Chapter 116: The Silver Note Player

The Celestial Gate.

Yang Xin, who had just cleaved the gate open and was about to run inside, stared dumbfounded at the already opened Dazhong Gate across from him…

“Righteous Yang, block the bandits!”

Kong Yinzhi shouted, holding a Silver Note high in the air as if raising a flag.

To be precise, it shouldn’t be called a Silver Note. It must be understood that there were no Silver Notes in the Ming Dynasty; the Qing Dynasty only saw them appear towards its end. So, Wei Xiaobao spending Silver Notes everywhere was purely laughable. However, there were Exchange Notes, which served a similar purpose but weren’t as casually used as Silver Notes. Typically, wealthy families, for convenience, would deposit large amounts of Silver in commercial cities and then use Exchange Notes to withdraw it, similar to checks. Yang Xin had previously received these as well, so these notes rarely came in small denominations.

Yang Xin immediately stopped.

Then, this scoundrel hurriedly turned his head, looking at Zhang Dongbai, who had already charged across the Jade Water Bridge.

“It’s too late!”

He shouted and continued his mad dash.

Then, dragging the hundred-catty broadsword forged in Yanzhou, he rushed to Kong Yinzhi’s side faster than the Cavalry behind him. He casually snatched the Silver Note and stuffed it into a specially made pocket on his armor. Speaking of which, his preparations were extremely thorough. Although this set of armor was actually cowhide gilded for show-off purposes, the outside of this pocket was genuine forged steel plate, something even a Matchlock Gun bullet couldn’t penetrate.

Before Kong Yinzhi could even realize where the Silver Note had gone, Yang Xin dragged him through the Dazhong Gate.

Only then did Yang Xin turn around to face the surging Cavalry, holding his broadsword horizontally in the gateway like a war god…

“Brother Kong, rest assured! As long as Yang has a breath left, no bandit shall pass this gate!”

He declared righteously.

In the next moment, the Cavalry of the Incense-Smelling Sect surged forward. Yang Xin swept his broadsword horizontally, immediately slaughtering those before the gate until men and horses tumbled over. However, by this time, Zhang Dongbai had been incited to the point where his eyes were bloodshot. After all, the Kong family’s mountain of gold and silver was not far away. Believing that Yang Xin’s old injuries had not healed, he refused to miss this closest opportunity to wealth. Retreating to one side, he continuously urged his subordinates forward. The followers, surging like a flood, fiercely slammed into Yang Xin and the Dazhong Gate behind him.

Actually, this Dazhong Gate wasn’t a real city gate either.

The multiple gates on the southern side of the Confucian Temple were actually the main gates from successive generations. It was just that the Confucian Temple expanded southward repeatedly, turning former main gates into second, third, or even fourth gates. However, the Kong family only reached its peak during the Ming Dynasty. These past grand gates and high walls were just like the main gates and courtyard walls of an ordinary mansion. Moreover, it wasn’t just one gate; there were side gates on both the left and right. Such a defensive line couldn’t hold back enemies, as it wasn’t originally intended for that purpose. While the frontal Cavalry assaulted Yang Xin, those behind dismounted and began climbing the courtyard walls or even directly charging at the side gates.

Kong Yinzhi did not hesitate to run further back.

Behind him lay the Cantong Gate.

Just as he rushed through the Cantong Gate and closed it, the Dazhong Gate was completely overwhelmed. However, immediately after, accompanied by a roar, Yang Xin, covered in blood, fought his way out from within. Amidst the roars of the enemies who had engulfed everything behind him, he dragged his Green Dragon Crescent Blade and ran wildly forward.

Kong Yinzhi, who had been peeking through the crack in the gate, did not hesitate to shut it.

“Hurry, bar it!”

He frantically ordered the Household Servants.

Two Household Servants stepped forward to quickly drop the bar, but at that moment, accompanied by a tremendous crash, the blade of the Green Dragon Crescent Blade smashed hard through the gate crack. Amidst the screams of the two servants, it chopped through the bar in an instant. Then, the gate swung open. Yang Xin, covered in blood, charged inside, turning around with great seriousness, his back to Kong Yinzhi…

“Brother Kong, don’t worry, I’m here!”

Yang Xin shouted.

Kong Yinzhi dearly wanted to stab him in the back.

