824: Chapter 71: The Common Man’s Naive Dream Plan 824: Chapter 71: The Common Man’s Naive Dream Plan The repatriation work was smoother than expected, but the difficulty of recovery was somewhat beyond Wang Yunxiao’s expectations.
Those three older brothers who robbed the bank earlier, plus the huge commotion caused by He Lan, were already considered exceptionally skilled talents in Wang Yunxiao’s eyes.
And yet, there were even bigger experts.
A middle-aged uncle in his forties went to the Capital to assassinate the Emperor.
He actually managed to sneak into the Palace Gate and stayed inside for a full day and night.
But since he didn’t know what the Emperor looked like, he snuck back out to gather information.
Then there was a chemistry professor teaching at Northern University named Li Mingshen…
Yes, the very isotopic equivalent of that old scholar Wang Yunxiao had picked up.
After he crossed over, he quickly figured out the situation, silently took the scholar’s 3,000 Silver in savings, left a letter for his family, and bought a ticket for a ship heading to Fusang…
Big brother, what are you trying to do?
Cheng Xuefei, who was sent to chase him down, had already gone after him, but God knows when she’ll be able to return.
It would take at least half a month just for the round trip by ship.
Speaking of this, Yan Yu’an couldn’t help but roll his eyes wildly, feeling his cranial blood pressure surge.
Tianmen’s situation is relatively complex.
Compared to other historically permanent ancient cities, it lacks literary depth and martial virtue, but being the North’s canal transportation hub and a gathering place for people from all walks of life, it always manages to cultivate some peculiar talents.
The President has overseen Tianmen for twenty years, introducing Western studies, fostering public knowledge, and further deepening the locals’ knack for stirring things up.
Wang Yunxiao deeply felt this—his blood pressure was also high now.
Originally, he planned to finish the job within a week and go home, but while ninety percent of the people had been sent back, the last small handful had dragged him here against his will.
He wouldn’t leave, so He Lan wouldn’t leave either, tearfully expressing her desire to stay and serve him tea, warm the bed, and wash his feet.
Yes, a Demoness who could kill dozens of people from two families without batting an eye was now claiming to have learned the “Three Obediences and Four Virtues” since crossing over.
In truth, He Lan felt threatened.
Not by Wang Yunxiao; Junior Martial Uncle was an emotionless, stone-hearted person who provided little emotional value, although she was still happy he came to rescue her.
The real source of her unease was Little Gourd.
Although Little Gourd said nothing, her gaze had shifted from vigilance to mockery and pity.
This was very off-putting!
Weren’t they supposed to stand on the same line?
Didn’t they agree to work together and unite against external challenges?
What did her current attitude mean?
Was the alliance already nonexistent?
He Lan’s personality was the type that usually didn’t care about anything, but once she made up her mind, she became resolute to the extreme, even if she had to metaphorically smash herself against a southern wall without turning back.
It’s all about ruthlessness—ruthless towards others and towards herself.
“Section Chief Wang, I want to join the Special Service Section!”
“Do you know what the Special Service Section does?”
“No, but don’t you think I’m especially suited for this type of work?”
He Lan smiled so innocently, so pure, so fragile.
But her track record was verifiable, and her intentions were clear.
Wang Yunxiao genuinely didn’t want her to join but didn’t dare to just let her go freely either.
There were already enough rogue talent causing trouble out there; please don’t add more chaos to my life!
“Sis, can you tone it down a notch?”
“Kiss me one more time, and I’ll listen to everything you say.”
Wang Yunxiao hesitated for two seconds between his moral integrity and patriotic duty.
“Just once, no exceptions after this!”
He Lan cheerfully ran off, and when Wang Yunxiao turned his head, Little Gourd was looking at him with a “about to say something but not sure how” expression.
“Don’t follow her example!”
“Who wants to emulate her… I was actually trying to bring up Eldest Miss Li…”
“I’m doing this for work!”
Little Gourd’s gaze became increasingly intriguing.
Resolving issues with He Lan was relatively simple—just one kiss could suffice.
Not everything could be solved with a kiss, though.
Han Bin had returned from the Capital, bringing back that uncle who had broken into the Imperial Palace.
When they came back, both reeked of alcohol, clearly having drunk a lot.
It was the first time Wang Yunxiao saw Han Bin looking so dejected.
In his mind, Han Bin was always a sunny, cheerful, enthusiastic martial arts fanatic, seemingly unshaken by anything.
Not to mention, he had a strong tolerance for alcohol.
Once, when organizing an outing, Wang Yunxiao asked him how much he could drink, and Han Bin raised a single finger.
Not indicating one liter, but that he could drink endlessly.
Then how the heck did you get so hammered, was it an all-the-way-from-the-Capital drinking session?
“Could you please show me some leniency, sir?
I don’t plan on going back.”
The uncle, who had also drunk a lot and spoke with a heavy boozy tone, seemed oddly sober now, staring intently at Wang Yunxiao as he said word for word, “Sir, with all due respect, I have no attachments—I lost my parents as a child and am still single, with no family ties.”
“Years ago, when I was destitute with nothing left, I was fortunate to be recruited by the President… Even someone as unskilled as I was didn’t qualify to fight on the front lines; I spent years guarding warehouse storerooms in the rear.
After retiring, I got a relatively stable job and have lived this mediocre life, accomplishing nothing.”
“You folks are young—you haven’t seen what Tianmen was like in its earlier days.
Honestly, back then it was just marginally less grim than elsewhere.
It’s thanks to the President and those alongside her, brick by brick, that Tianmen was built into what it is now.”
“I’ve seen it—I’ve endured the hardships of the old era and tasted the sweetness of the new one.
But looking at the mess they’ve made here now, I can’t swallow this anger.
I know you all have your talents and important matters; I don’t—I want to stay.”
Wang Yunxiao turned to Han Bin.
You’re asking me to talk him out of it?
Do I come off as someone who gives heartfelt Big Sister pep talks?
“I understand your intentions, but the problem is, even if you stay, what can you do?
You admitted you don’t have any particular skills—against the tides of this era, how much of a wave can just one person create?”
At this point, the uncle perked up, dropped his voice, and said, “You may not believe it, but I’ve already looked into it—the palace’s Manchu Emperor doesn’t have any heirs, and he’s apparently been put under house arrest and has no power.”
“That only means the authority isn’t in his hands.
Even if you assassinate him, they can simply find someone from the imperial bloodline to inherit the throne.
Killing one or two people wouldn’t shake the foundations of the Dynasty’s power.”
“What if we do the opposite—set him free?”
Wang Yunxiao frowned, “Your idea is too simplistic.
If you release him, do you think he’ll automatically support the revolution?
If he really had that capability, he wouldn’t have been placed under house arrest in the first place.”
No guns, no weaponry—just dressed in a Dragon Robe, wielding empty rhetoric—how is that different from an old general posturing on stage?
The uncle’s grasp on political strategy was limited; even if explained, he may not understand.
Yet the uncle remained adamant; it seemed unlikely he’d be convinced otherwise anytime soon.
At that moment, Chen Yan walked in from outside and whispered, “Something happened with Li Mingshen.”