30 'Emperor and enigma'

"Give this to your brother.", The emperor exclaimed; handing an edict to Jin Long.

"Father?...What is this?", He asked in visible confusion.

"Take a look."

Jin Long opened the edict covered with golden silk; His eyebrows immediately raised on the first look of the words written on it.

"F-Father! You are making that Xijin-raised bastard..the-the Grand commandant of Heiqishi army?"

He said; his voice having lost it's strength out of the contept he just got slapped onto his face by a person- who is his own father.

He can't believe Yun would be granted such a powerful position when he himself is not in a position to even control the Caizhou city properly.

He hated Yun from his heart. Reason was simple, he himself might be the crown Prince of Caizhou; but Yun-- the son of a mere concubine was adored by his father more than him.

Though his father had sent Yun to the Xijins as a political tool to help him maintain peace between the north and south-- He always kept an eye on Yun's actions even if he wasn't there in person.

"Long 'an! Don't feel bad about this-", The Emperor spoke out; seemingly having predicted of his son's disgust on his decision.

"Why shouldn't I father? He has been raised by your arch-enemies of Xijin! Who knows his loyality to you?", He complained.

"Aye...Think about it first", He continued; holding his son's hand to come close- "Do you really think Heiqishi's Command has the power to mock you?"

"...Heiqishi is Caizhou's elitiest army! You think he won't betray you or me by using that?", He complained again; struggling to keep his anger in control.

"So what if it is the elitiest one? Don't you think it has been depleted to nothing in the recent skirmish?", The Emperor continued; in a consoling tone- "Long' An! He would be just a Commandant in his name! Army of Heiqishi is nothing but a bunch of armored horsemen without any feasible power!"

"But..Father!"

"Say no more! I have taken the decision now. If I don't give this position to him after his unexpected victory at Qing, Our army would think we don't respect them.", The Emperor said; in a tone to console the Prince.

.

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"Okay Father. I understand your decision.", Jinlong unwillingly took the edict and left.

Emperor's answer was too perfect for him to deny on.

Afterall he knew it well, If the Caizhou's army rebels out, even his Eastern army would be too far to him to help him out.

And, Given that Grand General Li is pinned in the north dealing with the Khitan incursions and Xijins-- He stands nothing before the Caizhou's army.

So, He agreed anyways.

For him, Waiting for the right moment to strike now seemed only a way to get away with this disadvantage to his enemy-- RuoYun.

.

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[Zhicai Village, at the end of Caicai Village]

"Master Yun! We have reached.", Daifu said; stopping the carriage in the front of a bamboo gate.

Yun slowly got down the carriage, and immediately got captivated by the Countryside breeze drifting by his face; untangling and tangling the stray strands of his hair flinging on his face.

The place he was standing was not busy, and as said it was at the end of the village; Not a single person was on the path he was standing. Expectable, as it was; it was for real.

Coming out of the thoughts of country roads take me home feels, Yun better to do the thing for what he came here without going straight to the chaotic city.

Escorted by Daifu, Yun slowly walked past the bamboo gate; and the two found themselves in a courtyard filled with different kind of flowers at bloom; a bit of the fading spring had still survived down in here.

Suddenly, Yun heard a sound of metal clanking going on not very far from him.

He swiftly turned his eyes towards it's direction.

Just a few steps next to them, there was a well-built cottage made of wood on a elevation; in front of which, a man in decent clothing stood in it's courtyard; stricking a piece of red hot steel with a brute force of his muscles.

"Are you sure this is the person Zhang wanted us to meet?", Daifu asked Yun; seeing the person in front of him to be too ordinary to believe he is the one who is the help.

"I am sure he is. He is no ordinary blacksmith at all. See his hands and physique? It's too unnaturally well built to be of a mere village Smith.", Yun answered; and started climbing the steps ascending to the cottage courtyard.

Daifu followed Yun, nodding his head in acceptance to the fact Yun implied.

As the two of them reached the forge, The rythmic stricking stopped at once, The Blacksmith- a man in his late Thirties, and fair features hurried to bow before Yun in a bit of respect and yeah- careful discipline.

"Your Highness! I am Lin Hao, Zhang's friend. I was informed of your arrival and deeds fairly by him. Sorry for the inconvenience, but You have to show me your seal to let me be sure of your authoritial identity.", He said firm; with a peculiar order of highly precise use of language in his words.

Yun smiled, and gestured Daifu.

He was informed of this will be needed even if he comes to meet this source himself.

"All fine", Hao said examining the Military seal; and continued- "You are welcome in Heiqishi's secret repository, My Lord!"

"A secret repository? Interesting.", Yun said with an awe in his voice, of all the experiences he was having and absorbing.

Yun and Daifu approached the closed wooden doors of the cottage, and with a sweet sqeeck of the hinges of the door, the enigma of the scene ended with the opening of the door; just to start another enigma by the view of stairs going down in the darkness.

"Interesting.", Yun turned and smiled in appreciation towards Hao.

"You are welcome to enter. Commandant!"