In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1058 A True Mixed Bag

Inside the warm office, Lu Yunyi tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of his chair and said calmly:

"We can find an excuse."

He leaned closer to Liu Heiying and lowered his voice:

"If the imperial court knew the power of the Thunderclap Seed..."

However, due to various reasons, they refused to rebuild Shanhaiguan, so they created a Northern Yuan spy.

They said the spies had already stolen the gunpowder formula.
"The Tatars and Oirats may have already acquired this gunpowder as well."

Upon hearing this, Liu Heiying's eyes widened suddenly, and his breath caught in his throat. Although he thought the excuse was quite good,

But I felt that doing so was somewhat dishonest, so I tentatively asked:

"Brother Yun'er, isn't this a bit too much?"

Lu Yunyi sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose:
"At this point, it's no longer a matter of whether it's excessive or not."

If things aren't done thoroughly, we'll lose our heads.
Besides, neither of us are good people to begin with, so we don't need to worry about reputations.

Liu Heiying's expression suddenly turned strange.

He suddenly had a feeling that the Second Brother Yun before him seemed certain that Prince Yunwen in the capital would be defeated, and also certain that the Crown Prince would be in trouble, so he tentatively asked:

“Brother Yun’er, if His Highness the Crown Prince really gets into trouble, Prince Yun’er might not necessarily lose.”

Lu Yunyi laughed:
"Winning or losing is a matter for the future. Regardless of winning or losing, you must be prepared."

If we win, then everyone will be happy.

"What if we lose and we're unprepared? Are we just going to offer our necks to be slaughtered?"

Liu Heiying thought for a moment, then nodded slightly, agreeing with the logic.

"Okay, then I'll start making arrangements now."
"If the imperial court truly forbids it, our spies must at least appear realistic."

"Make proper arrangements for his life, his family, and friends."
The reasons for coming to Da Ning and for betraying Da Ning must be clearly explained, and such a person must be truly and thoroughly arranged.

Only in this way will the imperial court believe it if they send someone to investigate.

Of course, as I said before, it's best if you don't need it.

After finishing speaking, Lu Yunyi continued:
"If the recipe for Jing Lei Zi is lost and we still cannot impress the court, then we need to make other preparations."

We have nearly 30,000 laborers on the construction sites on the western front.
Once the 800-mile official road is completed, they will have nowhere to settle down.

The original plan was to have them build the official roads connecting Daning City to the various garrisons.
But we won't tell the imperial court about this; we'll just say that these 30,000 people have nothing to do.

Some of these people were trained militiamen.
Having weapons at their disposal and being accustomed to sticking together makes them prone to causing trouble when they're not busy.

They can instigate some popular uprisings and then complain to the imperial court.

This presents two problems: on one hand, there is the potential for insecurity in Shanhaiguan;
On one hand, there is the risk of tens of thousands of laborers potentially causing a disturbance.
After careful consideration, the court's willingness to agree to rebuild the structure increased significantly.

Liu Heiying listened quietly and wrote down all the arrangements.

He suddenly had a feeling, as if he had returned to ten years ago.

Back then, Brother Yun always assigned him to do things he couldn't understand.
But in the end, they all proved to be very beneficial.

Now, that feeling is back.

"And the Prince of Yan!" Liu Heiying quickly added.

"We can join forces with the Prince of Yan to submit a memorial to the throne."
The Beiping Military Command also relies on Shanhaiguan. If Shanhaiguan is not safe,

The first to suffer will be the Beiping Military Commander, and the Prince of Yan will surely take it to heart as well.

Lu Yunyi nodded in approval.
"Hmm, that makes sense, but the order of things must be clear."

We must first inform the imperial court that the recipe for Jing Lei Zi has been lost.
Then the King of Yan learned from the court that Jing Lei Zi could destroy the city walls, and then he submitted a memorial. This was the correct order.

If we submit a memorial together with the Prince of Yan,
It makes it seem like a secret conspiracy, which is somewhat inappropriate.

Liu Heiying nodded repeatedly and asked:

"I understand, I'll make the arrangements."

Brother Yun'er, how confident are you about this?

