Chen Liuru was taken away.
Meng Jianqing pondered and said: “Did Seven Treasure Child act at this time because he, like Chen Liuru, only recently saw through Long Yan’s importance? Or is there another reason? For instance, might he have guessed Brother Yun’s purpose in coming to Quanzhou and also guessed the importance of the Chen family’s shipbuilding skills to the Ming Dynasty, so he chose this moment to strike at Long Yan while also choosing the Chen family as collateral damage? Is he merely trying to strike at Quanzhou, or does he have other intentions?”
Yun Yanjiao said softly: “Is it possible this is a personal grudge between Seven Treasure Child and the Long family? As the saying goes, ‘competitors are natural enemies.’ Long Yan’s father might have had conflicts with Seven Treasure Child back in the day, so while he was alive, Seven Treasure Child lay low, only emerging now to deal with Miss Long?”
Meng Jianqing glanced at her.
Did Yun Yanjiao not want to see a great persecution arise? Was it because her nature didn’t wish to see bloodshed and carnage, or did she feel that during this time of great undertakings, it was inappropriate to alarm the people of Fujian and Zhejiang? Or was it simply to protect the Five-Colored Dragon King? After all, in this case, whether it was a personal grudge or not was far too significant.
But Liu Baiyi said: “When the master was alive, he never mentioned any entanglement with Seven Treasure Child. If there was such a thing, I think for such an important matter, the master would certainly have given us several people some instructions, not leaving the young miss to face such an opponent unprepared.”
Yun Yanjiao smiled with pursed lips: “Miss Liu, even if it were a personal grudge, that snake shouldn’t have also injured the court’s envoy. Captain Meng absolutely wouldn’t stand by idly, right?”
Her last sentence was directed at Meng Jianqing.
Meng Jianqing smiled and turned to look at Yun Yanran: “Brother Yun, regarding Seven Treasure Child’s involvement in this case, it’s still only our speculation. What we can substantiate is Master Wuse’s suspicion. I plan to make a trip to Wanfo Temple.”
Yun Yanran studied Meng Jianqing and said: “Longwang Valley is such a dangerous place infested with ten thousand snakes. Even with twenty bailiffs plus Brother Meng’s thirty subordinates, it would probably be quite difficult, wouldn’t it?”
Meng Jianqing smiled: “That’s why I need to ask Brother Yun to oversee Quanzhou, while Miss Yun accompanies me. Of course, since the Long family is the victim, they can also send people along.”
Liu Baiyi said without hesitation: “Naturally. Wu Xuanyi will personally lead twelve guards to accompany you, following Captain Meng’s commands.”
Wu Xuanyi was the guard captain of this generation of the Long family. Having her lead the team showed that both Long Yan and Liu Baiyi had made up their minds to give the assassins some retribution.
Yun Yanjiao estimated briefly and said softly, “I’ll bring six people.”
Meng Jianqing said, “I’ll bring twenty people and leave ten to follow Brother Yun’s orders.”
Roughly calculating, Meng Jianqing’s party would have fifty people, like a small army.
Yun Yanran silently pondered what Meng Jianqing’s intention was in making such a grand display, while saying: “How does Brother Meng need me to oversee things? It won’t be just guarding Flowing Gold Garden, will it?”
Meng Jianqing shook his head: “Naturally not.”
Flowing Gold Garden had its Long family guards.
His mind always worked quickly, and having thought things through, he said slowly: “I want Brother Yun to do three things. First, supervise Prefect Wang in gathering all the realgar, snake medicines, fire oil, and fireworks in Quanzhou city. Second, supervise Prefect Wang in deploying five hundred Quanzhou garrison troops according to emergency orders, carrying all the realgar, snake medicines, fire oil, and fireworks to arrive at the entrance of the Longwang Valley incense pilgrimage path four hours after I depart, to set up camp and await orders, prepared to suppress bandits. Third, if the Quanzhou garrison waits outside Longwang Valley for one hour without seeing our party emerge, please have Brother Yun supervise Prefect Wang in commanding these troops to attack Wanfo Temple using realgar, fire oil, and fireworks to clear the way. All monks are to be arrested, and if they resist, kill without mercy!”
His deployment seemed intent on razing Wanfo Temple to the ground.
Liu Baiyi smiled: “The monks at Wanfo Temple number only forty-some. Even if there are formidable people among them, just the team Wu Xuanyi leads could capture them easily, let alone with Miss Yun and Captain Meng accompanying them. Captain Meng’s arrangements are truly…”
The Yun siblings also felt Meng Jianqing was making a mountain out of a molehill, though they didn’t voice it.
Meng Jianqing’s face darkened as he said coldly: “Better safe than sorry in all things. Regardless of whether the Five-Colored Dragon King and Seven Treasure Child have personal grudges with the Long and Chen families, since they dare to provoke them when the nation is undertaking great works and needs the Long and Chen families’ service, they must be sufficiently prepared to turn against the court. Since that’s the case, I’ll fulfill their wish!”
With this big accusation hanging over them, even Liu Baiyi, who was bent on revenge against the Five-Colored Dragon King, was left speechless—she had never imagined the Imperial Guard investigated cases this way, taking any thread of evidence and pushing it toward “treason” regardless of consequences.
A bloodthirsty beast cannot be allowed to smell even a trace of blood…
Yun Yanran observed him for a long time and said, “Does Brother Meng have other intentions in creating such a grand spectacle?”
Meng Jianqing was slightly startled, then smiled: “I remember when we were at Jiangwu Hall, Instructor Xu taught us the eight-character key to suppressing bandits: ‘Bold courage, united hearts, fine weapons, skilled techniques.’ The Quanzhou bailiffs and garrison probably hold Wanfo Temple in deep awe. Even with fine weapons and skilled techniques, whether they can be effectively used when the moment comes is still unknown. That’s why I want to make a grand spectacle to embolden them. Only with bold courage can hearts be united, and only then can they deploy their fine weapons and skilled techniques in battle. Is Brother Yun satisfied with this explanation?”
Meng Jianqing’s mission on this trip should have been to escort Wen Ruhai to worship Mazu, but now it seemed far from that simple. The Yun siblings exchanged glances and decided not to pursue the matter further—it was best not to get too deeply involved in Imperial Guard affairs. Fortunately, Yun Yanjiao was also going to Wanfo Temple. With her present, even if Meng Jianqing had secret orders to deal with the Five-Colored Dragon King and Wanfo Temple, he probably wouldn’t go too far.
Liu Baiyi composed herself and said, “Since Captain Meng wants to create a spectacle, the Long family should naturally lend assistance. I plan to urgently purchase realgar, snake medicines, fire oil, and fireworks from outside Quanzhou, creating the impression that Quanzhou Prefecture needs to procure even more supplies and deploy even more troops to besiege Wanfo Temple. What does Captain Meng think?”
Meng Jianqing smiled: “Excellent.”
Liu Baiyi, who could manage the Long family’s daily affairs, was indeed very good at reading situations.