Chapter 175 Gazing at the Bright Moon
The morning sunlight shines on the earth, the thin mist is dispelled, and the grass blades, wet with dew, slowly unfurl.
On this crisp autumn morning, a small boat drifted downstream along the river. Three people boarded the small boat: two men and a woman, apparently Dai Li and Qin Yanzhou, who had escaped from the capsized warship, and… Bai Jianping.
Bai Jianping sat cross-legged at the bow of the boat, resting his chin on his hand, lost in thought.
Last night, the situation was urgent. As the firelight dimmed with the sinking ship, the surroundings were pitch black, making it difficult to distinguish between those who had fallen into the water and those who had escaped by boat. The scene was chaotic and disorderly.
The mistress was boarding the small boat at that time.
He immediately boarded the boat with her. Later, some bandits tried to abort the boat, and the chaos that ensued goes without saying. In any case, when he came to his senses, he found that besides himself and his mistress, there was only one soldier on the boat.
The small boat circled around two sinking warships. Soon they encountered the second young master. Since there were limited spots available, the soldier had to board another ship.
Later, as the river fog grew thicker, in order to avoid river bandits, they inexplicably became separated from the other boats.
After holding it in all night, Bai Jianping finally couldn't help but ask, "Mistress, you did this on purpose, didn't you? You clearly knew from the beginning that we would encounter bandits, but why didn't you tell me anything? I have served the Lord for more than ten years, don't I deserve your trust?"
Dai Li shook her head and said, "Chief Bai is mistaken. They are not river bandits, but followers of the Qinglian Sect."
Bai Jianping's body trembled.
Dai Li smiled and sighed, "That little leader of the Green Lotus Sect is cunning and extremely suspicious. If I set up a big scheme, he definitely won't come. At first, it was not many forty people to travel by water, and later it was indeed few for less than thirty people to travel together on a large ship. But how can you catch tiger cubs without going into the tiger's den?"
"But……"
Dai Li added, “It’s not that I don’t trust you; quite the opposite, it’s precisely because I trust Commander Bai so much that I dare to act so boldly. Look, aren’t we all safe and sound now, and everything is just fine?”
Bai Jianping thought that made sense, but something seemed off.
Dai Li ended the previous topic, "Zhouzhou, let's dock here, and then walk to find a populated area nearby."
Bai Jianping looked back and saw that the fog had dissipated considerably, and the river was bright and clear. There were hardly any people or boats to be seen, and even birds were scarce. Their small boat drifted downstream, leaving light ripples on the tranquil waters of the river.
Upon hearing this, the young man rowing the boat slowly steered it towards the shore.
Bai Jianping sat at the bow of the boat. He was the first to disembark, then turned around to help Dai Li ashore. When he went to help Qin Yanzhou, the young man, who had just regained his footing, suddenly chopped at the back of Qin Yanzhou's neck as he turned around.
The blow was swift, ruthless, and precise, leaving Bai Jianping's eyes wide with shock. Before the shock could even subside, he was sent crashing forward with a thud.
Dai Li returned to the ship and took out a hemp rope that she had prepared earlier from an inconspicuous box.
Qin Yanzhou suddenly said, "Mom, I plan to take off his clothes before tying him up, so we can buy more time. So leave the rest to me."
Dai Li: "..."
Looking at her serious-looking son, Dai Li touched her nose and realized that the child wasn't just cold-hearted; he had quite a few mischievous ideas inside him.
Yes, he looks like his father.
Dai Li: "Okay, I'll leave everything to you. I'll wait for you up ahead."
After Dai Li left, Qin Yanzhou took Bai Jianping to a place far from the water's edge, and then stripped him naked, leaving him without even a pair of underwear.
After securing the hands tightly, Qin Yanzhou used a rope to tie the person to a tree trunk to keep them in place. Finally, Qin Yanzhou took the stack of clothes, but left a small dagger not far away, out of Bai Jianping's reach.
This is the only thing he left behind.
