Tracking the Divine Cauldron
"Hahaha!" Zhang Lie laughed. They were really a group of villains who bullied the good and feared the evil!”The three of them did not stay any longer and returned to town together. When they returned to the town, they were welcomed by the townspeople. The mothers thanked the three of them again and again, and everyone treated them as heroes. Chen Jingchou kept being humble. Zhang Lie told them to go back before everyone dispersed.
"Hehe, seeing these mothers so happy, I really feel that no matter how hard I work, it's worth it!"”
"Yes, yes, it's true," Snowy said.”
"It's great to have the strength to help them!" Chen Jingchou said. Now, I'll start to thank Master for learning these Dao techniques in the past. In the past, I was very resistant and didn't want to learn them at all!”
"Hehe, that's right." Zhang Lie laughed. This time, it was all thanks to Little Brother Chen's Ghost Valley Taoist Technique that I was able to defeat these demons so smoothly. If Little Brother Chen doesn't mind, I'm currently setting up camp nearby. Would you like to come over and have a seat?”
"To Big Brother Zhang's camp?"
"There are many Tuoba clansmen in my brother's camp. I think some of them should know some clues about the divine cauldron you are looking for, right?”
"That's great. I was also worried about the connection being cut off. Then, I'll ask Big Brother Zhang to lead the way.”
Zhang Lie brought the two of them out of the town from the north and soon arrived at the camp of the Tuoba people. Zhang Lie brought the two of them to his tent. Two servants quickly came forward and said,"Third Master, you're back!"
"Is Yue 'er here?" Zhang Lie asked.
"Madam Yue 'er is inside, and so is Miss Yu' er.”
"By the way, how's Yu 'Er's injury?”
"Fortunately, her injuries are not serious this time. It's not a big deal. She will recover after resting for a few days.”
"It's good that you're fine. I'll go in and see them.”
Zhang Lie led the two into the tent. A beautiful young woman welcomed them with a smile. Zhang Lie said,"Little Brother Chen, Miss Xiao Xue, let me introduce you. This was his wife, Tuoba Yue 'er. She and her sister, Tuoba Yu' er, were famous for their beauty.”
Tuoba Yue 'er immediately bowed to Chen Jingchou and Xiao Xue and said,"Greetings, benefactors! Yue 'er sincerely thanked her two benefactors for saving her sister's life.”
"Ah, it's nothing." Chen Jingchou hurriedly said.”
Suddenly, he heard the sound of a pipa coming from inside. Zhang Lie said,"Is Yu 'Er playing the pipa inside?”Tuoba Yue 'er nodded in agreement. Zhang Lie said,"Alright, then let's go in and see her!”The three of them walked into the room together.
As expected, Tuoba Yu 'er was sitting on the futon with her pipa in her arms. Zhang Lie came in and called out,""Yu 'Er!"
Tuoba Yu 'er immediately said,"Ah, brother-in-law, you're back." Eh…Brother-in-law! Why are you still with these Sui people?”
"It's still in the Sui people, Sui people." These two are your benefactors and also your brother-in-law and everyone's friends.”
"But brother-in-law…"
"Yu 'Er, not all Sui people are bad people. Although his brother-in-law's enemy who killed his father was also a Han, didn't his brother-in-law also make many good Sui (Han) confidants in the Central Plains?”
"But brother-in-law…Hmph, forget it! No matter what my brother-in-law says, all the people of the Sui Dynasty are my mortal enemies. This will never change!”
"Sigh, you little girl…why are you always so stubborn and never listen? Also, Yu 'Er, do you know that you almost caused a huge disaster today?”
"I…what trouble did I cause?"
"You still have the cheek to ask? You always don't understand the situation we're in. Brother-in-law brought your clan to travel thousands of miles and finally found a place with abundant water and grass in this area. You actually clashed with the Sui army in Blackhills Town today…Are you trying to expose the whereabouts of your entire clan to them?”
"Ah?"
"Silly girl, you finally understand? Next time you only care about 'revenge' and 'revenge' and ignore our overall situation, brother-in-law will…"
"Wait a minute, brother-in-law! Today, I really didn't come for revenge. That's why I had a conflict with the Sui people. This time, they saw them bullying those poor children and mothers, so they couldn't help but…"
"Shut up!" Zhang Lie snapped. How many times have you done the same thing in the past! What else do you want to argue about?"
"It's true this time! Brother-in-law, I heard what you scolded me last time. This time, it's really not…"
"Big Brother Zhang, Big Brother Zhang!" Chen Jingchou said. I can testify for her. She had really stepped forward bravely today to stop the soldiers from killing those poor mothers.”
