Yamafu Military Affairs

Chapter 434: The Marketplace Gains Supernatural Powers

Di'anmenwai Street, Tianhui Teahouse.

As one of the few old brands in Beijing, the teahouse is bustling with people, including those carrying bird cages, fortune tellers, cockfighting and dog walking. Everyone who comes and goes has to address him as "Master". The rich come in with a proud and arrogant manner, while the humble come in with a bow and a kowtow, flattering him.

The shopkeeper's surname is Wang. He probably took over the stall from his biological father around the year of the Pig. It can be considered a family business. He has been smart and eloquent since he was a child. He can get along with everyone. He walks around the shop with a teapot in his pocket. His clever words can make many tea drinkers happy. He can take care of everyone's face and connect with anyone's words. It is no exaggeration to say that he has a very smart mind.

Baldy Liu entered the courtyard, greeted the shopkeeper in a familiar manner, picked up a polished wooden eight-immortal table and sat down, and shouted to the waiter: "The old rules, a pot of Liu'an melon slices, and some trumpet cakes, if there is any Yu Liu's medicinal candy, also bring some up."

"Oh, Master Liu, this is really unfortunate. Master Liu's medicine candies were just sold out yesterday, and we have to wait until later today for new ones to arrive."

The waiter was familiar with Liu Tuzi. After apologizing, he said, "If you want some candy, we have some from Tianqiao Dabing Huang and from Wang Baoshan in Tianjin. What do you think?"

"Then forget it. Bring us a plate of freshly baked bird's nest pastry instead."

The waiter nodded hurriedly and was greeting people when three people suddenly walked in from outside.

The man in the front, who was wearing the most exquisite brocade robe, looked like a king descending from the earth. He was obviously a martial artist, with a tall figure and above average looks, and seemed to have an extraordinary background. However, when compared with the two beauties with graceful figures behind him, the waiter, who was used to seeing all kinds of people in the teahouse, was immediately moved.

This guy is so lucky.

Before he could even approach to greet them, the shopkeeper who was calculating the bill at the counter put on a welcoming smile, bent over, raised his head and stuck his butt out, thrust one hand downwards, and greeted them, "Hey, distinguished guests, what would you three like to order?"

"Four people in the elegant seats, a pot of Mingqian Longjing tea, and some light snacks will be served."

"Okay, come here, please."

Shopkeeper Wang waved with one hand, but his eyes looked uncontrollably towards Hongying. He always felt that he had seen this woman before.

Where have you seen it?
He glanced at it twice carefully, but in the end he couldn't remember where he had seen it before.

Qin Huai and his two companions entered the private room and saw a sandalwood eight-immortal table inlaid with mother-of-pearl, old mahogany stools and chairs, and famous purple clay tea sets. The calligraphy and paintings carved windows around it were all complete, creating a very atmospheric atmosphere.

“It’s quite elegant.”

Qin Huai nodded, took out a blue and white porcelain box from his arms, and handed it to the shopkeeper Wang next to him: "I'd like to ask the shopkeeper to go to the lobby and invite Master Liu to come over for a chat."

"Okay, I will definitely pass on your message, but I don't know if Mr. Liu will come."

"It doesn't matter. As long as Master Liu sees what's in the box, he will definitely come."

Qin Huai waved his hand, seeming very confident.

Shopkeeper Wang was also a shrewd man. Without saying anything more, he bowed and said goodbye, then turned to go to the lobby to deliver a message.

"Master Liu, the people who just came in would like to invite you to a private room for a chat. This is something they asked me to pass on. They said that after you read it, you will definitely go."

"Hmm? Let me take a look."

Baldy Liu took a look, took the porcelain box and opened it. His voice was hoarse, like rough sandpaper.

When the porcelain box was opened, there was a touch of oil paint with a green base and a slightly reddish hue.

"This oil paint"

Baldy Liu glanced at it and replied calmly, "It's a rare and good thing."

"Then you?"

