Green Mountain

Chapter 545 407: Denghuo Inn

It's rare for a maritime capture warrant to be issued from the capital.

The County Magistrate and the Magistrate can only issue "summons" to convey orders to several counties, an Assessor of the Prefecture can only issue a "broad capture warrant" to convey orders to several prefectures. Only Emperor Ning, the Ministry of Justice, and Ritual Supervision have the authority to issue a maritime capture warrant to search the nation.

Usually, such a warrant is issued only for the crime of treason, or when a third-rank official or higher from the capital, a local governor, or an imperial envoy is murdered, or in cases of clan extermination or village massacre.

Once issued, it always pertains to the grave crime of extermination and expropriation of family assets.

At this moment, nine gates in the capital each have two swift horses galloping out, sending the maritime capture warrant to all directions.

At Anding Gate, the two swift horses exit the city and head north to Changping County.

One rider is from the Jiefan Guard, the other from the Spy Department. They dare not speak to each other, each carrying a black lacquer tube with a 400-li accelerated dispatch and hurries on their way.

Both arrive at the Changping County government office, where the officials come out to greet them. The Jiefan Guard pulls a maritime capture warrant from the lacquer tube and hands it over, sternly saying, "By the order of Lin Chaoqing, the Commander of the Jiefan Guard, issue this maritime capture warrant to apprehend the suspect Chen Ji..."

With that said, he hands over the warrant and leaves, riding out of Changping County and continuing north.

The spy glances at the back of the Jiefan Guard, also takes a maritime capture warrant from the lacquer tube, but does not give it to the officials. Instead, he solemnly says, "Call your County Chief to come out!"

The officials look at each other: "It's just receiving a maritime capture warrant, no need for our County Chief..."

The spy sneers, "Does your County Chief not want his head?"

One official quickly runs to the county office, and within a dozen breaths, the County Chief hurries over: "What orders does the superior have?"

The spy leans down from his horse, motioning the County Chief to come closer: "This official is Hai Dongqing from the Spy Department of the capital. Last year, you received 3,000 taels from Landlord Liang..."

The County Chief's face turns pale: "The superior may command anything he desires!"

The spy slaps the warrant onto the County Chief's chest, instructs in whispers: "Lord Bai Long has instructed that the suspect is most likely to come to your Changping County. Remember, get the best artist to sketch Liao Zhong; if you catch Liao Zhong, all will be well. If not, you might end up boiling salt in Lingnan next year!"

The County Chief quickly agrees: "I understand."

The spy wastes no more words and rides off north.

The County Chief and the officials stand at the government office's entrance, holding the two maritime capture warrants and looking at each other, unsure of what has happened.

Someone murmurs: "Aren't Jiefan Guard and the Spy Department part of the same government office? Why has each issued a separate maritime capture warrant?"

The County Chief angrily says: "Quit meddling, quickly get an artist to sketch the portrait and post the warrant in all districts..."

A county official tentatively asks: "Should both get the best artist to sketch?"

The County Chief looks at the signatures on the two maritime capture warrants, remains silent for a long time: "Just make Liao Zhong's sketch more detailed."

...

...

In the evening.

Chen Ji, wearing a bamboo hat, blends into the crowd in front of the Changping County government office, quietly watching the officials put up the maritime capture warrant.

When the first maritime capture warrant is posted, the slightly yellowed paper shows a sketch resembling Chen Ji by sixty percent, looking plausible yet doubtful even when compared directly.

It could be him, or it might not be.

In front of the government office, the illiterate commoners exchange glances.

A civil servant inside the office points at the maritime capture warrant and loudly declares: "The suspect Chen Ji intended to assassinate the Crown Prince, registration from Shuntian Prefecture, eighteen years old, five feet nine inches tall, thin as a crane, with a sesame seed-sized black mole at the corner of his left eye. Those who can report treason are rewarded fifty thousand strings of coins."

"Those concealing information will be considered accomplices and executed."

Chen Ji presses down the brim of his bamboo hat, frowning.

How did he suddenly become the suspect of attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince?

It must be the Crown Prince causing trouble, shifting many things onto him.

He had come here chasing Mr. Liao, but unexpectedly, before he could find any trace of Mr. Liao, his maritime capture warrant arrived first.

Chen Ji closes his eyes momentarily, going over what the Crown Prince might say in his head. In Fragrant Mountain, it was just him, the Crown Prince, and Mr. Liao left in the end. Now that neither he nor Mr. Liao is there, naturally, whatever the Crown Prince says goes.