"Oh…So what she said was true?" Zhang Lie was stunned.”
Chen Jingchou said," Lady Tuoba is really righteous. I was still hesitating, but she bravely stepped forward. Please don't blame her."”
"Alright, this time, seeing that Little Brother Chen stood up for you as a witness, brother-in-law won't blame you." But don't do it again, understand?”
Who knew that Tuoba Yu 'er said angrily,"Brother-in-law, I'm not convinced!" W-why can't my words compare to the words of this detestable Sui person?”
At this moment, Tuoba Yue 'er came in and said," Alright, alright. Yu' Er, your brother-in-law has already given you a way out. Don't say anymore!"”"Sister!" Tuoba Yu 'er said. "Husband, I'm sorry. Yu 'er has always troubled you." Tuoba Yue' er said. My two friends, I'm really sorry. If Yu 'Er has offended you in any way, please forgive me!”Tuoba Yu 'er was even angrier when she saw her sister admitting her mistake. Tuoba Yue' er said,""Come, Yu 'Er, you haven't thanked your benefactors for saving you!”
Tuoba Yu 'er said,"Hmph, I finally understand." All of you are bending your arms outwards, everyone is bullying me. Annoying, I don't want to talk to you anymore!" After saying that, he turned around and ignored everyone. Tuoba Yue 'er advised,"Yu' er, Yu 'er, don't be like this."”
"I say, Yue 'er, it's because you're too good to her that you've spoiled her to this extent." She would be fine after her anger subsided. Let's go out first." He went outside with Chen Jingchou and Xiaoxue.
Outside the tent, Zhang Lie apologized to the two of them,"Everyone has seen it for themselves. This is the temper of Brother Yu Yu's precious sister-in-law!”
"Is that so? I think she really has a sense of justice!”
"By the way, Little Brother Chen, no one on the ridge seems to know the whereabouts of the Shennong Cauldron you're looking for.”
"Martial aunt told me before that it might have been taken away by Grand Tutor Yuwen of the Imperial Court.”
"Grand Tutor Yuwen? Is it the Imperial Court's Grand Tutor Yuwen?"
" Brother Zhang, you know Grand Tutor Yuwen?"
"Of course, but I'm not very sure. I've heard about it many times in the Central Plains. As far as I know, Grand Tutor Yuwen is the Imperial Protector of the Imperial Court. He carries a golden sword and can defeat thousands of enemies on the spot.”
"Martial aunt said the same thing. If the cauldron falls into the hands of such a person, it seems that it will be very difficult for us to find that divine cauldron.”
"Little Brother Chen, how about this? Don't be in a hurry to find the cauldron. Let me send a few capable subordinates to help Little Brother Chen ask around.”
"Ah, this…this is too much trouble for you!”
"Don't say that, Little Brother Chen. You saved my wife's sister's life and helped me defeat the Sui army. This small favor is only right.”"He Lan Ming, go and inform Helian Bo. Tell him to send all the best scouts to my tent."”? He Lan Ming agreed and went to gather the people.
Chen Jingchou once again expressed his gratitude to Zhang Lie, who said,""Little Brother Chen, don't worry. You and Miss Xiao Xue can stay in our camp for a while!”The two of them agreed to stay.
Zhang Lie sent his Turkic subordinates to inquire about the whereabouts of the Shennong Cauldron for Chen Jingchou. In the blink of an eye, six days had passed…
This morning, not long after Chen Jingchou woke up, he saw Xiaoxue looking for him. Chen Jingchou said,""Morning, Xiaoxue! I wonder how Big Brother Zhang is doing with the Shennong Cauldron. Let's go ask him."”
The two of them came to the big tent where Zhang Lie and his subordinates were. The two of them came to greet Zhang Lie. Zhang Lie said,"Well, Little Brother Chen, you came at the right time! Last night, two of my subordinates came back and informed me that they had news of Shen Nong Ding Xin's whereabouts!”
"So fast?"
"Hehe, Little Brother Chen, don't underestimate my subordinates. They are all experts who can take charge of their own areas. According to the investigation, the cauldron was indeed in Grand Tutor Yuwen's hands. He had hidden the cauldron in a bunker in Zhuo County in the north.”
"Hiding in the north? Why didn't they transport it back to the capital?"
"I'm not too sure. In short, Grand Tutor Yuwen had secretly taken the Shennong Cauldron for himself, and it was said that even the Emperor did not know about it. However, the strange thing was that for some reason, the Emperor had found out about Grand Tutor Yuwen's secret possession of the divine cauldron!”