"More friends mean more paths to take, fewer enemies mean fewer walls. Since the guy inside has given me face, I can't just slap him in the face and create another enemy for nothing. Let's just meet him."

Seeing that Baldy Liu had accepted Qin Huai's invitation, Shopkeeper Wang breathed a sigh of relief and was completely at ease.

Even though Liu Tuzi's nickname doesn't sound very good, he is the ancestor of many lottery tickets in Beijing, Tianjin and Zhili. He has been in the underworld for most of his life, and although he has not made a name for himself in the underworld, he is a well-known figure in the market.

It is said that in the year of Jiawu, when the Empress Dowager Cixi celebrated her 60th birthday, he used his unique face-changing skills to sneak into the birthday banquet, intending to assassinate the emperor. Unfortunately, the stage he was on was too far away from the target, so he was unable to hit the target in one go, and the attempt was ultimately unsuccessful.

Although the assassination attempt was not successful, the news spread and he was regarded as the leader by all the people in the Caimen, and they all responded to his call.

When the foreigners entered Beijing, he rushed into the battle with a knife to kill the devils, and secretly dug a secret tunnel and cellar to save people. It is not an exaggeration to say that he is a man of great righteousness. It's a pity that he has less hair.
Shopkeeper Wang was an experienced man. He understood at a glance that Baldy Liu and Qin Huai were a perfect match. Then, seeing Baldy Liu put the porcelain box carefully into his arms, he knew that Qin Huai must be someone extraordinary. He asked the waiter to take care of Baldy Liu's stuff, took a tray of tea and snacks, and personally delivered it to the private room.

Liu Tuzi had a dark face and no beard, with big eyes, a wide mouth, a round face and big ears. He didn't look like a Caimen monk, but more like a Shaolin monk. He entered the private room and glanced around without stopping at the two women. He clasped his fists towards Qin Huai and said, "Are you Qin Huai, Qin Jingbo from Baji Sect? I've met Liu Meng from Caimen here."

"Master Liu recognizes me?"

Qin Huai raised his eyes, and the black ripples disappeared in an instant.

[Baldy Liu]: A secular eccentric known as "Face-Changing Liu" in Beijing and Tianjin. Together with Ghost Hand King and Magician Luo, he is known as the Three Wonders of Caimen. He was once Yihe and Wukong. His skills are enough to glimpse the principles of heaven. The secret face-changing technique he uses is similar to that in "Playing with Ghosts and Gods". He can also be possessed by gods and summon the help of incense and gods.

Note: If you can learn his secret technique of face changing, your extended skill [Face Changing] will be sublimated!
"The eldest disciple of Master Li, the top martial artist in Jinghua, the owner of Shenzhou Jinlou, all of us who make a living in Zhili have heard of Master Qin's great name."

Baldy Liu laughed, sat down on the only remaining empty seat, and continued, "Besides, when the Xiang family left Beijing, it was my Caimen who helped them. Although Xiao Hongying has grown up and her appearance has changed a little, my eyes are numbered among the best in the world, and I will never forget them once I have seen them."

"After all, it turns out that the senior is one of us. It is fate that we meet today. Come, have some tea."

Qin Huai stood up and poured tea as he spoke, his expression relaxed.

"Master Liu, I offer you this cup of red tassels as a token of my gratitude to the Xiang family for their ten years of kindness."

"Why bother? I'm just a wandering craftsman."

Baldy Liu smiled and took a drink from the cup.

After chatting and laughing, Liu Tuzi sighed and talked about business: "Mr. Qin, you asked the shopkeeper to pass me a plate of oil paint just now, but do you have anything to say?"

"Yes, Master Liu should also know that in a few days the palace will hold a grand banquet to celebrate the birthday of the old thief Regent. I want to follow Master Liu's example and repeat the old story of Jiawu."

"Hmm? Master Qin, I have to remind you that the old thief is not easy to deal with."

