Chapter 744: The Wise Father Calls for Help, Assaulting the Dragon in the Dead of Night

Within the Three Ministries Office, the provincial and military administrations had the largest premises. The administrative office alone contained three large official residences and over a hundred rooms. The Zhang family’s residence covered the most land, featuring three interconnected courtyards, a garden, a washing room with running water, and more—truly a small mansion in itself. Upon arriving here, Lady Sun found the weather too hot, while the rest of the place felt more comfortable than in the capital. At that moment, she heard the rhythmic sound of the drums signaling the closing of the gates outside. She, who had always worn a smile these days, couldn’t help but lose her temper at Zhang Zhuo.
“Sir, at a time like this, how can we still sit here?”
“The military administration has sent troops to patrol the entire city. There are dozens of people watching both the front and back doors of the administrative office. If we don’t sit here, where else can we go? As long as that Marquis of Zhenyuan doesn’t try to rebel, our son will be safe! Besides, Peng Shisan has already gone to investigate.” Zhang Zhuo quickly calmed his wife’s anger. Seeing her head droop with distress, he glanced at Du Wan beside her and had no choice but to comfort her, “Your wife just told you—Yue had anticipated this. Didn’t he say that if he were captured somewhere, we shouldn’t worry because he had already taken care of everything?”
“He’s not a god—how could he have everything planned?”
Lady Sun muttered, then sighed deeply and fell silent. Back home, she had been a timid young wife, desperately hoping her husband and son would succeed and stand tall in front of others. But now, facing this reality, she realized the cost of living in such a position was terrifying—peaceful days were far more stable. She looked up and saw Zhang Zhuo’s face as solemn as water, as if deep in thought, so she simply stood up.
“Wan’er, let’s go back to our room and talk. Let the men handle their own matters!”
Du Wan was still thinking about the serious tone in Zhang Yue’s instructions earlier, and her handkerchief had unknowingly been crushed into a ball. Though this wasn’t the first time, nor was it the most dangerous situation, the more so, the more she felt that good things take time while bad things wear people down… Half a year ago, when they arrived in Guangzhou, Zhang Yue had said with a smile that things were calm and perfect for rest. Yet in the blink of an eye, things had turned out like this. Heaven really knew how to torment people!
“Wan’er?”

As she waited, another call reached her ears, and it was then that Du Wan suddenly realized what was happening. She saw Lady Sun standing in front of her with a surprised expression, which left her momentarily stunned. It wasn’t until the woman across from her repeated the call that she quickly nodded. As she stepped forward to help her, she felt Lady Sun gently pat her hand.

“Back in the days of the Jingnan Campaign, my husband and I were also living in constant fear. Now it seems you two are going through the same thing… You must be suffering a great deal.”

With his wife and daughter-in-law stepping back, Zhang Zhuo immediately felt relieved. Knowing that his daughter-in-law could comfort Lady Sun, he no longer had to worry about her. He promptly ordered everyone to gather in the front yard. After speaking words to calm everyone’s nerves, he sent them away and returned to the house. Although food had already been brought from the kitchen, he had no appetite at all and impatiently ordered it taken away. Just as the daughter-in-law, who brought the food, reluctantly packed up and was about to leave, a voice came from outside.

“Master, Peng Dashou is back!”

“Hurry and invite him in! Everyone, step back!” Zhang Zhuo immediately stood up and said to the daughter-in-law who was about to leave with the food box, “Place everything on the table, and bring an extra set of bowls, chopsticks, and rice.”

When Peng Shisan pushed aside the curtain and entered the east room, he was greeted by the aroma of food. On the small table by the window, there was already a casserole pot, four white porcelain bowls with high legs, along with bowls, chopsticks, and rice. After bowing, he sat down without hesitation and said with a smile, “I wandered outside the military office, thinking about sneaking in after sunset when the drums started beating. But then I encountered something strange. Someone must have given a note to a child, so I had to buy some snacks for the kid to send him away.”

As he spoke, he took out the rolled-up note and handed it to Zhang Zhuo. Seeing him quickly unfold it and examine it carefully, he explained, “It’s written in the young master’s handwriting. It seems something is odd going on at the military office.”

“Whatever the oddity, it’s still better than being trapped inside and unable to move!”

