The Imperial Guard’s Revenge
Chapter 130 Reinforcements
Fu Tingzhou stepped out of the Yingtian Prefecture Office. He caught sight of a man standing outside, dressed in a crimson robe, tall and elegant. He stood with his back to the gate, a folding fan lightly tapping against his fingers. People passing by couldn’t help but steal glances at his striking, peerless beauty and graceful demeanor that was impossible to ignore.
Even from just a back view, Fu Tingzhou could recognize him immediately. It was Lu Heng.
It really was him.
The expression on Fu Tingzhou’s face was indescribable.
Fu Tingzhou stopped at the bottom of the stairs, not moving forward, and asked irritably: “Why are you here?”
Lu Heng turned around at the sound of his voice, unbothered by the fact that Fu Tingzhou was standing higher than him. He smiled politely and said: “Since I married Qing Qing, I suppose I can be considered your brother-in-law. Marquis of Zhenyuan, it’s been a while.”
Fu Tingzhou only let out a cold snort, gritting his teeth as he said: “Get lost.”
“So cold, Second Brother-in-law. It’s truly heartbreaking.” Lu Heng said, tapping his folding fan against his palm with a regretful tone, “What a pity. I thought it was rare for us to meet here and wondered if Qing Qing and I should host a gathering to invite you to make up for the wedding banquet you missed.”
Fu Tingzhou felt nauseated by Lu Heng’s pretentious smile and couldn’t even maintain a fake politeness. His expression darkened as he said coldly: “What are you really here for?”
“I already said.” Lu Heng replied, a smile on his lips but his eyes deep and unfathomable like the ocean. “To invite the Marquis of Zhenyuan for a drink.”
Fu Tingzhou walked into the tavern and pushed open the door to a private room, only to find it empty. He didn’t know whether he had expected this or was disappointed, but he said: “Just you?”
Lu Heng followed him inside and said leisurely: “Am I not enough to represent both my wife and myself?”
Lu Heng’s repeated provocations finally pushed Fu Tingzhou to his limit. With a cold face, he said: “Enough. I don’t have time for your games right now.”
Lu Heng walked to the table, calmly pulled out a chair, and sat down. He picked up a teacup and rinsed it with hot water: “Don’t worry. If I could, I wouldn’t want to see you either. Governor Fu, how has your time in the South been these past ten days?”
Lu Heng’s address had shifted back to Governor Fu with an unmistakable tone of sarcasm. Fu Tingzhou wanted to turn and leave, but he knew that Lu Heng’s sudden appearance here must mean there was something important at stake.
With a major battle looming and the court riddled with internal strife, going to war under these conditions would cost countless lives. Fu Tingzhou understood the gravity of the situation. In the face of a national crisis, personal grudges had to be set aside. Once the external threat was dealt with, he and Lu Heng could settle their scores.
Suppressing his displeasure, Fu Tingzhou pulled out a chair and sat down across from Lu Heng: “What do you want to know?”
“You don’t need to test me. I’m here on the emperor’s secret orders, so my presence is entirely justified.” Lu Heng said, pouring a cup of tea after rinsing it and slowly pushing it toward Fu Tingzhou. “All I need from you, Governor Fu, is to tell me, do you want to win this battle?”
“That’s a pointless question. What commander sets out to lose?”
“It’s not that easy.” Lu Heng said with a smile. “As long as there are enemies, there will be generals. If the pirates are never eradicated, military funds and authority will keep flowing to the coast, and the anti-pirate governor will remain in power.”
Fu Tingzhou scoffed, dismissive: “Don’t worry. The foundation of my estate is in the northwest. Others might come to Jiangnan to profit, but I have no interest in that.”
For government officials, a post in Jiangnan was undoubtedly a lucrative opportunity, but for military officers, the north was always prioritized over the south. The truly promising assignments were all in the north. Fu Tingzhou needed to defeat the pirates to pave his way forward, but he had no intention of staying for long.
