Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Shenjing, the Dali Temple government office, the prison.

Zhou Ping was one of the most shrewd and experienced judges in the Dali Temple, and Yang Hongbin also highly regarded him.

Interrogating criminals was a piece of cake for him; he had dealt with countless even the most stubborn and cunning suspects.

Xiaoyun is different from ordinary suspects. She is not even a suspect. She is an unconventional shortcut taken by Yang Hongbin to obtain evidence as quickly as possible.

She was just a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl from a poor village. She was illiterate, had little knowledge, and was also a bit stubborn.

She possessed the simplicity unique to country girls, unwilling to speak ill of her master's family behind their backs, but this insistence vanished immediately under Zhou Ping's red-hot branding iron.

Although she was so frightened that she cried while talking, she was very honest and answered everything she knew. However, she always gave irrelevant and irrelevant answers to Zhou Ping's questions, which really made Zhou Ping furious.

He was a seasoned judge of the Court of Judicial Review, and had seen all sorts of fierce suspects.

He couldn't bring himself to harm this young girl; the red-hot iron was just for show, and he couldn't actually do it to her.

……

He patiently asked, "Let me ask you, when Chen Ruichang went to Hui Niang's house, did he mention military granaries, grain routes, or military rations, or did Hui Niang ask about such things?"

Xiaoyun's face was still wet with tears, and she looked confused. She said timidly, "Sir, what you're saying is strange. What do you mean by wontons and cold dishes? I don't like these."

Master Chen was a rich young man who had tasted all sorts of good food. He only loved to fight with girls in his room and never talked to them about food…

Veins bulged on Zhou Ping's forehead, and he couldn't help but reach for the branding iron again, shouting, "Where did this stupid girl come from? What wonton salad? I said it's a military grain depot!"

Yang Hongbin, who was standing outside the door with his hands behind his back listening to the trial, couldn't help but smile when he saw Xiaoyun trembling and speaking incoherently.

He looked closely through the window and saw that Xiaoyun's face was covered in tears, and she was in a state of fear and anxiety, her body trembling slightly.

Yang Hongbin was skilled in interrogation, not only in his eloquence and strategy, but also in his keen insight. He carefully observed Xiaoyun through the window.

He had observed every movement and glance of hers without missing a beat. With his years of experience in interrogation, he knew that Xiaoyun would never dare to hide or lie under such circumstances.

Perhaps Chen Ruichang hadn't mentioned the military storage to Huiniang, or perhaps he had, but Xiaoyun was unaware of it.

Moreover, Zhou Ping's interrogation was too crude and simplistic. It might be more effective against wicked and dissolute young men, but it would be ineffective against a girl like Xiao Yun.

……

Yang Hongbin carefully observed Xiaoyun's expression and found that she was so frightened that her face turned pale and she seemed unsure of what to do with her hands and feet.

But his left hand was tightly gripping the corner of his shirt, his fingers unconsciously fidgeting; that spot must have been the pocket...

Yang Hongbin's gaze sharpened slightly. After a moment's thought, he pushed open the door and entered the torture chamber. Zhou Ping was about to greet him when Yang Hongbin stopped him with a gesture.

When Xiaoyun saw the man who came in, although younger than the one who carried the branding iron, he was much more imposing and looked like an important person, she became increasingly uneasy...

Yang Hongbin asked in a cold tone, "What do you have in your pocket? Take it out."

Although his words were calm and lacked the fierceness and intimidation of Zhou Ping, they carried an undeniable authority and an indescribable chill.

Although Xiaoyun was unwilling, she felt a chill run down her spine and instinctively couldn't resist. She pulled out what she was holding, which turned out to be a five-tael silver ingot.

Zhou Ping stepped forward and snatched it, saying, "A mere maidservant, whose monthly salary is less than one string of cash, yet she carries five taels of silver ingots with her. Who gave you this!"

Xiaoyun pouted and said, "Sir, this money was given to me by the young lady so I could use it to pay for my mother's medical treatment in an emergency. Please don't take it away."

Yang Hongbin said, "It seems your daughter has a kind heart; she even uses money to treat your mother's illness."

Xiaoyun quickly said, "Although it's wrong for Miss to fool around with men, she has a good heart and is not a bad person."

"I really don't understand the questions the officer just asked me, so please don't wrong the young lady."

……

Yang Hongbin felt a little more certain and said, "Your daughter is involved in a lawsuit, so you must answer our questions honestly."

I know you sold your contract for four years to earn money to treat your mother's illness and also to get married in style in the future.

