Chapter 122 – Theft
Jiangnan’s Garrison B.

Bai Shangnian, who got demoted previously, had not been restored to his former post. However, this did not affect his absolute authority in Garrison B. Jiangnan was of utmost importance in Great Ning; it provided a steady flow of taxes, in the form of money and grain, for Great Ning. Putting the three or four divisions in the northwest, could not even make up half of Jiangnan. This proved how populous and affluent it was.

Hence, the previous emperors of Great Ning had always valued Jiangnan highly. The soldiers who were stationed there were also considered to be the elites of elites. Apart from Jingji’s Garrison A, every single garrison could not be compared to Garrison B, be it in terms of scale or equipment. Garrison A of Jingji was extremely strict; after all, it was where the capital was. It was also rumored that Bai Shangnian was rather laxed with his subordinates, hence, they were very loyal to him.

Bai Shangnian was in control of tens of thousands of elites. That was the source of his confidence.

The Bai family of Xiangning had been becoming more and more important in the imperial court as the days went by. Bai Shangnian was one of the most important people. Even though the incident in Ningwu greatly enraged His Majesty, it was not significant enough for His Majesty to strip him of his military power and leadership. Hence, Bai Shangnian was not particularly worried.

He was only being demoted by one rank.

Zhang Baihe felt that the best choice he ever made was to flee Changan city at that time, to seek shelter at General Bai Shangnian’s. His father used to work with Bai Shangnian, and they developed a personal friendship of sorts as well. However, due to inadequate capabilities and qualifications, he was presently holding a post at the Northern Depository Military Repository. His father was a lucky person; the previous second-in-command there, Chen Gao, was transferred to Pingyue, away from the northern border. Hence, Zhang Baihe’s father was able to get promoted to replace him.

His father knew that his son got into trouble in Changan city. He did not dare to be impudent – he quickly wrote a letter personally to Bai Shangnian, and now, Zhang Baihe had already decided on his own to rely on him. Because he was indeed bright enough and was meticulous, Bai Shangnian ended up putting him in an important position.

Most importantly, Bai Shangnian had information that he could use against Zhang Baihe. Hence, it was easy for him to control a person as such.

If the word about Zhang Baihe and Chen Zihan scheming to get rid of Meng Changan back in Changan city got out, not only Zhang Baihe would be at risk of losing his life, even his father would be at risk of losing his new position at the Northern Depository Military Repository.

Bai Shangnian exceptionally trusted Zhang Baihe, making the latter feel exceedingly grateful towards him. Hence, in everything he did, he spared no pains or effort.

“The great scholar really wants to do that?”

After hearing Bai Shangnian’s words, Zhang Baihe’s face went pale. This time, the person they were targeting was not a mere student from Yanta Academy, and neither was it a small fry in the Navy. That person was a Class A Third pin general – the commander of the Navy!

Moreover, Zhuang Yong was His Majesty’s counselor. If Zhuang Yong died, it would strongly affect the entire imperial court. His Majesty’s anger might even burn the entire Jiangnan down. By then, not only the Ministry of War would carry out an investigation, the Commandant of Justice and the Ministry of Justice would get involved too. By then, who could handle it?

Hence, after he heard Bai Shangnian mentioned about killing Zhuang Yong, Zhang Baihe started to regret his decision to go to Jiangnan. That place was practically hell!

However, it was too late now. Bai Shangnian had already said those words to him. Right now, he did not even have the right to escape. Bai Shangnian would never allow an insider with such knowledge to leave Jiangnan alive.

“If it’s not something important, don’t tell me Mu Zhaotong sent someone here to send his best regards for the New Year?”

Bai Shangnian glared at Zhang Baihe. His newly accepted aid was smart enough, and also cautious enough. However, he was too narrow-minded. His mind was not stable enough. When it came to trivial matters, he was able to execute his tasks perfectly. But when it came to significant matters, his scope was too limited.

Hence, Bai Shangnian was somewhat regretful too. He felt that he should not have revealed it to him that directly.

However, everything they had already arrived at this juncture. There was absolutely no turning back.

“We still need to consider this matter at length.”

