Chapter 143: Poison Dragon Mountain (Second Update)

The player who had just reminded Zheng Lao-san was called Gentle Blade. He was Xuan-yuan Jian’s confidant and had always been cautious in his actions. This time, the ten elite players sent here were led by him. Having learned that this mission was related to Chen Baxian, Gentle Blade had deliberately checked Chen Baxian's appearance on the forum, which was why he recognized Chen Hao and Tang Qunying the moment they appeared.

It was obvious that Chen Hao and Tang Qunying had not sneaked onto Poison Dragon Mountain just to watch the show. Moreover, Gentle Blade also knew there were conflicts among the three chief bandits, making him deeply suspicious of Li Dahu. If Li Dahu had already been bought off, and Chen Baxian had brought an unknown NPC onto Poison Dragon Mountain, it would undoubtedly introduce immense variables. Therefore, Gentle Blade told Zheng Lao-san that the eccentric accompanying Li Dahu had dealings with the government and was very likely a government spy.

Gentle Blade had performed well after coming up the mountain, and Zheng Lao-san appreciated him, but he was not yet a confidant—after all, Gentle Blade had been on the mountain for too short a time. Hearing Li Dahu’s rebuttal, Zheng Lao-san hesitated. Just as Li Dahu pointed out, the ten outsiders he had recruited also had unknown origins. What if Gentle Blade, who had brought quite a few outsiders up the mountain, was the actual spy?

Zheng Lao-san knew Li Dahu was dissatisfied with him, but Li Dahu was a fierce and loyal general under his command, and he did not want a complete fallout with him. Therefore, he decided to agree to let the two outsiders brought by Li Dahu join the gang, while arranging for his subordinates to monitor them, which shouldn't pose any major problems. Thinking of this, he smiled and said, "Third Brother, since you dare to guarantee that they are fine, I trust you. Let them work under your command!"

After Chen Hao and Tang Qunying sneaked onto Poison Dragon Mountain, Li Dahu arranged for two bandits to monitor them in secret. Neither of their martial arts skills was weak, and they quickly discovered the presence of the watchers. Pretending to be completely unaware, the two spent every day wandering around the mountain, leaving Gentle Blade and his companions burning with frustration yet helpless.

After Deng Wentong filled up the quota of the 1,500 soldiers for the Patrol Battalion, County Magistrate Shi Hong urged him to set off immediately. Once his ammunition was replenished, Deng Wentong led his troops out of the city gates. Upon learning the news, Xuan-yuan Jian hurriedly rushed to the county yamen and found Shi Hong, demanding, "Your Honor, where is the Patrol Battalion marching to?"

Deng Wentong said righteously, "The rebel Zheng Lao-san is running amok and committing all sorts of crimes. As an official, it is my duty to ensure peace in this region, so I have ordered Battalion Commander Deng to lead the troops and annihilate them."

Xuan-yuan Jian quickly said, "Your Honor, the Patrol Battalion has been neglected for a long time. Having only trained for a week, how could they possibly match those fierce and ferocious bandits? It would be better for Your Honor to train an elite force first before launching a suppression campaign. The rebels on Poison Dragon Mountain are as fragile as weeds; why must Your Honor be in such a hurry?"

Shi Hong sighed and said, "It is difficult! Training troops consumes too much silver. A few days ago, you donated 300 silver dollars for my troop training, but after purchasing ammunition, there was no surplus left to continue training. Therefore, I have decided to dispatch the troops early and wipe out the rebels first."

In Xuan-yuan Jian's mind, the profound art of imperial dominance was incomparable to mere money. Hearing Shi Hong's extortion, he readily produced 500 silver dollars and said, "Since that is the case, this commoner is willing to donate another 500 silver dollars for Your Honor to train the troops."

Shi Hong took the silver dollars handed over by Xuan-yuan Jian and said with an admiring expression, "You truly understand the greater righteousness. The other day, when you suggested that I train the troops first before suppressing the bandits, I originally intended to do just that. However, I do not know who reported me for dereliction of duty. The Empress Dowager was furious and ordered that the rebels be eradicated within a month, and I was also cursed black and blue by my benefactor."

"Therefore, regardless of whether the Patrol Battalion is fully trained or not, this bandit suppression campaign must proceed. Originally, I was prepared to die in atonement should I fail. Now, with the silver you have donated, even if we fail, I can rebuild the Patrol Battalion and launch another campaign, which truly resolves my urgent need."

