Knife splashing

Chapter 677 Sneaking into the Capital
It is a little chilly in the spring night, and the moon is dim.

On the official road from Tongzhou to the capital, the sound of horse hooves startled the insects dormant in the grass.

It was March, and spring was late in the north. The elm trees on both sides of the official road had just sprouted new buds, and the tips of the tender green leaves glowed silver in the moonlight.

Li Yan and his team are quite large.

Luo Mingzi's dozen men, Kong Shangzhao's housekeeper and four servants, and a horse-drawn carriage carrying luggage were as large as a small caravan, marching forward on the official road in the dark with torches in hand.

In the night sky, hawks and falcons circle back and forth in the beginning of winter.

Lu San controlled snakes and rats to deliver the message, and Li Yan also used magic formulas to listen attentively.

After a while, Li Yan shook his head slightly, "It seems they have given up."

"We are almost reaching the capital, there is no chance of taking action here."

"Pity."

Luo Mingzi looked back, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

He was well aware of the battle records of Li Yan and others. This time he had the help of the Twelve Yuanchen and had set up an ambush in advance. He might be able to catch them and trace the person behind the scenes.

But now it seems that the other party is far more cautious than he thought.

In the distance, the stone arch of Yongtong Bridge is like a dark spine, spanning the Tonghui River shining in the moonlight.

Looking around, it is quite charming.

Li Yan reined in his horse and stopped for a moment, the white breath he exhaled condensed into a thin mist in the cold spring air.

"This bridge was built during the previous dynasty and is hundreds of years old."

Luo Mingzi pointed to a dark building in the northeast and said, "See it? That's the Tongzhou West Warehouse, which was expanded during the Longyuan period. Now it's filled with 400,000 dan of newly arrived spring grain, and there are troops stationed there to guard it."

Everyone looked in the direction where he pointed, and saw the black tiles of the granaries inside the high walls stretching like hills, and the torches of the patrolmen on the top of the wall flickering.

After a brief introduction, Luo Mingzi looked at Li Yan.

He was really curious about what Li Yan had found out, but it was not very convenient because there were so many people around.

Before we knew it, a hint of dawn had appeared in the eastern sky.

"We're here. The capital is just ahead!"

Luo Mingzi suddenly looked up and pointed forward.

Everyone looked up and saw that at the end of the official road, the towering city walls of the capital were lying dormant like a giant beast.

The lanterns on the arrow tower swayed in the morning breeze, like scarlet eyes hanging in the mist.

Li Yan seemed to be thinking about something and wanted to use the Yang Jue technique to investigate.

"Don't!"

Before he could make a move, Luo Mingzi hurriedly stopped him, shaking his head and saying, "The capital is different from other places. Not only is the City God's headquarters located there, but there are also national sacrifices to the gods of grain and the sun, moon and stars. The inspections by secular gods are very strict. If you use your magical powers to investigate privately, you will get into trouble."

Sharifei beside him was stunned, "Isn't this still a long way off?"

Luo Mingzi didn't explain much, but said meaningfully: "In any case, don't mess around. If the national sacrifice is that simple, it won't affect the dynasty and the country. The Xuanmen and the orthodox sects are flocking to it. When you get to the capital, apply for a token and use your magical powers to investigate anywhere except the imperial city."

"But last year, His Majesty strictly restricted Xuanmen, even for us, and we had to explain it in detail afterwards."

Li Yan stopped and frowned, "How can we find the demon if we are so restricted?"

Luo Mingzi was silent for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said, "This place is different from other places. My Taixuan Sect cannot do whatever it wants, otherwise it will arouse suspicion from the royal family. Don't worry, after I help you apply for the token, many things will be easy to handle."

As he said this, he looked into the distance and said, "The gates of the capital will open soon, so don't enter the city yet."

No one said anything when they heard this.

This was the plan Li Yan made on the way.

They came to the capital to attend the opening ceremony of Qiankun Academy. Although they were delayed on the road, there was still about half a month left.

Qiankun Academy is now the eye of the storm in Beijing, and we need to see the situation clearly before making a decision.

Of course, Li Yan had another reason that he didn’t mention.

That "Zhao Qingxu" who sent the letter of provocation must have already made arrangements in the capital, waiting for him to jump in.

The capital is not a good place, and Li Yan is naturally worried because hidden dangers cannot be eliminated.

Led by Luo Mingzi, everyone left the official road and turned to the left.

The sky gradually brightened. After walking about ten miles, the outlines of manors with gray walls and black tiles appeared among the fields in the distance.

The morning mist was like a veil, shrouding the manor, making the towering walls look even more majestic.

There were still "common people" who had gotten up early to work in the fields. When they saw them, they did not approach them, but just saluted from a distance.

There were reflections of sharp blades hidden in the backpacks of these "common people", and it was obvious that they were not ordinary people.

When we got closer to the manor, we saw that the gate was closed, the vermilion lacquer was peeling, and the remaining pieces of the seal of the Ministry of Households were soaked by the night dew, making the writing blurred.

There is a pair of bluestone drums in front of the door. There is a fine crack on the left drum surface, as if it had been hit hard.

