In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 843 The Situation Becomes Clear: Luring the Snake Out of Its Hole
Inside the secluded mansion, after seeing off those brats, Hu Xiaowu removed his mask.

Although his face was covered with fine beads of sweat
But this feeling of being hidden behind the scenes and pretending to be profound still made him feel very novel.

"I reckon they'll think I'm not young anymore."

Hu Xiaowu joked to himself, after standing outside the door for a while,
He put the mask back on and went inside.

Unlike the simple exterior, the interior was even more rudimentary.
There weren't even tables, chairs, or any furniture.

All that remained were simple gravel floors and rows of upright prison bars.

Inside the "cell," Gao Haoxuan was strapped to the central torture device.
He was completely naked, except for a black cloth covering his head.

Nearby, several figures, also dressed in black and wearing intricately patterned masks, were busy at work.
Examine his belongings and prepare different instruments of torture.

There was also a dashing man in black sitting on a simple bench.

Holding a hardcover document and a brush pen, I prepared to take notes.

"who are you?"

"What are you going to do?"

"I am the commander of the city garrison, how dare you!"

Gao Haoxuan could hear the sounds around him.
You can also hear more and more people gathering around.

His voice also became more intense.

However, the surroundings were deathly silent, and no one responded.
He was like a firefly lost in the darkness.

The initial threat quickly turned into a pleading and amicable surrender; the change in attitude was remarkably swift.

This caught everyone who was preparing around them off guard.

"Brothers, do you want money or what?"
"Please remember, I will do my best to help in any way I can."

"Let's talk this out, let's not resort to violence."

Hu Xiaowu looked at him strangely, and took the document handed to him by the man in black.

The document lists the items on Gao Haoxuan's person.

Aside from some loose silver coins and official documents, there was also a letter.

Hu Xiaowu opened it and raised an eyebrow.
It turned out to be a profit-sharing document from the North City Workshop.
Gao Haoxuan received one share, which amounted to more than sixty taels.

Hu Xiaowu walked forward with the letter in his hand.

He patted his head and said in a hoarse voice:
"Your trading company is even following the example of Yingtian Trading Company by distributing profits?"

One unit of grain only yields sixty taels.

If Yingtian Trading Company were to receive even a single share, that would amount to nearly 70,000 taels of silver.

Upon finally hearing the sound, Gao Haoxuan froze.
After thinking carefully in his mind, he realized he didn't know who the person in front of him was, so he forced a smile:

"Brother, you jest. How can the trading companies of Da Ning compare to those of Ying Tian?"

Although it was only sixty taels,
But for me, that's already a lot.

"If you want it, brother, release me, and I'll send someone to bring it to you."

Hu Xiaowu smiled and shook his head:

"No need, Lord Gao."
"If we let you go back, when you come back, it won't be silver anymore, but probably soldiers with swords and armor."

Gao Haoxuan's forced smile froze, his body tensed, and he screamed inwardly:
"They know who I am!!"

Upon realizing this, his heart sank, and he felt a wave of despair.

Now that they know my identity, it's not robbery.
It must be targeted and purposeful.

Gao Haoxuan calmed himself down, thought for a moment, and said:

"Brother, since you know my identity..."

They've arrested me again; they must want something from me.
Which hooligans got arrested again?
To allow you to act like this is utterly lawless!

The yamen (government office) is a place where laws and regulations are upheld.
But we also consider human relationships. If you discuss it politely and amicably, there might be a proper solution!

Hu Xiaowu snorted lightly.
"Lord Gao, please refrain from such unwarranted probing."
We are not thugs or hooligans, nor are we members of some low-class gang.

Gao Haoxuan's thoughts sank once again.

"Then you are?"

Hu Xiaowu pulled over a worn-out stool, sat down, and asked:
"I ask you, as the deputy commander of the city defense army..."

Why collude with merchants, granting them easy access and condoning their smuggling activities across the grasslands?

Upon hearing this, Gao Haoxuan held his breath.
It felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over me; my whole body was ice-cold.

