Breaking the deadlock by escaping
Chapter Quote: The Hongmen Banquet was in turmoil, but the host turned the tables and solved the mystery. Cleverly using external forces to intimidate the enemy, the crisis was temporarily resolved and a new plan was laid.
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When the black cloth was removed from the boatman's eyes and he saw Yan Qing, a light of pleading for help instantly flashed in his eyes. His lips trembled, but his mouth was blocked, so he could only make a whimpering sound.
Wu Yong waved his feather fan lightly, his eyes like a cold poisonous snake, tightly entwined with Yan Qing: "Brother Yan Qing, this man is under the command of Brother Lu Da, and is in charge of the secret waterways in the back mountains. He was on duty the night An Daoquan disappeared. Now we have caught him red-handed. You and Brother Lu Da have always been close. Do you have anything to say about this?" He deliberately emphasized "Brother Lu Da" to imply that Yan Qing had colluded with Lu Zhishen and let An Daoquan go.
The air in the courtyard seemed frozen, the murderous aura lurking in the shadows almost radiating out. The wine and food on the stone table had long since gone cold, and the flickering candlelight illuminated Wu Yong's face.
Yan Qing's mind raced, and in a split second, he had made a decision. He didn't look at the boatman. Instead, he slowly picked up the wine glass on the table, gently turning it between his fingers, a hint of a smile on his face.
"Military Advisor," he said calmly, even with a hint of laziness, "I'm afraid your intention with this drink tonight is not to go to the bar, right?"
Wu Yong's eyes narrowed: "What do you mean?"
"If Military Advisor truly believes Yan Qing is responsible for An Daoquan's disappearance, why not present the evidence in the Gathering Hall, in front of all the brothers, and conduct a public trial and sentence?" Yan Qing raised his eyes, his gaze clear, staring directly at Wu Yong. "Why hold this Hongmen Banquet in this private courtyard, first probing Yan Qing's background with lies, and then throwing out this seemingly solid, yet inconclusive, 'witness'?"
He paused, his tone turning cold. "Could it be... that the military advisor has no real evidence and is simply trying to use this opportunity to frame and coerce Yan Qing into confessing, or... to force Yan Qing to do something that would give the military advisor leverage?"
This rhetorical question was sharp and direct, and it actually turned the tables and exposed Wu Yong's intentions nakedly!
Wu Yong's face changed slightly. He hadn't expected Yan Qing to be so calm, and his words were so sharp! He forced himself to remain calm and sneered, "Fine words and a charming demeanor! This person is irrefutable evidence! What other evidence do we need?"
"Ironclad evidence?" Yan Qing scoffed, put down his wine glass, stood up, and walked over to the trembling boatman. He looked him over carefully and suddenly asked, "Military Advisor, you said he was on duty the night before and was caught trying to sneak down the mountain. May I ask when and where he was caught? Did he have any valuables with him at the time? Did he have any accomplices?"
Wu Yong was startled by his barrage of questions. He didn't delve into the details, simply feeling that apprehending this man would mean he had leverage over Yan Qing and Lu Zhishen. He replied vaguely, "Of course, he was spotted by patrol officers on a small path in the back mountains late at night. He looked suspicious, so we apprehended him!"
"Looks suspicious?" Yan Qing shook his head, his tone tinged with sarcasm. "Military Advisor, the path in the back mountain leads to the water. This man is the leader in charge of the waterway, patrolling the waterway at night. What's suspicious about that? If he really wanted to release An Daoquan from the mountain secretly, after the deed was accomplished, why didn't he immediately flee thousands of miles away, but instead stayed in the mountain stronghold, waiting to be caught red-handed by you, Military Advisor? How could the world be so foolish? Moreover, An Daoquan is just a weak doctor. Without someone to help him, how could he come and go freely in this heavily guarded Liangshan? Military Advisor, instead of investigating the possible contact, you only focus on a patrol boatman. Isn't that missing the point?"
Every word he said was logical and well-reasoned, and he refuted Wu Yong's so-called "ironclad evidence" with many loopholes. The boatman nodded vigorously after hearing this, and hope ignited in his eyes.
Wu Yong's face paled and sank, and he even forgot to fan himself. He realized he had indeed acted too hastily, and the evidence chain was incomplete, making it difficult to convince the crowd. If the incident really reached the Juyi Hall, with Guan Sheng, Lin Chong, and the others present, it would be difficult to capture Yan Qing.