“Marquis of Zhenyuan, you’re straightforward.” Lu Heng said, lightly clapping his hands. “People of the Ming Dynasty don’t speak secretly. Since that’s the case, I’ll be honest with you. There are traitors in the court who don’t want the pirates to be eradicated.”
“I know.” Fu Tingzhou said. In the past ten days, he had visited various garrisons and already discovered this. “These soldiers were recruited from the south. Some got their positions through family connections, others by bribes. They have deep ties to the local bureaucracy. The pirates burn, kill, and plunder, oppressing the people, but they also bring immense wealth. It’s possible that some of these soldiers’ families are doing business with the pirates. How can we expect them to fight the pirates on the battlefield?”
Trade with overseas merchants enriched not the common people but the elite. Yet coastal commoners bore the entire burden brought by the Japanese pirates. Lu Heng raised an eyebrow, his tone unsurprised: “Even the military can’t be relied on? Then this battle will truly be troublesome.”
Fu Tingzhou, however, shook his head and said: “The source of troops isn’t the problem. We can recruit from other regions, hire mercenaries, or retrain existing forces, there are plenty of solutions. As long as we stabilize morale and ensure no one is stabbing us in the back or deliberately delaying our efforts, defeating the pirates isn’t difficult.”
As he spoke, Fu Tingzhou let out a disdainful snort: “They’re nothing but a ragtag group. The shogunate in Japan is fighting for power, and the emperor is a figurehead in name only. These ronin fled to the Ming Dynasty because they couldn’t survive in Japan. Each of them claimed royal lineage, but in reality, they weren’t even from a legitimate branch. Anyone with a trace of pure bloodline would have been killed by the shogunate long ago. Even Japan’s proper military has never won the Central Plains, let alone these runaway ronin.”
|| Ronin (浪人) are samurais from Japan who lost/separated/no longer have a master. Many became vagrants or mercenaries.
Lu Heng agreed with this point. He said: “Only about twenty percent of these so-called pirates are actually Japanese, the rest are mainland Chinese. The Japanese are few in number and not a significant threat, but many citizens of the Ming Dynasty have abandoned their land and fled to the sea, making a living through maritime trade. This group is a mixed bag, including many who have studied military strategy. They have ships, islands, and weapons traded from the West. What about them?”
Fu Tingzhou still shook his head: “They’ve only gathered for profit, a group held together by self-interest. They’re not a serious threat.”
Lu Heng nodded slowly, his gaze thoughtful. Fu Tingzhou, feeling the situation was complicated, sighed and said: “As long as we truly want to fight, whether it’s the pirates or the Japanese, they’re no match for the Ming military. What I fear is internal sabotage, people who don’t want us to win.”
Lu Heng suddenly interjected: “If you’re confident about winning, I can take care of those obstacles.”
Fu Tingzhou was surprised. He narrowed his eyes, looking at Lu Heng with suspicion and wariness: “How do you know who the obstacles are?”
Lu Heng tapped his fan and smiled at Fu Tingzhou, his eyes like a lake under the setting sun, shimmering with fragmented light but impossible to see through: “No need for you to worry about that. I have my ways.”
Fu Tingzhou wasn’t interested in Lu Heng’s “ways.” After speaking for a while, he felt thirsty and casually picked up the teacup, only then realizing that Lu Heng had poured it for him: “How rare. I never thought I’d get to drink tea poured by you.”
“Second Brother-in-law, you’re too kind.” Lu Heng said with a smile. “I was afraid it might be poisoned, so I let you drink it first.”
Fu Tingzhou had just taken a sip. But hearing this, his face darkened, and he slammed the teacup down, splashing a line of water droplets.
Fu Tingzhou coldly pushed back his chair and stood up: “You’re older than me, so I dare not accept the title of Brother. Goodbye.”
Only then did Lu Heng pour himself a cup of tea, leisurely blowing on the steam. He took a small sip, not even bothering to check if Fu Tingzhou was still there and said: “Tomorrow at Chen sharp (7 a.m.), summon all the officials of Yingtian Prefecture in your name.”
There was no response from behind and it was unclear if Fu Tingzhou heard. But Lu Heng didn’t care and continued sipping his tea.
