Wei frowned enquiringly.
"The Muslims dispatched an envoy with a pair of vases to plead for peace. But when the Emperor opened the box, only one of the vases was inside. He was very angry and questioned the envoy, who said that he had already had an audience with the Commander-in-Chief of Zhejiang Province. The Emperor called in Commander Li, who was naturally mystified. Luckily, the Emperor knew Commander Li would not do such a thing, that there must be some good explanation."
"That is good," said Wei, nodding.
"But the Emperor said that Commander Li would be held responsible for the affair and gave him three days to find and return the other vase. This presents a great difficulty."
"He's afraid that if he doesn't find the vase, he will be removed from office, is that it? It's probably easier not being an official. If one's whole family could to be executed and all one's possessions seized, it must be rather distressing."
Deng ignored his sarcasm. "Let us not deceive each other. I have come to ask your society to return the vase."
"We have not heard of any such vase," replied Wei. "But as Commander Li has encountered this difficulty, there is no reason why we shouldn't help him find it. We may possibly come across some clue to its whereabouts in a year or two."
"Commander Li said he had great respect for Master Chen. He sent me today to ask your assistance, but would not feel at ease if he was unable to do anything in return. Please do not hesitate to inform us of Master Chen's wishes."
"You are very frank, General Deng. That is excellent," Wei replied. "Our Master Chen has two wishes. Firstly, the Red Flower Society has offended Commander Li, and he would like to ask him to let bygones be bygones."
"That goes without saying. I can guarantee that the Commander will never make difficulties for your society over this matter. And the second thing?"
"Our Fourth Brother Wen Tailai is imprisoned in the Commander's Yamen."
Deng grunted.
"He is an Imperial criminal," Wei continued. "No matter how courageous Commander Li is, he would never dare to release him. We understand that. But Master Chen misses him greatly and would like to see him alone tonight."
Deng thought for a second. "This is an extremely serious matter. I will have to ask the Commander and return with the reply."
Deng returned two hours later.
"The Commander says that Master Wen's crimes are serious in the extreme, and that normally no-one would be allowed to visit him," he said.
"Normally!" Wei exclaimed.
"But as Master Chen has agreed to return the vase, the Commander will risk his neck and allow Master Chen to see him. However, there are two small conditions he must agree to. First, the Commander has recklessly agreed to this purely in order to cement his friendship with Master Chen. If anyone else found out about it, it would be disastrous."
"Commander Li wants Master Chen to agree not to reveal a word about the affair to anyone, is that it?"
"Exactly."
"I can agree to that on our Master's behalf," Wei said.
"The second point is that only Master Chen will be allowed to make the visit."
Wei smiled. "Commander Li is naturally afraid that we will take advantage of the opportunity to try to rescue Master Wen. All right, we agree. Master Chen will go by himself. But we have not agreed not to attempt a rescue."
"You are a good man, Brother Wei, and I value your word. Please ask Master Chen to come to the Yamen this evening."
"If Zhang Zhaozhong is around when Master Chen and Master Wen meet, it will naturally be impossible to preserve the secrecy of the agreement, which could be extremely inconvenient for Commander Li."
"That is true," Deng replied. "The Commander will think of some excuse for getting him away."
When Deng had left, the heroes gathered in the Great Hall to await their orders for Wen's rescue.
"Brother Xu, I will leave the arrangements to you," Chen said.
Xu was silent for a moment. "Now that we know Zhang Zhaozhong will be elsewhere and that the Great Helmsman can get inside, it will of course be much easier to rescue Brother Wen," he said. "But Li is also certain to prepare for that eventuality. We must first work out what he plans to do and then do something unexpected."
"He will gather a large contingent of troops and surround the entrance to the dungeon and may even enlist the support of some Imperial Bodyguards," Yang pointed out. "They will allow only the Great Helmsman in, and only the Great Helmsman out."
"We had better be waiting outside the Yamen just in case the Turtles try anything against the Great Helmsman," said one of the Twin Knights.
"We will of course be waiting outside," answered Xu. "But I don't think Li will dare to harm the Great Helmsman with the vase in our hands."
"I've got it," Chen said suddenly. "When I go to see Fourth Brother, I will wear a wide cape and a large hat with a face cover…"
Xu knew what he meant. "But that way, we would gain one man only to lose another. It's not a good idea."
"Finish what you were saying, Great Helmsman," said Priest Wu Chen.
"Once I am in the dungeon, I will exchange clothes with Fourth Brother and then let him leave. The guards will think it is me. You can be waiting outside to receive him."
"But what about you?"
"The Emperor and I have a special relationship. Once they discover the switch, they will let me go."
The heroes were unhappy that their leader was placing himself in such danger, but they were forced to agree it was probably the best plan.
All the arrangements were completed. Chen threw on a large cape with the collar turned up, pulled a hat well down over his face, and set off for the Commander-in-Chief's Yamen accompanied by 'Leopard' Wei. By the time they arrived, it was already close to dusk and the first stars had began to appear at the edge of the sky. A man came out to meet them.
"Is that Master Chen?" he whispered. Wei nodded. "Please come with me. This other gentleman, please stay here."
Wei stood and watched as Chen followed the man into the Yamen. A flight of ravens flew overhead through the evening mist on their way home, cawing as they went, and Wei's heart beat wildly as he wondered what would happened to the Great Helmsman. After a while, the rest of the heroes arrived and spread out around the Yamen.
As he entered the gate, Chen saw the Yamen was filled with thousands of soldiers on guard. The man led him through three courtyards and into a room.
"Please take a seat," he said, and left. A moment later, Commander Li entered and saluted Chen. "It is an honour to meet you," he said.
Chen opened his cape and revealed his face. "We met the day before yesterday on the lake," he answered with a smile.
"You may now see the prisoner," said Li. "Please follow me."
As they reached the door, an attendant rushed breathlessly towards them.
"Commander, the Emperor has arrived," he reported. "Master Deng has gone out to meet him."
Li started in surprise and turned to Chen. "You had better wait here for a while," he said.
Li ran through to the front courtyard and saw Qian Long with a large contingent of Imperial Guardsmen. He hurriedly knelt down before him and kowtowed.
"Arrange a well-guarded room," said Qian Long. "I want to personally interrogate Wen Tailai."
Li invited the Emperor into his own study, and the Imperial Bodyguards established themselves on all sides of the study and even on the roof.
"I have important matters of a confidential nature to discuss with this prisoner. No-one else must hear," Qian Long told Bodyguard Bai Zhen.
"Yes, Your Highness," Bai replied and retired.
A moment later, four bodyguards entered carrying a stretcher on which Wen, handcuffed and chained, lay asleep. The bodyguards retired and there was silence for a time.