Huangming

Chapter 275 A Perilous Journey to Liaodong, Brothers United in Heart

A few days passed like sand slipping through my fingers, gone in the blink of an eye.

As dusk settles, the hustle and bustle of Beijing is gradually swallowed by the night. Only the Warm Fragrance Pavilion in the southern part of the city remains brightly lit. The sounds of string and wind instruments, along with the laughter of men and women, drift out from the carved window frames and ripple in the cool evening breeze.

Inside the pavilion, red candles burned brightly, filling the room with an ambiguous atmosphere. The aroma of wine and cosmetics mingled together, making one's bones feel weak.

However, in the midst of this enchanting night, a tightly closed door in the backyard of Nuanxiang Pavilion creaked open.

A man walked out from inside, his head slightly bowed.

His light blue outfit was stained with a lot of wine, and his collar was open, revealing his neck, which was red from being soaked in alcohol.

Despite reeking of alcohol and walking unsteadily, a deep melancholy lingered between his brows; he was none other than Shen Lian, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Just now in the room, he saw his beloved woman being held in the arms of another man, and he was so distressed that he drank several jugs of wine.

A gentle evening breeze stirred the effects of the alcohol, making my head spin even more, while the restlessness in my heart grew ever clearer.

He raised his hand and rubbed his throbbing temples, his fingertips touching his burning skin.

The liveliness of Nuanxiang Pavilion belonged to others; he only felt that the fragrance of cosmetics filling the room was more suffocating than the bloody smell in the imperial prison.

"Commander Shen, wouldn't you like to have a few more drinks?" The pimp, who was greeting guests under the eaves, approached him with a smile as he came out.

Shen Lian waved his hand without saying a word, but quickened his pace and walked out of the pavilion.

The lantern's glow stretched behind him, only to be crushed by his shadow, much like his chaotic state of mind at that moment.

"What? You didn't stay overnight at Nuanxiang Pavilion again? I think your money has gone down the drain."

Just as Shen Lian reached the entrance of Nuanxiang Pavilion, a familiar voice with a hint of sarcasm came from behind him.

He paused, turned around, and saw two people standing under the lanterns at the street corner.

One of them, dressed in black and with broad shoulders and a thick back, was his sworn brother, the newly appointed centurion Lu Jianxing.

Beside him was a thinner man, Jin Yichuan, a junior officer, who was carrying a wine gourd and grinning at him.

Those words were spoken by Lu Jianxing.

He stepped forward, patted Shen Lian on the shoulder, and said with a hint of disappointment, "Tell me about you, you spend most of your monthly salary on this Warm Fragrance Pavilion, what are you after? Zhou Miaotong is the top courtesan, adored by countless high-ranking officials and nobles, how could someone like you or me possibly be worthy of her?"

Jin Yichuan also came over, shaking the wine gourd in his hand, the wine clinking against the gourd: "Second Brother Shen, I'm not trying to be mean, but with this money, we'd be better off taking the three of us to a small tavern, ordering two catties of braised beef, and having a good drink! The top courtesan at Nuanxiang Pavilion is like the moon in the sky, not so easy to win over."

Shen Lian felt his face burning from what the two said, but he didn't refute them. He just shook his head, wiped his face, and looked at the lit window on the third floor of Nuanxiang Pavilion.

Zhou Miaotong was in there.

He took a deep breath and said to himself, "Miaotong is different. She was originally a daughter of an official, but she has fallen on hard times and is suffering. As long as I can raise five hundred taels to redeem her, I can take her out and find her a quiet place to live."

Seeing Shen Lian's appearance, Lu Jianxing felt a lump in his throat.

My brother is clearly bewitched by the top courtesan of the Warm Fragrance Pavilion; he can't even tell right from wrong.

His brows furrowed, and his tone was almost overflowing with disappointment and frustration.

"Five hundred taels?"

Lu Jianxing stepped forward, his voice suddenly rising in pitch.

"Do you think this is like buying cabbage at the market? The three of us combined earn at most a hundred taels a year, and that's after deducting food, clothing, and the allowance for our superiors. We'd be lucky to save fifty taels! Five hundred taels? That would take five years of not eating or drinking. What is this if not a pipe dream?"