Wild animals are nocturnal, and since this place is not far from Xin County, there is no concern that the naked village chief will be carried away by a wild beast.
*
After the sun rises to its zenith, it slowly begins to set in the west.
The thunderous hooves of a hundred cavalrymen kicked up dust on the official road. The man at the head of the cavalry was tall and imposing, with deep-set eyes. His imposing and dignified demeanor as he rode his horse inspired awe in all who saw him, and every caravan that encountered him quickly gave way.
He looked travel-worn, his eyes were bloodshot, and he hadn't shaved in a long time, with a layer of stubble on his chin.
At the city gate, commoners whispered among themselves:
"Have you heard? There's been a bandit problem along the Min River in the area between Wuwen and Xin County!"
"How could I not have heard? My third uncle's brother-in-law is a boatman. He said that a multi-story boat collided with another boat on the river last night. You could hear a loud bang from far away. Tsk tsk, these river bandits from who-knows-where are really rampant. But they were unlucky. They kicked a hornet's nest and their boat capsized in the ditch."
What do you mean?
"It is said that there was a nobleman on the ship that was hijacked. The nobleman traveled with a large retinue of soldiers, each of whom was strong and powerful, no less than the soldiers of the government. When these two groups met, wouldn't it be a fight to the death? In short, the pirates did not gain any advantage."
"Ha, you speak so confidently, but how do you know the river bandits didn't win? Those white streaks floating on the river are the most ferocious and skilled in the water."
"Do you think I'm lying to you? Of course it's what the floating corpses on the river said! And just this morning at dawn, I met several men on the road who were soaking wet. I reckon they were probably servants of a noble family."
The man in plain clothes touched his chin regretfully. "I thought they wanted to ride in my donkey cart to Xin County so I could make a few copper coins. But they only asked for directions and then turned back. I guess they were going back to where they started."
Qin Shaozong heard the whispers drifting over and looked in the direction of the sound. He saw that two coachmen were chatting together.
They are now waiting to enter the city through the west gate of the new county, and they must have come from the east, just like him.
After a moment's thought, Qin Shaozong made a decision: "Mo Yanyun, you lead a group of men into the city to visit the prefect here, and I will lead the men back."
If nothing unexpected had happened, the lady was supposed to arrive in the new county today, which is why he went straight here. But now it seems he was a step too late; some things had already occurred.
Mo Yanyun accepted the order and led a group of people into the city.
Qin Shaozong turned his horse around, intending to lead his men back, but after riding for less than a mile, he encountered a... beggar.
At first, Qin Shaozong did not take this man seriously. After all, the man had disheveled hair, was shirtless, had only a tattered piece of burlap around his waist that was about to fall off, and wore a pair of straw sandals that were extremely shabby and had his big toe sticking out. In addition, the man had rough skin and dark complexion, so it was hard to believe that he was a refugee.
"My Lord!" came a cry as sharp as a cuckoo's mournful cry.
Not to mention Qiao Wangfei standing to the side, even Qin Shaozong, who was usually unmoved by anything, was taken aback.
A flurry of gazes immediately turned towards them.
"Old Bai?" Qiao Wangfei stared in disbelief, asking repeatedly, "How did you end up like this? I heard there are bandits causing trouble nearby. Could it be that those bandits are so poor that they don't even have time to leave behind a single piece of clothing?"
Bai Jianping was overwhelmed with emotions, but just then a gust of wind blew by, and he immediately forgot about venting his sorrows and quickly pulled down the tattered burlap around his waist that was being blown around.
But my buttocks still felt cool.
A caravan was passing by when a child sitting on a cart said to his father, "Daddy, that man isn't wearing pants! Shame on him!"
The father quickly covered the child's mouth, saying, "Children speak without thinking, please don't be offended."
Bai Jianping: "..."
"Bai Jianping, where is Madam?" Qin Shaozong asked in a deep voice.
While tearing at the tattered cloth he had painstakingly obtained from the traveler, Bai Jianping gave a concise report on the previous night.
