Chapter 49: Growing Prestige

After leaving the residence of the Duke Mu’s Mansion, the group walked along two streets before they began to speak.

Master Xuan Zhen said to Ma Jun, "Chief, your tactic of advancing by retreating was truly formidable. From the start, you left Bai Hanfeng speechless!"

"There’s nothing to be proud of," Ma Jun shook his head. "Originally, I wanted to demand justice from them, but who could have guessed that Brother Bai would die? Now that things have come to this, our plan to avenge Brother Xu must be abandoned. What do you all think?"

"We’ll follow your lead, Chief," said Feng Jizhong. "The two of them ganged up on Brother Xu, using vicious methods and ignoring the codes of the martial world. Now that Bai Hansong is dead, we can’t make trouble for them anymore."

When they returned to their hidden base at the pharmacy, they discovered traces of a fight.

Mao Shiba and Guan Shiji, along with a group of brothers from the Greenwood Hall, rushed out from inside. First, they greeted Ma Jun, and then Mao Shiba hurriedly reported, "Chief, just now a group of people sneaked over, trying to abduct Brother Xu. If you hadn’t sent us here to care for him, things would have gone terribly wrong!"

Upon questioning further, they learned that this incident stemmed from the previous conflict between the Bai brothers and Xu Tianchuan. That day, they had first driven off a few of Wu Sangui’s men together, then fell into a heated argument and fought.

The ones who tried to abduct Xu Tianchuan this time were Wu Sangui’s henchmen. Fortunately, with Mao Shiba, Guan Shiji, and the brothers present, disaster was averted.

Two incidents in succession—one deftly resolved by Ma Jun, the other prevented by foresight—made these men of Greenwood Hall begin to trust Ma Jun.

Seizing the opportunity, that evening Ma Jun invited everyone to his home for a gathering. As before, he gave each of them a generous reward in silver before they left, sending them off in great spirits.

The next morning, Ma Jun, rarely, went to the Greenwood Hall base to chat idly with the brothers. Usually, their activities were limited to gathering information, and in the capital they dared not make any big moves.

The previous events had changed their views of Ma Jun, and now they clustered around him, eager to talk.

Suddenly, Mao Shiba hurried in from outside, skipping the usual greetings, and whispered something in Ma Jun’s ear.

Ma Jun’s expression changed sharply after he heard, frowning for a moment. He gazed at everyone and said, "Brothers, Eighteen has brought important news! Many from Duke Mu’s Mansion have arrived in the capital this time. They’re planning something big!"

"Oh? What is it?"

"They’ve heard that Wu Sangui’s son is here. They intend to impersonate Wu Sangui’s men and assassinate Kangxi, to frame Wu Sangui!"

"The heroes of Duke Mu’s Mansion, truly righteous!" Li Shili exclaimed. "An excellent plan!"

Ma Jun shook his head and said, "Brothers, that’s not quite right. They’re going to the palace to assassinate Kangxi—a mission with no hope of survival. It’s a gamble for their lives! Moreover, Eighteen has learned that Duke Mu’s Mansion plans to engrave Wu Sangui’s name on their clothes and weapons, hoping to frame him. But Kangxi, though young, is unlikely to be fooled! In the end, they’ll lose everything."

Xuan Zhen pondered for a while and nodded, "The Chief is indeed wise. If Wu Sangui were really planning to assassinate Kangxi, why would his men leave their own names behind? And with Wu Yingxiong currently in the capital, if they truly intended to assassinate the emperor, wouldn’t they at least get his son out first?"

"Exactly!" Ma Jun agreed. "Though we of the Heaven and Earth Society and Duke Mu’s Mansion have been at odds over Brother Xu, we all strive for the restoration of the Ming. How can we stand by and watch them sacrifice themselves in vain?"

"Indeed!" Mao Shiba was the first to respond.

The group exchanged glances. Li Shili said, "Chief, what’s your plan? If we rush over to advise them, I fear the brothers of Duke Mu’s Mansion will not only refuse our help but resent us."

Duke Mu’s Mansion had been granted the title King of Yunnan since the days of Zhu Yuanzhang, guarding the region for generations. At the end of the Ming, the last lord, Mu Tianbo, loyally protected the Southern Ming emperor until his death in battle—a lineage of loyal service.

Now, in the eighth year of Kangxi’s reign, Duke Mu’s Mansion still wielded great power in Yunnan.

Especially in the world of The Deer and the Cauldron, organizations like Heaven and Earth Society and Duke Mu’s Mansion were not mere gangs, but forces with armies.

The Heaven and Earth Society itself was formed from nearly ten thousand soldiers left behind by Zheng Chenggong after his failed campaign against the Qing. Several of its chiefs had been commanding officers.

That was why Ma Jun had worked so hard to join the Heaven and Earth Society. Now, with an opportunity to earn the favor of Duke Mu’s Mansion, he would not let it slip away.

Ma Jun spoke resolutely, "All Han people are one family! The brothers of Duke Mu’s Mansion must be saved, no matter what! But as Brother Li said, if we approach them rashly, they’ll likely refuse to listen and even turn hostile. So, when they attempt to assassinate Kangxi, I’ll go in as well—just to save them! This mission is perilous. Let Brother Li and Brother Guan decide who will accompany me and who will stay outside to support."

The Qing had been settled in the capital for years. To attempt an assassination in the imperial palace—given the martial prowess of those in The Deer and the Cauldron—would almost certainly end in tragedy.

Perhaps only Yuan Chengzhi, who had fled overseas, could escape unscathed, or the Princess Changping, Master Nine Difficulties, who knew the palace well, could succeed.

The Greenwood Hall brothers understood that attempting assassination in the palace was a near-certain death, and even just rescuing someone and escaping was fraught with danger. Ma Jun tossed the decision to Guan Shiji and Li Shili, and both felt the weight of it.

"Count me in!" Mao Shiba shouted, "Having taken up the cause to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming, we’ve tied our lives to our waists! Chief is right, all Han are one family! If we don’t support each other, how can we ever drive out the Manchus?"

With Mao Shiba’s bold declaration, the Greenwood Hall men, genuinely admiring Ma Jun, even if some feared death, now suppressed their concerns and all called out loudly to join.

"Excellent!" Ma Jun slapped the table, delighted. "You brothers have not disappointed me! We live and die together! Drive out the barbarians, restore China!"

This slogan originated at the end of the Yuan dynasty, when Zhu Yuanzhang issued it in his proclamation to rally the troops from Ying Tian Prefecture to the north.

The men of Greenwood Hall, knowing its history, felt their blood stir with patriotism.

Ma Jun continued, "I’m very pleased that you all fear not death! However, we must not throw our lives away needlessly. Only a few should enter the palace, led by me, with selected brothers. The rest will wait outside to support us. Once we escape, immediate cover and erasure of our tracks are vital to prevent the Qing soldiers from pursuing. If we succeed, we’ll strike another big blow and make the Qing court suffer!"

Li Shili, the seasoned veteran, understood Ma Jun’s intention—to have only those with strong martial skills enter the palace, leaving the less skilled outside. But he refrained from saying so directly, lest anyone feel slighted. He prepared to choose the men himself, but first tried to persuade Ma Jun not to risk himself.

Ma Jun, however, was unconcerned for his own safety. With his tailcoat—a piece of black technology—he could run as fast as a car, leaving the guards exhausted and unable to catch him. Moreover, leading this mission would greatly enhance his prestige in the Heaven and Earth Society.

Going downstairs to buy a pack of cigarettes, I’ll continue writing when I return. Please, everyone, give me some recommendations!