Chapter 426 The Spy’s Mission
The night was as cool as water, and the moonlight shone down from behind the clouds, illuminating the cold streets.
At the gate of Jinfu Inn, the magistrate and others listened to Lihuatang Jinyi's narrative with various expressions.
The scholar and Hongye breathed a sigh of relief silently, with the corners of their mouths raised and smiling: This should be in line with their impression of Zhao Shaobao.
The methods are strange, the thinking is meticulous, and the power needs no explanation.
Magistrate Luan Cheng looked dull and his mind went numb for a while:
Zixiao Palace was destroyed? !
Just two or three hours? Lu Zhengchun was arrested? This Taoist temple, which had a great reputation in the entire Binhai Road Green Forest River and Lake, was just wiped out by that man? !
"Please wait, I..."
The magistrate raised his hand and made a weak grab, but the Jin Yi ignored him at all, turned the horse's head and left again.
"Master Magistrate, you can ask Shaobao personally when he comes back." The scholar smiled.
Luan Cheng nodded silently, but did not move. He waited at the door. After a while, the torch in the distance gradually approached.
You can see a large group of cavalry walking in front, pulling out ropes. The ends of the ropes are tied to the hands of a Taoist priest who is in ragged clothes and whose shoes are almost broken.
Like walking a dog.
Behind them, there are carts with corpses and large boxes - Zixiao Palace has been making money for many years, and the wealth in the Taoist temple is considerable.
Zhao Duan only took some of the most valuable ones and brought them back to the city, leaving a small team of officers and soldiers behind to guard the Taoist temple and continue to guard it.
Further back, there are carriages, and in the trembling curtains, there are warblers and swallows, crying pear blossoms with rain, and a group of shivering female crowns.
Zhao Duan and his group of core figures were at the back of the team.
"Prefect Luan, it's a good time for you to be here," Zhao Duan rode on horseback and came to the door of the inn in the light of torches, turned over and jumped down, saying:
"These Taoist priests all participated in attacking and killing the officers and soldiers. How to deal with them is up to you, the prefect, to do.
As for the boxes on the back carriage, some of them were property seized from the rebels, as well as the account books of Zixiao Palace, which must be sealed with seals.
When the matter here is settled, the stolen goods must be sent to the capital for storage. As for the women behind...
According to my investigation, the female believers who have been coerced and lured by Lu Zhengchun over the years and abducted into the palace for pleasure are also handed over to you for investigation. If they have nothing to do with rebelling against the party, they will be sent back to their place of origin or left in Zixiao Palace. Choose yourself.
Well, that Taoist temple was a gift from the late emperor. After Lu Zhengchun was removed, there was no need to abolish the Taoist temple. It would be good to change it into a Taoist temple run by the imperial government. I would like to see it. ”
Luan Cheng listened blankly and nodded subconsciously, but his eyes were searching among the large group of officers and soldiers:
"Nalu Zhengchun..."
"Bang!"
With a sealing talisman attached to his forehead, the sleeping Lu Zhengchun was thrown to the ground by Gongshu Tianyuan.
Luan Cheng took a breath and finally confirmed that he was not dreaming. He quickly asked for details. After understanding the details, his expression became extremely complicated.
"Zhao Shaobao...a good method."
This time, it was sincere.
Regardless of how rough and reckless this method may be, just tell me whether the result is good or not...
"I'll go make arrangements now." Luan Cheng looked excited after being shocked. As a local magistrate, he was undoubtedly not happy with the power of Zixiao Palace. Now that he was removed, he was naturally happy.
"Wait, there is one more thing," Zhao Duan suddenly stopped him and smiled in the latter's blank eyes:
"I'd like to trouble Magistrate Luan to post an official notice in the city in your capacity, listing Zixiao Palace's crimes of amassing money, abducting women, colluding with the party, etc., and Lu Zhengchun and his disciples will be beheaded in public in seven days.
Well, remember, we must spread this news as widely as possible so that everyone knows about it. ”
Magistrate Luan was stunned for a moment. He subconsciously wanted to say:
Officials are not qualified to execute beheadings without being notified by the court.
However, Zhao Duan seemed to see through what he was thinking. When he left the capital, he put the gold medal given to him by the empress into the hands of the prefect, patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile:
"Just do what you're told."
On the way, he tried to pry open Lu Zhengchun's mouth and obtain Zhuang Xiaocheng's information, but failed.
Even the "Fox Immortal" who lost Tianyuan was unable to deal with the world's top-notch purple-shirted Taoist.
"Lu Zhengchun, Lu Zhengchun, if you don't open your mouth, do you think I can't use you to fish out that old dog Zhuang Xiaocheng?"
Zhao Duan put his hands behind his hands and looked at the stars in the night sky:
"Zhuang Xiaocheng, it's not polite to come back without reciprocating. If you give me a gift, how can I be stingy and refuse to return the gift?"
……
……
Forbidden Mountain Villa.
In the pavilion built on the cliff, the scholar-like Zhuang Xiaocheng was sitting cross-legged on the ground, wrapped in a thick blanket, and making wine.
