Chapter 167: Lucky General

“Second Miss Zhang, you want me to save Master Zhang. I dare not promise you that.”

“Hmm?”

Zhang Xia was startled. She had used her own safety in exchange for Chen Ji being mixed in with the Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry, so that he could have the opportunity to save her father. But now Chen Ji was saying he couldn’t promise her.

In the night, Chen Ji, with Zhang Xia's hands tied behind her back, said in a low voice: “The Liu family rebels number in the tens of thousands, and I am only one person. I cannot turn the tide by force. Things I cannot do, I cannot lightly promise.”

Zhang Xia lowered her eyelids and was silent for a long time. “Alright, you are still much more capable than I am. If I went to save father myself, there would be even less hope. Chen Ji, the next words I say are very important, and perhaps they can help you: The person you killed just now, I have seen him. He is a tenant named Zhang Yuan on my family's estate, and he is always diligent in his work. I guess that these private armies of the Liu family usually just hide among the marketplace, so they must wear face armor to avoid being recognized…”

She hadn’t finished speaking when the armored soldier who had questioned Chen Ji earlier came nearby. He sized up Zhang Xia: “Who is this woman?”

Another armored soldier quickly came over and said in a low voice: “Sir, this woman is Zhang Zhuo's legitimate daughter, Zhang Xia.”

Chen Ji looked up and saw that the face armor of the person called 'Sir' was different from the others. The others' face armor all had emotionless 'human faces', while this one had an angry, wide-eyed 'tiger face'.

The tiger-faced armored soldier glanced at Zhang Xia, then looked suspiciously at Chen Ji.

After pondering for a moment, he waved his hand at the armored soldiers beside him and said: “The Zhang family's main wife has not been found yet, continue searching. I will escort Zhang Xia out with him.”

The tiger-faced armored soldier said to Chen Ji: “Go.”

Chen Ji wore heavy armor and held a long spear upside down, pushing Zhang Xia towards the outside of the mansion. The tiger-faced armored soldier followed behind, gripping his long spear tightly and watching him vigilantly.

Chen Ji continued to walk forward without changing his expression. The other side must suspect him, but wasn't in a hurry to make a move… Was it because the other side wasn't sure of his identity or strength, so they didn't dare to rashly expose their own identity?

Along the way, the previously brightly lit Zhang mansion was already in a mess. When Zhang Xia passed by the corpses of the maids and manservants in the mansion, she slightly turned her face away, unable to bear to look.

Walking out of the vermilion lacquered main gate of the Zhang mansion, Cuiyun Alley outside was already full of Chen family retainers squatting down in panic and looking around. Only Chen Wenzong stood alone and upright in the crowd.

This noble young master of the Chen family had dirty and messy clothes, and the hairpin on his head was also missing.

The tiger-faced armored soldier behind Chen Ji gripped his long spear tightly with his right hand, and secretly beckoned to more than ten armored soldiers in Cuiyun Alley with his left hand.

More than ten armored soldiers silently approached, seeming to be forming a circle around Chen Ji, ready to kill him.

Chen Ji's thoughts were racing, and his gaze swept over the crowd.

The next moment, he walked into the crowd, holding the long spear upside down. He grabbed Chen Wenxiao by the collar and lifted him out.

Chen Wenxiao had changed into a set of manservant's clothes. While struggling, he said in terror: “What are you doing? I am just a servant of the Chen mansion, why are you grabbing me?”

Chen Ji said coldly: “You may not be a servant of the Chen mansion.”

Chen Wenxiao’s face turned ashen, and his body trembled like chaff. He could only stand with Chen Ji holding him.

Chen Wenzong glared at him and angrily rebuked: “Stand up straight! You and I are both Juren from the thirty-first year of Jianing. How can you be frightened by petty thieves? The face of the Chen family, the face of the court, you have thrown it all away!”

Chen Ji turned his head to the tiger-faced armored soldier and said: “Sir, I recognize this person, he is the legitimate second son of the Chen mansion, Chen Wenxiao.”

