Vacations always went by very quickly. Master Cha packed her suitcase and followed Shen Leng to the Navy’s camp. The reason why he brought Master Cha along was because there was a need to do so.

Shen Leng first went to look for Zhuang Yong, the commander of the Navy, and told him about bringing Master Cha to Changan. Zhuang Yong glared at him before saying, “Dress in man’s clothes!”

Zhuang Yong felt as though he was about to become an old loving mother. If this continued, it was uncertain whether or not Shen Leng would be spoiled rotten.

After the two Xiong Niu battleships left the Navy’s camp, they connected the cargo ship and began their journey towards Changan. Without a doubt, the waterway was the most reliable. But it was not the fastest. Previously, the route in which Shen Leng, Master Cha and Du Weiming took was the fastest and shortest one. That was because the waterway was not straight – it was winding.

After Shen Leng brought the Xiong Niu battleships and left the Navy’s camp, Mu Xiaofeng got one of his men to inform Mu Liu’er to chase after him with some of the experts from Guan Tang Kou, and look for an opportunity to take Shen Leng out halfway through their journey.

The rate at which Shen Leng was being promoted at was extremely fast, beyond imagination. He had only been in the military for about a year, and somehow he managed to become a Class A Sixth pin military officer, not to forget, he was also a Class A Fifth pin Shangqi Commandant. It was a rare occurrence ever since Great Ning was established.

Mu Liu’er accepted the command and immediately selected her most capable men and departed the town. They were going to travel at double speed through the night and prepared to be ahead of the Navy battleships, such that they would be able to look for an opportunity halfway through their journey to Changan.

Within the battleship, Shen Leng opened up the map and took a look…traveling to Changan via the waterway required them to go through half of Jiangnan, before heading in the northwest direction and entering Huaiyang. After that, they would have to go past Xiangning and Hedong before they would arrive at Jingji. The waterways were winding – it would take them at least twenty days.

This was not a simple journey – the fleet had to stop halfway to replenish their supplies. And besides, the cargo ship was not as fast as the Xiong Niu battleships.

“I can’t wait till I get to Changan before leaving.”

Shen Leng looked out of the window. “The amount of time spent on the journey there is too much, hence, I need to leave first.”

Master Cha frowned slightly. “But by then you cannot rush back to Changan city from Feng Yan Tai. If someone finds out about it, there is no way you can explain it. Even though the people from Jiangnan’s Weaving Repository are the ones liaising with the Imperial Household Department, people will easily get suspicious if you’re not around.”

“I can’t be too bothered by all these small details. The letter Cen Zheng showed me was personally written by the head of Yanta Academy. Hence, this is why I need you to help me. Since the academy head wants to rope me in, he cannot think about escaping.”

Shen Leng looked at Master Cha. “I’m sorry…even though this time I promised to take you out, I…”

Master Cha waved her hand. “Don’t be wishy washy. Spill!”

Shen Leng replied, “Zhangkou county’s official dock is pproximately forty five miles ahead. According to the plan, we will stop there to get some supplies and to rest for an entire night. I will take my ten-man squad and leave that very night.”

Master Cha’s face turned slightly pale. “You are only bringing one ten-man squad?”

“Yeah, General Cen Zheng will prepare a couple of horses for us at Zhangkou county’s dock in advance. If too many people leave, it will raise suspicions. Hence, I can only take a ten-man squad with me at the very most. You don’t have to worry, brother Yang is coming with me.”

Yang Qibao of the garrison troops was a man with a cold appearance and a warm heart.

Master Cha sat down and pondered. “If Cen Zheng bypassed Zhuang Yong, why would Zhuang Yong get Yang Qibao to follow you?”

Shen Leng laughed. “Cen Zheng can bypass Zhuang Yong, but I can’t. Hence, before I left the Navy’s camp, I went to see Zhuang Yong and explained everything clearly to him. As for the arrangement between Zhuang Yong and Cen Zheng, it’s their business. I’m not afraid of hardships and dangers, I cannot afford to make Zhuang Yong lose his trust in me.”