If you don't tell the truth, or if you conceal or falsify information, you can forget about getting out of here; you'll face legal trouble and imprisonment.

Once a female prisoner is convicted, she won't just be left to eat prison food; she'll be sold into the brothel to serve her sentence, and she'll never be able to get married cleanly for the rest of her life!

If your mother doesn't have your care, she'll be riddled with old ailments and won't live much longer. If your daughter gets into legal trouble, I'll make sure she suffers an even worse death!
Think carefully before you answer our questions. If you keep making things up and talking nonsense, your mother and Hui Niang's lives will be over!

Yang Hongbin's words were cold and ruthless, without a trace of warmth. Although he was not as loud and boisterous as Zhou Ping, his words were chilling and sinister, sending shivers down one's spine.

Moreover, every word he uttered struck Xiaoyun's weak spot, causing her to lose half her spirit and become too afraid to even cry or make a fuss.

Yang Hongbin had a firm grasp on all of Xiaoyun's thoughts and taboos, which terrified Xiaoyun more than a red-hot iron.

……

She said tremblingly, "I will tell you the truth. I beg you, sir, to have mercy and spare my mother and daughter. I will tell you everything I know."

Yang Hongbin said, "We were asking about military granaries, not wontons. Military granaries are places where soldiers store their food."

We asked about the grain transport routes, not just any random phrase. The grain transport routes are the paths used to transport grain. Think carefully before you answer. Has Chen Ruichang mentioned this to Hui Niang?

Xiaoyun trembled, lowered her head and frowned, thinking hard. After being pressured by Yang Hongbin, she realized that the idea was much more reliable than before.

The eerie atmosphere in the torture chamber gradually became somewhat heavy. Yang Hongbin did not look at Xiaoyun, his fingers tapping silently on the table.

After a long pause, Xiaoyun said with a bitter face, "Sir, I really can't remember if Master Chen mentioned the military grain depot to you. I really didn't lie."

At this moment, Zhou Ping could also see that under Yang Hongbin's coercion and control, a girl as naive as Xiaoyun would never dare to hide or lie.

It's very likely that Chen Ruichang didn't leak the information; even if he had said something, Xiaoyun wouldn't have known. Disappointment appeared on his face...

……

Undeterred, Yang Hongbin continued, "You didn't hear them mention the military grain depot, but did you hear them mention a few place names?"

Baotunli, Yaoshanyi, Hongshuji, Donggang Town…

Yang Hongbin's voice was calm and steady, neither arrogant nor impatient, but rather delicate, meticulous, and strangely sinister, guiding him step by step.

Zhou Ping's eyes lit up slightly. He knew the place names Yang Hongbin mentioned were all post stations along the military's supply routes.

The locations along these grain routes were originally military secrets, unknown to outsiders. As long as Xiaoyun had heard Chen Ruichang mention them, the leak was considered a done deal!
He secretly admired Yang Sizheng, whose meticulousness was truly unmatched by others.

He only asked about military depots and grain routes. Xiaoyun was just a country girl who couldn't even understand the local dialect, and even if she had heard it, she probably wouldn't remember it.

However, they did not think of asking questions along the grain route, breaking it down into several place names. This would not only make the conversation more detailed but also make it easier to find out the truth.

……

Xiaoyun heard a bunch of place names at once, but she couldn't remember them all, and a troubled look appeared on her face.

Yang Hongbin said coldly, "If you don't know anything, you're useless. You can get in but you can't get out of this place."

Your mother and Hui Niang both met bad ends. You should think carefully before you speak.

Xiaoyun's face turned pale, sweat beaded on her forehead, and she frowned, looking like she was racking her brains.

Seeing this, Zhou Ping felt a strange tension rise in his heart.

If Xiaoyun hadn't heard of these place names, all the effort he and Lord Yang had put into putting her in the torture chamber would have been for nothing, and they might even have alerted Duan Chunjiang...

Yang Hongbin appeared unhurried and said, "I'll say the place names again: Baotunli, Yaoshanyi, Hongshuji, Donggang Town..."

Think carefully: Did Chen Ruichang or Duan Chunjiang mention these places to Huiniang?

If you tell us everything you know truthfully, I will let you go and return the five taels of silver to you.

The government will also provide a reward and recommend a renowned doctor to cure your mother's illness.

Now that you have money, you won't need to sell yourself into servitude. You can prepare your dowry, find a reliable person, and marry with dignity.

Yang Hongbin's words softened, becoming increasingly seductive and manipulative, numbing people's guard and causing them to completely submit to him, revealing all their secrets...