But there was no time now. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out another stack of Silver Notes and casually stuffed them into Yang Xin’s money pouch.

“Righteous Yang, the Kuiwen Pavilion must not be passed! If they pass the Kuiwen Pavilion, we cannot stop the bandits anymore!”

He said in a pleading tone.

Behind the Cantong Gate was the Kuiwen Pavilion, which was the library of the Confucian Temple. And behind the Kuiwen Pavilion was the Dacheng Gate, inside which lay the Dacheng Hall. The Dacheng Gate was aligned with the south gate of the Kong Mansion; beyond lay the core area of the Kong family. However, there was an outward-facing gate on either side of the Dacheng Gate. Exiting the east gate would lead directly outside the south gate of the Kong Mansion. If Yang Xin were to sell out the Kuiwen Pavilion as well, the Incense-Smelling Sect followers wouldn’t need to enter the Dacheng Gate; they could directly attack the main gate of the Kong Mansion from the east.

Of course, there were still local militias outside.

The County Magistrate Kong personally led over a thousand local militiamen blocking there.

But if the militiamen couldn’t hold, the Incense-Smelling Sect followers would truly break into the Kong Mansion, and this was almost certain. It could be said that protecting the Kong Mansion relied solely on Yang Xin.

“Well… I’ll do my best, Brother. You know I’m still injured,” Yang Xin said with feigned difficulty.

Kong Yinzhi gritted his teeth and stuffed a few more notes for him.

“Twenty thousand taels! As long as you can keep the bandits outside the Kuiwen Pavilion, I, Kong, swear by my ancestors to reward you with an additional ten thousand taels!”

He stated.

“Then why not abandon this place instead!”

Yang Xin looked around very seriously.

“Then we’ll do as you say!”

Kong Yinzhi said.

The Cantong Gate indeed couldn’t be held, but the Kuiwen Pavilion was different. It was a colossal multi-story building. By now, a large number of Household Servants had been deployed there. The Confucian Temple’s width from east to west was less than two hundred meters, and the Kuiwen Pavilion itself was nearly forty meters wide. From its height, using bows and arrows, Bird Guns, and such, they could completely seal the entire defensive line.

His original plan had been to firmly hold the Kuiwen Pavilion.

All the Kong family’s capable Household Servants were there at that time. But those servants couldn’t withstand a hard assault from the Incense-Smelling Sect followers. At most, they could shoot guns and arrows from above. If the Incense-Smelling Sect followers charged up for hand-to-hand combat, they would surely be defeated. Therefore, they had to rely on Yang Xin, who could sally out to counterattack. Although this scoundrel’s demands for money were insane and utterly shameless, Kong Yinzhi also understood clearly: if given enough money, Yang Xin would not let the Incense-Smelling Sect break into the Kong Mansion, especially not past the Kuiwen Pavilion to wreak havoc on the Dacheng Hall.

Otherwise, he couldn’t explain things to Emperor Wanli either.

The several gates outside the Kuiwen Pavilion held little significance; they were just the main gates of the Confucian Temple through the ages. But the Dacheng Gate and the Dacheng Hall behind it were different; that was the true dwelling of the sage. As long as the Incense-Smelling Sect did not enter the Dacheng Gate, then Yang Xin would hold primary merit before Emperor Wanli. But if the Incense-Smelling Sect followers entered the Dacheng Gate, even if they were eventually driven out, Yang Xin’s credit would be greatly diminished.

“Retreat!”

Yang Xin immediately said.

The two men, along with those Household Servants, retreated towards the Kuiwen Pavilion at the fastest speed.

By then, the corpses from where Yang Xin had fought his way out at the Dazhong Gate had been cleared away. The Incense-Smelling Sect followers led by Zhang Dongbai continued their pursuit. As soon as they exited the Cantong Gate, arrows and bullets shot from the Kuiwen Pavilion rained down. The vanguard of the Incense-Smelling Sect followers immediately fell in droves. But they reacted quickly as well. Archers swiftly ascended the Cantong Gate, exchanging fire with the Kong family Household Servants on the Kuiwen Pavilion from the upper level, while the elite fighters below continued their hard advance, braving the sharp arrows and bullets falling from above as they rapidly approached the Kuiwen Pavilion.

