Chapter 1627: The Great Hexi Case

Outside the hall, the sky was clear and bright, the sun blazing fiercely, the world bathed in brilliant light—yet inside, two rows of three-tiered candles still burned, as if that somehow lent the place more dignity.

A young man in a beast-embroidered robe stepped cautiously into the hall, glanced at Wang Yinwu, who sat behind the desk reviewing documents while sipping tea, then hurried forward and bowed deeply: "Uncle!"

This man was named Wang Xuanzhen, Wang Yinwu's nephew, currently serving as Capital Commandant of the Wude Office. He was one of the closest intelligence officers under Wang Yinwu, and his primary duty was the collation and analysis of intelligence from across the realm.

A hero needs three helpers. After assuming the post of Commissioner of the Wude Office, Wang Yinwu had installed many relatives and promoted many trusted confidants. Over at the Palace City Office, he had a cadre of loyal stalwarts led by his four adopted sons, and in the Wude Office he had likewise elevated his "Eight Great Vajras"—Wang Xuanzhen being one of them.

Of course, Zhang Dejun's grandson had also begun serving in the Palace City Office and in the provinces, working for the court. Such nepotism, to avoid giving others ammunition, was something Li Chongju would never do. By comparison, Wang Yinwu was far more like a spymaster, a man whose record could be described as "stained with misdeeds."

In the hall, Wang Yinwu's gaze shifted from the documents in his hand to Wang Xuanzhen. Noticing his grave expression, he did not invite him to sit, but asked with full authority: "What is it?"

At the question, Wang Xuanzhen bowed once more and reported: "Hexi has reported that the Kara-Khanid embassy was ambushed and slaughtered!"

Hearing this, Wang Yinwu immediately grew serious, his back straightening involuntarily as he pressed: "What happened? When? What were the embassy's losses?"

Wang Xuanzhen clearly understood the gravity of the matter, clasping his hands and saying: "Seven days ago, at Yanzhi Post Station on the border between Gan and Liang Prefectures. The Kara-Khanid embassy numbered over thirty, and only one wounded groom survived; all the rest were killed, including the chief and deputy envoys. The accompanying tribute and valuables were looted clean, and the reception ritual officials and the escort squad of soldiers also did not escape!"

Hearing this report, Wang Yinwu could hardly conceal his shock. Unable to remain seated, he rose somewhat undignifiedly and pressed further: "Do we know who did it? What kind of person would have such audacity as to commit such a heinous crime?"

There was no doubt—this was a major case that would shake the court and the realm! For so many years, under the Great Han's stable and prosperous overall environment, crime had of course never been fully absent; robberies and assaults still occurred among the populace from time to time. But never had any of them compared to this.

Never had any bandit dared to target the government or attack official personnel. A full twenty years had passed since the northwest had been fully recovered, yet throughout those twenty years, the northwest—especially the Hexi region—had always suffered a chronic ailment: horse bandits.

Those horse bandits were of mixed composition, drawn from all peoples—Uyghurs, Tibetans, Han, and various minorities. Some resented the court's rule; others simply sought wealth.

Because the horse bandits ran rampant, affecting public order in the northwest, local authorities and garrisons had organized several suppression campaigns. But these bandits simply could not be wiped out, could not be exterminated.

Since the horse bandits were mostly locals—fierce and ruthless, familiar with the terrain, coming and going through the desert like the wind—every time they were struck, they would lie low for a while, then flare up again.

The authorities, in truth, also knew that as long as the Silk Road—that golden trade route—remained open and east-west commerce continued to prosper, the profession of horse bandit would never disappear.

Still, under sustained pressure from the official army, by now the northwest horse bandits had been contained, with a relative balance existing between officials and bandits.

Although the horse bandits had never been eradicated, the frequency of their crimes had dropped dramatically compared to ten or twenty years ago. Moreover, merchants traveling east and west had strengthened their escorts, making the Hexi Corridor relatively safe. And even when plundered, cases of total annihilation were rare.