"About 50%. The court is currently focused on stability, and the matter of reopening Shanhaiguan will inevitably cause a huge uproar."

"Fifty percent. Only fifty percent."

Liu Heiying appeared somewhat disappointed.

For people like them who are good at strategizing,

A 50% probability is still too small.

If it were war, a 50% chance would be enough for them to give it a try.
But this happens to be a political matter.
Lu Yunyi smiled as he looked at him, but then the smile faded and his expression became serious.

"This can't be rushed; we have to take it one step at a time."
First, get Ma Yonghua to come up with a detailed plan for Jing Leizi as soon as possible.
It needs to demonstrate power while ensuring safety.
It must be delivered to the capital safely and securely; absolutely no mishaps are allowed.

"If it explodes on the road, that would be a real joke."

"Understood!" Liu Heiying nodded emphatically.

"I'll make arrangements right away!"

"Yes, you'll have to work hard these days; there are many things to take care of."
But don't worry, things will get better after this busy period.

Liu Heiying's expression turned strange upon hearing this.

If he remembered correctly, he had heard this at least a hundred times.
After this busy period, there will be another one.

In short, it is endless.
Not long after, Liu Heiying left the yamen, arranged a number of matters, and rode straight to the northern camp of the city.

The sun had already set, and the cold night wind howled through Daning City.

Even if there is no curfew in the city,

But there are fewer and fewer pedestrians on the streets.
No one lingers on the streets at night.

After going around in circles, he arrived at the guard barracks located behind the main camp in the north of the city.

Thirty trusted men he had personally trained lived there.

They were all veterans who had fought desperately on the battlefield.

They are clean-cut, their mouths are sealed, and most importantly, they are highly skilled.

Upon arrival, thirty guards were already fully prepared and ready to go.

They weren't wearing armor, only black short-sleeved shirts, with curved knives at their waists, and ropes and other tools were prepared on the table.

Upon seeing Liu Heiying enter, they all stood up and bowed in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized and without making a sound.

"Is everything clear?"

Liu Heiying walked to the center of the barracks, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his voice kept very low.

He picked up a yellowed piece of paper from the table and examined it closely. It was covered with a densely written list of undercover agents.

These are the suspicious individuals that the police have gathered through their undercover agents over the past six months.

There were post station workers and workshop craftsmen.
There were also servants in the mansion, peddlers on the street, and even many courtesans.

The head guard, Hu Xiaowu, stepped forward and said in a deep voice:
"Don't worry, sir, I've memorized the list!"

As you instructed, we will proceed in ten groups.
Three people per group, capture them alive, keep quiet, and they must be taken to the prison outside the city before dawn.

Liu Heiying nodded and handed the list to Hu Xiaowu:
"Check carefully, don't arrest the wrong people, especially those mixed in with the workshops and the mansion."

When you act, avoid people and make no noise. If anyone resists, kill them without hesitation, but try to spare some survivors for interrogation later.

"Yes!"

The crowd responded in unison, their voices low yet revealing a fierce courage.

Liu Heiying said no more, and waved his hand:
"set off!"

The thirty people were immediately divided into ten groups.
Like ten dark shadows, they slipped out of the northern camp without a sound.

At this time, night had fallen in Daning City, and the streets were covered with snow.

Only a few shops still had their lanterns lit.

The dim light shone through the paper cover onto the snow, casting dappled shadows.

The cold wind howled, swirling snowflakes in the air.

Hu Xiaowu, accompanied by two bodyguards, headed straight for the post station in the south of the city.

Their target was the courier Jiang Hongtao.
According to intelligence reports, Jiang Hongtao secretly sends a letter to Beijing every month.

The letter was full of major events that had recently occurred in the Commandery.
Nine times out of ten, they are members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

At this moment, the post station was quiet.

Only the gatekeeper was dozing off, and the oil lamp on the table flickered on and off.

Hu Xiaowu and his two companions tiptoed around to the backyard.

Jiang Hongtao's residence was in the innermost side room.

Hu Xiaowu took out a thin wire from his pocket and pried open the door in a few quick movements. The three of them filed in.

Inside the side room, Jiang Hongtao was fast asleep, snoring away.