……

Xiaoyun listened to Yang Hongbin's words and felt that every word resonated with her. She thought that this official was really powerful, and that this was what she had longed for most in her life.

Her eyes lit up, and a surge of excitement welled up in her chest; even her mind seemed to sharpen.

After another round of racking his brains, the torture chamber became quiet, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

She suddenly said, "I remember now, the young lady mentioned a place called Hongshuji!"

Zhou Ping immediately perked up, his face beaming with undisguised joy. Even the usually composed Yang Hongbin showed excitement.

He asked, "How did Hui Niang mention the Red Tree Collection? Chen Ruichang told him to tell her in detail, without omitting a single word."

Xiaoyun said, "I remember before the New Year, when I was helping the young lady with her makeup, I casually mentioned that her phoenix hairpin was old and she should get a new one."

The young woman casually remarked that there was no rush to buy one now; once Master Chen returned to Beijing after the New Year, he would bring her a new phoenix hairpin.
At that time, Master Chen had just left on a royal mission. I was a little curious, so I asked him why he brought hairpins from outside the capital city when there were no hairpins available.

The girl said that last time Master Chen was on an imperial mission, he passed through Hongshuji and saw a well-established gold shop. The gold phoenix hairpin in the shop was very exquisite.

It is said that the shop owner learned the craft from the Oro people, so the style of the phoenix hairpin is not even available in the capital, and he promised to buy it as a gift for the girl.

However, when Master Chen came to stay overnight a few days ago, he did not bring the Oros Red Gold Phoenix Hairpin.

I heard that Master Chen suffered a misfortune in the north, accidentally encountering Mongols. He was not only seriously injured, but also lost all his belongings, including that gold hairpin..."

……

As soon as Xiaoyun finished speaking, Yang Hongbin's eyes flashed with fervor, and Zhou Ping felt a great sense of relief, followed by overwhelming joy.

Based solely on Xiaoyun's words, regardless of whether Chen Ruichang acted intentionally or unintentionally, his fault for leaking military secrets is beyond doubt and difficult to refute.

The events unfolded exactly as Yang Sizheng had deduced, so meticulously interwoven. Duan Chunjiang used his own woman as bait to extract clues about the military depot from Chen Ruichang. Hui Niang would casually tell Xiao Yun about this, and she would certainly have informed Duan Chunjiang as well. Even if she didn't say it herself, Duan Chunjiang would definitely ask.

Perhaps Hui Niang was also unaware of the details and the extent of the incident involving the hairpin in Hongshu Village. Duan Chunjiang must have kept it from her as well.

Just as Yang Sizheng said, you don't need to know all the secrets. As long as you know a little bit, you can easily see the whole picture.

As long as Duan Chunjiang knew that Hongshuji was a place Chen Ruichang passed through when transporting grain, he could determine that Hongshuji was a grain route post station.

If he could arrange for capable people to trace the source of the Hongshuji grain route, follow the clues, and find the grain depot in Donggang Town, he would be able to figure out the entire grain route.

Yang Hongbin took the five taels of silver from Zhou Ping and stuffed it into Xiaoyun's hand, saying, "What you said is very good. There is no need to worry about your mother's illness."

I will find a renowned doctor to treat her, but you cannot return to the village or to Hui Niang's place for the time being. We will find a temporary place for you to stay.

After saying these words, Yang Hongbin left the torture chamber like a gust of wind, leaving Xiaoyun looking astonished.

But she also realized that she had escaped a terrible ordeal; she wouldn't face lawsuits or be humiliated, and both her mother and her life were saved...

……

Yang Hongbin walked briskly along the covered walkway of the government office, so fast that Zhou Ping had to jog to catch up with him.

He said, "Sir, the matter is now largely clear. Chen Ruichang's leak of military secrets is practically confirmed. Please give your instructions on how to handle this."

Yang Hongbin coldly said, "Chen Ruichang is involved in leaking secrets, and the basic evidence is conclusive. The occupation of the military depot in Donggang Town and the massacre in Xuanfu Town can all be traced back to this."

Even if he didn't intentionally leak the secret, he still couldn't escape death this time. He was the second grandson of Chen Yi, the Duke of Qi, and a prominent figure among the sons of nobles.

The Duke of Qi is not only a descendant of the eight founding dukes, but also the commander-in-chief of the army that is currently attacking the Mongols. Do you know how much trouble this will cause!

I will report this matter to Minister Wei now, and he will surely draft a memorial immediately and go to the palace to present it to the Emperor.

I can easily imagine how furious His Majesty will be upon hearing this news; something terrible is about to happen in the capital.