Lanterns were hung at the four corners of the pavilion, and the entire villa in the distance was dotted with lights.
A peaceful atmosphere.
"Gululu."
Zhuang Xiaocheng held an iron tong, turned the scarlet charcoal in the copper basin, looked at the boiling rice wine, and said:
"Zhao Duan entered the city, and the prefect Luan Cheng also rushed into it. Our people in the city sent news that he had sent troops into the city during the day and then left the city. The direction he went to seemed to be purple. "Xiao Palace"
In the pavilion, sitting opposite the Taifu was a figure wearing a large black robe with a hood covering his face.
A white palm with well-proportioned joints and dignity poked out from the black robe. He picked up the wine vessel, sifted out a bowl of wine, took a sip, and said in a hoarse voice:
"Is Lu Zhengchun exposed?"
Zhuang Xiaocheng shook his head and said:
"If it were exposed, how could Zhao Duan enter the city and then take action? He was afraid that he would deceive him. However, with Lu Zhengchun's character, he would definitely fight with him, and with the background of Zixiao Palace, it was enough to test Zhao Du'an. How many trump cards did An bring...
However, Zhao Thief must be confident if he dares to come here. He is afraid that Lu Zhengchun will be defeated... Is this a pity? This seasoned Taoist has a high level of cultivation and uses Feijian with all his strength. I am afraid that no one in the society can be his opponent..."
The man in black robe blew the night wind and said calmly:
"A dog that is vacillating and greedy. No matter how sharp its fangs are, it is not worth reusing. It is a good thing to get rid of it now with the help of Zhao Duan."
Zhuang Xiaocheng, whose beard and hair were all white and wrinkled, nodded, sighed silently, and said:
"It's just a pity that in order to kill the Zhao thief this time, regardless of success or failure, the strength of the society will be greatly damaged."
The man in black robe drank the wine bowl in one gulp and said:
"In order to win, what else can't be lost? Someone is coming."
After saying that, the man's body slowly disappeared like ripples, including the wine bowl in his hand.
A few moments.
Two figures rushed over, one was Qi Yuchun, who had a green and black beard and carried a big gun on his back.
One is Ren Kun, an earth magician with broad shoulders, khaki skin, wearing a robe of the same color, a square face and a snub nose.
The two looked ugly and said in a hurry:
"I got the news that the Zixiao Palace was trampled to the ground by a boy named Zhao, and Lu Zhengchun was captured alive!"
Zhuang Xiaocheng was "shocked" and stood up suddenly, staring at them: "Tell me carefully!"
When he learned about the specific process, the former Tutor frowned, hating that iron could not make steel:
"If Lu Zhengchun escapes in time, how can the court keep him?" Qi Yuchun said anxiously:
"Lu Zhengchun is not of the same mind as us. I don't care whether he lives or lives, but if he is arrested, our position in the main forum will be exposed!"
Zhuang Xiaocheng shook his head and said calmly:
"He won't tell. Because Lu Zhengchun knows that if he tells the location of the general altar, he will die. If he doesn't tell, there is still a chance of being rescued."
Ren Kun looked on coldly and said: "Even if it is as you said, now that he has lost his combat power, what will we do next?"
"Wait." Zhuang Xiaocheng stood with his hands behind his hands and looked at the two of them calmly, his eyes as deep as the sea:
"Breaking through the Zixiao Palace is a gift from Thief Zhao in return for us. I have a hunch that with the way the thief is doing, there will be a back-up plan by tomorrow at the latest. We will use our tactics as we see them and the troops will come to stop them."
< br>
……
……
Jinfu Inn.
It was dark at night, and Lieutenant General Yuanji led a group of cavalry to rest at the station arranged by the Fengcheng County Government.
Quietness returned to the inn. After the door was closed, the chef brought out the dinner that had been heated several times. Everyone sat around in the lobby and started devouring it.
The candle burned quietly.
After he was full of wine and food, Gongshu Tianyuan stroked his round belly, leaned on the chair, and threw toothpicks to everyone like magic.
Holding one while picking his teeth, he boasted to Hongye and the scholar about his heroic performance in the battle:
"...So, how smart is this priest? I have already made a dummy to stand in for me to avoid the flying sword... It was also because I restrained Lu Zhengchun from the front that Junior Sister Jin could attack from behind."
Jin Jian was full and squinted her eyes as comfortably as a kitten, too lazy to take credit.
Ah, yes, yes... you are a disciple of the Heavenly Master, and everything you said is right... Zhang Han and Haitang complained silently.
However, both of them also admitted that the two Tianshifu warlocks indeed made great contributions in this battle.
Jin Jian's final kill was amazing, but without Gongshu Tianyuan and the direct restraint of Lang Shiba and Ji Yue, it would be really difficult to defeat Lu Zhengchun.
As a result, the two imperial officers who had not played their role at all felt frustrated and realized the real gap between them and the practicing geniuses.
"What are you thinking about?"
Haitang looked at Zhao Duan, who was silently picking his teeth beside him, and suddenly asked.
