Chapter 2116 - Li Linfu, Nowhere to Run!
Li Linfu was truly a crafty fox, well deserving his reputation!
At this moment, even Wang Chong couldn’t help but feel some admiration for this renowned ‘Wise Minister’ of the Great Tang.
In the imperial prison revolt, Wang Chong had let Li Xuantu go, but the principal schemer, Genesis Supreme, was dead, or at least his physical body destroyed, and Huang Xiaotian had also been captured. Only Li Linfu had remained safe and sound, not revealing a single weakness. He even had Huang Xiaotian taking all the blame for him.
Only this wise minister of the Great Tang was capable of so smoothly overcoming a trial like this.
Moreover, Li Linfu probably knew that Li Heng would be determined to get rid of him once he was done handling the aftermath of the revolt, so he preempted him and set a fire in his own residence. This would prevent Li Heng from dealing with him for a moment and put a pause on any investigations.
Old ginger was hotter than new!
Meanwhile, Zhang Que continued his report.
“Yes! That’s what we thought, so the Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain teams have already mobilized to track him down, but… we have yet to find any trace of him!”
Zhang Que blushed in shame, dropping his head.
Wang Chong had assigned this matter to him, but he had clearly done poorly.
“Hmph, he can’t escape!”
Wang Chong coldly snorted, causing Zhang Que to raise his head in surprise.
“I already know of this. I’ll deal with the rest. Li Linfu… won’t be able to escape!”
Zhang Que was taken aback, but he swiftly understood what was going on, and his mind was thrown into turmoil.
So his liege already had a plan for this!
Zhang Que quickly took his leave.
……
Time slowly passed.
Rumble!
A shabby carriage with a sackcloth canopy slowly trundled along a winding road to the northeast.
“Customer, we’ve arrived at the place you wanted!”
The carriage driver pulled on the reins, bringing the carriage to a stop at a mountain pass.
All was quiet, the only sound being the rustling of the waist-high grass on both sides as the wind blew through it.
Bang!
After some time, the carriage door opened and the passenger finally emerged. This was a man with a wrinkled face wearing plain clothes and a black bundle of cloth on his slightly hunched back. He looked like an old merchant plying the north-south trade route whose business had fallen on hard times.
However, there was a faint intimidating dignity in his eyes that showed that this man was not as simple as he seemed.
But in a flash, the light faded away.
“Many thanks!”
The old man carefully examined his surroundings, and then he threw out a silver ingot.
The carriage driver grabbed the silver ingot and bit on it. His face blossomed into a smile, and with a glowing expression, he drove the carriage away.
“Hyah!”
Once the carriage was gone, the old man took a deep glance behind him. When he turned his head back around, he slowly straightened his back, and his entire body exuded a dignified and steady aura, his eyes brimming with schemes and intelligence.
Even a countryside villager who had never seen the world would be able to sense the sheer authority radiated by this man. Not even major officials of court could compare.
As the wind ruffled his hair, Li Linfu looked toward Youzhou and muttered, “Once I’m through this pass and go a little farther, I’ll be in Youzhou.
“Once I’m there, I will be truly safe. An Yaluoshan is planning to rebel, and as the Prime Minister of the Great Tang, I am certain to be warmly welcomed and treated as an honored guest. And if he actually succeeds, I might be able to turn defeat into victory and once more climb to the apex!”
After the imperial prison revolt, there was no place left in the Great Tang for him. Remaining in the Central Plains was death, as Li Heng would never let him go.
But things were different in Youzhou!
Although he no longer had his status of Prime Minister and had fallen into most dire straits, no one understood the court and imperial household of the Great Tang more than he did. Once he reached Youzhou, he could add his abilities to An Yaluoshan’s military might, and he was certain that he could be of great assistance.
Once the two of them were allied, he would have another chance at resurgence.
Moreover, An Yaluoshan had sent him a reply promising that if he really succeeded, he would make Li Linfu Prime Minister. In addition, given that both of them had worked with the men in black, Li Linfu was certain that they would get along like a fish and water, complementing each other’s faults.
“Wang Chong, my current situation is all your handiwork! One day, this minister will make you pay!”
Li Linfu took in a deep breath. As the figure of that youth in the capital emerged in his mind, he clenched his fists, hatred in his eyes.
