Chapter 157 Noon Standoff: Reactions from the Three Parties in the Capital

"He said Hou San is carrying a Ministry of War blood order; once he leaves Nanyang Prefecture, the nearest military post will mobilize troops into the city."

The guard finished speaking, and the wind blowing into the courtyard stopped at the threshold.

Zhao Gang stepped onto the threshold, and the bandage on his shoulder was pulled, causing blood spots to seep through.

"Mobilize troops?"

"Are the people at the Ministry of War insane? Using a military post to pressure the Prefecture? Do they want to turn Nanyang Prefecture into a battlefield?"

Liu Buyu's sealing wax spoon pressed against the edge of the bronze stove, and red wax dripped onto the corner of the table, burning a dark mark.

"Inspector, if the military post really moves, the nature of this changes."

"The local Patrol Division detaining a Ministry of War official, the Ministry of War's military post entering the city to apply pressure—the capital will pin the blame on us."

Shen Yue stood by the window, her fingertips brushing against the wood splinters on the window frame.

"Hou San is injured; he can't ride far."

"If we send people to pursue him now, there is still time."

Lin Chen did not answer immediately.

He pressed the seal of the second letter tube into the wax, his thumb pressing the mark of the Patrol Division into the edge of the wax.

"We won't catch him."

Zhao Gang frowned.

"Then we just watch him bring in troops?"

Lin Chen raised his eyes and looked at Director Yan Tie in the corner.

"Let him bring them."

Everyone in the room looked at him at the same time.

Director Yan Tie sat in the corner, iron chains dragging from his wrists to the ground, the links piled on the stone bricks.

He stared at Lin Chen for a moment, then a short laugh squeezed out of his throat.

"Did you hear clearly?"

"Once the Ministry of War blood order is out, the military post does not need the Governors Mansion's permission."

"That is a wartime secret order; it doesn't go through local paperwork."

"The nearest Linjiang military post has three hundred light cavalry. Once they enter the city, the Patrol Division's few men won't be able to stop them."

Lin Chen handed the letter tube to the fast courier.

"One copy to the Governors Mansion, one copy to the guesthouse."

The courier cupped his hands, turned, and ran.

The sound of horse hooves split into two paths outside the courtyard.

Lin Chen then looked at Director Yan Tie.

"What Hou San is taking back is your words."

Director Yan Tie's brow bone pressed down.

Lin Chen walked to the desk and pressed his palm onto the sheepskin register.

"What I am sending out is their lifeline."

Director Yan Tie stopped speaking.

Liu Buyu realized what was happening and rubbed the ink stain by his ear with his sleeve.

"Before noon, Governor Nangong and Secretary Zhang Hongji will see the list at the same time."

"Even if Hou San brings three hundred light cavalry, he still has to wait for orders from above."

Lin Chen put the black abyss blade back to his waist.

"No matter how fast the troops run, they aren't faster than the case files coming to light."

Zhao Gang grinned, showing a bit of his canine tooth.

"That's well said."

"I'll go guard outside the dungeon. If Director Yan Tie tries to scare anyone again, I'll loosen his bones first."

He Jian entered from the doorway, his left arm in a sling, his right hand holding a bunch of keys.

"He cannot lose a single hair."

Zhao Gang clicked his tongue.

"The Inspector just said that; I heard it."

He Jian looked at Lin Chen.

"The dungeon has already been separated for detention. Those twelve people from the Ministry of War have hard mouths; we can't get anything out of them."

Lin Chen said.

"No rush."

"Today at noon, the people who can talk are not in the dungeon."

When Nangong Xiong received the letter tube, the lamp in the study had not yet been extinguished.

The Personal Guard who delivered the letter had just knelt down when he had already opened the wax seal.

As the paper unfolded, the first line of official titles came into view.

Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.

Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

Director of the Ministry of Revenue.

He flipped to the sixth page, his finger stopping on the line for Grand Secretary Zhao Wenyuan of the Cabinet.

The tea in the bowl had gone cold, and the rim of the bowl pressed against his fingertips.

