Chapter 57: Chengdu Needs a Slaughter

Liu Chen’s fingers gently tapped on the desk, producing a rhythmic, soft sound as if echoing the rapidly turning thoughts in his mind. Zhang Chun stood respectfully with his hands lowered, not daring to draw a deep breath, feeling that the air in the study had suddenly grown several degrees colder, carrying a rust-like chill.

"Gathered at Qiao Zhou’s residence... Half an hour later, Xu You summoned the core members separately for a clandestine meeting." Liu Chen slowly repeated Zhang Chun’s report, the corners of his mouth curling into an icy arc, though the smile failed to reach his eyes. He sneered, "Good, very good indeed. It seems yesterday’s court assembly did not wake them up; instead, it has driven them to desperation."

He raised his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a blade, locking onto Zhang Chun as he shook his head and said, "You have done well. But it is not enough. I want to know specifically what they said, what they planned, when and where, and who they intend to use! I want to see the shape of the venomous fangs they are about to spit from their throats."

A chill struck Zhang Chun’s heart, and he immediately bowed. "This subordinate understands! I have already managed to bribe a servant responsible for tea and miscellaneous tasks at the Qiao estate, but he cannot enter the inner hall’s core area and can only eavesdrop on some movements at the periphery. The private courtyard where Xu You later gathered everyone is extremely heavily guarded, making it difficult for our men to approach for now. This subordinate will definitely dispatch more manpower and spare no cost to pry open their mouths!"

"It is not about sparing no cost; it is about using your brain." Liu Chen stood up, walked over to the window, and looked at the swaying shadows of the trees in the courtyard outside, saying faintly, "Xu You, Linghu Sheng... These people have entrenched themselves in Yizhou for many years, with deep roots, and there is no shortage of private armies and retainers within their clans. If they truly dare to commit acts of treason, absolutely more than just a few people will be involved. I want you to be like quicksilver, penetrating every crevice. Their mansions, private courtyards, the taverns and singing houses they frequent, even their most favored concubines and most trusted retainers... you must find a way to infiltrate them all."

He turned around, his tone calm yet carrying unquestionable pressure, and said flatly, "Zhang Chun, I am giving you authority and I am giving you gold and silver. In the shortest time possible, you must extend the tentacles of the Embroidered Uniform Envoys into every corner of this city, into every crevice that might conceal a conspiracy. What I want is not a warning that comes only when the blade is already at my neck; I want to extinguish their intentions in the palm of my hand the very moment those thoughts arise, while they are still hesitating and trembling!"

"This subordinate obeys! I will attend to it immediately and will not fail Your Highness's trust!" Zhang Chun felt a heavy pressure on his shoulders, but also a surge of excitement from being deeply trusted.

"The late emperors were benevolent and kind, and disdained to use such methods, but now our Great Han is tottering in the wind and rain, and we do not know how many enemies are hidden in the shadows. Therefore, the Embroidered Uniform Envoys are different from before, and you must understand this."

Liu Chen looked at the other man and admonished him.

Whether it was Liu Bei or Liu Shan, they had always treated their ministers quite well. Although the Embroidered Uniform Envoys had existed for over four hundred years in the Great Han, in the hands of Liu Bei and his son, their function had been reduced merely to personal protection, with even their intelligence-gathering capabilities drastically cut down.

The once-renowned Embroidered Uniform Envoys had become nothing more than a hollow shell.

The current Liu Chen wanted to restart the Embroidered Uniform Envoys and forge them into a ferocious beast akin to the Brocade Guard, the Eastern Depot, and the Western Depot.

"Go." Liu Chen waved his hand and instructed, "Remember, secrecy is the primary directive. I do not want to startle the snake in the grass; what I want is to uproot them entirely."

Zhang Chun bowed once more, silently withdrew from the study, and quickly vanished into the shadows.

