Chapter 202: Improvised

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 Clan’s properties that they had confiscated, located inside the storehouse in the rear hall behind the Military Governor’s Office…

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.

“When 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 they’ve grown this old…” 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. “There 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 City…”

It was unknown whether the Lei Sitong’s 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. “Does Lord Sun know where these things come from?”

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, “This must be rose gold, a special local product of the Shatu people…”

“Exactly. This rose gold is indeed the local specialty of the Shatu people. In fact, this rose gold is like any normal gold — 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!” Lei Sitong then shook his head. “Do you know how much of the Shatu people’s specialty rose gold we found at the Ye Clan this time?”

“I’m afraid the amount might be tremendous, isn’t it?”

“Of course it’s tremendous. We’ve discovered about 200 chests of this type, containing 300,000 taels of rose gold in total. This, in combination with the Ye Clan’s 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 isn’t much. Even though the weapons are valuable, we don’t 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 don’t know how much blood will be spilled from the empire’s 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!” As Lei Sitong reached the end of his sentence, there was a trace of cold, murderous intent in his tone.

“So, wasn’t the Ye Clan already shoveled out by Lord Lei?”

“There is, however, one person that is still alive from the Ye Clan. Similarly, that person is also a scourge!” Lei Sitong halted his footsteps and looked at the apathetic Sun Bingchen.

Sun Bingchen shook his head as he said in a determined tone, “I must bring Ye Tiancheng to the Imperial Capital!”

“I’m afraid you won’t be able to bring Ye Tiancheng to the Imperial Capital!”

“Could it be that Lord Lei wants to make Ye Tiancheng stay?” 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 Bingchen’s mouth.

“Even if Ye Tiancheng manages to leave Gan Province, does Lord Sun think he will be able to make it to the Imperial Capital alive?” Lei Sitong shook his head and continued in a calm manner, “I fear that person from the Imperial Capital might be eagerly anticipating Ye Tiancheng’s 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 won’t do anything and will just wait for you to bring Ye Tiancheng to the Imperial Capital safe and sound? Based on that person’s 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 won’t lose himself just because of one discarded pawn!”

“I know!”

“Bringing Ye Tiancheng back to the Imperial Capital is the same as dragging the world’s 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!”

Sun Bingchen remained silent for a long time before he managed to speak in a faint voice, “His Majesty is still waiting for me to bring him back!”

Lei Sitong sighed as well. “The 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?”

“I 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!”

Seeing the determined expression on Sun Bingchen’s face, Lei Sitong finally let out a sigh and decided to give up persuading him. “When 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!”

…

Two hours had already passed since Sun Bingchen and Liang Yijie had left the Military Governor’s 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 Governor’s Office to the posthouse.

Liang Yijie was clearly anxious as he rode on the rhinodrake steed, “Sir, do you want me to go back and check things out first?”

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“No need. Whatever strategy Lord Lei has, he would have already used it by now. We will see the result when we go back!” Sun Bingchen said as he shook his head.

“I’m just afraid that Liqiang might not be able to handle it by himself…”

“If that’s truly the case, then it’s the will of Heaven!”

…

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 smoking…

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. “Where’s Yan Liqiang and Ye Tiancheng? Are they alright?”

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.

“Speak truthfully!” Sun Bingchen said. His face suddenly turned sullen.

“This… 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 don’t know… where Guard Yan and Ye Tiancheng had gone. We searched everywhere around the posthouse and couldn’t find them at all. We only found this!” 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.

“Ah, Yan Liqiang doesn’t have the keys to Ye Tiancheng’s shackles. Did the two of them die in the fire?” Liang Yijie anxiously asked.

“We couldn’t find them when the fire started. There weren’t any remnants of the bodies inside the room either. They couldn’t… couldn’t have died in the fire!”

“Sir, I’m going to the Military Governor’s Office…” 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, “Let’s wait a little longer…”

As soon as Sun Bingchen said that, the two of them then heard noises from the guards at the posthouse’s entrance. “Ah, Guard Yan is back…”

Upon hearing the news, Liang Yijie quickly dashed toward the posthouse’s 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 — especially Ye Tiancheng who was already unshackled. One of Yan Liqiang’s arms was placed on Ye Tiancheng’s waist with his sleeves covering his hand. Yan Liqiang only released his hand from Ye Tiancheng’s 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, “Brother Liang, I have been lucky enough to be able to accomplish the mission without losing sight of Ye Tiancheng…”

Ye Tiancheng looked at Yan Liqiang with a complicated expression as he remained silent.

Liang Yijie heavily patted Yan Liqiang’s shoulder before he turned around to give an order. “Take Ye Tiancheng away…”

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: “Our lord has issued the order. Our job is done…”

……

“Liqiang, what exactly happened just now…” A few minutes later, inside Sun Bingchen’s room, Sun Bingchen and Liang Yijie stared at Yan Liqiang with gleaming eyes as if there was a flower on Yan Liqiang’s face.

Yan Liqiang rubbed his nose and said, “It’s nothing, actually. I was just improvising and played a little game with someone, that’s all…”

After listening to Yan Liqiang’s account of the incident, Sun Bingchen and Liang Yijie’s gazes toward him changed…