"Haha, that Emperor must be furious, right?”
"That's right. He was furious and immediately sent an internal court eunuch to Zhuo County to order Grand Tutor Yuwen to hand over the cauldron immediately! Grand Tutor Yuwen was called back to the Eastern Capital (Luoyang) to be reprimanded by the Emperor, while the Shending Cauldron was transported to the south by eunuchs. The route of the transporting troops has been discovered by my subordinates!”
"Ah, that's great! Big Brother Zhang's subordinates were really amazing.”
" They set off from Zhuo County and sailed south along the Yongji Canal. It seems like they are planning to transport the Divine Cauldron to…" Before he could finish speaking, he heard Tuoba Yue 'er's call from outside the tent,""Husband, bad news!" Seeing her rush in, Zhang Lie asked,"Yue 'er, what's wrong?"
Tuoba Yue 'er said," Yu' er, Yu 'er secretly ran away. She said that she was going to find the Divine Cauldron!"”
"When did this happen?" Zhang Lie asked in shock.”
"Okay, I think it was last night…She left a letter saying that she was going to retrieve the most precious divine cauldron of our Tuoba clan and asked us to rest assured. She also said that she knew that her husband would definitely stop her, so she decided to leave without saying goodbye. What should we do now?"
"Damn it, this girl only knows how to cause trouble. How would she know where the Divine Cauldron is?”After thinking for a while, Zhang Lie suddenly said,"I understand now. She must have overheard you telling me about the cauldron transportation route last night!”
"Then…then what should we do, husband?" Tuoba Yue 'er asked.”
"Yue 'er, don't worry. I'll go find her myself!" Zhang Lie comforted her.”
"Big Brother Zhang, I'll go with you!" Chen Jingchou immediately said. It's all because you helped us investigate the whereabouts of the divine cauldron that this happened. We are also responsible for this!"
" Brother Chen, this is my troublesome girl's own problem," Zhang Lie said." Please don't blame yourself!"”
"Big Brother Zhang, please let me go with you." I hope to go with you to find Lady Tuoba. We can also find the Divine Cauldron and bring it back.”
"Alright, Little Brother Chen, we'll do as you say." Let's find her together! Elder Yuan, Helian Bo, while I'm not around, I'll leave the matters of the tribe to you.”"Yes, Third Master, don't worry!"”"Yue 'er, don't worry." Zhang Lie said to Tuoba Yue' er. I will definitely find Yu 'Er safely. Don't worry, leave her to me.”Tuoba Yue Er nodded,"Yes, I believe in husband!" Please take care of yourself.”
"Alright, Little Brother Chen. Time is of the essence. Let's set off immediately."”Thus, the three of them immediately set off, leaving the camp and rushing to Lu Jiadu.
Arriving at Lu Jiadu's official ship, Chen Jingchou asked a soldier,""Excuse me…we want to cross the river. Can we board the boat here?”
"Hurry up and leave," the soldier said. Eunuch Han had already booked all the ships here to deliver to the emperor's beauties!”
Chen Jingchou and the other two could only retreat to the side to discuss. Chen Jingchou said,""Big Brother Zhang, these government troops are really too much! All the boats across the river had been taken by them!”
"What's even more ironic is that they used it to carry some harem beauty to the emperor." The emperor's subordinates were more important than the lives of the common people.”
"Big Brother Zhang, this river is very wide. It seems that there are no boats. It seems that there is no way to cross it."”
"Big Brother Zhang, Big Brother Zhang, I guess…" Snowy said.
"Oh, it's rare for Miss Xiaoxue to express her opinion. Quickly say it for everyone to hear."”
Snowy said," Don't be like this. I, I…I'm just guessing…I'm just guessing. Could Sister Tuoba have been captured by the government army and was prepared to be presented to the emperor as a…harem beauty?"”
Chen Jingchou immediately realized what was going on and said,"Wow, Xiaoxue!" Your opinion is quite good. We didn't think of this.”
"No, no!" Snowy blushed.”
"Miss Xiaoxue's opinion is reasonable. It's indeed possible." However, judging from that girl's personality, it was more likely that she heard that the Emperor was searching for beauties on the way and thought of using this opportunity to beat him at his own game.”
"Beat him at his own game?" Chen Jingchou asked.
"Yes, he pretended to be captured and sneaked into the enemy camp to find out the whereabouts of the divine cauldron."”
" Isn't it dangerous?" Snowy asked worriedly.”
"Her martial arts aren't weak, and she's very confident in her beauty and wit." The possibility of using such a risky method should be very high!”
