“Lord Xu, with the Ninth Princess’s methods, she definitely will not let you catch any handle on her.”
The chief eunuch spoke up. “When Meng Tianhai returns, he will surely say they did not catch up with the enemy and the enemy escaped. We have no way to verify it at all.”
“Who cares? As long as the plateau cavalry did not come, that is fine.”
Fatty Xu said carelessly.
“I said so already. Before coming here, we checked properly. There was no sign at all that Garda was mobilising troops. How could they just come like that?”
The Xie family member added.
Before coming, they had all investigated the situation in Chuan Shu and had placed some informants along the border areas.
If Garda moved, it would be hard to hide it from them.
Earlier, when they suddenly heard about plateau cavalry being spotted, they thought Garda had led troops around their informants and attacked from another direction. That was why they were so terrified.
Now, after hearing the goatee’s analysis, all the powerful figures completely relaxed.
As for the impact of closing the city gates, they did not care at all.
They just needed to bribe a few of the city-guarding government troops. Then they could put letters in baskets and still remotely direct things outside.
“Everyone, still do not let your guard down.”
The goatee reminded them. “Qing Xinyao resorting to such a desperate move shows that the Ninth Princess has already started to counterattack. Everyone should stick to the plan and act as quickly as possible. Do not let any more problems arise if we delay.”
“Yes, sell the grain quickly and leave. This place in Chuan Shu is damp and cold. I will never come back again.”
The powerful figures nodded one after another, then dispersed.
Only half an hour later, each steward had already delivered their master’s orders outside the city.
The white gloves cultivated by each family also moved quickly.
One carrier pigeon after another flew towards bandit lairs all over Chuan Shu.
Some fast-acting bandits started arranging people that very afternoon to transport grain to the landlords’ granaries.
At West River Bay, the Ninth Princess finally received the reply from Xichuan.
Qing Xinyao had operated in Xichuan for many years. The petty actions of the powerful figures could not escape him at all.
“If they used this kind of effort for the country and the people, how could Great Kang have fallen to such a state?”
The Ninth Princess handed the letter to Jin Feng. A flash of murderous intent passed through her eyes. “They are certain this palace does not dare to kill them!”
Previously, it had always been Jin Feng insisting on killing the powerful figures. Now the Ninth Princess had also developed the intention to kill.
The grain supply in Chuan Shu was already insufficient. Today the powerful figures simultaneously halved the shipment volumes everywhere. This directly caused panic among the common people, and grain prices rose steadily.
They were already two or three times higher than the same period last year. In just one afternoon, they rose another thirty percent.
Even with money, it was not guaranteed you could buy any.
“These bastards have already made their move. Can we set off tomorrow?”
Jin Feng asked with a cold face.
“Yes!” The Ninth Princess nodded. “Please inform the escort masters, sir. We depart early tomorrow morning. Do not bring too many people. Head to Xichuan at the fastest possible speed!”
The powerful figures acted much faster and more ruthlessly than the Ninth Princess had expected.
Now there was no need for Jin Feng to urge her. The Ninth Princess herself could no longer sit still.
If she let the powerful figures continue causing trouble, Chuan Shu would be finished.
By then, even if they brought in grain, it might not be possible to control the situation.
“Alright!”
Jin Feng nodded and called Da Liu in.
The next morning, before the morning mist had fully dispersed, Jin Feng and the Ninth Princess set off.
All the escort masters rode three horses per person, travelling light and simple.
Along the way, the group rested only three times and rushed to Xichuan at the fastest speed.
At this time, the Xichuan city gates were still closed. The Ninth Princess did not go to demand they open. Instead, she took Jin Feng to Old Crow Ravine.
Back when the common people broke through Danzhu’s military camp, they had gathered here.
After the Ninth Princess bought warhorses from the people, she transported some away. The rest were left in Old Crow Ravine. She specially transferred a Grade C unit here to guard the warhorses while also training them in mounted archery.
At this moment, Meng Tianhai was hiding in Old Crow Ravine.
Seeing Jin Feng and the Ninth Princess, Meng Tianhai grinned broadly.
“Your Highness, sir, you have finally come!”
Ever since Qing Xinyao was stripped of his position, the Weisheng Army had been obstructed at every turn.
They were originally an elite main combat force, yet the eunuch sent them to do city guard duty together with the government troops.
Their military pay and provisions were also deducted heavily. There were even rumours that the eunuch planned to replace Meng Tianhai.
Meng Tianhai had worried about this for a long time.
Seeing Jin Feng and the Ninth Princess again, his heart finally settled.
“What is the situation now?” the Ninth Princess asked.
“We have already confirmed that these bastards bribed the city-guarding soldiers and used hanging baskets to send messages outside.”
At this point, Meng Tianhai’s face became extremely ugly.
Because among the bribed soldiers were not only government troops, but also a few from the Weisheng Army.
“Handle these matters yourself, General Meng. This palace wants to know whether Xu Fatty and the others have escaped.”
“No, Your Highness. Everyone on the list you gave me is still in the city. Not a single one has run!”
Meng Tianhai patted his chest to guarantee.
“Have you found the middlemen they used to secretly contact the bandits?”
“Yes, we found them. Lord Qing sent people to watch them. We can capture them at any time!”
“Very good!”
Upon hearing this, the Ninth Princess’s furrowed brow finally relaxed. “General Meng, return to the city. It is time to meet them!”
“Yes!”
Meng Tianhai agreed, turned, and left.
The powerful figures had always kept people watching West River Bay. Not long after Jin Feng and the Ninth Princess left, they found out.
When Jin Feng’s group reached the north city gate, the chief eunuch was already waiting on the city wall.
“Lower a hanging basket. This general wants to go up!”
Meng Tianhai shouted from below the city wall.
The city-guarding soldiers responsible for the north gate had already been replaced by more obedient government troops under the chief eunuch’s orders.
Hearing Meng Tianhai shout, the government troop captain in charge quickly turned to look at the eunuch.
The eunuch did not make things difficult over such a small matter. He signalled the captain to lower the basket.
“This humble one guesses that General Meng definitely did not catch up with the plateau cavalry, right?”
The eunuch looked at Meng Tianhai with a half-smile.
“Already a castrated man, yet still speaks in that sarcastic tone. No wonder he has no descendants!”
Meng Tianhai curled his lip and walked a few steps to the side.
“How dare Meng Tianhai insult the acting governor! He truly deserves death!”
The government troop captain had been promoted by the eunuch and was naturally loyal. He shouted angrily, “Acting Governor, please allow this subordinate to execute this traitor!”
“The princess is watching right below the city. This humble one does not dare execute General Meng!”
A flash of viciousness passed through the eunuch’s eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.
He pointed to the document for opening the city gates on the table beside him. “General Meng, stop wasting words with your tongue. Hurry and open the city gate so Her Highness and Mister Jin can enter the city, alright?”
Meng Tianhai gave a cold snort, took out the military token from his chest, and stamped it on the document for opening the city gates.
The eunuch signalled the captain to take the document and go down to open the city gate.
Meng Tianhai looked around and saw that all his own people had been transferred away. He took a hand crossbow from his waist, raised it, and fired a whistling arrow into the air.
“What are you doing?” the eunuch frowned and asked.
Nowadays, whistling arrows were no longer rare in Xichuan. Even ordinary people knew they were used to summon people, with the same function as a general’s drum.
The eunuch instinctively felt something was wrong.
“My personal guards have all disappeared. Is it not alright to call them over to welcome Her Highness the Princess?”
Meng Tianhai said nonchalantly.