Hu Xiaowu stepped forward and covered his mouth with her left hand.
He punched him hard in the jaw with his right hand, and there was a dull thud!
Jiang Hongtao suddenly woke up with a start, his eyes wide open.

But soon his eyes turned white and he fainted.

"Tie him up, gag him, and carry him away!"

Hu Xiaowu gave a low shout,
The three men tied Jiang Hongtao up tightly with hemp rope.
He stuffed a rag into his mouth, put a burlap sack over his shoulder, and quietly left the post station.

The whole process took no more than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
The gatekeeper was still dozing off, completely unaware of anything amiss.

Meanwhile, in the workshop in the west of the city, another group of guards also found their target: a blacksmith named Wei Zhi.

He was hired three months ago.

His craftsmanship was mediocre, yet he always liked to inquire about the locations of other parts workshops.
They would also inquire about the road construction progress from time to time, which was noticed by the workshop manager, who then reported it to the commander.

At this moment, the workshop was pitch black, with only the forging room still retaining a little warmth.

Wei Zhi, who lived in the servants' quarters next to the workshop, was tossing and turning, unable to sleep, seemingly pondering something.

The guards didn't give him a chance to react.
They broke down the door and the two men pinned him down.
Another person punched him hard in the jaw, and he passed out without even uttering a sound.

"Be careful, don't touch anything in the workshop!"

The head guard whispered a reminder, and the group carefully carried Wei Zhi away.

Overnight, the same thing was happening in every corner of Daning City.

The restaurant's waiters have vanished, and the trading company's accountant has disappeared without a trace.

Even the guards of wealthy families have disappeared.

The guards arrested the suspects one by one according to the list, their actions swift and covert.

As dawn approached, the last group of guards escorted the target back to the prison outside the city.

This large prison was hidden in a mountain valley west of the city.
The surrounding area is steep cliffs, and there is only one narrow path in and out.

It was used for classified training exercises and also for detaining serious criminals.
It is heavily guarded, and very few people know about this place.

Liu Heiying was already waiting at the prison gate.

He wore a black cloak, and snow fell on it, quickly accumulating in a layer, but it did not affect his expression in the slightest.

Seeing that all ten groups of guards had returned, he stepped forward and asked:
"Is everything here? No problems, right?"

Hu Xiaowu stepped forward and replied:
"My lord, everyone is here!"
One hundred and thirteen people. Except for three who were confirmed to be ordinary citizens, the rest are all here. No one was alerted.

"it is good!"

Liu Heiying nodded, his expression serious.

"Separate the people into different cells, one per cell, to prevent them from colluding to give false testimony."

"Start the interrogation now, begin with those who look like members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I need to know what they're investigating."

Inside the prison, the cold was biting.

The cell was built of bluestone, and the walls were covered with a layer of white frost.
A pile of straw lay in the corner, emitting a musty smell.

Each cell held a secret agent.
Some were still asleep, while others were awake.

He was staring outside in terror, his mouth stuffed with a strip of cloth, unable to speak.

Inside the interrogation room, the oil lamp flickered, casting shifting shadows on the wall.

The first person brought in was the courier Jiang Hongtao.

He was awake, his face filled with terror, but he was trying to appear calm.

"Tell me, are you a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Or someone else?"

The interrogator was an old judge from the military headquarters, surnamed Zhao, with a wrinkled face and eagle-like eyes.

Jiang Hongtao gritted his teeth, refusing to speak:
"Who are you? Let me out! What Imperial Guards?!"

Zhao Duanshi sneered, not bothering with any pleasantries, and directly produced a letter that had been found during the search:

"These are the letters you sent to Yingtian in the last three months, all of which contain information about the movements of the Commandery."

Tell me, why did you do this?
I'll ask you one more time, whose man are you? What did the capital send you to investigate?

Upon seeing the letter, Jiang Hongtao's face turned deathly pale, his lips trembled, but he still forced himself to remain composed:

"This isn't mine! Don't frame me! I don't know what's written inside!"

Zhao the Judge's eyes darkened, a hint of helplessness in them:

"Damn it, you bunch of people."
They won't admit their mistakes until they're faced with the truth; they're bound to confess eventually anyway, but they insist on suffering this hardship.

