Di Ming

Chapter 29 Blood Night

Ning Caiwei was well aware of this.

She possessed the Ning Group's technical data. The Secret Service sent an undercover agent, primarily to protect her safety.

But if she were to leak secrets to the outside world, Zhu Yin might assassinate her.

Whether she becomes an assassin or a bodyguard is up to her own choice.

Spies and agents typically employ methods that are both subtle and ruthless. Their operational mindset is also based on intrigue.

Zhu Yin was that kind of person.

He infiltrated his own circle for two years, feigning infatuation with beauty to deceive everyone in the group.

Even the intelligent and perceptive Qingchen thought that he approached her because he wanted to live off her.

Who would have thought that this man who wanted to live off a woman could become an assassin at any moment?

Although Ning Caiwei knew what was going on, she never blamed Zhu Yin.

She not only controls enormous resources but also possesses the latest technological advancements, which are crucial to China's interests. The Secret Service couldn't possibly be without measures in place.

If they don't send Zhu Yin, they'll send Zhang Yin or Wang Yin.

Moreover, she never harbored any intention to betray her country, and was destined to be friends with the Secret Service, not enemies. She was also happy to have a handsome and attractive agent protecting her closely.

Seeing him act like a serious bodyguard, I thought I was unaware of the situation. Isn't that funny?
I suppose it's something I enjoy myself.

Of course, Ning Caiwei would not voice this wicked thought.

...

After a long while, Zhu Yin still shook his head solemnly.

Ning Caiwei immediately understood that the young man had abandoned his plan to assassinate Nurhaci.

As intelligent as she is, she certainly knows the reason.

With Nurhaci assassinated and Baoshi and others seizing power, what will become of them, who were Nurhaci's patrons?
Only a fool would neglect his family when playing chess.

Kill the wild boar skin, and then get yourself and the others killed too? Wouldn't that be stupid?
Who can guarantee that after assassinating Wild Boar Skin, there won't be a second or third Wild Boar Skin?
Once history goes off track, and a new power rises outside the Great Wall, it becomes even more difficult to deal with if we don't understand it.

Moreover, whether the Manchus could enter the Central Plains ultimately depended on the Ming Dynasty itself.

Ning Caiwei relented and said:

"I'm relieved that you're not taking any risks. We've come to this era, so our first priority is to ensure our own survival."

"To accomplish great things and save China, one cannot rely on mere bravery, nor on assassination or the methods of Jing Ke and Nie Zheng."

"We ourselves are the only hope of this era. A son of a wealthy family would not sit under a dangerous roof; taking care of ourselves is the most responsible thing to do."

Zhu Yin nodded, his expression calming down.

"you're right."

"I come from a secret service background, which makes me act somewhat unconventionally, and not conducive to doing big things. You need to remind me of that all the time."

Ning Caiwei patted the heated kang bed, "Get under the covers and talk, it'll be warm."

The Jurchen nobles used thick cotton quilts.

After Zhu Yin climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed) and crawled inside, Ning Qingchen was placed in the middle.

In this way, she has "adults" on both sides, so she won't fall off in the middle of the night or be abused by rats.

For some reason, the rats in the Jurchen region are particularly arrogant and ferocious.

They like to bite babies in the middle of the night, and even eat their eyeballs and ears.

The Jurchens had no choice but to worship them as guardian spirits, hoping the rats would not cause trouble.

But the reason is actually quite simple.

The Jurchen people hated cats, considering them evil, and never kept cats as pets.

In addition, the eastern region is bitterly cold, causing snakes to hibernate for a long time.

So the rats became very arrogant.

Ning Caiwei waited until Zhu Yin lay down before whispering:
"Do you have confidence and a plan for the imperial examination?"

“You like literature and history, which should be an advantage, right? If you don’t pass the exam, I can’t expand the business, otherwise I’ll just be a fat pig waiting to be slaughtered.”

Upon hearing the phrase "fat pig waiting to be slaughtered," Ning Qingchen chuckled heartlessly, her lotus-root-like legs kicking joyfully.

"Are you kidding me? Is this funny?" Ning Caiwei gently patted her. "Just because you've turned into a baby doesn't mean you can be so ignorant, right?"

