Jianghu Qimen Lu

Chapter 25 Lure the snake out of its hole

Not long after, the sound of horses' hooves clattered outside the door, interspersed with the occasional neighing of horses. Hongchen, fully armed, clad in golden helmet and armor, appeared at the doorway as if facing a formidable enemy, leading a troop of Eight Banner soldiers. Upon seeing Bai Shandian, he pointed to the room full of gold and silver treasures, his small eyes narrowing into slits as he exclaimed, "Lord Bai, you've made such a fortune behind my back! What happened? Even Old Zhang is here, why didn't you call your brother, Lord Bai?" Bai Shandian coldly smiled, "This is embezzled money, all returned to the national treasury! Tomorrow I'll draft a memorial and report back to the Emperor. As for you, with your paltry skills, it's a favor not to bring you along tonight! Do you know how powerful Black Sun is? He escaped so brazenly tonight, it's infuriating! I'm furious!" He then ordered the Eight Banner soldiers and the remaining Green Standard Army to help load the gold and silver treasures onto the carriages outside. For safety reasons, Xiang Quan was sent to lead his six most famous boxers to guard the carriage outside.

"What exactly happened, Lord Bai?" Hongchen asked anxiously. Zhang Kuang snorted coldly from the side and suddenly asked, "Lord Hong, as far as I know, your only beloved daughter went to the capital three years ago, and we haven't heard from her since. Is that true?" Hong Chen was taken aback and asked in return, "Why do you ask this, Lord Zhang? It's common knowledge among our colleagues in officialdom that I did lose a daughter three years ago. What's wrong, Lord Zhang?" Zhang Kuang glanced at him coldly and said with a hint of schadenfreude, "Lord Hong, you're in big trouble!" Hong Chen was even more confused and said with a hint of anger, "Lord Zhang, what do you mean? Explain yourself!" Bai Shandian suddenly stared intently into his eyes and asked in a deep voice, "Your daughter's name is Red Moon, isn't it?" Hong Chen didn't know what had happened and was in a state of confusion. He exclaimed, "No, my daughter's name is Red Autumn Moon. Because when her mother gave birth to her, it was on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the moon was very round, big, and bright. So my wife and I discussed it and decided to call her Autumn Moon."

Bai Shandian said expressionlessly, "Whether she's called Hong Qiuyue or Hong Yueliang, she's still your daughter. Do you know that your daughter has fallen into prostitution, aided and abetted the evildoers, helped the Japanese pirate Black Sun escape, and even took that extraordinary book, 'The Complete Book of Jianghu'!" Hong Chen was shocked and blurted out, "How could she have done such a thing? She's always been very obedient, although sometimes a bit naughty, but she wouldn't have become this...bad, would she? Why? Why? What is the reason for this? Heavens, I..." "How am I supposed to tell her mother when I get back?!" Bai Shandian walked up to him, patted his shoulder, and said sympathetically, "Don't be sad! The only thing you need to do now is to figure out how to get your daughter to stop her wrongdoing, change her mind, and help us capture the Japanese pirate Black Sun and retrieve the national treasure 'Complete Book of Jianghu'. That's the right thing to do!" Hongchen grabbed his hand and said in a trembling voice, "Lord Bai, tell me what to do. I'll do whatever you say!" Bai Shandian whispered a plan in his ear, and a smile finally appeared on Hongchen's face.

The next day, a shocking event occurred in Hangzhou. News of this reached the capital, and even the current Emperor Qianlong would likely be astonished! General Hong Chen of Hangzhou, covered in blood, wearing a wooden cangue and iron chains, was found dead alongside his accomplices, the Japanese pirate Huoshaoyun and a brothel madam, at the Xiguan market. They were to be executed at noon, their heads rolling on the ground! According to the laws of the Qing Dynasty at the time, major criminal cases punishable by death required a multi-level report, from the county and provincial levels to the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate in the capital for joint trial. The final decision on life or death rested solely with the Emperor! Therefore, executions were usually carried out at the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City! What was happening today? Why was a death row inmate being executed in Hangzhou?! Especially since this was a serious criminal! Treason, in any dynasty, was a capital offense!

