Qingzhou, After the Night Rain
The light rain had just ceased, and the night was misty. The streets of Qingzhou still carried a faint, damp scent.
Lin Wanying, draped in a light cyan cloak, walked quietly down the street.
She had returned.
This was Qingzhou. She had once come here under sect orders to assassinate Chen Hui, but now she was here to uncover the truth.
This time, she was no longer a Shushan disciple, but a lone warrior seeking the truth.
Her first stop was a pavilion hidden inside a bookstore in the north of the city.
"Miss Lin?"
Inside the pavilion, an elegant scholar assessed her. Wearing a scholar's robe, he exuded a bookish air between his brows, yet did not lack worldly sophistication.
This man was exactly Liu Wenzhou, the old acquaintance recommended by Zhou Tianhuan. He used to teach at the Holy Scholar Academy, understood mystical formations and mathematics, and held many secrets of the imperial court and the martial world.
Lin Wanying nodded lightly: "Elder Zhou said you might be able to help me."
Liu Wenzhou smiled faintly, taking several letters from the bookshelf and spreading them gently on the desk.
"You are looking to investigate not just Magistrate Chen's grievances, but a deeper conspiracy, right?"
Lin Wanying's eyes shifted. Reaching out, she picked up the letters and quickly flipped through them.
Ministry of War, Wokou, State Preceptor Chang Jin...
These terms appeared frequently in the documents.
Her expression grew serious: "Where did this intelligence come from?"
Liu Wenzhou tapped the bamboo scroll on the desk: "Over the past few years, there have been frequent unusual movements in the imperial court. Especially around Qingzhou, the entanglements between the government and the wokou have become increasingly bizarre."
"Among them, one name appears frequently—Chang Yanjiao."
The Capital, State Preceptor's Manor
A light rain had just fallen, and the capital's night was shrouded in heavy moisture. Inside the palace walls, all was quiet, save for the occasional footsteps of patrolling guards echoing beneath the high walls.
Outside the imperial city, inside a vast and ornately decorated manor, lights shone brightly. The curtains hung low, faintly revealing the sound of discussions.
This was no ordinary official's residence; it was the manor of State Preceptor Chang Jin.
Tonight, he welcomed a distinguished guest—the Minister of War, Chang Yanjiao.
In the main hall, the two sat facing each other, with several maps and military orders spread out on the desk.
Chang Jin wore a purple-gold ritual robe. His long eyebrows extended to his temples, his hair and beard silvery white. Though over fifty, his eyes were like a falcon's, carrying an imposing majesty.
Unlike ordinary scholars, his speech and demeanor held a faint imperial aura, as if the power of the world rested in his hands.
Chang Yanjiao wore a deep purple official robe, a jade belt cinched at his waist. His posture was steady, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk, his expression cold.
The two locked eyes, both wearing unfathomably deep smiles.
"The battle of Qingzhou has begun, just as the State Preceptor said."
Chang Yanjiao spoke indifferently, his tone unhurried, as if discussing a game of chess.
"Now, the wokou and the Pirate King Alliance are both ready to act according to the plan. The Qingzhou garrison has also been legitimately transferred away. In three days, the war will inevitably begin."
Chang Jin slowly raised his eyes, a glint in his gaze: "Thus, Qingzhou will have no defense and can only wait for the Ministry of War's rescue."
"And when the imperial court sees Qingzhou fall, they will have no choice but to hand military power over to you, allowing you to command the great army."
"This chess piece has been played excellently."
The corners of Chang Yanjiao's mouth curled up slightly. He picked up his teacup, lowered his head to blow away the foam, and said indifferently, "If one wishes to control the world, one must ensure no one can question his power."
"With Qingzhou fallen, Chen Hui dead in battle, and the border defense leaderless, the court will have to hand military power to the Ministry of War."
"And when the Ministry of War controls the military power, Lord State Preceptor, your power will also advance further."
"After all... I manage the world with military power, and the State Preceptor manages the emperor with divine power. This is the grand scheme."