But unfortunately, Yang Xin was waiting for them right below. This guy blocked the front of the Kuiwen Pavilion with his broadsword, killing anyone who came like a deity of slaughter. Lacking a truly super-powerful warrior, the Incense-Smelling Sect followers were utterly helpless before his Green Dragon Crescent Blade. Especially since his cowhide gilded armor and the armor underneath completely immunized him against arrows. The Incense-Smelling Sect followers attacking the Kuiwen Pavilion were, in the blink of an eye, slaughtered by him until corpses piled up.

“Kill, kill all these sorcerers!”

Above, Kong Yinzhi shouted excitedly.

Then, his shouts cut off abruptly.

Just when the Incense-Smelling Sect followers were thwarted and momentarily dared not advance, Yang Xin once again left his post without authorization and ran inside.

“His injury has flared up!” Zhang Dongbai shrieked.

The followers roared excitedly and charged forward.

“Righteous Yang…”

Kong Yinzhi anxiously called from the stairway entrance.

“Hurry, hurry, hurry! Replenish health!”

Yang Xin also anxiously shouted.

“Quick, bring the Exchange Notes!”

Kong Yinzhi shouted with a sob in his voice.

A trusted Household Servant beside him quickly presented a box. Kong Yinzhi, looking at the enemies who had reached the gate, painfully grabbed a handful of Exchange Notes and stuffed them into Yang Xin’s money pouch. Then, Yang Xin roared like a Silver Note player after making a deposit, swung his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, and charged into the Incense-Smelling Sect followers. The blade turned into a flash of cold light; the Incense-Smelling Sect followers who had entered the gate were instantly cut in half, turning into a pile of screaming corpses. The next moment, Yang Xin, like an enraged wild bull, majestically killed his way out. Zhang Dongbai, who was almost at the gate, was so frightened he hurriedly turned tail. But then, Yang Xin coughed violently twice, turned around, and ran back into the Kuiwen Pavilion…

“Replenish health! Replenish health!”

He howled insanely.

Kong Yinzhi, wanting to cry but having no tears left, grabbed the Exchange Notes and swiftly stuffed them into his money pouch.

Zhang Dongbai outside, seeing hope again, had just turned back when he saw Yang Xin charging out once more, brimming with murderous aura.

“I curse your ancestors!”

He let out a grief-stricken wail.

He didn’t know that Kong Yinzhi inside the Kuiwen Pavilion very much wanted to shout the same thing.

This time, Zhang Dongbai instead did not run. He, along with his most elite subordinates beside him, roared and charged straight at Yang Xin.

Yang Xin, having just finished another round of killing, retreated without hesitation.

By now, there was no need for him to say anything. Kong Yinzhi simply stuffed all the remaining Exchange Notes into his money pouch.

“Forty thousand taels! That’s all the Kong family has deposited in the Capital City! The rest are gold and silver!”

Kong Yinzhi howled as if having lost his mind.

“Brother Kong, watch me take his dog head!”

Yang Xin said with satisfaction.

Immediately, he charged straight at Zhang Dongbai. The Green Dragon Crescent Blade swept left and right. Zhang Dongbai’s men in front instantly became dismembered corpses. In the blink of an eye, the two men faced each other. Zhang Dongbai thrust his Long Spear at Yang Xin, while dozens of his subordinates beside him also thrust their spears. The dense forest of spears resembled a Spanish Tercio. But Yang Xin’s hundred-catty broadsword merely swept horizontally. Amidst the sounds of snapping spear shafts, all the Long Spears broke. Zhang Dongbai abandoned the broken spear shaft at top speed, drew the iron mace from his back, and slammed it towards Yang Xin.

Yang Xin hurled his Green Dragon Crescent Blade horizontally forward. Zhang Dongbai ducked to avoid it, but this one-hundred-twenty-catty weapon smashed into the crowd behind him, eliciting a chorus of screams.

The next moment, Yang Xin, moving at full speed, reached him.

Zhang Dongbai swung his mace down.

But unfortunately, the speed difference between the two was too great. Before his iron mace could descend, Yang Xin’s right hand had already clamped onto his throat. Carrying the momentum of his forward charge, Yang Xin immediately slammed him backward, smashing him hard onto the stone slab before the gate…