Chapter 679: That Moment, Escape from Death
On this day, the entire royal court was in unrest.
The same is true for Zhang Hui, he is worried.
After his two men died for their country, he was the only secret agent in the entire royal court.
Now that he has the message, how should he pass it on?
The caravan could now only trade outside the royal court, and Zhang Hui could foresee that there must be spies densely spread around the caravan. If he rashly contacted them, he would be walking into a trap.
What should I do?
Zhang Hui was anxiously thinking hard in his small tent.
Finally, he gritted his teeth and decided to take the risk.
Just force your way in!
The next day, Zhang Hui went to herd horses as usual.
He drove the horses slowly around the periphery of the royal court...
The so-called royal court is not fixed, that is, it lives wherever there is grass. When the grass here is almost eaten, it will move to another place.
Outside the royal court, the grass was green and in the distance one could see flocks of sheep floating in the air like white clouds.
Teams of cavalry were galloping back and forth around. These were the Khan's cavalry training and on guard.
Many seemingly scattered cavalrymen were watching everywhere. Before the battle, guarding against enemy spies and scouts was the top priority.
Zhang saw many nobles heading in one direction. A caravan had arrived from the Ming Dynasty the day before yesterday. It was said that they had brought many luxury goods, which attracted many nobles.
But that was not a pasture, and if he drove the horses there, it would definitely attract attention.
Zhang Hui rode his horse and shouted softly, leading the herd of horses to the designated pasture.
The grass was rich and the horses were enjoying the food comfortably. Zhang Hui left them behind and rode to the place of transaction.
From a distance, hundreds of people gathered around the caravan's stalls, making it look like a market.
After the nobles have finished their trade, it will be the turn of the common herdsmen. At that time, all that is left is some small things.
There were some herdsmen who looked like street urchins around, and Zhang Hui dared to bet that at least most of them were keeping an eye on the caravan and those who were trading.
Zhang Hui will wait patiently.
At the caravan, a few guys seemed busy, but they would glance outside from time to time.
This is the last caravan and also the last chance to contact Zhang Hui.
If he missed it, it would mean that Zhang would fail or even die.
Then the Jinyiwei's reconnaissance mission outside the Great Wall would be a complete failure.
Lu Bing said that even if all his men died, he had to find a day for Altan's army to send out troops.
Therefore, the guys are ready to sacrifice their lives for their country. If Zhang Hui does not show up in the next two days, they will risk sneaking into the royal court to get information.
But looking at the spies around, several guys knew that this move was almost suicidal.
——You guys are all dead, here I come!
These were Lu Bing's words, and it was these words that inspired the morale of the Jinyiwei who went far beyond the Great Wall.
The nobles have completed their transaction.
Then the herdsmen rushed forward.
A guy pretended to drink water and watched from behind.
The nobles who had finished shopping were outside sharing their shopping results with smiles on their faces. From time to time, they would look at the caravan with ferocious or greedy eyes.
Use money today, and tomorrow... we'll buy it for free.
Zhang Hui was in the crowd, following the flow of people, looking here and touching there.
"Do you have any clothes?" Zhang Hui was wearing rags, so it was normal to ask about clothes.
But even if the caravan brought clothes, they were luxury goods that ordinary herdsmen could not afford.
So no one at the two stalls in front paid any attention to him.
Zhang Hui walked forward slowly, his eyes turning, and suddenly his body froze.
He saw a familiar person.
The man saw him too.
Their eyes met, and both of them pretended to be calm.
Zhang Hui walked over nonchalantly and picked up a horseshoe. "What's the price?"
"Fifty dollars."
"Too expensive." Zhang Hui said dissatisfiedly: "If they dare to sell it for 50 coins in June, won't it be doubled in another month?"
In another month, the horses will be fat and strong, and it will be a good time to replace the horseshoes and go hunting.
The clerk lowered his head, his eyes flashing with ecstasy, but he said impatiently: "It's up to you to buy it or not."
"Let me take another look." Zhang Hui looked at the horseshoe carefully and shook his head, "Forget it."
He finally bought a needle and a spool of thread.
Turning around, he saw Jineng's counselor Ma Tianlu.
In return for being stabbed in the back, Tuotuo asked several Han people around Jineng to come to the trading point and keep an eye on it, including Ma Tianlu.
Zhang Hui's body stiffened instantly, and so did the guy.
Ma Tianlu!
A famous traitor!
Their code words might deceive others, but not this person.
When the Jinyiwei were designing the secret language, someone suggested that it should be more rigorous, but the secret language expert of the Jinyiwei sneered, saying that the people of Altan's tribe were all fighting men, many of whom could not understand the Ming language, let alone the secret language.
But this is Ma Tianlu!
Ming Dynasty scholars!
Jineng's chief strategist!
At this moment, Zhang Hui and his companions had only one thought: if they could return to the capital alive, they would definitely kill the secret language expert.
Zhang Hui looked at Ma Tianlu in despair.
The guy slowly reached under the stall, where there was a long knife.
Ma Tianlu looked at Zhang Hui and took a step back.
Zhang Hui gritted his teeth and was about to pounce, but Ma Tianlu came forward.
The two sides passed each other by.
Zhang Hui's whole body stiffened.
Ma Tianlu walked to the stall and picked up the horseshoe. "How much?" Shouldn't he step back and then shout a warning? The waiter froze and said, "Fifty cents!"
