After getting off the boat, the group of people stopped at the signal of Wei Shuyi when they drove not far from the coast where the sea breeze was howling.
To be on the safe side, Wei Shuyi asked two imperial guards to explore the way ahead, and then find a nearby shelter to rest temporarily.
An official was anxious and said to Wei Shuyi: "Minister Wei, there are only three and a half days left before the coronation ceremony of the new king of Dongluo... If we don't hurry day and night, I'm afraid we will be too late."
"There's no need to rush for a moment." Wei Shuyi, wearing a moon-white fox fur coat, leisurely sat cross-legged in the car and said, "We should be cautious first."
"But..." The official looked ahead and couldn't help but say, "But there's another hundred miles to the Andong Protectorate, so you can go on without worry... If you delay any further, I'm afraid you won't be able to arrive before dark."
When the officials mentioned "Andong Protectorate", there was a glimmer of hope in their eyes.
The Andong Protectorate was guarding the Yalu River closely. When they arrived at the Protectorate, there would be warm charcoal and hot soup, where they could rest well for the night. The next day, they would cross the river to their destination, Dongluo.
The official was still eager to leave this desolate place, but he heard the young minister in the car ask: "Master Ju, do you think that the journey of more than 100 miles to Andong Protectorate is definitely safe?"
The official surnamed Gu was stunned by the question, and after a moment he said, "This place is far away from Yingzhou, where the rebels are, across the Liao River... and it is also the seat of the Dasheng government, so how can it be said to be unsafe?"
Wei Shuyi shook his head slightly: "Master Ju, do you know who was in charge of this Andong Protectorate before the court sent troops to defend against Dong Luo?"
"Of course it's the traitor Kang Dingshan..."
But after Kangdingshan colluded with the Mohe, all the troops were gathered in Yingzhou to attack Jizhou. The Andong Protectorate had already been taken over by soldiers and generals sent by the court...
"Kangdingshan has been operating here for many years, so it is impossible for them to be cut off from the outside world. The mountains here are continuous and the terrain is complex. The people who are most familiar with this place must be the people from Kangdingshan." Wei Shuyi said bluntly: "I am afraid that they will set up an ambush on the way and wait to take our lives--"
The official surnamed Gu panicked when he heard this, and subconsciously said, "But... didn't Minister Wei say that as long as we cross the sea and reach the shore, we will be safe?"
"After landing, we no longer have to worry about wind, waves, and ice. We won't be killed at sea. How can we say it's not safe?" The young man sighed, "But I never said that after a moment of safety, there will be no more danger."
"..." The official surnamed Gu's face trembled coldly: "Then... can we send a team of people to take a small road to the Andong Protectorate to ask for help, and ask them to send troops to support us?"
The young man smiled at him, as if to ask about his intelligence in a friendly way: "Can everyone in the Andong Protectorate be trusted?"
"If there are still Kangdingshan's spies among them, or if there are people who are waiting and watching the situation and may defect at any time, I am afraid they will take the initiative to take our heads and show their merit to Kangdingshan—"
This is also the reason why Wei Shuyi did not reveal his whereabouts to the Andong Protectorate in advance.
In today's complicated border situation, he couldn't trust anyone.
Even though they have hundreds of imperial guards protecting them, these imperial guards who have lived in the capital for a long time may not be a match for the fierce soldiers who have been roaming this place for many years.
Wei Shuyi didn't want to gamble - someone had taught him before that making plans and calculations based on a sense of luck was irresponsible to those around him who didn't know the full picture.
The official surnamed Gu almost cried when he heard this, but he didn't dare to shed tears: "Even so, we can't wait here forever, right?"
Tan Li, who was listening, was also shivering. In such bad weather, if he spent the night outdoors, even if there were no assassin beasts, he would be frozen into a southern-style ice lump, right?
Thinking of this outcome, Tan Li finally understood deeply why this place was the first choice holy place for exile that was loved by all dynasties.
Song Xianze pondered and said, "If we wait too long, Dong Luo might send troops to support us..."
"How long do we have to wait? Besides, Dong Luo may not know that we are coming by water..." Some officials were as anxious as ants on a hot pot, no, as anxious as ants in an ice cellar. Although they were anxious, they could only shrink their necks and put their hands in their pockets.
"My Lords, don't be anxious. Let's wait for the imperial guards who were just sent out to check the road conditions ahead—" Wei Shuyi looked towards an unknown place, and said calmly, "I think today's wait will not be in vain."
Long before he boarded the ship, Cui Ling'an had already replied by letter agreeing to assist in the escort.
It was because he knew that this last section of the journey was full of dangers that he asked Cui Lingan for help in advance.
Cui Lingan always keeps his word. Calculating the journey time, it’s almost time for them to arrive.
"Minister Wei, do you have a good idea?" Wu Siqing, who had vomited again, asked in a weak and hoarse voice.
Just as Wei Shuyi was about to explain, he suddenly heard a scream.
It was the voice of a guard of honor.
An arrow flew from the side, passed through the gap in his armor and pierced his back.
As the guard fell to the ground, the other guards shouted in shock: "There's an assassin!"
"Quick, protect the adults!"
Immediately afterwards, dozens of sharp arrows flew from the upper left side, and behind the snowy hillside appeared at the same time, a group of people wearing cold-resistant animal skins and armor.
The imperial guards kept falling to the ground, and the situation suddenly fell into great chaos.