Shen Lian remained silent, but his hands, hanging by his sides, clenched even tighter, his knuckles turning white, and even the veins on the back of his hands throbbing.

The lanterns on the street corner swayed in the wind, their dim light flickering on his face and reflecting the stubbornness in his eyes.

How could he not know it was difficult?
But every time he closed his eyes, Zhou Miaotong's eyes, filled with tears yet trying to appear calm, would appear, and the grievances and stubbornness hidden in them would pierce his heart like a needle.

"I must save enough," he muttered to himself, over and over again.

Seeing that he was unmoved by reason, Lu Jianxing became even angrier, his tone as heavy as if he were throwing stones: "Do you think that if you hand over five hundred taels, she will really go with you? The top courtesan of Nuanxiang Pavilion is used to gold, silver and jewels, and high-ranking officials. Do you think she would even look at a mere captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard like you? Even if she is willing, where will the money come from? From your meager monthly salary?"

These words struck Shen Lian's heart like a heavy hammer.

He was silent.

The annual salary of a captain in the Embroidered Uniform Guard was only forty taels of silver, and after deductions at each level, he would actually receive less than thirty taels. Even if he didn't spend a single penny, it would take him seventeen or eighteen years to save up five hundred taels.

But he can wait. Can Zhou Miaotong wait in that quagmire?
As for generating gray income...

A bitter smile appeared on Shen Lian's lips.

Nowadays, secret police are everywhere. The agents of the Eastern Depot, the spies of the Western Depot, and the spies of the Imperial Depot are all watching their colleagues' mistakes.
Let alone embezzling five hundred taels, even if you dared to take a few dozen more, you'd probably be dragged out the next day and thrown into the imperial prison to be skinned alive.

That's a business that could cost you your head.

Seeing that he had finally lowered his head, Lu Jianxing assumed he had heeded the advice and softened his tone: "Third brother is right. Instead of thinking about this, you should think about how to get promoted. I just got promoted to centurion. If you two work hard, once the three of us brothers have power, we won't have to worry about not having opportunities. At that time..."

"Big brother."

Shen Lian suddenly raised his head, his voice hoarse but carrying a fierce edge.

"I have my own ways of handling the money. You don't need to worry about it."

No matter how difficult it is, he has to keep going as long as he can get Zhou Miaotong out of Nuanxiang Pavilion.

He pursed his lips, and Lu Jianxing sighed at his expression.

"If you put half the effort you put into chasing women into your job, with your abilities, you wouldn't be a captain anymore."

Lu Jianxing patted him on the shoulder, his tone tinged with a mix of emotion and helplessness.

He swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

There are some truths that, if revealed, might damage the brotherhood.

This week, Miaotong, as the top courtesan of Nuanxiang Pavilion, moves among powerful and wealthy businessmen, and the guests she has received could stretch from the pavilion to the end of the street.

Let alone having feelings for Shen Lian, she probably can't even remember his name clearly.

The pimps in the pavilion all said in private that the one who met with Zhou Miaotong the most frequently was the young master of the Yan family from Jiangnan. That man was very generous. Last month alone, he gave her two bolts of brocade and a pair of mutton fat jade bracelets. Shen Lian's salary was probably not even enough to fill a tooth gap in his eyes.

But on second thought, Lu Jianxing felt that it would be good to give Shen Lian something to look forward to.

It's better than living in a daze all day, drifting along in the murky waters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

He looked at Shen Lian's tense profile and silently calculated in his heart: once he has established himself in the position of centurion, he will help Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan to make more contributions, and there will always be a day when he can get ahead.

By then, let alone becoming the top courtesan of Nuanxiang Pavilion, it wouldn't be difficult for him to marry a respectable girl as his legal wife.

If all else fails, redeeming Zhou Miaotong and making her my second brother's concubine wouldn't be too difficult.

"By the way, eldest brother, third brother, what brings you to Nuanxiang Pavilion?"

As the evening breeze carried the smell of alcohol, Shen Lian's muddled mind finally cleared up a bit. He stopped and looked at Lu Jianxing and Jin Yichuan beside him, his face full of surprise.

