Huangming

Chapter 293 The Provoke's Scheme, The Secret Agent's Rendezvous (Bonus Chapter for 1200 Monthly Tickets!)
"hateful!"

On the official road from Fushun to Hetu Ala.

Li Yangeng slammed his fist against the side of the bumpy carriage, the pine plywood making a dull thud that sent numbness through his knuckles.

The birch forest flashing past the car window was vaguely resembling the hunched figure of the Han army flag being whipped by the Jurchens on the streets of Fushun, making his eyes darken.

"Is Father... really willing to be a dog of the Jurchens?"

He could never forget the days in Fushun.

Jurchen soldiers arbitrarily kicked over Han Chinese stalls and dragged young girls into alleys to assault them. Han soldiers could only lower their heads and go around them when they saw this, and if they showed any dissatisfaction, they would be whipped.

But what about his father, Li Yongfang?
Huang Taiji merely returned 30% of the looted property to the Han Army Banner and uttered a few empty words about "absolutely no mistreatment of the Han people." Yet, my father led a group of officers to kneel outside the Plain White Banner's tent, shouting "Thank you for your grace, Your Highness!" Their groveling and begging appearance was worse than that of a stray dog ​​on the roadside!

"Pooh!"

Li Yangeng spat fiercely, spittle flying onto the car wall.

He slumped against the car wall, gazing at the increasingly desolate scenery outside the window, a sense of despair welling up in his eyes.

This time, he was sent to Hetu Ala as a hostage, ostensibly to "learn Tungusic and understand the will of the gods," but in reality, he was being placed under house arrest by his father.

"Revert to the right path? Revert to what..."

Li Yangeng tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a bitter smile.

Far from the battlefield of Fushun, far from the brothers who were still willing to follow him, he was now a tiger with its teeth pulled, without even the strength to resist.

Hetu Ala was the stronghold of the Jurchens, even more dangerous than Fushun. The Beile and Taiji there all treated the Han people like livestock. As a "hostage," he truly had no dignity whatsoever.

"Father, oh father, it's alright if you sell yourself, but why drag me into this quagmire too..."

The carriage rolled over a protruding rock, and the violent jolting caused him to slam against the carriage wall.

Li Yangeng rubbed his aching forehead and suddenly remembered his father teaching him to read the Analects when he was a child, saying, "If one's conduct is upright, one's orders will be followed without being given."

At that time, my father still had light in his eyes, and he still had the backbone of a Han Chinese.

But now, that bit of backbone has long been gone.

As he gazed at the black earth rushing past the car window, a thought suddenly occurred to him:
Perhaps things will change once we reach Hetu Ala?

That place was, after all, the heartland of the Jurchens; if an opportunity could be found…

but
The thought had barely crossed his mind when he nipped it in the bud.

Could he possibly overthrow Hetu Ala all by himself?

Just as Li Yangeng was lost in thought, a voice came from outside the car.

"Young master, Hetu Ala is almost here."

The trusted confidant beside the car lowered his voice to remind him, pointing his finger into the distance.

Li Yangeng suddenly lifted the carriage curtain and looked in the direction his confidant was pointing.

On the horizon, a gray-black outline was slowly becoming clear.

That was Hetu Ala, the birthplace of the Jurchens, meaning "horizontal hill" in Manchu.

From a distance, the city resembles a giant beast crouching on a hill. The east-west oriented Henggang Mountain supports the city in mid-air, while Yanchong Mountain on the west side resembles the beast's spine, and the Suzi River on the east side resembles a silver chain. The terrain, surrounded by water on three sides, gives the entire city a sense of imposing fortification.

"Ha, the Jurchens' lair is quite impressive."

As the carriage rolled over the last open area, the outline of the outer city became increasingly clear.

The city wall, about ten miles in circumference, resembles a giant, yellowish-brown python, winding and undulating along the hillside. On both sides are piled grayish-blue stone blocks, and the middle is filled with rammed yellow earth. The hardwood rafters exposed in the rammed earth layer look like the fangs of a giant beast, gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

"Nine Gates..."

Li Yangeng counted the crenellations on the city wall and muttered to himself.

