Chapter 019｜Throw Into the Net

Xiao Mohe did not use Gao Shengdao's method at all, and with a sudden shout, the feathered arrows stormed like rain. Gu Musheng urgently closed the door. Fortunately, the door was not open wide enough, otherwise even if the Wushan fisherwoman and Li Jing could avoid it, Alone Star and A Yue would have a hard time avoiding it.

Feathered arrows were shot at the door. Even though the door was thick, several feathered arrows penetrated the door, revealing the tips of the arrows.

The Wushan fisherwoman said "back" and picked up the two children and returned to the hall. At this time, Gao Shengdao was listening to Xie Kangtu's speech, and was startled by the Wushan Fisherwoman's return. He straightened up and asked, "Why did you go and come back?"

The Wushan Fisherwoman laughed, "Because I want to die together with Mr Gao." Saying this, she went straight forward, only five steps away from Gao Shengdao.

Thinking that the Wushan Fisherwoman was going to strike at him, Gao Shengdao hurriedly said to an old monk, " Master Puzhao!"

Puzhao was the leading monk of the ceremony, with a burnt face, dull eyes, and spots on his apricot-yellow monk's clothes. Li Jing had been studying Buddhism since childhood and was not unfamiliar with Buddhist scriptures. For the past day he listened to his chanting, extremely pious and rigorous, and there was not the slightest error, he was very admirable. However, Puzhao was quite stern and did not make any casual talk or laughter, and even with the monks around him, he did not have any private conversations. Earlier, Li Jing heard Gao Shengdao said that these monks had been bribed by him, and the admiration in his heart turned to disgust.

Puzhao, however, did not move a muscle.

At this time, a loud voice came from outside the hall, "Our emperor was informed that the envoys of the Sui State are coming south, and has send me, Xiao Mohe to come and greet them." Along with the voice, Xiao Mohe pressed his hand on the hilt of his sword, carried a black cloth bag, and stomped in.

The monks and strong men in the hall, who had previously performed the funeral rituals, all turned around and saluted, saying in unison, "My greetings, Great General!"

"Don't bother." Xiao Mohe waved his hand and walked straight to the opposite side of Xie Kangtu and Gao Shengdao, lifting his iron armour and sitting down. Although that short couch was made of nanmu, after he pressed it, there was a grating sound.

Xiao Mohe laughed, ''Mr Xie, you're making this couch too un-sturdy. Mr Gao, when you said that there were your men in the temples and the brothel of Chen State, I didn't believe you earlier. But after checking, I did find out quite a few. Bringing the corpses of these traitors is really troublesome, so I ordered to cut off their ears to make up the number, please take a look and see if the number is correct or not?" Saying that, he got up, put the bag on the table, opened it, and it was full of bloody ears, about one or two hundred.

A Yue was already scared. At this time, when she saw the human ears, she was so scared that she hid her face and cried.

Xiao Mohe lowered his voice and said, "Little princess, don't be afraid. When these ears are fried in oil and some pepper is added, it will be a delicious dish that little princess has never enjoyed before in the royal residence."

Gao Shengdao's face was already pale, and now it was as white as paper. Li Jing's heart was even more desperate - this Gao Shengdao after all owed a favour to the Wushan fisherwoman, and was also a subject of the Sui State. However, Xiao Mohe is the enemy general, he set fire on ships and killed hundreds of people, he did not even blink an eyelid, and this time to mobilise troops to attack the Jiangzhou boat company, all the people in the hall except those from Chen State may not be spared.

However, Gao Shengdao was after all the son of the left prime minister of the Sui State, and instantly squeezed out another smile, "So it's Great General Xiao of Great Chen, Gao Shengdao hereby present my greetings to you." Saying so, he clasped his fists and saluted.

Xiao Mohe waved his hand and said, "Where is there a Great Chen? There is only Fake Chen. In the eyes of Zhuzuolang Mr. Gao, destroying Chen is easier than killing chickens and slaughtering dogs."

Without waiting for Gao Shengdao to respond, he turned to Wushan Fisherwoman, "Wushan fisherwoman is a person of high standing in seclusion, you have killed a dozen of the Fake-Sui-official army, and is also considered a friend of the Chen State. Just now, Mr Gao let you go, and now I will let you go as well. However, the little princess must stay." He pointed at Li Jing, "Also, this kid killed my general, and now we haven't even found his corpse. It was so weird , he must also stay."

The Wushan Fisherwoman said, "Many thanks for the Great General's grace. You guys continue your fights, I'll watch for fun."