Relieved, Zhang Zhuo folded the note neatly and placed it in the brocade pouch at his waist. Then he pointed at the table and said, “After running for two days and going through such a terrifying ordeal, I’m starving. Eat with me first, and then I’ll spend time with your wife. When Yue returns, I’ll give him a stern scolding. Even though we’re extremely busy, such an important matter—yet he only told his wife and didn’t inform anyone else!”

In the large clay pot on the table was scalding hot fish-head tofu soup, made with various fresh fish caught from the Pearl River Estuary and hand-ground tofu. Green onions floated on the snow-white broth, making one’s mouth water just by looking at it. There were four dishes: two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes—drunken meat with fermented bean paste and stir-fried celery with bean sprouts, all of which were extremely refreshing. After drinking a bowl of the hot fish soup, Peng Shisan felt sweat pouring all over his body, but it was much more comfortable than the sticky feeling of wanting to sweat but being unable to. Although the merchants outside had treated them well with delicious food and drinks, the two of them devoured all the dishes today, and Peng Shisan even asked for more rice twice. Even Zhang Zhuo, who usually adhered to the principle of cherishing blessings and maintaining health, ate heartily for once.

“It’s truly wonderful! All those big fish and meat outside can’t compare to these!” After rinsing his mouth and picking up his tea, Zhang Zhuo saw Peng Shisan looking restless and said with a smile, “Why are you still sitting here? Hurry back!”

Only after Peng Shisan chuckled, bowed, and rushed off did Zhang Zhuo take a slow sip of his tea, squinting at the dim ceiling. His son had left him in charge of the rest of the affairs, probably out of concern that something might happen to him. But now that he knew the situation, if he completely stepped back, would that even be proper for a father?

With that thought, he put down his teacup and got up to go to the west room. After slowly grinding ink in an inkstone, he dipped his brush in the thick ink and wrote a few words on a sheet of plain paper—“To Brother Mu Shi of the State Duke of Qian.”

Since the entire garrison of Guangzhou City consisted of just over a hundred men, and previous actions had been carried out by officials from the military headquarters, the garrison became timid after closing the city gates, too afraid to make even a sound. Now, the sound of the military headquarters’ troops running could be heard everywhere, and the people living along the streets kept their doors tightly closed. Occasional screams quickly faded into the silent night sky.

Those who were lurking in the shadows also suffered as collateral damage; several of them were caught by the army all at once. No matter how they tried to explain themselves, the soldiers mercilessly tied them up tightly and even covered their mouths. Those who were uncooperative were knocked out with the handle of a sword. As they passed by a large mansion, Li Long suddenly raised his right hand to signal a stop.

“Commander, this is the Xu family’s mansion. Why stop here?” Guan Dongzhou, the deputy commander following behind, rushed over anxiously and asked, “Weren’t you saying you were leading troops to capture rebels?”

“Rebels? The rebels are right here!”

Guan Dongzhou was instantly stunned, then said in disbelief, “How is that possible? We’re supposed to capture those Li people who are plotting rebellion in Guangdong against the court. The Xu family are honest merchants—how could rebels be here?”
“Why not?” Li Long turned his horse around, smiling thinly. “Besides, who told you that this department is after those Li people? Could it be Marquis Zhenyuan? Guan Dongzhou, you’ve had the longest tenure in the Guangdong military command, always eager to rise to the position of supreme commander, right? Marquis Zhenyuan is a top-ranking noble—his promises to you must be substantial, right? He wants you to keep an eye on me, then report all my faults to him. Once he files a complaint, you can rightfully take my place, right?”
“Supreme Commander Li, where did you get these ideas from?”
“You don’t need to shout!”
Under the bright light of the torches, Li Long sneered, his face filled with deep mockery. “When I first arrived, you set countless obstacles for me. Do you think I don’t know? After Marquis Zhenyuan exposed me for secretly diverting military supplies when he first arrived, he quickly learned everything about me once he moved into the military headquarters. Do you think I didn’t suspect him? You stamped my command seal on blank troop dispatch documents—do you think I was unaware? Guan Dongzhou, how bold of you!”
In the quiet darkness outside the Xu family’s house, Li Long revealed all these things one by one. Guan Dongzhou’s face turned pale. Glancing at the soldiers rushing into the Xu family’s house like wolves and tigers, he gasped in shock. After a long pause, he stammered, “So… so you had a plan all along… that’s why you used your own trusted men… You did this on purpose, knowing I’d lend my people to Marquis Zhenyuan…”
“Of course. To eliminate traitors, one must use one’s own trusted men! It’s because you were so eager to gain merit that you acted foolishly!”
By now, Guan Dongzhou knew this night would end badly. But in this crisis, he had to try his last chance and forced himself to say, “Supreme Commander Li, but don’t forget—Eunuch Zhang and Lord Zhang were both ordered by you to be detained in our military headquarters! They will surely blame Marquis Zhenyuan for this, but you’ve received so many benefits from him and yet betrayed him. Even if you take me, you won’t get away unscathed! You’re already on Marquis Zhenyuan’s ship—leaving it will only mean drowning. Besides, Marquis Zhenyuan has already planned everything. It’s not too late to turn back—don’t listen to anyone’s manipulation…”
“Don’t listen to whose manipulation?”

