A new alliance is forged in the hidden station

Chapter Quote: The land outside the world is not a paradise, there are also disputes hidden there. Take shelter for a while and plan your future actions, and watch the wind and rain fill the mountains and rivers.

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The underground world of "Hidden Post" was far more vast and complex than Yan Qing had imagined. Beyond the core area where he had first met Gongsun Sheng, the depths of the cave held numerous branching paths, leading to various functional areas, resembling a small underground fortress. The people gathered here were diverse: cultivators like Gongsun Sheng, frustrated retired officers, skilled artisans, and even one or two gloomy figures who looked like they belonged to the underworld.

Gongsun Sheng seemed to hold a high position, but he was not in charge of any specific affairs. Day-to-day affairs were handled by a middle-aged man named "Shi Zhanggui." This man was shrewd and capable. It was said that he had once been a grain and fodder officer in the border army, but had fled here after offending his superiors.

Yan Qing settled down here, his injuries gradually improving under the care of the postmaster. He was cautious in his words and actions, spending most of his time meditating and regulating his breathing in the small stone room assigned to him, or helping with chores within his ability, while secretly observing everything here.

He discovered that the "Hidden Post" was not a monolithic group. While everyone shared dissatisfaction with the corruption of the imperial court and the brutality of Liangshan, their ideologies varied. Some, like Gongsun Sheng, seemed intent on accumulating strength and biding their time; others, more radical, advocated proactive action and liaisons with various anti-Liang forces; and still others seemed preoccupied, as if they were merely seeking temporary shelter with ulterior motives.

One day, Yan Qing was helping to sort out a batch of medicinal herbs that had just been secretly transported in from the outside world when he suddenly heard a commotion coming from the direction of the post station, mixed with the clanging sounds of weapons being drawn.

He had an idea, put down the herbs, and approached quietly.

At the post station, Shopkeeper Shi and several of his best fighters were confronting a group of recently returned members of the "Hidden Post." There were about seven or eight of them, all with weathered faces and a bloody streak. Leading the group was a burly man with a facial scar, nicknamed "Mountain-Breaking Knife" Zhao Mang.

"Zhao Mang! Why did you attack the government army's grain convoy without authorization this time? And even killed the leading officer!" Shopkeeper Shi's face turned pale as he demanded, "The rules of our 'Hidden Post' are to conduct operations in secret and avoid conflict with the government unless necessary! Are you acting this way to draw a large army to siege you?!"

Zhao Mang spat nonchalantly, "Shi Laosan, stop using the rules to pressure me! That crooked official oppresses innocent people and deserves death! We're hiding in this cave, what's the difference between us and rats? If it were you, we should learn from Liangshan and raise our flags to fight against the crooked government!"

"How dare you!" Shopkeeper Shi shouted angrily, "Those are bandit activities in Liangshan, how could we do that? You are so reckless and will only harm everyone!"

"Hmph! I think you are scared by the government!" Several people behind Zhao Mang also started to make a fuss, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Yan watched with a cold eye, his mind clear. This Zhao Mang was probably the representative of the radical faction in the post station, while Manager Shi was relatively conservative. It seemed that the conflict between the two factions had been going on for a long time.

Just as the conflict was about to escalate, a peaceful voice came: "Amitabha, donors, why are you angry?"

Everyone turned around to see Gongsun Sheng, who had arrived at the scene without them noticing. He glanced at Zhao Mang and Shopkeeper Shi and said calmly, "Brother Zhao has a chivalrous heart and is forced to face injustice. His feelings are pitiful. Shopkeeper Shi, on the other hand, is also concerned about the overall situation and abides by the rules. His logic is also reasonable."

He changed the subject and looked at Zhao Mang. "But, Brother Zhao, you should understand that while your attack on the officer may have been a momentary pleasure, it has alerted the enemy. The nearby counties and prefectures have stepped up their security, making our future actions even more difficult. A little impatience can ruin a great plan, that's what we mean."

Although Zhao Mang was still not convinced, he seemed to be quite afraid of Gongsun Sheng. He snorted and said no more.

Gongsun Sheng then addressed Shopkeeper Shi, "Shopkeeper Shi, rules are fixed, but people are alive. Brother Zhao and the others were also raising supplies for the post station. While their actions were inappropriate, their intentions are clear. Let's just leave this matter alone and don't repeat it."

With just a few words, he resolved a conflict. Although both sides were not completely convinced, they both gave in.

Yan Qing could see clearly from the side that Gongsun Sheng was a man of profound Taoism and tactful handling of affairs. He had a very high prestige in "Yinyi" and was the real backbone.

The storm subsided temporarily. That night, Gongsun Sheng summoned Yan Qing to his quiet room.

"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you about what happened today." Gongsun Sheng brewed a cup of tea and pushed it to Yan Qing.

"Where there are people, there are disputes. It's inevitable." Yan Qing took the teacup. "Sir, you handled it well. I admire you."

Gongsun Sheng smiled and asked, "How is your injury?"