Normally when he comes to this brothel, these two brothers never join in the fun.

Lu Jianxing always said this place was a "money pit and a place that corrupts the soul," and Jin Yichuan would blush at the sight of women. Why would he take the initiative to come here today?
Lu Jianxing glanced at him sideways, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "I thought you were so infatuated with Zhou Miaotong that you couldn't even tell east from west. At least you still have some memory."

He paused, and seeing that Shen Lian was indeed confused, he put away his joking expression and said seriously, "Aren't you worried about not being able to raise the five hundred taels? Now there's a job for you. If you do it well, not to mention five hundred taels, five thousand taels will be no problem. You might even get promoted two ranks."

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Lian felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water, instantly sobering up considerably, and his eyes widened in shock.

"This...how is this possible?"

He instinctively gripped the hem of his clothes, his tone filled with disbelief: "The three of us brothers have no background or connections. So many people in the Embroidered Uniform Guard are eyeing the opportunity to get promoted and make money. How could such a good thing happen to us?"

That is true.

Of the three of them, Lu Jianxing had just been promoted to centurion and his position was not yet secure; he himself was a captain; and Jin Yichuan was even lower. In the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a place that valued connections, they were always the ones who took on the tough tasks but never got the benefits.

Lu Jianxing shrank back to the street corner and said in a low voice, "This job is good, but it's also dangerous. We have to go to Liaodong, and we have to go deep into the territory occupied by the Jurchens."

"Liaodong?" Shen Lian's eyebrows twitched suddenly, and his mind instantly cleared.

He finally understood why such a lucrative and promotion-enhancing job had fallen to them.

Because it's dangerous.

Deep into enemy-occupied territory, a place teeming with Jurchen spies and patrols, a single misstep could mean certain death; to say it was a matter of nine deaths and one life was an understatement.

"How could my brother accept such a dangerous task?"

Shen Lian frowned, his voice tinged with urgency.

Venturing deep into the heart of the Jurchen territory was no laughing matter; the slightest misstep could mean certain death.

Lu Jianxing glanced around, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of helplessness, "Do you think I wanted to take this? It was Commander Li Ruoxing who personally nominated me. How could I refuse?"

Shen Lian was even more confused, scratching his head: "My brother has no past grudges or recent feuds with him, so why does he keep targeting us? Last time he captured Zhang Tianshi's son, and this time he's sending us on this life-or-death mission..."

"It may not be targeted at anyone."

Lu Jianxing's eyes flickered in the dim light, and he suddenly straightened his back.

"In the Northern Garrison, there are very few who can handle such a task, in terms of martial arts and courage. To outsiders it may seem like a life-or-death situation, but for the three of us, it may not be without hope."

Since being promoted to centurion, his suppressed ambitions have grown wildly like spring grass.

Why should those who climbed up through connections be able to become commanders or assistant commanders?
Lu Jianxing is brave and resourceful; is he destined to remain a centurion? If this mission succeeds, he could easily rise to the rank of commander, let alone a chiliarch.

"Besides."

Lu Jianxing changed the subject, his tone becoming more relaxed.

"I heard that Zhang Tianshi's son, who was arrested before, has been released from prison. If we go to Liaodong now, we can lay low for a while and avoid being resented by those people."

Shen Lian remained silent for a moment, and the hesitation in his heart was gradually replaced by an impulse.

He looked up at the lit window on the third floor of Nuanxiang Pavilion. A blurry figure was reflected in the window paper; he wondered if it was Zhou Miaotong.

"When do we leave?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Now!"

Lu Jianxing said decisively, his eyes revealing an unquestionable resolve.

"The horses and provisions are ready and waiting at the post station outside the city. Let's go there now."

Shen Lian suddenly looked up, his gaze falling on the window again, a wave of regret washing over him.

He had originally thought that even if he couldn't say a few words, he could at least catch a glimpse of Zhou Miaotong from afar and say goodbye.

"There's one more person I haven't had a chance to say goodbye to..." he said softly, his voice full of reluctance.

"What kind of time is this to still be thinking about romance!"

