Chapter 268: Changing Circumstances (Part 2)

“Damn you!”
Yang Guozhong slammed his fist hard on the table. “How could you fail to catch him?”
General Ma Xiujun of the Longwu Army and General Deng Wei of the Jinyu Guard both lowered their heads in shame. “Minister Yang, we did our best. We were indeed a step too late—he’s already escaped.”
“Escaped? But I had spies everywhere around his residence. How did he get away?”
Furious, Yang Guozhong banged the table repeatedly. Xing Si was the key to his entire plan. How could such a flawless plan have any flaws?
“Where are the spies? Call them here immediately! Were they born from shit?”
Yang Guozhong was losing his sanity. It hadn’t even been half an hour since they captured Ren Haichuan until they sent troops to capture Xing Si. How could Xing Si have escaped?
“Minister, calm down. There’s a secret passage in Xing Si’s residence that leads hundreds of steps away. The spies didn’t know about it, that’s why he could escape. It’s not the spies’ fault.”
“Then who sent the message? Could it be that the messenger also entered through the secret passage?”
As soon as Yang Guozhong finished speaking, he suddenly remembered something. He stared intently outside the hall. After a while, he slammed his fist on the table again and growled, “Cui Guangyuan, you bastard! How dare you betray me!”
He just remembered that Cui Guangyuan had once told him that Xing Si owed him a favor. How had he not realized this earlier?
“Minister Yang, what should we do now?” General Ma Xiujun asked.
“What else can we do? Search the entire city. If that doesn’t work, offer a huge reward. We must find this man at all costs!”
As soon as Yang Guozhong finished speaking, a voice came from outside, “Minister Yang, there’s no need to search the whole city or offer a reward. I know where he is.”
Linghu Fei walked in from outside. Ma Xiujun and Deng Wei bowed to him, and Linghu Fei returned the bow with a gentle smile. “I anticipated this accident today, which is why I know where Xing Si is.”
Yang Guozhong was overjoyed. He stepped forward eagerly, “Sir, please tell us quickly! Where is that thief hiding?”
Linghu Fei nodded and said, “I knew right away that if Xing Si escaped, he would definitely go to Wang Qiang’s residence for shelter. So I placed two spies near Wang Qiang’s house. As expected, Xing Si fled to Wang Qiang’s residence. It’s a pity I didn’t assign enough people; otherwise, we could have caught him on the spot.”
“Then let’s go to Wang Qiang’s residence right now and get him!” Yang Guozhong exclaimed excitedly.

“No! He has already been sent out of the city. One person returned to report, while another went to follow him. But if I’m not mistaken, he was taken to the manor outside Wang Chuan’s city. What Minister Yang needs to do is to leave the city tonight and capture him before Wang Gong can react.”
At that moment, the sound of drums signaling the closing of the city gates came from outside. Yang Guozhong immediately made a decision and said to General Deng Wei of the Jinyu Guard, “General Deng, your Jinyu Guard is not restricted by the city gates. You may lead five hundred cavalry out of the city. Under no circumstances must you fail to capture Xing Si for me.”
“Your orders, sir!”
Deng Wei bowed and strode outside. In moments, five hundred cavalrymen of the Jinyu Guard rushed toward Mingde Gate at lightning speed, like a gust of wind sweeping through the streets.
…
Wang Chuan’s manor was located in the northwest of Chang’an City. It was a vast estate covering nearly five thousand mu, with over two hundred tenant farmers. There was a small river beside the manor, and a lush forest not far away. The area had ample irrigation and fertile soil, making it highly productive farmland. Besides Wang Chuan’s manor, there were also two large manors belonging to Chen Xilie and Yang Shenjin. Self-cultivating farmers were almost extinct here; all farmers worked as tenants for the powerful elites in Chang’an, while women went into the city to find work to earn a little money to support their families.
Wang Chuan’s manor had no walls, allowing a full view of the vast fields. Near the forest stood a three-story house, with several large granaries behind it. However, a wall surrounded the house and granaries.
Light flickered faintly inside the house. Xing Si stood by the window on the third floor, silently gazing at the dark night outside. He was about forty years old, tall and strong. Born into poverty with his parents dead early, he had wandered the streets of Chang’an since childhood. At the age of thirteen, he became an apprentice in a martial arts school, where he learned various combat skills. Relying on these skills, he gradually built a fortune and earned a reputation as a heroic and chivalrous man in Chang’an.
Tomorrow was his fortyth birthday. Having reached middle age, he had intended to give up his competitive spirit and enjoy life. But an unexpected disaster forced him to flee, unable to return home. With so many soldiers sent to capture him, he guessed that it was likely related to the Wang family. Otherwise, why would such a big effort be made just for him, a minor figure?
Xing Si was deeply troubled. He was considering where to go. He couldn’t return to Chang’an. It would be best to head to Xianyang tomorrow. He had two thousand guan stored in a bank there, which he could withdraw to seek refuge with his uncle in Longyou. After the storm passed, he could bring his wife and children back. He made up his mind to leave at dawn.

