60 Chaos in Changsan (2/2)
Tonight, there were many similar cases to the above story, and the various downtown streets of Chang'an were in no way different. The pawnshops and brothels under the Old Cat's control had been smashed by a group of fierce and agile men in black, and yet another group of black-clothed men controlled Junjie's three mistress houses, smashing the three luxurious little courtyards.
The cold and mournful spring rain pattered all the while, seemingly heavier and heavier. The various underground powers of Chang'an all flushed to Eastern City, taking advantage of the fierce appearance of local authorities to make an onset on Old Chao of Spring Breeze Pavilion, who had governed Chang'an for many years. Unexpectedly, in the dark night, the legendary figure used himself as bait, and seized the opportunity to dispatch all the brothers in the gang to control the overall situation leaving no opposition force in Southern City and Western City.
From this night on, if Old Chao was still living, then he and his brothers could bring the whole Chang'an under their control. But… now Chao Xiaoshu was all on his own. Could he survive this disaster without his brothers?
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In the heavily-guarded garrison of the Yulin Royal Guards in the Northern City of Chang'an, Cao Ning, sub-general of the Yulin Royal Guards watched two captains whose hands were being tied. He said with a sardonic grin, ”Chang Siwei? Should I call you Chang III? Fei Jingwei, should I call you Fei VI? I was not expecting that the two heads of the Fish-dragon Gang were members of our Yulin Royal Guards.”
Chang Siwei, a middle-aged man with a moderate temper, looked at his superior, saying with a slight smile, ”Did you really not know? Many people in the military camp earn extra income. As far as I know, General, you seem to earn interest from Lord Meng and the Old Cat.”
Fei Jingwei kept silent, staring coldly at Cao Ning's face.
Cao Ning drank from his teacup, saying, ”What's the purpose of mentioning these things now? It is just for the sake of arguing. You're both just tiny captains. If not for keeping Spring Breeze Pavilion's face, why would I have to say these useless words to you? But don't think that you could put on airs before me relying on the support of Spring Breeze Pavilion. I can keep you two within the camp only by right of an order, whereas if you leave the camp, I can behead you without asking for an Imperial Order. And if you two can't leave the camp, Spring Breeze Pavilion will be certain to go on an end tonight.
”Spring Breeze Pavilion will be over for sure.” He slowly raised his teacup, saying indifferently, ”That's why you guys are useless.”
Chang Siwei said smiling, ”In this world, many people have died, but my big brother won't die.”
”In this world, there is no one who can’t be killed.” Cao Ning stared at his face, saying in a cold voice, ”So many nobles in our great Tang wanted to show appreciation to Spring Breeze Pavilion, but he didn't accept, contrary to what's expected. Many nobles wanted him dead, how can a humble vagrant like him turn the tide!”
The door curtain was lifted and a slight chill floated in along with a few raindrops. Slightly terrified, Cao Ning tried to reprimand, but suddenly his expression was benumbed. He stood up submissively to salute. ”Eunuch Lin... It's so late. Why are you here? What's wrong?”
Eunuch Lin, with a short and stout stature, looked at him, and said smiling, ”There's nothing else. It was said that the Yulin Royal Guards raised the security levels tonight by the Palace Inhibit Gate, so I came over to ask what exactly happened.”
Afterwards Eunuch Lin turned around looking at the two military officers with their hands tied at their backs. Frowning, he asked, ”What's going on here?”
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The horse-training area was lit by torch in the Valiant Cavalry Battalion campsite. Even with continuous rainwater it could not be extinguished. The Deputy Commander Chu Ren stared at a man with a square face on the horse opposite, roaring, ”Liu Si, you damn bastard! The order for closing the camp was sent by the Military Ministry! If you dare rush into the camp, I'll behead you!”
The square-faced man's stature was exceedingly stalwart. Even though he was sitting on a steed, his legs seemed to droop to the ground. Despite the deputy commander's rebuke, there was still vagueness on his face. His right hand slowly stroked the iron spear at the side of the saddle. He gazed in the direction of the Spring Breeze Pavilion in Eastern City of Chang'an, penetrating the night rain.
He was Liu Si, ranked fifth in the Fish-dragon Gang. It was due to this man following Chao Xiaoshu closely that Old Chao of Spring Breeze Pavilion had fought to win a certain power by virtue of the sword in those years. However, he could not stand by the side of his eldest brother and block arrows for him. He could only silently hope that the young fellow Big Brother had taken a fancy to could manage the matter well.
Liu Si looked back towards the Deputy Commander at the camp's entrance, as well as the dense and numerous soldiers, and said without an expression, ”Commander, your humble subordinates don't dare to defy the military order and break out of camp. But since you tore the promotion order ten years ago, I have always wanted to fight with you. I don't know whether you dare to or not.”
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A voice with a strong Hebei accent emitted in a remote and quiet room somewhere inside the Imperial Palace. ”Old Chen, you've been an Imperial Bodyguard for many years. Although in your early years you quit, since you served as an Inner-Chamber Guard for a day, you will be an Inner-Chamber Guard all your life. As a representative of the emperor, how could you be involved in such a dispute in Jianghu? I know that you and Old Chao have friendly relations, but you should be very clear who made the proposal for tonight's matter, so no one dares to hinder it.”
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The carriage stopped slowly in the rain, about 100 feet away from Chao Mansion in the Spring Breeze Pavilion.