Chapter 372: Entering the City (3)

Chapter 372: Entering the City (III)

Lin Jianjiang's appearance may be rugged, yet his voice is extraordinarily gentle, spoken at a measured pace that feels like a spring breeze upon the listener.

The students beside him, Li Jun and Ma Wangye, nodded repeatedly.

Especially Ma Wangye, his expression was exceptionally reverent, even a thick aura of admiration rose upon his face.

"Our purpose in coming to Osaka Castle this time, the little white side should have already informed you, hasn't it?"

Li Jun did not give Ma Wangye a chance to voice his admiration, and steered the conversation back to the main topic.

"I understand, sir. Before your arrival, I had already sent men to scout the current state of the Osaka Castle Hundred Household Office."

Lin Jianjiang raised a hand, a beam of light shot forth, coalescing into a transparent image of a towering building.

"Sir, look: the Osaka Castle's Nishiki Guard Hundred Household Office lies to the north of the castle, housing thirteen enrolled Nishiki Guard members within. One section contains thirty, the General's Banner Hall; another contains forty‑three, the General's Banner Chamber."

"However, these two are newly appointed hundred‑household true lords, freshly promoted, their strength merely at the eighth rank, and within the office they command little respect."

Lin Jianjiang flipped his wrist, the projection enlarged and rotated.

"The overall structure of the Osaka Castle office is a seven‑storey tower, its walls of brick and stone, its interior sheathed with a two‑inch steel plate; ordinary firearms cannot pierce it."

"From what I presently know, the only way in and out of the office is through the main gate. Yet, in accordance with our Nishiki Guard's habits, we would never leave ourselves a single path; there must be hidden passages!"

Lin Jianjiang spoke confidently, "Sir, grant me a little more time, and I shall map out all the hidden passages."

"The first to third floors of the opposing office house various operational squads; the fourth to sixth floors belong to the second office's intelligence, medical, and logistics departments; the seventh floor, the highest, is the true lord's office."

Lin Jianjiang flicked his palm, and the projected tower collapsed, morphing into a map of the entire Osaka Castle.

"Since the true lord assumed office, his activities have spread throughout the castle, even leading a detachment outside the walls to purge bandits. Yet, in the period following the ambush on our Inuyama Castle, he grew reclusive, his whereabouts elusive, hard to pin down."

Li Jun furrowed his brow, "Why did such a change suddenly occur?"

"I cannot say, but I have a feeling he is preparing for something."

"Is it because of us?"

Ma Wangye looked puzzled, "That seems unlikely. Our movements are discreet; Old Li left that charlatan, Zou Si Jiu, performing a divine act in Inuyama, and within a short span they should not be uncovered. Could it be that he foresees it, that he has divined our arrival to cleanse him?"

"He is but a Dao‑level adept, not a Dao‑ancestor. If he could predict all this, I would now turn back to Inuyama."

Li Jun fell into contemplation, then suddenly asked, "Chi‑gui, how is the Hong‑go in Osaka Castle faring? How frequent are its movements?"

"Not high, at a middle‑level standard. Numerous minor incidents cause casualties under ten, but large‑scale raids are rare; the level of attack we suffered in Inuyama has never occurred."

"Might it be the Hong‑go?"

"I understand your meaning, sir, but I have received no word of any collusion between the true lord and the Hong‑go."

Lin Jianjiang continued, "Moreover, your current whereabouts are unknown even to the Hong‑go, so the true lord's shift cannot be due to a pre‑emptive warning."

"Troublesome, truly troublesome. I came bearing a sword to another's doorstep, yet could not lay a hand upon him."

Ma Wangye's face showed a fierce aura, "I say we should just charge into the Hundred Household Office and gamble that the boy hides inside!"

"Ma Wangye, your view I cannot endorse. First, the office is heavily guarded, difficult to breach; a direct assault is perilous and risks exposure."

Lin Jianjiang spoke solemnly, "Even if you and Lord Li succeed in entering, what if you fail? With the true lord's keen awareness, a single strike may not suffice, and future opportunities may vanish."

"Then how? We cannot simply retreat empty‑handed, must we?"

Ma Wangye spread his hands, expression weary.

"We cannot remain empty‑handed; this time he must die!"

Li Jun's tone was low, yet his resolve was unyielding.

His resolve in this killing was not merely due to the sword wound they shared in Chengdu Prefecture.

It was also because Yu Canghai now stands in the way of Li Jun's breakthrough to the next rank.

The overall situation in the Wa Region grows ever tighter; on the surface flowers bloom, yet beneath the surface a raging fire simmers, ready to ignite at any moment.

With the Empire's new policies advancing, the Hong‑go's retaliation will only grow fiercer.

A low‑rank five‑spring imperial decree's pine mountain nearly set the entire Inuyama Castle ablaze; had another more war‑skilled rank been involved, the Hundred Household Office might not have held.

Furthermore, the four great companies of the Wa Region watch hungrily; Li Jun cannot believe they will stand idle, watching the new policies fully take root and snap the Wa people's backbone.

They have shown no overt action; perhaps they are merely gathering strength, silent until a sudden, stunning strike.

Setting aside these factional oppositions, Li Jun harbors a great hidden danger.

That danger is the Burning Era's haze.

The enemy's killing intent has been laid bare; inevitably a final clash with Li Jun will come.

Thus, for Li Jun, breaking the lock and advancing to the next rank is imminent.

"Chi‑gui, when you described the Osaka Castle Hundred Household Office, you mentioned the two current generals; they were both newly promoted by the true lord after his assumption of office, correct?"

"Yes."

Lin Jianjiang nodded, "One dynasty replaces another; the former hundred‑households were recalled to the imperial capital, and the newly appointed ones naturally must build their own cadres, which feels more fitting."

Li Jun's eyes dimmed slightly, "What of the former generals? Were they recalled, or dismissed?"

"They were not recalled; as far as I know, they remain within the Osaka Castle Hundred Household Office."

Lin Jianjiang paused, his expression suddenly enlightening, "Sir, you mean to strike at them?"

"Precisely."

Lin Jianjiang continued, "Though the rank of a Nishiki Guard General is modest, within the office he is second only to the lord, wielding real authority. Especially in the Wa Region, a General is a lucrative post, holding considerable power. Yet, due to a change in superiors, he was stripped of his position; anyone in his place would feel resentment."

"We must find a way to contact them."

Li Jun gave a cold smile, "This time I shall give them an opportunity to vent their grievances."