Baldy Liu looked at Qin Huai in surprise, pondered for a while, and slowly said: "Today is different from the past. More than a decade ago, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth was thin. Even if that old thief was much stronger than us, he would be afraid of being surrounded and beaten by all the masters in the world. But a month ago, that old thief found a real dragon from somewhere. Although only a few scales and claws were revealed, we knew that this thief was no longer an ordinary person."

"Master Liu, rest assured. I am not the only one who is trying to assassinate you. There are also a group of top figures including my master, Master Sutang, and Master Wang Wu. It can be said that if we fail, we will die."

Qin Huai explained in a deep voice.

"So the sharpshooter Li is here too. I feel relieved now."

Baldy Liu pulled the corner of his mouth and smiled: "If there is anything you need from me, Master Qin, just give me a call. As long as you open your mouth, all the brothers in the city will come over." He has been in the business world all his life, and when he heard Qin Huai's tone, he knew that this matter could only go forward and there would be no retreat.

Qin Huai looked at Baldy Liu's hopeful expression, poured him a cup of tea, pondered for a moment, and said softly: "But I have to let Master Liu know that a few years ago, I got an opportunity and learned the trick of changing my face. Now that I have seen Master Liu's magical power, I would like to ask you for some advice to help me sneak into the birthday banquet and plan for great things."

"Oh, I thought it was something else. It turns out that Master Qin is impressed by my humble ability. That's fine."

Baldy Liu had expected this, but then his face straightened and he said solemnly, "It's just that my skills are passed down to family members only, and to men only, not women. If others want to hear the essence of my secret skills, they have to call me Master. But I know myself well, and I dare not worship together with Li the Divine Spear. Master Qin, just remember it in your heart."

"Hey, Master Liu, when you become a disciple, you must be polite."

Qin Huai stood up immediately and was about to perform a great salute when he was held up by Tuzi Liu.

"My face-changing technique is different from the ordinary ones. The key is not to wipe the face, blow on the face, or pull the face, but to use Qi to change the face."

Seeing Baldy Liu's patient instructions, Qin Huai listened carefully, and soon he heard the voice of Zero.

"Master Walking, [Face Changing Liu] has taught you the complete secret art of face changing. You can upgrade [Face Changing] in the skill column and refine the corresponding magical power seed!"

"You have obtained [Magic Power Seed: Summon the Immortal], your skill [Face Change] disappears, and a space becomes vacant in the skill column."

[Magic Power Seed: Invite the Immortal]: One of the 72 magical powers of the Earthly Evils, you can use the spirit writing to ask for the immortals, to predict good and bad luck, to ask the gods to possess you, and to get their help. When you activate this magical power, it will consume a lot of Yuanqi and Shenqi, so please use it with caution.

(When you are physically exhausted, you can also pay for precious things such as awakening degree, life span, soul and spirit as a substitute)

Note: Zhang, Wang, Li, Zhao, and Liu, all living beings are not ants; if you look closely, you will see that each one is a god.

After Baldy Liu finished imparting the essence of the secret technique, Qin Huai closed his eyes, as if he had comprehended the secret.

Soon, Qin Huai, who had just obtained the [Magic Power Seed: Summoning the Immortal], thought of a deity and planned to invite it down to experience it carefully.

He straightened his back and put his hand across his face. A mysterious and majestic face of gold and silver had covered his original appearance. A crack appeared between his brows, revealing a bright eye, which shone brightly under the lamp, like the most precious gem in the world.

"The wonderful way of Qingyuan, showing the holy power!"

In an instant, Liu Tuzi's dark face turned red with shock, and his eyes suddenly showed an unquestionable look.

"Amazing, amazing! You actually have this kind of talent, but how come I only met such a good person now?!"

"Haha, Master Liu, if the palace is looking for a martial arts artist to perform, with my current face-changing skills, can I get in?"

Qin Huai dispersed his magical powers, smiled slightly, and lowered his voice.
Baldy Liu leaned back against the back of the chair, and suddenly a long breath came out of his slightly open mouth, rolling in his throat. Then a strange flush emerged on his face, and he squeezed out a word.