There are three gates on the south side, three gates on the north side, and two gates on the east side, but only one narrow gate on the west side, which is tightly wedged in the gap between Chimney Hill and the city wall. It is obviously a design to guard a key passage.

The Jurchen soldiers guarding the city wore black armor, like nails driven into the city wall, their bows and arrows pointed diagonally to the sky, their eyes scanning the entire group warily.

As soon as the carriage crossed the suspension bridge, Li Yangeng smelled a strong odor of animal manure.

The outer city was a huge market, with Manchu and Han people coming and going in a mixed manner.

Passing through the outer city's market, the outline of the inner city emerges from the mist.

The city wall, which was about five li in circumference, was higher than the outer city wall. The highest part was ten zhang and the lowest part was three zhang. The stone foundation went deep into the ground, and the hardwood rafters laid horizontally in the rammed earth layer supported the wall like ribs. This was the "rammed earth and rafter joint construction method" that the Jurchens were proud of. It was said that it could withstand the bombardment of cannons.

The inner city only has the east, south, and north gates; there is no gate on the west side. The steep natural cliffs are straight up and down, making them more difficult to cross than any city wall.

The city wall was covered with crenellations, and there was a watchtower every ten steps. The Jin soldiers on the watchtowers wore blue cloaks, so they must have been soldiers of the Blue Banner.

The carriage stopped at the south gate, and the armored guards shouted in broken Tungusic, "Who goes there?"

The escorting officer quickly stepped forward and handed over the pass: "Li Yangeng, son of Lord Li Yongfang of Fushun, has come to Hetu Ala as a hostage by order of the Khan."

The armored soldier took the token and tapped Li Yangeng's carriage with his scabbard: "Get down and have your body checked."

Li Yangeng clenched his fists. He lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage. As soon as his feet touched the bluestone slabs of the inner city, he was enveloped by a heavy sense of oppression.

The inner city walls were too high, and the hills too steep, so much so that even the sunlight was fragmented, falling to the ground like patches.

"This is Hetu Ala..."

He gazed at the faintly visible palace eaves deep within the inner city, his brow furrowed slightly.

This is not Fushun, a corner where one can still breathe without the Han army flag. Every stone and every inch of land here is soaked in the blood of the Han people.

His trusted confidant tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to bow his head.

Li Yangeng had no choice but to cooperate with the inspection.

"Let's go."

After the armored soldiers finished examining them, they waved impatiently and led them deeper into the inner city like livestock.

The carriage made a clattering sound as it rolled along the bluestone pavement of the inner city, finally stopping in front of a courtyard with a plaque that read "Prince's Residence".

The vermilion gate was adorned with a bronze wolf-head door knocker.

This is Li Yongfang's residence in Hetu Ala, which he owns as a "prince consort," and it will also be the prison where Li Yangeng will live next.

"Young master, we've arrived."

A trusted aide helped Li Yangeng out of the car, his eyes cautiously glancing towards the door.

Li Yangeng glanced up at the lintel and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

He knew that his father's legal wife, the daughter of Abatai, was in the mansion at that moment.

The woman was no more than three years older than him, but she always acted like the "mistress" and bossed around the Han Bannermen in Fushun.

Now that she's in Hetu Ala, she's thriving even more.

"No need to announce it."

Li Yangeng walked straight inside, his voice as cold as ice.

"I'm tired, I'm going back to my room to rest."

The confidant hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed: "Young master, aren't we going to pay our respects..."

"Greetings?"

Li Yangeng turned around abruptly, his eyes blazing with fury.

Although he remained silent at that moment.

But inwardly, he was roaring: 'She's a Jurchen, the enemy who stole our Han people's homeland! You want me to go and pay respects to my enemy?'

I have Han Chinese blood flowing in my veins, how could I go and pay homage to barbarians?

Li Yangeng flung his sleeves and walked into the east courtyard, closing the door behind him and shutting out the mansion filled with Manchu language.

Days passed in Hetu Ala, like the stagnant waters of the Suzi River, so dull and suffocating.

Li Yangeng stayed in the east courtyard, either staring blankly at the wall or flipping through the military books left by his father.

