Chapter 380 — Alliance

Song Yan laid out for Ma Youming and Jiang Yi everything he had already told Dou Yan about the importance of the Divine Machine Battalion.

No longer like blind men groping at an elephant, the two men's eyes lit up.

Ma Youming came straight out with it: "Heir, since you have a clear grasp of every matter, you must have a plan as well." As he spoke he looked toward Jiang Yi, who nodded at him, signaling that he would follow his lead. Reassured, he went on, "We are rough men. Whatever orders you have, just give them. Other things we dare not promise, but that the Heir points and we strike, with never a second thought — that we can do."

If he meant to steer clear of this storm, Song Yan did indeed need Ma Youming's and Jiang Yi's help.

"Since we can sit here and talk, we are no outsiders." He did not stand on ceremony. Crisply he said, "As I said just now, if the Prince of Liao is to succeed, he cannot do without the eunuchs, the Jinwu Guard, the Divine Machine Battalion, the Messenger Office, the Grand Secretariat ministers, and the frontier governors. The Messenger Office, the Grand Secretariat ministers, and the frontier governors are easy enough — those come after the palace is seized. What is urgent now is the eunuchs, the Jinwu Guard, and the Divine Machine Battalion. The eunuchs and the Jinwu Guard are my responsibility; you, Lord Ma, are in the Divine Machine Battalion, so your task is to watch Wang Xu. Through Wang Xu's movements we can learn the Prince of Liao's movements — there is no more convenient or quicker way. Jiang Yi, you will watch the goings-on of the Five Cities Military Command, and take the opportunity to make as much contact as you can with men of the Five Camps. Of the Five Cities Military Command and the Five Camps, they are certain to win over one. We are in the dark, they in the light; the chances of spotting something amiss are great, and when the time comes, how the other side deploys its troops will be laid bare before us."

Ma Youming and Jiang Yi nodded without cease. Ma Youming said, "If they press me again, what should I answer?"

"Just say that the Divine Machine Battalion has always followed Lord Wang's lead." Song Yan pondered a moment, then said, "But you must remember this above all: accepting a few small gifts is fine, but never put anything in writing, in black and white. If the Prince of Liao succeeds, well and good; but if he is exposed, then even if you slip past this pass, you may still be beyond redemption!"

"Rest easy, Heir," Ma Youming said hurriedly. "I will be careful."

Jiang Yi seemed about to speak, then held back.

Song Yan, as though he had read his mind, smiled and said to him, "That the three of us are drinking at the Zuixian Tower cannot be hidden from those who take note. If anyone asks, say that you begged Lord Ma to invite me to drink, in thanks for my transferring you to the Five Cities Military Command. In a few days I will gradually promote you to commandant of the Southern City, or even to assistant commissioner or vice commissioner of the Five Cities Military Command, to make things easier for you!"

Only thus would Jiang Yi have the rank and standing to socialize and drink with men of the Five Camps. And it would give others a false impression — that Jiang Yi had climbed step by step only because he had curried favor with Song Yan through Ma Youming's connections — which would also make the dealings among Song Yan, Ma Youming, and Jiang Yi appear perfectly ordinary.

Jiang Yi was so astonished that an egg could have been stuffed into his mouth.

Ma Youming, after a brief moment of shock, laughed and clapped him on the shoulder: "Hurry and thank the Heir!"

Jiang Yi's face flushed red; he rose hastily to thank Song Yan.

Song Yan said, "Who knows how many days you will hold the post of commandant — but a few days is still better than never having held it at all."

Jiang Yi had still been hesitant when he spoke of the matter of Wang Xu; now he was wholly won over.

He rose solemnly, bowed respectfully to Song Yan, and said with a grave face, "I will not fail the Heir's pains; I will learn clearly all there is to know of the Five Cities Military Command and the Five Camps."

Song Yan nodded.

The three of them discussed a few more details, and only when the lamps were first lit did they each return to their residences.

Song Yan went first to the study, and only after talking with Yan Che for a long while did he return to the inner chamber.

Dou Yan was turning the pages of a thick ledger by lamplight.

Song Yan glanced at it: it was the roster of serving women who had at various times been on duty in the outer quarters.

Somewhat surprised, he smiled and said, "Lu Ming got it ready this quickly?"

"Mm!" Dou Yan rose with a smile to fetch Song Yan a plain Daoist robe for everyday wear, and said, "He was even careful enough to dust the ledger and clean it before sending it over."

Song Yan, attended by a little maid, changed his clothes, sat down on the kang, took a comfortable sip of hot tea, and said with a smile, "Credit him with a merit!"

Dou Yan pressed her lips together and smiled, and told Ganlu to put the ledger away; they would look at it tomorrow.

Song Yan then told Dou Yan about the matter at the Zuixian Tower.

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Sisters, brothers, here is today's second update.

Begging for pink votes... ~~~~(_