PCA Chapter 233

The two sides faced off, and the atmosphere froze for a moment.

 

Qu Ling’er followed behind Su Cen, tightly gripping the sleeve arrows in his sleeves. He rather hoped Su Cen would throw a punch and smash Song Jiancheng’s dog head, but was somewhat worried whether they could drag Su Cen out of the layers of encirclement—though these people didn’t seem threatening now, they were numerous, and if things turned ugly, he really didn’t have much chance of winning.

 

Even the soldiers sitting nearby sensed something was wrong with the atmosphere and kept looking over.

 

After a long while, Su Cen suddenly smiled: “If I kneel down, you’ll lend me troops?”

 

Song Jiancheng was stunned, thought for a moment, then said stiffly: “I said I’d consider it.”

 

“You don’t need to consider it—I’ve already considered it for Lord Song,” Su Cen stepped forward with a beaming smile. “If I really knelt down, you’d first despise me thoroughly, then despise yourself for how you could have lost to me back then, and finally conclude that someone like me has no right to ask you for troops. You’d find some ragtag soldiers to send me away. After all, by then I’d have lost all face and wouldn’t have the nerve to persist, right, Lord Song?”

 

Song Jiancheng’s thoughts were exposed by Su Cen’s words, his expression unpleasant as he snorted coldly.

 

Su Cen didn’t press further, adopting a sincere attitude: “In these times of national difficulty, with the great edifice about to collapse, I hope Lord Song can prioritize the greater good and set aside past grievances. The enmity between us is ultimately just petty squabbling that shouldn’t rise to the level of fundamental right and wrong.”

 

Seeing Song Jiancheng waver slightly, Su Cen pressed his advantage: “If Lord Song still can’t swallow this grievance, when things settle down in the future, I’ll come to your residence with three bows and nine kowtows to apologize.”

 

Song Jiancheng narrowed his eyes slightly. These words were interesting—first elevating him to a high position of national righteousness, then blocking his retreat. If he continued to haggle and refuse to relent, it would make Song Jiancheng appear petty.

 

Having reached this point, he couldn’t maintain his hard stance, but wasn’t willing to compromise either. He could only think of a middle ground: “Whether to deploy troops isn’t up to me—I’d have to ask our commander. At most I can make an introduction for you. Whether you can get troops depends on your own ability.”

 

Su Cen hadn’t expected Song Jiancheng to be so accommodating. This was already beyond expectations. He cupped his hands: “Much obliged.”

 

Song Jiancheng led the way, saying as they walked: “Our commander’s surname is Sun, given name Yong. By generation he can claim some distant relation to the late Empress Dowager. His ability to reach this position largely depends on the late Empress Dowager’s favor. If you expect him to help the Prince—difficult.”

 

Su Cen nodded—a fool relying on ancestral protection.

 

Song Jiancheng continued: “Our Kuizhou Prefecture has good mountains and water, and hasn’t produced any bold troublemakers. Usually our commander just listens to music and watches opera. You can count on him to cheer from behind, but expecting him to charge into battle—extremely difficult.”

 

A fool with no courage or strategy, relying on ancestral protection.

 

Su Cen secretly smiled. While Song Jiancheng openly and covertly insulted his incompetent commander, he didn’t forget to include Su Cen in his roundabout criticism—truly painstaking effort.

 

Before seeing this Commander Sun, Su Cen already had a general understanding in his mind. After meeting him, he realized his initial assessment had been too tactful.

 

When Song Jiancheng entered without having anyone announce him, the first thing that caught his eye upon lifting the tent flap was a smooth bare back and a bobbing head behind it.

 

Hearing the commotion, the two people who were entangled in heated passion both turned their heads. The woman with her graceful figure made no attempt to cover herself, and even smiled charmingly at Su Cen upon seeing him. The bearded man behind her looked quite unwilling, presumably having been frightened out of his arousal at the height of excitement.

 

Su Cen raised an eyebrow. Consorting with prostitutes during a military campaign—it was fortunate he had come instead of Li Shi, or these two would have been splattered with blood on the spot.

 

He suddenly understood how Song Jiancheng had developed his current good temper. Back then, though Song Jiancheng had been eager for quick success and used some improper methods, overall he was still a promising young man who would have eventually inherited Zhang Jun’s mantle if he had stayed at the Dali Temple. Now he could only stay in this godforsaken backwater, following his incompetent superior around watching erotic performances all day—any temper would be worn down.

 

Song Jiancheng was presumably long accustomed to this and didn’t take the two seriously, pointing back and saying: “Brought someone to see you.”

 

“Get out first, get out,” the bearded man frantically put on clothes while waving at them, then grabbed an outer robe and threw it to the woman. “Stinking whore, why aren’t you leaving? Who are you waiting to show yourself to!”

