Chapter 921: Help Me Contact the Chuǎng Wang
The shopkeeper opened the money pouch and saw that it contained at least a hundred times the compensation. He felt a pang of unease; such an excessive sum made him hesitant to accept.
He took out only a few dozen copper coins from the pouch. "Just these are enough for me," he insisted. "I couldn't possibly take more."
Zheng Gonggong waved a dismissive hand. "It's fine, it's fine. Just take it."
The shopkeeper quickly shook his head. "It's not money I'm owed. I can't accept it."
Zheng Gonggong's face crumpled, and he pleaded tearfully, "Please, just take it! If you don't, who knows how many people in the prince's manor will lose sleep tonight?"
The shopkeeper stared, baffled. "Huh?"
Zheng Gonggong continued, "This is the compensation plan our prince agreed upon with the Heavenly Lord. The Heavenly Lord deemed this plan satisfactory and only then was willing to spare us. If you don't accept it, and the Heavenly Lord's wrath descends, the prince will have to punish me. Look, one of my arms is already broken. Please, have some pity!"
Beads of sweat trickled down the shopkeeper's brow. Only then did he cautiously accept the money pouch.
Zheng Gonggong finally let out a sigh of relief, bid his farewells, and slipped into the shop next door, continuing his house-to-house compensation tour.
The shopkeeper finished cooking two bowls of vermicelli noodles, carrying one in each hand. He quickly scanned the table, immediately recognizing the leader, and promptly placed the first bowl before the Village Chief. The second he set casually beside it.
Overhearing their conversation about the Heavenly Lord, the shopkeeper's shrewd business sense kicked in. He noticed that everyone in the group had an embroidered image of the Heavenly Lord on their chest, each in a different color. Some were gold, some silver, some cotton thread, some vibrant multi-colors. One young man, around seventeen or eighteen, even wore a metal badge of the Heavenly Lord on his chest.
The shopkeeper immediately realized these "outsiders" were far from ordinary.
He approached the Village Chief, offering a fawning smile. "Old sir," he began, "you seem particularly knowledgeable about Dao Xuan Tian Zun. Are you...?"
The Village Chief grinned. "We are the first people in this entire world to receive the Heavenly Lord's protection."
The shopkeeper immediately understood. He bowed deeply. "Honored sirs," he implored, "please guide a humble man like me."
The Village Chief patted his shoulder. "What nonsense are you talking about? No one needs to guide you. As long as you don't do evil, and even if you don't do great good, but simply live as an ordinary person, the Heavenly Lord will bless you."
While the original villagers explored Luoyang, quietly awaiting news, Jiang Cheng, with a few of his subordinates, piloted a cargo ship, arriving once again at Gubai Ferry.
The ferry crossing remained peaceful, but as Jiang Cheng's ship docked, a figure emerged from the riverside reeds: a Hui border scout serving under Lao Huihui.
He quickly approached the ship, cupping his fist in salute to Jiang Cheng. "Instructor Jiang," he began, "you only brought supplies a few days ago. It's still early for the next scheduled delivery. Why have you come again today?"
Jiang Cheng replied, "To be frank, I've come this time because I have an important request."
"Oh?" the scout asked, surprised. "Is there something we can do for you, Instructor Jiang?"
Jiang Cheng stated, "I have a few important people here who wish to meet the Chuǎng Wang and speak with him."
The scout replied, "This is beyond my authority as a junior man. Please wait a moment, Instructor Jiang, while I go inform my chief."
Shortly after, Lao Huihui arrived at the riverside with a troop of cavalry.
Upon seeing Jiang Cheng, Lao Huihui politely returned the salute. "The Chuǎng Wang is constantly on the move," he explained. "Even I find it hard to track him down, and chances for a rendezvous are few and far between. If I were to find him, I don't have enough standing to ask him to come meet your people. And if I sent your people to him, by the time they got there and returned, the Chuǎng Wang would likely have vanished again."
This was indeed a problem, but fortunately, the original villagers of Gao Family Village had come prepared.
Jiang Cheng pulled an old, small iron hairpin from his bosom and handed it to Lao Huihui. "Show this to the Chuǎng Wang," he instructed.
Lao Huihui took the hairpin, examining it. It was a worthless, old trinket, certainly not a love token or anything of value. Yet, it was precisely this kind of item that struck Lao Huihui as potentially useful, given the Chuǎng Wang's humble origins.
Something that so clearly belonged to a poor family might hold some significance for the Chuǎng Wang.
Lao Huihui immediately grasped the implication. "The Chuǎng Wang, after seeing this, will voluntarily ask to meet your people?"
Jiang Cheng nodded. "Just have him meet us here at Gubai Ferry."
Lao Huihui cupped his fist. "Understood!"
Jiang Cheng added, "Do not, under any circumstances, lose this hairpin. If you cannot deliver it to the Chuǎng Wang, bring it back to me. Otherwise, a certain young woman will be heartbroken."
Lao Huihui affirmed, "Understood!"
Jiang Cheng boarded his ship and departed.
Lao Huihui pondered for a few seconds, then looked up and asked his subordinates, "Which direction is the Chuǎng Wang headed now?"
A subordinate stepped forward, cupping his fist. "South, near Baisha Lake. He seems to be pursuing Gao Jie. The Chuǎng Wang's subordinate, the Dashing General, is absolutely determined to kill Gao Jie. So wherever Gao Jie goes, the Dashing General follows, and the Chuǎng Wang follows him."
Lao Huihui shook his head. "This Chuǎng Wang is quite indecisive. What kind of leader allows himself to be led by the nose by his subordinate?"
Everyone knew the Chuǎng Wang was indecisive. These days, the Chuǎng Army was practically run by the Dashing General.
Lao Huihui declared, "The entire army will depart. We'll pursue Gao Jie too. Finding Gao Jie means we'll connect with the Chuǎng Wang."
Back at the Seventy-Two Families' Xingyang Conference, they had drawn lots to determine the movements of the various rebel factions. Lao Huihui had drawn "central support," which granted him significant freedom of movement. He could go wherever he wished, a convenience that now proved very useful.
"Then, let's go find Gao Jie, the one who famously cuckolded another!"
Meanwhile, Lu Xiangheng, the Supreme Commander of five provinces, was leading five thousand soldiers toward Huashi Town.
Not long ago, he had received a report that the bandit chieftain, the West Camp Eight Great Kings, who had recently plundered Fengyang, was now active near Huashi Town.
Upon receiving this news, Lu Xiangheng immediately mobilized his forces.
He ordered He Renlong and Gao Jie's units to circle around to the north of Huashi Town.
He would lead his own troops to encircle the town from the south.
Cao Wenzhao and his nephew, Cao Bianjiao, were to intercept from the west.
And Zuo Liangyu was tasked with encircling from the east.
A four-pronged encirclement of Huashi Town was planned to ensure the West Camp Eight Great Kings would be executed on the spot, washing away the national disgrace of Fengyang.
His deployment of troops was swift and decisive, and the various government forces quickly completed their encirclement. Before long, the West Camp Eight Great Kings had fallen into their trap.
If this battle succeeded, it would bring closure to the Fengyang affair.
"Report! Supreme Commander, He Renlong sends word: the northern force is in position!"
"Report! Cao Wenzhao sends word: the western force is in position!"
Lu Xiangheng glanced at his own position. His southern force was also in place.
Now, only Zuo Liangyu's eastern force remained. That fellow... why was there still no movement from him?
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