The tiger-faced armored soldier paused and slowly relaxed his grip on the long spear. “Very good, I will record a merit for you. Right, you…”

Before he could finish speaking, the sound of horse hooves clattered from outside the alley.

The black armored warriors looked towards the sound and saw someone riding a horse from the end of the small alley, wearing a large green cloak, as if a poet stepping on snow had suddenly arrived.

The black armored warriors saw him and all saluted with clasped fists: “Mister Feng!”

Chen Ji’s heart tightened.

Mister Feng held a small hand warmer in his hand and said with a smile: “The Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry has been silent for a long time, and it’s finally time to make a name for ourselves. Who is in charge now, is it still General Zhou?”

The tiger-faced armored soldier clasped his fists and said in a muffled voice: “Reporting to Mister Feng, it is now General Qian. General Zhou has other official business.”

Mister Feng laughed: “Hard work. The Old Master has now appointed you all as the personal guard army. You must be more attentive than before.”

The tiger-faced armored soldier quickly said: “Please rest assured, Mister Feng.”

Mister Feng’s gaze swept over the crowd and he asked lightly: “Have all the relatives of the Zhang mansion and Chen mansion been caught?”

The tiger-faced armored soldier reported: “There are only two relatives of the Chen mansion. Chen Liqin’s wife happened to go to the suburban estate to check accounts and is not in the Chen mansion.”

Mister Feng nodded: “No harm, having these two legitimate sons is enough.”

The tiger-faced armored soldier continued to report: “Zhang Zhuo and his legitimate son are surrounded in the government office. Only Second Miss Zhang was caught in the mansion.”

Mister Feng asked curiously: “What about Zhang Zhuo's wife?”

The tiger-faced armored soldier replied: “According to the manservants in the mansion, she went to Tuoluosi Temple in the south of the city today to burn incense and worship Buddha, and has not returned yet.”

Mister Feng smiled: “No harm, having Second Miss Zhang and that legitimate son is also enough.”

At this time, Chen Wenzong looked directly at Mister Feng and said: “You are privately arresting the relatives of court-appointed officials. This crime is considered treason. If you repent now, although the death penalty is hard to escape, you can still preserve the lives of your families!”

The black armored warriors remained still, their black lacquered face armor showing no joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness, like cold sculptures.

Mister Feng said unhurriedly: “Young Master Chen family, save some energy. These Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry have no families anymore. If you want to live, later you must help me persuade Master Chen properly. As long as he is willing to abandon the darkness and turn to the light with me and others to clear the ruler's side and execute the eunuch party to rectify the court discipline, I guarantee the lives of the Chen family without worry.”

Chen Wenzong scoffed: “Rebellious ministers and thieves, you and the eunuch party are just birds of a feather.”

A tiger-faced armored soldier slapped him: “Sharp-tongued!”

Chen Wenzong was slapped on the side of his face, and blood flowed from the corner of his mouth. He turned his head back to glare indignantly, not avoiding or dodging.

Mister Feng raised his eyebrows: “Do not injure people. I still need to bring him intact to Master Chen. If Master Chen is willing to abandon the dark and turn to the light, then after all, we are one family. How can we cause Master Chen to bear a grudge because of this small matter?”

The black armored warriors quickly clasped their fists and said: “Yes, this humble officer was rude. After this matter is over, I will go to General Qian to receive twenty military sticks.”

Mister Feng looked at Chen Wenxiao and teased: “How did Young Master Chen family dress up like this?”

When Chen Wenxiao saw Mister Feng looking at him, his whole body trembled uncontrollably.

Mister Feng smiled gently: “People all say a dragon gives birth to nine sons, each different. The Chen family is also interesting. The legitimate eldest son, although he has backbone, is pedantic. The legitimate second son, although timid as a mouse… but timid as a mouse. That illegitimate son Chen Ji makes me look at him with new eyes. Right, who found the second young master of the Chen family?”

The tiger-faced armored soldier pointed at Chen Ji: “Reporting to Mister Feng, it was him.”

