Chapter Sixty-Six: A Tribute to the Imperial Court

This morning, the bandits stormed the mansion and, right in front of Lady Yang, killed two maidservants. Their skulls were split, and blood even splattered onto Lady Yang’s face—a scene so brutal and bloody that it left her deeply shaken. Coupled with the shouts of killing and screams she had heard earlier, which were all the more distinct in the ensuing silence, it was clear that many had died.

The slaughter, so evidently rooted in her involvement, had dealt a severe blow to Lady Yang’s spirit; it was almost surprising she had not lost her mind. Thus, when Cheng Boxi tried to reason with her, his words finally reached her heart.

“Look at how many have perished. Your husband, the old capital official, died along with his servants. The bandits of Xindu Mountain—if they discover that their defeat was because of you, do you think they’ll let it rest? We lost twenty people on the road back to Luoyang. This very morning, ten more died or were wounded here at the manor. Who knows how many more will die because of you?”

“If you trust me, tell me everything, and I will do my best to help you—and to live with you in peace. Old Yang himself took Hong Xiaoshui as his second wife; I suppose I can do the same and give you a stable life. Can you tell me what really happened?” Cheng Boxi pleaded earnestly.

“Very well, I will tell you,” Lady Yang finally began to recount the whole story.

The old capital official worked in the Ministry of Works as a minor functionary, a post not high in rank but one that gave him access to confidential information—such as gold veins. Each year, the Ministry received numerous reports of discovered ores, possibly gold, from various regions. It was the job of the Ministry’s staff to distinguish the genuine from the false before reporting to the court. Most of these reports were useless; prospecting was rudimentary, and many mistook copper ore for gold—a common occurrence.

One year, someone reported finding gold ore in Laizhou (in the region of what later became Zhaoyuan and Longkou, Shandong). The old official’s ancestral home was near Laizhou. He applied to investigate the discovery, ostensibly to verify the report and also to pay respects to his ancestors. The Ministry indulged him, and before his resignation, he was sent to Laizhou on this assignment. Upon his return, he reported no significant findings, claiming the gold ore was merely a chance occurrence, not worth further attention.

The court, overwhelmed by countless reports and lacking resources to re-investigate everything, accepted his conclusion and let the matter rest. But the truth was: there was indeed a gold vein in Laizhou’s mountains.

The old official concealed this from the court, intending to exploit it himself for fortune. As his confidante, Lady Yang knew of this secret. Unfortunately, the old official’s luck was short-lived. Before he could leave office, he drunkenly boasted at home about discovering gold and the riches awaiting him. One of the servants overheard him—so Lady Yang believed in retrospect.

That servant had connections with the underworld. The moment word got out about gold, the next events unfolded naturally. As they passed Xindu Mountain, the bandits descended (they rarely targeted officials), and in the chaos, the old official, overcome with agitation, lost his life.

Lady Yang then became the scapegoat, the chief suspect—interrogated on whether she knew about the gold vein. She was no fool; she understood that divulging the secret would determine her fate, so she steadfastly denied any knowledge. Before the bandits could extract the details from her, government troops and wandering swordsmen stormed the bandits’ stronghold. According to Lady Yang, perhaps the Xindu Mountain bandits wanted to keep the secret for themselves, or perhaps the death of the old official and the failure to obtain the information prompted the real mastermind to send troops to attack Xindu Mountain.

To mobilize government forces, spark a war, and fund it with vast sums of copper coins—such power was no small thing!

What followed was well known: an ambush on the road to Luoyang, the attack on the manor this morning, the authorities at their doorstep—all of it was the work of a hidden mastermind seeking the Laizhou gold vein.

“Does Lady Yang know the location of the Laizhou gold vein?” Feng Xiaobao asked.

“She does!” Without hesitation, Cheng Boxi produced a silk map, drawn by Lady Yang, marking the precise location of the gold vein.

(Note: In later generations, the gold reserves of Laizhou, Shandong, were indeed mined. Laizhou alone boasts a total reserve of around 2,000 tons—the richest gold region in all of China.)

Possessing such a colossal secret brought no joy to Feng, Yang, and Cheng; instead, they were all deeply troubled.

“What can we do?” Feng Xiaobao asked slowly.

“One option is to entrust it to the Cheng family and let us handle it; another is to give it to Princess Qianjin…” Cheng Boxi suggested.

Each of them was well aware of their own strengths and resources. But would the mastermind, who could command both the authorities and the underworld, simply give up? And if they handed the secret to the Cheng family or Princess Qianjin, what real benefit could Feng, Yang, and Cheng hope to gain?

They exchanged glances. Feng Xiaobao declared resolutely, “Let’s not overthink it. We should turn this secret over to the court, to the Emperor and the Empress!”

Yang and Cheng stared at him in surprise, but then Yang Chengxian broke into a smile. “That is the best solution.”

With such a monumental secret, none of the three could exploit it on their own; that was why Cheng Boxi had shared it with Feng and Yang. If he had the means to develop it independently, the matter would be far more complicated.

Since they lacked the power to develop it themselves, they could only seek outside help. The Yang family’s influence was confined to the military; they were not a great clan. As for the Cheng family, Cheng Boxi was a concubine’s son, not the legitimate heir—even a small benefit from the family would be considered generous. Feng and Yang had no hope of challenging the powerful on equal terms.

Princess Qianjin had neither the power nor the resources… So, why not present it to the throne?

Feng Xiaobao remembered Xuanqing’s warning: “Do not covet short-term gain—think of the long view.”

Since they could not exploit the secret alone, the best course was to sell the information to the strongest power and gain the greatest benefit possible.

All under heaven belongs to the Emperor; all people are his subjects.

Present it to the court!

“Yes, present it to the court!” The three were united in their decision.

…

At the front gate, Yang Chengxian and Cheng Boxi held off the authorities, while at the back gate, Feng Xiaobao, with Yang Debiao and Yang Deyong, slipped away to Luoyang to seek out Princess Qianjin and ask for her help.

Feng Xiaobao asked Tang Tian and Tang Zhilin to keep watch over Lady Yang. Although she had drawn the map of the gold vein, there might yet be other secrets, so her safety was paramount. Even though Hong Xiaoshui had once saved Lady Yang, her intentions were uncertain; she might well believe that Lady Yang had brought disaster upon Xindu Mountain.

Moreover, Feng Xiaobao wanted to uphold his rule: the king does not see the king. Thus he left Tang Tian behind.

…

“Hyah!” Feng Xiaobao and the two warrior-kings spurred their horses, galloping through the countryside toward a market town not far from Luoyang’s gates.

Suddenly, a flurry of darts, flying knives, and other projectiles shot from the crowd at the roadside—aimed not at them, but at their horses.

Thus, Feng Xiaobao’s black stallion, worth 150 strings of cash and unscathed even after the battle at Xindu Mountain, along with the Yangs’ horses, were all struck down.

“My horse!” Feng Xiaobao cried dramatically.

Because they were in a market town, they had not been riding fast, so the three managed to dismount safely as their horses fell.

A great crowd of men armed with spears, clubs, swords, and knives surged toward them.

Yang Debiao and Yang Deyong said not a word. They charged ahead, clearing a path and ensuring Feng Xiaobao’s escape before engaging their attackers.

Strangely, the adversaries did not seem intent on stopping Feng Xiaobao, allowing him to break through with ease.

There was a reason for this: king faces king.

At the end of the street, an old swordsman stood leaning on his blade, awaiting Feng Xiaobao’s arrival.

Seeing him, Feng Xiaobao drew a deep breath and said, “Golden Blade King!”