Liu Chen remained alone in the room, the calmness on his face gradually fading, replaced by an icy intent to kill. He walked over to the wall, his fingers brushing across the hanging map of Yizhou, and finally rested on the location of Chengdu City.

"It seems Chengdu still lacks a round of bloodshed!" he muttered to himself, cold light flashing in his eyes.

One didn't need to guess to know what Qiao Zhou, Xu You, and the others were planning. Since they could not control the court affairs, they would resort to drastic measures, striking at the root by assassinating him directly—that would be far more satisfying.

Over the next two days, Chengdu appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents surged violently beneath. The Embroidered Uniform Envoys under Zhang Chun's command spread outward like a disturbed spiderweb with unprecedented efficiency and secrecy. Paved with gold and silver, using coercion and enticement, minor officials, servants, and even idlers wandering the streets who were usually ignored by various factions all became informants for the Embroidered Uniform Envoys. An invisible and meticulous intelligence network was rapidly woven under Liu Chen's will.

...

Late on the third night, Zhang Chun once again appeared silently in Liu Chen's study.

"Your Majesty." Zhang Chun's voice carried a hint of fatigue, but even more sharpness, as he reported, "It has been verified. Xu You, Linghu Sheng, and seventeen others are preparing to use the private soldiers and servants of their estates to ambush Your Majesty."

Liu Chen raised a hand to signal him to continue.

"They have already assembled about nine hundred death-defying warriors, hidden in three strongholds within the city. Linghu Sheng has indeed mobilized his trusted men, planning to control the western gate garrison for one hour on the night of the operation. They are frantically gathering powerful bows and hard crossbows, and have even obtained at least five military-standard crossbows through private channels." Zhang Chun spoke at a steady pace, but the content was shocking.

"Their plan is to set up an ambush at a secluded spot during Your Majesty's next late-night return, and assassinate you with a hail of arrows. The timing will likely be within the next two nights; they seem to be waiting for the occasion when you leave the palace the latest."

Hearing this, Liu Chen showed neither joy nor anger on his face, only saying indifferently, "Understood. The list of those involved in the conspiracy, the hiding places of the death warriors, and the sources of the crossbows—compile them in detail and give them to Gu. How is the expansion of the Embroidered Uniform Envoys progressing?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, forty-seven reliable men have been initially recruited, all of whom have their uses, and they are currently undergoing intensive training. However, time is short, and I fear it is not yet flawless."

"No matter. After this matter, you will receive more resources. Continue to expand; your gaze need not be limited to court officials. The marketplace, military camps, and even the jianghu can all be planted with agents. What Gu wants is for every whisper and stir within and outside Chengdu to reach my ears." Liu Chen's tone was resolute.

"This time, we shall use them to test our blades."

"Understood!" A fanatical reverence flashed in Zhang Chun's eyes.

"Step down. Order our men to closely monitor all targets, but by no means startle the snake. Await Gu's command."

"Yes!"

After Zhang Chun withdrew, Liu Chen paced to the window and looked out into the heavy night. The lights of Chengdu flickered sporadically, as if concealing countless restless conspiracies.

"Someone come, summon Deng Zhong and Zhuge Chong to see Gu!"

Liu Chen's cold voice echoed within the grand hall.

"Issue the order," he said without turning back, his voice clearly reaching the captain of the personal guards standing at attention by the door.

"Tomorrow's entourage and regalia shall remain as usual, but the carriage is to be fitted with leather shields and soft armor. Everything else stays unchanged."

"As you command!" The guard captain replied in a low voice and departed swiftly.

Liu Chen sat back down at his desk, picked up his brush, and lightly dotted a point on one of the items of the new governance outline, which read: "Rectify official discipline and thoroughly investigate private armies."

"Let it begin tomorrow. The sharp sword leaves its sheath."

He spoke softly, a sharp light instantly erupting in his eyes, like a bright sword about to be drawn, waiting for the moment to taste blood. The night grew ever deeper.