Chapter 36: Turbulent Undercurrents, Baiting Comrades with a Comrade’s Life
Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Turbulent Undercurrents, Baiting Comrades with a Comrade’s Life
On the surface, Tongzhou was calm.
But in reality, a dark undercurrent was stirring.
The people of the Profound Yellow Sect, the Jing’an Guard, and the soldiers under General Li were all searching for Zhou Shunqing, both openly and in secret.
But for two straight days, the Jing’an Guard, under the pretext of investigating the dried corpse case, had turned Tongzhou upside down without finding anyone suspicious. The same went for County Magistrate Wang.
It made Pei Shaoqing wonder if Zhou Shunqing had never entered the city at all, or if he had already left Tongzhou.
County Magistrate Wang had the same suspicion and went to see the Kaiyang Saint Heir first thing in the morning to present his theory.
"Absolutely not. I followed him all the way to Tongzhou. Besides, he’s seriously injured. Where else could he be recuperating if not in Tongzhou?" the Kaiyang Saint Heir flatly denied, subconsciously stroking a delicate-featured calico cat in his arms.
The cat was especially friendly, having jumped up to rub against his leg. He found it hard to resist picking it up for a good cuddle.
County Magistrate Wang pondered for a moment before speaking. "Although Tongzhou isn’t large, it has a population of several hundred thousand. Searching for him with manpower alone is no less difficult than finding a needle in a haystack. In my humble opinion, perhaps we can devise a way to lure him into showing himself."
"And how would we lure him?" the Kaiyang Saint Heir asked.
County Magistrate Wang was about to speak but felt as if many pairs of eyes were watching him from the shadows.
He subconsciously leaned closer to the Kaiyang Saint Heir and whispered, "We do this... and this... As long as he’s still in Tongzhou, he will most likely show himself."
’If Zhou Shunqing doesn’t show, it probably means he’s no longer in Tongzhou, and it won’t be my problem anymore.’
Only after finishing did County Magistrate Wang notice that the calico cat in the Kaiyang Saint Heir’s arms was staring at him quietly.
"MEOW~" the calico cat cried. What ill intentions could a cute little kitty possibly have?
"Good! Excellent!" The Kaiyang Saint Heir beamed after hearing the plan, praising it repeatedly. "Captain Wang, this is truly a brilliant strategy. Since it was your idea, I’ll leave its execution to you. I will await your good news."
"This subordinate obeys," County Magistrate Wang replied with a cupped-fist salute.
.........
At the Hundred Households, Sun Youliang, travel-worn from his return to Tongzhou, entered and dropped to one knee. "Greetings, my lord!"
"Mingde, please rise." Pei Shaoqing immediately stepped forward to help him up personally. "You’ve worked hard."
"It was no hardship. It is my honor to share your burdens, my lord," Sun Youliang said with a broad grin, then took out the items he had brought back from the Prefecture City. "My lord, this is Lu Households Commander’s reply and your letter of appointment."
Pei Shaoqing only glanced at the letter of appointment for Standard-Bearer before setting it aside and opening Lu Households Commander’s letter.
In the letter, Lu Households Commander lavished praise on Pei Shaoqing, saying he had his father’s spirit. He affirmed Pei Shaoqing’s merit in exposing the traitor Zheng Xuancheng and executing him, and urged him to continue his efforts to repay the emperor’s boundless grace.
He also mentioned that a probationary Hundred Households Commander would arrive within ten days. His name was Zhou Xiangyang, one of his own highly capable Standard-Bearers, and he instructed Pei Shaoqing to get along well with him.
"What kind of person is Lu Households Commander?" Pei Shaoqing asked softly, casually tossing the letter aside as well.
Sun Youliang chose his words carefully. "He loves money more than women. He maintains his integrity and stays away from female company."
"A man who isn’t into women?" Pei Shaoqing was greatly surprised. He sighed, "Now that’s a formidable man!"
’So many men can’t even stop themselves from jerking off.’
And Lu Households Commander was a man of high status and power; all sorts of beauties were readily available to him, yet he could adhere to his principles and stay away from women.
This showed his firm will and lofty ambitions.
"In his letter, he said the new probationary Hundred Households Commander is named Zhou Xiangyang, a Standard-Bearer. Did you learn anything about him in the Prefecture City?" Pei Shaoqing asked another question.
Sun Youliang was taken aback. He lowered his head and said, "Lu Households Commander did not reveal the candidate for Hundred Households Commander to me, so I did not know. However, when I first met the Households Commander, there was indeed a Standard-Bearer by his side who seemed quite close to him.
"I’d guess it’s him. His words were a bit sharp, but judging by his appearance, he seemed kind and easy to get along with."
"Let’s hope he’s easy to get along with. If he doesn’t know what’s good for him... Hmph!" Pei Shaoqing sneered.
Hearing this, Sun Youliang immediately lowered his head.
"MEOW~"
The sudden meow drew the attention of both men as General Li swaggered in.