Indeed, tea tasted sweeter when someone else had tested it first.
·
The next day at the Yingtian Prefecture Office, the Deputy walked into the hall and found it already filled with people. He felt puzzled. Earlier, he heard the Governor’s official announcement that he had urgent matters to discuss and requested him in the meeting hall immediately. They didn’t take this new Governor seriously. What did it matter if he was the Marquis of Zhenyuan? Without their approval, the Governor was just a figurehead.
But Fu Tingzhou was different from Zhu Wan. He came from a noble family and had recently formed a marriage alliance with the Marquis of Wuding. His backing was formidable, and even if the officials in Nanjing didn’t respect him, they couldn’t afford to slight Fu Tingzhou.
So, the Deputy put aside his tasks and went to the meeting hall as instructed. He had thought the Governor had only called him, but now it seemed that he summoned everyone.
People were whispering to each other, all confused about what was happening. The Deputy saw the Yingtian Prefect was also there. He walked over and cupped his hands in greeting: “Greetings, Prefect. What’s going on? Why has the Marquis of Zhenyuan summoned everyone? Yingtian Prefecture has so much to handle every day, we can’t afford to be away. The Marquis’ gathering seems inappropriate.”
The Yingtian Prefect snorted and said indifferently: “How should I know what the Marquis is up to? Let’s wait and see. Making such a fuss early in the morning, perhaps the Marquis has some grand plan up his sleeve.”
The emperor’s orders had been issued a month ago, but everyone still referred to Fu Tingzhou as the Marquis of Zhenyuan, not Governor. In their minds, Fu Tingzhou was just a temporary outsider, and his words carried no weight.
The meeting hall was packed, and everyone was in the dark, unsure what Fu Tingzhou was up to. It was already Shen (7 a.m.), and Fu Tingzhou still hadn’t appeared. The Deputy couldn’t sit still any longer and raised his voice: “The Marquis of Zhenyuan rushed us all here but hasn’t shown up himself. We aren’t idlers, everyone has official duties to attend to. What is the Marquis trying to do?”
As soon as the Deputy Prefect spoke, many others echoed his sentiments, and the meeting hall quickly filled with agitation. The Yingtian Prefect calmly sipped his tea, his expression composed and smug.
In Nanjing, even a dragon would be forced to leave without their approval. He wanted to see what kind of splash this supposedly prestigious Marquis of Zhenyuan could make.
“Everyone, calm down.”
A leisurely voice suddenly came from the back hall. His tone was like the spring breeze of March or the misty waves of a lake, naturally carrying a hint of amusement. The Prefect of Yingtian Prefecture paused mid-sip, his brow furrowing slightly. This didn’t sound like Fu Tingzhou’s voice.
The crowd erupted in murmurs, all turning to look behind them. Sure enough, a folding fan hooked the curtain, and a figure in crimson robes stepped out from the back.
The Yingtian Prefect unconsciously set down his teacup, frowning as he watched the newcomer, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity. The Deputy, acting as a spokesman for the Yingtian Prefect, promptly voiced what his superior was thinking: “Who are you, and who let you in? This is a government office. How dare an outsider violate this place?”
“Deputy Prefect Lin, don’t be so hasty to make judgement.” The newcomer said, still standing at the front of the hall, smiling leisurely at them. “I was invited by Governor Fu to discuss the grand plan for combating the pirates. It’s an honor to share this hall with all of you. I’m pleased to meet you.”
Fu Tingzhou, who was following behind thought, this guy really knew how to flatter himself, when had it become his invitation? Fu Tingzhou ignored Lu Heng and said indifferently to the crowd below: “You should all recognize him. This is Lu Heng, the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Guards from the capital, here by the emperor’s orders to assist in dealing with the pirates.”
The officials erupted in shock at the mention of Lu Heng’s name, whispering to each other, their eyes filled with shock and fear.
Why was Lu Heng here? What did he want?