Xiao Mohe laughed loudly, "If these 'ears' were still alive, it might have been a bit more funny. Now that Mr Gao only has a Mr Hua to help him, I'm afraid it won't be funny."

Until this time did Li Jing realize that: after the ship sunk, Xiao Mohe and did not give up tracing them, but secretly mobilised people, to track A Yue, and monitor Gao Shengdao to the south. When time comes, he suddenly showed up, in order to catch them all! It was ridiculous that he was always taking chance . In contrast, the military way that his uncle taught was far less profound than this lesson.

Gao Shengdao knew that these monks and strong men were fake spies, and now he only hoped that Hua Qingfeng can suddenly make move and take control of Xiao Mohe so that there may be a ray of hope.

Hua Qingfeng was standing right behind Xiao Mohe. After receiving his master's wink, He quickly extended his monkey-like arm, reaching out to grab Xiao Mohe. Xiao Mohe spoke under his breath, his hand on the hilt of the sword was sent back, and the end of the sheath was pressed against his left chest. Hua Qingfeng screamed miserably "ah", and fell back three steps before standing still, in great shame and anger.

Only then did Xiao Mohe turn back to look at him, ''Mr Hua has been injured twice and was defeated by Wushan fisherwoman, it is not something to be ashamed of. If we are talking about martial arts in the world, even the venerable Zixiao Taoist may not be able to beat the lady warrior. I am not bad to lead military affairs, but when it comes to fighting alone, I am no match to the lady warrior. If you weren't injured first, you might be able to take a hundred moves from me."

Hua Qingfeng said angrily, "Even if I'm injured, I can still take a hundred moves from you!" Saying that, he raised the black umbrella and stabbed Xiao Mohe's chest. Xiao Mohe did not even try to avoid, the umbrella head directly hit his chest. With a thud, Xiao Mohe's body swayed slightly, and Hua Qingfeng retreated three steps backward. Suddenly, with "bang" sound, needles flew straight over like rains, all hit on the iron armour.

Xiao Mohe brushed the steel needle off the iron armour like patting dust, turned his head to the old monk at his side and said, "Master Puzhao, Mr. Hua wants to play, please accompany him for a bit of fun."

Puzhao put up a single palm and did not reply, walking towards Hua Qingfeng. Hua Qingfeng stared at him, not knowing what kind of weapon this old monk was using. He failed one after another, ignoring the pain in his chest, he raised his black umbrella and stabbed forward. Puzhao's wide sleeve moved with him like a sail. The tip of the umbrella stabbed on the sleeve, like hitting the surface of a cowhide drum, not able to advance the slightest bit, on the contrary, there was a huge elasticity attack. Hua Qingfeng retreated a step back, the black umbrella instantly opened, the two strands of strong wind collided, Puzhao retreated a step back, Hua Qingfeng retreated two steps back, a mouthful of blood sprayed out of his mouth.

Puzhao folded his hands and chanted "Amitabha Buddha" in a low voice, and retreated to his original position, shutting up and not saying a word.

Xiao Mohe said: "Mr Hua's martial arts are originally not far from Puzhao, but you were injured in the first and also impatient, so you lost a bit, you do not need to worry. In the future, you should cultivate your character and nurture your temperament, make clear of your disadvantages and try to make more progress, so as not to humiliate the master." His words seemed to console the loser, but on closer inspection, it was a condescending comment. Hua Qingfeng's ape eyes wanted to spit fire, but he couldn't have an attack.

Gao Shengdao sighed, "As the number one general of Chen, General Xiao is out of character to ridicule highly skilled persons like this. It is true that I underestimated Chen State and acted rashly, so I will let General Xiao slaughter me once I lose. However, the victory or defeat of a great nation does not depend on one day, one night, one city or town. The Sui State has millions of soldiers, and they are located in the central plains, and with the people's support, it is difficult to compete with Sui in the Jiangling area. General Xiao is among Xiao Liang descendant, you do not have to bid your oath to the Chen State, leaving a way out is also good."

Xiao Mohe gave a "hmm" sound, flicked his beard and laughed: "What Mr Gao said also sounds reasonable. However, I am so short-sighted that I can't see that far, and I only know that you lose and I win. would you rather be a guest or a prisoner?"

Gao Shengdao shook his head and said, "Let's not mention the matter of surrendering to Chen. It's just that Mr Hua Qingfeng is a man out of politics and doesn't have an official position, please let him go." Saying this, he raised his hands, signalling that he could be bound.

Xiao Mohe nodded and said, "Lady Wushan Fisherwoman, Mr Qingfeng, and this Gu brother are indeed outsiders. We Southerners are generous and make a clear distinction between mercies and grudges, so the three of you can leave now."

