Chapter 448: Drumming

The “female thief” in the nightclothes looked around for a while, lowered her head, bent her waist, and entered the dark hole in the ground.

“Whew!”

In the darkness, she breathed out softly, and sparks sprang up, a fire burning quietly.

The fire folders gave off an orange glow, dispelling the darkness around her, and she held them up to survey the cave walls for a few moments, the signs of artificial excavation very obvious.

The woman in black’s free hand reached for her waist, where a short blade was pinned.

The short blade was sheathed slowly, making no sound as the fire-colored glow illuminated the blade, presenting a pitch blackness that swallowed the light.

This weapon was called the Ink Tooth, made with Xuan Iron and the sharp teeth of the Ink Scale Beast as the main materials, and refined for up to a month, it was one of the most honorable works of the Si Tian Supervisor, Song Qing.

In addition, the great array master, Yang Qianyi, personally burned an array for the Ink Tooth, making it one of the top magic weapons under the Absolute Divine Warrior.

Ink Tooth has a triple formation, the first one adds to the blade, making it sharper and cutting iron like mud; the second one adds to the body of the blade, enhancing its toughness, even if it is a fourth-grade martial artist, it cannot be easily damaged; the third one is a short-range instantaneous movement, coming without a shadow and going without a trace, which is extremely suitable for close-quarters assaults and killings.

The woman in black walked slowly forward with her fire folders in one hand and her inked teeth in the opposite hand.

Along the way, she did not encounter any ambushes, the tunnel of the underground cave was not long, and it did not take long to reach the end, at the end of which was a stone room.

The furnishings within this stone room were very simple, with a stone disk resembling a grinding wheel in the center, about two feet in diameter, which was inscribed with twisted runes, densely packed. The stone walls were inlaid with a bowl of oil.

Beyond that, there is nothing else.

The woman in black scrutinized them very cautiously for a moment before walking around the walls, examining each of the oil bowls, which were dusty and the wicks dry, no one had refilled them in a long time.

Each of the oil bowls could be easily picked up, and there was no organ. Knocking on the wall, a thick echo came, which proved that there was no hidden combination or mechanism in the wall.

After examining the circle, the woman in black approached the stone disk, knocking and tapping with immense caution and high alertness.

After a quarter of an hour, the fire-folder burned out, and she resumed blowing on the other one.

“The Pingyuan Burial Mansion is an imperial residence, and as the imperial family builds a residence with strict specifications, they are bound to pick the best feng shui location. In the capital, what location is better than a lot situated on a dragon vein? And so this provided the possibility of earth transport teleportation.

“Li Miaozhen said that the cultivation of the Earth Escape Technique is difficult, and there is no possibility that both Pingyuan Bo and King Huai’s secret agents are in control of this secret technique, so this stone disk is the Earth Escape Technique teleportation array, which requires a special maneuver to activate. After activation, it would teleport to the appropriate place. Where would that place be, somewhere in the palace?

“When Hengyuan was furious and broke into the mansion, Uncle Pingyuan must have thought of escaping into this tunnel and fleeing through teleportation. But he didn’t succeed, perhaps just opening the secret passage was killed by Hengyuan ……..

“But Hengyuan doesn’t know anything else, it’s impossible to associate too much with a secret passage alone, and, it’s quite normal for a nobleman’s house to build secret passages. But in …….. his eyes, this is a huge break, so Hengyuan must die.

“So far, my speculations have all been verified without any mistakes. I don’t know if that guy Xu Qi’an didn’t think of it, or if he’s just ignoring it for the time being. It always feels like he knows more, for example, why does His Majesty collect a group of people on a regular basis, and what does he use those innocent people for?”

The woman in black was deep in thought.

After a long time, she sighed and collected her thoughts, staring carefully at the stone disk and memorizing it silently for ten minutes, burning all the details, accurately, into her mind.

Then, holding the fire folders, she left the chamber with quick steps.

………..

June 18th, Autumn!

After the Three Sacrifices, the day finally came for the army to march out.

Early that morning, Wei Yuan led a group of generals, riding their horses, and set off from the main road of the imperial city, traveling towards the army camp outside the capital.

The process of “waving in the market” is essential. Traditionally, the golden list and the expedition are national events, which must be waved in the market and widely publicized.

In the vast procession of hundreds of people, Wei Yuan was at the forefront, he was still dressed in green, his temples were gray, and he was elegant and handsome.

As it was then.

