Chapter 53 Northwest Military Mutiny
Unexpected events can happen at any time.
The next day, the secret guards that Shanlan sent to deliver clues to Vice Minister Liu of the Ministry of Justice were ambushed on the way.
The other party was clearly well-prepared, and their methods were ruthless and their objectives were clear.
Despite the guards' desperate resistance, they ultimately died fighting to the death, and the crucial evidence was stolen.
When the news reached the Jinwang Mansion, the atmosphere in the study suddenly became tense.
"Where was the body found?" Lou Jin's voice was as cold as ice.
"The dark alley in the south of the city was thoroughly cleared by the other side. No survivors were left, nor were any obvious clues to their identities." Shan Lan knelt on one knee, her tone heavy. "It was my dereliction of duty. Please punish me, Master."
Lou Jin raised his hand, gesturing for him to stand up: "The fact that the other side was able to launch such a precise ambush means that our internal movements may have been leaked, or... the other side predicted our actions."
His eyes were deep and thoughtful. "It seems that Lou Yi has a capable person by his side."
He walked to the desk, where a strangely shaped dart, found on the body of the sacrificed guard, was placed. The end of the dart was engraved with a bizarre symbol resembling a coiled venomous snake.
"Can you trace the origin of this mark?" Lou Jin picked up the dart, his fingertips tracing the cold lines.
Shan Lan shook his head: "I have never seen such a mark in the martial arts world, and the craftsmanship is not common in the Central Plains. It seems to be a token of some specific organization."
The trail seemed to have gone cold again, and with the loss of a capable subordinate, the atmosphere became somewhat tense.
Just then, Wang Quan reported that Generals Ye Xunjin and Ye Xunqin urgently requested an audience.
Ye Xunjin and Ye Xunqin walked quickly into the study, their faces more solemn than ever before.
"Your Highness!"
Ye Xunjin spoke first, his voice filled with suppressed anxiety, "A major incident has occurred in the Northwest! The Rong tribe has launched a large-scale invasion, breaching three of our border cities! However, the news has been deliberately suppressed, and the capital is completely unaware!"
"What?!" Ye Xunyang suddenly stood up, his expression changing drastically.
The northwestern border is where the eldest prince, Lou Yan, is stationed, and most of the Ye family army is also stationed here.
Lou Jin's pupils constricted, and his hand gripping the dart tightened instantly, his knuckles turning white: "Is the information reliable? Why was it suppressed? How is things on my brother's side?"
Ye Xunqin interjected, his tone somber: "It was our old subordinates in the army who risked their lives to deliver this message through special channels. It seems the military intelligence channels were intercepted and tampered with; what reached the Emperor was probably false news of peace on the border!"
"His Highness Prince Yan has been out of contact for nearly half a month. The situation... is probably not optimistic."
The study was deathly silent.
The war in the Northwest is critical, and the commander-in-chief may have met with misfortune, yet the imperial court is kept in the dark! This is a matter of great importance that could shake the very foundation of the nation!
"Who has such great power to cover up the truth and intercept military reports?" Ye Xunyang was both shocked and furious.
Lou Jin's face was ashen, and several possible candidates flashed through his mind.
Lou Shang has fallen, and Lou Yi is the most suspicious person with both the motive and the ability to do this. Does he not only want to eliminate himself, but also the eldest prince in the far northwest?
For that position, they were willing to invite foreign invasion and disregard the lives of soldiers and civilians on the frontier?!
In the oppressive silence, Ye Xunqin's gaze inadvertently swept over the marked dart on Lou Jin's desk.
He paused for a moment, then picked up the dart and examined it carefully before asking, "Your Highness, where did you get this?"
Lou Jin and Ye Xunyang both looked at him at the same time.
Lou Jin said in a deep voice, "It was found next to a fallen guard. Does the Second Young Master recognize this item?"
“I recognize it! Back in the southwest, Anar and I were ambushed by someone with this mark!”
"Their martial arts style is bizarre, and they are skilled in using poison and hidden weapons. Their goal is to kill me."
He took a deep breath and pointed to the mark of the coiled venomous snake: "This is it! Exactly the same! I found it strange at the time. They didn't seem like people from the Central Plains, nor like ordinary mountain bandits. They seemed more like highly trained assassins or private soldiers!"
Southwest? Mysterious markings? A highly trained assassin?
Lou Jin felt as if a thunderbolt had exploded in his mind! A vague yet terrifying conjecture gradually took shape.
Intercepting Northwest military reports required a vast network of forces to infiltrate both the military and the imperial court's information channels.
The plot against Ye Xunqin may be related to something he discovered in the southwest.