Deep down, Shi Hong had long resented Xuan-yuan Jian. After being chewed out by Duanfang, he had been thinking: if it hadn't been for the outsider Xuan-yuan Jian bribing him to hold off on dispatching troops, perhaps the imperial court would never have found out about the Poison Dragon Mountain rebels, and his official career wouldn't have been cast in shadow. Therefore, even after deciding to dispatch the troops, he still seized the opportunity to extort 500 taels of silver from Xuan-yuan Jian. Besides, since this outsider claimed the silver donation was for training the Patrol Battalion, when the training actually took place was entirely up to him, the magistrate.

Xuan-yuan Jian felt secretly furious. This damned corrupt magistrate had clearly set him up for a heavy loss, but there was nothing he could do. The only benefit of spending 500 taels of silver was that he now knew Shi Hong was sending troops for encirclement because the imperial court was furious. He could be certain this development was related to Chen Baxian. Yet the game had not been running for long—what kind of capability did Chen Baxian possess that could allow him to pull strings with Empress Dowager Cixi?

Xuan-yuan Jian suddenly felt that this person named Chen Baxian was unfathomably deep. If he had truly mastered the art of imperial dominance, he might one day become a formidable rival. Although he desperately wished to execute County Magistrate Shi Hong, he still wore a smile on his face and said, "So that is how it is. Under the fury of the imperial court, Your Honor sending troops for encirclement is only right. However, the imperial court happened to learn of Zheng Lao-san's affairs at precisely this moment—does Your Honor not find it too much of a coincidence?"

Shi Hong wore a thoughtful expression as he replied, "It is indeed rather suspicious. The person who memorialized and impeached me was none other than Imperial Inspector Nie Shichen, as well as Board of Revenue Director Wang Tingjun. I have never had any grievances with these two men, nor are they my superiors. I cannot fathom why they would impeach me."

Xuan-yuan Jian said thoughtfully, "This commoner understands. Your Honor once mentioned that an outsider named Chen Baxian hoped Your Honor would send troops to suppress the bandits. At the time, I took note of this outsider. A few days ago, I discovered that he went to Shuangfeng to seek an audience with Qiu Jin, the wife of Lord Wang Tingjun. Furthermore, I have also heard that Chen Baxian once served under Lord Nie Shichen..."

A look of anger appeared on Shi Hong's face, and he said coldly, "Do you have evidence?"

Xuan-yuan Jian smiled gracefully and said, "This is a simple matter. When Chen Baxian went to Shuangfeng, he took a carriage from the Hu Family Transport Agency. Your Honor only needs to send a yamen runner to inquire at the Hu Family Transport Agency, and you will know."

Shi Hong quickly dispatched a yamen runner to the Hu Family Transport Agency to investigate. Before long, the runner returned and reported, "Your Honor, this subordinate has found out clearly. A week ago, an outsider indeed took a carriage from the Hu Family Transport Agency to Shuangfeng. Hu San said that the man was thin and tall, about sixteen or seventeen years old. I am not sure if he is the person Your Honor is looking for."

Shi Hong's face turned ashen, and he said with bitter hatred, "Good scoundrel, he almost plunged me into a situation of eternal damnation. I will not spare him!"

Shi Hong hated Chen Hao to the core, but he did not dare recall the army attacking Poison Dragon Mountain, because failing to capture the mountain would leave him with a disastrous end.

Battalion Commander Deng Wentong led 1,500 Patrol Battalion soldiers to pitch camp at the foot of Poison Dragon Mountain, surrounding the entire mountain. Knowing that the rebels on Poison Dragon Mountain were extremely fierce, Deng Wentong did not dare to launch a rash attack; instead, he carefully deliberated on a countermeasure.

He had desperately wanted to avoid this assignment, but Shi Hong had issued strict orders and informed him that Empress Dowager Cixi herself was paying attention to the Poison Dragon Mountain rebels. If he failed to take the mountain, his head would roll. It was only under this threat that Deng Wentong reluctantly led his troops to launch an attack, yet he held not an ounce of confidence in taking Poison Dragon Mountain.

Deng Wentong racked his brains without coming up with any good plan. Right at that moment, a personal guard suddenly walked into the military tent and reported, "Battalion Commander, someone has come to the camp seeking an audience, saying they have an important letter to deliver to Your Honor."

