Chapter 40: The Matchmaker

  Jining has now become a den of the White Lotus Sect.

  The White Lotus Society has a long history, and the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, was originally a member of the White Lotus Society. After he came to power, he felt that the White Lotus Society was too dangerous, so he suppressed it. However, the White Lotus Society never truly disappeared, but instead survived tenaciously in various forms.

  But no matter how the name changes, the White Lotus Sect is still the White Lotus Sect.

  The White Lotus Sect has a leader, the leaders are all female, also known as the White Lotus Holy Mother or the Unborn Venerable Mother. Below her is the White Lotus Holy Maiden, with the White Lotus Envoys on either side. Further down are the incense masters of the Thirty-six Incense Halls, and then there are the sect's disciples.

  Jining Prefectural Government Office

  Bai Lian's left envoy, Li Qing Shan, entered the elegant hall under the guidance of two maids. The hall was divided into inner and outer rooms by a beaded curtain. Behind the curtain sat a slender figure. Li Qing Shan hastily knelt down and bowed his head to pay respects: "Your subordinate Bai Lian Left Envoy pays homage to the Master, wishing the Master eternal bliss and longevity rivaling that of Heaven."

  "Get up."

  A lazy and gentle voice came from behind the curtain.

  "Thank you, Master."

  Li Qing Shan then dared to stand up, respectfully standing on one side, not even daring to take a deep breath.

  A lazy and gentle voice asked: "Bai Lian Zuoshi, I heard that there is a good fellow named Liu Ba Dao who wants to join the gang?"

  "I was just about to report this matter to the Master." Li Qing Shan hastily replied, "I also need to report to the Master that this Brother Liu Dao has brought a tremendous piece of good news."

  "Oh, I don't know what good news?"

  "Liu Ba Dao's brother said that a batch of officials and soldiers are escorting a large quantity of ginseng, Dongzhu pearls, as well as gold and silver, which have already arrived at Luchang Town and will soon arrive in Jining."

  "It seems that this matter is true." The White Lotus Sect Master said, "Two days ago, I also received a message from Nanjing, saying that the Datong General Wang Pu had already escorted a large number of ginseng, Dongzhu and gold and silver to set off northward, and would arrive in Jining in no time, asking me to make preparations in advance."

  Li Qing said: "Master, Wang Pu has plundered a lot of gold, silver and jewels from Liaodong, we can't let him off easily."

  "Of course, we can't let it go, but Wang Kuo is not someone to be trifled with." The White Lotus Sect Master said, "Come, please invite the White Lotus Right Envoy and General Li and his wife to discuss matters at our residence."

  "I, your servant, humbly obey the law."

  Two maids took their leave.

  In less than a moment, under the guidance of the maid, a young couple entered the elegant hall, Yuan Shiming was short and stout, but the young couple were both exceptionally good-looking.

  Especially that young woman, not only is her face beautiful, but her figure is also stunning! The parts that should be bulging are bulging enough, the parts that should be thin are thin enough, and the parts that should be curved are curved enough. And that fiery red dress seems to have been tailor-made for her, outlining her perfect curves perfectly.

  And those big, bright eyes seemed as if they could speak, and were truly capable of luring a person's soul away.

  This young couple was none other than Li Yan and Hong Niangzi, the husband-and-wife team sent by the Rebel King Li Zicheng to assist the White Lotus Sect, accompanied by three thousand elite soldiers.

  "Under the White Lotus Society, Right Envoy Yuan Shi at the time knocked on the door to pay respects to the Master."

  "See the master."

  Yuan Shizhong, as usual, kowtowed and paid his respects, while Li Yan and Hong Niangzi just clasped their fists in a salute.

  "General Li and his wife are excused from the ceremonial greeting, as is Bai Lian's right-hand man." A soft, gentle voice came from behind the curtain, "I have asked you all to come here today because there is a matter of great importance that I wish to discuss with everyone."

  Li Yan said: "Please speak, Master."

  The White Lotus leader said, "I have received news that the Ming dynasty's Datong General Wang Pu has led a large contingent of officers and soldiers to arrive at Luzheng Town by waterway. The Ming army's warships are also carrying a large quantity of ginseng, Dongzhu pearls, gold, and silver. I plan to intercept this batch of goods and use them to recruit troops and buy horses. What do you gentlemen think?"

  Li Qing-shan and Yuan Shi-zhong respectfully replied: "Your subordinates will listen and follow the master's instructions."

  Li Yan thought for a moment and asked: "Master, I don't know how many government troops Wang Ku brought with him?"

  The White Lotus Sect leader smiled and replied: "Not many, only two thousand people."