"This awful place is driving me crazy!" On the fifth day, Li Yangeng finally couldn't stand it anymore, grabbed a fishing rod from the corner of the wall and went outside.

The fishing rod was brought from Fushun by him; the bamboo rod was worn smooth and shiny from being rubbed, and it was one of the few things he cherished.

As soon as he stepped out of the mansion, he felt two pairs of eyes following him from behind.

Looking back, he saw two men in gray short-sleeved shirts pretending to buy candied hawthorns from a street vendor, but their eyes were always fixed on him.

Li Yangeng sneered inwardly.

The men my father sent had barely left when the spies from Hetu Ala took over. They were really keeping a close watch on us.

He ignored it and leisurely walked across two streets with his fishing rod.

The two men followed at a distance, like two shadows that couldn't be shaken off.

Li Yangeng didn't care; he really did come out to fish.

Rather than suffocating in the mansion, it's better to go to the river for some fresh air.

After leaving the North Gate and walking for about two miles, we arrived at Erdaogou.

This river is a tributary of the Suzi River. It is not wide, but the water is crystal clear. The banks are covered with knee-high wild grass, and the distant Chimney Mountain is reflected in the water, giving it a wild charm.

Li Yangeng chose a flat rock to sit on, cast the bait into the river, and with a slight bend in the fishing rod, he began to wait patiently.

For the next three days, he appeared on the banks of the Erdao River on time every day.

He would go out at the crack of dawn and not return until the sun was setting. He didn't catch many fish, mostly small, palm-sized fish, which he didn't take with him; he would release them back into the water as soon as he caught them.

The two shadows behind him initially kept a close watch, but gradually relaxed, sometimes squatting under the shade of a willow in the distance to doze off, and sometimes simply going to the river to catch shrimp.

On the evening of the third day, as Li Yangeng put away his fishing rod and got up, he habitually looked back.

The area under the willow tree was deserted; the two men had vanished without a trace.

He raised an eyebrow, thinking that these spies must have gotten bored too; there was really nothing to keep an eye on about a hostage who only knew how to fish.

He smiled, hoisted the fishing rod onto his shoulder, and slowly walked back.

The evening breeze swept across the riverbank, carrying the scent of grass, and the setting sun cast his long shadow.

However, he also understood that this temporary freedom was only superficial, and Hetu Ala's eyes were still watching him from the shadows.

At least for now, he can catch his breath and enjoy a moment of peace.

However, on the fifth day, the situation changed again.

Li Yangeng had just sat down, his feet wet with dew, when he caught a glimpse of a figure on the opposite bank out of the corner of his eye.

The man was wearing a moon-white silk shirt and carrying an exquisite bamboo fishing rod. He was walking slowly towards the river, followed by a servant carrying a food box. He looked like a wealthy merchant.

Li Yangeng's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

This Erdao River is very remote. Apart from the hunters in the vicinity, few people come here, let alone merchants dressed like this.

He quietly hooked an earthworm onto the fishing hook, but kept a close eye on the man's movements.

The merchant chose a rock about three zhang away from him and sat down slowly. He first had his servant lay a felt mat on the ground, then took out a white porcelain teapot from his food box, poured himself a cup of tea, and sipped it slowly, showing no intention of putting down his fishing rod.

Li Yangeng ignored it and cast the fishhook into the water. Hearing the fishhook hit the water with a "thud," he felt a strange tightness in his heart.

Although the surveillance personnel have been withdrawn these past few days, there are still many eyes in Hetu Ala City. The sudden appearance of a strange merchant here always seems a bit eerie.

Just as he was about to calm down and wait for the fish to bite, the merchant on the opposite bank suddenly spoke up. His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough to be carried by the river breeze: "Li Jiayan Geng, I have long admired your name."

With a "whoosh," Li Yangeng tightened his grip on the fishing rod, the bamboo rod trembling slightly in the morning light.

"You have mistaken me for someone else."

The merchant put down his teacup, a meaningful smile appearing on his face: "Whether you've made a mistake or not, you know perfectly well, sir."

He raised his hand to straighten his sleeves, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against his waist.

"You passed on several messages to the Imperial Guards of the Ming Dynasty when you were in Fushun. Your name is very famous among the upper echelons of the Imperial Guards."

