The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 277 Chaos in Xingzhou
"Xingzhou sent someone?" Zhao Ti raised an eyebrow. "What urgent matter do you need to report? Where are they?"

Wu Xiong immediately turned around and brought two people over in a short while. Zhao Ti recognized them as two of the personal guards he had brought with him when he went to Xingzhou.

Zhao Ti said, "Bai Zhan and the others are fast travelers. What important matter could they not come to, and instead send the two of you here?"

The two bowed together, and one of them said, "Your Highness, the generals are responsible for maintaining the safety of the palace and the order of Xingzhou City. They dared not leave their posts, which is why they sent us to Dali overnight."

"What happened in Xingzhou City?" Zhao Ti's voice turned cold. "Or is something wrong in Hequ?"

"Your Highness, there is no trouble in Hequ or along the border. It is Xingzhou City that is in chaos. Many followers of the grassland shamanism have infiltrated the area. They are secretly spreading shamanism, committing crimes, causing trouble everywhere, setting fire to houses, intimidating and looting, and even pretending to be gods and ghosts near the palace, making all sorts of strange noises in the dark and emitting phosphorescent green flames into the sky."

"Shamans are causing trouble?" Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes upon hearing this. This must be because Yelü Hongji was dissatisfied with the Song Dynasty occupying Western Xia territory, but because he was too proud to openly break the contract he signed with Yelü Duanqing, he secretly sent shamans to cause trouble.

"Is there anything else?" Zhao Ti asked with a gloomy expression.

"The generals have captured and killed many people. Xingzhou is now under martial law, but many government seals are missing, including the original seal of the Xingqing Prefect."

The Western Xia government adopted some of the Tang dynasty's official titles and some of the Song dynasty's titles. Prefectures were headed by governors, counties were mostly located on the border, and prefectures followed the Song dynasty's system. The chief official of Xingqing Prefecture was called the Prefect.

However, after the Song Dynasty destroyed the Western Xia, the position of Prefect was abolished, and the position of Governor was also abolished. Instead, the position of Prefect of Xingzhou was used.

Although the position of Prefect of Xingqing was no longer established and the official seal was of little use, it was one thing to leave it lying around, but to steal it was another matter entirely. This was not only a provocation, but also an act of disgust.

Zhao Ti pondered for a moment. Assassinating officials was not so easy, after all, they were surrounded by soldiers. Whether they succeeded or not, as long as they left a trace, they would be shot dead by crossbows. Stealing the seal, on the other hand, was relatively simple. It would make the Song Dynasty lose face, and they would be somewhat helpless.

He snorted coldly: "They are just some traitors. Xingzhou City is not as big as Tokyo. Can't we wipe them out by searching the whole city?"

The guard said, "Your Highness, the generals searched the city twice, but with little success. The generals said that the shamans must have been lurking in the city for a long time, probably before the Western Xia was destroyed."

Zhao Ti raised his eyebrows upon hearing this. This was indeed a highly probable situation. After all, the Liao Kingdom was most willing to plant spies in various countries. The Song Dynasty had many spies planted there, some of whom even held official positions. The Western Xia would naturally have no shortage of them as well, and they could potentially live there for generations.

"Are Bai Zhan and his men completely helpless?"

Upon hearing this, the guard whispered, "The generals said that we can no longer search the city, because it would disturb the people and it wouldn't be very effective. However, at this time, some people from the Central Plains Jianghu came to volunteer to help. The generals discussed countermeasures with them, which played a significant role."

"A person from the martial arts world?" Zhao Ti thought for a moment.

“Your Highness, they are indeed Jianghu people.” The guard said, “When Your Majesty personally led the expedition against Western Xia, some Jianghu people volunteered to go ahead and gather information. After the fall of Western Xia, not all of these people left. Moreover, this time, a lot of people from the Beggars’ Sect have come, saying that they were sent by Chief Xiao to follow orders.”

"Has Xiao Feng arrived in Xingzhou?" Zhao Ti asked.

