The Beacon of Kyushu

Wang Shize saw Wan Jianfeng talking animatedly with a few people, and thought they must be old acquaintances. He dismounted and asked, "Young Master Wan, who are these masters? I just heard you say that you want to help this master get the antidote. Doesn't that mean the peace talks will be delayed?"

Wan Jianfeng pointed at the four people and said, "Brother Wang, this big monk is the Shaolin abbot Bao En, who saved my life a few months ago. This little Taoist priest is Zhang Xubai, the grandson of the current Heavenly Master of the Heavenly Master Mansion in Longhu Mountain. As for these two little monks, I think they are disciples of Master Bao En, so they are also my benefactors."

After listening to Wan Jianfeng's introduction, Wang Shize quickly bowed to the ground and said, "My name is Wang Shize, nice to meet the four masters!"

He put his hands together and returned the greeting without saying anything more. Guangji and Guangqing were young and of low generation. When they suddenly heard someone calling them masters, they couldn't help but feel ashamed and refused. However, they were happy. Only Zhang Xubai was so embarrassed that he couldn't even speak clearly. He kept waving his hands and said, "Yuan...Yuanzhuo is not worthy of the title of master. I...I am too kind to praise you. I am too kind to praise you."

Wang Shize saw Zhang Xubai was so introverted that he even said the opposite of what he said when he was anxious, and he couldn't help but smile. Then, he turned to Wan Jianfeng and said again: "Young Master Wan, since you agreed to go and get the antidote, I wonder if you can come back to discuss the peace talks, or complete the important task assigned by the government now before you go and get the antidote?"

Wan Jianfeng's eyes rolled a few times, and a brilliant plan came to his mind, "Brother Wang, you are in charge of the peace talks, and I am in charge of the medicine. You just need to delay Li Huan as much as possible and don't let him get suspicious. I will make the final decision on my side."

Wang Shize was a little skeptical and wanted to ask Wan Jianfeng about his specific plan. Liu Cheng and Sun Quanxing had received the report and led their troops to come. Wan Jianfeng saw Liu Cheng coming and pointed at Wang Shize and said, "General Liu, this brother is the Right Minister appointed by the government. He is here to negotiate peace with Qu Yue on behalf of the Song Dynasty. What do you think? This young hero is very considerate and did not let you and your nephew fight for nothing."

Liu Cheng was overjoyed and quickly dismounted, knelt on his knees and said to Wang Shize, "I am Liu Cheng, the last general, and I pay my respects to the emperor!" Sun Quanxing was unwilling to kneel down to Wang Shize, but was afraid of arousing everyone's suspicion, so he had to kneel down reluctantly, cursing the lame imperial envoy in front of him in his heart.

Wang Shize saw this and helped the two men up. "Generals, although the city you guarded is small, you were able to hold out for several months without being conquered by Li Huan. You have really worked hard and made great contributions! When I return to Tokyo, I will report your contributions to the emperor. I believe the emperor will not treat you unfairly."

Liu Cheng sighed and said with shame: "Alas, as the commander of the East Route, I not only failed to rescue Lord Hou and Lord Kou, but also the East Route's front was defeated by the enemy. I have no face to see the emperor. If I am lucky enough to live to the day when the two countries stop fighting, I will bundle up firewood and go to Tokyo to apologize."

Sun Quanxing said proudly: "Okay, thank you very much, Master Wang!"

Gao Chujun took up his gun and mounted his horse. After calculating the terrain, he said to Liu Cheng and Sun Quanxing, "You two, I am Gao Chujun, the son of Gao Huaide, the deputy inspector of the palace. I have been ordered to protect the imperial envoy to Hualu. In my opinion, although this city is small, its location is very important. When we return to the Central Plains, we will have to cross the river from here. If Li Huan is unwilling to negotiate peace and stationed a large number of troops here to ambush us, you two generals must lend a hand."

Liu Cheng said: "General Gao, rest assured, as long as I, Liu Cheng, am here, I will ensure that you all can cross the river smoothly!"

Gao Chujun bowed and said, "Okay, with General Liu's words, I feel relieved!"

Wan Jianfeng glanced at Zhang Xubai and said, "Little Heavenly Master, don't you want to know the plan I just came up with? I tell you, this is a brilliant plan. It depends on whether you can cooperate with it."