The officials were visibly uneasy, and a few of them subtly changed their expressions. Satisfied with his reputation, Lu Heng continued to smile and said: “No need to be nervous, everyone. I’m not here today to investigate anyone. I just want to hear your thoughts on the pirates.”
The meeting hall fell silent for a long time. Lu Heng, unhurried, walked to the head of the table, lifted his robes, and sat down. After carefully smoothing out the wrinkles in his clothes, he looked up and gave the crowd a gentle smile: “Well? Still thinking?”
“Apologies for not welcoming you properly, Supreme Commander Lu. I am ashamed.” The Yingtian Prefect said in a bureaucratic tone, speaking slowly, “The pirates run rampant, and we can’t sleep peacefully, wishing we could drive them out of the Ming Dynasty immediately. But the pirates are full of hidden talents. Many Japanese ninjas possess mysterious techniques and can take on ten men alone, turning stone into gold. Our ordinary soldiers are mere flesh and blood, they simply can’t withstand them.”
Lu Heng let out an sigh, then asked humbly: “Then, in the Prefect’s opinion, what should we do?”
“Governor Zhang Jin has been in Jiangsu and Zhejiang for many years and is well-versed in the pirates’ tactics. He has been particularly effective against the Japanese ninjas. Governor Zhang has already dealt a major blow to the pirates, but unfortunately, he was slandered by jealous individuals and removed from his post. It was truly regretful. If we want to resist the pirates, the best course of action is to release Governor Zhang and restore him to his position.”
Lu Heng nodded, sighing: “Even at a time like this, you’re still thinking about Zhang Jin. When Zhang Jin loses his head in the Imperial Prison, he’ll surely thank you for your support.”
The Yingtian Prefect’s face darkened: “Commander Lu, are you threatening us with Imperial Prison? In broad daylight, under the clear sky, we have committed no crimes. On what grounds can you arrest us? Is there no law in this world!”
As soon as the Prefect finished speaking, a group of Imperial Guards suddenly burst in from outside with swords at their waists and quickly surrounded the meeting hall, sealing off all exits. The officials were horrified. The Yingtian Prefect stood up and shouted angrily: “Lu Heng, we are officials of the imperial court! Do you have the emperor’s decree to do this? You are illegally detaining imperial officials, are you trying to rebel?”
“Since when did the Imperial Guards need a reason to do things?” Lu Heng said with a smile, watching the officials below him scramble like headless flies. He continued leisurely, “If any of you are thinking to send word to Pang Yunqi, the Commander of the Nanjing Imperial Guards, you might as well save your breath. Last night, Pang Yunqi was killed by me in his own home. His body still lays on his bed, eyes wide open in death.”
When the Yingtian Prefect heard that Pang Yunqi was dead, he was shocked: “You… what evidence do you have to dare harm a colleague?”
“On the grounds that he colluded with the enemy, planted spies, and plotted to harm his superiors.” Lu Heng said, raising a finger. An Imperial Guard immediately stepped forward, presenting a ledger with both hands. Lu Heng flipped through it and read: “In the tenth month of the twelfth year of the Jiajing, a traveling merchant offered a hundred taels of gold, one hundred and fifty-six pearls, four coral pieces, and ten sets of Western gold tableware. Master Chen, what kind of traveling merchant is this rich?”
The Yingtian Prefect’s face darkened, and he remained silent. Lu Heng flipped through a few more pages, then closed the ledger with a leisurely motion: “Although Pang Yunqi was a traitor, he did his job as an Imperial Guard quite well. He hid several ledgers under his pillow, each recording large sums of gold and silver transactions. This one belongs to Prefect Chen. Care to guess who the others belong to?”
The meeting hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The air was heavy, and beads of sweat formed on the Prefect’s forehead. He shouted angrily: “This is slander! I’m a second-rank scholar and an imperial official. I only take orders from the emperor. You’re using some random ledger to frame me. When I see the emperor, I’ll personally expose your crimes!”
Lu Heng smiled at him and nodded in agreement: “Then I certainly can’t give you that opportunity.”