"I'm fine now. Thank you for your concern, sir."

"That's good." Gongsun Sheng pondered for a moment and said, "Yan Qing, do you know why I kept you here?"

Yan Qing put down the teacup and said seriously, "Please explain clearly, sir."

"First, of course, I value your talent. You're young, skilled in martial arts, and thoughtful. Even more remarkable is your chivalrous heart, unable to bear to see the suffering of ordinary people." Gongsun Sheng's eyes were deep. "Second, it's for 'momentum'."

"Momentum?"

"Indeed." Gongsun Sheng stood up and walked over to a huge map of mountains and rivers on the wall. "The world may seem peaceful now, but in reality, there are undercurrents. The imperial court is corrupt, with corrupt officials in power; Liangshan is growing stronger and becoming a threat; and the powerful on all sides each have their own agenda. This is a sign of impending chaos."

He pointed at Liangshan Lake on the map. "Liangshan may seem like a righteous cause, but in reality, Song Jiang, Wu Yong, and the others are incredibly ambitious. You've seen their tactics before. They'll stop at nothing to achieve their goals. If we allow this to continue unchecked, it will become a scourge sweeping across the land. With war raging everywhere, how could the people be blamed?"

He then pointed to places like Daming Prefecture and Dongping Prefecture: "Loyal and righteous people in various places have been framed like Lu Junyi, suppressed like Zhang Qing, or plotted against like Xu Ning, making it difficult to unite them. The court cannot rely on them, and it is difficult for individuals to resist the overwhelming force of Liangshan alone."

Finally, he placed his finger on the location of the Hidden Post and drew a circle. "We, the Hidden Post, aim to gather sparks in this chaotic world, uniting those who refuse to go along with the corrupt and are committed to upholding justice. This will create a hidden force that may be able to turn the tide at a critical moment."

He turned, his gaze blazing at Yan Qing. "And you, Yan Qing, are the crucial link connecting all these forces. You saved Lu Junyi, assisted Zhu Tong, protected Xu Ning, stabilized the Three Villages, have a history with Zhang Qing, and even have connections with some of the Liangshan characters... You've unknowingly woven a web. This web may be more useful than a vast army."

Yan Qing was shocked. He had never imagined that what he had done would have such profound meaning in Gongsun Sheng's eyes. He had only been acting according to his heart, yet unknowingly, he had already stood at a certain point in the tide of the times.

"Sir...what do you want me to do?" Yan Qing's voice was a little dry.

"It's not about what I want you to do," Gongsun Sheng shook his head. "It's about what you want to do. Do you continue to run around putting out fires like before? Or do you use the power of the 'Hidden Post' to more effectively contain Liangshan and protect those you wish to protect?"

Yan Qing was silent for a long time. In his previous life, he had seen through everything and ultimately chosen to retire, but wasn't there a trace of regret in his heart? In this life, he had wanted to avoid it, but he was repeatedly drawn into it. Perhaps Gongsun Sheng was right: fighting alone was ultimately beyond his ability.

He raised his head, a glint of determination in his eyes. "Sir, I understand what you mean. If I can use my humble strength to unite like-minded people and prevent further tragedies, Yan Qing... is willing to do my best!"

"Good!" Gongsun Sheng clapped his hands and smiled. "In that case, you are not only a guest of the Hidden Inn, but also a fellow traveler."

He walked to the desk and took out a token similar to Yan Qing's, but with the word "Huang" engraved on it. He handed it to Yan Qing: "This is the Yellow Token of the 'Hidden Post'. With this token, you can mobilize some of the resources within the post station and establish contact with some contact points outside the post station. I hope you will make good use of it."

Yan Qing solemnly took the token, feeling it weigh heavy in his hand. This was not just a token, but also a responsibility and trust.

"Also," Gongsun Sheng added, "now that you've recovered from your injuries, you don't have to stay here forever. The outside world is in turmoil, and someone needs to keep an eye on it. This is especially true of the battle between Liangshan and Hu Yanzhuo, which is of great importance."

Yan Qing's heart moved: "Sir, what you mean is..."

"Are you willing to make another trip out of the post station, to the vicinity of the front line, to observe the situation secretly? If anything unexpected happens, you can act accordingly." Gongsun Sheng's eyes were deep. "Of course, this trip is dangerous. If you are unwilling..."

"I'm willing to go!" Yan Qing said without hesitation. He was already concerned about the external situation, especially the battle between Hu Yanzhuo and Liangshan, which concerned the direction of Shandong and even the whole world.

"That's great." Gongsun Sheng nodded. "Get ready and leave in three days. I'll arrange for someone to pick you up."

Three days later, Yan Qing's injuries were fully recovered. He bid farewell to Gongsun Sheng and Manager Shi, left the "Yinyi" again, and stepped into the troubled world outside.

But this time, he was no longer a rootless duckweed. He had a secret support behind him and a heavy mission in his heart.

The storm is about to come, and he will no longer be alone in facing this storm that sweeps the world.

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Chapter 19 End