Seeing the situation was heating up, Yan Qing sighed and softened his tone, "Military Advisor, it's not that I mean to contradict you. It's just that I've devoted myself to the stronghold, and despite making minor contributions, I've been repeatedly met with suspicion, which truly chills my heart. I'm also heartbroken by the disappearance of Doctor An, but evidence is essential for everything. How can I implicate him simply because I'm close to Master Lu? If that's the case, who among the brothers will dare to be close to each other in the future? Where is the meaning of righteousness in the stronghold?"
His words not only pointed out his own grievances, but also stood on the moral high ground of the copycat "righteousness".
Wu Yong stared at Yan Qing, his chest heaving. He knew that tonight's mission was impossible. Forcibly taking Yan Qing would only cause greater internal divisions, especially the possibility of forcing Lu Zhishen, the reckless monk, to rebel.
Just as the atmosphere reached a stalemate, a commotion suddenly erupted from outside the courtyard, and an anxious voice shouted, "Military Advisor! Military Advisor! This is bad! Something terrible has happened!"
A patrol leader rushed in in a panic, not caring about etiquette. He shouted urgently, "Military Advisor! I just received a letter via carrier pigeon! Dengzhou... something's happened with Sun Tixia in Dengzhou!"
Wu Yong was so angry he had no place to vent his anger. He shouted, "Why are you panicking? What could possibly happen to Sun Li?"
The leader gasped and said, "The letter said... Sun Tixia was ambushed and poisoned while suppressing bandits in Dengzhou! Now his life is in danger! The famous doctors in Dengzhou are helpless. Leader Sun Xin and Mrs. Gu implore the stronghold to send the genius doctor An Daoquan to treat him as soon as possible! But... but genius doctor An can..." When he said this, he saw the situation in the courtyard and fell silent.
Sun Li is in critical condition due to poisoning! He needs An Daoquan's treatment!
This news was like another heavy hammer, hitting Wu Yong's heart. Sun Li represented the Dengzhou forces and was a key part of the "Anti-Liang Alliance." If anything happened to him, Dengzhou would inevitably be in turmoil, and the entire alliance could be affected! At this moment, An Daoquan's medical skills became crucial, and he had just "disappeared"!
Wu Yong suddenly looked at Yan Qing with a complicated look in his eyes. He urgently needed An Daoquan, and An Daoquan's disappearance was related to Yan Qing!
Yan Qing was also secretly shocked, having never expected the external situation to change so quickly. Yet, a look of deep sorrow crossed his face. "Sun Tixia actually... Alas! Doctor An has disappeared at this very moment. Heaven truly has not blessed us, Liangshan! Military Advisor, the most urgent task is to do everything in our power to locate Doctor An and save Sun Tixia!"
He cleverly shifted the focus back to "searching for An Daoquan" and "rescuing Sun Li", making himself appear to be taking the overall situation into consideration.
Wu Yong's face turned pale, and he was speechless for a long moment. He waved his hand, signaling for the boatman to be taken away. He then said to the leader who had reported the news, "Pass the order down. Send more people and expand the search area. We must find Doctor An as soon as possible! We must see him alive or dead!"
The leader took the order and left.
Wu Yong and Yan Qing were the only two people left in the courtyard. The atmosphere was still oppressive, but the murderous intent had largely dissipated.
Wu Yong looked at Yan Qing with a gloomy look. He knew that not only had he failed to capture Yan Qing tonight, but he had been outmaneuvered by Yan Qing. Moreover, he had been thrown off balance by this sudden outside news. There was no point in continuing to fight with him at this moment.
"Brother Yanqing," Wu Yong forced a smile, his voice dry, "It seems that I drank a few too many cups tonight and lost my composure a bit. The matter of Doctor An still needs to be discussed in detail. Brother, go back and rest early."
This was an order to expel the guest, and it also meant that tonight's Hongmen Banquet would end with Wu Yong's temporary retreat.
Yan Qing sneered inwardly, knowing this was just the lull between storms. He bowed and said, "Military Advisor, please rest early. Yan Qing will take his leave."
He turned around and walked out of the courtyard calmly, his back straight. He didn't let out a tense breath until he disappeared from Wu Yong's sight. His clothes on his back were soaked with cold sweat.
Although it's a close call tonight, Wu Yong will never give up. Dai Zong has gone to Tokyo, Sun Li is poisoned and dying... The situation is becoming increasingly complicated and treacherous.
He looked up at the dark night sky, the stars were dim.
It has to be faster.
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Chapter 50 End
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