"Big Brother Zhang, if that's the case, then Lady Tuoba's situation will be even more dangerous."”
"Of course, as long as she's discovered, her life will be over immediately…This child always does things without caring about what's ahead!"”
" Big Brother Zhang," Chen Jingchou said," maybe she's on this ship right now. Let's think of a way to enter the ship and look for her!"”
Just as the three of them were thinking of a way to board the ship, they suddenly heard a loud shout. They saw a group of soldiers opening up the way, and behind them were many women who were being escorted towards the ship. A eunuch followed closely behind the group and shouted at the crying women,""Why are you crying? It's a great honor to be able to enter the palace to serve the emperor, so why are you still crying?”Arriving in front of the ship, the soldier welcomed the eunuch and said,""Eunuch Han, you've worked hard!"
"Take them up first!" Eunuch Han said.”The soldiers responded and escorted the women onto the boat. Eunuch Han said to the soldier guarding the ferry,"I'm a little tired. I want to rest on the ship for a while! If you see other escorting beauties or bronze troops later, just let them on board. There's no need to report to me.”As he spoke, he stuffed some silver into the hands of the soldiers.
"Yes, Eunuch Xie," the soldiers said repeatedly.”Eunuch Han boarded the ship.
At this moment, Chen Jingchou had a plan.""Got it, Big Brother Zhang! I have a good idea!"
"Oh?"
"Xiaoxue and I will get a set of girls 'clothes, and you will also get a set of military uniforms. Then, we will pretend to be the troops transporting the beautiful women and sneak onto the boat openly!”
"Hehe, Brother Chen, good plan, good plan. Alright, this plan was indeed worth a try. Let's split up for the time being. Let's meet in the inn room later?”
"Okay, let's do that!"
Zhang Lie left first. Chen Jingchou then asked Xiaoxue,""Little Xue, give me some advice. If I want to dress up as a girl, what should I prepare?”
"Well…should…should at least have rouge, clothes, and hairpins, right?" Snowy said.”
"Alright, I understand…I'll think of a way to get these three things!" Chen Jingchou said.”
The two of them strolled around the town for a week. They first bought rouge from a peddler, then exchanged a bracelet for a set of girl's clothes from an old woman who lived alone. Then, they exchanged a leather glove for a black hairpin from a little girl.
After everything was settled, the two of them arrived at the inn. Zhang Lie was already waiting there. Chen Jingchou said,"Big Brother Zhang, we're here. Did you get the military uniform?”
"Yes, of course I got it."”
"We are too!" Chen Jingchou said. Next, I'll ask Snowy to help 'Little Miss Chen' dress up. Hehe!”
"Haha, you bastard!" Zhang Lie laughed. This foolish brother has discovered that you really are a little devil who can enjoy himself.”
" But Master hates me the most when I'm playful and mischievous," Chen Jingchou said." Every time I act like this, he'll scold me."”
At this time, Snowy asked hesitantly,""Big Brother Zhang…I…Can I…ask you a question?”
"Haha, Miss Xiaoxue rarely asks a question. Please ask!”
"I…I feel…I feel that…does Sister Yu 'Er hate us? We really don't know what we did wrong.”
"Hahaha, this is not your problem. Don't take it to heart!" Zhang Lie laughed. That troublesome girl in my family treats everyone in the Sui Country the same way.”
"Big Brother Zhang, she…why is she like this?" Chen Jingchou asked.”
"It's a long story…Do you know about the incident outside the Great Wall last year?"”
"Yes, Master once mentioned it to me…He said," I'm not a fool."Emperor Yang (Sui Yang Di) loved to be grandiose. Every year, he would find something to do that would cost the people and money, such as fighting wars, building civil engineering, patrolling around, and so on. Last year, when he had gone to the north, he had suddenly been inspired to leave the Great Wall to see the scenery beyond the Great Wall. In the end, the Turkic Khagan had found out and launched a surprise attack, surrounding him on the Great Wall.”
" That's right," Zhang Lie said." At that time, he almost lost his life. Fortunately, your Sui Country's army came to the north to save him. However, your emperor had always cared about his face, and this matter made him very embarrassed, so he thought of ways to cover it up and make up for it…He ordered his subordinates to find a nearby nomadic tribe to massacre wantonly before returning south, as a glorious victory for his victory over the northern foreign tribes.”
"Ah, could it be…the nomadic tribe he slaughtered was Lady Tuoba's…" Chen Jingchou suddenly realized.
"Yes, that's right!" Zhang Lie nodded.”
"So there was such a past." No wonder Lady Tuoba has such a deep hatred for us Han people!”