Zhu Yin said, "It is now March of 1587 AD, February of the fifteenth year of Wanli. By now, Zhang Juzheng's body is already cold, but Hai Rui and Qi Jiguang are still alive."

"The following years, the seventeenth year of Wanli (1589) and the twentieth year of Wanli (1592), were the years of the imperial examinations."

"I've just turned eight, so I'll just say I'm nine. I'll only be eleven the year after next, not even a student yet, so it'll definitely be too late."

"Therefore, he could not participate in the imperial examination in the seventeenth year of the Wanli reign, even as a child prodigy."

"My goal is the grand examination five years from now, in the twentieth year of the Wanli Emperor's reign!"

"I am confident that I can obtain the titles of Xiucai and Juren within five years."

"The plan is: to pass the county-level imperial examination at the age of twelve, the provincial-level imperial examination at the age of thirteen, and the imperial examination at the age of fourteen, achieving successive victories in the imperial examinations and making the right choices at every step."

"Passed the imperial examination at the age of fourteen?" Ning Caiwei tilted her head, looking at him with disbelief.

"I've read a lot of books, but I'm bad at history. Don't try to fool me."

"During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the imperial examination system was very well-established. There were probably no Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) who were over fourteen years old, right? Wasn't that too difficult?"

She knew Zhu Yin had plans for the imperial examinations, but she didn't expect him to be so confident in his plans.

Zhu Yin said, "Zhang Juzheng passed the county-level imperial examination at the age of twelve, and Yang Tinghe passed the provincial-level imperial examination at the age of twelve. The youngest was Wang Chen, who passed the imperial examination at the age of sixteen."

"In the Song Dynasty, there were even thirteen-year-old Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations)."

"Even if I pass the imperial examination at the age of fourteen, I will only be a child prodigy, not a monster."

"Records are meant to be broken. The Ming Dynasty law did not stipulate that one could not pass the imperial examination at the age of fourteen."

"If I could really pass the imperial examination in the 20th year of the Wanli reign, I would be the youngest Jinshi in the history of the Ming Dynasty."

"With this halo, it's easier to get promoted."

Ning Caiwei sat up abruptly, her two bare feet as white as snow.

"Hey, if you say that, then I'm not sleepy anymore."

"How can you be so confident? I know you're smart, but what advantage do modern people have over ancient people in the imperial examinations... Wait, do you know the questions?"

Zhu Yin smiled knowingly.

"The mountain man has his own clever plan."

"Unfortunately, there is a little-known book called 'A Study of the Imperial Examinations during the Wanli Era' that I have just read."

"Besides, we former special agents all have excellent memories. It's hard not to cheat."

"What are the advantages of time travelers? This is one of them."

Ning Caiwei was stunned.

Ning Qingchen was also stunned.

Damn it, you know the question! Isn't that a sure thing, like pinching a snail with three fingers?
In an instant, a vision flashed through the minds of the two sisters:
A boy not yet fourteen years old, riding a tall horse with a red flower hanging on his chest, was riding with great pride and swift hooves, but he paid no heed to the flowers of Chang'an.

But before the two could even rejoice, Zhu Yin poured cold water on their joy.

“I say, don’t be too happy yet. It’s true that the imperial examination questions during the Wanli era were real, but they were all questions from the metropolitan examination.”

"The exam questions? Could it be...?"

"That's right. I don't know the questions for the county, prefectural, provincial, and township examinations in different regions."

"You mean you can pass the imperial examination to become a Jinshi, but you might not be able to pass the county-level or provincial-level examinations, right?"

"Uh...you can understand it this way, theoretically it is."

"What the heck! It turns out it was a bug! Are you kidding me? I heard it's not easy to become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examination), and it's even harder to become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examination)."

Zhu Yin also felt a little ashamed and said embarrassedly:

"It is indeed a fatal flaw. But it's still easier than the provincial examination, right? I have no problem with the county-level examination, the key is the provincial examination. In the end, it still depends on real ability."

……

The next day, Nurhaci and his brothers took Zhu Yin hunting.

Before hunting, they first offered sacrifices to Dama Mama (the hunting goddess) and Shanyin Mafa (the mountain god).

Even after Nurhaci had proclaimed himself a Beile and become a high-ranking nobleman in Jianzhou, he still respectfully prayed to the gods:
"Invincible Chokhazhan, grant me fearless courage to roam freely in the forests and by the water."