"This manor originally belonged to Gao Shining, the Minister of Works."

Luo Mingzi ordered someone to open the door and introduced: "He was involved in a court dispute and was thrown into prison. His property was confiscated. The manor was temporarily sealed by the Ministry of Revenue and has not yet been sold."

"This house is close to a tributary of the Tonghui River, with a low mountain at its back and a government road in front. It is surrounded by dense pine and cypress trees, and has excellent concealment. Therefore, I have temporarily requisitioned it as a place to stay outside the capital. They should have already packed up the room."

Everyone followed in and looked around.

This house is a typical northern gentry garden, incorporating some Jiangnan garden landscaping elements, and is quite large.

Renovation is going on inside.

The "back house" in the front yard, where servants originally lived, was converted into a secret sentry post, where movements on the official road could be monitored through a small window. Secret slide rails for crossbows and matchlock guns were being installed in several blind spots. The back of the relief sculpture of "Immortal Riding a Crane" on the screen wall has been cut open, and talismans have been buried according to the five elements.

Near the hanging flower gate on the central axis, craftsmen were also replacing the bronze mirrors that ward off evil spirits.

These craftsmen are all quite old, and judging by the tools hanging on their bodies, they are all Xuanmen craftsmen.

After seeing Luo Mingzi, he just nodded slightly without saying anything.

"Thank you for your hard work, gentlemen."

But Luo Mingzi was very respectful. After greeting them, he led everyone to the backyard and explained, "These master craftsmen are all royal craftsmen. They have been arranged at home and will not give face to anyone."

After hearing this, Li Yan immediately understood.

These craftsmen came from the legendary "Tiangongsi" of the Ministry of Works.

He had a good relationship with the Mo Sect elder Tian Feng, and had heard him talk about it while they were drinking and chatting.

This department has appeared since the Daqing period of the previous dynasty. It is a fusion of the functions of the Imperial Observatory and the Imperial Construction Bureau, and is responsible for the secret skills in royal architecture. Most of its members are selected from young children from aristocratic families of craftsmen. They are trained in the "Xuan Ji Academy" since childhood, and learn knowledge such as "Lu Ban's Secret Book", "Han Long Jing" and "Tian Gong Kai Wu". They are proficient in mechanical techniques, feng shui, and the art of exorcism.

Their families usually have arrangements already been made.

When he was young, he was responsible for building some secret passages, warehouses and palace mechanisms in the palace.

After all, there are countless ways for mysterious craftsmen in this world to harm people, so we must be on guard.

And when they were old, whenever an emperor was buried, they would follow him into the mausoleum and make mechanisms.

The method and map to crack the mechanism will also be buried with the emperor.

The fact that Luo Mingzi was able to invite these people also shows that he was deeply trusted by the emperor.

……

The area of ​​the backyard is not small. The main building "Zhenxia Pavilion" is a two-story hip-and-gable building. The window faces the back mountain and overlooks the entire garden.

In addition to the west wing and the east courtyard, there is also a small garden.

The room has been simply tidied. Although it is simple, it is very clean.

"Come on, come on, everyone, just eat something first."

Luo Mingzi had two tables of breakfast brought in, which consisted of some simple tea soup, sugar-coated steamed buns and steamed eggs, as well as braised meat and pickles wrapped in brown paper, filling up a large table.

After taking the boat and travelling all night, everyone felt a little tired. After a simple meal, they went back to their rooms to rest.

Lu San chose the highest position in the main building to facilitate the entry and exit of falcons and monitor the surroundings.

Li Yan chose the west wing, close to the courtyard wall.

As soon as he returned to the room, Luo Mingzi followed him in. "No hurry."

Just as he was about to speak, Li Yan shook his head slightly, took the Ruyi Pearl from Wang Daoxuan and hung it on the door.

"Tsk, tsk."

Looking at the slightly shining bead, the Taoist praised it and shook his head, saying, "This must be the Ruyi Pearl, one of the Thirteen Treasures of the Tang Dynasty, a sacred artifact for national sacrifice. It is only because you are famous now that you can control the situation. Otherwise, this thing would be a disaster."

After that, he shifted his gaze and asked with curiosity, "What did you find out? What is this mysterious secret?"

"'Zhao Qingxu' sent me a letter."

Li Yan's face was gloomy as he recounted the incident. "He deliberately sent the things to Lijiabao to provoke me with what happened that year. I'm afraid a killing trap has been set up in the capital, waiting for me to get in."

"Also, Jinmen Lu Jinghai mentioned a name before his death, but I didn't tell the Duwei Division."

"what name?"

Luo Mingzi became interested and asked quickly.

"Peach Banquet!"

Li Yan said in a deep voice: "Master, you have been in the capital for a long time, have you ever heard of this?"

"Peach Banquet?"

Luo Mingzi frowned slightly and shook his head, "I've never heard of it. What kind of organization is this?"

"I am not sure as well."

Li Yan looked out the window thoughtfully, "Lu Jinghai is collecting money for the Yingwang Palace. I wonder if this thing is related to those military nobles?"

Luo Mingzi stroked his beard, thought for a moment, and shook his head, "Not like that."

