Chapter 191 Caught
The situation in the Forbidden City became tense.

Even Xu Da and Zhu Wenzhong, who had stabilized the situation, noticed that the atmosphere was not right when they went to the side hall to wait for an audience.

Although Xu Da's face was as gloomy as water, he was still calm and composed.

But Zhu Wenzhong was a little anxious, so he stopped the eunuch and asked, "Why hasn't Your Majesty summoned me yet?"

The eunuch said awkwardly: "This...I don't know."

According to the palace rules, one cannot say things that should not be said, especially to people outside the palace when it involves His Majesty’s affairs.

Zhu Wenzhong frowned.

After the eunuch left, Xu Da said, "Well, don't make it difficult for them. In my opinion, your Majesty must have not slept all night, and now that Hu Weiyong has left, your Majesty must be furious. I think it would be better to go to the audience later, until your Majesty is calm."

Zhu Wenzhong said nonchalantly, "How can a mere Hu Weiyong run away to heaven? Duke Wei, I think we only need to send people to search everywhere for him, and he will be brought to justice soon."

Xu Da and Hu Weiyong had an old grudge. With Hu Weiyong's downfall, he knew that the situation in the court would change drastically. However, at this moment, he did not feel relieved.

After thinking for a while, Xu Da said, "It's not as simple as you think. Hu Weiyong made such a big fuss. He has too many followers. He is as cunning as a fox. He made a fuss all night just to escape. So, I think he had expected this day to come. Therefore, I guess he has been looking for a way out for himself in the past few years. After all, he has been in a high position and has great power in recent years. It should not be difficult for him to find a way out for himself."

"This is called a deliberate plan without any intention... If you want to find him, it's probably harder than climbing to the sky."

After hearing this, Zhu Wenzhong gnashed his teeth and said angrily, "Since this man has escaped, he is just a fugitive. I'm afraid he won't live a happy life. He went from being a prime minister to a fugitive who is not reported day and night. This is also retribution!"

Xu Da smiled and shook his head: "You still think too little. He has already found a way out, who knows if he is already living happily now. Hu Weiyong is not a simple person, you don't have to underestimate him."

Zhu Wenzhong could not help cursing, "It would be a pity if this damned traitor could still live happily. No wonder my father was so furious."

At this time, an eunuch hurried in and said, "Your Majesty summons the two gentlemen to an audience."

Xu Da and Zhu Wenzhong looked at each other and fell silent. They adjusted their armor and followed the eunuch.

…………

Zhenjiang waterfront.

At this time, a large ship was sailing downstream.

Behind them, many black-sailed boats were like pearls, strung together in a string and heading downstream.

The hull pushed aside the water, and on the surging river, at the bow of the ship, there was a man wearing an ordinary silk scarf on his head and a Taoist robe that looked out of place compared to the silk scarf. At this time, he stood at the bow with his hands behind his back, gazing at the slowly moving two banks with nostalgia in his eyes.

"Dad..." Hu Weiyong's second son, Hu Lai, stepped forward quietly at this time.

Hu Lai said: "It's windy outside, why don't we go inside the tent..."

Hu Weiyong suddenly pointed to the north bank of the Yangtze River and said, "Your brother is still imprisoned. How pitiful! How pitiful! And... are you looking in that direction? Going north for more than 200 miles from here is the ancestral home of our Hu family. Our Hu family has lived there for generations, and we have never left. Alas... our descendants are unworthy, and in the end... we still have to leave our homeland! From now on, you will become a wanderer in the world. You should kowtow three times in front of that place."

After hearing this, Hu Lai hesitated a little, but still knelt down obediently and kowtowed three times in the direction of Jiangbei.

After he stood up, Hu Weiyong asked, "Have all the ships behind caught up?"

"They all came with us. Thirty-one ships. Our whole family and the people we are close to are all here. But Dad has many brothers. They..."

Hu Lai did not continue, but Hu Weiyong said indifferently: "I can't take care of them now. If they don't stay in the capital, I, Hu Weiyong, will be the one to be exterminated."

Hu Weiyong paused, and then said: "A real man should make decisions when necessary. You must understand these words."

Hu Lai said quickly, "Yes."

He subconsciously looked towards the river bank anxiously.

Hu Weiyong glanced at him for a moment, frowned and asked, "Why, are you worried?"

Hu Lai said truthfully: "I'm worried that there will be pursuers."

"Don't worry." Hu Weiyong obviously didn't take it to heart, and even smiled and said, "The capital will be in chaos for a few days. When they react, the first thing they will suspect is that we are still hiding in the capital. They will search the capital. They will never think that I have already prepared a secret passage, and they will never think that this secret passage leads directly to the Qinhuai River, and there are already people to meet us at the Qinhuai River."