The two exchanged a smile; the atmosphere was eerie and icy.
State Preceptor Chang Jin gently stroked the map on the desk, his eyes flickering slightly, his tone unhurried: "But there is still a variable."
"Lin Wanying... she didn't die."
"And Chen Hui... I fear he isn't someone so easily dealt with."
Chang Yanjiao's mouth curled up in a cold smile: "A hero? A loyal official? Such people are the most foolish."
"If he truly acts for the people, he should understand the circumstances and go with the flow. Unfortunately... he is too stubborn."
"Stubborn people always die quickly."
State Preceptor Chang Jin gave a faint smile, gently setting down his teacup. His expression suddenly turned bizarre as he said, "But, Minister Chang... Cousin, are you truly satisfied with this?"
Chang Yanjiao's eyes shifted, his mouth curling into a smile: "State Preceptor... Cousin, what do you mean by this?"
"After the battle of Qingzhou, military power will be in your hands. What... is your next goal?"
"You wouldn't be satisfied just being the Minister of War, would you? Do you still remember the task given to you by the main family?"
Chang Jin's voice was low and drawn out, carrying a hint of probing and suggestion.
Chang Yanjiao was silent for a moment before slowly smiling.
His smile was faint, yet revealed endless ambition.
"Oh? Lord State Preceptor indeed possesses great foresight. Besides caring for the country, you are truly a representative of the main family, reminding me of my duty as part of the branch family."
He said in a low voice: "Now, chaos reigns within and outside the imperial court. The emperor is cowardly, the officials harbor their own sinister plots. Although Lord State Preceptor controls the divine power of the realm and the righteous voice of the martial world, you have never held military power."
"And I, though Minister of War, do not control all the military power in the world, and I am still constrained by the imperial court."
"In this world, if faith, military power, political power, and financial power cannot be uniformly controlled, they will ultimately hinder one another."
His fingers tapped lightly on the desk as he enunciated each word clearly: "The position of Prime Minister is my ultimate goal."
He then whispered in a voice only he could hear: "The throne... ultimately, will also be held by our Chang family."
State Preceptor Chang Jin smiled faintly, as if having anticipated this answer.
"If that is the case, then our cooperation proceeds as usual."
Chang Yanjiao stood up, donned his official robe, and slowly walked outside. As he neared the door, he suddenly stopped and looked back at State Preceptor Chang Jin, who was still seated.
"If the battle of Qingzhou succeeds, the next step is to use the Ministry of War to weaken the emperor's power."
"My Ministry of War shall command the military of the world."
"The State Preceptor's Manor shall become the teacher of the emperor and of faith."
"We will support each other, and step by step, seize control of the imperial court. Cousin!"
State Preceptor Chang Jin paused his expression, nodded slightly, and watched Chang Yanjiao's back disappear into the night.
He gently stroked his long beard, the corners of his mouth curling into a meaningful smile.
"The chess game of the world has just begun. Don't fall out too early. Don't think I don't know what schemes your branch family is plotting, cousin..."
The Capital, Minister of War's Manor, Underground Secret Chamber
After the light rain, the night was heavy. The streets and alleys of the capital were silent; only the Minister of War's Manor still had lights burning.
Deep within the manor, a stone door hidden beneath a rockery was slowly pushed open, revealing a secret passage leading underground. This was the true core of Chang Yanjiao's scheming—the place of conspiracy.
Faint candlelight illuminated the murals on the stone walls, depicting ancient battlefields, countless soldiers killing each other, and kings overthrown, as if recounting the fate of how many dynasties had changed throughout history.
But this time, he, Chang Yanjiao, would be the controller of that historical torrent.
Inside the secret chamber, a massive military map was spread out on the desk. The coast of Qingzhou on the map was marked with red lines, and two foreign flags were drawn on the sea—
One was the black ship of the Moonrise Empire's wokou, and the other was the skull battle flag of the Commercial Republic's Pirate King Alliance.