Zhao Duan came back to his senses, smiled, and suddenly suddenly said curiously, Chao Gongshu Tianyuan:
"Speaking of which, is your substitute also a token?"
"Yes," Gongshu Tianyuanxin said that Brother Zhao knew how to appreciate me. He quickly took out a ball of white mud from his sleeve as a confidant and said with great interest:
"This is called spring clay. It can be molded into anything I want. It's almost real, but it's just a toy and needs to be controlled within a certain range."
Zhao Duan rubbed his chin, and after listening to his explanation, he stared at the spring mud thoughtfully.
Haitang is a keen person and asked:
"Now that you've had enough wine and food, it's time for you to talk about your next plan, right? Lu Zhengchun can't keep his mouth open. You want to make a show of showing your head to the public, and you deliberately left seven days for Magistrate Luan to post notices all over the place. The city is for Zhuang Xiaocheng to see, right?”
The female detective who calls herself the imperial detective said:
"Just like before, you publicized the prisoner exchange on a large scale and forced Zhuang Xiaocheng to accept the prisoner exchange... You have similar ideas this time?
Since Lu Zhengchun is a member of the Kuangfu Society, as long as he creates a large-scale campaign and lets the members of the Kuangfu Society in Fengcheng and even the entire province know that hundreds of their companions are about to be beheaded, they will inevitably become restless.
Zhuang Xiaocheng must face the pressure of public opinion. Even if he wants to appease his subordinates and maintain the cohesion of Kuangfu Society, he cannot sit idly by and ignore it...
So, you want to use this trick to force Zhuang Xiaocheng to send people out to rob the law field? To arrest him? ”
This was the answer she deduced.
Zhao Duan smiled, nodded and said:
"Clever!"
The corners of Haitang's mouth suddenly raised, feeling very proud, but she didn't notice the hint of joking in Zhao Duan's eyes.
Zhao Duan looked around the table and said calmly:
"The Bureau of Investigation is right. As soon as the news of Wenzhan spreads, Zhuang Xiaocheng must take action.
Moreover, Lu Zhengchun refused to let go and probably used the information he had to force Zhuang Xiaocheng to rescue him... Zhuang Xiaocheng would take action even for this reason. ”
Everyone looked surprised and looked sideways, thinking that you were the one doing the trick...
Zhao Duan ignored the thoughts of these people and continued:
"But just fishing is not enough. Zhuang Xiaocheng will not rush into it stupidly. Even if he wants to rob the court, he will make certain tactical arrangements. We seem to have the home field advantage, but Kuang Fushe has been hiding in Fengcheng for several years. Here is It’s their home court.”
After a pause, he said: "So, it's our turn for the spies installed in Kuangfu Society to go out."
The gold medal film scholar and Hongye straightened their backs:
"What do you want us to do?"
Zhao Duan said calmly:
"I need you to contact each spy individually through channels and give them an action plan. I will go back to the room later and write out the content for you."
"Yes." The two shadow guards agreed readily.
"That's it. Everyone is tired. Let's go back and rest first."
Zhao Duan patted his butt and got up, walked up the wooden stairs, and returned to his room.
……
After closing the door, he sat at the inn table, but instead of writing the task in a hurry, he turned his wrist and pulled out the small bronze mirror "Feng Yue Bao Jian".
Lost in thought.
According to the intelligence, Zhuang Xiaocheng, an old dog, still keeps Yun Xi and other rescued prisoners in solitary confinement in a grape farm on the border of Fengcheng for safety.
This is also the reason why Zhao Duan did not try to use Fengyue Baojian to detect spies before and determine the location of Kuangfu Society's main altar - it was not in the same place at all.
"Zhuang Xiaocheng, Zhuang Xiaocheng... You must know that I have planted spies among the prisoners. If I were you, not only would I not rashly remove those spies, I would also try to turn them around and instigate them again, playing a spy-within-a-spy... …”
"Just imagine, if I completely trust this group of spies, and some of these spies pretend to be loyal to the imperial court, but are actually loyal to you, wouldn't it be a bad thing?"
Zhao Duan murmured inwardly, put the small mirror aside, put down a pen and paper, and began to write down the tasks assigned to the spies, including Yun Xi, Qingniao, Wu Ling and others.
Most of these missions are fake to prevent the existence of "espionage impossible".
Even if someone really betrays him and plays Infernal Affairs, it doesn't matter if he leaks this fake mission to Zhuang Xiaocheng. Instead, he can use these fake missions to mislead Zhuang Xiaocheng.
Moreover, he will use Fengyue Baojian to observe the spies from time to time in the next seven days.
Of course, there are also a few tasks that are more special.
"Shashasha..." Zhao Duan quickly wrote a few lines of text on a piece of paper, then folded the paper and solemnly wrote the recipient's name in the blank space on the back:
Yunxi.
——
Typos should be corrected first
Thank you for the two thousand point coin reward from Sofa, 2021...1200 for the five hundred point coin reward, and the two hundred point coin reward for the support of Kenshin Kyoto Fire
(End of chapter)