Before anyone could understand what Lu Heng meant, an Imperial Guard behind the Prefect stepped forward and stabbed him through the back. The Prefect clutched the blood gushing from his chest, pointing at Lu Heng in disbelief. His jaw moved as if he wanted to say something, but blood filled his throat, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
The officials recoiled in horror. One official standing next to the Prefect fainted on the spot.
Lu Heng finally stopped smiling, his expression turning cold as he stood up: “I’m here on the emperor’s orders to investigate the pirate issue, with full authority to act first and report later. I know everything you’ve done. If I dared to kill Pang Yunqi and Chen Ming, I dare to kill you too. The pirates are running rampant along the coast, plundering and destroying lives. How many villages and counties have suffered at their hands? And you, as local officials, have done nothing. Some of you have even sold your dignity for a few pieces of silver, allowing outsiders to trample on the people of the Ming Dynasty. Each of you standing here is well-read, having passed the imperial exams and earned your scholar titles. You’ve enjoyed the reputation of prodigies all your lives. Did the teachings of Confucius and Mencius teach you to side with tigers and harm your own people while groveling to outsiders?”
Lu Heng’s gaze was sharp, his back straight. When his eyes swept over the crowd, it felt like the wrath of heaven, making it impossible to meet his gaze. Many officials hung their heads in shame. Lu Heng clapped his hands, and a group of Imperial Guards entered, carrying a stack of ledgers and a copper basin. They placed them in front of Lu Heng and then withdrew in an orderly manner, not a single unnecessary movement.
Lu Heng casually picked up a ledger and slowly paced in front of the hall, addressing the crowd below: “Look at what you’ve done. How can you still wear those official hats with pride? How many families have been torn apart because of you? Their daughters have been violated, their children kidnapped. And what have you done? Added another astronomical sum to these ledgers, while your wives and mothers bought another expensive dress. The Analects of Confucius say, do not impose on others what you do not desire yourself. Today, you turn a blind eye to the suffering of others’ wives and daughters. Tomorrow, it will be your own families who suffer.”
The meeting hall was deathly silent. After speaking, Lu Heng suddenly threw the ledger into the copper brazier and personally lit a firestarter, tossing it onto the pages.
The flames licked at the paper, quickly engulfing the entire brazier. Lu Heng threw the remaining ledgers into the fire and said coldly: “I wish I could execute each of you myself, but the pirates are still ravaging the coast, and countless people are waiting for the court to save them. I know some of you were forced to adapt to your environment, but I don’t care about your excuses. Eradicating the pirate threat is imperative. If you can turn back from your wrongdoings and redeem yourselves through merit, your past actions will be forgiven after we defeat the pirates. If we lose this battle, you’ll have plenty of time to reflect in Imperial Prison.”
The old papers quickly blackened and curled under the flames, turning into swirling ashes. Sobs echoed in the meeting hall, as one by one, officials bowed to Lu Heng: “Thank you, Supreme Commander.”
Some were glad, others secretly sighed in relief, but all their faces were pale. No one dared to entertain any more crooked thoughts. The Prefect’s body still lay in front of them, and Lu Heng made it clear with his actions that he wasn’t just a scholar who wielded a pen. He was truly capable of killing them. With such a bloody example before them, who would dare test him?
No amount of money was worth their lives. Besides, after all these years, they had already amassed enough wealth. If they pushed too far and let the pirates cause chaos, it would be a lose-lose situation for everyone.
The officials gradually dispersed one after another. After the hall had emptied, Fu Tingzhou took out his sword sheath and picked out a partially burned ledger from the brazier. He flipped through it and scoffed: “I really thought you found the ledgers. Turns out they’re blank.”
Lu Heng had spoken a lot and wanted to moisten his throat, but remembering that Fu Tingzhou hadn’t tested the water here, he ultimately set the cup down: “Pang Yunqi wasn’t stupid. How could he leave such evidence. Now, you can mobilize the troops.”
Last night, Lu Heng infiltrated Nanjing, discussed the plan with Fu Tingzhou, then assassinated the high-ranking officials of the Nanjing Imperial Guards. In the end, all the arguments came down to force. Only by securing control of Yingtian Prefecture’s military power could he strike the mountain to scare the tiger today.
