107: Chapter 97: Killing Two Birds with One Stone, Exposing Suo Hanyi!
107: Chapter 97: Killing Two Birds with One Stone, Exposing Suo Hanyi!
Note: Here’s the first update of nearly five thousand words for the month.
Humbly asking for monthly tickets and automatic subscriptions.
What great favor did the Suo owe to Gui Xingfu?
The story began over twenty years ago when the former City Lord of Linhai, Gui Huai Zhi, suddenly died.
However, as the heir, Gui Xingfu was traveling far from home at that time.
By the time he returned, his elder brother, Gui Xingchou, had already proclaimed himself as the City Lord and exterminated all of Gui Xingfu’s legitimate forces.
Moreover, Gui Xingchou had already sent envoys to the Royal City to persuade the royal family; it was just a matter of time before the royal endorsement and recognition would arrive, and the position of City Lord would inevitably fall into the hands of his brother.
Additionally, to eliminate future threats, his elder brother attempted to kill Gui Xingfu, who only managed to escape Linhai City with his life thanks to the desperate protection of his loyal master-at-arms.
Though he had narrowly escaped death, Gui Xingfu was left with nothing, without a place to go.
He thought of his best friend at the Royal City Academy, Suo Long, and thus he fled to Tianshui City to seek help from Count Suo Long, Suo Lun’s father.
At that time, Suo Long had just assumed the role of City Lord for two years.
He could have ignored Gui Xingfu’s plea for help—after all, even the deepest friendship could not compete with self-interest.
But Suo Long up held his honor and righteousness, contacted other lords to petition the King, urging him not to grant Gui Xingchou the unlawful title of a treacherous usurper.
Not only that, Suo Long even lent Gui Xingfu a piece of land, several thousand soldiers, and twenty thousand Gold Coins.
It was with the territory, soldiers, and money lent by Suo Long that Gui Xingfu rose again, returned to Linhai City, and reclaimed his position as City Lord.
Since then, Gui Xingfu and Suo Long formed a bond as sworn brothers, closer than if they were related by blood.
Furthermore, their children were betrothed from infancy.
The marriage agreement between Suo Lun and Gui Qinshao was set against this backdrop.
Therefore, the favor that the Suo family owed to Gui Xingfu was indeed immense, as substantial as giving him a new lease on life.
When Gui Xingfu sought Suo Long’s aid in the past, the Suo did not hesitate to lend troops, money, and territory.
Now, Suo Lun’s situation was almost exactly like Gui Xingfu’s back then.
Thus, it was time for Gui Xingfu to repay that favor.
For Suo Lun to ask him for soldiers, money, and land was only rightful; if he did not agree, he would surely be scorned by all.
However, Suo Lun had never been one to suspect others with the darkest of intentions, much like his sister said: many are willing to add frostings to the cake, but few will send charcoal in the snowy weather, and righteous and benevolent people like his father Suo Long were even rarer.
Therefore, for this trip to Linhai City, Suo Lun had devised a strategy that involved demanding rather than requesting.
Whether it was marrying Gui Qinshao or borrowing money and land, it would be a “must lend” situation, whether they were willing or not.
After leaving the Royal City, Suo Lun led his team, pressing on day and night, changing horses every two hundred miles, determined to reach Linhai City in the shortest possible time.
Upon departing the Royal City, Suo Lun indeed noticed countless eyes monitoring him.
This group of assassins had originally intended to strike at Suo Lun and his party.
However, since Zhi Li had not given the order, they ultimately did not make a move.
Was Zhi Li truly abiding by the agreement with Suo Lun?
No, that was not the case; Zhi Li was not so naive.
The reason he did not ambush Suo Lun on the road was due to a certain warning he had perceived, albeit without any explicit message.
With Zhi Li’s sensitivity, he could fully sense it.
So, even though he had laid out a trap every step of the way, he ultimately did not give the order to attack.
In that case, let Suo Hanyi take care of killing Suo Lun.
If Zhi Li could not kill him, Suo Hanyi certainly could.
Thus, Suo Lun, leading a hundred cavalrymen, made the two-thousand-mile journey in just over two days and nights.
And throughout these two thousand miles, many pairs of eyes kept a close watch on Suo Lun’s troops, continuously dispatching birds to report Suo Lun’s location.
With over a hundred members in Suo Lun’s party galloping on the official road, they had been under surveillance since the moment they left the Royal City, and thus keeping secrecy was simply impossible.
On the fourth night after leaving the Royal City, Suo Lun led his team into Baiyun County.
This place was merely two hundred miles away from Linhai City.
Two hundred miles north was the Nu River; crossing it would bring them into the territory of his father-in-law, the City Lord of Linhai.
And all the plots against them would be laid in these final two hundred miles.
Suo Lun led his team into the Baiyun County station, changed horses, and made the final preparations.
“Younger brother, many eyes have been watching us along the way,” said Suo Ningbing.
Suo Lun nodded and replied, “Our every move is under the watchful eye of the enemy.”
Suo Ningbing said, “Actually, you should have separated from the main troops, disguised yourself, and entered Linhai City.”
Indeed, doing so would have been safer for Suo Lun.
However, that was not an option for him; he could not abandon Suo Ningbing and Ye Jingyu, nor could he leave behind his family’s samurai, as they were his only capital for a resurgence.
Suo Lun took out a map and focused on the final two hundred miles.
From Baiyun County to Linhai City, there was only one official road.
As a cavalry troop, they had no choice but to take this road.
Suo Lun took out a pen and drew along the map’s path, leading northward.
The road ended at Nu River, and just beyond it lay Linhai City.
Once they entered Linhai City, they would be safe.
However, Zhi Ning would undoubtedly attempt to intercept him within these two hundred miles.
If nothing went wrong, there would likely be a force exceeding ten thousand troops waiting ahead, ready to ensnare them.