Chapter 280
Book 25 Chapter 03 - Xianyang Happenings
After residing for three days, Qin Qing returned to Xianyang.
Xiang Shaolong is now fully conscious of Xiao Pan’s mindset: To protect his throne, he has no qualms about killing all that stands in his way.
Although it is uncertain if Xiao Pan will eventually come after himself, Xiang Shaolong decided to a.s.sume the worst after his Lin Zi experience.
He kept the habit of waking up every morning before dawn to practice his sabre play and even added archery to his training regime.
From the warriors of the Wu Family and Jing Village, he selected three hundred men which naturally include top experts like Wu Yan Zhe and Jing Shan. After specially arming them with chromium sabres and strong bows that were forged by Uncle Qing, Xiang Shaolong even went to the extent of imparting his flying needles skill to them. Day and night, they practiced nonstop.
In the meantime, Wu Yingyuan and the others started to leave the farm in batches. When it was time for Wu Tingfang, Zhao Zhi, Zhou Wei, Shan Lan, the Tian Sisters, Lu Dan’er and Xiang Bao’er to leave, everyone was filled with reluctance and the separation was an emotional one.
Xiang Shaolong, Teng Yi, Jing Jun and Ji Yanran accompanied the convoy for three days before returning back to the farm, which is now an uninviting and foreboding empty sh.e.l.l. They felt uneasy at this change of environment.
At dinnertime, Teng Yi remarked in a deep voice: "Wu Yingen should be the spy."
The others were stunned.
Wu Yingen is the third younger brother of Wu Yingyuan. Although he is against abandoning the life of luxury in Xianyang, no one would have expected that he would become the spy for Xiao Pan.
Ji Yanran wondered: "All along, I have paid extra attention to this man. However, why is Second Brother so confident that he is the spy?"
Teng Yi explained: "I was able to come to this conclusion because he insisted on staying behind to manage the farm and only leave with the last batch of personnel. This behavior contradicts his usual greedy and cowardly nature. Therefore, I placed him and his followers under surveillance and found out that he would secretly dispatch messengers to Xianyang. I informed Master Tao about it and instructed him to send stalkers after the messengers. True enough, the messengers would enter the palace by a hidden entrance to make their reports."
Jing Jun aggressively cursed: "I’ve never liked him."
Xiang Shaolong was comforted: "Fortunately, we took early precautions. But with him around, it is quite troublesome for us to carry out our plans. Is there any technique that we can use to chase him and his men away?"
Ji Yanran contemplated: "He has merely been deceived into becoming a p.a.w.n for somebody else. Due to his craving for wealth and a materialistic lifestyle, he committed these acts of stupidity! If we can exploit his weaknesses and employ scare tactics, such as hinting him that by spying for Crown Prince, it is as good as making it easier for Crown Prince to attack us, I guarantee that he will wake up and realize what a fool he was."
Teng Yi frowned: "You must exercise caution and don’t exacerbate the situation. If he were to report this to Crown Prince, Crown Prince would know that we are guarding against him."
Her lovely eyes flas.h.i.+ng with brilliance, Ji Yanran shrilly snorted: "If we send his wives, concubines and children away, what can he do besides obeying us? Leave this to Yanran."
Noting that Ji Yanran is personally handling the affair, Xiang Shaolong can put his mind at ease. He checked: "We have to return to Xianyang tomorrow. Who is staying behind to oversee the farms?"
Ji Yanran bitterly laughed: "Let Ji Yanran stay back! Otherwise, Wu Guo may not be able to stand up to Third Master."
Xiang Shaolong is most unwilling but also recognizes that this is the best arrangement. Time is running out and Xiao Pan will be coronated in three month’s time. All their preparations will come to fruition on that day.
Back at Xianyang, Xiang Shaolong’s first move is to enter the palace and seek an audience with Xiao Pan.
As per normal, Xiao Pan received him in the Imperial Study and Li Si is present too.
After accepting Xiang Shaolong’s paying of respect, Xiao Pan commanded: "Subordinate Li, give me your report on the happenings of Xianyang."
Li Si seems to be afraid of coming into contact with Xiang Shaolong’s gaze. Lowering his head and flipping the doc.u.ments in front of him, he narrated in a deep voice: "Lu Buwei is spending most of his time outside Xianyang. Using the excuse that he is supervising the last leg of Zhengguo Ca.n.a.l’s construction, he was actually meeting up with the local officials all over Qin, trying to garner support from them in preparation for turmoil within the Court of Qin."
Xiang Shaolong intentionally tested him: "What about Guan Zhongxie?"
Still not looking in his direction, Li Si kept his head low and responded: "Guan Zhongxie was freshly dispatched by Crown Prince to the region of Han in order to pressurize them. Unless he disobeyed his orders, he should be far away from here during Crown Prince’s coronation."
Xiao Pan plainly added: "This man’s archery skills is too amazing. With him around, Guaren cannot eat or sleep in peace. Guaren has planted spies around him and should he do anything out of the ordinary, someone will kill him immediately with Guaren’s secret decree."
Li Si quickly peeped at Xiang Shaolong once before lowering his head again, broadcasting: "The entire Yongdu has more or less landed in the hands of Lao Ai. With his thirty thousand followers, they have occupied every single official post in Yongdu."
Xiao Pan sn.i.g.g.e.red: "Guaren is purposely allowing him to grow without any restrictions, indirectly numbing him to the real sense of danger. Afterwards, I will exterminate him and his cronies once and for all. Humph! I’ll just tolerate his willful lifestyle for a few more months!"
Looking directly at Xiang Shaolong for the first time, Li Si enlightened: "According to Crown Prince’s estimate, Lu Buwei will take advantage of Crown Prince’s trip to Yongdu and stage a rebellion simultaneously with Lao Ai, thereby gaining control of Xianyang. As the Imperial Infantry is still commanded by Xu Shang and Lord Changwen’s Imperial Guards would have to escort Crown Prince to Yongdu, it is possible for Lu Buwei to succeed in his endeavor."
Xiao Pan added: "Both traitors Lu Buwei and Lao Ai are carrying the Seal of the Empress. Among the confusion, it is likely that some righteous officials would be misled by them and unknowingly end up as their accomplices."
Xiang Shaolong plainly state: "Leave Xianyang to me. I guarantee that Lu Buwei will end up in failure."
Xiao Pan and Li Si exchanged looks of surprise.
After a long time, Xiao Pan insisted in a deep voice: "Without Great General at the side of Guaren, how can Guaren be at ease? We can place Xianyang under the care of the two generals Teng Yi and Jing Jun. Great General must accompany Guaren to Yongdu."
Xiang Shaolong had antic.i.p.ated this reaction from him. Sighing to himself, he pretended to be unaffected and accepted: "Subordinate dare not disobey Crown Prince’s order."
Frowning at Xiang Shaolong for some time, Xiao Pan then turned to Li Si and instructed: "Guaren wishes to speak privately with Great General."
Not daring to look at Xiang Shaolong anymore, Li Si retreated from the room.
The study is now filled with an awkward silence.
Xiao Pan sighed with a breath of air: "Is Great General dissatisfied with Guaren? There are many occasions when Guaren is left without a choice and was forced by circ.u.mstances to undertake such extreme measures."
Staring unblinkingly at Xiao Pan, Xiang Shaolong felt