"There was none before I came here. The Beggars' Sect was led by an elder named Wu Changfeng."

Zhao Ti nodded. Wu Changfeng was one of the six elders of the Beggars' Sect, known as the Ghost Head Saber. His unique skill was the Qimen Three Talents Saber. He was quite skilled in martial arts. If things had gone normally, he would have injured Yun Zhonghe, one of the Four Evils, in the battle at Xingzi Forest.

In particular, he had long-standing ties with the Western Army. More than twenty years ago, he guarded Yingchou Gorge and fought against the top experts of the Western Xia First-Class Hall, preventing them from succeeding in their plot to assassinate the Yang family of the Western Army. He helped the Yang family defend their fortress and was awarded a merit plaque by Yang Wenguang, the commander of the Yang family at the time.

"Now that so many people have come, how can we make things effective?"

The guard said, "People from the martial arts world have eyesight ten times better than soldiers. Moreover, they don't need to disguise themselves and are hard to be detected by those shamans. Unlike soldiers, who can be seen through even if they wear civilian clothes. These people are stationed in the city to monitor all directions, investigate clues, and have captured many shamans."

Zhao Ti said, "That's excellent."

The guard said, "When the two of us came out, the situation seemed to have stabilized, but we didn't know if there would be any reversals. What's the situation now?"

Zhao Ti pondered for a moment and said, "You two go and rest first. Tomorrow I will return to Xingzhou."

The two bowed and left upon hearing this. Zhao Ti walked towards the main tent while thinking, and once inside, he summoned everyone to assign tasks.

The search for the Great Snow Mountain must continue, even if it's like finding a needle in a haystack. However, he needs to return to Xingzhou first to quell the situation and calm things down regarding the shamanism.

Apart from Tong Guan and the two guards, everyone else stayed behind. Kumārajīva and Huo Linglong led the way, entering the opposite snow mountain to search for Mu Wanqing's whereabouts. If they couldn't find her in one mountain, they would search in two, and if they couldn't find her in two, they would search in three, and so on, pushing forward relentlessly.

After everything was assigned, it was already past noon. Zhao Ti pondered for a moment, then got up and went to Qin Hongmian's courtyard.

Before even reaching the place, they saw Gan Baobao standing prettily in front of the courtyard gate, with a hint of anxiety on her face.

Zhao Ti glanced at her; she was dressed very elegantly, with a pair of delicate and exquisite shoes that made her look quite graceful. Upon seeing him, she hurriedly came over to greet him.

Zhao Ti asked, "Is there something you need, Madam?"

Before Gan Baobao could speak, her face flushed slightly. She said, "Your Highness, there is something I would like to tell you."

Zhao Ti nodded: "Madam, please speak frankly."

Gan Baobao whispered, "Last night, Ling'er told me that she didn't want to go to Dali City, but wanted to... wanted to travel with His Highness..."

Zhao Ti nodded: "That's right. I had a very pleasant conversation with Miss Zhong along the way, and we even went through some dangerous places together. I intended to take Miss Zhong away, and Miss Zhong agreed to this as well."

Gan Baobao was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then her cheeks flushed even more: "Your Highness means..."

Zhao Ti's expression was gentle: "As Madam thinks, I will also write to the Prince of Zhennan after Miss Zhong enters the Prince of Yan's residence. I was going to inform Madam about this as well, but I didn't expect Madam to bring it up first."

Gan Baobao murmured softly, "That's good. When we find Wan'er, the two of us will keep each other company and won't be lonely anymore."

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "I won't be lonely, and Wanqing will be fine too. If you want to stay at the mansion, Madam is welcome to do so."

Gan Baobao's cheeks flushed, and she looked radiant: "How could I possibly disturb Your Majesty? I am already at ease knowing that Ling'er has found such a wonderful home. Otherwise, I would still be thinking about her every day. After all, I am not young anymore, yet I am still as innocent and naive as a child."

Just as Zhao Ti was about to speak, Zhong Ling came out and asked, "Your Highness, Mother, what are you talking about?"