The Wushan Fisherwoman said, "General Xiao, everything is fine here now, so I will take my leave." Saying so without looking back, she led Gu Musheng out the door and left. Hua Qingfeng wiped the blood from his mouth and without a word, clamped his black umbrella and turned around go.

Xiao Mohe laughed, "I like smart people. Mr Xie is actually also a smart person, but you depleted your big ship to trick with me, and in the end, the Jiangzhou boat company was destroyed, isn't it too clever?"

Xie Kangtu calmly responded, "Great General Xiao, I am a lowly merchant, but I am entrusted by others so I have to be loyal to them, how could I escape my responsibilities because of misfortune? Now that I am crippled, I am at the disposal of Great General."

Xiao Mohe cupped his fists and said: ''Although Mr Xie is a merchant,you're your words are faithful, along the Yangtze river you have a good reputation, I sincerely admire you. However, you intentionally created a diversion and harbored a criminal of significant concern; this is no minor crime. As a commander, I truly cannot neglect public duties for personal reasons. As you have injuries and couldn't walk, therefore you are specially allowed to be taken on the back by this kid." He said, looking at Li Jing: "Kid, where are Princess Liang and Uncle Zhang now?"

Li Jing said, "Mr Zhang and the princess were nearly dead when the large ship caught fire, and they might have already returned to Jiangling by now."

Xiao Mohe nodded and said to Gao Shengdao, "Please, Mr Gao." Saying that, he turned and went out the door. Puzhao came over and bound Gao Shengdao with a rope. Li Jing carried Xie Kangtu on his back, led Alone Star and A yue, and followed him out the door.

At this time it had been dark, light rain drifted from sky, Li Jing's clothes were so thin that he could not help but shivered.

Outside the gate, there was a four-wheeled carriage parked in front of the gate, the carriage was tall and the four horses stood there quietly. Two soldiers closed the gate, and one put a seal on the gate, which read, "Sealed by the Jiangzhou Governor's Office of Great Chen on the 28th day of the 9th month of the 1st year of Zhide".

Xiao Mohe said to Xie Kangtu who was lying on Li Jing's back, "Don't worry, Mr Xie, the boat company is under the care of the Jiangzhou government. Chen State welcomes merchants from all directions, and will never close its doors because something happened to the boat company."

Li Jing first carried Xie Kangtu to the cart, then carried Alone Star and A Yue into the cart, and then entered the carriage, followed by Gao Shengdao, who got into the cart and sat down. Before Li Jing got into the cart, he saw that in the light rain, the Chen soldiers were in strict orders, no less than the Sui army.

The carriage was closed, and the interior was as neat as new, with all the utensils. Li Jing helped Xie Kangtu sit down and took a cushion and stuffed it behind him. Gao Shengdao's hands were tied behind his back, and his expression was pleasant. Alone Star had the same expression for several days, no panic or grief in his gaze, as if he had long been accustomed to going against the grain; A Yue would sometimes shed tears, but never cried for long.

An order was given from outside, the carriage began to move slowly. Li Jing had mixed feelings in his mind, guessing that he would definitely be escorted to Chien-k'ang, the capital city of Chen. Naturally, A Yue will not survive, what about Alone Star? As of now, Gao Shengdao and Xie Kangtu knew the identity of Alone Star, if Xiao Mohe knew about it, it was very likely to take the little Alone Star as an article.

However, what puzzled Li Jing the most was the Wushan Fisherwoman. She was equipped with the best martial arts, but she left first. If it were him, he would have tried his best to save her, even if he could not win. But can you blame her? She was an outsider, if not for her, he and Alone Star would have been killed in the Temple of the Mountain God, Mr. Xie would not be able to survive until now without her rescue.

Besides, though her martial arts were great, it was difficult to defeat the crowd. At the first time when she left she brought himself and Alone Star A Yue ... at this, Li Jing's thoughts flashed - Wushan fisherwoman looked cold and arrogant, but when she looked at A Yue and Alone Star, her eyes were full of love! Could it be that she was worried about the two children being restrained, so she chose to leave and then try to rescue them? Yes, if fight arose, the enemy will first capture the children to blackmail her, so she chose to be indifferent, so as to avoid constraints, perhaps along the way she would find an opportunity to rescue them.

Having figured out this, Li Jing felt better, and he also sat in silence as everyone else did.

Gradually the sky darkened, the only small air-permeable window no longer had any light entering, and the compartment became dark. Gao Shengdao finally couldn't hold his breath and said, "Mr Xie, you previously asked me to attach my ear and tell me where the shipbuilding drawing is, can you tell me now?"

