Dapeng's Time Travel Life

On the official road, Zhang Peng and his entourage galloped towards the capital. Along the way, Zhang Peng paid no heed to the scenery; his thoughts were already on the capital. Would reward await him there, or new challenges? The unknown road ahead filled him with a vague unease.

As the outline of the capital gradually came into view, Zhang Peng's feelings became increasingly complex. This bustling capital was not only the center of power but also a battlefield where various forces vied for dominance. He knew that his return to the capital this time was not just for reporting on his duties, but also for a difficult game of strategy.

As soon as Zhang Peng stepped into the capital, he sensed an unusual atmosphere. Pedestrians hurried along the streets, and officials whispered amongst themselves in front of their residences, their eyes filled with anxiety and unease. Zhang Peng was startled; had something major happened in the capital?

After settling his entourage, Zhang Peng immediately went to the palace to meet the emperor. He met the emperor in the imperial study. The emperor looked slightly tired, but a hint of relief flashed in his eyes when he saw Zhang Peng.

"Zhang Peng, I am very pleased with your meritorious service on the border this time," the emperor said. "However, the situation in the court is complicated now, and I need your support."

Zhang Peng's heart tightened, and he immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, I will do my utmost to share your burdens."

The emperor nodded slightly and said slowly, "Recently, some ministers in the court have formed cliques and attempted to control the government. They have interfered in border affairs and even secretly colluded with foreign forces in an attempt to undermine the stability of the border."

Zhang Peng was furious; he hadn't expected these people to be so audacious. "Your Majesty, these treacherous officials are unforgivable! I am willing to eliminate them for Your Majesty!"

The emperor waved his hand: "This matter cannot be rushed. They have deep roots in the court and their relationships are complex. If we are not careful, it will cause turmoil in the court. I need you to investigate secretly, collect evidence, and eliminate them in one fell swoop."

Zhang Peng accepted the order. After leaving the palace, he began his investigation. However, things proved far more difficult than he had imagined. These ministers acted cautiously, leaving almost no evidence against them. Zhang Peng encountered setbacks everywhere, and couldn't help but feel somewhat frustrated.

Just when he was at his wit's end, a chance encounter led him to a clue. One day, Zhang Peng bumped into an old friend on the street, who now held a position in the government. After exchanging a few pleasantries, his old friend hesitated, as if he had something to say.

"Zhang Peng, you must be careful when you return to the capital this time," an old friend said in a low voice. "There are some ministers in the court who are dissatisfied with you, and they may try to harm you."

Zhang Peng's heart skipped a beat: "What do you mean by that?"

An old friend sighed: "What you did at the border has affected their interests. They are worried that your return to the capital will affect their power, so they plan to take action against you."

Zhang Peng was startled, not expecting to be targeted before he even began his investigation. "Do you know what their plans are?"

My old friend shook his head: "I don't know the specifics either, I've only heard that they're plotting in secret. You must be very careful."

Zhang Peng thanked his old friend, but remained secretly vigilant. He knew he had to speed up his investigation; otherwise, he would not only fail to complete the task assigned by the emperor, but he might also be in danger himself.

Upon returning to his residence, Zhang Peng summoned his attendants to discuss countermeasures. "We must find evidence as soon as possible to bring down these treacherous officials," Zhang Peng said. "From now on, everyone should closely monitor the actions of the court officials, especially those who have connections with foreign forces."

The attendants obeyed and left. Zhang Peng, however, fell into deep thought. He recalled the emperor's words: what were those treacherous officials secretly colluding with foreign forces for? Was it for money, or for greater power?

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind. Since these treacherous officials were colluding with foreign forces, their transactions were likely taking place in some hidden location in the capital. Zhang Peng decided to start his investigation from there.

Over the next few days, Zhang Peng disguised himself and inquired throughout the streets and alleys of Beijing. Finally, he obtained an important clue: mysterious people were frequently seen entering and leaving an abandoned warehouse in Beijing, behaving highly suspiciously.

Zhang Peng was overjoyed; he knew he might have found the key. He immediately led several followers to the abandoned warehouse. However, when they arrived, they found the warehouse heavily guarded and impossible to approach.

"General, what should we do?" a follower asked.

Zhang Peng pondered for a moment: "Let's not act rashly. Let's go back and discuss this further."

Back at his residence, Zhang Peng carefully analyzed the current situation. He knew the warehouse was heavily guarded, and forcing his way in was out of the question. He had to devise a foolproof plan to enter the warehouse without arousing the enemy's suspicion.

After some thought, Zhang Peng finally came up with a plan. He decided to use his identity as a pretext to inspect the security of the capital and request entry into the warehouse for inspection. This way, he could avoid arousing the enemy's suspicion and take the opportunity to collect evidence.

The next day, Zhang Peng, dressed in his official robes, led a troop of soldiers to the abandoned warehouse. "Open the door! I am Zhang Peng, the border garrison commander, here on the Emperor's orders to inspect the security of the capital!" he shouted.

The warehouse door slowly opened, and a guard came out: "General Zhang, what brings you here?"

Zhang Peng's expression was stern: "The security in the capital has been unstable recently, and I have been ordered to patrol. Why is this warehouse so heavily guarded? What is hidden inside?"

The guard's expression changed slightly: "General, you misunderstand. This is just a warehouse for storing some goods, and there is nothing unusual here."

Zhang Peng sneered, "If it's just an ordinary warehouse, why won't you let me in to inspect it? Is there some unspeakable secret hidden inside?"

The guard hesitated for a moment, but ultimately made way: "General, please come in."

Zhang Peng led his soldiers into the warehouse, where they found it filled with all sorts of goods. He pretended to inspect it while secretly observing his surroundings. Suddenly, he noticed a hidden door in a corner, from which he could faintly hear voices.

Zhang Peng's heart tightened; he knew he might have found the key. He gave his attendant a wink, then quietly approached the hidden door. As he neared it, he heard a familiar voice from inside: "Foreign forces are ready. As long as we proceed according to plan, chaos will ensue at the border, and then we can control the court..."

Zhang Peng was furious. He hadn't expected that the owner of that voice was actually a high-ranking official in the court. He immediately pushed open the door and entered, only to find that the faces of the people in the room had changed drastically.

"How dare you! You dare to collude with foreign forces and attempt to overthrow the imperial court!" Zhang Peng glared angrily.

The high-ranking official turned pale: "Zhang Peng, don't make false accusations!"

Zhang Peng sneered, "The evidence is conclusive, and you still want to deny it? Men, seize them all!"

The soldiers swarmed forward and captured them all. Zhang Peng knew he had finally found the key evidence to bring down the treacherous officials; now, he just had to wait for the right opportunity to wipe them all out.