"You. You"

Gao Haoxuan did not continue speaking.
He knew that if he revealed the identity of the person in front of him, the situation would become even more uncontrollable.
They can't even maintain the most basic decency.

Those who can ask such questions are either officials from the prefectural government or military commanders.

He preferred the military commander because the officials in the prefectural government were all timid and afraid of trouble.

He possesses the self-respect and integrity of a civil official, and would not act so drastically.

Heavy breathing echoed in the room.

Large beads of cold sweat slid down his cheeks and fell to the ground.
After three breaths, Gao Haoxuan made his decision. He said in a deep voice:
"Providing a convenient door is the intention of the esteemed officers and generals."
Now everyone in the city needs money.

Such a foolish person as the grassland people is extremely rare.

"Wouldn't it be a sin not to take this opportunity to make more money?"

Upon hearing this answer, a flash of surprise crossed Hu Xiaowu's eyes, and he laughed:
"Lord Gao, you are a soldier, why are you so eloquent?"

"Okay, let me be more direct."
Your group is involved in the affairs of the city's merchants.
Providing convenient access, even to the point of confronting government officials.
What is his relationship with Zhang Bin, the acting deputy commander? Is he his last protector?

Upon hearing this, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
It was as if a cold wind had blown by, sending chills down everyone's spine.

Gao Haoxuan's heart was in his throat.

His pupils, hidden behind the black cloth, suddenly contracted to their maximum size, and his whole body trembled.

"Their target is Lord Zhang!"

Gao Haoxuan was certain.

He had also confirmed the identity of the person before him.
An even stronger sense of fear swept over him, making his soles sweat profusely.

Fast, too fast!
He found it hard to believe that so many years had passed peacefully.
How come they found out about his relationship with Lord Zhang in less than three days after he returned?
Moreover, judging from the direct action taken, there is undoubtedly concrete evidence.

Gao Haoxuan's chest heaved violently; he tried several times to calm himself, but to no avail.
Hu Xiaowu wasn't in a hurry; he just waited quietly.

After nearly a quarter of an hour,
Seeing that Gao Haoxuan had calmed down, he spoke calmly:
"Tell me about your relationship with the merchants in the city, and why you are providing them with protection."

"My lord, is there some misunderstanding?" Gao Haoxuan asked tremblingly, his voice shaking.

Hu Xiaowu sighed:
"I'm giving you one last chance. If you don't talk, you'll be tortured."

Upon hearing about the torture, Gao Haoxuan struggled violently, his emotions completely collapsing.

"you!"

"You! You have arrested officials of the imperial court without orders; this is treason!"

"You are plotting a rebellion! You are dragging Da Ning into the abyss!"

Listening to his rant, Hu Xiaowu frowned, feeling utterly annoyed.
"Lord Gao, you've been in Daning for almost eight years."
I don't need to tell you what Da Ning was like before, do I?
It's only in the last two years that Daning has slowly started to improve.

As for why it's good, do you think you can get all the credit?
Or should it be attributed to those merchants?

I think even the most shameless person in the world wouldn't speak like that.

Before Gao Haoxuan could speak, Hu Xiaowu's voice suddenly rose:

"Confess! Tell me!"

Gao Haoxuan's body trembled, and only one thought remained in his mind.
That is fear.
At this point, he couldn't deceive himself any longer.

"I don't know anything about what you're talking about!"

Hu Xiaowu was somewhat surprised by his resistance.

She even gave him a praising look and nodded with a smile:

"Lord Gao, you were once a valiant soldier in the army."

Now that they've been promoted and made a fortune, they haven't forgotten their youthful vigor. That's good.

I hope you can withstand the punishment that follows.

Gao Haoxuan didn't answer, but instead bit his lip hard.

His bloodshot eyes, gleaming crimson, awaited the torture to come!

Hu Xiaowu waved his hand:
"Torture him and see how long he can endure it."

An hour later, at the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief,

Liu Heiying took the document handed to him by Hu Xiaowu; a faint smell of blood could still be detected on it.

"So fast?"

Liu Heiying glanced at the time and was somewhat surprised.

