Aoyama

Chapter 345 Koi
In the early morning, cocks crow.

Chen Ji sat up gently on the bed, but still woke Xiaoman up.

Xiaoman held the little black cat in his arms, raised his right hand and rubbed his eyes: "Master, are you awake? I'll go boil some water for you."

Chen Ji sighed, "Xiao Man, can't you go to the side room to sleep? Our east and west side rooms are still empty, and I see the furniture inside is still brand new."

Xiaoman didn't respond: "What would you like to eat in the morning, sir?"

Chen Ji was amused: "You have reached the state of selflessness."

Xiaoman was confused: "What riddle are you talking about, sir?"

Chen Ji smiled and explained, "There was a Zen monk named Zhaozhou. A monk heard that he was very talented and wanted to debate with him. The monk asked, what is the Tao? Zhaozhou said, let's go and have some tea. The monk asked again, what is no self? Zhaozhou said, let's go and have some tea. The monk asked again, what is the purpose of the Patriarch coming to the West? Zhaozhou said, let's go and have some tea."

Xiaoman didn't understand: "Isn't this a non-answer?"

Chen Ji then asked, "Xiao Man, can you go to the east wing to sleep? You don't have to watch over me every night. I can't run away."

Xiaoman asked back, "Sir, can you cook some white porridge and open a salted duck egg to go with it?"

Chen Ji laughed and stopped arguing with Xiao Man. He stood up, picked up the shoulder pole from the side room, and walked towards the wellhead unsteadily, but his thoughts flew to who knows where:

I am about to send troops to Goryeo. What else do I need to do before I leave?
Chen Ji didn't want to go to Goryeo.

He had just established himself in the capital. There were still many things he wanted to do but had not yet done, including the business of the Eight Great Hutongs, the business of the salt merchants, and the business of taking back his aunt from the Liang family.

This trip may be as short as half a year or as long as three to five years, and I don’t know whether I can come back alive.

I wonder if I can find a bargain in Korea and buy cheap ginseng? Are there older ginseng with better medicinal properties there? Are there ways to make money in Korea?
Mountain Jun is really too expensive. Without money, you can't practice even if you have Ice Flow.

How about staying on the sea and being a pirate?

Chen Ji rowed the boat at the wellhead while thinking about all sorts of things. He did not walk back until both barrels were full.

When we returned to Ginkgo Garden, Xiaoman was still preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

Chen Ji sat at the table, grinding ink and picking up a pen, preparing to leave a few letters. If he really couldn't come back, he could explain some things.

However, it was easy for him to lift the pen but difficult to put it down, as if the brush in his hand, which was less than a foot long, was more difficult to control than the horse lance which was eight feet long.

Finally, he lowered his head and wrote three letters. Before the ink was dry, he heard Xiaoman's voice coming from outside the door: "Master, it's time to eat!"

Chen Ji quickly blew on the letter, folded it up and stuffed it into the envelope, then sealed it with burnt red wax.

As soon as the door was sealed, Xiaoman came into the house carrying a tray and using her shoulder to push against the cotton door curtain.

Chen Ji handed her the letter and said, "I will go to Korea with Mr. Wang in a few days..."

Xiaoman was horrified: "Young Master, are you going to die? Why are you running so far? Many people have died at sea in recent years. Those who ship goods at sea are risking their lives. It is said that there are not only strong winds and waves, but also strange fish as big as houses. It is scary."

Chen Ji did not answer but said solemnly: "Here are three letters. If I don't come back in half a year, you should give the first letter to Miss Zhang Er, the second letter to Mr. Zhang, and the third letter to the Pao brothers in the eight alleys in the outer city."

Xiaoman's eyes widened: "Master, you are not allowed to go to Goryeo!"

But Chen Ji just picked up the bowl and shoveled the porridge into his mouth in three or five bites: "Give me the money at home, I need to buy some ginseng before I go to the war."

