Chapter Six: Racking One's Brains

  The sky was just bright, and the gate of Bianliang City had just opened. The streets on both sides already had many small vendors scattered around. The shopkeeper of Taiping Inn opened the door and began to entertain customers coming and going from all directions. Since the Song-Liao war, Taiping Inn has been receiving a large number of guests every day. These guests were either dressed in luxury, local officials who came to Beijing for an audience; or wearing iron armor, with a bad temper military officers; or just ordinary people who were generous with their money. Taiping Inn did not care about identity, did not ask about the past, and did not care if you were a god from anywhere, as long as you had money, then you were the master at Taiping Inn. Taiping Inn also became a place where wind and cloud gathered in Bianliang City.

  "Bang!" The inn's door was kicked open with a loud crash. The busy waiter, who was attending to the guests, quickly turned his head to see what had happened. He saw a finely dressed young master standing at the entrance with an attendant by his side, looking extremely displeased. Seeing that the door had been kicked out of shape, the waiter didn't have time to feel sorry for it and hastily put on a smile to greet them: "Ah, Master Zhao, who made you so angry? Come, come, please take a seat, I'll get some tea ready for you."

  That young master Zhao snorted, walked up to the second floor, stretched out his hand to push open the door of a room on the right side of the stairs, and was about to step inside when he saw a slender youth sitting at the desk, looking at him with an unpleasant expression. Suddenly, Young Master Zhao's face turned cold, and he turned to ask the waiter: "The Tianzi Pavilion that this young master booked, how did your Taiping Inn give it to someone else? Are you looking down on me, Zhao Congyue?"

  As soon as he said that, the people eating downstairs looked up at the floor above. Who is Zhao Zongyu? In Bianjing City, no one knows him. Not to mention his grandfather was the former prime minister, the current crown prince's teacher Zhao Pu, and his father Zhao Chengzong was also an official in the Imperial Guard. It's just that this Zhao Zongyu has a really bad reputation in Bianjing City, with many rumors circulating about how he bullied men and seduced women, and lingered in brothels.

  The shop assistant, being asked like this, hastily explained: "Young Master Zhao, it's not that we're being presumptuous, but this White Young Master had already booked the Tianzi Pavilion for three days half a month ago. The smaller ones had also reported to Young Master Zhao before..."

  "Rubbish!" Zhao Zongyue raised his hand and slapped the shop assistant, causing him to stumble. "Don't you know that this Tianzi Pavilion is reserved for Master Zhao? Do I need to teach you how to do things?" He was about to raise his hand again when he felt a sharp pain in his wrist and couldn't move it. Zhao Zongyue turned around to see the white-haired man standing beside him, holding his wrist. "If Master Zhao wants this Tianzi Pavilion, I'm willing to give it up," he said calmly. "There's no need for Master Zhao to make things difficult for a lowly shop assistant. Shopkeeper, prepare another room for me."

  The shop assistant hastily covered his face and led the white surname man away, while Zhao Zongyu stood still on the spot, silent. He was also a martial artist since childhood, but just now that person was able to approach him before he realized it, and with one move, he controlled his vital point. This person, what kind of identity did he have?

  "Zhao Gongzi, since the Tianzi Pavilion is now empty, let's go in and talk." The servant who had been standing silently beside Zhao Zongyu spoke softly into his ear.

  "Hmm." Zhao came back to his senses and looked again at the room where the white surname man had gone, then turned around and led the servant into the Tianzi Pavilion.

  Zhao Zongruo entered the room, and without hesitation, sat down on the chair, looking at the servant and saying: "Tang Guanshi can rest assured to wait here, after dark, I will arrange for someone to take you into the palace together."

  That person was actually Tang Song in disguise. At this moment, there was no one else in the room, and he didn't pretend anymore. He cupped his hands and said: "Tang Mou thanks Master Cao on behalf of the old master for your kindness to the young master and your respected father. If it weren't for your respected father's mercy, Tang Liang would have had a hard time entering the palace."

  Zhao Congyue smiled with satisfaction; "My father is the General of the Imperial Guard, and it would be easy to disguise you as a member of the Imperial Guard and bring you into the palace." After speaking, Zhao Congyue stood up and walked out, stopping beside Tang Song and patting his shoulder: "Tang Gongshi is about my age, but he has more courage than I do. The Cao family and my Zhao family have been friends for generations, so my family will also do its best to help. However..." Zhao Congyue chuckled and said:

  "If the Cao family is destined to escape this disaster, then Tang Guan will come to the Taifu Mansion to find me. This young master will not treat you unfairly. Hahaha..."

  After Zhao Zongyao left, Tang Song let out a bitter laugh. It seemed that this young master Zhao had taken him for a reckless and daring fugitive, wanting to recruit him for his own use. Unfortunately, Tang Song had never thought of currying favor with the powerful anyway. Now that things have come to this, he might as well spend the rest of his life wandering the world carefree with Mu Er.

  After nightfall, Zhao Zongyu indeed sent someone to take away Tang Song. Tang Song followed the previous plan and mixed into the Imperial Guard to enter the palace. After walking for several incense sticks of time, he finally arrived at a secluded place. A captain in the Imperial Guard said to Tang Song: "Young Master Tang, this is where the Chief Minister is located. Half an hour later, we will pass by here again, and you must meet up with me before then, otherwise, you will miss the time to leave the palace."

