Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Going to Yangzhou alone to rescue people

Wu Tianyue didn't care whether he would be beaten when they met later. He knocked Queen Zhongshun unconscious and secretly got off the boat, took a horse and went to Yangzhou alone.

Apart from eating, he hardly stopped along the way. He was traveling on light luggage and fast horses, and was walking on desolate roads in the mountains and forests. The horses in the palace were well-maintained, and their hoof prints were easy to recognize. So in less than three days he caught up with the people heading to Yangzhou.

The leading guard initially thought it was an enemy attack, but when they saw it was him, they were terrified: "Why did you come here so suddenly?"

"I came here secretly." Wu Tianyue did not hide it, "But don't even think about sending me back. You can't beat me, and if you delay any longer, Lord Lin will be dead."

You are relying on your great strength and we dare not use harsh measures. The guards were dissatisfied in their hearts, but they also knew that this matter could not be delayed. They did not dare to let him go back alone, so they had to tacitly allow him to join the team and sent someone to send a letter to King Zhongshun.

After several days of rapid march, the group finally arrived in Yangzhou.

Wu Tianyue and his guards dressed up and hired a few maids from a village outside the city. They pretended to be wealthy businessmen visiting Yangzhou before entering the city.

The control in the city was strict. Fortunately, Wu Tianyue was tall. Although he was delicate and tender, he was of outstanding height. He did not look like a boy of twelve or thirteen years old. He looked more like a rich kid out for fun and he was generous with his money, so he entered the city quickly.

Wu Tianyue randomly found an inn to stay in, and took two guards out to enjoy the scenery and have fun, while secretly gathering information.

While drinking tea and listening to a book in a teahouse, I heard someone gossiping next to me: "Is Mr. Lin, the Salt Administrator, dead or alive?"

"I don't know," one person replied. "A few days ago, he was said to be seriously ill. Servants were running in and out, seeking doctors and buying medicine. Not long after, his family was seen out shopping for clothes and other things from later times. Now, there's no news."

"Yes, it's very strange." The previous person continued, "I saw his family buying those things, and I thought the funeral would be held soon. But the Lin family suddenly closed the door yesterday. No one came out, and no one came in."

Someone nearby heard this and hissed, "Master Lin is in charge of the salt administration. His illness might not be that simple. How dare you discuss this?"

After hearing this, the two of them quickly quieted down.

After Wu Tianyue heard the news, he listened to the storytelling in the teahouse, then went to various shops in Yangzhou City to buy local specialties. He wandered around like a rich young man out for fun until late at night before returning to the inn.

After returning to the inn, I discussed with the leader of the guards. The information collected today was almost the same. We made a plan and ate, washed and rested as usual.

At night, when everything was quiet, Wu Tianyue selected a few skilled and clever guards to sneak into the Lin Mansion with him.

The Lin residence was unusually quiet, and there was not even anyone on night watch.

Wu Tianyue and his companions often stayed in Beijing and were not familiar with this residence in the south of the Yangtze River, so they split up to search.

When he found a house, he suddenly heard many even and gentle breathing sounds, like those of people practicing martial arts. Wu Tianyue knew he had found the place.

He didn't dare to act rashly. He tried to slow down his breathing and approach slowly.

But although he was gifted, he was still too young. Just as he approached the courtyard wall, he heard a cry: "Who is it?"

Then four or five people rushed out. Wu Tianyue only had time to fire a signal flare before he started fighting with the group of people.

Fortunately, he had been practicing martial arts since he was a child and was born with supernatural powers, so this group of people couldn't do anything to him for the time being.

A middle-aged man came out of the house and saw this scene. He said anxiously: "Use arrows."

The servants obeyed the order and brought bows and arrows. Fortunately, the guards who had scattered earlier saw the signal and rushed over, killed the archer and captured the man.

When those who were fighting with Wu Tianyue saw that their master was captured, they did not dare to act rashly and surrendered one after another.

There were guards outside to clean up the situation, and Wu Tianyue went to the main house after leaving the battle.