Seeing that he was determined, Xiaoman reluctantly took out three strings of Buddhist coins and some small change from her purse: "Three hundred and ten taels are the leftovers from Guyuan, six hundred taels are the sworn brotherhood gift from my second sister, and five hundred and seventy taels are the tuition money that Qi and the others paid for this month, a total of one thousand four hundred taels of silver."

Chen Ji looked at the Buddhist Tongbao in his hand. If it was priced at thirty-five taels per piece, this amount of silver would not even be enough to grow a fourth stripe.

He really wanted to be a pirate.

When he came out of the side gate of Qinzheng Garden, he saw thirty-seven Yulin soldiers gathered outside the gate.

Qi Zhuozhuo held the stone lion with his hand and boasted nonchalantly: "After the training in the Eight Great Hutongs, I will not embarrass my brothers in this expedition to Goryeo. You just have to watch my performance! When I return from Goryeo, my brothers will meet me to talk about our achievements and fortunes and have a good time with wine!"

Duobao said sarcastically: "Don't spit out the broken limbs when you see them."

Qi Chenzhuo was not convinced and said, "I have already lost all the people I should have lost in the past 21 years. Don't laugh at me. This is called a late bloomer."

At this moment, there was a creaking sound from the side door of the Chen Mansion, and Chen Ji came out in gray cloth clothes. Everyone subconsciously stood up straight, looking at him with bright eyes.

Qi Chenzhuo said excitedly: "Master, my brother-in-law said that you persuaded Mr. Wang last night... No, General Wang."

Chen Ji's gaze swept across the faces of the Yulin soldiers one by one, and even Li Xuan could not hide his excitement.

He shook his head and said, "People will die on the battlefield. Don't be too happy too soon. Don't think that you can gallop on the battlefield just because you are an officer. Countless officers have died unjustly on the battlefield."

Qi Zhuozhuo didn't care: "Master, why have you become as cautious and steady as my brother-in-law?"

Chen Ji didn't try to persuade her any further.

……

……

The Yulin Army stopped training for the whole morning.

More than thirty people were guarding in front of the gate, just waiting for the imperial edict from the palace. Then they would immediately go home to pack their things and report to the Ministry of War.

Qi Chenzhuo and the others discussed happily: "With our official positions, we should be able to lead troops after joining the Pingdong Army, right? With the relationship between Master and General Wang, we are the most loyal of the loyal, and we must help the general to control his subordinates."

Zhou Chong looked forward to it: "Then we will compare who has better soldiers under his command, not only in terms of military achievements, but also in terms of military discipline."

Li Xuan did not participate in the discussion, but just rubbed his hands silently and wandered in front of the gate.

But at noon, the clerks from the six ministries went out to eat, and there was still no sign of the imperial edict.

Qi Chenzhuo murmured quietly, "Could it be that something went wrong? Could it be that Mr. Wang agreed on the surface but didn't help you draft the military transfer order?"

Li Xuan said anxiously, "Mr. Wang is a role model of contemporary scholars. How could he go back on his word? If he really didn't want to help, he wouldn't have agreed at all. Wait a little longer. Perhaps the memorial is still in Wenhua Hall and hasn't been presented to Your Majesty yet."

He subconsciously looked at Chen Ji, but saw Chen Ji leaning against the wooden pillar of the gate, motionless, with his eyes closed.

During the whole lunch hour, no one even went to eat, fearing that they would miss the chance to receive the imperial edict, and the imperial edict would be taken back. Qi Zhuozhuo had five gold peanuts in his arms, which he was going to give to the eunuch who was delivering the imperial edict, but he was unable to give them out.

Until dusk, the sun sets.

Li Xuan finally couldn't hold back any longer. He saw the head of the military department across from him leaving work, so he hurried across the long street and asked, "Director Zhou, may I ask if there is any military transfer order for our Yulin Army today?"

Chief Zhou stammered and tried to get into his sedan chair, but Li Xuan grabbed him and pulled him out of the sedan chair: "Chief Zhou, is there anything you can't tell me?"

Zhou Zhushi's face was bitter: "Lord Li, please don't embarrass me about your Qi family's affairs. If you have any questions, go home and ask Elder Qi, or ask your wife."