Hearing this familiar voice, Guan Dongzhou was struck as if by lightning, unable to recover his senses for a moment. He no longer heard any noises from the Xu family’s courtyard; slowly and stiffly, he turned his head. When he saw several bodyguards behind Li Long clearing a path and someone approaching on horseback from behind, his throat tightened with bitterness, quickly giving way to fury.
“Zhang Yue!”
He spat out these two words viciously, then turned to look around again before asking coldly, “Since you’re here, I suppose Eunuch Zhang has also been released by that treacherous wretch Li Long?”
“Eunuch Zhang has gone to the Jinyiwei’s Guangdong station; he’s not here right now.”
Thinking of all the years he had spent striving for advancement, only to be nearly sixty yet still without a position as a provincial military commander, Guan Dongzhou resolved to fight to the end. After all, as a military officer, one should have some fearlessness. But the mention of the Jinyiwei was like a bucket of cold water thrown on him.
Marquis Zhenyuan, Gu Xingzu, had constantly told him that rebellion and internal strife were imminent. Though he was a simple man, he wasn’t stupid. Having spent more time in Guangdong than Li Long, he knew the situation was uncertain. However, since Gu Xingzu had promised such great rewards and said he would promote him to military commander once the task was completed, and considering the Zhang family’s influence, Gu Xingzu claimed he only wanted Zhang Yue to suffer a setback before transferring him together with Zhang Qian, so that both could claim military merits. As long as he could stay in Guangdong and Gu Xingzu could stay in Guizhou, what did the court care? But if the Jinyiwei got involved, it would mean a direct confrontation before the emperor! No wonder Li Long knew about those matters—the Jinyiwei must have been involved from the start!
When the horse stopped beside Li Long and he saw four or five bodyguards surrounding Guan Dongzhou tightly, Zhang Yue finally turned to look at the Xu family’s residence. Through the high walls, he could still see the bright glow of torches, along with constant shouting, cursing, crying, and screaming. Occasionally, someone would run out of the door, only to be pushed back in with the back of a knife by those already blocking the entrance.

Marquis Zhenyuan, Gu Xingzu, had come from afar and was not familiar with the situation in Guangdong, so the Xu family served as his eyes and ears. Under the surveillance of the Jinyiwei, every move of the Xu family was under close watch. Now, it was time to act to capture both the culprits and the evidence. Initially, he had arrested Xu Zhengping and targeted the Xu family not just to show leniency, but also hoping that a public trial would confirm the charges. However, it turned into a huge farce. At this point, as long as the Jinyiwei spies could obtain all the correspondence and business accounts, he would have secured the first key to victory.

“Lord Zhang, are you really sure about Qiongzhou Prefecture?”

Li Long stepped closer. Seeing that Zhang Yue didn’t respond, he grew anxious. “You are the governor, so you naturally can’t leave Guangzhou, but Eunuch Zhang can! He’s from the palace. No matter how bold Marquis Zhenyuan is, he can’t go too far. Who else has the courage to deal with a high-ranking noble of the current dynasty?”

“Eunuch Zhang is already in his sixties. Guangzhou is 1,750 li away from Qiongzhou Prefecture, and he still has to cross the sea. How can he get there in time? There’s no need to think further—Qiongzhou Prefecture should be able to handle it smoothly.”

After asking Li Long this, Zhang Yue noticed a figure emerging smoothly from the gate. That person rushed forward in big strides, bowed, and handed over a thick bundle wrapped in silk.

“Lord Zhang, I’ve fulfilled my mission successfully!”