Chapter 993: Receiving the Invitation

Editor: Henyee Translations

Tang Camp

Tang Jinghong reviewed all the letters and books that Chu Qingzhi had sent him, and then pulled out a map from among them.

The map was marked with many symbols, but without any explanations, it was unclear what they indicated.

After studying it for a while, he realized that the map pinpointed the cultivation sites of poppy plants.

With this information, there was no longer any need for the laborious search for poppy fields.

“Summon someone!”

A guard entered, “General?”

Tang Jinghong looked up at the guard, “Call Meng Shengdong here.”

“Yes.”

Meng Shengdong was training soldiers in the drill ground and hurried over upon hearing the summons, “General, is there a discovery?”

Tang Jinghong handed him the map, “I’m assigning you ten thousand soldiers. Take them to these locations marked on the map and eradicate the poppy fields.”

Destroying the roots would effectively end the production of the opium.

Meng Shengdong, instantly invigorated, responded, “Yes, General, I will do my utmost.”

Tang Jinghong instructed, “If you encounter danger en route, avoid engagement. Your only task is to destroy the poppy fields.”

“Yes.” Meng Shengdong bowed and took the map, immediately mustering troops and heading to the nearest marked location.

Shortly after, a messenger came in, “General, a letter and an invitation have been sent from the Wei Residence.”

Tang Jinghong instructed, “Bring them here.”

The messenger placed the items on the table in front of Tang Jinghong.

Tang Jinghong read the letter first and then the invitation.

The old master of the Wei family was celebrating his birthday and had invited Tang Jinghong to the celebration, knowing he was in the eastern border. The banquet was scheduled for three days later.

“Has the messenger left?”

The messenger replied, “Not yet.”

Tang Jinghong, with a serious expression, said, “Tell him that I will definitely attend in three days.”

The messenger bowed, “Yes.”

…

The “Left Emissary” received a letter, “Tang Jinghong has ordered the destruction of the poppy fields, immediately send someone to intercept.”

By this time, Chu Qingzhi had already arrived in Shu City. The enemy wanted him to stop Tang Jinghong, indicating that Jinghong had already started his move.

He drafted a reply, “Tang Jinghong is showing his sharp edges; we should retreat, or we may face complete defeat.” He then had the message sent back.

The recipient, the Right Emissary, nearly exploded with rage upon reading Chu Qingzhi’s response, then personally went to the Left Emissary’s residence to confront him.

The Right Emissary stormed in, “What do you mean by this? Are you trying to boost their morale and diminish our own? Or do you no longer listen even to the master?”

The “Left Emissary” replied calmly, “If you had spent this time resisting them, you would have been at the front by now. Right Emissary, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. Let me tell you, I won’t fall for your tricks.”

Such tasks, even the real Left Emissary wouldn’t take up, as they’re thankless and only lead to loss.

The Right Emissary argued, “This is what Yun Ye wants.”

Yun Ye? Was he finally going to meet Yun Ye? Chu Qingzhi’s interest peaked, “Unless Yun Ye himself orders me, I won’t follow your instructions.”

The Right Emissary, enraged, blurted out, “Are you planning to rebel?”

The “Left Emissary” quickly responded, “I have no such intention. Don’t spread false accusations. Right Emissary, you’d better go and carry out Yun Ye’s orders instead of wasting time with me. I won’t go.”

The Right Emissary squinted, “Are you really not going?”

“Not going.” The “Left Emissary” was adamant.

“Humph…” The Right Emissary stormed off.

Ceng Huo emerged from the shadows, “You’ve really offended the Right Emissary now.”

Chu Qingzhi wanted exactly that effect, “Good, let the Yun Organization fall into chaos. Once they’re chaotic, we can fish in troubled waters.”

Ceng Huo, looking at Chu Qingzhi’s expression, rubbed his nose and mourned for the people of the Yun Organization.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

A maid entered, bowing respectfully and presenting something, “Sir, someone delivered an invitation, and they insisted that you must attend.”

The “Left Emissary” opened the envelope and invitation, nodding after reading, “Tell the messenger that I will certainly attend.”

“Yes.” The maid exited.

Ceng Hu glanced over the items in Chu Qingzhi’s hand, “What are you attending?”

Chu Qingzhi casually tossed the items onto the table, not particularly interested, “The birthday banquet of Old Master Wei.”

“Why would Old Master Wei’s birthday banquet invite the Left Emissary of the Yun Organization?” Ceng Huo was puzzled.

Chu Qingzhi suddenly remembered that the Left Emissary’s public identity was — the second largest grain merchant in Shu City. After a moment of thought, he entered the room’s secret chamber, with Ceng Huo following him.

Inside the secret chamber, the real Left Emissary sat motionless in a chair, like a marionette.

Chu Qingzhi pulled up a chair next to him and sat down, “Left Emissary, tell me about your life.”

The Left Emissary had once managed the Tao family’s grain business in Shu City, with a wife, three concubines, a son, and four daughters.

Initially, the Tao family was a small merchant, but their business expanded rapidly after he joined the Yun Organization, eventually rising to the second largest grain merchant in Shu City. Naturally, this also provided many conveniences for the Yun Organization.

Having gained status, he connected with Shu City’s officials and rich merchants, gaining some prominence in local circles.

To curry favor with the powerful, the Left Emissary promised his second daughter to a son of the Wei family. However, the Wei family’s son was reluctant, improving their business relationship but not much else, as the Wei family didn’t truly respect the Tao family.

The invitation should have been sent early, but it arrived just before the birthday, showing how little the Wei family cared.

After hearing the Left Emissary’s story, Chu Qingzhi knew how to handle the situation, “Let’s go.”

Ceng Huo nodded, and they left the secret chamber.

Just as they stepped out, a knock sounded, “Father, it’s Qiuyan, may I come in?”

The “Left Emissary” settled back into the chair, his voice emotionless, “Come in.”

Tao Qiuyan entered, a fifteen-year-old girl in a pink dress, pretty and petite with a round face. “Greetings, father.”

The “Left Emissary” maintained a stoic expression, “What is it?”

Tao Qiuyan directly knelt down, her voice firm, “Father, I beg you to dissolve my engagement with Wei’s third young master. I don’t want to marry him.”

“Why not marry?” the “Left Emissary” asked.

Tao Qiuyan grew emotional, “That third young master indulges in gambling, drinking, and opium. I don’t want to marry such a man.”

“Opium?” the “Left Emissary” inquired further.

Tao Qiuyan frowned deeply, “Yes, he doesn’t just visit opium dens; they buy opium to use at home. My maid saw his servant purchasing opium.”