Master Cha understood. Regardless of who Cen Zheng was, Zhuang Yong was still ultimately the commander of the Navy. Furthermore, he had already been promoted to Class A Third pin – he was now of the same rank as the generals in all divisions. He was also given the authority to make decisions if the situation called for it. This proved the emperor’s trust in Zhuang Yong.

“Hence, Zhuang Yong got Yang Qibao to follow me. Nobody will pay any attention to a few less people amongst the garrison troops. I am taking Wang Kuohai, Chen Ran and four of my soldiers, coupled with Yang Qibao and a few people from the garrison troops to make up a ten-man squad.”

Master Cha asked, “You’re not taking Du Weiming with you?”

“I can’t bring him with me… “

Shen Leng added, “This is the second thing I need you to help me with. Du Weiming and I have about the same physique. I will get him to wear my military officer uniform. You coordinate with him and get him to pass off as me. Don’t let anyone see his face clearly – just make sure people see you together with him. I will spread the news in advance about me being sick, such that it will not be a problem for me not to get off the ship or leave the cabin when we get to Changan city.”

Master Cha nodded. “Alright.”

Her answer was direct – only one word.

Shen Leng held Master Cha’s hand. “Even though you are wearing men’s clothes, my subordinates know who you are. You’re going to be alone in the fleet, it will be really tough on you.”

Master Cha shook her head. “It’s not hard on me. You are traveling thousands of miles to Feng Yan Tai this time, you are the one who is suffering. And the one who is in danger is you.”

Shen Leng laughed. “You also know that whatever sir had taught us, coupled with the training sessions we have been through, is to prepare us for times like these. So there is nothing to worry about.”

Master Cha nodded. “Protect yourself well.”

Shen Leng grunted. “Don’t worry.”

According to the plan, Shen Leng’s fleet stopped at Zhangkou county’s official dock. That night, Shen Leng brought Yang Qibao, Wang Kuohai and Chen Ran, etc. with him and secretly got off the ship. They found their horses prepared in advance for them about half a mile away from the dock – two horses per person. They also had some medication with them, as well as weapons and equipment, such as repeating crossbows.

The group of men headed out that night, rushing their way towards the north.

On the Xiong Niu battleship, Du Weiming, who had just changed into Shen Leng’s uniform, started to look anxious. His face was pale, and his palms were sweaty. He subconsciously glanced over at Master Cha, who was standing by the door. He opened his mouth but did not say a single word.

“If you can’t catch up with Shen Leng, you will become further and further away from him.”

Master Cha looked at Du Weiming. “You should understand this. Hence, don’t disappoint Shen Leng.”

Du Weiming took a deep breath. “Understood. I will not disappoint military officer.”

He lowered his head. A thought could not help but surfaced in his mind. Is the only reason why military officer didn’t bring me along this time because we have similar physiques? Could it be that he discovered that I am hiding a secret? If he knows that I am being placed by his side by Zhuang Yong, how will he react?

Or perhaps, in fact, military officer has already known this a long time ago?

Du Weiming used all his might and shook his head. He wanted to stop himself from letting his mind run wild, because he knew that what Master Cha said was right – his life and future were all entwined with Shen Leng. The only thing he could do was to do better.

“There’s something Shen Leng wants me to tell you.”

Master Cha looked at Du Weiming. “He has already gotten someone to check where the commander is hiding your parents. After he gets the information he will tell you.

Du Weiming’s heart skipped a beat. He went pale instantly.

Indeed… military officer knows everything.

On the main interconnecting path, ten odd men with dozens of horses made their way at a very high speed. The sound of the hooves disrupted the serene night.

And at the same time, the majority of the people in Changan city were already asleep, but the light in Si Mao Zhai was still as bright as before. During this period, it was the fourth time the academy head was being kept in the palace through the night. Of course, he could not really get any sleep.

