When the great confusion caused by the sudden fire in the posthouse broke out, the Gan Provincial Governor Lei Sitong was leading Sun Bingchen on a tour in the city. It was for parts of the Ye Clanās properties that they had confiscated, located inside the storehouse in the rear hall behind the Military Governorās Officeā¦
Meanwhile, both their attendants who had accompanied them began to quietly move away from them, allowing both Lei Sitong and Sun Bingchen to chat without a third person listening to them in this sort of situation.
āWhen we invaded the Ye Clan that day, the guards who went in first were stunned when they discovered a storage of gold and silver in that underground warehouse. They had never seen so many heaps of gold and silver like that even though theyāve grown this oldā¦ā While the two of them were slowly walking inside the storehouse, Lei Sitong continued opening all the chests that were piled up on the side which amounted to about two meters in height. The lights that lit up the storehouse reflected off the silver, making it dazzling to the human eye. āThere are about 1,171 chests of this kind in the Ye Fortress underground warehouse, amounting to 2.78 million silver in total. However, I have expropriated about 500 carriages in Weiyuan Prefecture to carry these chests from the Ye Fortress. The chests in this storehouse right now are just a part of it. There are still quite a lot of chests that remain in the fortress, and I have already sent someone to move them to Gan Provincial Cityā¦ā
It was unknown whether the Lei Sitongās tone sounded happy or remorseful. He spoke as he opened one chest which was smaller than the others. When the chest was opened, a ray of dazzling gold appeared. Lei Sitong reached out and scooped a handful of gold from the dazzling light which then flowed back into the chest through the gaps between his fingers like fine sand, emitting a unique rustling sound in the process. āDoes Lord Sun know where these things come from?ā
Sun Bingchen extended his arm and scooped out the sand-like things from the chest as well. After careful inspection, the heavy glittering item in his hand was none other than gold dust. However, after taking a closer look, there was another subtle layer of red on the surface of the gold dust under the bright flame, making it seem more magnificent. With a layer of enchanted aura embalmed on the gold, Sun Bingchen allowed the dust to flow down from his palm. With a slight sigh, he said, āThis must be rose gold, a special local product of the Shatu peopleā¦ā
āExactly. This rose gold is indeed the local specialty of the Shatu people. In fact, this rose gold is like any normal gold ā it is pure gold. But because of an additional layer of red rose in the color, it gives its appearance a very unique look. Accessories that are made with rose gold will look even more appealing. These accessories are well-liked by women and girls in the Great Han Empire too. As a result, if the rose gold dust of equal weight are to be exchanged with the silver, the exchange will be worth more than half the amount of gold!ā Lei Sitong then shook his head. āDo you know how much of the Shatu peopleās specialty rose gold we found at the Ye Clan this time?ā
āIām afraid the amount might be tremendous, isnāt it?ā
āOf course itās tremendous. Weāve discovered about 200 chests of this type, containing 300,000 taels of rose gold in total. This, in combination with the Ye Clanās fortune, will not be depleted even if we are to issue them ten years worth of military ranks to the Gan Province army. This wealth represents the flesh and blood of Gan Province, especially the rose gold dust from the Shatu people which serves as the direct proof of the trade between the Ye Clan and the Shatu people. The amount of iron produced from the desert that the Shatu people have come from isnāt much. Even though the weapons are valuable, we donāt know how many weapons and armor the Ye Clan have sold to the Shatu people to be able to exchange so much rose gold from them. Once the Shatu people have obtained weapons and armor from the Ye Clan, we donāt know how much blood will be spilled from the empireās citizens should something happen in the future. With a great clan like the Ye Clan, which is known to be influential and wealthy but in fact are maggots, it will be a calamity to let them live!ā As Lei Sitong reached the end of his sentence, there was a trace of cold, murderous intent in his tone.
āSo, wasnāt the Ye Clan already shoveled out by Lord Lei?ā
āThere is, however, one person that is still alive from the Ye Clan. Similarly, that person is also a scourge!ā Lei Sitong halted his footsteps and looked at the apathetic Sun Bingchen.
Sun Bingchen shook his head as he said in a determined tone, āI must bring Ye Tiancheng to the Imperial Capital!ā
āIām afraid you wonāt be able to bring Ye Tiancheng to the Imperial Capital!ā
āCould it be that Lord Lei wants to make Ye Tiancheng stay?ā Sun Bingchen stared at Lei Sitong with a sharp glare without giving in at all. The temperature dropped several degrees the instant those words left Sun Bingchenās mouth.
āEven if Ye Tiancheng manages to leave Gan Province, does Lord Sun think he will be able to make it to the Imperial Capital alive?ā Lei Sitong shook his head and continued in a calm manner, āI fear that person from the Imperial Capital might be eagerly anticipating Ye Tianchengās death on his way there. Similarly, that person also knows that Lord Sun wants to bring Ye Tiancheng to the Imperial Capital. Do you think that he wonāt do anything and will just wait for you to bring Ye Tiancheng to the Imperial Capital safe and sound? Based on that personās tactical capabilities, the entire empire is nothing but a chessboard to him. The Ye Clan had gone overboard in Gan Province. Even if he loses the game, he will find victory in other places. The Ye Clan is now useless to that man, just like a discarded pawn. He wonāt lose himself just because of one discarded pawn!ā
āI know!ā
āBringing Ye Tiancheng back to the Imperial Capital is the same as dragging the worldās greatest problem along your journey. Should Ye Tiancheng really die under your hands, that person might instead take that as an excuse to hold you liable for it. Therefore, the best course of action is to let Ye Tiancheng die in Gan Province, then all the problems will vanish!ā
Sun Bingchen remained silent for a long time before he managed to speak in a faint voice, āHis Majesty is still waiting for me to bring him back!ā
Lei Sitong sighed as well. āThe decline of monarchical power takes time and effort. Even if you manage to bring Ye Tiancheng back to the Imperial Capital, so what? How can one genocidal Prefectural Governor change the situation in the Imperial Capital?ā
āI am grateful for the help and encouragement His Majesty has given to me. Now that the state is in a difficult situation, there are some things that I must do even if I am to be crushed into pieces!ā
Seeing the determined expression on Sun Bingchenās face, Lei Sitong finally let out a sigh and decided to give up persuading him. āWhen you guys go back after your meal, if Ye Tiancheng is still alive, I will not interfere again. Moreover, I will dispatch guards to protect you all within the realms of Gan Province. Lord Sun, you will have to take care of yourselves once you are out of Gan Province, however!ā
ā¦
Two hours had already passed since Sun Bingchen and Liang Yijie had left the Military Governorās Office with their men. The sky was dark and it was chilly too. The galloping rhinodrake steeds that carried a bunch of people through the main street of Weiyuan City was quite distinct amidst the silence of the night.