Suddenly, intense barking came from afar—countless dogs howling in the darkness. He immediately became alert; such a large number of dogs barking together could only mean a large group of people had arrived. He rushed to the window and looked into the darkness. With his sharp eyes, he saw a long black shadow moving swiftly on the road about two li away, faintly reflecting light.

“Armor!”
Xing Si suddenly realized that only armor could reflect light in the dark. It was the army coming to capture him. Without hesitation, he broke through the window, jumped from the third floor into the courtyard, rolled on the ground, and drew the dagger in his boot to cut the reins tied to the wooden post. He mounted his horse, stabbed it hard in the rump, and the horse, in pain, leaped through the gate and galloped into the fields.

The 500 cavalrymen of the Jinguwei Guard, guided by a spy, were now less than a li away from his hiding place. General Deng Wei suddenly saw someone riding out of the courtyard and immediately realized it must be the fugitive. He shouted, “Catch him! A reward of a thousand guan awaits!”
The cavalrymen rushed after Xing Si in a frantic pursuit. Hundreds of cavalrymen and one fugitive galloped through the fields where seedlings were being planted, their shouts echoing through the night. Seeing a large forest ahead, Xing Si turned his horse and charged into it like a madman. The 500 Jinguwei Guard soldiers immediately split into three groups to encircle him from all sides.

When Xing Si emerged from the forest, he realized he had made a grave mistake. The speed in the forest slowed down, while the cavalrymen who had taken a detour were closing in—now less than sixty steps away. A small river suddenly appeared ahead, blocking his path.

At that moment, General Deng Wei drew his bow, aimed, and shot an arrow. With a crack of the bowstring, the arrow struck Xing Si in the back, sending him and his horse crashing into the river.
“Catch him! Capture him alive!” Deng Wei shouted fiercely, constantly pulling at the reins and scanning the river. Where was he?
“General, over there!”
A soldier suddenly spotted the target. Xing Si had already climbed to the other shore, holding his right shoulder where an arrow was embedded, and staggered toward the shore. In the distance, there was faint light—unknown what it was.
“Damn it!”
Deng Wei cursed, “Hurry and find a bridge to cross the river!”
The cavalrymen split into two teams to search for a bridge. They soon found one about two li away. The sound of horse hooves echoed like thunder as they rushed across the bridge.

On the other shore, Xing Si was no longer in sight. They chased along the watermarks and soon arrived at a place lit by lamps. Deng Wei’s heart sank immediately—he realized it was a military camp. Before they could get closer, an arrow was shot at them from the watchtower, and a sentinel shouted, “Stop!”
“Which army is in this camp?” Deng Wei asked his men in a low voice.
His subordinates shook their heads, saying they didn’t know. Then a local soldier said, “This used to be the camp of the Hui Cavalry. After their defeat, most of the soldiers fled, and the camp was abandoned. It’s strange that troops have suddenly appeared here.”
“General Liu, go and find out what’s going on!”
An officer dismounted and stepped forward, shouting loudly, “We are from the Jinwu Guard. We’re pursuing a fugitive from the imperial court. Which army are you?”
The soldiers on the watchtower replied coldly after a while, “We are from the Anxi Army. There are no fugitives here. Our general is inside the camp. It’s better for you to leave quickly before angering our general.”
“The Anxi Army!” Deng Wei was stunned.
……
Inside the camp, Xing Si knelt on the ground with his upper body half-naked. A military doctor was carefully using a sharp knife to remove the arrow from his left shoulder. In front of him, Li Qing’an was reclined in a comfortable armchair, staring coldly at the man before him.
Xing Si’s face was pale, his teeth gritting from the intense pain. Sweat dripped from his forehead, but he didn’t utter a word. Li Qing’an nodded slightly—this man was indeed tough. Suddenly, Xing Si let out a muffled groan as the arrow was removed from his bone. The doctor immediately applied medicine to stop the bleeding and wrapped the wound with a bandage.
“It’s done!”
The doctor cut the bandage off and stood up, smiling. “The arrowhead was non-toxic. It only damaged a little bone. With a month of rest, he’ll be fine again.”
Xing Si took a deep breath and kowtowed to Li Qing’an. “I am grateful for your general’s mercy in saving my life. I will remember this deeply and repay you someday.”
Li Qing’an waved his hand lightly. “Continue from where you left off. After Cui Guangyuan delivered the letter to you, how did you manage to escape?”
“Yes!”
Enduring the waves of pain in his shoulder, Xing Si continued, “I originally wanted to take my wife and children with me, but it was too late. A large group of soldiers surrounded my residence, so I had to escape through a secret passage. I spent ten years digging this passage, which is about a hundred steps long, for emergencies. I never expected to use it today.”
“And then?”