"I have read the intelligence about Lu Jinghai. He killed enemies in the northern border and made outstanding military achievements, but he was a violent person. He secretly killed innocent people to take credit for his achievements and allowed his men to harm the Han villages. Someone took the opportunity to capture him and wanted to execute him by military law, but he was saved by the King of England."

"Although the King of England has passed away long ago, he has always been loyal to the Royal Palace. If it is related to the Royal Palace, he will definitely not say it."

Thinking of Lu Jinghai's previous hesitation, Li Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, "That's not necessarily true. Perhaps Lu Jinghai concealed important information, such as the process of learning about the Peach Festival. It is so secret that it must not be known by ordinary people."

Luo Mingzi immediately understood, "You want to check from the British palace?"

"Yes."

Li Yan said in a deep voice: "The enemy is in the dark, and I am in the light. The demons of Jianmu must have known about my going to Qiankun Academy. Maybe there are their people around Yan Jiuling and Senior Tian Feng. If I go into the city with a big fanfare to meet them, I will fall into a trap."

"The only plan now is to sneak in secretly and take the initiative."

"Alright."

Luo Mingzi didn't waste any words and nodded, "I will help you cover it up and draw the attention of those people to the manor."

As he spoke, his face was solemn, and he patted Li Yan's shoulder, "As I said before, the capital is no different from other places, it is a hodgepodge of good and bad people. As far as I know, there are three grandmasters stationed in the capital all year round, and those gangs and the houses of the rich and powerful all have masters of the mysterious sect."

"Some are not well-known, but their methods are not weak at all..."

"There is a parade of city gods every night, and you are not allowed to use escape techniques on the streets..."

"Also, near the Imperial City, if you use magic, you will be attacked by the national sacrifice objects..."

Luo Mingzi took the time to tell in detail some key information in the capital.

Li Yan had learned about the situation in the capital from Zhao Wanfang, but he did not know the secrets of Xuanmen. Now was the perfect time to make up for it.

The two of them chatted for another two hours.

After confirming all the details, Li Yan called his companions to inform them, and then fell into a deep sleep...

.........

The next day, the sky was a little gloomy.

Luo Mingzi gathered all his men early in the morning and issued orders.

"Continue to search all Taoist temples!"

"Also, don't let those underworld gangs go. Inform them that whoever can provide clues about Zhao Qingxu will be rewarded handsomely!"

"The guests in the backyard are tired from the journey and need to rest for a few days. No one should disturb them..."

"Yes, my lord!"

More than thirty men clasped their fists together, turned around and left.

Looking at their leaving figures, Luo Mingzi held the teacup with sharp eyes.

He knew long ago that there was a traitor among these people.

There was nothing wrong with the emperor mobilizing elite troops from the Duwei Division and the Xuanji Law Enforcement Hall.

These people are indeed elite, either veterans in handling cases or rising stars in the Xuanmen.

But this is where things went wrong.

Needless to say, the Duweisi can be the royal lackey or the evildoer's lackey.

The elite of Xuanmen come from different orthodox religions and lineages.

The modeling organization is well-informed, so it is easy to plant a hidden spy.

In the past, when searching the archives of the year from the Ministry of Rites, the opponents were always one step ahead.

Tian Qianhu's ambush in the south also revealed many abnormalities.

He had already cleared out a batch of them, but he was still caught in Tongzhou.

This time Li Yan went into the city to investigate, which was also an opportunity for him. By helping Li Yan cover up, perhaps he could find out the ghost!

Thinking of this, Luo Mingzi's eyes rolled and he turned to the backyard.

Wang Daoxuan and Sha Lifei were reading books and practicing.

Along the way, whenever they had free time, they thought about how to increase their strength.

"The Taoist priest has arrived just in time."

Seeing this, Sharifi came over quickly and said, "I want to get some materials to modify the firearm..."

"Easy to say."

Luo Mingzi smiled slightly, "I didn't expect Brother Sha to have this skill. Just make a list and ask people to pick it up. There are also furnaces prepared by the craftsmen in the manor, and no one is using them."

He didn't take it seriously when he said this.

Since the emergence of new firearms, many people in the Xuanmen sect have done a lot of research on them.

Sharifei is just a rough man, the worst that can happen is that some materials will be wasted, anyway, the funds provided by the court are sufficient.

His attention was entirely on the other side.

After hastily dealing with Sharifei, he came to Kong Shangzhao's room with a gentle smile on his face: "I heard that Brother Kong is good at analyzing classics. Can you help us? We will help you with your matters."

"This is...good!"

Kong Shangzhao nodded in agreement without saying a word.

After he left, he was most worried about his father, so he would naturally not let go of this opportunity.

"Okay, move the stuff in!"

Luo Mingzi was overjoyed. With one order, truckloads of old books and archives were pulled into the backyard...

……

At the same time, outside the gate into the capital.

The line of people waiting to enter the city stretched for two or three miles.

"It's open!"

Rumble!
With a loud roar, the city gate slowly opened.

In the crowd, Li Yan lowered his straw hat and followed the flow of people into this magnificent imperial capital...

(End of this chapter)