Wang Chong’s men had been watching him and investigating him this whole time, as he well understood.
The result of the imperial prison revolt and all those rumors spread throughout society about his backstabbing ways were all his handiwork!
Even the new Emperor’s hostility was probably related to him. If not for him, he would have never fallen so far.
Li Linfu could not let go of this grudge so easily.
“Lord Prime Minister, there will probably be no chance for you to take revenge!”
Whoosh!
Li Linfu paled upon hearing a voice in this remote place, and he nervously looked around.
“Hahaha, Lord Li, An Yaluoshan probably won’t be picking you up, but our liege has been waiting for you for some time!”
The grass parted as another voice spoke.
Thump! A body was thrown from atop the pass, crashing in front of Li Linfu.
At the same time, the neighing of horses came from the forest as numerous soldiers charged out, surrounding Li Linfu.
Looking around at the warhorses surrounding him and then glancing at the body of the Youzhou soldier at his feet, Li Linfu trembled, his wrinkled face turning ghastly white.
“Impossible!!”
Li Linfu’s eyes flew open, his breathing almost stopping.
He had been so cautious and secretive, not bringing a single servant. He had even killed his old attendant, Aji, so that he would not be discovered, but to his surprise, he had still been exposed.
Although he had done many evil things, had his hands ever been stained with blood?
The common people knew him as a renowned minister, but how many people knew just how many jeers he had received in the first half of his life, the great pains he had needed to endure to reach this point?
If not for that Tang law stating that members of the imperial household could not engage in commerce, causing him to not enjoy the slightest bit of preferential treatment and wallow in poverty and disappointment, how could he ever have colluded with the men in black?
He simply wanted the power that should have been his, a luxurious life…
But Wang Chong!
He had destroyed everything!
Neigh!
A general with a white-tasseled helmet and riding upon a white horse emerged from the grass. He jumped from his horse and landed in front of Li Linfu. It was none other than the commander of the Youzhou operations, Guo Ziyi.
Next to him were Old Eagle and Young Master Qingyang.
“Lord Li, please!
“His Highness has ordered us to personally escort you to the capital!”
Guo Ziyi smiled.
……
In the capital, within the King of Foreign Lands Residence, the door to the main hall was open. Wang Chong sat within, browsing through various reports.
“Reporting!” A voice rang out, and a few seconds later, a Golden Guard walked in.
The Golden Guard got down on one knee and reported, “Your Highness, we’ve just received word from General Guo Ziyi that they have successfully captured Li Linfu. Young Master Qingyang is escorting him back to the capital.”
“Oh?”
Wang Chong’s eyes flashed, and he put down the report in his hand.
“How many days until they arrive?”
“Your Highness, they will be here in two days. General Li Siye and the Imperial Guard have already sent men to receive him!” the Golden Guard loudly reported.
“I see.”
Wang Chong smiled, utterly unsurprised by the news of Li Linfu’s capture.
All land in the realm was the sovereign’s land, all of its inhabitants the sovereign’s subjects. After the imperial prison revolt, Li Linfu could not possibly remain in the capital, but there was no place in the vastness of the realm that he could run. If he wanted to live, there was only Youzhou.
Considering that Li Linfu had once helped An Yaluoshan at the feast of all countries, this was probably his only choice.
Whether it was Ü-Tsang, the Eastern and Western Turkic Khaganates, Mengshe Zhao, or any other country, no one dared to oppose the Great Tang, for such an action was suicidal!
Although Wang Chong didn’t know Li Linfu’s exact escape route, as long as he knew where he would run to, everything became very simple.
Moreover, if Li Linfu wanted to flee to Youzhou, he had to get in touch with An Yaluoshan. As long as he kept watch on the Youzhou soldiers that went to pick him up, it would be easy to capture Li Linfu.
The Golden Guard raised his head and asked, “Your Highness, do you want Li Linfu brought back to the estate?”
Wang Chong had been the one to capture Li Linfu, and no one would object to him being sent to his estate first.
“There’s no need!”
Wang Chong faintly chuckled and waved his hand.
“Hand him over to the Imperial Guard to be sent to the palace. The person that he needs to meet the most is not me, but His Majesty!”