Both sides of the main road were filled with people, after so much publicity and warming up, the people had long accepted the matter of the war and silently watched the procession traveling.

In the crowd, an old man with white hair stared fixedly at the green clothes and suddenly burst into tears.

“Father, why are you crying?”

Beside the old man, the younger man asked blankly.

“Wei Gong, Wei Gong has finally led the army again ………”

The old man grasped his son’s hand tightly, mixed sorrow and joy: “When my father joined the army, he followed Mr. Wei to Shanhaiguan, and also followed him back. Twenty-one years have passed, and Duke Wei is still the same as he was back then, only his temples have turned gray. At that time, I remember it was His Majesty who stood at the head of the city and personally beat the drums to send off Duke Wei.”

His Majesty beats the drum ……… The young son stared with wide eyes and disbelief.

Many older people, seeing the scene of the green-clothed Confucian scholar leading the group, were reminded of the Battle of Shanhaiguan back then.

Thinking of the fact that there is still a military god in Dafeng, he remembered this green-clothed Confucian who pressed the King of Zhenbei back then and couldn’t get out.

Especially the old people who had once joined the army, once again saw the scene of Wei Qingyi leading the soldiers, or wept, or were thrilled, or were mixed with sadness and joy.

“Wei Gong, it’s Wei Gong ah ……..”

“It’s been twenty years, twenty whole years, and finally I see Lord Wei leading the troops again.”

“So many years, I am almost forgetting the scenery of Wei Gong when he led thousands of troops and horses in the western expedition, Wei Gong ah, why after the battle of Shanhaiguan, you will be hidden in the court, do you know how much the brothers of that year are pained ……..”

It is difficult for young people to understand the sentiments of the older generation, and it is difficult to understand how radiant that green coat was in years gone by.

On the street, Xu Pingzhi, who is responsible for maintaining law and order, has a long knife at his waist and stares blankly, as if in a dream.

“Hundred Household Lord, you also fought the Battle of Shanhaiguan back in the day, didn’t you, Wei Gong, is it really that godly?”

A young Imperial Swordsman asked in a low voice.

“For people of my generation, when Duke Wei was around, the heart of the army was there. He was the kind of character that people would willingly die for.” Xu Pingzhi sighed:

“It’s hard for young people of your generation to understand what we were like back then. However, you guys will experience it sooner or later. Well, after the fight against the Witch God Cult.”

“I heard that during the Battle of Shanhaiguan back then, His Majesty personally beat the drums at the city?” Another imperial sword guard asked.

“The Battle of Shanhaiguan, which concerns the survival of the country, is naturally different. This time, it can’t be seen.” Xu Pingzhi lamented.

Behind Wei Yuan, Jiang Lutong and other old men who had followed Wei Qingyi on his expedition heard the discussion of the people on the street and couldn’t help but think of that year.

At the Battle of Shanhaiguan, the great Feng raised the strength of the country into the war, that attacked the dragon robe personally stood at the head of the city to beat the drum to send off, what a sight.

It would be nice if His Majesty would beat the drums again!

The group of seniors from back then thought heartily.

It’s just that His Majesty is not the same bright ruler as he was back then, when Emperor Yuan Jing, who was wise and diligent in government, swept away the disease of his predecessor’s time.

His Majesty, now, is addicted to monasticism and has been inert in politics for many years.

Things have been different for a long time.

At the top of the city, the civil officials led by Wang Zhenwen, the military generals led by several dukes, and the royals led by the Crown Prince lined up at the top of the city, silently watching the procession that was slowly coming at the end of the spacious main road below.

“Thinking back then, when Wei Yuan left for battle, His Majesty personally ascended the city and beat the drums to send him off. It was only then that the capital was united as one.” Wang Zhenwen lamented.

The veteran ministers who had experienced the Battle of Shanhaiguan were in a slight trance.

“I said why no one is banging drums at the city, it turns out that no one is qualified anymore.” The Minister of War said indistinctly.

Twenty years ago, he wasn’t a Beijing official, serving in the field.

Hearing this, the Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince and the others, their eyes were slightly hot, if they could follow their father’s example back then, beating the drums to send off, it would be a big hit.

However, most of the clans just casually thought about it and didn’t dare to actually do it.

There were only two people who could do this at the scene, one was the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, and the other was the Fourth Prince, the first son born to the Empress.

Beside the Crown Prince, Lin An, who was wearing a fiery red palace dress, pursed her lips and imagined the picture, and for a while she was a bit infatuated:

“Father, back then, must have been handsome.”