“Then I fled to the residence of Wang Gong’s brother, Wang Xuan, to seek refuge. He immediately sent me to a manor outside the city, but unexpectedly, I was followed. Just now, the soldiers continued to chase me. I managed to escape by sheer luck, thanks to the rescue of the great general.”
At that moment, a report came from outside the tent, “Great general, there are men from the Jinwu Guard outside the camp. They are demanding the fugitive.”
“Tell them there is no fugitive!”
“We’ve said that, but they don’t believe us. They insist we hand him over.”
“Hmph! How dare they insult my Anxi Army?”
Li Qing’an ordered coldly, “Don’t waste time with them. Deploy three hundred archers in formation—kill anyone within fifty steps!”
“Yes!”
The soldiers left. Li Qing’an smiled faintly and asked Xing Si, “When you fled to Wang Xuan’s place, what did he say?”
“Lord Wang said that it was Yang Guozhong who wanted to get rid of his elder brother. He used the case of the Prince Di assassination as a cover to frame me, and ultimately target the Wang brothers. That Yang Guozhong is truly cruel and vicious!” Xing Si said through gritted teeth.
Li Qing’an shook his head gently and smiled, “It’s not Yang Guozhong who’s powerful. It was his advisor Linghu Fei who came up with this plan. Even the relentless pursuit of you must be his arrangement. Moreover, their goal isn’t just to deal with Wang Gong—they ultimately want to eliminate Li Linfu as well.”
“Prime Minister Li!” Xing Si was stunned. A mere minor like him had caused such a huge uproar.
Li Qing’an stood up, walked a few steps with his hands behind his back. This matter seemed unrelated to him, Li Qing’an, but in fact, it was closely connected to him. Wang Gong was Li Linfu’s successor. If Wang Gong were eliminated, it would mean eliminating Li Linfu as well. Then, Yang Guozhong would hold absolute power and could easily deal with him. But if he had an ally in the court, he could hold Yang Guozhong in check. Li Linfu was already declining, and it was clear that Emperor Li Longji wasn’t confident in letting Yang Guozhong alone in power. That’s why he wanted to support Wang Gong to counter him. This was Emperor Li Longji’s strategy as a ruler, and it was also an opportunity for Li Qing’an. By allying himself with Wang Gong, he could fully confront Yang Guozhong, An Lushan, and others.
Thinking of this, Li Qing’an glanced at Xing Si again. His relationship with Wang Gong had always been good, and now with this person here, he would serve as a bridge between him and Wang Gong.
Li Qing’an smiled slightly at Xing Si and said, “Mr. Xing, rest assured. With me, Li Qing’an, here, Yang Guozhong won’t dare touch you even a hair. You’re tired too—go rest. I’ll drive away those pursuers for you.”