Although Lu Heng hadn’t found the ledgers, he had a clear idea of who was colluding with the pirates. Those who actively opposed the pirates would meet accidental deaths, while others who had merely accepted bribes would be let off with a warning. Lu Heng would pretend not to know about their misdeeds, giving them a chance to reform.
Killing was the easiest thing to do, but his goal was to solve the problem and win over their hearts. If he resorted to indiscriminate slaughter, the officials in Zhejiang and Fujian would only grow more fearful and side more firmly with the pirates.
His objective was to win the war against the pirates, not to vent his anger by executing a few corrupt officials.
Reluctantly giving up on the idea of drinking water, Lu Heng stood up and said: “My part is done. The rest is up to you. If you still can’t command respect after this, you might as well jump into the sea and end it all.”
Fu Tingzhou sneered: “I have my own plans. Don’t worry about me.”
As Fu Tingzhou prepared to head to the military camp to mobilize the troops, Lu Heng stopped him and said: “I don’t care about the rest, but right now, you must attack one place first.”
“Where?”
“Jintai Island.”
·
After urgently reorganizing his forces, Fu Tingzhou’s first target was Jintai Island. Lu Heng handed Fu Tingzhou the military information from Jintai Island, which the Imperial Guards had risked their lives to obtain. In return, Lu Heng requested that the Imperial Guards accompany the operation.
The two thousand Imperial Guards Lu Heng had brought might seem like a large number, but in the context of an army that often numbered in the tens of thousands, they were insignificant. Fu Tingzhou didn’t care and assigned a ship to the Imperial Guards.
Lu Heng sent two hundred Imperial Guards on the expedition. The Imperial Guards excelled in individual combat but were of little use in large-scale battles, especially in naval warfare, which relied on artillery and left no room for hand-to-hand combat. The Imperial Guards remained idle on their ship, watching the fiery explosions and towering waves from a safe distance.
Fu Tingzhou had a natural talent for military strategy. He organized his forces well and commanded the timing of attacks and artillery fire with precision. Although Jintai Island boasted sturdy ships and powerful cannons, its forces lacked military training and were outnumbered by the imperial navy. They were quickly overwhelmed, and their ships fled back to the harbor in disarray.
Fu Tingzhou pressed the advantage, ordering full firepower to advance, suppressing the pirates until they couldn’t even lift their heads. Under the cover of artillery, imperial ships successfully landed on the island. The previously idle Imperial Guards suddenly sprang into action like cats spotting mice, leaping off the ship and disappearing in the blink of an eye.
A deputy general reported to Fu Tingzhou: “Governor, the Imperial Guards scattered as soon as they landed on the island. They moved so fast we couldn’t stop them.”
Fu Tingzhou snorted lightly and said: “Ransacking homes is their specialty. Don’t worry about them. If they die, it’s not my problem. Pass the order, the Yuanding and Yuanji ships are to hold their positions, Fubo ship will guard the southwest, Nanrui ship will provide support from the open sea, and the grass ships will fill the gaps between the Fujian ships. Tighten the circle around Jintai Island, don’t let any ships escape. Each ship will leave one sentinel on alert, and the rest will follow me ashore. We’ll attack Jintai Island in three prongs.”
“Yes.”
After the blockade of Shuangyu Harbor, Jintai Island had become the new trading hub. The island’s leader had five to six hundred followers, and with the island’s residents, visiting ships, and Japanese stationed there, Jintai Island was home to several thousand people. Under normal circumstances, this would have been a formidable force, but the imperial army’s morale now was unmatched. With their overwhelming numerical advantage, the pirates on Jintai Island were quickly driven back and scattered. The imperial army landed and unleashed their true expertise, land warfare, using formations to hunt down the fleeing pirates.
When it came to urban combat, the Imperial Guards were experts. They operated in teams of five allowing them to be flexible and mobile while providing mutual support. If they encountered a single pirate, all five would attack together. If they ran into a group, they would call in other teams to join the fight. Why engage in one-on-one combat when they could outnumber their enemies?