Mister Feng glanced at Chen Ji: “Record one merit. Rest tomorrow and go to the Council of State to receive the reward… And who caught Second Miss Zhang?”

The tiger-faced armored soldier was startled, then pointed at Chen Ji again: “Reporting to Mister Feng, it was also him.”

“Oh?” Mister Feng carefully sized up Chen Ji.

After a moment, he smiled slightly: “You are indeed a lucky general.”

After speaking, he turned to the tiger-faced armored soldier and said: “Mount your horses, and escort the relatives of the Zhang mansion and Chen mansion to the Jing Wang Mansion.”

Amidst the clatter of armor, the black armored warriors neatly mounted their horses.

Mister Feng pulled the reins and turned his horse's head, heading towards the outside of Cuiyun Alley. Chen Ji also lifted Zhang Xia horizontally onto the saddle and rode at the very back.

Suddenly, Mister Feng turned back and asked him with a smile: “What is your name?”

The crowd went silent. The tiger-faced armored soldier who had questioned Chen Ji earlier also looked over with a burning gaze.

Chen Ji tightly grasped the reins and replied without changing his expression: “Reporting to Mister Feng, this humble person is named Zhang Yuan.”

The tiger-faced armored soldier’s gaze turned back.

Mister Feng smiled and beckoned: “Come forward. You will follow me to do things from now on.”

The Jing Wang Mansion was brightly lit. Four high racks of fire basins were lit in front of the vermilion lacquered main gate, and the flames blazed.

The Elephant Armor Camp was just dragging away the corpses of the Wang Mansion guards one by one. The bloodstains on Anxi Street seeped into the cracks of the bluestone road, beginning to solidify the blood and become sticky like paste.

The Jing Wang Mansion was already under the control of the Liu family.

Mister Feng dismounted at the door, and the attendants inside the door hurried out to welcome him.

He casually threw the copper furnace in his hand to someone, then unbuttoned his overcoat, revealing a set of green robes inside: “Where is the Old Master?”

The black-clothed attendant said in a low voice: “He is just playing chess with Wang Ye in Jing'an Hall.”

Mister Feng's footsteps paused: “What about Master Chen and Master Zhang?”

The black-clothed attendant reported: “They were just escorted from the government office and are being detained in Feiyun Garden along with several people from Taiping Medical Hall.”

Mister Feng said in surprise: “Where is Madame Cloud Concubine? How can you rashly occupy someone’s garden? That’s too rude.”

The black-clothed attendant said in a low voice: “Cloud Concubine left the Wang Mansion after Jing Wang fell ill and has not returned since.”

Mister Feng lowered his head and thought for a moment: “Let’s not disturb the Old Master’s elegant interest. We will go to Feiyun Garden first.”

After speaking, he turned back and pointed at Chen Ji and another armored soldier: “You two escort the Chen family young masters and Second Miss Zhang over. The others can rest for a bit.”

Inside the Wang Mansion, rows of armored soldiers stood solemnly holding torches.

A group of people quickly passed through the murderous Wang Mansion. Chen Ji looked from afar and saw that the eight large doors of Jing'an Hall were wide open. Jing Wang and Liu Ge Lao sat facing each other, concentrating on playing chess and talking.

Bai Li and Shizi stood at one side watching the chess game, as if today's fighting and killing had not happened at all.

Mister Feng stopped and turned back, looking at him with a seemingly smiling but not smiling expression: “Do you also want to go play chess?”

Chen Ji’s heart skipped a beat. He had only slightly turned his head, but the other side had discovered him. “Reporting to Mister Feng, this humble officer is entering the Jing Wang Mansion for the first time, so I am a little curious.”

Mister Feng smiled and said: “Only this once. Next time, if you look at something you shouldn't, your head will fall to the ground.”

Chen Ji quickly lowered his head: “This humble officer understands.”

Upon reaching the entrance of Feiyun Garden, Mister Feng laughed loudly and walked into the courtyard: “Master Zhang, Master Chen, thank you for waiting for me here. Please forgive the neglect. However, look, who have I brought you all?”