Furthermore, no matter how fierce the horse bandits were, they only plundered local commoners and passing caravans—the government and the military were things they never dared to touch.

But this time, multiple bottom lines had been crossed at once. Not only had there been murder and robbery, but those killed included officials and soldiers. Just as importantly, this was the Kara-Khanid embassy—making it a serious foreign incident.

Though the Kara-Khanid state was small compared to the Great Han, it had to be said that it was one of the few countries around the Great Han that still maintained normal diplomatic relations—and moreover, one that did not fear opposing the Great Han.

In recent years, with the growth of trade between the two nations, their relations had been fairly harmonious. The Kara-Khanids' annual eastern missions had never ceased. And now, their embassy had been directly ambushed and slaughtered within Great Han territory.

The court might not care much about the envoys' lives, but the face of the court had been slapped—slapped hard, with a resounding crack. That made this exceptionally serious.

This was why Wang Yinwu could not sit still upon receiving the report. At his position, he naturally possessed a certain political foresight. With something like this happening, he did not know how the military and civil grandees of Hexi were raging and stamping their feet, but for his own part, he hardly knew how to report this matter to Emperor Liu.

He instinctively glanced in the direction of the Bian Palace. Though separated by the Wude Office compound and layer upon layer of palace gates, he felt as if Emperor Liu's cold, piercing gaze were already fixed upon him—truly chilling to the bone.

Seeing Wang Yinwu's reaction, Wang Xuanzhen dared not be the least bit negligent, continuing his report: "After examining the scene, Hexi's Chief Inspector Zheng An has made a preliminary judgment that it was the work of local horse bandits!"

"Judgment needed for that?" Wang Yinwu immediately rebuked: "At the Gan-Liang border, in the heart of Hexi, who else could it be but those horse bandits? What other force has the capability to commit such a major crime? It's not as if the local garrison did it!"

Wang Xuanzhen looked somewhat awkward, while Wang Yinwu stared straight at him: "What I want to know is which bandit gang! Give me the report!"

"Yes!" Wang Xuanzhen hurried forward, presenting the secret Hexi report, and continued: "At present, the border troops of Gan Prefecture, Liang Prefecture, and Lingzhou have already been mobilized—searching, screening, pursuing the bandits, and restoring order—but so far there are no results!"

Wang Yinwu said coldly: "Now they remember to restore order? Don't you think it's a bit late?"

While frowning and reading, Wang Yinwu remarked: "Hexi has no shortage of horse bandits, but those capable of committing such a major crime are probably only a few gangs. Then start by investigating those few large roving bandit groups!"

"Yes!" Hearing Wang Yinwu's instruction, Wang Xuanzhen immediately acknowledged.

The hall gradually fell into silence. After a long while, Wang Yinwu finished reading the urgent Hexi report, set down the document, and sighed deeply: "The court is about to be thrown into turmoil again. This hurdle in the Hexi Circuit will be hard to clear! And so will we!"

Hearing Wang Yinwu say this, Wang Xuanzhen was somewhat puzzled: "This matter is about the deterioration of public order in Hexi and the failure to suppress bandits. What does it have to do with you, Uncle? What does it have to do with our Wude Office?"

Wang Yinwu shook his head and said flatly: "The Wude Office monitors the entire realm. Do you think we can escape responsibility in this matter, bear not a shred of connection?"

"When the court investigates, I fear everyone involved, high and low, will have a hard time!" Wang Yinwu added with some melancholy: "Don't forget, we rose to prominence from Hexi. Setting aside other circuits and prefectures, if Hexi has a problem, even if I'm not held primarily responsible, I'll still face joint liability!"

"Here in the capital, we were the first to receive the news, weren't we?" Wang Yinwu looked at Wang Xuanzhen.

Wang Xuanzhen nodded: "Yes!"

"To be honest with you, right now, I don't even know how to report this to Your Majesty!" Wang Yinwu wore a look of headache.

. wap.