Episode 31 recap: Zhong Haichao reached a cooperation agreement with the Japanese side.
Mu Qing told Liu Lin that the day of the thirty-year pact would be very dangerous. There were the Imperial Bodyguard, the 43rd Regiment, and Zhong Haichao dared not appear on that day, but he had cooperated with Qing Yixinfeng, allowing him to capture the Prajna inheritor, kill Mu Qing, Wang Jialuo, and Zhuo Bufan on that day. Mu Qing analyzed that there were gaps around these people, and also guessed that Lin Anjing around Wang Jialuo had problems, and was more worried that she was doing a deal with Zhong Haichao.
Mu Qing arranged for Lin Haohao to go and find ancient coins from the Qianlong era, his true intention was to let Lin Haohao avoid the days around the thirty-year pact, after all, in Mu Qing's view, Lin Haohao was not a bad person, and he did not want to implicate him. Mu Qing brought the Imperial Bodyguard guards in advance to arrange the Zeze Inn, so that the Fengtianliang and Wang Jialuo's group could observe each other's movements after arriving at the inn.
Qing Yixinfeng and Ye Shanghuan came to Quanzhou, Fujian. Ye Shanghuan reported the movements of Mu Qing's group, indicating that the Imperial Bodyguard had already made arrangements at the Zeze Inn. Qing Yixinfeng asked Ye Shanghuan to arrange for people to enter the inn, and also arranged for some people to monitor the surroundings of the inn. Mu Qing took Liu Lin to stay at the Zeze Inn, Liu Lin told Mu Qing to be careful of the Beiyang forces, Mu Qing felt that Wang Jialuo was not an untrustworthy person, he knew that the person Liu Lin asked him to be wary of was Zhong Haichao, but he also said that if Zhong Haichao openly went against him, there was nothing he could do about it.
Mu Qing, accompanied by the Imperial Bodyguard guards, had a high-profile feast at the inn. Today was the most leisurely day since his release from prison, and now with Liu Lin at the inn, they could only wait for the arrival of the thirty-year pact. The two of them had a fierce argument at the inn again because of their different positions on the Tongmenghui and the court, and neither would give in.
Subsequently, Wang Jialuo brought the Beiyang Army to the inn, and the two forces gathered there for a drink. Qing Yixinfeng was surprised to learn from Lin Anjing that Mu Qing behaved so freely. Qing Yixinfeng handed her gun to Lin Anjing, instructing her that she could use it if necessary. Now that Zhong Haichao had been transferred to Fujian, she believed this must be the arrangement of the Prince of Qi, so Zhuo Bufan had Zhong Haichao as a strong backup behind him.
Since there was no clue about the Prajna inheritor yet, Qing Yixinfeng did not have a specific plan. The Fengtianliang group arrived at the Zeze Inn, and the various forces were restless. Yu Huanjie secretly observed and reported everything he saw and heard to Zhong Haichao, and also said that if Zhuo Bufan tried his best in front of Mu Qing, Mu Qing would have no chance at all.
Although Wang Jialuo fought tooth and nail, his strength was nothing compared to Zhong Haichao. As long as the 30-year seal appeared on the promised day, Yu Huanjie believed that Zhuo Bu Fan would be able to take everything. Zhong Haichao inquired if there were any unexpected situations, and Yu Huanjie admitted there could be, as the Jingtan Secrets were not as important to Zhuo Bu Fan as others thought. Zhuo Bu Fan only cared about the martial arts texts, which the Prince Qi had promised to give him directly.
Whether it was the Beiyang government or the Neifu, as long as they promised the martial arts texts, Zhuo Bu Fan might change his mind temporarily. Mr. Xie and Zhong Haichao analyzed the situation, and Zhong Haichao believed it would be more secure to have the Beiyang government directly control this matter. Mr. Xie did not fully trust Zhong Haichao, but Zhong Haichao stated that his primary identity was always that of a Beiyang man, and that the secrets, whether they ended up with Zhuo Bu Fan or Wang Jialuo, would ultimately be in Beiyang's hands. If they fell into Mu Qing's hands, it would be his demise.
Qing Yifeng came to visit Zhong Haichao, and Wu Lanshan happened to be dining with Zhong Haichao in the military camp, overhearing their conversation. Qing Yifeng informed Zhong Haichao that there was an agreement between the Prince Qi and the Japanese, and that the Japanese would help the Prince Qi consolidate his position after the coup, in exchange for the transportation, commerce, and mining rights in the Northeast.
Tempted by the Japanese's interests, Zhong Haichao ultimately agreed to collaborate with the Japanese, stipulating that as soon as the four seals were gathered, they would immediately kill Men Sandao, Wang Dibao, and Zhuo Bu Fan. Zhong Haichao would keep two of the seals, while the Japanese would hold the other two, becoming allies and planning new cooperation.
Men Sandao and Liu Lin analyzed the current situation, believing the Japanese hoped that no one would obtain the secrets, and their actions would be to stir up trouble. At the same time, he also sensed Lian Anqing's abnormality, suspecting she might be involved with the Japanese. Men Sandao predicted that Qing Yifeng would choose to make a deal with Zhong Haichao due to his lack of strength.
If the Japanese checked into the inn near Zeze Residence the next evening, it would indicate that the two parties had formed an alliance.
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