After saying that, he winked at the jailer next to him.

The jailer immediately stepped forward, took out an iron chain, and slammed it to the ground with a loud clang, the sound particularly jarring in the cold cell.

Jiang Hongtao trembled with fear, his pupils contracting to their limit as he stared at the barbs on the iron chain.
I felt a chill creep up from my feet to the top of my head.

"I'll talk! I'll talk! I'm a centurion of the Right Thousand Household Division of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

"My lord instructed me to keep an eye on Lord Lu's movements and the progress of the workshop in the Capital Garrison!"

Zhao the Judge was slightly taken aback when he saw how quickly he confessed, a sneer creeping onto his lips as he cursed:

"Damn it, spineless coward, confessed so quickly, start the torture!"

Jiang Hongtao's eyes widened suddenly, and he immediately began to struggle:
"I've already confessed! I've confessed! What are you asking me for? I'll answer."

Zhao Duanshi ignored him, simply waving his hand before sitting down.
"The thing I hate most in my life is a spineless coward like you. Beat him up!"

The jailer stepped forward with an iron whip and began to whip the prison without saying a word.

The crackling and popping sounds continued incessantly.
The barbs on the chains tore his flesh apart.
Thick drops of blood fell onto the cold ground and froze instantly.

The screams were endless.

In this remote and inaccessible place called Daning, one not only had to endure the excruciating pain of torture,
They also had to endure the constant chill that seemed to seep into their bodies.
At this moment, Jiang Hongtao felt as if his hands and feet were not his own.

Only then did Zhao Duanshi stand up, put his hands on his hips, and stand in front of him, demanding:

"Are there any other orders from the capital? For example, are you instructed to carry out sabotage in secret?"

"No further orders!"

Jiang Hongtao shook his head hurriedly, his voice trembling with tears.

"I write one letter a month, recording everything I've seen."
I know nothing else! Really!

Zhao the judge stared at him for a moment, then waved his hand and ordered the jailers to torture him severely.

Half an hour later, Zhao the Judge continued to ask questions.
He received the exact same answer again, and only then did he nod slightly.

He addressed the soldier who was taking notes beside him:

"Write this down first, we'll continue the torture tomorrow."

"Yes!"

Jiang Hongtao suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing with deep fear, and hurriedly shouted:
"I confess! I confess!"

I've really confessed! Please don't hit me, I admit it.

But Zhao Duanshi ignored him and gave him a cold snort:
"Go back and think carefully about what else you need to explain."
If you displease the adults, prepare to die here.

He waved his hand, and the jailer took him away, then brought in the second person to be interrogated.
Wei Zhi, who works in an arms workshop.

He was more stubborn than Jiang Hongtao; even after being severely tortured, he refused to confess.
Until he produced the workshop layout map he had secretly drawn,

He then deflated and admitted that he was sent by the Ministry of War official.
The purpose was to see if there were any privately manufactured armors in Daning City, and also to see if Daning had any new firearms.

"Why did the Ministry of War send you here? How did they know that Da Ning had new firearms?" Zhao Duanshi pressed.

Wei Zhi lowered his head, his voice hoarse:

"It has long been known in the capital that Da Ning is developing new firearms."
The adults were worried you were hiding something, so they sent me to investigate. I hadn't found anything before you arrested me.

The interrogation continued throughout the morning.

Liu Heiying stood outside the interrogation room, listening to the conversation inside, his expression growing increasingly grave.

Judging from their confessions, these spies came from different factions.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards were the largest, numbering over sixty, and their main task was to monitor the movements of the Military Command.

The Ministry of War had more than twenty officials overseeing the workshops and gunpowder.
There were also a dozen or so people sent by other vassal kings, who wanted to find out about the progress of trade and road construction in Da Ning.
There were even a few people from Goryeo and grassland tribes.

I want to know about Daning and their trade policies.

The fact that various forces were emerging in Daning City made Liu Heiying somewhat puzzled.

In his mind, the area outside the Great Wall had always been a place that people and dogs disliked.
It's quite rare to see so many forces gathered together.
I don't know when it started, but Daning City has suddenly become a hot commodity.

(End of this chapter)