They had to pass through half of Weiyuan City in their journey from the Military Governorās Office to the posthouse.
Liang Yijie was clearly anxious as he rode on the rhinodrake steed, āSir, do you want me to go back and check things out first?ā
āNo need. Whatever strategy Lord Lei has, he would have already used it by now. We will see the result when we go back!ā Sun Bingchen said as he shook his head.
āIām just afraid that Liqiang might not be able to handle it by himselfā¦ā
āIf thatās truly the case, then itās the will of Heaven!ā
ā¦
Sun Bingchen and his men only realized that chaos ensued in the posthouse when they finally returned. The entire building where Ye Tiancheng had previously been imprisoned was burned halfway. About seven or eight of the rooms were burnt into nothingness. And amidst the ruins of the fire, the toppled and charred wooden beam pillars were still smokingā¦
Upon seeing this sort of situation, regardless whether it was Sun Bingchen or Liang Yijie, both of them were in a state of shock.
Once he arrived, Liang Yijie was able to quickly catch one of the onsite guard officers. āWhereās Yan Liqiang and Ye Tiancheng? Are they alright?ā
The guard officer, who still reeked of smoke, had an agonized expression on his face. He wanted to say something but he hesitated and stopped.
āSpeak truthfully!ā Sun Bingchen said. His face suddenly turned sullen.
āThis⦠When the fire broke out⦠Everyone was busy putting it out⦠It was chaotic in the posthouse at that time. When everyone realized what had happened, we donāt know⦠where Guard Yan and Ye Tiancheng had gone. We searched everywhere around the posthouse and couldnāt find them at all. We only found this!ā The guard officer explained as he allowed the person beside him to show a set of handcuffs and shackles to Sun Bingchen. These were the exact things that Ye Tiancheng had been wearing. Without any given reason, these shackles had been removed.
āAh, Yan Liqiang doesnāt have the keys to Ye Tianchengās shackles. Did the two of them die in the fire?ā Liang Yijie anxiously asked.
āWe couldnāt find them when the fire started. There werenāt any remnants of the bodies inside the room either. They couldnāt⦠couldnāt have died in the fire!ā
āSir, Iām going to the Military Governorās Officeā¦ā Liang Yijie was furious. His fists were clenched tightly together.
Sun Bingchen looked at the situation in the posthouse before he turned his attention to the unlocked shackles. He closed his eyes for a few seconds before opening them again. Taking in a deep breath, he then said, āLetās wait a little longerā¦ā
As soon as Sun Bingchen said that, the two of them then heard noises from the guards at the posthouseās entrance. āAh, Guard Yan is backā¦ā
Upon hearing the news, Liang Yijie quickly dashed toward the posthouseās entrance.
A few seconds later, Liang Yijie was able to catch a glimpse of Yan Liqiang as well as Ye Tiancheng. Both of them had already changed into a set of new clothes with hats on their heads. There were ashes smeared on their faces too, which almost made it impossible to recognize them ā especially Ye Tiancheng who was already unshackled. One of Yan Liqiangās arms was placed on Ye Tianchengās waist with his sleeves covering his hand. Yan Liqiang only released his hand from Ye Tianchengās waist when they arrived at the posthouse and he subsequently sheathed the short sword he was wielding. He then smiled at Liang Yijie and said, āBrother Liang, I have been lucky enough to be able to accomplish the mission without losing sight of Ye Tianchengā¦ā
Ye Tiancheng looked at Yan Liqiang with a complicated expression as he remained silent.
Liang Yijie heavily patted Yan Liqiangās shoulder before he turned around to give an order. āTake Ye Tiancheng awayā¦ā
The bodyguards and honor guards around Sun Bingchen saw Yan Liqiang in a different light at that moment.
At the same time, a group of servants gritted their teeth as they were hiding inside the posthouse as they watched Ye Tiancheng and Yan Liqiang reappear at the scene. Some of them were frustrated as well. The servant who had previously served dishes to Yan Liqiang had a cold gaze in his eyes when he saw Ye Tiancheng again. As he was about to take out something from his sleeves, a hand suddenly reached out from behind and pressed down on his shoulders. All he heard were these words: āOur lord has issued the order. Our job is doneā¦ā
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āLiqiang, what exactly happened just nowā¦ā A few minutes later, inside Sun Bingchenās room, Sun Bingchen and Liang Yijie stared at Yan Liqiang with gleaming eyes as if there was a flower on Yan Liqiangās face.
Yan Liqiang rubbed his nose and said, āItās nothing, actually. I was just improvising and played a little game with someone, thatās allā¦ā
After listening to Yan Liqiangās account of the incident, Sun Bingchen and Liang Yijieās gazes toward him changedā¦