Chapter 172: Slaughtering the City, Dying in Protest
Huang Rong softly recited the poem, and after finishing, asked, “I wonder who this general is, and who the poem is about?”
Zhou Yan naturally knew the poem above was written by Han Shizhong. He suddenly thought of the Zhenwei Escort Agency in Kaifeng Prefecture. Lu Beihe had once said that the owner of Zhenwei was from Han Shizhong’s lineage. Did the owner of the escort agency know the whereabouts of the purple Wumu’s Military Writings purple?
“Is it possible the poem is about Yue Wumu?” Zhou Yan pondered, his thoughts returning.
Huang Rong asked curiously, “Why?”
Shagu brewed tea and, carrying the pot and cups, poured tea for Zhou Yan and Huang Rong. Huang Rong casually rolled up the scroll and placed it on the iron box, listening to Zhou Yan speak.
“Escort Yang once said that the owner of the Niu Family Village inn was Qu San.”
Huang Rong seemed lost in thought.
Sounds of fighting permeated the night, and Zhou Yan’s voice became slightly deeper, his speech slow, adding a sense of gravity.
“Escort Yang, Guo Xiaotian, and Qu San became acquainted due to a pursuit by palace guards. Qu San once said the emperor was incompetent and extorted the people’s livelihood. Based on this, these jewels and paintings might have originated from the palace. The painting’s poem says: ‘The horse’s hooves urge a return under the bright moon.'”
Huang Rong had a flash of inspiration and clapped her hands, saying, “Eight Thousand Li of Clouds and Moon.”
Zhou Yan said, “That’s why I deduced it.”
“Although it might not be correct, you are truly intelligent,” Huang Rong praised, adding, “I have a general idea. Shagu is likely related to my father’s disciple, Qu Lingfeng.”
Mei Chaofeng sat on a chair under the eaves, silent. Upon hearing Huang Rong say this, she suddenly stood up and floated over to Zhou Yan and Huang Rong.
“The foolish girl is a descendant of Senior Brother Qu?”
“More or less. My father enjoyed antiques, so Senior Brother Qu must have stolen these jewels and paintings from the Imperial City and was then pursued by palace guards, eventually dying in Niu Family Village. Mei Ruohua, you didn’t see it when you were in Fu’an, but Shagu knows the ‘Azure Wave Palm Technique.'”
After pouring tea, Shagu squatted by the iron box, playing with pearls and jade. Huang Rong put the scroll back, and Shagu looked at the painting of the sword-dancing general again.
When Mei Chaofeng heard that Shagu might be Qu Lingfeng’s descendant, she turned and grabbed Shagu’s hand, asking, “Is your father Qu Lingfeng?”
The Iron Corpse’s black hair flew, her face as pale as paper, her voice sharp and fierce. Shagu was frightened and flinched back. Mei Chaofeng’s hand fell on the scroll, and with a “swish,” the scroll was torn and fell to the ground.
“Mei Ruohua, you’ll scare Shagu to death,” Huang Rong said irritably. “I’ll ask, what a shame about this painting.”
Huang Rong bent down to pick up the painting that had fallen to the ground and suddenly exclaimed, “There are words on the interlayer of this painting!”
Zhou Yan sighed inwardly, such a coincidence.
Huang Rong took the painting and examined the ink on the interlayer, saying, “Wumu’s Military Writings, on Iron Palm Mountain, Middle Peak, second section.”
“Wumu’s Military Writings?” Huang Rong’s eyes suddenly brightened. “Yue Wumu’s military strategy and martial arts. I understand. Ouyang Ke and his group went to the Lin’an Imperial Palace to steal the purple Wumu’s Military Writings purple. The stone box in Water Curtain Cave should have contained this painting, but my Senior Brother Qu took it out, leaving an empty box.”
Zhou Yan sincerely admired her. Whether the scroll was in the stone box and then stolen by Qu Lingfeng was not mentioned in the Legend of the Condor Heroes world, but Huang Rong could connect Ouyang Feng and his nephew’s purpose in Lin’an. She was truly sharp and incredibly intelligent.
As he thought this, Huang Rong suddenly said, “How about we go to Iron Palm Mountain together?”
“I can’t get away for now.”
“What’s so good about being an escort? Living in the open, with no freedom.”
“If you are not a fish, how can you know the joy of a fish?”
“Pfft,” Huang Rong chuckled. “You are probably the most learned and insightful escort I have ever met. Alright, I won’t force you.”
Huang Rong said this, but in her heart, she thought, Do you think I have no way to make you go to Iron Palm Mountain? I have plenty of methods.