"Besides, I have already replaced the documents for you. Now... we are the envoys of Japan. We will go downstream and when we reach the seaport, there will naturally be a large ship to pick us up. It will take several days for them to realize my plan. By then, your father and you will have already escaped into the sea."

"Over the years, I have planned a lot for you. I have never told anyone about these things, all for today. Do you still remember your third uncle whose whereabouts are unknown?" Hu Lai was stunned, then said, "Third uncle, isn't he dead?"

Hu Weiyong's face showed a smug look, and he sneered, "Dead? This is just a trick! In fact, I taught your third uncle to go to sea first, and selected many confidants for him, and asked the commanders of the Japanese guards to take care of him. He has already built a family business in the depths of the sea, gathered thousands of people, and countless wealth. This time we had no choice but to go to him, and now he has our help and the wealth he brought this time. This vast ocean in the southeast is still the world of my Hu family."

After hearing this, Hu Lai finally breathed a sigh of relief. His third uncle had disappeared five years ago. He did not expect that his father had such a far-reaching plan before the Ming Dynasty was founded.

He couldn't help but look at his father with admiration, but still revealed a look of regret, and couldn't help saying: "It's a pity that after entering the sea this time, you can never return to the mainland."

Hu Weiyong smiled at Hu Lai and said, "That's not true... Zhu Yuanzhang will definitely kill a lot of people this time, and once the killing starts, the emperor and his ministers will be suspicious of each other, and the killing will never stop. Over time, I predict that the Ming Dynasty will be nothing more than a flash in the pan. When my father left, he left some tricks behind. If the fate changes, my father will still have a chance."

Hu Lai felt that his father could always give him new insights. He was surprised and asked, "There is a backup plan. Who is this backup plan?"

Hu Weiyong seemed calm and said, "You don't need to know. Just know that... I have done my best to arrange everything I can."

Hu Lai then showed his joy and couldn't help saying, "It would be a blessing if you can come back."

Hu Weiyong raised his head and looked up at the sky. Suddenly, he looked a little sad. He said, "Whether I can return or not depends on fate. No matter what, I failed in this mission and now I am like a lost dog. If it weren't for Deng Qianqiu, I wouldn't have ended up like this."

As he spoke, deep hatred flashed in his eyes, he pursed his lips and remained silent.

But at this moment, I suddenly discovered that many boats in front were anchored on the river bank.

"What happened?"

Hu Weiyong looked at the many ships gathered in a black mass as far as he could see, and frowned deeply.

He glanced back at the boatman.

The boatman hurriedly said, "I'll go ask."

Immediately, the boatman blew his bamboo whistle.

Soon, the ships in the distance began to respond with whistles.

After a long while, the boatman said, "Master, there are people ahead... using iron chains to cross the river, so this boat... can't go down the river."

After hearing this, Hu Weiyong frowned even more deeply and asked, "What do you mean? Why are iron chains across the river at this time? What's the reason?"

The boatman said, "I don't know about that. There has never been such a situation before. It was only during the naval battles back then that this happened..."

Hu Weiyong couldn't help but ask, "Can we force our way through?"

The boatman smiled bitterly and said, "It's very difficult. Not to mention that once you get through, there will be waterway patrols blocking the way. Even if you force your way through, it's very dangerous. What's more, ordinary boats are blocked there and can't get through. Master... let's ask someone to find out what happened."

Hu Weiyong's expression finally changed, and he suddenly felt a little anxious.

Logically speaking, even when the situation was so dangerous last night, his expression didn't change, but now... he looked a little more worried.

Soon, the boats in the rear fleet also caught up, and the other boats obviously began to feel confused and didn't know what to do.

Hu Lai said, "Father, it is not possible for the capital to react so quickly. Even if Zhenjiang knew something had happened in the capital, it should have been in the afternoon or at night. Are we too suspicious? This is just the action of the river patrols on their own."

"This is a mighty river." Hu Weiyong said, "Without the order from the capital, who would dare to rashly use iron chains to block the river and cut off the passage of ships? You should know that there are hundreds or even thousands of official ships and grain transport ships passing through here every day! Lai'er, I feel... something might really happen."

Hu Lai was so frightened that his face turned pale and he began to tremble.

But Hu Weiyong pondered and said, "No, no, this is absolutely impossible. There is no way he would react like this. Even if I rack my brains, Zhu Yuanzhang doesn't have this ability. Could it be that I am worrying too much? Hahahaha... I am really old. I am a little suspicious now."

Hu Weiyong burst into laughter.

His laughter seemed to infect many people.

But at this moment, his laughter suddenly stopped, and he saw that many ships were coming towards him from the river bank.

Hu Weiyong's eyes turned cold, as if he had a bad feeling.

(End of this chapter)