Husband and Wife to Battle – Early Bird Gets the Worm
Kong Duan was dressed and sitting at his work desk before the first bird chirped in the morning. Officials who attended the imperial court rose at the wee hours of the morning. Some woke as early as eleven at night. That was why older officials had a habit of sleeping in when they didn't need to attend conferences as a means of catching up on lost sleep. Kong Duan was an exception to the popular practice. Kong Duan woke at the same time every day regardless of how late he turned in the previous night and repeated his daily procedures as if they were rituals he never grew tired of.
Kong Duan didn't light a candle in his study. He went over to the window and opened the bamboo window to allow sunlight in. He remarked, "You've arrived, Long Cheng."
Long Cheng awaited Kong Duan in the room for a long time already. One word from Kong Duan, and the former would immediately help Kong Duan fight for the throne.
Kong Duan found the sunlight too stimulating for his eyes, since he spent too long in the dark. His wrinkles represented all the thinking he did and paths he had walked in life. With a helpless smile, he remarked, "It's finally time."
Long Cheng took a moment to respond: "It is finally time to realise the dream?"
"Huh?" Kong Duan irritability fumed, "Did I tell you to respond? Where are Old Lie and Lu?"
Kong Duan's subordinate saluted him with a hold-fist salute: "They have set out should be arriving at Feiyun Hall as per the original plan. Lu Shangfei is reportedly ready."
"Everything is in place, then," commented Kong Duan, smiling confidently. He brushed his robe and commanded, "March!"
Kong Duan's group advanced toward Wuhua County.
Kong Duan's relations.h.i.+p with Secretary Lie and Lu was always tense. However, he didn't risk everything to a.s.sa.s.sinate the two. Firstly, the consequences would be dire if it was revealed he orchestrated it. His entire clan might be exterminated. Ambitions, ideals and politics were useless if he was dead. Secondly, despite differences in political stances, they served the Emperor. There was no reason to take the leap of fate and risk everything to a.s.sa.s.sinate officials of equal rank. Moreover, he was the representative of civil officials, Confucius' descendant and the Ministry of Rites' leader.
To circ.u.mvent the risks, Kong Duan sent a secret letter inviting Secretary Lie and Lu to Wuhua County. No matter how baffled or suspicious they were, a.s.sa.s.sination would never cross their minds. Liezu and Feng Sage Factions fought in the imperial court, true; however, n.o.body would expect Kong Duan would go as far as taking his compet.i.tors out via such drastic measures.
Once the targets arrived, Kong Duan intended to let Yang Lianhua and his adepts from Beijiang execute the mission. To counter Secretary Lie's combat prowess, he prepared poison beforehand as a countermeasure.
Once Yang Lianhua completed the job, Kong Duan planned to reveal the true ace up his sleeve: his secret army at Feiyun Hall. They would "clean up" the aftermath. Kong Duan would then cast all the blame onto Beijiang's men. Add Yang Lianhua a.s.sa.s.sinating Lu Xiazou beforehand to the equation, and he had a more convincing argument that Evil Spirits specifically targeted the imperial court's officials. As such, Yang Lianhua's conjecture of Kong Duan's plans was spot on for the most part. He, however, never thought Kong Duan would stick one in his back so fast.
Kong Duan's team arrived earlier than usual despite heading outer later than scheduled, as he rode the horses Yang Lianhua imported from Beijiang. Kong Duan had Yang Lianhua's three adepts, a broadsword wielder and two empty-fist fighters put on a performance. Once satisfied, he said, "Once I give the order, just execute the mission."
Secretary Lie and Lu arrived a while later. Sitting inside the main building, Kong Duan heard Secretary Lie come in: "What the heck is this place? It's more dead than dead. If I had my men with me, I'd burn this place down before it spooks people out."
When Secretary Lie saw Kong Duan sitting inside, he fumed, "You must be bored out of your skin on this cold day to be all the way out here. What's the big idea? Can't you say what you want to say at the capital? Man, I'm tired."
"Old Lie, shut it," said Secretary Lu, in a calm voice. "I've heard enough from you on the way here. Since Secretary Kong invited us out here, he will naturally provide us with an explanation. Are you going to die or something if you wait? Am I right, Secretary Kong?"
Secretary Lu was a man with white skin, a well-kept appearance, a tall nose and green eyes; he certainly didn't resemble someone from the Central Plain. That being said, his p.r.o.nunciation of the Hans' dialect was beyond perfect. Needless to say, his eyes were often a topic of discussion. He played Secretary Lie's strategist.