Official notices were plastered throughout Hangzhou's city walls and streets, boldly proclaiming: "General Hong Fanchen of Hangzhou, leader of the Beggars' Gang, Huo Fan Shaoyun, and madam of the Yanyu Menglong brothel—three criminals—have disregarded the laws of our Great Qing Dynasty. They have even colluded with Japanese pirates Hei Fan Taiyang and Hong Fan Yueliang, committing murder, robbery, and embezzlement of national treasures. Their crimes are numerous and heinous. To set the record straight and rid the people of this scourge, the Emperor has personally dispatched Imperial Envoy Bai, wielding the Supreme Sword, to proclaim: 'By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Hong Fanchen, as an official of the court, has broken the law. Furthermore, Hong Fan Yueliang, the leader of the Rong family bandits, is his beloved daughter. Father and daughter have colluded to sell out the country for personal gain. Their crimes are combined, and they shall be executed. Their identities have been verified; they shall be beheaded at noon!'" Firebreaker Burning Cloud, originally a commoner, is now the leader of the Beggars' Sect. However, he has betrayed his country and colluded with foreign pirates, repeatedly assisting them in stealing intelligence and plundering our coastal areas through extortion, arson, murder, and looting. He has ravaged the nation and its people, a crime deserving of universal condemnation! He is sentenced to immediate execution! His identity has been verified; he shall be executed at noon! Misty Rain Madam, morally corrupt and promiscuous, conspired with Red Criminal Moon to seduce the foreign pirate Black Criminal Sun. For her own selfish desires, she has hoarded stolen goods and silver, aiding and abetting evil, committing heinous crimes. She is sentenced to immediate execution! Her identity has been verified; she shall be executed at noon! So be it!

The entire city of Hangzhou was in an uproar! People spread the news, eager to witness a modern-day execution, and even more eager to see who this powerful and influential Minister Bai was and what he looked like! The imperial sword, which even the current emperor feared, further fueled people's curiosity; who wouldn't want to see its true face? So, at daybreak, the people flocked to the market like at a temple fair, and the Xiguan market was packed with people, the streets were blocked, and it was incredibly lively.

The official tent was erected at the crossroads of the market street, with soldiers standing at attention on both sides, swords drawn and arrows nocked, creating a state of high alert. In the main hall sat the executioner, Bai Shandian, in his official robes, holding the imperial sword. The Governor-General of Zhejiang, Zhang Kuang, sat beside him. Across the street stood three condemned prisoners, their names verified, each with a long plaque bearing the name of a traitor, marked with a blood-red cross-section "X". Behind each prisoner stood a burly executioner dressed in coarse red linen, a red turban, and carrying a ghost-headed sword. The swords were unsheathed, their blades hidden from view, concealed only by a crimson cloth. At noon, the executioner would mark the prisoner's name with his cinnabar pen, then throw it to the ground. The executioner would then rip open the cloth, and with a swift stroke, the head would fall. This is the historically famous "Red Mission"! White Lightning had meticulously planned this operation. He had Xiang Quan lead six renowned boxing styles and a large number of Southern Fist disciples, disguised as civilians, to surround the entire execution ground. At various street corners outside the crossroads, he had ambushed a large force of Green Standard Army soldiers, each armed with matchlock muskets, numbering approximately five thousand. He also concealed four of the most advanced cannons in four different locations, ready to unleash them on anyone who dared to storm the execution ground should the situation turn against them! To lure the enemy in, he publicly publicized the "numerous crimes" of Hangzhou General Hong Chen, and refused to use any of his Eight Banners troops. This was partly to prevent leaks of secrets, and partly to further convince Red Moon and Black Sun that "one person's crime brings ruin to nine generations." Indeed, White Lightning was shrewd and efficient, never hesitant or indecisive! To ensure the operation was foolproof, Bai Shandian secretly planted explosives beneath the execution ground, where the prisoners were standing. If the enemy resisted, the explosives would be detonated, killing Hong Chen as well, wiping them out completely—this is the Machiavellianism of officialdom: to achieve one's maximum benefit, one must stop at nothing! For the sake of the extraordinary book, *The Complete Book of Jianghu*, he had to kill both Hei and Hong!

However, life is like a dream, and everything is like a game of chess. Things developed in a way that was somewhat unexpected and utterly mysterious!

The sun was high in the sky, nearing noon. Suddenly, a commotion arose from the crowd, followed by the sound of gongs clearing the way. A troop of imposing Eight Banner soldiers slowly approached from the other side of the street. Under the fluttering banners, the leader, wearing a three-eyed peacock feather hat, a robe embroidered with a qilin (mythical creature), and carrying an imperial sword, rode a magnificent Ferghana horse. Looking closer, it was none other than the Imperial Envoy, Bai Shandian!