Deng Wentong took the letter, opened it, read through it, and said with great joy, "Where is that man? Quickly bring him to see me."

The personal guard shook his head and said, "He has already left. He said that everything that needed to be said was already in the letter, and Your Honor will understand what needs to be done."

Chen Hao and Tang Qunying were closely watched by Zheng Lao-san's men, but Li Dahu had quite a few trusted confidants, making it easy to arrange for someone to slip down the mountain to deliver a letter. Although Gentle Blade suspected there was something wrong with Li Dahu, he had not been on the mountain long enough to dare speak ill of Li Dahu to Zheng Lao-san. Therefore, after Chen Hao wrote the letter, Li Dahu's personal guard easily descended the mountain and delivered the letter directly into Deng Wentong's hands.

Chen Hao and Tang Qunying were sitting in Li Dahu's room. After the messenger returned, Li Dahu glanced at Chen Hao and asked, "What should we do next?"

Chen Hao said with a confident expression, "It is very simple. Tomorrow, when Deng Wentong attacks, you must take the initiative and request to go down the mountain to meet the enemy. The most perilous terrain on Poison Dragon Mountain is none other than the Flying Cloud Ladder. When the government soldiers attack, do not resist. Let those 1,500 government soldiers up the mountain, and Zheng Lao-san will be finished."

Li Dahu nodded and said, "Without the terrain advantage, we are naturally no match for the government soldiers. If I cede the Flying Dragon Ladder, Zheng Lao-san will certainly be doomed. But what if Zheng Lao-san refuses to let me lead the troops?"

Chen Hao smiled faintly and said, "Only you and Zheng Lao-san can command the troops; the Second Chief, Scholar Lü, can only offer strategies. If Zheng Lao-san refuses to let you lead the troops out to fight, he will definitely lead them himself. By then, all your men will be on the mountain. While Zheng Lao-san is engaged in fierce battle with the government soldiers at the Flying Dragon Ladder, you lead your men to charge in from behind, and Zheng Lao-san will still find it hard to escape death."

"Brilliant, truly brilliant! With cooperation from both inside and out, Zheng Lao-san will have no way out of this death trap. It is just a pity that I do not know where Zheng Lao-san has hidden his gold and silver, otherwise we could make a fortune," Li Dahu said with a regretful look.

Chen Hao shook his head and said, "Let's eliminate Zheng Lao-san first; the matter of gold and silver doesn't need to be rushed. What I am worried about is those ten newly recruited outsiders. If my guess is correct, when you, Third Brother, stay behind to guard the rear, they will definitely stay behind to monitor you. Therefore, as soon as Zheng Lao-san heads down the mountain, you had better arrange for a few men to take care of them first."

Tang Qunying, sitting beside them with her hand on her pistol grip, said, "Don't worry, Baxian little brother. Those ten outsiders have mediocre skills; when the time comes, just leave them to me."

Having finalized their plan, the three of them returned to their respective rooms. A moment later, Li Dahu went to knock on Chen Hao's door again. He hesitated and said, "Zheng Lao-san has buried a great deal of gold and silver. It would be such a pity if we couldn't find it. Can't we think of a way?"

Chen Hao shook his head and said, "When dealing with Zheng Lao-san, it is best to deliver a fatal blow with a single strike. If you leave any living witnesses, you won't be able to clean up the aftermath."

Li Dahu shook his head and said, "Of course I wouldn't dare spare Zheng Lao-san's life. It's just that the Second Chief is also dissatisfied with Zheng Lao-san monopolizing the gold and silver. He once privately hinted to me that he knows where the treasure is buried and suggested I move against Zheng Lao-san. Should we pull the Second Chief into our plan as well?"

"Scholar Lü?" Hearing about gold and silver, Chen Hao was somewhat tempted, but he still shook his head and said, "If Scholar Lü goes to tip off Zheng Lao-san, both you and I will surely die. If you cannot let go of that gold and silver, you can simply spare Scholar Lü's life after the battle is over."

Li Dahu possessed only brute strength and lacked brains, so he followed Chen Hao's every word. As he walked back to his room, he happened to see an outsider entering Scholar Lü's quarters. This made him secretly rejoice that he had not rashly approached Scholar Lü. These outsiders had spent every day sucking up to the leadership since coming up the mountain and were very close to Zheng Lao-san. Coming to find Scholar Lü this late at night definitely meant they were up to some shady business.