Gan Baobao turned to look at her: "Ling'er, His Highness and I are talking about you."

Zhong Ling asked curiously, "What did you say about me?"

Zhao Ti said, "I will return to Xingzhou tomorrow. Miss Zhong, please come with me."

Zhong Ling was taken aback upon hearing this, then covered her face with her hands, turned and ran into the room, muttering, "I, I..."

Gan Baobao hurriedly smiled and said, "She was so determined last night, but now she's shy. Let me go inside and see her."

After watching Gan Baobao leave, Zhao Ti went to see Qin Hongmian and told her about returning, but the search would not stop. He told Qin Hongmian to rest assured and reassured her that Mu Wanqing would not be in any danger.

The next day arrived in the blink of an eye, and the group set off, heading directly west to climb the peaks and ridges, passing through this area to reach the snow-capped mountains of Tibet.

After traversing this continuous mountain range, there is a road ahead, and on the other side of the road are snow-capped mountains. This snow-capped mountain is one of countless snow-capped mountains on the plateau, but its magnificence and vastness can be ranked among the top three.

Down the mountain, there are some scattered Tibetan dwellings, simple and rustic. Some are inhabited, while others have been abandoned for a long time and are covered in dust.

Now that it was confirmed that Mu Wanqing had passed through the mountains, it was highly likely that she was heading towards the vast plateau. Therefore, each of the residents went inside to inquire and investigate.

After finding nothing unusual, they headed into the Great Snow Mountain. When they were halfway there, Zhao Ti separated from the group and, along with Zhong Lingtong, Guan, and the two guards, headed north back.

They traveled and searched along the way, hoping to find traces of Mu Wanqing, but the plateau was too vast, with endless mountains. People on the plateau were like ants, a drop in the ocean.

They didn't get any clues along the way, and gradually arrived in the Longyou area. Then they went to Qingtang City to rest, where Yang Jian held a grand banquet to welcome them.

The next day, they continued towards Xingzhou and returned to the city a few days later. At this time, Xingzhou City still had not completely lifted the restrictions, and the number of people entering and leaving the city was strictly controlled and checked.

Zhao Ti did not return to the palace, but instead summoned officials from the city to a meeting at the Xuanfu Division in front of the palace.

After listening to all the major and minor matters of the past few days, he issued orders one by one, and then asked Zhou Tong to invite all the leaders of the Jianghu people who had assisted in capturing the shamans.

These people all came from the Song Dynasty, from the Central Plains to the Jiangnan region. Some were large, established sects with ancient traditions, while others were small, unknown sects. Most of these sects had some history and some connection with the Song Dynasty court. Back then, Emperor Taizong conquered half of the martial arts world, not only wiping out some sects but also subduing others.

During the siege of Shanhaiguan, in addition to the main army, there were also many martial arts practitioners. After the fall of Southern Tang, Emperor Taizong rewarded these martial arts practitioners, and even took a small number of them into his service and granted them official positions.

Therefore, martial arts skills were passed down in the Imperial Guard, including those in the Imperial City Guard. In particular, many of the secret guards in the Martial Virtue Guard were actually direct descendants of those martial arts practitioners who entered the court back then.

Meanwhile, some sects that did not obtain official positions at the time mostly made a fortune over the years by taking advantage of this qualification.

Of course, there are also those who mismanage their businesses. After all, among the disciples and grandchildren, there are bound to be those who are unambitious, lazy, and neglect their duties, ruining the family's reputation with greed and selfishness, causing the sect to decline and making it difficult to continue the glory of their predecessors.

In the eyes of these sects, the Song Dynasty's all-out attack on Xia was undoubtedly another opportunity. Whether it was for the country and its people or for opportunistic gains and wealth, it was still risking their lives. And since they were fighting against an enemy country, they deserved to be treated with respect and could be called heroes.

When Zhao Ti met the leader of these people in the hall, he naturally praised him sincerely and promised him many things. These people bowed and spoke with great enthusiasm, saying that they were only serving the country and did not want any reward.