Zhang Baihe looked towards the outside. After he had confirmed that the general had shut the door of his study tight, he lowered his voice and said, “No matter how you try to cast this matter aside, it can never be done. Especially if Zhuang Yong were to die during our combined training with the Navy. How would His Majesty let you go, general?”

“Precisely because Zhuang Yong dies during this period, his Majesty will not think that I’m the one behind him.”

Bai Shangnian said calmly, “Moreover, if it is executed perfectly, we will be able to give His Majesty a reasonable explanation.”

He looked at Zhang Baihe. “Previously I had arranged you to do some things. Do you still not understand?”

Zhang Baihe’s eyes could not help but dart around. It was subconsciously – even he himself did not know that he had such a habit, and a moment as such, his brain was in its most active state.

“Water bandits?”

Zhang Baihe had a sudden realization. “However, those water bandits are inexperienced, how is it possible for them to withstand against the Navy’s forces? When Zhuang Yong got in touch with you, didn’t he say that he wanted to bring nearly a hundred battleships out of the Navy? A rough estimation, after minusing the Liu Ying ships, which will be transporting our soldiers; his subordinates will be bringing approximately 5,000 combat soldiers with them. The water bandits that I will be contacting have only less than 2,000 people in total.”

“You’ll have to see how you can mobilize and use them.”

Bai Shangnian leaned back and made himself more comfortable. He was somewhat unhappy with how Zhang Baihe was making a fuss about nothing. But…he could not discuss this matter with many people. He might have had quite a number of trusted aides by his side who originally worked for the Bai family, but he could not tell them either because the Bai family did not know his plans. This matter was initiated by Great Scholar Mu Zhaotong. There might be other people behind the scenes.

Thinking about the recent news about His Majesty crowning the crown prince and that the empress would finally be in power, Bai Shangnian’s heart raced.

If nothing bad were to happen, he would be a Third pin general forever. Others felt that he occupied a high position and he was a significant figure who was in charge of a lot of combat soldiers. However, to him, he had reached the pinnacle of his career in his middle age. How could he accept that? If he wanted to rise in power, he had to be a great general of one of the four borders. However, no matter how he looked at, he would never become one.

If…

He inhaled a deep breath. “Everything has been planned. The rate of success has to be a lot higher than the rate of failure…The Navy is in charge of overseeing Yanping Island. The official registrar of the Navy, Dou Huainan who has been in Yanping Island for a long time is already one of my men. Dou Huainan will let the 2,000 water bandits into the island in advance.”

Bai Shangnian smiled and said, “And I am not involved at all in the planning of the training. I know about Zhuang Yong’s arrangements. Precisely because Zhuang Yong’s plan could not get past Dou Huainan, when Zhuang Yong looked for me to discuss, I rejected him. I gave the excuse that adapting according to changing circumstances is the best way to train soldiers. This is for the sake of not being implicated when His Majesty investigates this matter. I am not the one who planned it, and I was not in the know. So…”

He looked at Zhang Baihe and said, “So, you have to continue contacting those water bandits. I will give you 10,000 taels of silver. That money is enough for you to bribe the head of those water bandits. Moreover, you will have a bright future. As long as you deceive them and make them believe that the drill is happening for the purpose of incorporating them into their test. And convince them that if they perform well enough they will be able to become combat soldiers.”

Zhang Baihe said, “But that is almost impossible. The moment we get to Yanping Island, everything will be exposed. How will the water bandits truly dare to kill Zhuang Yong?”

“Then that depends on how capable you are – how you are able to make the water bandits believe that Zhuang Yong is their target.”

Bai Shangnian said, “Zhuang Yong’s plan is that Shen Leng will inevitably find him immediately. As long as he gets captured, it would mean that they’ve won. Shen Leng does not have a lot of soldiers. This is the only chance. Hence, he does not plan to be in the Navy’s camp, but be on Mount Hulu on the south part of Yanping Island. He will not bring more men with him because he needs to let make Shen Leng convinced that he is in the Navy’s camp.