Xie Kangtu said, "Mr Gao, you and I are on the same prison cart, why are you still asking about the drawings? To tell you the truth, there is no such thing, as you forced me too hard, and I had to lie to you."

Gao Shengdao said angrily, "I has been caught in a trap, my death is deserved! But you deceived me so much, it's really detestable!"

Xie Kangtu said, "Mr Gao is very talented, why don't you use your brain? If there really is a shipbuilding drawing, why didn't General Xiao say anything about it? Jiangzhou is the major town of Chen, does Chen not know that Sui has the intention to destroy Chen? If we want to destroy Chen, we must build a navy. If the Jiangzhou boat company really had such drawing, it would have been searched for by the Chen State long ago, so how could it be lingered until today?"

Gao Shengdao pondered for a long time and said, "This statement is also reasonable. However, after my spy arrived in the South, the secret report is that only the vessels from Jiangzhou Boat Company can be called the best in the world. If you don't have a shipbuilding drawing, how can you build them?"

Xie Kangtu asked, "The clothes that Mr Gao is wearing, did you make them yourself?"

Gao Shengdao was stunned: "My family is not running a clothing workshop, I naturally bought it from the Chang'an marketplace."

Xie Kangtu said, "That's it. Mr Gao's clothing can be purchased, so why must the Jiangzhou boat company build their own boats?"

This reasoning was so simple and clear that even Li Jing felt a little ridiculous when he heard it. But Gao Shengdao is still unconvinced: "But ... The person I sent out brought back news, saying it's the Jiangzhou boat company."

Xie Kangtu asked again, "Where are your men now ?"

This question again left Gao Shengdao unable to answer. In the darkness, his expression could not be seen, but his embarrassment could still be felt - the secret agent had already been beheaded, and even those monks and short-term worker were all secretly arranged by Xiao Mohe, so who did he really had? Since there were no competent people, how could the information be accurate?

Gao Shengdao sighed: "I am eager to win, and I am too self-righteousness and boldness, so have come my defeat today ..."

Xie Kangtu said: ''I respect your ambition and willingness to risk your life for the sake of levelling Chen State. As for victory or defeat, sometimes it is the will of heaven, sometimes it is out of human efforts. However, you shouldn't have killed the brothers of my boat company. These brothers worked hard only for the livelihood of their parents, wives and children. Out of no reason, you killed them all, how come ….". " said here, his voice trembled.

Gao Shengdao said "hey", but spoke no more words, seemingly to have the intention of regret.

Xie Kangtu gradually calmed down and said: "Mr Gao is from a rich family and does not know the suffering of the people, and you are eager to achieve success in the south, I can understand that. However, if you kill more people, even if you succeed, what good will it do?"

Gao Shengdao was silent for a long time and said, "If I say that those brothers in your company were not killed by my orders, would Mr Xie believe me?"

Xie Kangtu was stunned and said, "You mean that the fifteen men from Congyang and the eighteen from the head office were not ordered to be killed by you?"

Gao Shengdao sighed: "Now you and I are imprisoned in the same cart. Disasters may occur to us at any time, why should I lie to you? For what happened in Congyang, I have no knowledge at all, nor did I gave any instructions; as for the death of the eighteen men in the boat company , although I have something to do with it, but I only ordered Hua Qingfeng to try to track down the shipbuilding drawings, and did not order him to kill anyone. But when Hua Qingfeng returned to me, he said that the people of the boat company counterattacked to the death, and had no choice but to kill them, and let me disguise myself as being bound and sneak into the secret room ...."

This narrative confirmed the judgement of the Wushan fisherwoman: the eighteen men in the boat company was really killed by the same person.

Xie Kangtu asked, "How was this Hua Qingfeng able to sneak into the secret room?"

Gao Shengdao replied, "In addition to his strong martial arts, Hua Qingfeng also has another skill, he is good at building Mechanical control devices and secret rooms. He once told me that the all mechanical control devices and switches are nothing in his eyes."

Xie Kangtu asked again, "When did Hua Qingfeng become subordinate to you?"

Gao Shengdao said, "Just half a month ago. I encountered bandits on my way across the Qinling Mountains and was saved by Mr Hua, who learnt that I was an envoy of the imperial court and swore allegiance to me ..."

Xie Kangtu listened and did not speak for a long time. Even when Li Jing heard it, he felt that it was too much to believe that this son of prime minister Gao actually trusted a man he met on the road! If what he said was true, then this was clearly a net that had long been knotted, waiting for the fish to come and be caught.