Hu Xiaowu's expression turned strange, and he scratched his head:

"My lord, Gao Haoxuan is a bully who preys on the weak and fears the strong; he only speaks empty words."

But he couldn't withstand the slightest pressure; the moment the brothers began to torture him, he confessed everything. Liu Heiying's lips twitched, and he nodded thoughtfully.

"Hmph, the richer a person is, the more spineless they are."

When Gao Haoxuan was penniless, he was a centurion in the vanguard army, always at the forefront of battles.

Now that they've been promoted and made rich, they're afraid to die. What a human nature!

"Where are they? Where have they been placed?"

Hu Xiaowu answered honestly:

"Sir, the man is being kept in the warehouse of Kang Le Trading Company, under the watch of our brothers. If you want to let him go, you can do so at any time."

"Nothing was revealed, was it?"

"His appearance and voice were not revealed."

But I think Gao Haoxuan probably guessed it.
Finally, when he begged for mercy at the top of his lungs, he called out Lord Lu's name.

Liu Heiying's lips twitched, and he nodded slightly:
"Okay, release the person before tomorrow morning, and send someone to follow them."

"Yes!"

Hu Xiaowu agreed immediately, but then tentatively asked:

"My lord, this is like releasing a tiger back into the mountains."

"He doesn't even deserve it?" Liu Heiying said with a hint of sarcasm, waving his hand dismissively.
"This is a trap. Since we've decided to take action, let's wipe them out completely, uproot them."

"What about his two dead guards?"

"Let him handle it himself."

"Yes!"

Hu Xiaowu nodded solemnly.

Liu Heiying stood up from his chair, picked up the interrogation document, stretched, and sighed with some emotion:

"This matter is never-ending."
"Go home after you've finished your business; your wife is waiting for you there."

Hu Xiaowu chuckled:
"Yes!"

Liu Heiying walked out from behind his desk, but stopped at the door.

He turned back and picked up three books from the table.
Only then did he leave the yamen and head to where Lu Yunyi was in the center.

Fifteen minutes later, the two sat facing each other.

Their postures were all extremely undignified.
Liu Heiying slumped into his chair, his eyes slightly closed.

Lu Yunyi put his feet on the table, using one hand to support the document as he read.

"So, Zhang Bin has been in contact with Hu Chongyi for a long time? And also with Qu Qingfeng? They really are a rotten bunch."

Lu Yunyi's expression was strange. Zhang Bin looked honest and unassuming.

He was a man who kept a low profile, but he had always had a good reputation in the government.

Who would have thought that such a person was behind it all? And also its protector.

Liu Heiying narrowed his eyes slightly and said thoughtfully:

"Some of the humiliating things were done in the past."
In the last two years, Zhang Bin has become much more obedient, and has only helped Hu Chongyi once.

The last time the warehouse caught fire, Hu Chongyi asked him for help in finding out who did it.

Aside from that, the two have no connection.
If they hadn't slipped up this time, who would have thought they were involved in such a scheme?

I think that when Hu Chongyi was a bandit,
It's inevitable that there was collusion between insiders and outsiders; perhaps it was done with Zhang Bin.

Moreover, Zhang Bin's most notable military achievements...
The mission was to send troops abroad to suppress bandits and outlaws, and Hu Chongyi may have been involved in this; the two were very close.

"Hey~ Don't make things up without evidence."
Zhang Bin has a distinguished military record; regardless of how he obtained it, his achievements speak for themselves.
If others overhear this, it will have a bad influence.

Lu Yunyi stopped him from continuing.

"Zhang Bin helped Hu Chongyi clear his name."
Now that Hu Chongyi has made a fortune, hasn't he shared any with Zhang Bin?

Liu Heiying's eyes widened slightly, and he shook his head:

"It's unclear at the moment; we'll only be able to find out after a proper search."

Lu Yunyi shook his head and smiled, then suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, the money given to those little guys, it wasn't silver, was it?"

"No, I was originally thinking of giving one ingot of gold."
But it was too conspicuous, so they changed it to paper money, which was easier for them to use.