“I believe you will have a way to charge up to Mount Hulu and kill Zhuang Yong. As for how you are going to get those water bandits to trust your words, that is your own problem. After this is done, I will give you at least 50,000 taels of silver for you to live incognito for a period of time. Once everything blows over, I will go over to Mu Xiaofeng’s Navy and hold a post. Mu Xiaofeng happens to need people. Think about how important your position will be and how bright and beautiful your future will be.”

Zhang Baihe gritted his teeth and asked, “General, are you certain that after Zhuang Yong dies, Mu XIaofeng will be promoted and become the commander?”

“If not, then what?”

Bai Shangnian laughed, “If Mu Zhaotong is not confident of that at all, why would he make such an arrangement?”

He became more and more relaxed. “After it happens, His Majesty will certainly conduct a strict investigation, but what can he find out? As long as Dou Huainan dies, this matter will come to an end because dead men tell no tales. The drill is planned by Zhuang Yong himself – don’t tell me that His Majesty is able to put the blame on me? And after I get to Yanping Island in a few days’ time, I will become seriously ill due to the fact that I’m unable to acclimatize, causing me to return to recuperate at the last moment…”

He took a deep breath to ease his nervous and tensed up self, which he tried his best to suppress with all his might. “Zhuang Yong will bring the generals of his five armies to Yanping Island with him. Hehe…”

Bai Shangnian stood up and patted Zhang Baihe on the shoulder. “Do you understand now?”

Zhang Baihe was absolutely not thinking about that. Instead, he was wondering why the great scholar would take such a risk?

The current emperor was extremely powerful. Could he truly not see through this seemingly detailed and exquisite scheme? Or perhaps His Majesty absolutely did not need to see through it; he only had to follow his judgment and act accordingly. Because he was the emperor of Great Ning, the number one person in the world. He could entirely overlook any crafty plots.

Hence, the beautiful ending that Bai Shangnian talked about would not happen at all.

Under His Majesty’s anger, would Mu Xiaofeng be able to become the commander of the Navy? Would Bai Shangnian truly come out unscathed?

Mu Zhaotong was an old subject who served three generations of emperors. How was it possible for Mu Zhaotong to not think of the things he had thought of?

Such a huge gamble – why?

All of a sudden, a more frightening thought appeared in Zhang Baihe’s mind. That thought frightened him so much that it made him tremble all over. In just a short while, the sweat on his back seeped through his clothes. He turned his head towards Bai Shangnian in a robotic way. He tried his best to breathe in order to prevent himself from going weak.

His Majesty was about to crown the crown prince…the great scholar was becoming less and less significant within the imperial court. Sooner or later, His Majesty would evict him from the cabinet of officials. Because that year, he supported Prince Li Xiaoran. All these years, step by step, little by little, His Majesty had been slowly stripping Mu Zhaotong of his authority. Was Mu Zhaotong not afraid?

What was the only solution to this?

It could only be…

“What’s wrong?”

After Bai Shangnian looked at Zhang Baihe’s facial expression, he frowned. “What are you thinking about?!”

Zhang Baihe quickly shook his head. “I, I…am only afraid.”

“Afraid?”

Bai Shangnian threw a glance at him doubtfully. “Did you think of something?”

“I am truly only afraid.”

“What are you afraid of?”

Zhang Baihe was sweating profusely. He needed to think of a reasonable explanation in order to quell Bai Shangnian’s murderous intent. Bai Shangnian had already suspected that he thought of that possibility. Perhaps he might silence him at this very moment.

“General, you said that…as long as Dou Huainan dies, there is no way for him to testify. But that’s the way it is, right? I…I’m afraid you will kill me too.”

His performance was perfect enough, and his excuse was good enough.

Bai Shangnian took a deep breath. “Let me set your mind at ease. Your father and the great scholar had some agreements. Hence, nothing will happen to you. If you’re dead, do you think your father will continue working with the great scholar?”

He smiled and said, “Rest assured. Your future is bright.”

Just at this moment, Bai Shangnian’s facial expression changed abruptly. “Who’s there!”

He rushed over to the window and looked outside. A person wearing his soldiers’ uniform swiftly fled out of the yard.

“Courting death.”

Bai Shangnian snorted. “Do you really think that this is a place where you can come and go as you please?”

He leapt out of the window and whistled; his men charged over from all directions immediately.