However, even if the Emperor knew the full story, arresting Chen Ruichang at this moment was extremely difficult, and it was unlikely that he could act openly. The thought alone was a headache.

Zhou Ping asked curiously, "My lord, I saw Xiao Yun's confession clearly just now, and it is absolutely true."

Chen Ruichang's leak of the military grain storage route secrets is an undeniable fact, with irrefutable evidence. Even if it wasn't intentional, its negative impact is immeasurable.

The military granary stored 600,000 dan of grain and fodder, which was given to the enemy; the 40,000 wronged souls in Xuanfu Town could not rest in peace.

He violated national laws and military discipline, and there was no room for argument. Wasn't it perfectly justified for the Dali Temple to arrest him according to the law?

……

Yang Hongbin shook his head and said, "You're oversimplifying things. Have you forgotten the important matter of conquering the Mongols right now?"

Duke Chen Yi of Qi was appointed as the Grand Commander of the Army. Liang Chengzong, the Grand Commander for the Expedition against the Mongols, has not yet arrived. He is currently mobilizing the border troops of the three towns to march south, and most of them are still on their way.

The military commander Liang Chengzong did not come to the army. The highest-ranking general was Commander Chen Yi, who controlled 60,000 troops transferred to the north and 20,000 garrison troops at the three northern passes.

Now he commands 80,000 troops, whose seniority and expertise are unmatched. Even if there are rising stars, their prestige cannot surpass his.

Once news spreads from Shenjing that Chen Ruichang was involved in leaking military secrets, leading to the occupation of military depots and the fall of Xuanfu military town, it would be tantamount to colluding with the enemy and committing treason.

A person with poor willpower is weak in loyalty and filial piety; a person with a weak mind is easily defeated. The human heart is the most unpredictable thing in the world.

If Chen Yi is intimidated and starts to think about self-preservation, then something terrible might happen!

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ping's expression changed drastically. He commanded 80,000 elite troops; if the situation became too dire and something unforeseen happened, the world would likely descend into chaos...

……

Yang Hongbin said in a deep voice, "Zhou Ping, hide Xiao Yun well, and don't let anyone else come into contact with her."

The inside story of today's events is known only to Minister Wei, you, me, and me. No fourth person in the Dali Temple can know about it. We must keep this a secret to prevent any unforeseen circumstances.

This matter is no longer limited to investigation and crime-solving; it concerns matters of vital importance to the nation and its people. We must proceed with utmost caution to avoid creating chaos in the midst of this chaos!

Zhou Ping looked solemn and said, "Rest assured, sir, I know what is important and will handle this carefully. Without your orders, I will keep my mouth shut."

Yang Hongbin said, "Immediately mobilize your capable men to keep a close watch on the Duan family's grain shop and the residence in Huarong Lane. Don't let a single one of them escape."

Before sunset today, find an opportunity to secretly capture Duan Chunjiang. Remember, it must be a secret capture. Once he disappears, we cannot arouse too much suspicion in the short term.

We don't know how many accomplices he has, but things have come to this point, and we have to take this step. His Majesty is waiting for the Dali Temple to solve the case.

Zhou Ping looked troubled and said, "Sir, a secret arrest before sunset is too rushed. We can't find a pretext to cover our tracks."

……

Yang Hongbin stopped, suddenly remembered something, smiled slightly, and said, "Have you forgotten? We went to Duan's Grain Shop once."

I once wanted to order twenty dan of Bijiang rice, but the shop didn't have enough stock, and the owner, Duan Chunjiang, wasn't in the shop.

We agreed with the shop assistants to come back and discuss things again in two days, but it's only a day late now.

Twenty dan of green rice is no small business; no grain shop owner would want to miss out on such an opportunity.

Duan Chunjiang was more cautious than others because he did shady things, and he would never arouse suspicion without reason.

If you go to his place to discuss this business for me, he will definitely treat you warmly; that's how a grain store owner should act.

He didn't have any extra grain in his shop, so he had to contact suppliers or producers; he couldn't just stay in the shop doing nothing.

You can use this as an excuse to try and coax him out of the grain shop. That shouldn't be too difficult for you..."

Zhou Ping suddenly understood and said, "Your plan is brilliant, sir. I will certainly not fail in my mission."

…………

Two hundred li south of Tongzhou, there is a campsite for six thousand Shenji soldiers.

Before dawn last night, when it was pitch black, Jiang Xiaoliu, following Jia Cong's orders, led twenty elite troops to scout 150 li to the southeast.

After the scout team set off, Jia Cong couldn't fall asleep anymore, but worried that Ellie would stay up all night with her, so she went back to lie on her makeshift bed on the floor.

