Chapter 285
Book 25 Chapter 08 - Surprise Attack
Early next morning, while disguised as Wu Guo, Xiang Shaolong and Jing Jun led fifty specially selected Wu Family Warriors in boarding the fis.h.i.+ng vessels in a stealth manner. Against the current, they sailed towards Yongdu.
Because the Guardians have to escort Wu Guo, who is impersonating Xiang Shaolong and has to accompany Xiao Pan to Yongdu, they cannot partic.i.p.ate in this mission.
Ji Yanran has to escort Qin Qing and cannot come along too.
Meanwhile, Teng Yi is responsible for leading the Imperial Cavalry in securing Xianyang and exterminating the other three teams of a.s.sa.s.sins.
With thick clouds covering the skies, it was drizzling non-stop.
Wearing their raincoats, the two men Xiang Shaolong and Jing Jun are sitting at the bow of the vessel and discussing the details of their a.s.sault.
Xiang Shaolong professed: "We only have one full day and one full night to carry out our plan. If we cannot kill Guan Zhongxie within this time frame, there will not be a second chance."
Br.i.m.m.i.n.g with conviction, Jing Jun suggested: "After sneaking into Yongdu, we will immediately place Guan Zhongxie’s hiding place under strict surveillance. When it gets dark, we shall move in and take his life."
Xiang Shaolong frowned: "However, I cannot decide if I should approach An Guxi for a.s.sistance. It may alert Lao Ai to our plans."
Jing Jun proposed: "Why don’t we seek Fourth Brother’s help instead!"
Xiang Shaolong shook his head: "I do not want Yingzheng to learn about this. Moreover, it will affect Fourth Brother’s career development."
Jing Jun exclaimed: "In this case, let’s depend on ourselves. With careful planning, we can simply vanish after the deed. By then, Lao Ai would still be unaware that Guan Zhongxie is back and even perished in his territory of Yongdu."
Xiang Shaolong shook his head: "Nonetheless, Han Jie would quickly realize that something is amiss. To make things worse, this is Han Jie’s territory. If we are planning to kill him as well, our risk will increase by several folds. That is why I am in a state of indecisiveness."
Jing Jun belittled: "So what if he knows! Would he dare to tell Lao Ai about it? Furthermore, if he wishes to send word to Lu Buwei, it can only happen two days later. Even so, his messenger may be intercepted by Second Brother."
According to their plans, when Xiao Pan leaves for Yongdu with his civil and military officials, Teng Yi’s Imperial Cavalry will set up blockades on the river route and travelling roads between Yongdu and Xianyang, carrying out checks on all the travellers going in and out of the city.
Xiang Shaolong agreed: "I guess that’s the best we can do."
That same evening, Xiang Shaolong and his men discarded the two boats and climbed ash.o.r.e about two miles away from Yongdu. Slipping past the river security checks, they approached Yongdu on foot.
Using falsified identification papers, they impersonated Qin citizens from other parts of the country. In different batches, they entered the City while posing as men from varying occupations.
Once they managed to contact the Wu Family Warriors whom Tao Fang had planted in Yongdu two years ago, Xiang Shaolong and his team concealed themselves in a common household near the south of the city. From there, they started their surveillance work.
Yongdu is Qin’s first capital city in the Guan Zhong district. Situated at the merging point of River Wei and River Zhi, it is a melting pot for the cultures of Guan Zhong, Ba Shu and Si Gen.
The location of Yongdu is strategic, with roads leading to Long Nan, Han Zhong, Ba Shu and many others.
One hundred and fifty years ago, the Duke of Qin selected Yongdu as his capital precisely because of this factor. On top of fortifying the area of Guan Zhong, he can set the stage for world domination.
In the future, Yingzheng’s success in uniting the lands of Hua Xia is due to Yongdu and Guan Zhong’s strategic and critical location.
Although the capital of Qin has relocated to Xianyang, the ancestral temple of the royal family is still based in Yongdu. For all grand ceremonies, they must be held in Yongdu’s ancestral temple.
As the last line of defense for Xianyang, Yongdu plays an irreplaceable role since the founding of the State.
Yongdu is home to several majestic palaces. Among them, Dazheng Palace and Qinian Palace are the most magnificent.
Presently, Dazheng Palace has become the residence of Zhu Ji while Qinian Palace is designated to be Xiao Pan’s temporary residence for his coronation trip.
Arriving at Yongdu, Xiang Shaolong is able to have a first hand experience of Lao Ai’s grandeur.
The soldiers of Yongdu are dressed in military uniforms with a golden band around their collar, portraying an air of extravagance. Besides dressing differently from the usual simple-looking Qin soldier, the Yongdu guards are behaving in a brazen, condescending manner.
An Guxi’s garrison has obviously failed to gain control over the entire city. For the time being, only the South Gate near River Wei, the road leading to Qinian Palace and Qinian Palace itself is under his jurisdiction.
With Zhu Ji backing Lao Ai and before their open confrontation, even Xiao Pan is powerless against this ‘fake father’.
Of course the situation will be totally reversed when the indomitable and master general w.a.n.g Jian enters the City. Regardless of their self-glorifying t.i.tles, Lao Ai’s thirty thousand rebels will be like cows being sent to the abattoir.
The only viable threat is Guan Zhongxie’s secret a.s.sa.s.sination team.
And Xiang Shaolong’s current mission is to move one step ahead of them, uprooting and annihilating them before they could carry out their plot.
Furthermore, he has to complete his mission without alerting Lao Ai. Otherwise, he would be collateral damage.
It is nearly 7pm and the sky is still drizzling when a report came in: Disguised as a commoner, a lone Guan Zhongxie has just left his hiding place.
Guan Zhongxie and Xiang Shaolong share a common drawback. Irrespective of their disguise, the observant would be able to identify them from their aura.
Xiang Shaolong decisively gave the order to begin their