CHAPTER 661: 450. BLACK SHIP INTERCEPTION AND ASSASSINATION

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Heart moved? No, Bodhisattva, you must be a devil... Zhao Douan’s mouth twitched.

In a daze, he felt like he had become Tang Seng trapped in the Women’s Country, with the Queen of the Women’s Country teasing him incessantly, chanting in his ear: "Elder Tang, look at me..."

Zhao Douan’s face turned solemn, he stepped back a few steps, averted his gaze, and said unhappily: "Bodhisattva, please don’t joke around!"

"Haha... Master Zhao is so cute," laughed the Bodhi Bodhisattva brightly, teasing like an aunt amused by her nephew, "Rest assured, I have no other thoughts, focused solely on Buddha, just came to ask you out for a meal."

After speaking, the nun, who was accustomed to wearing a light gauze monk robe, turned around gracefully and walked out of the dock.

"Phew..." Zhao Douan wiped the sweat off his forehead with his hand, looking helpless.

This old woman sought him out proactively, as the Bodhi Bodhisattva planned to head south to inherit the "legacy" left by Da Jing Master, she decided to accompany him.

This matter had been reported to the Empress, who, considering the presence of Eunuch Hai and another Bodhisattva on the trip, generously approved, enhancing Zhao Douan’s safety significantly.

As for the risk...

In the matter of the Buddhist Debating Scripture, the Bodhi Bodhisattva’s stance differed from that of Long Shu and Xuan Yin, and she needed to rely on the court’s help.

Zhao Douan vaguely knew that the court also intended to ally with this old nun to counterbalance the Divine Dragon Temple.

Thus, aside from this old nun occasionally teasing him along the way, rationally speaking, she was indeed a great help.

Especially since the most important destination of Bodhi Bodhisattva’s journey was also in Jiancheng Road.

"Just for a meal, why create such an ambiguous atmosphere?"

Zhao Douan complained, striding out of the cabin, and a warm breeze greeted him.

It was already late spring; the river wind was moist and warm, the hills on both sides of the canal were turning green, and familiar figures were standing or sitting on the deck.

"Sir!"

Several trusted government officers from the Lihua Hall were moving benches and tables onto the deck and greeted him.

Lang Shiba, holding a wine gourd, and the deeply socially anxious Ji Yue were still huddled in the corner of the deck.

"Junior Guardian!"

On the deck, a group of Inner Palace Experts led by Tang Jinzhong and Song Jinxi saluted.

Notably, to keep a low profile, no one on the ship wore official robes and dressed simply as guard staff.

Zhao Douan nodded and walked to where Hai Chunlin stood at the ship’s edge, with hands behind, gazing forward, "What is Uncle Hai looking at?"

Dressed like a wealthy merchant, with a melon cap from which strands of silver hair peeped, Eunuch Hai looked at the distant ships on the river and said: "Ahead lies the territory of Jianning Prefecture."

Jianning Prefecture... the largest prefecture city in Jiancheng Road, also home to Prince Jing Mansion and several local aristocratic families, the hub of Jiancheng Road.

The Empress’s Sealing Mountain, Luoshan, was also within Jianning Prefecture, though it was some distance from the prefecture city.

"Do you know what type of ship is the most common in this place?" Eunuch Hai asked.

Zhao Douan laughed: "Uncle Hai, don’t underestimate me, although I haven’t been here, I’ve done my homework. If Huai River Road is famous for commercial ships, then Jiancheng Road is known for its shipping boats."

"Indeed, Cao Yun," Eunuch Hai sighed:

"The southern climate is mild; two, even three crops can be planted annually. Given the capital is in the north, this led to the transfer of southern grains northward. With the canal originally only widened to the Huai River, then, Huai River was the center of Cao Yun, gradually extended southward. Now, the core of Cao Yun has reached Jianning Prefecture. Ha, if Jiancheng Road didn’t produce so much grain, how could Prince Jing dare challenge the court?"

Tsk, Uncle Hai, you really understand. In a feudal era, the key to military power lies in who has enough food to feed the troops. Prince Jing indeed has substantial capital in this area... Zhao Douan thought profoundly:

"The late Emperor also recognized the significance of this place, thus establishing a Shipping Governor in Jianning Prefecture to oversee Cao Yun matters and intervene in local governance, a real Second Rank official with more authority than the governor. The recent rapid appointment of southern officials was due to the persistent urging of that governor named Xu Zechen."

The Shipping Governor Ning Zechen... a legend in Yu Country’s officialdom.

It is said that he came from a humble background, passed the country exam at twenty, but failed the imperial exams three times in succession. In a fit of rage, he followed through with a marriage engagement and was adopted into a wealthy Linfeng family. During his wedding, he wrote a couplet for their new home: "With not half an acre, worry for the world; read tens of thousands of volumes, have spiritual communion with the ancients."

Subsequently, as a mere son-in-law in Xu Zechen, he somehow befriended the then-governor, and they bonded, exchanging books and becoming close friends despite the age gap.

Through the governor’s recommendation, Ning Zechen met a large group of local dignitaries, forming ties with influential figures.

He made a name for himself close to forty when a local bandit crisis erupted, and manpower was sorely needed. Xu Zechen, invited by the Linfeng Magistrate, assisting as a friend, became renowned.

Afterwards, he smoothly entered officialdom, addressed water bandits in river channels, handled local affairs with a firm hand, catching the attention of the old, albeit unclear-headed, Emperor who promoted him to Shipping Governor to clamp down on the southern aristocracy.

After the Xuanmen Coup, with the Empress ascending the throne, Ning Zechen was the first among local officials to pledge allegiance, thus, also a major figure in the Imperial Faction.

"You’ll find him most pleased with your arrival this time," Eunuch Hai chuckled.

Zhao Douan wondered: "Pleased? Hasn’t he heard of my notorious reputation?"

Eunuch Hai replied: "This governor is different from those decadent Confucians in the capital, focusing solely on capability and skills, not virtues. Your reputation may be bad, but your achievements this past year are undeniable, and this time you’re here to assist him, why would he dislike you?"