The critical point is, at present, there seems to be no one who can testify for him to cleanse the charges... except for Mr. Liao.

Chen Ji looks around, sees that no one notices him, and turns to squeeze out of the crowd.

But at this moment, the officials past the second maritime capture warrant.

When his gaze swept over it, he suddenly froze.

Chen Ji thought both maritime capture warrants were for him, but unexpectedly, the second one was for Mr. Liao. Moreover, Mr. Liao's sketch had a ninety percent resemblance, as opposed to his own sixty percent.

The civil servant announced loudly: "The suspect Liao Zhong... one arm severed… those who can report treason are rewarded two hundred thousand strings of coins!"

The surrounding people gasped: "The one just now was fifty thousand strings, this old man is actually worth two hundred thousand strings?"

"Both are suspects in the Crown Prince assassination attempt. This old man's bounty is higher; he must be the principal criminal!"

"If I capture these two, I can be a landlord too!"

These two maritime capture warrants confuse Chen Ji. The Crown Prince framing him is within reason, but why would the Crown Prince frame his own man too?

Mr. Liao has done so many dirty deeds for the Crown Prince. If caught and brought back, let alone Mr. Liao, even the Crown Prince may not keep his position as heir.

Strange.

What's with these two maritime capture warrants?

Indifferent to those around him, Chen Ji squeezes forward, wanting to see the full content of the warrants.

As he pushes through the crowd, others merely complain without thinking much. No one expected the suspect on the maritime capture warrant would dare linger here.

Chen Ji arrives in front of the communication, realizing that the one for him was issued by Jiefan Guard, signed: "In the 32nd year of Jianing, March 3rd, Commander Lin Chaoqing."

While the warrant against Liao Zhong was signed by Bai Long.

So that's it.

Both he and Mr. Liao being wanted is a good thing. That sketch of Liao Zhong is clearer, and with him missing an arm, he's easier to recognize.

While pondering, he suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves from afar.

The people turned their heads to look, and on the tamped earth road of Changping County, a team of Jiefan Guard and a team of spies from the Spy Department were coming side by side, with the Spy Department led by none other than Xuan Snake, and the Jiefan Guard led by... the Yulin Army's Right Brave Guard Commander, Wu Xuange, previously captured by Xuan Snake and taken to the Imperial Prison.

The kin of Wu Xiu.

It's unclear how Wu Xuange got out and how he joined the Jiefan Guard. What kind of deal was made between Xuan Snake and Wu Xiu?

Not good, if Jiao Tu, Yun Yang, Jin Zhu, Bai Long came here, Chen Ji could interrogate them for more information, but the one who came is Xuan Snake.

Seeing the Jiefan Guard and spies, the people immediately scattered like wild beasts, and Chen Ji hurriedly left, blending in with them.

Before nightfall, he must find a place to stay.

Otherwise, when night comes, and the streets empty, he would become conspicuous.

Although Chen Ji's shadow portrait is sketchy and inaccurate, the arrest warrant for capturing him relies not only on the portrait but also these last five words: "Reward: 50,000 guan."

It is rare for Ning Dynasty citizens to wander about, as everyone in a neighborhood knows each other, and a stranger can be easily recognized; as soon as reported to the authorities, there would be a reward of 50,000 guan, making it impossible for the suspect to hide.

Even if one becomes an outlaw, one must be wary of their accomplices selling them out to the court for money.

Where can Chen Ji hide?

An inn won't do; the innkeeper and assistants are the ones to be most cautious of now, for if a suspicious person seeks shelter, they will immediately report to the government office.

Supposedly, his birth mother Mrs. Lu left him a few hundred mu of fertile land in Changping. If he had taken possession, perhaps he could hide in the manor, but now he doesn't even know where that land is.

Find an unattended residence to hide for a night? It's the best solution.

Chen Ji walked with his head down, silently observing the residences on both sides. It was time for dinner; whichever house had no smoke might be his shelter for the night.

However, as he was walking, Chen Ji suddenly saw an inn named "Fulai." The inn had a couplet hanging: the upper line on the right read "Observe matters, observe things, observe the sky, observe the earth, observe the sun, observe the moon, observe above, observe below, observing others is always a matter of highs and lows"; the lower line on the left read "Laugh at the past, laugh at the present, laugh at the east, laugh at the west, laugh at the south, laugh at the north, laugh here, laugh there, laugh at oneself originally ignorant and unaware."