He started by talking about the strange smell of the incense burner in his room when Dai Li came to find him, and then talked about the subsequent ship collision and the melee, and how he was knocked unconscious.
Bai Jianping was both aggrieved and shocked. After explaining everything, she kept asking, "My lord, why do you think the mistress is like this?"
He pondered this all day, but still couldn't figure it out.
Her husband rose through the ranks, the household was peaceful, and the mistress's position as the principal wife remained secure. Meanwhile, her son made outstanding contributions in the army, attracting the attention of everyone, including her husband and the praise of the soldiers.
Your future is bright, why abandon the light for darkness?
No, it can't be said that she abandoned the light for the dark. If the person she killed last night was the leader of the Qinglian Sect, then the mistress would never have joined the Qinglian Sect.
Qin Shaozong's expression grew increasingly cold and grim. "Where did you wake up this morning? Take me there immediately."
A quick-thinking soldier hurriedly gave his own clothes to Bai Jianping, who, without regard for the public, first put on his shirt and then quickly pulled on his trousers with a piece of hemp cloth.
Qin Shaozong pressed his temples.
Bai Jianping mounted his horse. "My lord, that place is on the riverbank, where the official road doesn't reach. The last section into the mountains is unsuitable for riding. Moreover, when I woke up this morning, I didn't find any trace of that small boat, so we can't rule out the possibility that the mistress and the second young master traveled by water."
Upon hearing this, Qin Shaozong called out Qiao Wangfei's name, "There is a ferry crossing in both Xin County and Wuwen County. You are in full charge of searching both ferry crossings. Remember to be careful and never let the guilty go free."
Qiao Wangfei bowed and accepted the order.
Qin Shaozong then said, "Hu Bao, lead your men to thoroughly inspect the city gates in the southeast, northwest, and southwest of the new prefecture."
Hu Bao, obey my command.
The team split into two groups again.
Back then, Bai Jianping walked across mountains and valleys, taking almost a whole day to reach the new county. Now, they rode horses, first along the official road, then abandoned their horses and entered the mountains and forests, which would take less time.
However, by the time Qin Shaozong arrived at the place where Bai Jianping had woken up that morning, it was already completely dark.
They carried torches and walked with them burning.
The flames illuminated a corner of the forest, and everything under the firelight was unremarkable. Ordinary bushes, ordinary withered leaves, ordinary vines—everything was utterly ordinary.
Bai Jianping hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "My lord, it is already dark. Why don't we rest for a while? There are only two towns nearby, Xin County and Wuwen. It will only take a day. The mistress and the second young master will not be able to go far. Why don't we conserve our energy first?"
Qin Shaozong surveyed the forest, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Are there any villages nearby?"
Bai Jianping actually knew the answer to this question.
When he first heard that Dai Li was going to travel by water, he felt inexplicably uneasy. So he studied the map for a long time, looking from the Min River all the way to the geographical features and population centers near the waterway.
That's why, even though he was left in the wilderness, he was still able to walk to the new county as quickly as possible.
Bai Jianping pointed in a direction: "There is a small village behind that mountain. I happened to meet a caravan today and asked them about the size of the village. They said the village is very small, with no more than fifty households."
The small population means that once a stranger enters the village, the whole village will know about it in no time.
Bai Jianping urged Qin Shaozong again, "My lord, if we don't rest soon, the soldiers and horses won't be able to keep up..."
The people were fine, but every single horse that Xuanxiao rode was a top-quality breed. He had accompanied Qin Shaozong on his campaigns across the country, and compared to the noble families who held high positions in the imperial court in Chang'an, Bai Jianping, who came from a humble background, cherished his horses very much.
Qin Shaozong said calmly, "The soldiers in the group are mostly escorting the lady."
He was traveling on the official road when he encountered Dai Li's land-based troops, which had split up midway. Qin Shaozong then adjusted the granaries, and all the soldiers and horses who had come with him from Chang'an stopped to rest. The accompanying troops were replaced by more than a hundred people from the land-based troops.
It can be said that, apart from the generals, everyone else had rested and was not completely exhausted.