Xing Si was extremely anxious, unsure of how Li Qing’an would deal with him. He knew Li Qing’an had always had a poor relationship with the Jinguwei, but this was a serious matter—would Li Qing’an risk offending them for him? Yet, with just one sentence from Li Qing’an, the darkness in his heart vanished. Overjoyed, he kowtowed twice and said, “Thank you, General, for saving my life!”
“Go!” Li Qing’an gave a signal to his bodyguards, who helped Xing Si up, dressed him, and led him away.
As soon as Xing Si left, Li Qing’an picked up a bow and arrow and strode outside the camp.
Outside the camp, flames were blazing. Five hundred Jinguwei cavalrymen refused to back down even at a distance of a hundred steps. Within fifty steps, two warhorses had already fallen dead, and the wounded cavalrymen fled back—this was the Anxi army’s punishment for those who crossed their boundaries.
Deng Wei stared at the Anxi army’s camp, filled with anxiety. He knew he couldn’t afford to provoke them. On the other side, the camp fences were crowded with figures—three hundred archers from the Anxi army, ready for battle. Earlier, two impulsive officers had stepped forward to shout insults, only to have their horses shot dead and the officers injured. Deng Wei understood that this was actually mercy on the part of the Anxi army; otherwise, the two officers would have died.
But the case of Xing Si was of great importance. He wouldn’t be able to explain himself to Yang Guozhong upon returning. Now, he didn’t know what to do—only to buy time.
Just then, a slight commotion arose inside the camp, and voices could be heard calling out to the general. Deng Wei’s heart tightened—Li Qing’an had come out.
But the camp gates hadn’t opened. He saw several people climb onto the watchtower, with someone shouting, “General, please ask the leader of the Jinguwei to come and speak.”
Deng Wei immediately spurred his horse forward and bowed, saying, “General Deng Wei of the Jinguwei pays his respects to the general!”
On the watchtower, Li Qing’an recognized him. Back when the patrol camp was established, this Deng Wei had been the deputy of that Jinguwei battalion. Now, he had been promoted to general.
“So it’s General Deng. It’s been many years. Congratulations on your promotion.”
Li Qing’an’s tone was indifferent, clearly perfunctory.
“Thank you, General. We had no choice but to disturb your army tonight. We are tracking a fugitive from the imperial court—a key suspect in the King Di assassination. He has hidden in your camp. I hope the general will return him to us.”
“Are you saying we are harboring a fugitive from the imperial court?”
“No! No! I didn’t mean that.”
Deng Wei hurriedly explained, “It’s a fugitive who has escaped into your camp.”
“Then did you see him enter my camp with your own eyes?” Li Qing’an’s tone turned stern.

“This…” Deng Wei felt uneasy. The problem was exactly here—they had arrived at the camp too late and hadn’t seen Xing Si enter it with their own eyes. “We didn’t see it with our own eyes, but he escaped through the river, and we followed the water marks all the way to the camp.” “Water marks? Where are they?” The water marks had dried up; there was no trace left. Without evidence, any claim would be worthless. Deng Wei gritted his teeth and said, “General, this is a case personally handled by Minister Yang. It’s indeed of great importance. This has nothing to do with you, General. I hope you understand that.” Li Qing’an suddenly burst into laughter. “So Minister Yang is handling the case personally? Is this case related to Yang Guozhong? I only heard that it’s under the supervision of Wang Gong, the governor of Jingzhao. Yet you bring up Yang Guozhong to pressure me.” Li Qing’an stopped laughing and said coldly, “I give you time for a cup of tea—either show me the emperor’s decree or leave. Otherwise, you’re just here to cause trouble. Don’t blame me, Li Qing’an, for being rude.” “General…” Deng Wei hurriedly shouted, but Li Qing’an was already silent. Helpless, he turned his horse around. His mind was in chaos. He glanced at the sky—it was still the first watch; dawn was still far away. What should he do? Wait for Yang Guozhong to arrive, or withdraw? He was at a loss. “General Deng, the time for a cup of tea is up. Bring the imperial decree!” Li Qing’an’s voice came from a hundred paces away. Deng Wei sighed and called out bravely, “General, this matter hasn’t alarmed the emperor.” “Hmph! Without an order, how dare you, the Jinyiwei, leave the city on your own? This is clearly an attempt to bully my Anxi Army.” As soon as Li Qing’an finished speaking, the sound of a bowstring rang out. Deng Wei was shocked. He knew Li Qing’an was an unparalleled archer. In that split second, a dark figure rushed at him at lightning speed. He couldn’t dodge in time. With a crack, an arrow pierced his helmet and flew dozens of steps away. The iron arrow scraped his scalp, causing searing pain. Deng Wei was terrified. “This arrow is a warning. If you don’t leave now, I’ll take your life!” Deng Wei no longer had the courage to stay. “Retreat!” He turned his horse and fled, followed by the entire Jinyiwei army. In an instant, they were gone, and the camp gate fell silent.