Iron Dynasty Chapter 1089

Burma.

A wave of relief washed over Cao Kun as his gaze rested upon the pirate ship anchored offshore. Thirteen arduous days had passed since their escape from Calcutta, a period marked by meager sustenance and restless nights, until they finally reached the secluded fishing village Qing had mentioned.

“Qing, our fate now rests entirely with you. Should you successfully guide us back to Britain, I assure you, the Queen herself will bestow upon you a noble title, along with a reward of ten thousand taels of silver.”

Concealed within the dense foliage bordering a winding mountain path, the group surveyed the small fishing village nestled by the shore from their elevated vantage point. The settlement, comprised of merely thirty households, exuded an aura of tranquility, appearing like an idyllic haven.

A fleeting, almost imperceptible smirk touched Qing’s lips, though his outward demeanor remained one of profound respect and humility. “This is my duty. This humble village serves as Ma Hai’s temporary refuge. It appears they have not set sail today, a stroke of good fortune for us,” he stated.

Cao Zheng-tong’s unease persisted. They were in dire straits, dealing with pirates – a measure only taken as a last resort, never by choice. Their current predicament forced this perilous alliance with Qing.

He voiced his lingering doubt once more, “Qing, can your associate truly be trusted?”

“There shall be no error,” Qing affirmed, tapping his chest reassuringly. “We must make haste. Should the imperial army intercept us, none of us shall escape.”

With his declaration, he began his descent down the path towards the village, the others promptly following in his wake.

Cao Kun and Cao Zheng-tong exchanged a concerned glance. With no alternative left, they gritted their teeth and trailed Qing into the fishing village.

“Qing, what brings you here?”

The villagers, previously engrossed in their tasks, ceased their activities, turning their attention to the approaching party. From a nearby dwelling, a middle-aged man emerged, his face lighting up with recognition and joy upon seeing Qing. “Brother Ma!” Qing exclaimed, returning the greeting with clasped hands, a warm smile gracing his features.

Observing their apparent camaraderie, Cao Kun’s anxiety began to subside. A cautious scan of the surroundings revealed nothing amiss, further easing his mind.

The others, too, felt a surge of optimism. The relentless worry that had plagued their journey began to dissipate, replaced by the burgeoning hope of a safe return.

Qing and the middle-aged man conversed briefly. Qing then gestured towards Cao Kun and his companions, relaying his purpose. The middle-aged man, comprehending the situation, responded, “As you are Qing’s friends, you are kin to me, Ma Hai’s kin as well. Leaving by sea is a simple matter. Why don’t you all join me for a hearty meal and drink before we set sail? However, this service of escorting escapees comes at a cost – a steep one, a thousand taels per person, at the very least.”

Cao Kun’s heart settled upon hearing this. This was the true nature of Ma Hai, the pirate; his blatant avarice confirmed it. Had he shown no interest in payment, suspicion would have been awakened.

“In that case, we are in your debt, Brother Ma,” Cao Kun replied, a placid smile on his face. “As long as you ensure our safe passage from this predicament, I shall not quibble over any sum of silver.”

“Excellent! Such spirit!” Ma Hai boomed, clapping his hands in approval. He gestured towards an adjacent dwelling. “Come, come, let us feast and drink our fill before we depart.”

Ravenous from their ordeal, the group readily accepted. The Cao father and son, closely following Qing and Ma Hai, entered the designated room.

However, as the entrance curtain was drawn aside, their faces instantly contorted in horror. Instead of the anticipated feast, they were met with an array of menacing, dark muzzles pointed directly at them.

“Traitor Cao! You never imagined you’d fall into my grasp today, did you?” The formidable figure seated at the center of the room was none other than Yue Yun.

Simultaneously, numerous imperial soldiers emerged from other structures along the beach, swiftly surrounding Cao Kun and his entourage.

“Qing! You!” Cao Kun stammered, his voice laced with disbelief.