"Yes! The Divine Fighting technique has never produced a Grandmaster. Now with the help of Lord Erlang, and your foundation, we can accomplish our plan!"

"Master Liu is right, but at this point, we still need to confirm where the old thief is, otherwise we will come up empty-handed and he will be on guard."

Qin Huai sighed and looked at the Forbidden City in the south: "This matter is difficult to handle."
-
March 2nd, Forbidden City, Golden Palace.

"The commander of the Second Beiyang Army, Duan Zhiquan, has led his troops into Beijing. The soldiers at the front have a report to make."

Yuan Xiangcheng, wearing a crane-patterned robe and a double-eyed peacock feather on his head, knelt at the foot of the white jade steps and reported to the empress dowager and the young emperor who were sitting on the dragon throne.

"Why do you need to bring troops here to report something?"

"There aren't that many people, just some of Duan Zhiquan's followers."

"You asked them to come?"

Empress Dowager Longyu, dressed in gorgeous clothes, asked coldly, already having some guesses in her mind.

"No."

"Don't the Beiyang Army listen to you?"

"A general is not always able to obey orders from the emperor when he is away from home. I think it would be better for the Queen Mother to summon him."

Yuan Xiangcheng raised his head slightly, a hint of coldness flashing across the depths of his eyes.

"Then let him in."

The Queen Mother looked around at the princes present and spoke softly.

"Announce ~ Duan Zhiquan is here to see you!"

Following the shouts of the eunuchs from the Memorial Office, Duan Zhiquan led eight followers into the hall, stepping heavily in leather boots, each holding a corner of a blood-written letter in their hands.

clatter! clatter! clatter!
The thumping sound of leather boots was like rumbling thunder, and the little emperor was so frightened that he clung tightly to the empress dowager on the dragon throne.

"what is this?"

Empress Dowager Longyu looked at the blood-written letter about a meter long behind Duan Zhiquan, frowned, and asked in a cold voice.

"Commander of the Second Qing Army, commander-in-chief of the front line, Duan Zhiquan pays respect to the Empress Dowager. Long live the Emperor."

After he finished speaking, Duan Zhiquan knelt down on one knee and looked at the little emperor with eyes that had been tempered by blood and fire. He looked very intimidating.

"Duan Zhiquan, what are you going to do?"

The Queen Mother opened her arms and hugged the little emperor, her dissatisfaction almost overflowing from her words.

"Queen Mother, our frontline soldiers have been fighting on the front line for more than a few months. I have witnessed with my own eyes that the flames of war are raging and the number of civilians dying is more than tens of thousands every day. Our frontline soldiers are not afraid of fighting and take obeying military orders as their first duty, but we fought this battle too poorly!"

Duan Zhiquan stood up, looked at Yuan Xiangcheng, and continued: "My Qing Dynasty wants to fight for constitutional monarchy, and Honolulu fights with us for democracy and republic. It turns out that it is just a dispute over the state system. It turns out that both sides are trying to save the country!"

"Why should we fight this kind of war? We heard that the Queen Mother originally had no difference between the republic and the monarchy. It's just that a few princes sat back and watched the country in danger and the people suffer without saving them. We, the frontline soldiers, will never tolerate such scum in the court!"

As he was speaking, Duan Zhiquan walked up to Prince Chun Zaifeng and scolded him angrily, with spit flying all over his face.

"Duan Zhiquan, I am taking the liberty of leading the entire army, boarding the carriage with tears in my eyes, and risking my life to go to Beijing to explain the pros and cons to the Queen Mother and the princes. The importance of the country is far greater than the monarch of the Qing Dynasty. Please, Queen Mother, look carefully!"

After these words were spoken, both the Beiyang faction headed by Xu Juren and the Qing royal family headed by Prince Qing, all turned their eyes to Yuan Xiangcheng, who had a stern face and no expression on his face.

(End of this chapter)