"Actually, her nature isn't like this…In the past, she was a very cheerful child." After that incident, her heart was completely occupied by the word revenge. She didn't know martial arts, but in order to take revenge, she repeatedly begged me to teach her! I thought she was just saying it, but she trained hard every day and was talented. In less than a year, she was close to my level.”
"Wow, so powerful? Unlike me, I'm not focused at all on learning Taoist skills. I can't learn well even after three or two years, and I'm always scolded by my master.”
"To be honest, I'm also very worried when I see that she only wants revenge and sees all the Han people as enemies! Her current priority was not revenge, but to take care of her tribe, but she would not listen.”
"But Big Brother Zhang, I still think that she is a good girl with a good sense of right and wrong! Just like that time in Blackhills Town, when the soldiers bullied the Han mothers and children, she still stepped forward and didn't just sit back and watch…"
"Yes, that's the good thing about this child. She had a strong sense of justice…but her temper was too strong. Little Brother Chen, let's hurry up and change our clothes. Otherwise, it'll be too late if we miss that boat.”Zhang Lie first changed into a soldier of the Sui army. He was indeed very powerful. After that, Chen Jingchou and Snowy entered the room. Snowy helped Chen Jingchou change his appearance. When they walked out together, Zhang Lie was also stunned. Because Chen Jingchou looked like a girl when he dressed up.
"Hehe, Brother Chen, you've become so beautiful!" Snowy giggled.”
"Haha, Little Brother Chen, you're such a beautiful girl. You should invite my wife to admire you!" Zhang Lie laughed.”
Chen Jingchou said embarrassedly," Alright, alright. Everyone, stop fooling around with me. Let's hurry up and set off!"”
Thus, the three of them set off again and came to the front of the big ship at the ferry. Zhang Lie said to the soldier guarding the ship,"Sorry, I'm late! These were the children that were to be presented to the Emperor.”
"Hurry up, get on the boat!" the soldier said. The ship will be setting sail at noon."
The three of them immediately boarded the ship. Suddenly, they heard the soldier shout,"Wait a minute." The three of them stepped back, their hearts pounding. The soldier said,"Lock all the beauties in the second cabin, then you can go down and rest.”"Understood, thanks!" said Zhang Lie.”Chen Jingchou pretended to cry. Zhang Lie shouted,""Let's go, let's go. Why are you crying? It's your honor to serve the emperor.”He quickly boarded the ship.
When they reached the deck at the stern, the three of them stopped. Chen Jingchou said,""Hmph, I really didn't expect to be so successful!”
"These Sui soldiers are really ill-disciplined. They didn't even ask for the basic password." I'll take you and Miss Xiaoxue to the second cabin first. Go in and see if my troublesome girl is inside.”The two agreed.
Thus, they came to the inner cabin and walked all the way to the second cabin. Zhang Lie said,"Brother Chen, this should be the second cabin. The two of you go in and look for it, then come out and meet me! I'm here to avoid suspicion and keep a lookout.”
"Okay, Big Brother Zhang, be careful!”
Chen Jingchou and Xiaoxue entered the cabin. There were several women locked up here. The two of them inquired about them one by one. These women were all quite beautiful, but they were also very sad and did not want to enter the palace as servants. After the two of them checked, they realized that Tuoba Yu 'er was not there, so they went outside. Zhang Lie asked,"How is it? Did you find it?"
"I haven't discovered anything at all, Big Brother Zhang."”
"Not good, could she be on another ship?" Zhang Lie said.”
"Big Brother Zhang, what should we do next?" Chen Jingchou asked.”
"Her main goal should be to find the cauldron, so we just need to find the cauldron transporting ship and we should be able to find her.”
"But this ship doesn't seem to be a cauldron transporting ship…"
"Just now, I heard from the other soldiers that the eunuchs in charge of this ship not only told them to kidnap young women in the town, but also told them to search for bronze vessels everywhere.”
"What are they going to do with the bronze ware?”
"I don't understand either…They put the bronze in the cabin at the bottom of the ship. Let's go to the cabin and investigate!”
Thus, the three of them went to the cabin at the bottom of the ship. When the guard saw the three of them barging in, he shouted,"Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing? You're not allowed to come here."
"I'm sorry, the second cabin for the women is full, so I was ordered by the father-in-law to place these few in the cabin at the bottom of the ship."”
"Oh, alright! Since the father-in-law said so, then let's go over! Seriously, he actually found so many women that he couldn't fit them in his room?”
The three of them had successfully gotten away with it, so they started searching the cabins at the bottom of the ship.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。