Zhao Ti smiled and waved his hand, saying, "If merit is not rewarded, good deeds will not be encouraged; if evil is not punished, evil will run rampant. Please do not refuse."

Everyone bowed again, saying they would no longer refuse, but felt ashamed to accept, and all smiled happily.

Zhao Ti chatted with these people about all sorts of things for a while, then dismissed them, leaving only Wu Changfeng behind.

Wu Changfeng looked to be around fifty or sixty years old. He wore coarse linen clothes, had a large, ghost-headed knife hanging at his waist, and was tall and strong. His black hair was streaked with silver, and his face was covered with deep wrinkles.

Zhao Ti nodded at his mature and composed demeanor. This man held a high position in the Beggars' Sect and, as one of the six elders, could command a great following.

He said, "Last time Chief Xiao went to Tokyo to see me, he said he wanted to go back to the Beggars' Sect to take a look. After I crossed the river, I lost contact with him. I never expected that he would become the new chief."

Wu Changfeng hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the Beggars' Clan is ashamed. We wronged our leader that day. Fortunately, Your Majesty's words on the banks of the Luo River were enlightening and awakened us from our dream. After Leader Xiao returned, everyone persuaded him repeatedly. Fortunately, Leader Xiao did not abandon us and took over the leadership of the Beggars' Clan again."

Zhao Ti nodded: "Didn't he say he wanted to come and see me?"

Wu Changfeng said, "I told you, I told you. I was in Luoyang handling gang affairs before I came, and I expect to arrive soon."

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "The Beggars' Sect is known for its loyalty and righteousness, but this name is ironic. If one day the world is truly at peace and there are no more beggars, then the imperial court will truly appreciate the Beggars' Sect's loyalty and righteousness."

Wu Changfeng said, "Your Majesty is too kind. The Beggars' Sect is now a martial arts sect with 360 different professions. It is not like those ordinary beggars. I also wish that those who can only beg for a living would disappear from the world as soon as possible, so that the world can be peaceful and people can live in peace and prosperity."

Zhao Ti said, "Even so, this heart for the country and the people cannot be denied."

Wu Changfeng said, "The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen. Even though I am in the Jianghu, I dare not forget the imperial court."

Zhao Ti sighed softly, "Elder Wu, please sit down."

Upon hearing this, Tong Guan trotted out from behind Zhao Ti and moved a stool to Wu Changfeng's side. Wu Changfeng exclaimed in surprise, "Your Majesty, this humble subject dares not, how can this humble subject sit with Your Majesty?"

Zhao Ti gestured for him to sit down and said, "Sit down, sit down. Tell me about your time guarding Eagle's Sorrow Gorge, and about the Yang family of the Western Army."

Tong Guan said, "Elder Wu, please sit down and talk. Don't disappoint His Highness."

Wu Changfeng then sat down and began to recount the events of that year. As Zhao Ti listened, a look of melancholy appeared on his face. The Yang family was originally subordinate to the Zhe family, the first military family in the Western Army. The two families had once been related by marriage. The wife of Golden Knife Yang Ye, Lady Zhe, was a daughter of the Zhe family. In later generations, the story was passed down among the people and became known as Lady She.

In reality, the Yang family did not hold such high official positions or power. Apart from Yang Yanzhao's lineage in the army, Yang Ye's other sons were all court officials and palace guards. The so-called Yang family generals refer to the lineage of Yang Ye and his eldest son, Yang Yanzhao.

Yang Yanzhao was the sixth son in the Yang family clan, hence the nickname "Sixth Son," but he was actually Yang Ye's eldest son.

When Yang Wenguang, grandson of Yang Yanzhao, passed away, he no longer served as an official outside the capital. Instead, he began to pursue a career in literature or to serve in the inner court. Yang Wenguang had participated in the suppression of Nong Zhigao and later fought against the Western Xia in the Jingyuan Road. He served as the prefect of Jingzhou and the military commander of Zhenrong Army.

The Yang family and the Murong Yanzhao family had a long-standing marriage relationship; Yang Wenguang married a woman from the Murong family.