He was stunned.

He had seen this couplet at the Dragon Gate Inn, and also at Gufu Building in the Imperial Capital.

Dusk slowly disappeared, and Chen Ji stood under the eaves carefully weighing the situation.

The Jiefan Guard and Spy Department came and went on the streets, sealing the city gate. Obviously, someone suspected he and Mr. Liao most likely came to Changping.

When the last bit of dusk vanished, Chen Ji finally headed toward Fulai Inn.

He lifted the door curtain and saw the furnishings inside were almost identical to those at Dragon Gate Inn.

Chen Ji felt a bit dazed, as if he returned to Guyuan and saw the shopkeeper behind the counter dressed in dark, tight attire, leisurely fiddling with the abacus.

"Guest, would you like a snack or accommodation?" The assistant's voice sounded beside Chen Ji, pulling his thoughts back.

This was not Dragon Gate Inn, and the shopkeeper behind the counter was not that shopkeeper but a young man.

Chen Ji calmly replied, "Accommodation."

The young innkeeper behind the counter smiled asking, "Would the guest like to pay with silver taels or copper coins?"

Last time Chen Ji asked, "What about copper coins, and what about silver taels?"

This time, he walked to the opposite side of the counter, firmly saying, "Copper coins."

The shopkeeper smiled and asked, "We have prepared dinner at the inn; please see what you would like."

He gestured towards the menu board filled with dish names behind him.

Chen Ji looked carefully; he knew this was a code used at Denghuo Inn, similar to the Fire Saber or grape wine at Dragon Gate Inn. If you can't decipher the hidden message, the conversation stops there.

He examined closely; on the left, the menu board listed Crystal Pork Hock, Stewed Beef, Kung Pao Chicken, Vinegar Cabbage... amidst the meats, there was surprisingly a vegetarian dish.

Then he turned to look on the right, where it listed Oil Braised Oyster Mushrooms, Pan-fried Tofu, Braised Crucian Carp... amidst the vegetarian dishes, there was surprisingly a meat dish.

Chen Ji pondered for a few moments: "Braised Crucian Carp."

The innkeeper's face broke into a wide smile: "Quite a distinguished patron, coming from the south? Is there something you'd like the inn to handle?"

Chen Ji calmly said, "I want to find someone in the Changping area."

The innkeeper was puzzled: "Who?"

Chen Ji softly replied, "A person with a broken arm."

The innkeeper's expression was shocked; with the arrest warrant posted, how could Denghuo Inn not know? He scrutinized Chen Ji by candlelight and saw a black mole smaller than a sesame seed beside Chen Ji's left eye, suddenly becoming even more astounded!

The innkeeper hesitated for a long time, extending his hand before Chen Ji: "Guest, show me your copper coins."

Chen Ji shook his head: "Not having any, I owe it first."

The shopkeeper waved him off: "Guest, please leave then. The inn does not offer credit, I'll pretend you never came, should anyone ask anything, the inn will deny knowledge."

Chen Ji suddenly spoke up: "I've been to Guyuan. After the Dragon Gate Inn's shopkeeper was killed, I was the one who collected his corpse."

The innkeeper froze.

He was silent for a long time: "Guest, please wait a moment."

Saying this, the innkeeper turned towards the backyard, crossing the courtyard to the stables, and then pushed open a secret door behind the stables.

Inside the secret door was a hidden room, shelves on both sides holding various ledger books, with the candlelight illuminating the table in the middle and a woman wearing a black veiled hat seated at the table, quietly managing the accounts.

Third Master Hu was dozing against a nearby bookshelf.

Hearing the door noise, Third Master Hu suddenly drew his knife from its sheath and seeing the innkeeper, he harshly reprimanded in a low voice: "Such disregard for rules, do you think you can come here on a whim?"

The innkeeper looked troubled and turned to the woman: "Landlord, an uninvited guest has arrived at our inn, and I can't make the call."

Third Master Hu frowned: "Who?"

The innkeeper explained: "During the evening, the Jiefan Guard and Spy Department posted an arrest warrant for two individuals called Chen Ji and Liao Zhong, claiming they're suspects in the assassination of the Crown Prince. The uninvited guest at the inn presently is Chen Ji, and I intended to drive him away, but he said he collected the corpse of the second elder brother."

Upon hearing this, the woman slowly raised her head: "What does he want at Denghuo Inn?"

The innkeeper explained: "He wants to find the other person on the arrest warrant, Liao Zhong."