Li Xuan was stunned on the spot.

Manager Zhou lowered the curtain of the sedan chair and urged the bearers, "Go, go, go."

The sedan bearer looked at Li Xuan who was sitting next to the sedan and said, "Master Li, please make way."

The setting sun sank behind the tall and majestic city in the distance. Li Xuan retreated step by step, and returned to the Yulin Army Governor's Mansion in a daze. His spirit and energy seemed to dry up in an instant, and he became a drooping and shriveled sorghum.

Qi Chenzhuo followed him and asked, "What's wrong, brother-in-law? What did you just say to that Zhou guy? Where is our transfer order?"

Li Xuan took a deep breath and said, "Qi Chenzhuo, do you know why the Qi Mansion is called Koi Garden?"

Qi Chenzhuo was stunned: "Why are you talking about this?"

Li Xuan smiled softly, "This Koi Garden was not named by the Qi family in the early years, but was nicknamed by the people. It is said that the Qi family's daughters like young and handsome men, and they recruit them to live with them. Those sons-in-law are as beautiful as the koi in the Qi family's pond, but they can never make it to the dragon gate."

Qi Chenzhuo frowned and said, "Brother-in-law, why are you saying this? You and my sister treat each other with respect and dignity on a daily basis, isn't that good?"

Li Xuan turned his head and stared at him: "Your sister and the head of the family did not allow us to join the army to attack Goryeo. I think it was the head of the family who rejected Mr. Wang's memorial."

Qi Zhuozhuo's expression changed, not caring about Li Xuan's previous slander of the Qi family: "How can this be? Do we have to depend on others' opinions when we want to go?"

Li Xuan whispered, "You and I were given our official positions by the Qi family, so how can we not look at the Qi family's face? You and I are both birds in a cage, fish in a pond, and butterflies in a cocoon. We can't go far."

Qi looked at Chen Ji for help: "Master, is there any other way? Or you can go talk to Mr. Wang again?"

Chen Ji leaned against the gate pillar and closed his eyes in deep thought, not even raising his eyelids: "Mr. Wang has no say in this matter."

Qi Chenzhuo looked back at the outside of the gate and said, "What's the point of training? Let's go, let's go drink. I brought five gold peanuts with me today, but I didn't give them out. They're just the right amount of money for my brothers to buy some wine!"

Chen Ji opened his eyes: "You guys go ahead, I'm going home to sleep."

He turned back to the Governor's Mansion, took off his silver armor, changed into cloth clothes, left behind a group of Yulin soldiers and walked towards the right street of the mansion.

……

……

There are few pedestrians today.

The Five Cities Army kept a stare at the copper kettle clepsydra, and when the hour of Xu arrived, the soldiers on the city wall beat the drums, eighteen slow beats, eighteen fast beats, three rounds back and forth. This was the curfew drum sound.

Soldiers from the Wucheng Military Command were beating gongs in the streets, shouting, "According to the imperial decree, the streets will be cleared at 10 pm, lights will be turned off, doors will be closed, and those who violate the order will be arrested!"

As soon as the curfew was announced, the whole city became solemn and silent.

Chen Ji returned to the Chen Mansion before curfew and pushed open the wooden door of Ginkgo Garden.

Hearing the sound of the door being pushed open, Xiaoman hurried out to greet him: "Sir, you are back so early today?"

Xiaoman carefully looked at Chen Ji's expression. Chen Ji glanced at her and said, "What bad things have you done to be so sneaky?"

Xiaoman exclaimed: "No, no, what could I have done to be guilty of this?"

Chen Ji brushed off the dust on his body and said nonchalantly, "In the past, when you came in, you always said, 'Sir, let me get you a basin of water to wash your face.' But today you asked me why I came back so early and said I had done nothing wrong."

Xiaoman said in panic: "Oh, I didn't keep an eye on the little black cat, and it accidentally peed on the young master's bed, but I cleaned it up."

Chen Ji did not expose her, and said casually: "Burn the three letters I wrote to you this morning. Don't let anyone see them. Remember, no one can see them."