Casting a look of utter disdain at Cao Kun, Qing declared, “Cao Kun, do you truly believe the Empire would permit your seditious activities within its borders? To be frank, we, the Imperial Secret Guard, have had our eyes on you from the very moment you set foot in India.”

A mask of disbelief settled upon Cao Kun’s features. He pleaded urgently, “It strains credulity that Admiral Yue Yun of the Imperial Navy would personally oversee my capture without meticulous planning. How was the intelligence conveyed?”

His trust in Qing had been absolute, reinforced by the fact that Qing, like everyone else, had exhibited no unusual behavior.

Yet, the current scene shattered his entire perception.

“Even if I were to explain, you would not comprehend,” Qing replied with a resounding laugh.

Yue Yun scoffed, addressing the soldiers concealed within the house. “Arrest them all.”

Wolf-like soldiers, acting upon the command, swiftly surged into the throng, apprehending all remaining members of the influential families aligned with Cao Kun.

“General, Cao Kun’s belongings contained a critical list detailing the undercover operatives the Merchant Parliament had embedded within the Empire, along with individuals he had recently positioned,” Qing reminded, emphasizing the paramount importance of this discovery.

Yue Yun retrieved the luggage from Cao Kun, emptying its contents. As anticipated, a small booklet tumbled out.

He grasped the booklet and began to peruse its pages. Yue Yun's countenance shifted dramatically as he recognized numerous names; they belonged to high-ranking officials. The revelation that this list, if presented, could precipitate a far-reaching purge struck him deeply.

“Cao Kun, your elaborate schemes spanned years. Hmph, what a pity that it all culminates here,” Yue Yun declared, securing the incriminating document. “I shall personally escort you to Qingzhou and deliver this list directly into His Majesty’s hands!”

Upon hearing this, Cao Zheng-tong’s legs faltered, and he immediately collapsed to his knees. Cao Kun’s face also drained of color.

He understood the grim fate awaiting him upon their return to Qingzhou.

“A regrettable end,” Cao Kun murmured, closing his eyes, his words ceasing.

Yue Yun let out a soft snort. Addressing everyone present, he commanded, “Not a single word of this is to be uttered. The capture of Cao Kun must remain a secret to avoid tipping off the enemy.”

“Yes, General,” came the resounding chorus from his subordinates.

With a slight nod, Yue Yun instructed his men to prepare a bonfire. Their warships lay anchored offshore, ready to advance upon receiving a designated signal.

Escorting the lamenting Cao Kun and his contingent, Yue Yun set a direct course for Qingzhou once the warships were in position. This matter, he deemed, was far too grave for any haste or oversight.

Seven days later.

Yue Yun’s fleet docked in Qingzhou. That very day, Cao Kun and his son were transported to the city via train. To ensure their anonymity, both were fitted with black cloth blindfolds for the entire journey.

Upon reaching Qingzhou, Yue Yun abstained from immediately surrendering the pair to the security office. He could not place his trust in any official at this juncture.

The rationale was clear: should news of the Cao father and son’s apprehension leak, those implicated on the list would undoubtedly attempt to abscond. At this stage, preventing their escape would prove exceedingly challenging, a risk Yue Yun refused to countenance.

Therefore, immediately upon arrival in Qingzhou, he proceeded directly to the Imperial City, seeking an audience with the Emperor.

However, en route, his progress was abruptly halted by an approaching carriage.

“Is that not General Yue? I had assumed you were engaged in conflict in Southeast Asia. How did you find yourself in Qingzhou? And who are those individuals accompanying you?”

The carriage curtain was drawn back, revealing Ge Yiren’s face as he peered out with a smile. He and Ren He had just concluded a lecture at a Confucian academy and were en route back when they unexpectedly encountered Yue Yun escorting prisoners, prompting Ge Yiren’s inquiry.

Ren He stood beside Ge Yiren, his gaze sweeping over the two figures trailing Yue Yun. His expression instantly transmuted into one of shock.