Lu Yunyi nodded:
"That's good. This operation was a spur-of-the-moment decision."

Judging from the speed and results of the convergence, it has undoubtedly been very effective.

However, there is one drawback, or disadvantage, that needs to be addressed in the future.

"Brother Yun'er, what?" Liu Heiying sat up straight, his expression somewhat solemn.

"With too many people, the more complex the plan, the easier it is for things to go wrong."
The more people involved, the more unpredictable the outcome.

"From now on, two or three people can handle these kinds of tasks, at most five," Lu Yunyi said decisively.

Liu Heiying scratched his head:
"This seems a bit difficult for them."

It took quite a bit of effort to kill those two guards today.
If Asir hadn't been ruthless and taken care of one first, it might have dragged on for another ten breaths.

Lu Yunyi was naturally aware of the difficulties.

But the most important thing for an undercover agent is to conceal their movements.

Secondly, there is the ability to act.

They have outstanding mobility; even if they are discovered, they can escape, or at worst, fight their way out.

"They still need to train. Under the guise of militia drills, we'll give them some extra training."

"While not quite comparable to the soldiers in the army, they are at least comparable to the garrison troops."

"Yes, I'll make arrangements once things are over."

Liu Heiying nodded emphatically, full of anticipation for the little children.

Lu Yunyi tossed the document in his hand aside and sighed deeply:
"Now that things are clear, let's check the situation in the north of the city tomorrow."

If they remain obstinate, then we need not be polite.

Zhang Huaien came to see me today and gave me some documents.

This is a plan to clear out the overseas White Pine Division, Purple Snow Division, and Red Sun Division.

I checked the content and it's not bad.
If it truly comes to the point of military action, these documents should be the basis for our actions.

Liu Heiying was taken aback for a moment, but then he understood what he meant.

"Brother Yun'er, most of these grassland bandits are henchmen of large tribes. Are they going to be used to lure people into a trap?"

Lu Yunyi smiled and shook his head:

"It's better to be safe than sorry. Let's see how the majority of them react in a few days."
If they know their own limitations, then there's no need to pay them any attention.

If they insist on opposing us, then there's no need to be polite; we can use them as training grounds.

Liu Heiying nodded in deep agreement:

"It's time to train our troops. Last time, we used up all our resources in the battle."
It's a pity that some soldiers in the military command didn't get the opportunity to train.

I hope to get some experience on the battlefield this time.

"Brother Yun'er, should we really get involved in Goryeo's affairs?"

"what's up?"

A hint of confusion flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes, then he quickly realized:

"You're talking about Yi Seong-gye's usurpation of power?"

"Yes, if the King of Goryeo really did send the silver over..."

We can't really go into battle on Korean territory.

Liu Heiying's eyes showed some apprehension. As a country that was not subject to conquest, Goryeo was already at the limit for smuggling.

If the army enters the country, there will be no way to explain it to the imperial court.

Lu Yunyi thought for a moment and said:
"We'll see when the time comes. We'll discuss it with Lord Pan once he takes office."

If the money really comes in, we should at least take some action.
Although they cannot enter the country to fight, they should at least exert some deterrence and delay Yi Seong-gye's usurpation of the throne.

"Is Yi Seong-gye really going to usurp the throne?"

Liu Heiying was shocked. Powerful ministers can be found everywhere, but very few can actually change a dynasty.

"At this point, he has no choice."
To not usurp the throne is to die.

So he'll definitely take the risk and try it. Don't rush, just wait and see.

"Hmm~" Liu Heiying thought for a moment, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes:
"If Yi Seong-gye were to usurp the throne, our plan to connect Goryeo and Liaodong would be one step closer to reality."

"At that time, in order to secure external stability, Yi Seong-gye will definitely agree to many of our conditions."

Lu Yunyi smiled and nodded:

"That makes sense, but to accomplish this, internal stability is essential."
Tomorrow, send men to monitor the merchants and workshops in the south and north of the city to see if they're up to any tricks.

"it is good!"

(End of this chapter)