I want to see my father beating the drums to send him off again.

Huaiqing also showed some anticipation, what is the attention of all the people, shining brightly?

The golden list of the top scholar riding a horse and parading in the street counts for one, and the poem will make a masterpiece that will be passed down to the world also counts for one, and at this time Wei Yuan counts for one, and when my father wore a dragon robe and climbed to the top of the city and beat the drums for the 10,000 troops, he also counts for one.

The Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince were a bit impressed.

“Since father is not coming, then this palace will personally beat the drum, the army is on the march, how can there be no one to beat the drum?” The Crown Prince said with gusto.

He knew that doing so would be a certain amount of usurpation, but this sort of thing wasn’t ritually taboo after all, and even if his father knew about it, he would be displeased at best. And he could garner great prestige.

After weighing the situation, the Prince took a bit of a leap of faith.

The Fourth Prince frowned and was about to retort when he heard Huaiqing’s voice transmission, “Fourth brother, you’re not qualified enough.”

The Fourth Prince transmitted his voice in annoyance, “Then who else is qualified?”

Speaking of which, the Fourth Prince was quite exceptional among the group of princes, as he was a Seventh Grade Martial Artist.

Wyvern shook his head without answering.

“Your Highness!”

Wang Zhenwen stopped and blocked the way of the Crown Prince towards the big drum and said warmly:

“In terms of status, it is not proper for you to do so, and you will displease His Majesty. In terms of reputation, you lack some qualifications. In terms of Wei Yuan, you still lack some qualifications.”

The Crown Prince frowned, “Then, according to Lord Chief Minister, who is qualified?”

Wang Zhenwen swept his gaze over his shoulder to the steps and smiled, “The qualified ones are here.”

The crowd turned back with a huff, only to see a young man, waist crotch long knife as far as, he steps very slowly, the guards on both sides as if they were on the verge of a great enemy, trembling, trying hard to pull out the sword, but how can not pull out.

Bright lights flashed unanimously in Huaiqing’s and Linan’s beautiful eyes.

“Xu Qi’an!”

Among the nobles, someone spoke through gritted teeth.

Xu Qi’an ignored it and merely nodded towards Wang Zhenwen before walking straight towards the big drum.

The Fourth Prince’s gaze moved slightly as he remained silent.

The Prince’s eyes were sharply fixed on him, crossing in front of him and blocking the way.

“Brother Prince, get out of the way.” Lin An elbowed him out and shoved him a little.

In terms of status, he did not have to worry about his father. In terms of reputation, the people of the capital city cheered and sang praises to him. In terms of Wei Yuan, he is too qualified ……… The crown prince hummed lightly and walked to the side.

Xu Qi’an drew out his drumsticks and struck the drum hard.

………..

“Dang!”

“Knock knock!”

“Knock, knock, knock ……..”

Drums came from the city, first a dull thud, followed by two, and then the drums were as dense as rain, a single sound echoing across the sky.

Everyone, including Wei Yuan, either raised their heads or looked sideways at the city walls.

On top of the city wall, someone beats a drum!

“Look, it’s Xu Yinluo!”

From the crowd, came shouts of surprise.

“It’s Xu Yinluo banging the drum.”

“Xu Yinluo is beating the drums to send off the army.”

The people were instantly in high spirits, shouting and enthusiastic.

Lin An looked at the lowly people from time to time, and then looked at Xu Qi An’s back as she smiled brightly and innocently.

The corners of Huaiqing’s mouth curled.

People like Jiang Ruzhong squinted their eyes, looking at the young upright figure on the city wall, listening to the people’s stirring cheers, inexplicably in a bit of a trance.

When that dragon robe was beating the drums at the head of the city, the people in the city cheered like a boil.

Twenty years passed in a flash, the drummer changed, the people cheered still.

They were silent for a moment and suddenly broke into heartfelt smiles.

Wei Yuan raised his head and gazed at the young man at the top of the city, a hint of relief flashed through his eyes that contained the vicissitudes of life.

Twenty years ago there was Wei Yuan, and twenty years later there was Xu Qi’an.

That’s good!

At this point, another poem would be nice.

Then Wei Yuan laughed loudly and said, “Xu Qi’an, do you have a poem to send off?”

…………

PS: Wei Yuan and the empress of the story, I will certainly explain, you do not rush, a little patience. The plot of a book advances slowly, to the right place, write the right plot. It is impossible to throw everything out at once.