The Personal Guard kept his head low, not daring to look at the desk.

Nangong Xiong closed the list and put it into the drawer on the right side of the desk.

He pulled the drawer to the end; there was another wooden board inside.

He pried open the wooden board with his fingernails, stuffed the list into the secret compartment, and closed it again.

After doing this, he leaned back in his chair and took a sip of cold tea.

The Personal Guard spoke carefully.

"Sir, regarding the Inspector…"

Nangong Xiong put down the tea bowl.

"He has put a blade to the throat of the capital."

The Personal Guard lowered his head even further.

"Then does Sir want to stop him?"

Nangong Xiong looked at the wax mark on the desk, and only after a long while did he speak.

"Stop him from what?"

"The Wang family has fallen, Official Chen Zhili has been taken, Director Yan Tie is detained at the Patrol Division, and the capital's list has also been delivered to my hands."

"Whoever panics first now, loses first."

The Personal Guard did not dare to respond.

Nangong Xiong raised his hand and tapped the desk.

"Prepare tea."

The Personal Guard was stunned for a moment.

"Who does Sir want to see?"

Nangong Xiong looked toward the corridor outside the door.

"Secretary Zhang Hongji."

"He will come."

At the guesthouse, when Secretary Zhang Hongji opened the letter tube, he was still sitting under the window.

There was a celadon tea cup on the table, with half a broken leaf floating on the tea.

He first looked at the first page.

The paper in his hand slid down half an inch.

When he saw the third page, he stood up, his knee knocking over the low table.

The tea cup smashed on the floor, water flowed along the cracks in the bricks, and the broken porcelain rolled to his boots.

The attendant rushed in from the outer room.

"Sir?"

Secretary Zhang Hongji pressed the list on the table, the base of his palm holding down the corner of the paper.

"Prepare the secret pigeons."

The attendant saw the blue veins bulging on the back of his hand and turned to leave.

Secretary Zhang Hongji called him back.

"Two letters."

"One to the Ministry of War Minister's mansion."

"One through the inner line of the Imperial City."

The attendant's throat moved.

"What is the content?"

Secretary Zhang Hongji picked up his brush, dipped it into the inkstone twice, and ink splashed onto his cuffs.

He wrote quickly, but the characters were not messy.

Nanyang Prefecture has discovered a complete bribery network of capital officials.

Official Chen Zhili detained.

Director Yan Tie detained.

The secret box has fallen into the hands of Lin Chen.

Writing to the last line, he paused for a moment and added four words.

Do not use force.

The attendant looked at those four words, sweat breaking out on his back.

"Sir, will the Ministry of War…"

Secretary Zhang Hongji threw the brush back onto the brush rest.

"Will they what?"

"Will they blame me?"

The attendant knelt down.

"This subordinate does not dare."

Secretary Zhang Hongji stared at the list on the table, the official temperature on his face receding bit by bit.

"They should be blaming Official Chen Zhili."

"They should also blame that man surnamed Lin; his hands are too fast."

The attendant said in a low voice.

"Then, regarding the Patrol Division, are we still going to take the evidence at noon?"

Secretary Zhang Hongji looked at the pool of tea on the floor.

"Take it?"

"Going to take it now is equivalent to forcing him to scatter the entire list."

He picked up a handkerchief and wiped his hands, his movements slowing down.

"Send someone to the Patrol Division."

"Invite Lin Chen over."

The attendant looked up.

"Invite?"

Secretary Zhang Hongji looked down at him.

"Yes."

"Invite."

In the Archives Room of the Main Courtyard, a cup of hot tea was placed in front of Lin Chen.

The steam from the tea rose, bypassed the rim of the cup, and dissipated with the cold wind coming in through the window crack.

Zhao Gang sat on the threshold, his blade resting across his knees.

Shen Yue threw the blood-stained cloth she had just changed into the copper basin; the water in the basin had already turned pale red.

Liu Buyu was still making rubbings, his wrists sore and heavy, but he didn't stop writing.