Working together, they quickly breached Jintai Island’s stronghold. While other soldiers were busy searching for the island’s leader, the Imperial Guards split into two teams. One searched for signals to locate and rescue the three undercover agents, while the rest rushed to the warehouse.
This was their true mission, finding the warehouse where the Westerners and the pirates conducted their trades and seizing all the bird guns.
While others were busy chasing Wu Sheng, the island’s leader, the Imperial Guards were occupied carrying crates and transporting them back to the ship. In the end, the imperial army captured the leader alive, and the Imperial Guards seized many bird guns. Both sides were pleased with the outcome.
Fu Tingzhou brought Wu Sheng back to the city for interrogation. As the new trading hub after Shuangyu Harbor, the leader of Jintai Island surely knew where the other pirates were hiding. Extracting this information from Wu Sheng would greatly benefit the ongoing campaign.
However, Wu Sheng was a tough nut to crack. No matter what, he refused to talk. He knew that Wu Zhang had likely met a grim fate, and since they had killed Wu Zhang, they wouldn’t spare him either. Whether he talked or not, Wu Sheng was doomed. Those who made their living on the sea believed in the gods. How could Wu Sheng betray his comrades?
Wu Sheng had been captured by Fu Tingzhou’s forces, so naturally, he was under Fu Tingzhou’s custody. Fu Tingzhou placed great importance on Wu Sheng and sent several teams to interrogate him, but all efforts yielded no results. After wavering between his pride and the need for information, Fu Tingzhou ultimately prioritized the bigger picture and went to ask Lu Heng for “help.”
When it came to interrogation, no one was more suited for the job than the Imperial Guards.
On the day of the battle, the Imperial Guards were busy moving bird guns after landing and hadn’t captured Wu Sheng, letting an easy merit slip away. But Lu Heng wasn’t in a hurry. Sure enough, within two days, Fu Tingzhou came asking for help.
And Lu Heng generously offered his assistance: “I can help, but I’ll decide how the interrogation is conducted, and you can’t interfere.”
Fu Tingzhou was furious. Why should Lu Heng call the shots when it was his prisoner? But since his own men had failed to get results, Fu Tingzhou had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree to Lu Heng’s unreasonable demand.
However, Fu Tingzhou was also cautious. On the day of the interrogation, he secretly went to observe.
Wu Sheng was being held in Fu Tingzhou’s territory, so Lu Heng couldn’t exactly stop him from being there. But when Fu Tingzhou arrived, he saw Lu Heng bringing in a woman wearing a veiled hat into the dungeon.
The woman’s face and figure were hidden beneath the long white veil, but Fu Tingzhou immediately recognized who she was. He was stunned for a moment, then filled with rage.
What was Lu Heng doing? How could he bring her to such a place?
Fu Tingzhou couldn’t stay hidden any longer. He stepped out with a cold expression to stop them. Lu Heng, who didn’t seem surprised to see Fu Tingzhou, said calmly: “Marquis of Zhenyuan, you’ve failed five or six times already and still haven’t given up? Are you here again today?”
Lu Heng’s words were deliberately provoking. While they seemed like casual remarks, they were actually highlighting Fu Tingzhou’s failures. And when did he failed five or six times?
Fu Tingzhou was seething with anger, but when his gaze fell on the veiled figure, he forced himself to hold back. Maintaining his serious and fair image, he reminded Lu Heng: “Lu Heng, this is a prison. Bringing the Imperial Guards here for interrogation is one thing, but why bring a woman?”
Lu Heng seemed to have been waiting for this question. He immediately smiled and replied: “Marquis of Zhenyuan, you’ve misunderstood. She is the reinforcement.”
Wang Yanqing stood beside Lu Heng. Her gaze was lowered the entire time and she didn’t once look ahead. Hearing Lu Heng’s words, she folded her hands and gave a slight bow from behind the veil: “Marquis of Zhenyuan.”