The bodyguards ambushed him and seized the evidence pointing to Lou Yi.
And three years ago, there was that strange poison from the southern border...
What if these seemingly separate events are being manipulated by the same force?
Does Lou Yi have the ability and ambition?
Or is he merely one of the pawns pushed to the forefront by this force?
“Your Highness,” Ye Xunjin said, his voice heavy as he realized the seriousness of the situation.
"If the events in the Northwest are related to this mysterious mark, then the other side's ambitions are likely far-reaching! His Highness Prince Yan is in grave danger! The border is in grave danger!"
Lou Jin slowly stood up, exuding a chilling aura and a resolute killing intent.
He could not wait any longer, nor could he confine himself to the struggles confined to this corner of the capital.
"Xun Jin, Xun Qin," he said in a deep voice, yet with an undeniable authority, "immediately utilize all your connections in the army, at all costs, to verify the situation in the Northwest, and contact your brother's former subordinates as much as possible to ascertain the facts!"
"Yes!" the two replied in unison.
"Shanlan," Lou Jin continued, "Activate the southwest covert network and investigate the organization behind this mark with all your might!"
"Yes, sir!"
Finally, he looked at Ye Xunyang, his eyes filled with complex yet resolute emotions: "Xunyang, come with me to the palace. The military situation in the Northwest must be reported to the Emperor immediately!"
Suddenly, a trusted retainer of the general's mansion, covered in blood, staggered into the study, knelt down with a thud, and spoke in a hoarse voice:
"Young Master, something terrible has happened! The old general... he couldn't wait for confirmation and has already taken the imperial edict and certificate bestowed by the late emperor and forcibly stormed the palace to meet the emperor!"
"What?!" The Ye brothers' expressions changed drastically.
Lou Jin's heart sank.
General Ye was a man of strong character and loyalty. He would never have taken such a drastic step, which was almost like a coup, unless he believed that the situation had reached a critical point.
He immediately stood up: "Prepare the horses! We must proceed to the palace immediately!"
However, they were still a step too late.
When the four arrived outside the Hall of Diligent Governance, they heard General Ye's sorrowful words coming from inside.
"...Your Majesty! The Rong tribes' iron hooves have trampled through three of our border cities, war rages across the land, and the people are displaced! His Highness Prince Yan's fate is unknown, and military intelligence channels have been maliciously blocked. This is a heinous crime of treason!"
"Your Majesty, I, Ye Qing, humbly request that Your Majesty immediately dispatch troops. I am willing to lead the army to aid the Northwest, recover our lost territories, and I will not hesitate to die for it!"
The people outside the hall were filled with anxiety. Ye Xunyang gripped the armrests of his wheelchair tightly, his knuckles turning white.
Immediately following was the emperor's roar of shock, anger, and disbelief, and the sound of porcelain shattering.
After a long while, the palace doors opened, and Eunuch Gao came out with a solemn expression to announce the imperial decree: "His Majesty has decreed that the military situation in the Northwest is urgent. He hereby orders General Ye Qing, the Grand General of the State, to immediately organize the troops and, five days later, lead 100,000 elite soldiers to the Northwest to aid Prince Yan and recover the lost territory! This is the imperial decree!"
"Your subject obeys the decree! Thank you for your grace!" came General Ye's resounding voice from inside the hall, filled with determination.
Three days later, at the Prince Jin's residence.
Ye Xunqin arrived in a hurry with Anar.
Anar was dressed in a smart outfit today, her expression serious, no longer the innocent and carefree girl she used to be.
“Your Highness,” Ye Xunqin said, getting straight to the point.
“I carefully recalled the details of my encounter in the southwest and confirmed them with Anar. The force marked with a venomous snake is known as the ‘Shadow Serpent’ in the southwest, and they act in secrecy. They have secret connections with several large tribes and their power is considerable.”
Anar added in accented Mandarin, "A couple of days ago, I was buying spices in the West Market when I smelled a tracking fragrance that only 'Shadow Serpents' would use. I followed the scent and found a fur trading company in the south of the city, which is likely one of their bases in the capital."
Finally, a concrete clue has been found! Lou Jin's spirits lifted, and he immediately ordered: "Qingshan, send a team of secret guards to monitor that fur trading company day and night, and find out their details. But remember, without my order, do not alert them!"
"Yes!" Shan Lan accepted the order and quickly made the arrangements.
As the four were trying to connect the dots, a piece of bad news suddenly arrived.
Ye Xunjin sent someone to deliver a message: "General Ye suddenly vomited blood and fainted while discussing matters in his residence, and is now unconscious!"
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