There was a pale-faced man lying on the bed in the room. Wu Tianyue was startled and worried that he was too late, so he hurried forward to check.

The man woke up faintly and said, "Tell your master that I have handed the evidence to His Majesty. You can kill me or chop me up as you wish."

After saying that, he coughed for a while and fainted.

Wu Tianyue stepped forward and felt the man's breath and neck, and found that he was still alive. He felt relieved and took out the pill he had with him and stuffed it into the man's mouth.

He lifted his head again and saw that his throat moved a little, which meant he must have swallowed the medicine. Then he put him down and left.

The guards outside the door had already taken control of the situation. Wu Tianyue pulled off his mask and said, "Go and see where the servants in the mansion are. Release them first, then go to the inn to transfer some people over. Don't alert the enemy. Lay low for a few days and wait for my father and his men to arrive with their troops."

A secret guard took the order and left. Wu Tianyue then ordered the guards to take everyone into the room and tie them up.

In the next few days, everything was calm. Lin Ruhai woke up less and less each day. Fortunately, the medicine brought by Wu Tianyue kept him alive and he was able to hold on.

But after a long time, the salt merchants in the city noticed something was wrong and brought people to check, only to find out that someone had taken control of the Lin Mansion.

Wu Tianyue was very satisfied with being able to keep it a secret for a few days. When he learned that the salt merchant was bringing people with him, he ordered the people in the mansion to dig traps, boil sugar water, etc., and everyone was ready to resist.

Everyone in the mansion was armed, and the people blocking the door were exhausted, so Wu Tianyue led his men to open the door and fight.

Although the salt merchants were rich, they could not afford to employ many people with great martial arts skills for a long time. They only used their own servants and salt workers. Now they were not in the water, so they relied on their numbers to hold on for a while.

When King Zhongshun and his men arrived, Wu Tianyue had already finished the battle and was directing his men to fill the trap back.

Upon hearing that Prince Zhongshun had arrived, Wu Tianyue ordered the secret guards to keep an eye on him and went to the front yard with a guilty conscience.

Before he even entered the house, he saw the chief historian come out and carefully examine Wu Tianyue from head to toe. He found no wounds, and his heart settled down. He said with a half-smile, "The prince is finally here. The prince is waiting for you."

"I'm not reckless." He didn't say anything, but Wu Tianyue explained, "But they've come to my door, so can't I fight back?"

"Those salt merchants don't have any experts around them, and this isn't a naval battle. This courtyard is definitely defensible. Why did the prince open the door?" The chief historian heard this and stopped laughing. He said fearfully, "If something happens to you, what will happen to the prince and princess?"

Wu Tianyue was about to retort, "You know there aren't many experts, so what are you afraid of?", when the Chief Historian nodded and said, "Your Highness, you shouldn't tell me if you want to explain. The person you're supposed to report to is inside."

Wu Tianyue didn't dare to go in, so he changed the subject and asked, "Miss Lin hasn't arrived yet?"

"The prince was worried about the prince, and also worried that Miss Lin wouldn't be able to handle the fast boat, so he came here first. However, there's not much distance left, and we think we'll arrive tomorrow." The chief historian replied, then said, "Prince, don't delay any longer, and go in quickly."

Wu Tianyue was still trying to stall for time when he heard Prince Zhongshun scold him, "Come in!"

"Father, I will never dare to do it again." As soon as Wu Tianyue entered the door, he saw King Zhongshun waiting for him with a whip in his hand. He ran over crying and hugged his legs.

Prince Zhongshun was caught off guard and nearly fell down. Just as he regained his composure, he heard him say this and angrily asked, "Do you want another chance?"

Wu Tianyue knew he had said the wrong thing again, so he didn't dare to answer. He hurriedly said, "Lord Lin's illness has become more serious. He is only being kept alive by the medicine given by the imperial physician. Father, please send someone to check on him."

"Why should you worry about that?" Prince Zhongshun stretched out his leg to kick him. "The imperial physician has already gone to see him."