Ellie said, "You don't need to worry too much. It's not easy to make a judgment if the scouts haven't sent back any news."

"Take a few hours of sleep first, so that you'll be in good spirits if anything happens later."

After exchanging a few more words, Ellie couldn't stay awake any longer and fell asleep, while Jia Cong's eyes were shining, showing no signs of sleepiness whatsoever.

As dawn broke, he got up to examine the map and then ordered the quartermaster to come into the tent to inquire about the quantities of gunpowder, bullets, and porcelain bombs that accompanied the army.

Then, a military order was issued, instructing two thousand cavalrymen to collect provisions and feed all the warhorses as soon as possible, and to prepare for the attack.

He then instructed the four artillery commanders to separate the main guns and cannons of all the artillery pieces, so that they could be transported separately in case of any changes in the military situation, in order to ensure safety.

Ellie helped Jia Cong heat up his dry rations, and he only grabbed a few bites to fill his stomach before going to inspect the dismantling and regrouping of the various camps.

Just after Chenshi (7-9 AM), a scout returned with news that Jiang Xiaoliu's team had patrolled fifty li (approximately 25 kilometers) but had not found any trace of the enemy.

At this time, the officers and soldiers, including Deputy General Lin Zhen, already knew about the enemy's whereabouts. Upon hearing the scouts' report, many of them breathed a sigh of relief.

Jia Cong knew perfectly well that it was perfectly normal that no enemy traces were found within a fifty-mile radius.

If the Mongol army were to invade within fifty li, the 6,000-strong Shenji Battalion stationed here would likely have already been discovered by the enemy, and would be in grave danger.

……

Time passed both swiftly and slowly. Jia Cong waited until past midnight when the second batch of scouts returned with the news.

The scout team advanced to within a hundred miles to the southeast and discovered a group of remnants of the Mongol cavalry. Fortunately, Jiang Xiaoliu was quick-witted and did not notice them.

This group of remnant Mongol cavalry consisted of only five people and should have been scouts patrolling the outer perimeter.

Jiang Xiaoliu deduced that if they continued to advance southeast, the number and frequency of enemy scouts patrolling would likely increase.

Upon hearing the scout's second message that enemy tracks had indeed been discovered a hundred miles away, the expressions of the officers and soldiers in the camp changed.

Deputy General Lin Zhen said, "Sir, the imperial army is now gathered at the three northern passes, blocking the southward passage of the remnants of the Mongols."

The Great Zhou and the remnant Mongols are locked in a fierce battle at Yaoshanyi, with both sides committing heavy troops.

At such a tense standoff, how could remnant Mongol cavalry appear in the rear, and how did they cross the three northern passes? This is truly strange.

Jia Cong walked up to the map and examined it carefully for a moment.
He said, "It is true that the heavy troops stationed at the three northern passes blocked the southward passage of the Mongol army."

But anything can happen. To the east of the North Three Passes are towering mountains, and the foot of Yunzhi Mountain is covered with dense forests, where rugged roads are hidden, and it has been a place rarely visited by people since ancient times.

Even with a million soldiers, the Great Zhou Dynasty could not block all the breaches. The edges of these mountainous areas were always patrolled by scouts from three passes.

However, the two armies fought fiercely at Yaoshanyi, with both sides committing heavy troops, and it seemed that a decisive battle was imminent.

With everyone's attention focused on Yaoshan Post Station, it's the easiest time to make a mistake.

If the remaining forces were to detach an elite force, traveling by night and hiding by day, avoiding scouts along the way, and venturing through the dense forests at the foot of the mountains, they might very well be able to penetrate deep into the heart of the enemy territory in one fell swoop.

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhen and the other generals all showed surprise on their faces.

Jia Cong said in a deep voice, "I had a feeling that something was wrong when the remnants of the Great Zhou and the Mongols were fighting with heavy troops at Yaoshan Post Station."

As far as I know, Yaoshan Post Station only has three thousand garrison troops, and it has no high walls or deep waterways, only fortified villages to defend against attacks.

With the valiant fighting power of the remnant Mongol cavalry, it wouldn't be too difficult for them to break through Yaoshan Post Station in one fell swoop, just like when they broke through Hongshu Village before.

The remnant Mongol army had broken through Xuanfu Town, Donggang Town, and Hongshuji, but was blocked at Yaoshan Post Station, where it became entangled with the Zhou army.

The forces of both sides continued to converge on this place, which would not normally attract much attention, but the discovery of remnant Mongol scouts in the hinterland suggests that this matter is more complex than it appears… (End of Chapter)