Zhou Yan saw Huang Rong’s rather smug expression and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Huang Rong giggled, “Guess?”
She changed the subject quickly and said to Mei Chaofeng, “Mei Ruohua, you don’t need to ask. Father told you to find the descendants of a few senior brothers. Shagu is a descendant of Senior Brother Qu, so you are one step closer to returning to the sect.”
Mei Chaofeng was delighted and said to Zhou Yan, “Thank you, Head Escort Zhou. If you hadn’t met Shagu, I would never have found her.”
“You’re welcome!”
Mei Chaofeng nodded and slowly walked to the eaves, sitting on the chair. She pondered that Zhou Yan had first saved Junior Sister and now indirectly helped her find Senior Brother Qu’s descendant. She should find a way to have Junior Sister take him to Peach Blossom Island, and then tell Master about his having learned true cultivation techniques, letting Master handle it.
As she thought this, she suddenly heard Huang Rong ask, “Mei Ruohua and I will be leaving the capital for Kaifeng Prefecture tomorrow. What about the great poisonous snake?”
“It is currently being cared for by the Medicine Boy.”
“Mm, if you want to take its gallbladder, you can come to Peach Blossom Island.” Huang Rong, in a few words, told them the location of Peach Blossom Island.
“Perhaps we will meet again in the Jianghu.”
“That’s true.” Huang Rong thought about raising the great poisonous snake, which would take time. She still needed to find a way to get Zhou Yan to Iron Palm Mountain, so she smiled and didn’t mention it further.
Mei Chaofeng felt a great sense of regret.
The moon was past its zenith, and the sounds of fighting in the city gradually advanced towards the Zhao Wang Manor. Huang Rong was also a little worried about the Medicine Boy. She bid farewell to Zhou Yan, had Mei Chaofeng carry the iron box, appeased Shagu, and the three of them left.
Zhou Yan also worried about the escort agency and set off under the moonlight, heading towards Fu’an.
Half the city floated in smoke and fire. Zhou Yan witnessed the situation and felt a deep heaviness in his heart. He then thought that Ouyang Ke already knew about the Ancient Tomb, and might even drag Ouyang Feng there. He had promised Little Dragon Girl that he would save her if she was in trouble.
A sigh escaped him into the biting wind, his connection with Fu’an was nearing its end.
…
Zhou Yan returned to the escort agency and told Zhang Wangyue, Huyan Lei, and Mu Nianci about Shagu. Everyone was also filled with emotion, surprised by Shagu’s bizarre background.
Huyan Lei considered Shagu his adopted daughter and had always taken good care of her. After his emotion, he was naturally relieved.
The escort agency remained on high alert. After midnight, the sounds of fighting gradually faded, and the tense expressions of the escort agency’s escorts and runners finally relaxed.
When dawn broke, the sound of hooves like thunder announced the arrival of a rider at lightning speed.
The runners had prepared porridge, and Zhou Yan, Zhang Wangyue, and others were having breakfast. A commotion arose from the porch of the escort agency, and an escort hurried over, saying, “Chief Escort, a young man named Guo is here to see Escort Zhou.”
“It’s the Guo brothers,” Zhang Wangyue had met Guo Jing when he was with the Yang Family and knew he grew up in Mongolia. He also knew from Zhou Yan that Guo Jing had led troops into Zhongdu.
Zhou Yan couldn’t explain Guo Jing in detail. Zhang Wangyue vaguely sensed Guo Jing’s extraordinary status, but he was a good judge of character and could see Guo Jing’s simple and kind heart. He could only hope that if the other party truly had noble status, Guo Jing could stop the Mongol soldiers from indiscriminately killing innocent people after they captured Zhongdu.
Thinking this, he said to Zhou Yan, “Let’s go take a look together.”
“Certainly!”
Zhou Yan and Zhang Wangyue arrived at the entrance of the escort agency and saw Guo Jing shout loudly:
“Brother Zhou. Chief Escort.”
Zhou Yan smiled slightly. Guo Jing finally no longer addressed him as Benefactor.
“Brother Guo.”
Zhou Yan stepped forward and said, “Brother Guo, please come inside.”
“Thank you.”
They all arrived at the escort agency’s meeting hall, and Mu Nianci hurried over to greet Guo Jing.
Zhou Yan asked, “The Youngest Sister Yang once captured Jin officials. Interrogation revealed the Khan was supervising the troops. Has the Khan arrived in Zhongdu?”
“He is outside the city.”
Zhou Yan thought this was not a good omen.
