King of Han Dynasty of Ming Dynasty

There was silence in the study.

Everyone's eyes subconsciously focused on the small bamboo tube in the hand of the middle-aged man in black clothes.

After a while.

Zhong Kairan waved to the middle-aged man in black clothes.

The man in black stepped forward tactfully, handed the small bamboo tube in his hands to Zhong Kairan with both hands, and then stepped aside to wait for instructions.

Looking at the small bamboo tube in his hand, Zhong Kairan's originally calm heart couldn't help but become a little restless.

There is no other reason.

Because he knows it better than anyone else.

What does the letter inside this seemingly small bamboo tube mean?

This is a matter of real concern to the Zhong family, and the lives and property of every member of the family.

If the letter inside the bamboo tube is good news.

If the people in Linchuan City could complete his tasks meticulously and successfully.

Everything that the Zhong family has done over the years will be buried forever and thoroughly cleaned up.

And there is no need for the whole family to flee as we do now, living in hiding and like rats in the gutter.

But as usual, it's what has to happen.

Also able to land safely in this incident.

of course.

In the end, a large number of scapegoats will definitely need to be pushed out to bear the wrath of the court.

He may also be implicated, dismissed from office or demoted.

But none of this matters.

As long as you are alive, there will always be a day when you can succeed.

Say.

He has amassed so much profit through various means over the years.

But it didn't just go into his pocket.

Their interests can be as high as 90%, which is used to manage various relationships and feed various officials in the court.

As long as he lives.

With the connections accumulated over the years.

Even if he becomes a commoner, he can still live a good and comfortable life.

Although he ended his official career.

It doesn't mean that he can't hide behind the scenes and promote his family or other trusted people to the position.

Some help from those past relationships and connections.

It was only a matter of time for him to reach his current position.

So the bottom line is that they have to be able to be in the sun and be alive.

If you can't...

In other words, the contents taken out of the bamboo tube were not obtained by the people deployed in Linchuan City.

Then everything that the Zhong family has accumulated will completely disappear.

There is not the slightest possibility of turning things around.

They can only hide their identities and become an existence that can never be seen in the light of day, living like a stinky rat in the gutter.

More than that.

They also have to face the court's wanted and hunted down troops.

Think of this.

Zhong Kairan looked at the small bamboo tube in his hand, and his emotions at this moment were extremely complicated.

Even though he has experienced many vicissitudes of life, he remains calm in the face of adversity.

At this moment, my heart cannot remain calm. Fear and uneasiness are surging in my heart.

To the extent that his hands and face couldn't stop shaking.

"call……"

After a brief moment of silence, Zhong Kairan let out a long breath, suppressed the restless emotions in his heart, and tried hard to calm his restless heart.

Then, he slowly opened the sealed bamboo tube, carefully spread out the letter, and looked at the contents above the letter.

As the text content comes into view.

Zhong Kairan's hands were shaking more and more violently, and his expression became increasingly gloomy and cold.

Even though he tried his best to control his emotions and not show his joy or anger.

But faced with the content of the letter, I still couldn't do it.

Fear, panic, fear, uneasiness, and other complex emotions appeared on his face.

His body was like a deflated ball, falling straight back and sitting heavily on the armchair.

Seeing his master like this.

It doesn't matter if it's an old servant or a middle-aged man in black clothes.

Since these two people were able to become Zhong Kairan's confidants, they were naturally people with extremely insightful minds.

He also thought of something in an instant, and at the same time guessed what the Zhong family and himself and others would face. They couldn't help but look at each other, their expressions became extremely solemn, and emotions of fear and uneasiness emanated from them. They subconsciously buried their heads very low.

All of a sudden.

The atmosphere in the entire study became extremely depressing and solemn.

Everyone's mood was extremely low.

After a while.

"hiss……"

Zhong Kairan came back to his senses from his daze, felt the change in the atmosphere around him, took a deep breath, and shook his head frantically, trying to get rid of the messy thoughts in his mind and not be affected by them.

Because he knows.