Xiaoman quickly agreed: "Okay, I'll go burn it right away... Why do you suddenly want to burn the letter again, sir?"

Chen Ji said calmly: "No need to go to Goryeo."

Xiaoman said "oh".

Chen Ji went into the house, poured himself a cup of tea, and thought quietly.

He had to stop Wang Daosheng from sending troops to Goryeo...but how could he stop him?
The best strategy is to use someone else's hand to ruin the plan of Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department, so that Mr. Wang will not have to go to Goryeo to take risks. The worst strategy is to confront Mr. Wang directly, but Mr. Wang still cannot change the result of the expedition.

Chen Ji stared at the bare ginkgo tree in the yard in silence, thinking of a strategy in his mind.

Until the night watchman outside Chen's house shouted: "It's dry, be careful with fire."

One watch.

Chen Ji suddenly stood up and walked out. Xiao Man asked behind him, "Sir, where are you going? The city is under curfew."

"I have something to do," he avoided the servants of the Chen residence, climbed over the wall, and followed the shadow of the eaves of the houses on Fuyou Street, approaching the Taiye Lake.

When passing through Shihu Hutong, outside the alley, there were Wucheng soldiers patrolling the street with lanterns, in groups of ten, with sharp eyes. Chen Ji retracted his steps, hid behind the corner of the alley, and listened to the footsteps faded away before continuing on his way.

He hid and dodged all the way, and finally climbed over the high wall of Taiye Lake and waited with his eyes closed behind a rockery.

Second watch.

Midnight watch.

It was not until the fourth watch that Chen Ji heard the rumbling sound of the iron door of the imperial prison in the distance.

He didn't dare to get close, so he had to hide behind a rockery dozens of feet away and observe quietly. Xuanshe was leading a group of spies away in a hurry.

Chen Ji shrank back into the shadow behind the rockery and continued to wait. After an incense stick of time, the iron gate opened again, and this time Jiaotu and Yunyang passed by from outside.

He thought for a moment and hid behind the rockery again.

When the iron gate of the imperial prison opened for the third time, Chen Ji squinted and saw Bailong, Tianma and Jinzhu walking out of the imperial prison together. Bailong seemed to be instructing them about something, and after a long time he waved his hand to signal them to leave.

Bai Long stood alone on the bank of Taiye Lake with his hands hanging down, thinking quietly about something. His emotions were all hidden under the white dragon-patterned mask, impossible to guess or see through.

After an incense stick of time, he headed south.

Chen Ji closed his eyes and considered for a long time, until the white dragon passed by the rockery, he finally made a decision.

He slowly walked out of the shadows, bowed and said, "Lord Bailong."

Bai Long turned around and looked at him. "It's you. Do you know that according to our Daning Law, anyone who breaks curfew without an urgent document will be punished with sixty strokes of the cane. Anyone who trespasses into the Taiye Lake will be punished with one hundred strokes of the cane and a three thousand li exile."

Chen Ji lowered his head and said, "I am Hai Dongqing from the Secret Service. There is no such thing as me trespassing into the Taiye Lake, let alone violating the curfew. I just heard about the incident at Huitong Hall and felt that something was fishy, ​​so I came to see if there was anything I could do to help."

Bai Long laughed and said, "Why, are you also thinking about the top three positions left vacant by the sick tiger? With so many people vying for them, I'm afraid it won't be your turn. Be careful that your life will be in danger."

Chen Ji shook his head: "I have no intention of taking the position of the zodiac, I just want to share the worries of Lord Bailong. Although the court officials have made a conclusion on this matter, if the culprit who set the fire and secretly sent poison to the Goryeo envoy cannot be found, I am afraid it will be difficult for you to explain to His Majesty."

Bai Long looked at Chen Ji with interest: "You are so brave, how dare you come to me?"

Chen Ji said sincerely: "Mr. Feng told me that if from now on I can only trust one person in the Imperial Household Department, it must be Lord Bai Long."

Bai Long was silent for a moment, as if a little surprised: "Did he really say that?"

Chen Ji said firmly: "Really."

(End of this chapter)