Wu Tianyue dodged, and seeing that this matter could not divert his attention, he said, "Son, I have a good idea. Father, wait for me to tell you before fighting."

Prince Zhongshun sneered and was about to speak when the imperial physician returned with the following statement: "Lord Lin is ill and has been poisoned by a chronic drug. I have just cured him of the poison, but he is frail and will require ten days of acupuncture to clear the remaining poison and then slowly recuperate."

"You'll just spoil him." Prince Zhongshun glared at the official who brought the imperial physician in and ordered him, "Do your best to treat him and don't leave any hidden injuries."

"As you command," the imperial physician replied and withdrew.

Prince Zhongshun looked at Wu Tianyue's cautious expression and couldn't help but soften his heart. He threw down his whip and sat down. "What's your new trick?"

"We were attacked by pirates before. We led elite troops and generals, but we didn't catch a single one." Wu Tianyue said, "My son has been to Nanjing with Grandpa Huang before and has seen the sailors from Jiangnan. Their swimming skills are not much better than ours, and they are far inferior to these pirates."

When Prince Zhongshun thought of this, his face darkened.

Wu Tianyue continued, "Lin Ruhai's ancestral home is in Gusu, which has a well-developed water system. Why not let him take advantage of this serious illness to resign from his post and return home to secretly train sailors for the emperor's uncle?"

"This is theoretically feasible," the Chief Historian said with a smile, "but Lin Ruhai is only a civil servant. He has no martial arts skills and knows no military tactics. I'm afraid he can't do it. Moreover, he has done so much for the emperor. Asking him to resign is too much..."

Wu Tianyue knew this was a demanding task, but how could he possibly find someone so loyal, capable, and with an excuse to resign in such a short time? So he said to King Zhongshun, "If we allow the military commanders from Jiangnan to conduct the training, what difference will it make from the previous ones? They'll still be forming cliques and pursuing their own interests. I'm afraid if we're not careful, they'll take advantage of the opportunity to promote their own people and seize control of the area."

"So what do you say we should do?"

"Father, why don't you write a letter to the Emperor, asking him to send a military commander? Lin Ruhai will select the men, and the general will be in charge of training. Lin Ruhai will have the power of supervision. Separately, the two sides can still check and balance each other," Wu Tianyue replied. "Lin Ruhai has been mediating the Yangzhou Salt Administration for so long, so he must be quite capable. Furthermore, I've heard he's an honest official, and there are rumors circulating that he's seriously ill. Isn't he the perfect candidate?"

Prince Zhongshun listened and pondered for a moment. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that this was a good idea. He was very pleased. But when he looked up and saw him sitting comfortably drinking tea, he became angry again: "What are you doing sitting here? Have you read the article today? Have you written anything?"

When Wu Tianyue heard this, he knew he had escaped a disaster, and he stood up with a smile: "Son, I will do it right away."

After saying that, she ran out the door in a hurry without waiting for his answer.

"Walk properly." Prince Zhongshun scolded him again, "You are so old but still not steady."

The chief official saw that he was cursing but smiling, and complimented him: "The prince is intelligent, and the prince is blessed."

"It's just a little trick, but it's worthy of your praise." Prince Zhongshun stopped smiling and said, "Send someone to check on Lin Ruhai."

The Chief Historian agreed and left. After a while, he returned and said, "Master Lin has regained consciousness."

When Prince Zhongshun heard that Lin Ruhai's condition was relatively stable, he got up and went to his room to discuss the matter.

After Wu Tianyue got through this, he no longer cared about the matter. He made up some of the homework he had missed in recent days. When he heard that King Zhongshun was busy, he went out shopping in a grand manner.

The next day, after washing up, I was about to have someone prepare breakfast when I heard someone say, "Miss Lin is back."

After hearing this, Wu Tianyue went out to greet her happily, but suddenly remembered that he seemed to have lied to her at that time, so he stopped and turned to leave.

"Where are you going?"

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