At this moment, the Zhong family doesn't have much time left.

Moreover, he is the backbone of the Zhong family and the patriarch of the Zhong family.

If he didn't stay calm at this moment, he would become discouraged and panic-stricken.

Then the entire Zhong family would be truly hopeless.

There won't be even a chance to escape or survive.

Not even a trace of blood or fire will be left.

After calming down his thoughts, Zhong Kairan suddenly sat up straight from his slumped body on the armchair. His eyes, which were as bright as copper bells, suddenly narrowed. He glanced coldly at the two people who were kneeling on the ground with their heads down, and shouted angrily:
"Lift your heads up."

"look at me."

The sudden angry shout caused the two men to tremble. They subconsciously raised their heads and looked at Zhong Kairan, who was sitting firmly on the high platform with a calm and composed expression.

Feeling the gazes focused on him, Zhong Kairan nodded imperceptibly and said coldly:

"You are all old people who have followed me for many years."

"I won't say any more polite, high-sounding words."

"I think you know what happened."

"Yes, indeed, considering the current situation."

"Linchuan Prefecture City failed and failed to achieve the desired effect."

"Because of this incident, I'm afraid someone must have been completely enraged."

"I don't care about the rules, so I'm afraid any Han prince will not care about the so-called rules."

"Even though things have reached a point where they cannot be reversed, it doesn't mean that we don't have a glimmer of hope."

"As long as we can leave, we can escape from this troubled place before any Han prince takes action."

"Then we changed our names and used the wealth we have accumulated over the years."

"You can still live a prosperous and worry-free life."

"So I'm really discouraged. Everything is not the worst yet."

"but……"

"Indeed, we don't have much time left."

"The people who might be surrounding and attacking us are already on their way."

"And with the methods of the Jinyiwei, I'm afraid they already have spies secretly monitoring the periphery."

"so……"

As he spoke, Zhong Kairan paused, and suddenly changed the subject. His expression became extremely solemn, and he said in a deep voice:

"You two, take my master's token and pass on the message."

"In the entire Zhong Mansion, have everyone leave through the secret passage as quickly as possible."

"Tell everyone in the Zhong family not to care about the so-called gold, silver and jewelry."

"Survival is the most important thing."

"If someone doesn't listen, or dares to be self-righteous."

"Treat the Patriarch's token as nothing... and don't leave any room for it."

"Just one word: 'kill'."

"At the same time, when all of us retreat into the secret passage and leave, no one in the entire Zhong Mansion must be left alive."

"All slaves...or anyone who cares about gold, silver, and treasures, all die!" "And let someone, we retreat to the entrance of the secret passage, and quickly plant explosives that can blow down the houses."

"After everyone enters the secret passage, Wubi will blow up the entire entrance to leave no chance for the enemy to pursue us."

"Do you understand?"

The two people who were called looked at each other, and could also feel the seriousness in their master's words and expressions. They all nodded heavily at the same time to show their agreement and said:
"promise!"

"Old slave, subordinate, I will do it right away."

"Evacuate everyone in the family as quickly as possible."

"but……"

As they spoke, the two of them seemed to have thought of something, their expressions became serious, and they subconsciously looked up at Zhong Kairan who was sitting on the high platform, and asked carefully:

"Homeowner..."

"You are the backbone of everyone in the Zhong family."

"Look...do you want to evacuate the secret passage first?"

"Leave the rest to us."

"This is more prudent and can avoid certain emergencies."

"what do you think?"

Say it.

The two waited for orders.

After hearing this.

Zhong Kairan gently stroked his beard with his right hand, frowned and pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said:
"Not urgent."

"Let the people at home evacuate in an orderly manner first."

"I am the main target of some Han prince."

"Besides, no one knows whether there are Jinyiwei hiding in the dark among the servants around and in the courtyard, and how many eyes are watching."

"If I leave first."

"It's possible that they might take action in advance."

"So... just to be on the safe side."

"It allows the family members to evacuate in an orderly manner."

"I absolutely cannot leave first."