  Li Yan asked: "I don't know how the Master plans to take action?"

  The White Lotus leader said, "I'm sure the government troops will be stationed in Luzhao Town tonight. To avoid a long and dreamy night, I'd like to ask General Li and his wife to lead their army to launch a surprise attack tonight. Of course, I'll also have the White Lotus left envoy lead 5,000 elite soldiers to coordinate with your actions."

  Li Yan furrowed his brow and remained silent. He was well aware of the combat strength of the White Lotus army. The more than 5,000 men under Li Qing Shan's command were not so much an army as a mob. In fact, it was not Li Yan and Hong Niangzi's 3,000 elite soldiers that had enabled the White Lotus bandits to capture Ji'ning?

  With Li Yan and Hong Niangzi's 3,000 elite soldiers, defeating the 2,000 government troops should be a piece of cake. The problem is that the commander-in-chief of this group of government troops is none other than Wang Pu, the Grand General of Datong under the Ming court!

  Wang Pu led a lone army deep into the Liaodong Peninsula, and his feat of destroying the old lair of Jianzhou and capturing the Jurchen chieftain Huang Taiji is now known throughout the land. Li Yan and Hong Niangzi naturally also had some knowledge of this, and when facing such a formidable opponent, they had to be careful at all times.

  Moreover, Wang Pu's government troops came by waterway, and the artillery on the warships of the government army was not vegetarian.

  The White Lotus Sect leader saw Li Yan and remained silent for a long time. In a soft voice, she asked: "What's wrong, General Li? Is there something troubling you?"

  Li Yan said, "Master, this Wang Pu is a formidable figure, and the warships of the government army also have extremely powerful cannons. Our army rashly goes to launch a surprise attack, I'm afraid it's very difficult to succeed. The little general thinks that in order to seize the huge wealth in Wang Pu's hands, we cannot do it by force but only by clever means."

  The White Lotus Sect leader said: "I don't know what kind of clever plan General Li has in mind?"

  Li Yan said, "The leader can send someone to secretly set up iron chains at the north and south water gates of Jining. Just wait for the government army to enter the city, then pull up these iron chains, and Wang Pu and his huge wealth will be trapped, even if they grow wings, they won't be able to fly away."

  "Indeed, General Li is not a name in vain." The White Lotus Sect Master said with a flattering tone, "White Lotus Left Envoy, White Lotus Right Envoy, did you both hear that? Follow General Li's instructions and immediately set up iron chains to block the river at the south and north water gates!"

  "Your subordinate humbly obeys the master's teachings and follows the law."

  Li Qing-shan and Yuan Shi-zhong responded in unison, then led the way out.

  The next day.

  Li Qing-shan and Yuan Shi-zhong were leading men to set up iron chains across the river when a scout reported that Wang Pu led government troops ashore at Luqiao Town, changing their route to march towards Qingzhou by land. Li Qing-shan and Yuan Shi-zhong did not dare to delay, hastily coming to report to the White Lotus Sect leader, who urgently summoned Li Yan and Hong Niangzi couple.

  Li Yan asked: "Master, you're in such a hurry to summon me, is something wrong?"

  The White Lotus Sect leader said: "General Li, the scout just reported that Wang Pu led the government troops to change their route and take the land road, rushing towards Qingzhou Prefecture."

  "What?" Li Yan exclaimed, "Has the government army changed its route to land?"

  "It seems that the news of our sect's capture of Jining has already reached Wang Pu, and he must have abandoned his boat and gone ashore to avoid our army's attack."

  Li Yan asked: "Is this news reliable?"

  "This news is absolutely reliable." Li Qing Shan patted his chest and said, "The brothers who were sent to Luqiao Town to gather information said that the government army moved dozens of large, heavy boxes from the ship, among which two boxes were accidentally knocked over, and what spilled out was all gold and silver, no mistake."

  Li Yan thought for a moment and still didn't feel at ease, so he asked again: "What about the naval fleet that escorted Wang Pu to Shandong?"

  Li Qing Shan said: "After Wang Pu's government troops escorted the prisoner cart and silver cart ashore, they returned to Jiangsu."

  Li Yan furrowed his brow and said: "So the government troops really plan to change their route?"

  The leader of the White Lotus Sect said: "The fat meat that has been sent to our doorstep cannot be allowed to fly away like this, I have decided to mobilize a large army to pursue them, and also ask General Li to send troops to assist."

  Li Yan clasped his fists and said: "The young general has come to assist at the behest of His Majesty, it is only right that I should do my best."

  "Good." The White Lotus Sect Master said with a gentle voice, "I will wait quietly in Jining for the good news."

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