 

The woman reluctantly left with the clothes, while the bearded man cursed for a while longer before finishing dressing. He looked up at Su Cen, then turned to Song Jiancheng and asked: “Who’s this?”

 

Before Song Jiancheng could speak, Su Cen had already stepped forward, looking down at the disheveled Sun Yong and asking coldly: “Sun Yong, do you know your crime?”

 

Sun Yong was stunned and slowly stood up from his seat, repeatedly signaling Song Jiancheng with his eyes. However, Song Jiancheng couldn’t figure out what act Su Cen was performing either, so he simply kept a cold face and said nothing.

 

Left with no choice, Sun Yong had to focus his attention back on Su Cen. He saw this person standing calmly in his tent with an impressive bearing, accompanied by a handsome young guard. Not daring to be dismissive, he asked tentatively: “Where does this official come from?”

 

Su Cen smiled coldly: “You don’t even know who summoned you—what are you here for?”

 

“The official is from the palace,” Sun Yong immediately came down from his seat, but after taking two steps, he exclaimed “Eh!” and said: “But hasn’t Daming Palace been surrounded long ago? How did the official get out?”

 

Song Jiancheng, observing from the side, finally understood—these two were testing each other.

 

Su Cen’s heart stirred slightly. He had originally wanted to test Sun Yong’s loyalty to Li Sheng, but unexpectedly this test revealed something else. Sun Yong’s immediate mention of Daming Palace clearly indicated the young emperor had sent him.

 

Not knowing if Sun Yong was trying to trick him, Su Cen immediately changed his strategy while maintaining his composure: “If I want to get out, how could a few city walls stop me?”

 

Sun Yong looked Su Cen up and down suspiciously. This person looked like a refined scholar, not someone who could scale walls and roofs. After much consideration, he finally sneered: “Don’t try to fool me. Daming Palace is now completely surrounded by Prince Yu’s forces. Not to mention a person—even a fly couldn’t get out. What ignorant youth dares to impersonate an imperial official! Guards!”

 

Simultaneously with that voice came Su Cen’s calm, water-like voice: “Have you heard of—the Three Guards of Tuduo?”

 

Two soldiers outside responded and entered, but before they could react, Qu Ling’er knocked them down, one on each side.

 

Sun Yong immediately fell silent: “You’re from the Three Guards of Tuduo?”

 

Su Cen casually drew a long blade hanging on Sun Yong’s wall: “Lax discipline—Commander Sun must find this amusing.”

 

Sun Yong was instantly terrified: “You’re Qi Lin!”

 

He had long heard of the reputation of the cold-faced Asura Qi Lin—handsome features indistinguishable from Han Chinese, wielding an excellent blade that sealed throats upon seeing blood. If this person was truly Qi Lin, then breaking out of Daming Palace’s layers of encirclement wasn’t impossible.

 

Sun Yong’s confidence was clearly shaken: “But… didn’t the Three Guards of Tuduo disappear without a trace half a year ago?”

 

Su Cen lifted the corner of his mouth. After such a long roundabout conversation, this person had finally asked the right question. Imitating Qi Lin’s expressionless manner, he said: “Where the Three Guards of Tuduo are naturally relates to the Prince. We await the Prince’s return to the palace on His Majesty’s orders.”

 

When Li Shi reached the tent entrance, he heard that line about “awaiting the Prince’s return to the palace.” Knowing the person was safe, he wasn’t in a hurry and stood outside the tent to eavesdrop.

 

Sun Yong’s tone had already changed: “The… the Prince has returned?”

 

A clear, cold voice responded appropriately: “To tell you the truth, coming to find you was the Prince’s idea. Considering your relationship with the late Empress Dowager, you’re considered family. We originally wanted to give you this opportunity for great merit, but now it seems…”

 

Song Jiancheng: You’re quite quick at learning and applying…

 

Sun Yong’s eyes darted around. With Empress Dowager Chu’s death, he had lost his backing, and his position as commander was precarious. He had been willing to come to the capital hoping to find a new patron to cling to, so he could continue wielding power in Kuizhou. Unfortunately, as soon as he arrived, he was trapped outside the city gates while the big shots inside fought to the death, leaving him unable to intervene.

 

Moreover, he had been somewhat cautious before—if he chose the wrong side and backed the wrong person, the consequences would be unthinkable.

 

Now a heaven-sent opportunity had presented itself—Prince Ning had returned, giving the young emperor’s side a fifty percent chance of winning. They just lacked troops to break through. If he could break open the city gates and escort Prince Ning inside, that would be an unprecedented great achievement, securing positions for eight generations.

