This was an ancient custom: ringing the bell when opening the city gates at dawn, beating the drum when closing them at dusk, and hence it was called the morning bell and the evening drum.
As the city gate was about to close, Peng Fu suddenly shouted, "Hold on!"
The city guards were startled, but then they saw Peng Fu. Peng Fu directly tossed them a small ingot of two taels, asking, "Have you seen Zheng Chuan?"
The city guard caught the ingot and was immediately overjoyed. Today really was a good day.
Just a moment ago, Zheng Chuan had left the city and given them a small ingot, and now they had received another.
With this thought, the city guard said, "I have seen him, he just left the city not long ago."
Upon hearing this, Peng Fu continued, "Which direction did he go?"
The guard hesitated slightly. Zheng Chuan had given him money and told him not to disclose the direction to anyone.
As the guard hesitated, Chen Jie tossed him another two-tael small ingot. Upon seeing the money, the guard thought apologetically, Mr. Zheng, you just didn’t give as much.
Immediately, he pointed in a direction and said, "Over there!"
Chen Jie and another person directly chased after him on horseback, but after running a distance, Chen Jie pulled the horse’s reins.
Peng Fu, upon hearing this, looked at Chen Jie and asked, "What’s wrong, Fifth Master?"
"Something’s not right."
Chen Jie said, "Zheng Chuan gave money to the guard to keep a secret. Do you think he could keep it?"
"No way to keep it. These soldiers have always been ’he who gives milk is the mother’. They’ll spill everything for money, and it’s impossible to rely on them," Peng Fu replied.
"That’s right, he knows it can’t be kept secret and still spends money; what is he trying to do?" Chen Jie asked in return.
"Confuse us?" Peng Fu thought of a possibility, to which Chen Jie said, "Correct, but it could also be that he’s deliberately letting us catch him. In this case, Uncle Fu, you chase from here, and I’ll chase from the other side. If you catch him, immediately send a signal and the other will come to reinforce."
After thinking for a moment, Peng Fu immediately agreed, and then the two set off separately, each leading six Eagle Guards.
At that moment, somewhere in a forest.
"Second Master, let’s rest a bit," suggested the steward who was following Zheng Chuan.
The steward answered, "Just two more miles ahead is Jixiang Temple."
Zheng Chuan said, "We’ve already traveled twenty miles from the city. Let’s rest for a while."
After Zheng Chuan finished speaking, the dozen or so trusted aides who were following all dismounted. Some of the aides even carried bundles with all sorts of gold and silver inside.
He was not planning to come back.
This affair had become too big. If it were only White Tiger Hall, it wouldn’t have mattered; he could have just switched to someone else’s service and avoided the disaster. But this time the pursuit was coming from Darugachi Mansion, which was like the sky in Mianshui County. With just one command from there, he would no longer be able to mix in the underworld or in legitimate circles.
So, he must flee Mianshui County. As for where to go?
He hadn’t decided yet, but with his own abilities, plus the capital he had accumulated over the years, finding a place to be a wealthy man wouldn’t be a problem at all.
Pity for the great business empire that he had worked hard for over so many years.
Damn Chen Jiusi, if it weren’t for your meddling, it wouldn’t have come to this!
Couldn’t you just die quietly like Fourth Brother?
While Zheng Chuan was thinking this, the steward had started a bonfire.
The surrounding guards were immediately happy to gather around, warming themselves by the fire.
Zheng Chuan frowned and said, "Don’t light a fire."
The steward replied, "Second Master, everyone’s tired, and in this freezing weather, let everyone warm up, so they can run better. Plus, Second Master, we have given them false information; they probably lost our trail long ago. There’s nothing to worry about."
Zheng Chuan hesitated for a moment, "We can only warm up a bit. Rest for a quarter of an hour, and then we must leave immediately."
"Thank you, Second Master."
The crowd expressed their gratitude, and the steward immediately said, "See? It’s still Second Master who cares for you. Get your spirits up, and if danger comes, be ready to lay down your lives for Second Master!"
While the crowd echoed this sentiment, the steward turned around, a cunning smile on his face.
"Fifth Master, there is a fire in the forest ahead!"
At that moment, high up on the mainland, an Eagle Guard with sharp eyesight spotted a fire being lit not far away in a forest, people warming themselves by it.
Chen Jie, upon hearing this, said, "Let’s go take a look."
He didn’t actually have much hope in his heart. After all, which fool would think of lighting a fire while fleeing for their lives?
Was Second Brother that foolish?
"Let’s go! Take a look," Chen Jie waved his hand, signaling the Eagle Guards to follow.
At that time, inside Mianshui City, Feng Xuan’s mansion.
Feng Xuan was leisurely sipping his soup at the time, with Fa Cai still holding the treasure sword behind him.
Si Xi was reporting the situation to him.
"Old Master, everything has gone as you predicted. The Hall Master became so enraged on hearing Wang Dafa’s narrative that his injuries acted up. He drank two bowls of ginseng soup before calming down."
"And he has ordered Chen Jie and Peng Fu to go capture Zheng Chuan."
"Zheng Chuan also knew his end was near and ran away ahead of time, leaving behind his entire household. Chen Jie and Peng Fu only stationed people around Zheng Chuan Mansion and did not embark on a massacre, so Zheng Chuan’s entire family was preserved."
"Heh... the compassion of a woman."
Upon hearing this, a sneer appeared on Feng Xuan’s face.
Si Xi continued, "Then they left the city in pursuit of Zheng Chuan. As per the plan, Old Zhou will make Zheng Chuan stop and rest on the road and light a bonfire to attract Chen Jiusi and the others. He will then quietly leave once Chen Jiusi and his party arrive."
After hearing this, Feng Xuan said, "Hmm, Fa Cai."
"You head out of the city. None of the people around Second Brother can be left alive."
Si Xi said, "Old Master, Old Zhou is utterly loyal to you."
"Oh? How so? Loyal enough to die for me?"
Feng Xuan glanced at Si Xi, "Would you be willing to die for me?"
"Naturally, naturally I would," Si Xi replied. Upon hearing this, Feng Xuan said, "If you’re willing, then there’s nothing more to say."