"Mingde, you’re tired from your journey. Go back, take a bath, and get some rest. Tonight, I will host a welcome banquet for you at Qunfang Garden," Pei Shaoqing said, dismissing Sun Youliang.
Sun Youliang acknowledged and turned to leave. As he reached the door, he looked at General Li and marveled with a TSK TSK, "So fat."
"What’s wrong with being fat? Did I eat your family’s fish?" Only after Sun Youliang’s back had disappeared from view did General Li stand up on his hind legs. With paws on his hips, he grumbled and cursed in human speech to vent his displeasure. "This is a general’s potbelly, you understand?! This general’s!"
"Alright, what is it?" Pei Shaoqing asked.
General Li managed to calm down, dropped to all fours, and explained his purpose to Pei Shaoqing. "Master, my calico consort has just uncovered important intelligence. County Magistrate Wang and the Kaiyang Saint Heir are planning to lure out that Zhou Shunqing."
"Oh? How are they going to lure him?" Pei Shaoqing raised an eyebrow.
Just then, the sound of footsteps accompanied a Jing’an Guard who hurried in. "My lord, County Magistrate Wang requests an audience."
"Show him in," Pei Shaoqing said after a moment’s thought.
After the Jing’an Guard left, General Li said, "Master, you’ll soon find out how."
With that, he jumped onto a table and began licking his balls.
Before long, County Magistrate Wang strode in with a steady, measured pace. "Standard-Bearer Pei, have you been well lately?"
"Thanks to you, County Magistrate, I am well enough." Pei Shaoqing laughed, gestured for him to sit, and ordered tea to be served. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, County Magistrate Wang?"
"Regarding Zheng Xuancheng’s accomplices in the Jing’an Guard’s prison, I wonder, on what day does Standard-Bearer Pei plan to carry out their execution?" County Magistrate Wang asked calmly after sitting down and straightening his robes.
A thought immediately struck Pei Shaoqing. Connecting this to what General Li had just said, he guessed County Magistrate Wang’s plan and went along with it. "I was just preparing to execute them tomorrow. Is there something you wish to arrange regarding this matter, County Magistrate?"
’That’s right. Even though Zhou Shunqing betrayed the Profound Yellow Sect for a Spirit Pill, he’s still from the Profound Yellow Sect, after all.’
’With the Profound Yellow Sect’s brainwashing methods, upon learning that his former comrades are about to be executed en masse, he will very likely be unable to resist appearing near the execution grounds to watch.’
County Magistrate Wang was taken aback. He had prepared a whole set of reasons to persuade Pei Shaoqing to carry out the execution as soon as possible, but he didn’t expect Pei Shaoqing to have already made arrangements. His speech was now completely useless.
’Using the lives of his comrades to lure the snake from its hole... Although he felt some reluctance, those few disciples of the Holy Sect were doomed to die anyway. It’s better to make their deaths more valuable. Everything is for the great cause of the Holy Sect!’
"Alas, I merely wanted to know the execution time in advance so that those disciples who sacrificed themselves for the great cause of the Holy Sect can have a final decent meal before they go," County Magistrate Wang said with a sigh, his face a mask of compassion.
Pei Shaoqing readily agreed. "You need not worry about that, County Magistrate Wang. They helped me take down Zheng Xuancheng, so in a way, they died for me. I will absolutely not treat them poorly."
"Then I shall entrust this to you, Standard-Bearer Pei." County Magistrate Wang stood up and gave a sincere, solemn bow.
Pei Shaoqing picked up his teacup. "You’re too kind."
Seeing this, County Magistrate Wang took the hint and bid his farewell.
"Master, do you think that Zhou Shunqing will show up at the execution grounds tomorrow?" General Li asked curiously.
"He probably will," Pei Shaoqing said faintly, setting down his teacup. "They know their own people best."
County Magistrate Wang was by no means a bad person, but his ruthlessness in accelerating the deaths of several fellow sect members just to lure out Zhou Shunqing showed how strong the internal cohesion of the Profound Yellow Sect was.
Even if Zhou Shunqing’s loyalty to the Profound Yellow Sect wasn’t on par with County Magistrate Wang’s, he surely still had some lingering affection for it.
Moreover, aside from those who are born evil, most people who have done wrong often feel the need to perform some superficial act to assuage their inner guilt. Therefore, it was highly likely Zhou Shunqing would appear at the execution grounds to see his comrades off.
"Someone!" Pei Shaoqing shouted, then issued an order. "Post a notice! Zheng Xuancheng’s accomplices will be beheaded and displayed to the public at the execution grounds tomorrow at 12:45 PM!"
In just one day, the news spread throughout Tongzhou, and everyone was talking about it.
At the same time, while County Magistrate Wang and the Kaiyang Saint Heir were preparing to be the mantis stalking the cicada, Pei Shaoqing was making a whole host of arrangements to be the oriole waiting behind.