Ma Tianlu looked at the horseshoe and said, "It's a bit expensive, but it's made in the Ming Dynasty, so it's worth it."
He fished out his purse and took out a small piece of silver.
The clerk took the change and weighed it, "Two cents."
"Ok!"
Find money, get goods...
Children and old men are not deceived!
Ma Tianlu is gone.
Zhang Hui turned around and looked at the waiter, and both of them felt hot all over.
--go!
Zhang Hui nodded.
Ma Tianlu returned to Jineng with the horseshoe.
"I just sent someone to look for you," Jinen said. "They said you went out alone?"
"Yes."
"Tuotuo is afraid of you, remember to bring guards with you next time you go out." Jineng patted his shoulder, "You are my arm, remember that."
The corners of Ma Tianlu's mouth trembled slightly, "Yes."
Jineng took a sip of tea and looked down at the tea soup. "The Ming people were indeed skillful and intelligent. They could even make a refreshing tea out of tree leaves."
"Did you buy this yesterday?" Ma Tianlu asked.
Jineng and his group were the first group of people to purchase the caravan’s goods, and of course, Altan was the first.
"Yes!" Jineng nodded, took another sip of tea, and savored it carefully. "You like writing and drawing, so I asked someone to buy half a box of paper and pens, as well as ink sticks. They have been sent to you. Don't buy them yourself later..."
"Yes." Ma Tianlu lowered his head.
"In fact, I always thought you would follow Tuotuo." Jineng said with a smile, "After all, he is the adopted son of the Khan, has secret spies in his hands, and is deeply trusted by the Khan. But I am a frustrated person who is suspected by the Khan. If you go to join him, I will not be surprised at all."
"There is a saying in the Ming Dynasty." Ma Tianlu looked up, "Loyalty is unwavering."
Jineng's eyes were filled with emotion. "You are doing well." He cheered himself up and stood up, saying, "This time I am heading south... Actually, I am quite conflicted. I hope for a great victory, but I also hope for a great defeat. If I win, I will rule the Central Plains again. But I will definitely become a ghost under the sword of the Khan."
Ma Tianlu's lips moved, and Jineng shook his head: "Don't comfort me, I'm not that weak." He sighed: "If we lose a big battle, those tribes will surely complain and be ready to make a move... I will find an opportunity. What should I do?"
Ma Tianlu sighed, "Jineng, you are still young. If you fail in this southward expedition, as long as you can regain power, you can still complete your hard work and lead the Yuan Dynasty to rise again."
"Yes! I'm still young!" There was more pain in Jineng's eyes.
Ma Tianlu stared at him intently, hoping that he would nod... As a Han Chinese, his only chance to succeed was to rely on Ji Neng's counterattack.
But Altan was afraid of his nephew, and since he decided to go south, he asked him to stay in the royal court on the grounds that he could not do without Jineng.
"Jineng, if our troops were suddenly defeated in the battle..." Ma Tianlu's voice was tempting.
"The army will inevitably collapse." Jinen's voice was faint, "I want to, too. But...", his brows suddenly showed a firm look, "No, I can't!"
Ji Neng's voice gradually became firm. "When my father was alive, he mentioned the glory of the Yuan Dynasty countless times. He said that he was willing to die in exchange for the Yuan Dynasty's return to rule the Central Plains. I can't ruin the situation for my own selfish reasons, absolutely not!"
Ma Tianlu sighed in his heart.
"You mean well!" Jineng patted Ma Tianlu on the shoulder, "I will use other means to take back everything I have!"
"I forgot one thing." Ma Tianlu turned around and called more than ten riders to follow him, and galloped away.
He rushed to the transaction site, only to find that the guy was gone.
As for Zhang Hui, it would be difficult to find this person unless he turned the royal court upside down.
Ma Tianlu looked at the south with complicated eyes.
He was a scholar in the Ming Dynasty, but now he has become an adviser to Altan's nephew.
The secret code words of the two wise men could deceive others, but not him.
What? Fifty cents at the end of June. Wouldn't it double in a month?
Horseshoes are such valuable items, yet their sales price doubled in a month.
The most important thing here is one month later.
The date that Altan Khan finally decided to send troops was more than a month later.
The end of July and the beginning of August, less than ten days apart.
A surprise attack...I'm afraid it's impossible.
Ma Tianlu didn't know what happened to him at that moment, and he actually watched the two Ming spies escape calmly.
He turned around and looked at Wang Ting.
Suddenly he chanted loudly.
“…Those who left me, yesterday’s day cannot be kept. Those who disturbed my heart, today’s day is filled with worries… Draw a sword to cut the water, the water will flow even more; drink to dispel sorrow, the sorrow will only be more sorrowful; drink to dispel sorrow, hahahaha!”
Zhang Hui and two Jinyiwei secret agents were galloping on their horses.
A question left the three of them quite confused.
Did Ma Tianlu understand the code word or not?
If you understand, why don’t you take action?
I didn't understand. This strategist is really not that good.
The three men were worried about being hunted down, so they kept urging their horses to gallop faster... These were the horses of Ma Tianlu's employer, and most of them were abandoned along the way due to their relentless urging.
When they encountered the first group of Ming army scouts, the three Jinyiwei spies, who felt they had escaped death, could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.
He then entered the city, and the news reached the general Zhang Da, who immediately ordered a fast horse to go to the capital to report the news.
"We'll change the horses but not the men. Tell the capital that Altan will be heading south at the end of July!"
(End of this chapter)