"No...no."

"Homeowner..."

The old servant and the middle-aged man in black tights were stunned and were about to say something.

But the words were not finished.

He was interrupted by Zhong Kairan who waved his hand and replied in a deep voice:
"okay."

"Just do as I say."

"Otherwise, there's a good chance none of us will be able to leave."

"Go and make arrangements!"

"Stop being stunned."

Dele.

My own master said this so resolutely.

Even though the two wanted to give advice, they had to stop talking and just follow the instructions.

Then, without any hesitation, the two turned around and strode out the door.

When the two disappeared at the door, Zhong Kairan suddenly opened his half-closed eyes, turned his head to look at the shadow behind him, and said in an extremely low voice:
"Is the person I asked you to prepare ready?"

It sounds like he is talking to himself, but also like he is asking someone else.

After a while.

In the dark shadows, a vague figure emerged, and a slightly hoarse voice suddenly sounded, replying:
"It's ready."

"It has already been arranged in the mansion."

"Is the Patriarch going to use him this time?"

A gleam of light flashed in Zhong Kairan's eyes, and he nodded heavily, his words full of helplessness, and said:

"The current situation."

“It’s not necessary.”

"I've raised him for decades, it's time to put him to good use."

"Go ahead and make arrangements!"

"Let him change into the same clothes as mine and let him stay in this study room obediently."

"I left with the path in the study."

"Don't alarm anyone about this."

"Go!"

Order received.

The looming figure of trouble completely disappeared into the darkness, as if it had never appeared.

then.

Zhong Kairan slowly stood up from the armchair, looked around, and finally looked out the window, where a group of people were gathered. A trace of reluctance and complexity flashed across his expression. He sighed deeply and muttered to himself:

"Everything is calculated."

“So much arrangement.”

"It's all in vain after all."

“Everything was gone in an instant.”

As he spoke, he seemed to have thought of something, and his already solemn expression became even more gloomy, and he continued:

"All my money can be spent and returned."

“I hope we can retreat safely this time!”

"If you can escape this disaster and change your identity, you can rise again."

Say it.

He lowered his head silently, a trace of loneliness and reluctance flashed in his eyes, and he reached out and gently stroked some familiar things in the study.

"Homeowner..."

At dusk.

A hoarse and harsh voice sounded.

The figure that had just disappeared into the darkness slowly walked out from the dark shadows.

Zhong Kairan came to his senses when he saw the person coming. He turned his head and looked at him straight, and asked:

"Did you bring the person here?"

"Just wait at the back barrier."

The inky black figure replied in a low voice.

"Well…"

"You should leave too!"

"After a cup of tea, take him to the study."

"Then tell him to stay in the study and not go there."

"Yes!" The man disappeared again.

After a while.

Zhong Kairan, who was standing at the gate, slowly walked into the house.

Then, without any hesitation, he quickly came to the armchair where he had just sat and stepped down lightly and heavily on the floor next to it.

immediately.

In the originally quiet study, there was a faint sound of gears turning.

Not long after.

He saw the heavy board slowly sinking, and a bottomless dark hole appeared in front of him.

Seeing the cave entrance appearing in front of him, Zhong Kairan held the fire, lowered his head, bent his body, and walked in with big strides.

After Zhong Kairan's figure disappeared into the dark cave, a moment later the sinking floor began to rise slowly with the sound of gears turning.

It won't take long.

The originally dark hole disappeared, and the floor returned to its previous state, as if everything that disappeared had never appeared.

Shortly after the dark cave entrance disappeared, the figure that had just hidden in the darkness walked out from the shadows again.

But at this time.

He was no longer alone, but a middle-aged man in a brocade robe followed behind him.

The appearance and clothing of this middle-aged man were exactly the same as Zhong Kairan who had just disappeared into the dark cave. There was almost no difference.

Of course, there are differences.

The only difference was that the middle-aged man following the man in black was a little timid.

He is not as generous and magnanimous as Zhong Kairan just now.

(End of this chapter)