Chapter Seventy-One: Is Deng Qing Planning a Rebellion?

Li Zisheng now understood the adversary's intent and had gained a vague sense of the true identity of the person behind these events. Yet, one thing remained incomprehensible: if the opponent possessed such immense power—capable of causing every soul in Le City and countless soldiers in the Lingzhou barracks to simply vanish within a few days—then why go to such elaborate lengths to set up these arrangements within the Lingzhou Academy? Was it possible that the mastermind behind this had orchestrated the bloody massacre of the people in Le City merely to cover their tracks?

Li Zisheng knew that continuing forward would be fraught with peril. A gentleman does not stand under a crumbling wall, so he took Baliang and promptly departed the academy. Upon hearing they were leaving the eerie grounds, Baliang seemed as if granted a reprieve, following Li Zisheng with brisk, relieved strides.

However, Li Zisheng was deep-thinking and cautious; he would not leave so easily. He led Baliang to hide just outside the academy gates. The architecture there was peculiar; although it was an alleyway, it offered two excellent vantage points for monitoring the comings and goings at the entrance. Li Zisheng realized these spots had likely been intentionally designed for such a purpose. Seeing that the surroundings remained unchanged, he and Baliang quietly settled in to wait.

Baliang, sensing his master’s tension, understood that something of great consequence was afoot. He held his breath, nearly forgetting his earlier fear, and crouched there with steady, shallow breaths, not daring to make a sound. Li Zisheng did the same, remaining motionless. Both had long forgotten their missed midday meal, their hunger eclipsed by the anticipation of what was to come.

As the sky began to darken, Baliang pulled a water skin and a few dry rations from his pack, offering them to Li Zisheng. Li Zisheng was indeed thirsty; he took them without a word, drank a few sips, ate a little, and resumed his vigil. Despite the passing of the Qingming Festival and the warming of the season, the lack of human presence in Le City over the past few days made the air feel bitingly cold. As night fell, the chill began to permeate the alley, though their hiding spot provided a windbreak that spared them from the worst of it.

Baliang wanted to speak, but seeing Li Zisheng’s calm and composed posture, he held his tongue and waited in silence. Li Zisheng wondered if his intuition was correct, yet he felt certain that waiting would yield answers.

Sure enough, before the sun had fully set, two figures brazenly emerged from the academy. They appeared to be strangers to Li Zisheng, and judging by their attire, they were mere underlings.

"Big Brother, Mr. Lin told us to wait here, saying something would arrive soon. What could it be?" the younger one asked.

Li Zisheng and Baliang held their breaths, waiting in stillness.

"Silence, little brother," the older one chided. "Mr. Lin is a master of strategy. The success of this great endeavor is entirely due to him. Since he said this item is of great use, it must be so. As subordinates, we must not ask questions. Do you understand?"

Hearing this, Li Zisheng felt as if a thunderbolt had struck him. "Mr. Lin? Could it be the Mr. Lin who serves General Deng Qing? No wonder... I had only seen him once or twice since arriving, and then he seemed to vanish. I assumed Deng Qing had sent him away, but I never imagined such an earth-shattering plot was his handiwork. Does this mean Deng Qing intends to rebel?"

"Deng Qing’s influence in the Great Tang Empire is deeply entrenched. If he were to rebel, even if it did not shake the foundation of the state, it would certainly cause a massive disruption at such a critical moment as the Fengshan sacrifice."

Li Zisheng’s mind was sharp, and through the mention of "Mr. Lin," the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place. If Deng Qing were indeed planning a rebellion, everything became clear. The dismemberment of Ashina Zanghe, the mysterious disappearance of Mr. Zhong, the murder of the proprietor of the Sanwei Inn, the vanishing of the townsfolk, and the disappearance of the soldiers—it all formed a cohesive picture.

Deng Qing had long held sway in Lingzhou, and his control over Le City far exceeded that of the local governor, explaining the disappearances. Li Zisheng had previously wondered why the barracks were so blood-stained—he had suspected a foreign invasion—but if the Turks had truly raided the camp, why was Ashina Zanghe’s end so gruesome? To be killed and then dismembered was an act of pure hatred, something only someone like Deng Qing would do.

As for Mr. Zhong’s disappearance, it was clear he had realized Deng Qing’s intentions and fled. His attempts to advise Ashina Zanghe had been veiled in unspoken warnings. Now, Li Zisheng understood: Mr. Zhong had sensed the crisis, but Ashina Zanghe, having resolved to die, had merely sought to take a few Tang talents with him to the grave before the end. Only because Li Zisheng had discovered the truth and vanished for those few days had he escaped death.

And the murder of the Sanwei Inn’s proprietor? That was clearly Deng Qing’s way of purging uncontrollable elements within the city, with the inn serving as the first target.