Li Yangeng's pupils suddenly contracted.

He suddenly stood up, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding reeds.

The place was very empty, and apart from the rustling of the wind and the movement of the grass, there was no one else around, but he felt as if countless eyes were staring at him.

"Are you a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?" His voice was extremely low, filled with disbelief and wariness.

The merchant slowly stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and smiled, saying, "It wasn't like that before, but it is now."

He gestured for the servant to step back, then took two steps forward with his fishing rod and said across the babbling river, "My name is Hu Xue. I travel between Liaodong and the Ming Dynasty year-round, dealing in furs and medicinal herbs."

Li Yangeng stared at him.

The man was around forty years old, with three short tufts of beard under his chin. His eyes held the shrewdness typical of a businessman, but deep within them lay a sharpness that seemed incongruous with his status.

During his time in Hetu Ala, he learned that Han Chinese merchants who could move freely in the heart of the Jurchen territory either had extremely powerful backgrounds or were extremely ruthless.

Hu Xue seemed to see through his thoughts and said to herself, "I have been doing business here for more than ten years. From Datong to Hetu Ala, I can count the number of stones on every road with my eyes closed."

"As for why I got involved with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the reason is very simple. General Mao promised me five Tianjin shipping permits and a waist token for imperial merchants. Tell me, is this deal worth the risk?"

Li Yangeng's heart skipped a beat.

Tianjin Ship Pilot!

That was a pass that allowed unrestricted passage on canals and seas, worth thousands of taels of silver, and often there was no market for it.

The status of a royal merchant was something these merchants dreamed of.

Five ship permits plus the status of an imperial merchant are enough to drive any merchant mad.

He stared intently at Hu Xue, as if trying to find a flaw in his face: "Why should I believe you?"

Hu Xue smiled, took out a palm-sized bronze plaque from her pocket, and held it up to the sunlight.

Li Yangeng's breath hitched the moment his gaze swept over them.

It was a bronze waist tag with the words "General Flag of the Embroidered Uniform Guard" engraved on the front and a lifelike sunflower on the back. The edges even had a slight wear, so it was definitely not a fake.

But he still didn't budge, his fingertips gently stroking the fishing rod: "Who knows if this badge was taken from a dead person? I heard a few days ago that a secret agent of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was beheaded in Xingjing."

"Young Master Li is indeed cautious."

Hu Xue put the waist token back into her bosom, and the smile on her face faded a little.

"Believe it or not, it's up to you. But I have to tell you, within three days, I need a city defense map of Hetu Ala, the deployment of the guards at the nine gates of the outer city, the number of crenellations in the inner city, and the location of the watchtower on Chimney Hill, the more detailed the better."

"City defense map?"

Li Yangeng suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with even greater confusion.

"What do you want this for?"

Hu Xue took two steps forward, the river water reaching above the soles of his boots, but he seemed oblivious, his gaze fixed intently on Li Yangeng, his eyes like two knives.
"Now, I have to ask you: Why should I trust you? Your father is the son-in-law of the Jurchens, and you are a hostage in Hetu Ala. Why should I risk my life on you?"

The river wind suddenly picked up, making the reeds rustle.

Li Yangeng held the fishing rod, looked at the unfamiliar merchant on the opposite bank, and suddenly understood.

This is not just a test, it's a gamble.

Hu Xue bet that he had not forgotten his Han identity, and that he still harbored thoughts of opposing the Jin and returning to the Ming. He was also betting that this suddenly appearing Jinyiwei was not a trap set by the Jurchens.

After pondering for a long time, Li Yangeng finally sat down slowly.

He cast his fishing rod back into the water, his voice sounding somewhat faint in the wind: "I'll be waiting for you here at this time three days from now."

Hu Xue smiled, bent down, and picked up her fishing rod: "Okay."

After saying that, he turned around and waved to the servant. The two of them slowly walked towards the depths of the riverbank, their figures quickly disappearing into the reeds.

Li Yangeng stared at the float on the water, his fingertips trembling slightly.

Why did the Embroidered Uniform Guard need the defense map of Hetu Ala?
Is it
Is the Ming army going to attack Hetu Ala?

(End of this chapter)