  Tang Song bid farewell to the Feathered Forest Army and walked to the door of that room, lightly knocking on it. After a while, an old man in white clothes opened the door. The old man squinted his eyes and sized up Tang Song, saying: "A person from the Feathered Forest Army? I didn't summon you, what brings you here?" Tang Song knew that this ordinary-looking old man was actually the famous General Cao Bin of later generations. According to Cao An's previous instructions, Tang Song made a gesture and said in a low voice: "Chief of the Imperial Secret Service, I am someone sent by Master Cao An."

  Cao Bin smiled and said: "My brother Cao An is doing business outside, and in the Feathered Forest Army, he has no acquaintances. What are you deceiving me for?"

  "Envoy" Tang Song took out a simple ring and handed it over, saying "I'm Tang Liang, the manager of the Cao Mansion."

  Cao Bin took over the ring, carefully examined it, looked around and saw no one, then said: "Come in and talk."

  Close the door, Tang Song bowed and said: "I'm Tang Liang, I was sent by Lord Cao An to rescue you, Sir." Cao Bin motioned for Tang Song to rise, looked him up and down, and asked: "My brother must have trusted you a great deal to send you. So tell me, how do you plan to rescue me?"

  "The old master's intention is to shift the blame, pinning the smuggling affair entirely on other people in the Cao household. That's why he sent me to collude with the imperial envoy."

  "As expected." Cao Bin sighed and asked again, "Did big brother say who it was?"

  Tang Song hesitated for a moment before saying, "To be honest, it's the old master himself. The old master said that if he wants to help the Cao family avoid disaster, it can only be him, no one else can deceive the officials."

  "He can't deceive me either." Cao Bin said calmly, "Tang Liang, you know I've been under house arrest all this time, why have you never sent any messages to the Cao family to rescue me?"

  "This..."

  "Because this time, the authorities are not really going to take action against me."

  "Ah?" Tang Song was a bit dizzy, and Cao Bin continued to say: " Outsiders all think that the imperial court wants to take this opportunity to eliminate my power in the court as an old minister who founded the country. Unfortunately, they all underestimate the imperial court. Since the emperor ascended to the throne, although he has been wary of us old ministers, he has not really taken action. This time, what the emperor really wants to deal with is Xiazhou. I, Cao Bin, was promoted by Taizu, but I am also loyal to the current emperor. The emperor knows this in his heart. The emperor has me under house arrest here just to restrain the Cao family, cut off trade with Xiazhou, and then hold Xiazhou hostage. Xiazhou has been wavering between Song and Liao, and has always been a major concern for the emperor. If the emperor wants to deal with Daliao, he must stabilize Xiazhou."

  "Wouldn't the imperial court suspect that the Cao and Xia families are colluding?" Tang Song couldn't help but ask.

  "No." Cao Bin smiled brightly and said "Do you know that noble who has always been very concerned about my Cao family?"

  "Could it be..."

  "Not bad, this message I've never told anyone before. That nobleman is actually from the Zhao official's household. Haha, it turns out that my Cao family has been holding onto the military trade in Ba State for over a decade, thinking we're unique and indispensable, but in reality, we've always been just a pawn of the official's household. As early as when the official was still the prefect of Kaifeng, he had already secretly collaborated with our Cao family. Now that the official has cut off this trade line himself, Xia State has lost its largest source of military supplies. Although the ironworkers of Xia State are the best in the world, they only excel at making weapons and arrows, but not as good as my Cao family when it comes to armor production. The iron ore in Xia State is also scarce, so it's impossible for them to produce their own armor. Therefore, Xia State will inevitably have to bow down to our Great Song."

  Tang Song wiped away a cold sweat and said: "So, does that mean the Cao family is safe?"

  "It's not that simple. If Xia State were to break off with the Song Dynasty in a moment of desperation and join forces with Liao, it would be disastrous. Lin, Fu, and Hui states are rich in mineral resources, and Hui state has many ironworkers. Now, the five states of Dingnan are already looking up to Xia State as their leader. If Xia State were to unify Lin, Fu, and Hui under its control, the imperial court would no longer be able to manipulate Xia State. That would be the day my Cao family is destroyed."

  Cao Bin's eyes stared straight at Tang Song, saying: "I, Cao Bin, have spent my whole life in the military and am not afraid of death. However, if I cannot protect the Cao family, after I die, I will have no face to see my ancestors. The officials are heartless, now I, Cao Bin

  There's only one last resort left. After you return, tell my brother to mobilize all of Cao family's resources to restore the military supply line and continue transporting military supplies to Xia State. Moreover, not only should we transport them, but also speed up and increase the quantity, and let the officials know about it. And when our Cao family's convoy returns, we will bring back a letter from the Li family of Xia State to the officials, telling them that as long as this military supply line remains unbroken, Xia State will not only not rebel, but also help the Great Song Dynasty contain the power of the Great Liao in the northwest. Do you think the officials will be moved by this?

  Tang Song finally understood what the imperial envoy was planning, this move was too sinister, whether it succeeded or not would anger Zhao Guangyi, but time was urgent, perhaps this was indeed the only way to rescue the Cao family.

  It's time to leave after calculating the timing. So he bid farewell with a bow: "Sir, Tang Liang will bring the news, as for the subsequent plan, I think Old Master Cao will make his own decision."

  "Hmm. You'd better go now, this palace has hidden dragons and crouching tigers, be careful not to leave any traces, take care of yourself." Cao Bin said, then turned around and left.

  Hurriedly and busily mixed in the feather forest army out of the imperial palace, Tang Song was preparing to take a detour back to Taiping Inn to wait for dawn to leave the city, but was suddenly covered from behind and dragged into an alley. A dagger was pressed against his throat, and he only heard a clear female voice say: "Don't move, or you'll lose your life."