Bai Jianping choked for a moment, then advised Qin Shaozong to take care of his health.
Qin Shaozong ignored him, summoned ten men, and ordered the squad leader to lead a team to the small village overnight.
“This place is in the middle of nowhere. If the mistress doesn’t go to the small village, the only options are Xin County and Wuwen. Xin County is closer than Wuwen, and it’s under strict guard. Once the mistress and the second young master enter the city, it won’t be easy for them to leave quietly. Strength diminishes with prolonged exertion. It’s only for one night. Why don’t you rest for a while? If you fall ill, there will be no one to lead the way, which will only hinder the progress.” Bai Jianping earnestly advised again.
Qin Shaozong let out a breath and finally said, "Let's rest for the night in this area."
Bai Jianping was overjoyed.
They returned and rejoined the squad that was guarding the horses. The soldiers scattered and gathered firewood, built a fire by the roadside to keep warm, and thus spent the night in the wilderness.
Qin Shaozong sat leaning against a tree, his face weathered and his eyes bloodshot. It had been two days since he last slept. The soldiers around him were sleeping soundly, some even snoring, but he was not sleepy at all.
The fire burning in his heart continued to rage relentlessly, as if it would scorch holes in his internal organs.
Qin Shaozong looked up at the bright moon in the sky.
The bright moon hangs high, its light shining down on him, but not just on him.
So far away, beyond reach.
Qin Shaozong slowly closed his eyes, his hand resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist, his long fingers tapping it lightly.
It takes three days and two nights to travel by water from Wuwen to Xinjun. If she continues westward by boat, she will arrive at Xinjun Jinkou this afternoon.
But she probably won't take the waterway.
The reason is simple: after she disappeared, Zhang Danchen, who was on another large ship, would definitely send people to search for her on the Min River. The small boat that boarded first had no sail and could not be as fast as the one with a sail. If they continued to travel by water, they would inevitably be overtaken from behind.
As for the village, although a team was sent there, Qin Shaozong privately felt that the fox was unlikely to go that way.
A village of fifty households is too small; if even a stranger enters, word will get out quickly, making it far from a good place to go.
He traveled by land, following the official road, from Chang'an through Wuwen County, and finally to Xin County. After encountering that small land-based team, he thoroughly searched every subsequent group, large or small, but found no trace of her. This suggests that the fox must not have gone towards Wuwen.
If she doesn't turn back, then she'll most likely have to go to New County, and then change course from New County to other places.
However, just to be on the safe side, we should have someone search the mountains in the vicinity tomorrow.
His only advantage is time.
*
Dai Li and Qin Yanzhou arrived in Xin County at noon.
After arriving, instead of immediately transferring at Jinkou, Dai Li took her son to the clinic first.
Qin Yanzhou hadn't rested all night, climbing high to scout the enemy's situation, then taking up his sword to fight, and even falling into the water. Dai Li later examined her son and found two knife wounds on his body, so as soon as she entered the city, she took him straight to a clinic to have his wounds treated.
After leaving the clinic, the hungry mother and son changed their route and went to a restaurant to satisfy their hunger.
As winter approached, the days grew shorter and the nights longer. By the time Dai Li and Qin Yanzhou emerged from the restaurant and had prepared two new sets of travel bags, the sun had already set, and it was too late to leave the city.
Dai Li pressed her temples wearily. She had slept little last night, and her son hadn't slept at all. So she decided, "Let's stay at the inn for the night and set off early tomorrow morning."
After she "disappeared," the main force would definitely search for her on the river, and might even send people to contact the land-based teams to search together. With all their time spent on searching, they certainly wouldn't come to Xinjun immediately.
By the time they reunited with Bai Jianping, she and Zhouzhou were no longer in Xinjun. As for the reinforcements from Chang'an, she had previously estimated they wouldn't arrive for another two days or so…
So she and Zhouzhou can leave tomorrow morning; they have plenty of time.
Dai Li thought to herself.
Author's Note: Here we are!
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