“Merciful Mother Dama, when I find prey, I hope it is not a cub or a pregnant animal.”

“Generous Mountain Mafa, I have found bear hair in the altar. Please grant me a large male bear, as I need to entertain my distinguished guest.”

It turns out that even for the Jurchen nobles, a large male bear with plump paws was considered a precious delicacy and could not be eaten easily.

Because male bears are not easy to hunt.

Nurhaci wanted to hunt a male bear to entertain Zhu Yin, this auspicious and distinguished guest.

Ning Caiwei, on the other hand, practiced archery outside with Galo and the others.

Even the women of the Jurchen people were trained in horsemanship and archery. Galo was only twelve years old, but he could already mount a horse, draw a bow and shoot arrows, and dismount to wrestle and wield a sword.

A Jurchen woman who doesn't know how to kill is definitely not a good woman.

As for Ning Qingchen, she was placed in a hanging basket and suspended from the roof beam.

This was the Jurchen method of infant care. When adults went out, the baby would be suspended in a basket, thus avoiding harm from wild animals and snakes.

At this moment, Ning Qingchen was lying on the Jurchen hanging basket, about five feet above the ground, swaying back and forth like a swing.

At first, she found it novel and interesting.

He enjoyed himself for a while.

But since no one played with her for a long time, she started to grumble more and more.

"Damn, they're so carefree."

"Hang me here while you all go out and have some fun."

"They don't care about me at all."

"It's getting hard to hold back, waaaaaah..."

Soon, an Ahha told Ning Caiwei, who was practicing drawing her bow, "Your sister is crying, crying very hard."

Ning Caiwei was covered in sweat from practicing. She ran into the yurt with her small legs, looked up at her younger sister hanging from the rafters, and looked helpless.

"You're not hungry, and you don't need to use the restroom, so why are you crying? Are you feeling unwell?"

She knew her sister was just complaining about having no one to keep her company.

"Waaaaah..." Ning Qingchen burst into tears again.

"Alright, alright, I'll stay with you." Ning Caiwei said, both amused and exasperated. "My dear, you're truly like a mother to me. Grow up quickly!"

At dusk, Zhu Yin returned with Nurhaci and the others.

They caught plenty of prey, but no bears.

Nurhaci said he had a premonition that he would be able to hunt a bear the next day.

The group returned to the unfinished city of Ala, where many craftsmen were still working.

Zhu Yin looked around and suddenly noticed something unusual in the crowd.

His professional habits were immediately activated.

I couldn't help but take a few more glances, lost in thought, as if I had discovered something.

"Little tiger brother, what's wrong?"

Seeing that he was a little dazed, Nurhaci smiled and asked.

Zhu Yin whispered, "Brother Wild Boar Skin, I feel like something's not right."

……

midnight.

The moon over Jianzhou is as cold as a knife.

A flock of night birds suddenly took flight, fluttering and scattering into the night sky.

Suddenly, a large group of figures appeared out of nowhere, wielding sharp blades and rushing straight towards the temporary fence where Nurhaci was located.

A murderous voice said, "Kill! Charge in and kill them all! Leave no one alive!"

Ning Qingchen was suddenly awakened from her sleep, only to see that her sister and Zhu Yin had both gotten up.

Firelight flickered outside, and the sound of footsteps grew ever closer, like a tidal wave.

Immediately, the sounds of fierce fighting tore through the silence of the cold night.

"Caiwei, keep an eye on your sister, and keep her hidden here! Don't go out!"

"Sister Galo, you should also take a weapon and guard this place."

Zhu Yin said something, then took a two-foot-long hunting knife and walked out of the yurt.

“Meh, Niman!” Zhu Yin shouted.

Meh and Niman, who were already prepared, immediately appeared, armed with bows and swords.

"Oh my god!"

"Go to the fence entrance and block them; don't let them in!"

"Whoo!"

In the firelight, Zhu Yin's small face was filled with murderous intent.

Tonight is destined to be a bloody night. But who will emerge victorious?

Bao Shi, Long Dun, if you want to kill us too, then don't blame me.

You should all die a year early.

　For those of you who are in the mood to write book reviews, feel free to do so for fun. This book really needs your support! Goodnight! Be careful not to get heatstroke.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)