Lu Jianxing grabbed his arm and headed out of the city.

"There are plenty of fish in the sea! Once we return from Liaodong, having achieved great success, what kind of girl can't we find? We can come back in glory to see her then!"

Shen Lian stumbled as he was pulled along. He glanced back at the warm lights of Nuanxiang Pavilion, but gritted his teeth and followed Lu Jianxing and Jin Yichuan.

The night wind carried dust, making one's cheeks sting.

The three hurried towards the post station outside the city under the moonlight. Shen Lian noticed that Jin Yichuan hadn't said much along the way, just following silently. Suddenly remembering their earlier conversation, he couldn't help but tease, "Third brother, you've been so quiet the whole way. Haven't you met any women you like yet?"

Upon hearing this, Jin Yichuan paused, and a blush suddenly appeared on his previously calm face, as if he had been burned by charcoal.

He scratched the back of his head, a slight smile creeping onto his face, revealing a somewhat naive expression: "How does Second Brother know that I don't have it?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure appeared in his mind.

That was the girl who lived at the entrance of the alley. She always wore a moon-white cloth dress. When she was dispensing medicine for people, her fingertips flew across the medicine cabinet. Sunlight shone through the window and fell on her hair, making even the fragrance of herbs seem gentle.

Thinking of this, Jin Yichuan couldn't help but chuckle, his eyes sparkling like stars: "She's much better than that Miss Zhou that Second Brother likes."

"Oh?"

Shen Lian became interested and was about to ask more questions when Lu Jianxing interrupted him: "Alright, stop talking about this and hurry up and get going."

As they spoke, the three of them arrived at the city gate.

Lu Jianxing took out his Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) errand token. The soldiers guarding the city, seeing the tiger head mark on the token, dared not delay and quickly moved the barricades to let him pass.

now.

At the post station outside the city, a dozen or so fast horses were pawing restlessly, carrying dry rations and water bags on their backs. Dozens of Imperial Guards were already fully prepared and ready to depart. Upon seeing the three men arrive, they all bowed and greeted them: "Commander Lu!"

Lu Jianxing nodded without saying a word.

"Mount up, everyone, and head to Tianjin!"

"Yes!"

Everyone mounted their horses. Shen Lian reined in his horse, glanced back at the outline of Beijing, and saw that the lights of Nuanxiang Pavilion had long since disappeared into the night.

He took a deep breath, spurred his horse, and caught up with the group.

The clatter of horses' hooves broke the silence of the night.

The group sped off like arrows towards Tianjin.

The trees on both sides of the official road rushed past, the wind whistling in his ears. Shen Lian felt that the distracting thoughts in his mind were gradually blown away by the rapid speed, leaving only the direction of the road ahead.

The night was deep, with only a few scattered stars dotting the dark blue sky, but the Dagu Port naval port was as bright as day.

Dozens of lanterns hung from the mast, illuminating the sea. The sound of waves crashing against the ship's side was mixed with the shouts of the boatmen, the cries of the porters, and the splashing of the oars, making it as lively as a daytime market.

At the dock, several large sand barges were moored on the shore, their sails billowing in the night wind.

The porters carried heavy sacks of grain onto the boat, stepping on the shaky gangplank. The sacks thudded as they hit the ground, and soon the boat began to sink.

"Where are we transporting these supplies?" Jin Yichuan rubbed his eyes, which were blurry from the lamplight, and asked in a low voice.

Shen Lian squinted, his gaze sweeping across the other side of the dock, and suddenly pointed to the shadows, saying, "Not only were grain and fodder transported, but I think people were transported along with them."

Following his pointing finger, everyone looked and saw a group of soldiers dressed in short-sleeved uniforms boarding the ship in formation. The swords at their waists gleamed coldly in the lamplight. They moved swiftly but remained silent, clearly well-trained elites.

Lu Jianxing frowned even more deeply.

How could such a secret mission deep inside enemy territory require so many men and so much food?

This scene looks like a major battle is about to begin.

He touched the sword at his waist, and that unease welled up in his heart again.

This task is probably more complicated than expected.