Standing by the table were several of Chang Yanjiao's confidants. Among them, a man looking like a military advisor said in a low voice, "My lord, the Moonrise Empire's navy disguised as wokou and the Pirate King Alliance are ready. They just await your command to launch the attack."
Chang Yanjiao nodded slightly, his gaze as calm as water, his fingertips tapping lightly on the desk.
"Everything is going according to the State Preceptor's and my plans. Qingzhou's defense lines have been hollowed out by us, and those old officials in the court haven't noticed anything unusual yet."
"Now, we just need to let the wokou and pirates apply further pressure, throwing Qingzhou into panic, and then capture Linhai City. After that... we'll let our men retake the wetlands. Let the imperial court see our value and capability, forcing them to give me more military power."
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a cold smile.
"If the Ministry of War has no war to fight, it has no use; only in worldwide chaos can I legitimately seize supreme power."
The black-robed man asked in a low voice, "Although the wokou and the Pirate King Alliance are willing to cooperate, they are two different factions that don't trust each other. How can they act simultaneously?"
Chang Yanjiao smiled faintly and took out a letter: "This is precisely the State Preceptor's arrangement."
He unfolded the letter. The handwriting was extremely concise, but the signature was not the Ministry of War, but the seal of the State Preceptor's Manor.
"Lord State Preceptor has already sent a message to the Moonrise Empire, telling them that this attack is the result of factional struggles within the Ministry of War, and promising that if they can swiftly capture Qingzhou, we will officially establish secret trade relations with them, reducing interference from maritime patrols. We will then send a secret letter in the name of the Ministry of War's internal faction to signal the attack."
"As for Drake of the Pirate King Alliance, he is even easier to deal with. As long as he sees profit, he won't refuse. I personally paid a certain price and wealth, and they are willing to serve me."
"They all think they can profit from the chaos, little knowing... the true beneficiary is only us."
Chang Yanjiao's fingers gently caressed the Qingzhou map, his eyes deep: "When the war becomes urgent and the Ministry of War is the only hope, a victory will force the emperor to hand over more military power to the Ministry. By then, whether we win or lose the war, I will remain invincible."
A confidant reminded him in a low voice: "But Qingzhou still has Chen Hui. If he senses something is wrong, it might affect the plan."
Chang Yanjiao chuckled softly, picking up his teacup, blowing away the foam, and saying indifferently, "Then let him disappear."
"A hero? A loyal official? Such people are the most foolish."
"If he truly acts for the people, he should understand the circumstances and go with the flow. Unfortunately... he is too stubborn."
He set down the teacup gently, saying coldly: "Stubborn people always die quickly."
"This planned attack is exactly the best time for us to eliminate him."
"Let the wokou harass the towns first, creating panic. Then, when Chen Hui leads his troops into battle, have the Pirate King Alliance attack his supply lines from the sea, plunging his isolated army into dire straits!"
"Finally, when he dies in battle, the Ministry of War can legitimately recover and take over Qingzhou."
The people in the secret chamber looked at each other, all showing agreement.
"In this way, Qingzhou's defense will be entirely in the hands of the Ministry of War's loyalists. No matter how the imperial court responds, it will be irreversible."
The candlelight in the secret chamber flickered, the shadows reflecting on Chang Yanjiao's face, making his features look even more sinister.
He stood up slowly, looking at the map covering the entire realm, his voice low and firm: "Qingzhou is only the first step. Next comes the upheaval in the imperial court."
"Everyone! The position of Prime Minister will ultimately be mine."
"Imperial power... will ultimately also be held by me."
Everyone in the secret chamber held their breath, not daring to speak. Only the candles trembled slightly, seemingly shuddering at this conspiracy.
Chang Yanjiao smiled lightly, his tone calm, yet revealing an unshakable determination—
"The chaos in Qingzhou will be the opportunity for the Ministry of War to ascend to the peak."
"When the imperial court can no longer control the situation, the world will be controlled by me."
Everyone dropped to one knee and said, "We pledge our lives to serve you, My Lord!"