Zhou Tie sat in the corner, the medical officer wrapping his left arm; he was sweating from the pain, biting a piece of wood in his mouth.

Sun Qi ran in from outside, clutching two sheets of paper.

"The Governors Mansion has received it."

"The guesthouse has also received it."

Zhao Gang asked.

"Did Secretary Zhang Hongji bring anyone to raid the place?"

Sun Qi shook his head.

"No."

"A Clerk came out of the guesthouse and said that Secretary Zhang Hongji invites the Inspector over for a talk."

Zhao Gang hoisted his blade onto his shoulder.

"Invite?"

"Last night he was using the Emperor's edict to pressure people, and now he starts inviting?"

Liu Buyu blew on the paper he had finished rubbing.

"That's right."

"He's afraid the list will be scattered."

Shen Yue looked at Lin Chen.

"Are you going?"

Lin Chen picked up the tea and took a sip.

"I am going."

Zhao Gang stood up immediately.

"I'll go with you."

Lin Chen put down the tea cup.

"You guard the dungeon."

Zhao Gang's brows knitted together.

"Inspector, that man Secretary Zhang Hongji changes his face faster than turning a book."

He Jian spoke from outside the door.

"I will accompany the Inspector."

Lin Chen looked at He Jian's left arm.

"You stay too."

Shen Yue gripped the hilt of her blade.

"Then I'll go."

Lin Chen picked up the black abyss blade and hung it at his waist.

"I'm going alone."

The room went quiet.

Zhou Tie spat out the piece of wood in his mouth, his voice carrying the hoarseness of pain.

"Inspector, Secretary Zhang Hongji doesn't dare to kill you now, but he can detain you."

Lin Chen fastened his blade belt.

"If he dares to detain me, the list will appear in the five Prefectures before dark."

Liu Buyu looked up.

"I understand."

"If the Inspector doesn't return in half an hour, I will release the third batch of couriers."

Lin Chen glanced at him.

"Not half an hour."

Liu Buyu was stunned.

Lin Chen said.

"One cup of tea."

Zhao Gang laughed.

"That's more like our Patrol Division."

When Lin Chen walked out of the Main Courtyard, the sun was right on the ridge of the roof.

There were no troops in front of the guesthouse, only two Clerks waiting below the steps.

Secretary Zhang Hongji did not see him in the main hall.

He had changed to a side hall.

Half the chairs had been removed from the hall, and only two cups of tea were placed on the table.

Secretary Zhang Hongji stood by the window; his official uniform had been changed, but the bronze order at his waist was still there.

He turned to see Lin Chen enter the door and did not sit back in the main seat.

"Inspector Lin."

Lin Chen stopped three steps inside the door.

"Secretary Zhang Hongji."

Secretary Zhang Hongji raised his hand, signaling the Clerks to withdraw.

After the door closed, he spoke.

"What do you want?"

Lin Chen looked at him.

Secretary Zhang Hongji said again.

"Official Chen Zhili is in your hands, Director Yan Tie is in your hands, and the secret box is also in your hands."

"You sent the list to me and also to Nangong Xiong; you want to negotiate."

"So don't beat around the bush."

"What do you want?"

Lin Chen walked to the table without sitting.

"Official Chen Zhili stays in Nanyang Prefecture."

Secretary Zhang Hongji looked at him.

"Continue."

"Try him according to the local laws of Nanyang Prefecture."

"The Wang family case, the Blood Nourishing case, the Provincial Administration Commission corruption case, the Criminal Chamber collusion case—to be tried by the Patrol Division, with the Governors Mansion reviewing."

Secretary Zhang Hongji rested his fingers on the back of the chair.

"What about the capital's list?"

Lin Chen said.

"Sealed."

"The secret box will not be destroyed, nor will it be distributed."

"But someone must take responsibility for what happened in Nanyang Prefecture."

Secretary Zhang Hongji laughed, but there was no ease in his laughter.

"You are bargaining with officials sent by the imperial court."