Wei Shuyi looked at the armored people coming and was slightly surprised. Considering the geographical location, he thought that even if there were traitors and assassins, they would probably only ambush in the middle and back sections, waiting for them to move forward. He didn't expect that these people would dare to go straight into this place and appear on the shore of Bohai Sea, eager to carry out the interception...
These people, in this area, are far more unscrupulous than he imagined! "——Kill!"
Those who shot the arrows raised their knives in their hands and began to rush down like jackals rushing out from the depths of the snowfield. Snow mist rose under their feet, and at a glance, there were at least hundreds of people.
Soon, on the mountain road in the same direction, the sound of horse hooves approached rapidly. The leader was a very young man, about twenty years old. He rode his horse and wore a grey fox fur coat. His skin was dark, with particularly prominent whites of his eyes. The edges of his face were very distinct, revealing a bit of arrogance.
He was obviously the leader of this siege. As he rode forward, the ambush troops rushing down the mountain consciously made way for him.
At this moment, Wei Shuyi and others had been surrounded from all sides.
Many imperial guards and several officials were injured in the arrow attack just now. Seeing this situation, Tan Li and others were all terrified and watched the young man who was riding his horse forward with vigilance and nervousness.
An official shouted in a trembling voice: "Who are you... How dare you assassinate the imperial envoy!"
The young man said in a sarcastic tone, "The envoys from the capital would rather take the risk of traveling by water than pass by our Kang family... Unfortunately, most of this area is also under the control of our Kang family!"
Wu Siqing's face turned pale instantly: "...Sure enough, they are Kang Dingshan's subordinates!"
He subconsciously shielded his daughter behind him, but there were also rebels looking around him.
"Since the envoys are so anxious to go to Dong Luo, why don't I give you a ride?" The young man raised his hand and was about to give the order to "leave no one behind" when suddenly a voice spoke first.
"Wait a minute!"
Wei Shuyi took two steps forward, raised his hand and saluted the man, and asked in a confident tone: "I guess you are the son of Envoy Kang Jie, right?"
Seeing that he was very outstanding and so calm, the young man looked at him and asked, "Who are you?"
"I am Wei Shuyi, your humble servant!"
"Wei Shuyi..." The young man held the reins and said in an ambiguous tone, "I've heard of you."
Everyone in the world said that Wei Shuyi, the Minister of the East Palace, was unparalleled in his demeanor and wisdom. He entered the government as the youngest No. 1 scholar since the founding of Dasheng, and was highly regarded by the empress.
But so what? No matter how great he was, the other person's life or death was just a matter of his thoughts.
The pleasure of being in control made the young man look playful: "Why, Minister Wei, do you want to beg for mercy from me?"
Several rebels burst into laughter, their eyes full of sarcasm.
Wei Shuyi also smiled slightly: "No, I want to make a deal with Mr. Kang."
As the young man raised his eyebrows, a middle-aged deputy general beside him frowned and pressed his sword to remind him: "Sir, don't waste your words with this man. The civil officials are treacherous, be careful of their tricks!"
As he said this, he drew his sword and ordered his men to kill the envoys on the spot.
The young man looked at the deputy general with hidden anger: "Why, General Hong, are you going to give orders for me?"
"I dare not." The deputy general responded, but his brows frowned even deeper, and he was obviously not convinced.
The young man clenched the reins tightly, a fire burning in his heart and a dull look on his face.
Therefore, even though he originally did not want to talk to Wei Shuyi, he had to ask Wei Shuyi because he wanted to prove that he was the one in charge: "I want to hear what Minister Wei wants to trade with me!"
"Of course, I will take Wei's own life..." Faced with life and death, with swords and sabers everywhere, the young official with extraordinary demeanor asked calmly, "Empress Kang Jie has many elite soldiers and generals under his command, but at this moment, facing the great commander Cui stationed outside Youzhou City, he can only keep his troops in place. Do you know why, young master?"
He answered on his own: "Because Envoy Kang lacks capable advisers who can give him good advice and help him accomplish his mission, Envoy Kang is unsure and dares not act rashly."
"This is the case now. If Envoy Kang wants to lead his troops to conquer the Central Plains where there are many talented people, this drawback will be even more fatal."
"Throughout history, how could those who were able to accomplish great things not have people who were able to plan for the world under their command?"
In the snow, the young man took the most open attitude, the most straightforward tone, and said the most shameless words: "I am a humble person. If you can spare my life today, I will be willing to serve Envoy Kangjie as a dog and horse in the future."
As he spoke, he slightly emphasized the word "Langjun" in "I was spared the life of my husband".
Receiving this goodwill gesture, the young man's eyes moved slightly, and the officials and guards behind Wei Shuyi were all shocked for a moment. Because they were too shocked, no one even started to scold.
Song Xian's eyes were also shaken. After a moment, he gradually showed disappointment and resentment. When he was about to speak, he suddenly heard Tan Li hurriedly said: "And I! I am also willing to serve Envoy Kang!"
"..." Song Xian turned his head in disbelief, "Tan Li, you..."
Tan Li's voice was much louder than his: "And this Lord Song!"
Song Xian: “……?!”
As if to get a good price, Tan Li even said loudly: "Song Sir is the new champion, his talent is particularly outstanding! Such talent is hard to come by!"
Song Xian's lips trembled, feeling greatly insulted: "I will never..."
As soon as he said this, he felt something pressing against his waist.
He subconsciously lowered his eyes and saw an unsheathed dagger.
His expression changed slightly, and he raised his eyes slightly, looking in the direction of the dagger, and met a pair of uneasy yet warning eyes.
3300 words, the rest will be posted at the usual time~
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