The group followed the naval soldiers leading the way toward the yamen. The stone path under their feet was damp from the seawater, and the air was filled with the salty sea breeze and the aroma of grain and wheat, creating a unique atmosphere.

After entering the naval headquarters, we walked around the courtyard planted with banana trees and arrived at the main hall.

Lu Jianxing straightened his robes and led Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan into the hall, where they saw two officials sitting in the main seats.

On the left is Chen Qiyu, the Tianjin Circuit Intendant, dressed in a blue official robe and with a thin face; on the right is Mao Wenlong, the Tianjin Coastal Defense Guerrilla, dressed in armor and with a dark complexion.

"Your subordinate Lu Jianxing, accompanied by Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan, has come to report for duty on behalf of the Northern Garrison Commander." Lu Jianxing bowed and spoke in a loud voice.

Chen Qiyu nodded slightly, pointed at Mao Wenlong and said, "You've come at the right time. From now on, you'll follow Mao the guerrilla and be responsible for protecting his safety."

Mao Wenlong, who was looking down at the nautical chart on the table, looked up when he heard this and saw dozens of Imperial Guards entering. Each of them had a brocade spring knife at their waist and sharp eyes. He was stunned for a moment, then a smile appeared on his face. He stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you all for your help. When we get to Liaodong, the wind and waves will be treacherous. I'm afraid we will have to rely on your help a lot."

"It's my duty, I dare not presume to accept such praise," Lu Jianxing replied with a smile.

Mao Wenlong's gaze swept over the faces of Lu Jianxing, Shen Lian, and Jin Yichuan, as if he were weighing something.

After a moment, he turned to Chen Qiyu and said, "The troops have started moving outside. I'll go check the situation to avoid any mishaps."

Chen Qiyu watched Mao Wenlong's departing figure until the bright color of his armor disappeared into the night before slowly withdrawing his gaze.

He picked up the teacup on the table, which had long since gone cold, and lingered his fingertips on the rim for a moment before turning to Lu Jianxing and the other two, his tone heavy as a stone weighing on his heart:
"You may have doubts in your hearts."

"Why would His Majesty send you to Liaodong? Why is this port transporting troops and supplies overnight?"

"These are all classified information, and I cannot tell you about them right now."

Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

Only Lu Jianxing remained calm, merely gripping the hilt of his sword at his waist, waiting for what would happen next.

"But there is something I must tell you."

Chen Qiyu's gaze suddenly sharpened as he swept over the three of them.

"Your official job is to protect Mao the guerrilla's safety; secretly, you must keep a close eye on him to see if he is trying to claim military merits or embezzle supplies."

These words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake. Shen Lian looked up abruptly: "The Vice Commander means..."

"Isn't the duty of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to detect traitors and distinguish between the wicked and the wicked?"

Chen Qiyu interrupted him, his tone calm but every word carrying immense weight.

"Logically speaking, you only need to do a good job of surveillance and protection, and do not need to charge into battle. But if you can make meritorious contributions in the process, the court will never treat you unfairly. All of them will be counted as military merits and you will be rewarded accordingly."

It involves large-scale troop deployments, overt and covert surveillance, and the constant readiness to be drawn into the war...

Lu Jianxing felt a chill run down his neck, and his mind went blank.

He finally understood why so many people in the Northern Garrison Command were avoiding this job like the plague.

This is no job; it's like putting your life on the line!
Damn it, no wonder nobody wanted to take the job!
But Lu Jianxing forcefully suppressed the thought as soon as it popped into his head.

He took a deep breath, and the turbulent waves surging in his chest gradually subsided.

They come, the security.

The more dangerous it is, the more important this matter is. If it really succeeds, the military merit could elevate the three brothers to great heights.

"Rest assured, Vice Commander!"

Lu Jianxing's gesture of cupping his hands was powerful and resolute, and his voice revealed a ruthless determination.

"Your subordinate understands the situation and will certainly not fail in his mission!"

Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan bowed and accepted the order, their eyes burning with rage even though they didn't speak.

The three brothers crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood; they were incredibly resilient. This perilous mission was both a calamity and a destiny.

They accepted that enormous task!
(End of this chapter)