"Do you know what this means?"

Lin Chen said.

"I know."

"If you refuse, the list will appear in five Prefectures, and the capital will have a copy too."

"By then, what the imperial court faces will not be the Nanyang Prefecture Patrol Division, but the civil and military officials of the entire court tearing each other apart."

Secretary Zhang Hongji's fingers stopped on the back of the chair.

Lin Chen continued.

"If you agree, Official Chen Zhili is convicted, the Wang family case is concluded, and the capital list is temporarily sealed."

"The Ministry of War has a step, the imperial court has time, and Nanyang Prefecture can also survive."

Secretary Zhang Hongji stared at Lin Chen.

"You call this surviving?"

Lin Chen looked at the tea on the table.

"Being able to put the blade back into the sheath is surviving."

Secretary Zhang Hongji walked to the table and sat down, but did not pick up the tea.

"What about Director Yan Tie?"

Lin Chen said.

"He lives."

"Wait for the capital's investigation team to come, and hand him over in full."

Secretary Zhang Hongji asked.

"What if the capital doesn't send an investigation team?"

Lin Chen said.

"Then he will live in Nanyang Prefecture."

Secretary Zhang Hongji's face darkened.

"Lin Chen, your courage has crossed the line."

Lin Chen pressed his hand on the hilt of the black abyss blade.

"I am handling cases within the boundaries of Nanyang Prefecture."

Secretary Zhang Hongji looked at that hand.

"Someone like you shouldn't just stay in Nanyang Prefecture."

"The capital needs you."

Lin Chen did not take the tea, nor did he respond to this sentence.

"Nanyang Prefecture is enough."

"I just want to finish the business here cleanly."

Secretary Zhang Hongji leaned back in his chair and stared at the roof beams for a moment.

A pigeon whistle sounded outside.

An attendant spoke outside the door.

"Sir, the secret letter has been sent."

Secretary Zhang Hongji closed his eyes for a moment; when he opened them again, the impatience on his face had been retracted beneath his skin.

"Good."

He looked at Lin Chen.

"I will advise the imperial court to accept your conditions."

"Official Chen Zhili stays."

"The capital list is temporarily sealed."

"The secret box will be jointly registered by the Nanyang Prefecture Patrol Division and the Ministry of War Investigation Division, and sealed with double seals."

Lin Chen said.

"That's acceptable."

Secretary Zhang Hongji raised his hand.

"But you must guarantee that the list will not be leaked."

"From now on, for every additional person who sees it, Nanyang Prefecture will have an additional crime."

Lin Chen's hand was still pressed on the hilt.

"I guarantee it in the name of the Inspector."

"As long as this list is in my hands, it will stay in the safest place."

"If I live, it lives."

"If I die, it will be buried with me."

Secretary Zhang Hongji's eyelid twitched.

"Is this a guarantee, or a threat?"

Lin Chen said.

"It depends on how Secretary Zhang Hongji hears it."

The hall was silent for a moment.

Secretary Zhang Hongji stood up, straightened his cuffs, and walked past Lin Chen toward the door.

When his hand touched the door bolt, he paused.

"Lin Chen, you won this round."

"Remember, there are more chess players in the capital than in the provinces."

"In the next round, you might not be able to stand and speak."

Lin Chen turned to look at his back.

"Secretary Zhang Hongji should remember too."

Secretary Zhang Hongji turned his face sideways.

Lin Chen said.

"No matter how big the chessboard is, there must be someone to collect the corpses."

Secretary Zhang Hongji did not look back, pushed the door open, and walked out.

Sunlight from outside the door fell into the side hall, shining on the two untouched cups of tea on the table.

Lin Chen was about to take a step, when hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

A Clerk rushed into the corridor, the sweat on his face dripping from his chin.

"Sir!"

Secretary Zhang Hongji turned around while standing on the steps.

The Clerk knelt on the ground, holding a blood-stained wooden box above his head.

"Sent from the Linjiang military post."

"Hou San died at the gate of the military post, and the blood order is gone."