Zhang Xubai asked a little scared: "Wan... Young Master Wan, you... you won't cheat me, will you?" "We are friends, how could I cheat you! I'm telling you..." Wan Jianfeng said as he leaned close to his ear and whispered something, which made Zhang Xubai tremble with fear. He wanted to refuse and let Wan Jianfeng find someone else, but he couldn't say it, so he had to bite the bullet and agree.

Five days later, Hualu.

Along the way, Gao Chujun had already dispersed many imperial guards on the necessary routes on the way back. At this moment, out of respect for Li Huan, he only led less than 50 imperial guards to guard the imperial envoy. Wan Jianfeng and Zhang Xubai took the initiative to leave the team and sneak into Hualu City for the convenience of action.

As soon as the two entered the city, they saw that the people's livelihood in the city was in decline, far less lively than when Wan Jianfeng first came to Hualu. From time to time, they could even see Qu Yue soldiers looting the people and oppressing merchants on the pretext of collecting heavy taxes. Wan Jianfeng had traveled all over the country for so many years and was accustomed to such scenes, but Zhang Xubai frowned and silently recited "Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun" in his heart.

After a long time, the two finally arrived at a busy street not far from the palace. As long as they passed through this busy street, they would reach Qu Yue's palace. Wan Jianfeng was worried that Zhang Xubai would change his mind at the last minute, so he reminded him, "Little Heavenly Master, whether the Song Dynasty and Qu Yue can stop fighting, and whether Master Bao En's poison can be cured, all depends on you. In a while, you will act according to what I tell you, and don't make any mistakes, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous."

Zhang Xubai said in embarrassment: "Young Master Wan, I have never lied to anyone before. What if I get caught? Besides, this is really too rude. I am afraid I can't do it!"

Wan Jianfeng smiled bitterly and said, "What should we do? By then, all of us will be buried in Qu Yue. What else can we do?"

Zhang Xubai's hands were shaking slightly, and sweat could not help oozing out of his palms. "Okay, I understand. I'll do my best."

As the two were talking, they walked to the door of a butcher shop and suddenly heard a donkey's bray that shook the world. Wan Jianfeng was very familiar with this sound. He looked up and saw a middle-aged man in cloth with a fierce face walking towards the butcher shop with a majestic donkey. The donkey walked very fast at first, but when it was about to reach the butcher shop, it seemed to know that the man intended to kill it for meat, and refused to move no matter what.

The man got angry and pulled the reins hard. The donkey screamed in pain and then opened its mouth to bite the man's arm. Donkeys are not as ferocious as tigers and lions, but if the man was really bitten hard, his arm would be hard to save. The man hurriedly threw away the reins and dodged to the side. He thought he was safe after dodging the bite of the donkey, but the donkey turned around and kicked the man's right leg.

"Ah!" The man was not prepared for this move, and was kicked hard on the leg by the donkey, and fell to the ground with a "thump". The donkey was about to take the opportunity to hit the man a few more times, but accidentally saw Wan Jianfeng who was looking at him, and he raised his head to the sky and neighed happily, and ran towards Wan Jianfeng like he was having fun. When Wan Jianfeng saw this donkey, he was happier than anything else, and strode towards it.

The man and the donkey ran together in an instant, and the donkey buried its head deeply in Wan Jianfeng's arms, shouting excitedly and rubbing against Wan Jianfeng's chest. Wan Jianfeng reached out to touch the mane on the donkey's neck, and said lovingly: "My dear, it's been a long time since we last met. I miss you so much! I thought I would never find you again in this life!" The donkey seemed to understand what he said, and tears welled up in its eyes, looking as aggrieved as it could be.

The man and Zhang Xubai were both stunned, looking at Wan Jianfeng and the donkey in surprise, as if they were looking at two monsters. After a long time, the man staggered to his feet and shouted in unstandard Chinese: "Hey, who are you, kid? Do you want to steal my donkey? My donkey was given by His Majesty. It's not your turn to kill or chop it up!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the donkey turned its head and looked over, with unfriendly eyes. It seemed that if he dared to say one more word, he would be kicked several more times. The man was a little scared after being kicked, and he could only say: "You beggar, if you really want the donkey, give me ten taels of silver, not a cent less!" Wan Jianfeng did not rush to answer, but said: "People often say that 'one person's success brings prosperity to the whole family'. A few months ago, when Li Huan was only the vice king, my donkey had food and drink in his mansion. Why is it that now that he has become the emperor, my donkey is being dragged out to be slaughtered?" (End of this chapter)