 

Thinking of this, Sun Yong immediately became obsequious: “Commander Qi, Commander Qi, let’s talk nicely. Let’s sit down and have some tea to discuss slowly.”

 

Su Cen glanced toward the tent entrance: “These troops of yours—I’m afraid our master won’t think much of them.”

 

“What are you saying, sir? Don’t look at how lazy we seem now—that’s only because everyone doesn’t know what to do at the moment. But normally we’re not like this at all. Military formations and daily drills haven’t been neglected one bit,” Sun Yong enthusiastically invited Su Cen to sit down. “Though I didn’t train them personally, we have professional instructors. If you don’t believe me… ask Old Song here, Chief Administrator Song, isn’t that right?”

 

Song Jiancheng sneered disdainfully at Sun Yong’s sudden transformation into a fawning lackey, letting out a cold snort in response.

 

Su Cen pretended to be half-convinced as he sat down and drank two cups of tea with Sun Yong, negotiating the matter of borrowing soldiers. After settling everything in a few brief exchanges, he ignored Sun Yong’s earnest attempts to make him stay and rose to leave.

 

If he stayed any longer, he feared he might expose himself.

 

Dealing with someone like Sun Yong, reasoning with grand principles was useless, and driving him with profit made him too greedy. The only way was to make him willingly hand over his troops. But Su Cen’s reputation was too shallow, so he had no choice but to borrow Qi Lin’s name—both to make Sun Yong wary and to prevent him from playing any tricks.

 

Just as he stepped out of the tent, he came face to face with the real Qi Lin.

 

Then, like a little fox seeking credit, he smiled at Li Shi: “Master.”

 

Sun Yong escorted Su Cen to the entrance and also saw the person standing outside. If he’d had any doubts before, they instantly vanished at this sight. That graceful and noble bearing, that attitude of looking down upon ten thousand troops—who else could it be but Prince Ning Li Shi?

 

Sun Yong immediately knelt in salute: “Greetings to Your Highness.”

 

Li Shi didn’t even spare him a glance, turning to leave with Su Cen: “Just do as agreed.”

 

“Respectfully seeing off Your Highness,” Sun Yong prostrated on the ground, addressing their retreating figures. “Respectfully seeing off Lord Qi.”

 

Coming out from Sun Yong’s place, seeing no outsiders around, Su Cen quickened his pace to walk alongside Li Shi: “Did your negotiations go well?”

 

Li Shi nodded, then was persistently questioned by Su Cen: “Then why did you come over? Were you worried about me?”

 

Li Shi smiled: “With Lord Qi’s great prestige, what do I have to worry about?”

 

Qi Lin: “…”

 

Su Cen stuck out his tongue and cupped his hands toward Qi Lin: “Just now I was forced by circumstances. If I’ve offended you, please forgive me, Guard Qi.”

 

Qi Lin clasped his sword and returned the salute: “No matter.”

 

Qu Ling’er continued: “Brother Qi, you don’t know how famous your name is. Brother Su just drew his sword a bit in that tent and scared that captain so much he didn’t dare breathe.”

 

Qi Lin’s lips curved slightly.

 

Su Cen smiled and said to Li Shi: “I was just about to find you. I discovered that not all these Zhichong Prefecture people were brought by Li Sheng—some were brought by the young emperor. These people know you and the young emperor are on the same side, so they’ll voluntarily follow when they hear your name… you already knew this?”

 

Li Shi: “Kang Zengshou came under the emperor’s decree.”

 

“If used well, these people could be very useful,” Su Cen said. “Since they answer to the emperor’s call, they’ve already chosen sides. When fighting really breaks out, they’ll definitely give their all—after all, there’s no turning back on this path. It’s either you die or I live. You already know this too, don’t you?”

 

Li Shi didn’t reveal this, only saying: “Continue.”

 

“Also,” Su Cen glanced at the soldiers around them who were also watching them with curious eyes, “these troops are still usable, but as for this Sun Yong—he’s not worth using.”

 

The group returned and thoroughly studied that list of Zhichong Prefectures again, indeed finding many connections. Some were descendants of loyal families, some had grudges against the Secret Door, and others had roundabout connections to Wen Xiu, Zhang Jun, and others.

 

These people didn’t need much persuasion—they all understood the stakes involved. Qi Lin took Li Shi’s token and made a round, gathering most of them.

 

With the people in hand, no additional training was needed. First, there wasn’t enough time, and second, it wasn’t necessary. With so many people, what mattered was strength in numbers. Not just a single city gate—even the city wall could be breached.

 

Early the next morning, the three thousand-jin gate bars of Mingde Gate, which had stood for a hundred years, all snapped, and it fell with a thunderous crash.

 

At the same time, news came from the imperial city—Daming Palace had been breached.

 

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