Guo Jing said, “My adopted brother has indeed, as Brother Zhou predicted, committed regicide and become the Jin Dynasty Crown Prince.”
“I was lucky to guess correctly. What about Taoist Priest Qiu and the others?” Zhou Yan asked.
“That day, upon hearing the scoundrel Wanyan Honglie ascended the throne and moved the capital, they knew it was difficult to kill the villain at the moment, so the several Taoist priests left temporarily. My Master and others went to Kaifeng Prefecture.”
Zhou Yan nodded, it was as he had expected. The Six Heroes of Jiangnan had confronted Wanyan Honglie and Yang Kang.
“Brother Zhou, what are your plans from now on?” Zhou Yan asked.
“Naturally, to capture Kaifeng Prefecture and avenge my father.”
Zhou Yan sighed. This should be a normal storyline in the Legend of the Condor Heroes world for Guo Jing if he hadn’t met Mu Nianci at the martial arts competition to recruit a husband and Huang Rong later.
“If the Khan captures Kaifeng, Brother Zhou can achieve his great revenge, but has Brother Zhou ever considered that the Khan’s troops might search mountains and seas like the Jurchen?” Zhang Wangyue asked.
Guo Jing thought for a moment and said, “The Khan is a hero, he shouldn’t do that.”
“Let’s hope so,” Zhang Wangyue nodded.
The atmosphere was not heavy. In the remaining time, Guo Jing asked Mu Nianci if she wanted to go to Yang Miaozhen’s mountain stronghold in Caizhou, and they could visit together.
Mu Nianci gladly accepted the invitation. With Zhongdu falling into Mongol hands, although she had freedom of movement, she expected the escort agency would not be taking on escort missions anytime soon, so she should visit her adoptive father and mother.
As they were talking, Liang Xiaowu walked through the courtyard and came quickly.
“The Mongols have ordered all residents to leave the city, not to leave a single one behind. The escort agency is no exception.”
Zhang Wangyue asked Guo Jing, “They are likely to take a census to prevent hidden spies.”
Zhou Yan’s heart sank. The Mongol army had besieged Zhongdu for a long time, and the casualties were not small. This was to massacre the city in anger.
Guo Jing was still confused and said to Zhang Wangyue, “I haven’t heard of this.”
“I fear it’s going to be a massacre,” Zhou Yan suddenly said.
Zhang Wangyue said this, and Guo Jing might not have believed him, but Zhou Yan had previously analyzed Yang Kang’s regicide and Wanyan Honglie’s ascension. Upon hearing this, Guo Jing’s heart tightened. He was simple and honest, and concerned about the lives of the entire city’s people, he dared not be careless. He quickly stood up and said, “I will go and investigate.”
“Thank you for your trouble.”
Guo Jing stood up, bowed to everyone, and left rapidly.
…
Guo Jing left the escort agency and went straight to the Jin Imperial Palace to find Zhebie. He asked why the residents were leaving the city, and Zhebie said the Khan had ordered a massacre.
Guo Jing was greatly alarmed. He left the palace, rode his little red horse, and sped out of the city. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he arrived at the army camp outside the city.
Guo Jing paid his respects, and a soldier reported that the Khan would see him.
He entered the Jin tent in great haste.
The Khan saw Guo Jing and his face was filled with joy. He personally descended from his throne to greet him, ordered his attendants to bring a brocade stool, and told him to sit beside him, saying, “I heard from Tolay and Hua Zheng that you were the first to scale the walls of Zhongdu City. You deserve a great reward.”
Guo Jing was uneasy, but he still mustered his courage and said, “My mother and I have received the Khan’s benevolence, and we have enough to eat and wear. Servants, gold, and silk are of no use in excess.”
The Khan laughed, “Good, this is the bearing of a hero. Then what do you want? Whatever you ask, I will grant it.”
Guo Jing rose from his seat, bowed, and said, “I wish to ask the Khan for one thing, please do not be angry.”
The Khan laughed, “Speak.”
“I ask you to spare the lives of the city’s people.”
The Khan was astonished, never imagining Guo Jing would plead for this.
He was not angry and laughed, “Why?”
“Since the Khan has captured Zhongdu, the people are your subjects.”
The Khan laughed, “That has some logic. You are the Golden Saber Consort, and you were the first to charge into Zhongdu. I will reward you with this city’s women and wealth. In the future, you will capture a city and be rewarded with another. If you capture Kaifeng Prefecture and take Wanyan Honglie’s head, you will marry Zheng’er and be rewarded as Prince of Song.”
“How about it?”