The emperor narrowed his eyes and looked at the academy head. “Old and muddled?”

The academy head laughed. “When you drink wine as you get older, it’s inevitable for you to say more than you should. I will be more careful.”

“I know that you like the young man named Bai Xiaoluo, perhaps even more than Meng Changan. You get along very well with Bai Xiaoluo, personality wise. And he is also more reserved. But you confided in him too early.”

The academy head lowered his head. “You are right in chastising me.”

“Chastise? I dare to chastise you?”

The emperor got up. “You know that you cannot hide what you said to Bai Xiaoluo from me. After all, Liu Yun Sect belongs to me, and not your academy. Tell me, why did you tell Bai Xiaoluo in advance.”

“Ultimately, I can’t keep my thoughts from you, Your Majesty.”

The academy head rearranged his wording and continued, “In recent years, don’t you think that there are too many talents amongst the younger generation of the Bai clan of Xiangning? Previously, the Bai clan had nothing much to offer, but in this generation, there are more than ten young men, in their teens and twenties, who have made a name for themselves. The Bai brothers – Bai Xiaoge and Bai Xiaoluo in the academy are not the only ones. According to what I know, there are more than ten young men from the Bai clan who are extremely outstanding in the four borders and depositories.

The emperor nodded. “And so?”

“So, all I can do is to give this risky method a try.

The academy head looked at the emperor. “Your Majesty, you know what I am most worried about.”

The emperor let out a long sigh. “Yeah…being too honest, does not necessarily mean actual integrity. If the Bai clan is truly making a move, then I cannot help but to admire their courage. But if that is not the case, I really hope that some of the members of the Bai clan will step forward and fight against the officials.”

The academy head responded, “Hence, I will pay more attention to the Bai clan’s affairs. If this matter does not get leaked out, nobody will start to investigate Tian Wen Ge. And in that case, the members of the Bai clan can be trusted.”

The emperor replied, “Is it true that when a person gets older, he will be more and more scheming?”

The academy head laughed. “You always say that young men do not have any apprehension when completing a task. In truth, when you’re old and about to meet your demise, that is when you truly have zero apprehension. Hence, it’s not that the older one gets, he will become more scheming. Instead, one will be able to let go more easily.”

The emperor looked at him. “As for the people I cannot live without – you are one of them, as well as Mu Zhaotong, who I do not like. However, I hope that you will live a little longer. Later on, I will get the imperial physician to give you some prescription to nourish your body. At the very least, you will be able to be by my side until I have gotten the right people by my side.”

The academy head laughed just like a child. He looked at the bright moon outside the window. “It’s not that I like Bai Xiaoluo a lot. That child is very ambitious and has a lot of schemes on his mind. Furthermore, it seems as though he is carrying a lot on his shoulders, to the point he is unable to support them any further. He is very exhausted. I still prefer…”

The emperor gestured. “Meng Changan.”

“Yes, Meng Changan.”

The academy head said, “But recently, I have mulled over it a lot. It seems like we should not underestimate his cousin…we shall see how those two fellas are planning to spread their wings in Feng Yan Tai this time.”

“Tie Liuli is too hasty.”

The emperor snorted. “Now I have no choice but to think of a way to fix it.”

The academy head said, “Your Majesty, perhaps you should not fix anything. Meng Changan is very outstanding, and so is Shen Leng and Bai Xiaoluo. However, these young men need to experience a lot more before they can truly grow up. If they are unable to withstand the tribulations, how are they going to help you withstand the four borders and depositories? Don’t interfere with their life and death. That’s the best way to help them.”

The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly. “Don’t interfere with their life and death? I will remember that.”

The academy head said, “Perhaps, in their eyes, it is a little cruel.”

The emperor stayed silent for quite a while before nodding. “Write a letter to Tie Liuli. Tell him that I will wash my hands off this matter, and that he should do the same as well. Don’t interfere with their life and death…let them go through the experiences as thoroughly as possible.”