stonecrandall Chapter 1134 Fan Xian, a late-night visit!
Chapter 1134 Fan Xian, a late-night visit!
Similarly, if Ku He, Si Gu Jian, and Ye Liu Yun, three of the four grandmasters, were to attack together, Gao Yao would be safe, but it would be difficult to capture them all. And if even one of them escaped, the consequences would be dire.
"It's still too slow..." Gao Yao muttered to himself.
Over the past six years, he has transferred more than 100,000 people from the original world of China to this new world. These people have infiltrated through various means: some have become merchants, some have become craftsmen, some have become farmers, and hundreds have even entered the lower and middle levels of the bureaucratic systems of various countries by forging identities.
They were distributed throughout the Qing Kingdom, Northern Qi, Dongyi City, and even various tribes on the grasslands, forming a vast and secretive intelligence network. Which minister in the capital hosted whom last night, what case the Northern Qi Imperial Guards were investigating, how many new disciples Si Gu Jian had taken on in Dongyi City… this information was gathered daily through special channels and delivered to Gao Yao.
However, the development of military force has lagged far behind the expansion of intelligence.
Under Gao Yao's command, only two people truly reached the eighth rank: Ran Min and Lü Bu.
Ran Min was transferred from the Huaxia world six months ago. Originally a fierce general during the Five Barbarian Invasions, he was renowned for his bravery and nicknamed "The Butcher." After arriving in this world, Gao Yao taught him a modified version of the Overlord Spear Technique and external martial arts, which, combined with this world's true qi cultivation system, allowed him to break through to the peak of the eighth rank in just six months. On the battlefield, once Ran Min charges, his momentum is overwhelming; even ordinary ninth-rank beginner experts would find it difficult to withstand his attack.
The other was Lü Bu, a gifted general of the Three Kingdoms. Although his training time was short, he had already reached the eighth rank, and his combat strength was no less than that of the peak of the eighth rank. Gao Yao specially created a set of "Ghost God Halberd Technique" for him, which, together with Red Hare—although this horse was a fine steed with a similar coat color to impersonate it—made him truly invincible on the battlefield.
In addition, there are eight seventh-rank martial artists, thirty-four sixth-rank martial artists, one hundred and seven fifth-rank martial artists, and over three hundred fourth-rank martial artists. These individuals form the core military force of Gaoyao, dispersed throughout various regions to carry out special missions.
The broader foundation consists of 30,000 out of the 100,000 Chinese people who received systematic martial arts training. However, due to limitations in aptitude, resources, and time, most of them only reach the second or third rank. Martial artists at this level can easily defeat ten or eight ordinary people, but their internal energy is limited, making them unsuitable for prolonged battles. At the military level, this level of combat power is far from sufficient.
“So I have to go in person…” Gao Yao closed the window and returned to the table.
A map of the capital of the Qing Kingdom was spread out on the table, densely marked with various symbols. The imperial palace, the Censorate, various government departments, the residences of major families... and the Guangxin Palace of Princess Li Yunrui.
Li Yunrui.
Gao Yao lightly tapped the location of Guangxin Palace on the map with his finger, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
This woman is ambitious, capable, and possesses an almost obsessive determination—she wants to seize power, to take revenge on Emperor Qing, and to prove to everyone that she is stronger than the already deceased Ye Qingmei.
Jealousy and hatred are the most powerful forces that can manipulate people's hearts.
Three days ago, Gao Yao delivered a gift to Li Yunrui through special channels: a copy of the case files detailing several salt smuggling cases recently investigated by the Second Bureau of the Censorate. These cases implicated several officials from the Crown Prince's faction. The day after the files were delivered, Li Yunrui dispatched men to seal off three estates outside the city belonging to the two officials, seizing 3,000 catties of smuggled salt and 80,000 taels of silver.
Gao Yao believed Li Yunrui would cooperate. Not only because of mutual benefit, but also because she had no other choice. Emperor Qing was already wary of her, Chen Pingping of the Censorate was constantly watching her, and both the Crown Prince and the Second Prince saw her as a threat. Li Yunrui needed an ally, an ally who could provide her with weapons in the shadows.
The best means of control is military deterrence.
The existence of a Grandmaster was enough to make Li Yunrui think twice before betraying him. Unless she was prepared to confess everything to Emperor Qing—but that would mean explaining her intelligence sources, her ambitions, and why she had been secretly contacting the mysterious forces. Given Emperor Qing's suspicious nature, Li Yunrui was well aware of the consequences of doing so.
“So, the pieces have already been placed…” Gao Yao said softly.
Just then, his brow twitched suddenly.
somebody is coming.
It wasn't a guard from the front yard, a waiter from the restaurant, or even someone Li Yunrui might have sent. This person's aura was extremely well concealed, almost blending into the night. If Gao Yao hadn't already reached the Grandmaster level and possessed far more acute spiritual senses than ordinary people, he probably wouldn't have been able to detect him.
The newcomer's footsteps were light, landing on the roof tiles like a cat treading on snow. The way the true energy circulated was very special, with a unique rhythm—not the common techniques of the Qing Kingdom, nor the methods of the Northern Qi or the Eastern Yi City.
Gao Yao's mind raced, and he had already guessed the identity of the visitor.
He yawned, deliberately making some noise, then slowly got up, put on his robe, and sat down at the round table in the center of the room. There was a pot of warm tea on the table, prepared by the servant before he went to bed. Gao Yao took out two teacups and slowly filled them.
The pale yellow tea soup rippled in the cup, and wisps of steam rose gently.
After doing all that, Gao Yao calmly said to the window, "Alright, come in. Don't stand out there!"
The sound was not loud, but it clearly penetrated the doors and windows and reached the ears of the person hiding under the eaves outside the window.
The figure outside the window visibly jolted.
After a brief hesitation, the window was gently pushed open, and a figure dressed in black nimbly vaulted into the room. The movements were clean and swift, landing silently, demonstrating the strength of at least an eighth-rank martial artist.
After the person stopped, they pulled down their mask.
It was a young face, about seventeen or eighteen years old, with delicate features, yet his eyes held a composure and wariness beyond his years. Most striking were his eyes—deep within them lay something indescribable, as if he had seen through the ways of the world, yet also seemed filled with curiosity about everything.
Fan Xian.
Gao Yao confirmed the name in his heart. The illegitimate son of Fan Jian, the Marquis of Sinan of Qing Kingdom, who had recently arrived in the capital from Danzhou. Ostensibly, he was there to attend a marriage engagement, but in reality… Gao Yao knew far more than the outside world did.
"Sit down." Gao Yao pointed to the chair opposite him and pushed a cup of tea over. "The night is cold and the dew is heavy. Have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up."
Fan Xian didn't move. His gaze swept across the room, finally landing on Gao Yao's face, his expression complex. There was inquiry, wariness, and even a hint of... doubt?
"You knew I would come?" Fan Xian finally spoke, his voice calm.
"I don't know." Gao Yao picked up his teacup and gently blew on it to cool it down. "But I know someone will come tonight. After all, the person behind Gao's Restaurant is Princess Li Yunrui; people will always be curious."
Fan Xian's eyes sharpened: "You admit to having met Li Yunrui?"
“I run a restaurant, and all who come are guests.” Gao Yao took a sip of tea. “Since Her Highness the Princess is honored to grace us with her presence, I will naturally treat her with the utmost hospitality. However, I’m afraid Young Master Fan’s late-night visit is not to inquire about the Princess’s whereabouts, is it?”