even felt that the slower, the better. These days, the commander of the Garrison Division, General Shi Fei, had been accompanying Chen Pingping in the carriage, serving Chen Pingping's food and water, daily life, and rest like a filial junior. He would also chat with him, talk about Qing's past and future, the laughable political anecdotes in the court, or those quite elusive palace rumors.
It really seemed like an old minister was being taken back to the capital by his junior to retire. However, everyone knew that the truth was not like this.
At this time, the season had already entered autumn. When the Capital Garrison Division, which was "inviting back" Chen Pingping, returned to the capital, it deliberately chose the darkest hour before dawn. There was a hint of fish-belly white in the eastern sky, but it was not very bright. It could not reveal the clear and vast autumn sky of the capital to everyone's eyes. Everyone could only smell a faint, even a little dry, air moving back and forth in their mouths and noses.
Three thousand six hundred cavalrymen, except for the dozens who were injured, all guarded the black carriage and arrived outside Jingyang Gate in the capital.
Presumably, on the way, Shi Fei had already reported the situation in Dazhou to the Privy Council or the Inner Court inside the capital through a highly secret channel. Therefore, when such a densely packed cavalry force arrived at the gate of the capital in the dark night, the soldiers of the Thirteen City Gate Department at the east gate were not surprised at all, nor did they set off any unnecessary signals of enemy approach.
It was so quiet on and off the city, and in the darkness, one could occasionally hear the sound of horses lightly kicking their hooves. The hint of pale white in the east only reflected a trace of coldness on the high walls of the capital, and the most diligent bird that had risen early quickly flew past the front of the city wall, emitting a joyful cry.
With a creaking, heavy sound, the gate of the capital was opened for the first time before the appointed time. Under the action of the mechanism, the heavy gate opened a passage, barely enough to accommodate a carriage. It was pitch black, and it was impossible to see what dangers were hidden inside.
The soldiers of the Thirteen City Gate Department guarded the city wall, watching the gate in the city with vigilance and curiosity. They did not know what had happened, why the superiors, and those inexplicably appearing Capital Garrison Division soldiers outside, were all facing a great enemy.
All handover work was completed in a silence that made people palpitate. The black carriage, under the control of the old servant, slowly entered the gate of the capital.
Until this moment, the carriage was still under the control of the Overwatch Council's old servant, and the carriage was still under the control of the old cripple in the carriage. None of the military heavyweights inside and outside the city dared to forcibly seize the position of the carriage driver, let alone lift the curtain to verify the identity of the old man inside.
Shi Fei watched the carriage enter Jingyang Gate in silence, and then watched the gate slowly close. He knew that his mission was finally completed. Before the trip, he thought that the Capital Garrison Division would have to pay countless lives to complete the mission, but it was done so easily. There was nothing more to do for him. No matter how angry His Majesty was at him for failing to completely complete the mission, Shi Fei did not care. He just stared blankly at the closed, heavy gate, and countless complex emotions floated in his heart.
The civil officials of the Qing court had a lot of aversion in addition to fear towards the Overwatch Council and the old cripple in the Overwatch Council. They believed that this old cripple was His Majesty's old black dog, a terrifying fellow who would bite anyone he met. However, in the eyes of the military bigwigs, the Overwatch Council was their most loyal, reliable, and powerful partner. Although they also had infinite fear of Chen Pingping, at this moment, Shi Fei suddenly felt that this old man, who would rather return to the capital alone than let the Overwatch Council and the military fight a big war, was very worthy of his respect.
After a long silence, he slowly waved his hand, leading more than three thousand Capital Garrison Division soldiers, each with complex emotions and the joy of escaping from death, and slowly left the heavy city wall and the man-eating city gate.
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The black carriage slowly entered Jingyang Gate, the heavy city gate slowly closed, and a few people slowly approached the carriage. At this time, it was still the darkest time before dawn, and the light was extremely dim, making it impossible to see the faces of those people clearly.
Those responsible for waiting at Jingyang Gate were the most prominent figures of the Qing court. One was Eunuch Yao sent by the palace, one was Ye Zhong, the chief administrator of the Privy Council who controlled the military power of the world, and the other was He Zongwei, the Grand Scholar who walked in the Department of Ministries. The three approached the black carriage, but no one spoke for a while.
Eventually, Ye Zhong spoke, looking at the carriage and saying softly, "It was hard for Director to return."
Eunuch Yao said calmly, "Please accompany this servant to the palace to see His Majesty."
He Zongwei did not speak on the side. He kept a calm face, maintaining the silence he should maintain at this time.
There was silence in the carriage. After a long time, the old man slowly sighed and said gently, "It's really too much trouble to disturb the peace of the three of you for an old man to return to the capital."
The carriage slowly moved forward, under the collective escort of the inner court eunuchs and military experts, and drove along the main street under Jingyang Gate towards the imperial palace in the center of the capital. The Overwatch Council in the capital did not seem to know that their old ancestor had returned to the capital and was about to face His Majesty's great anger. Even the ministers in the court, and those extremely sensitive people in the capital, did not know this.
Oh, the dark dawn, the trees on both sides of the main street under Jingyang Gate are like countless boats, swaying and swaying in the cool autumn wind.
The main street leads directly to the imperial palace, and there are no pedestrians on either side. It must have been cleared long ago and subjected to the highest level of security.
Empty, desolate, only the black carriage is moving forward, moving forward alone.
They traveled all the way to the magnificent imperial city, and at this moment, the sun finally broke free from the shackles of the earth and leapt out, illuminating the imperial city in a bright light. The fiery golden warmth also happened to envelop the black carriage.
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(Originally, this chapter was going to end with Chen Pingping confronting the Emperor, but I really can't write anymore today. I'm a little tired. I need to gather my strength... Please cast your monthly votes, which is financial and spiritual, as well as vanity, support for me to overcome these difficulties in front of me. I sincerely request it.)