Zhao Ti asked, "Is the merit plaque that General Yang gave you back then still there?"

Wu Changfeng said, "I have kept it safe and dare not damage it in the slightest."

Zhao Ti said, "After this matter is settled, I will award Elder Wu another plaque to commemorate his loyalty and bravery."

Wu Changfeng hurriedly stood up and bowed: "This humble subject thanks Your Majesty for your esteemed presence."

Zhao Ti nodded, then told Wu Changfeng to leave and rest, while he led Zhong Lingtong back to the palace.

Upon arriving at the palace, A'Zhu and Lan Jian greeted them. A'Zhu blinked when she saw Zhong Ling and looked her up and down.

Zhong Ling was somewhat at a loss, seeing that A Zhu was incredibly beautiful yet mischievous, and stole a glance at Zhao Ti.

Zhao Ti smiled and said to A Zhu, "Don't mistake her for someone else. This isn't your sister A Zi. Her name is Zhong Ling."

Azhu said with a smile, "Your Highness said that my sister is wicked, how could she be as well-behaved and lovely as Miss Zhong? This servant will not admit that I am wrong."

Zhao Ti then said to Zhong Ling, "This is A Zhu. She's clever and quick-witted. Just have A Zhu arrange your accommodations and travel."

Zhong Ling said timidly, "Sister A Zhu..."

A'Zhu responded, "Sister Ling'er, are you from Dali?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti coughed and said, "Although she is not A Zi, she is still your sister."

Then, he recounted Zhong Ling's background and origins.

After listening, A'Zhu looked at Zhao Ti, her eyes sparkling, a half-smile on her face: "Your Highness, you..."

Zhao Ti looked away and said, "Enough with the nonsense, let's brew some tea. I'm very thirsty."

Azhu smiled and said, "This servant will go and brew tea now. Tell Lan'er to keep Your Highness and Sister Ling'er company for now." After saying that, she turned around and disappeared in a fragrant breeze.

The group then entered the front hall. After a while, A'Zhu returned with tea and began to sit down and talk. A'Zhu looked at Zhong Ling with a joyful yet wistful expression.

After drinking a cup of tea, Zhao Ti said leisurely, "There's something I forgot to mention. I found Azi in Tibet and took her to the Zhennan Prince's Mansion in Dali."

"Your Highness, have you found Azi?" Azhu's face lit up with surprise. "Is she still as unruly as before?"

Zhao Ti thought for a moment about the journey from Luosuo City to Dali, his expression darkening slightly. He recounted the whole story from beginning to end and said, "It's even worse than before. Let the Prince of Zhennan teach him a lesson."

A'Zhu looked worried and hesitated, saying, "If... if the Prince of Zhennan can't control him, this servant..."

Zhao Ti shook his head: "Then don't bother with it. We'll deal with it later. With her personality, she won't suffer any loss."

A'Zhu nodded: "As Your Highness says."

Then, a banquet was arranged. After dinner, he took Zhong Ling to choose a place to stay. The palace was spacious and there were many empty spaces at the moment, but Zhong Ling did not want to be too far from Zhao Ti, so she stayed in a hall next to his bedroom.

The next day, Zhao Ti went out and inspected the city before going to the prison to interrogate the captured shamans, asking where they had hidden their official seals and other items.

Some shamans who could not withstand the power of the Illusionary Yin Finger confessed that they had sent someone to Khatun, the city where the shamanic church was located.

Zhao Ti frowned upon hearing this. He had originally thought it would be sent to Yelü Hongji in Shangjing, but unexpectedly it was sent to Qatun, a reserve city of the Khitan in the northwest of Liao.

He inquired again, but no one knew why it was sent there. They all said it was an order from the Holy See, and that they had even tried to steal his official seal as a pacification commissioner and send it along, but they had failed.

Zhao Ti was puzzled, and then left the prison. Not long after he returned to the government office, Zhou Tong came to report that Xiao Feng had arrived.

(End of this chapter)