Chapter 658: Rescuing the Rebel, Part 7

After Du and Bao joined forces, the importance of the rebel case escalated rapidly. The case now effectively transferred between departments, moving from the semi-professional Labor Education System to the professional Criminal Investigation Department.

With professionals at the helm, the treatment on all fronts immediately changed. As the Criminal Division Constable, the resources Du Chong could mobilize far exceeded those of Bao Shinan.

Although the Criminal Division's formal constable establishment numbered only a dozen or so, this was not a problem... Du Chong had a large number of White-Coded Personnel at his disposal... temporary workers... auxiliary police.

Typically, a County Yamen could gather no fewer than a hundred White-Coded Personnel. In a city with developed industry and trade like Hanyang, the Prefectural Yamen had even more funds; when major incidents occurred, Du Chong could immediately summon a force of one to two hundred men.

Of course, such a force would certainly include all sorts of shady characters and ghost employees drawing empty salaries, but Du Chong did not need to make a big show this time; he only needed to call upon his private core team.

His private core team, including several disciples, was fully sufficient in numbers, ensuring both secrecy and adequate investigative manpower.

And so, the next day, when Xiao Guan finished his prison visit, the person responsible for tailing him changed from a street loafer to Du Chong's second disciple.

And this time, after the two Shaanxi men emerged from the restaurant, they could no longer escape the Monitor's sight. Personally overseeing the operation, Du Chong not only called up Manpower on the streets but also prepared boats on the river to relay the pursuit.

Ultimately, Du Chong secured the two men's location: an ordinary inn at the East City Gate.

Of all this, Xiao Guan, who in theory should have been completely unaware, naturally knew nothing. His life was now very routine: every morning he prepared for the prison visit, visited at noon, then went to Yun Ke Lai to report. After that, he returned home to care for his frail and sickly mother.

As for his other daily business, Xiao Guan had already abandoned it entirely. After this matter, he would leave the area no matter what, abandoning everything from Before.

And this abnormal behavior of Xiao Guan's, in the eyes of Du and Bao, had a different explanation—the rebels were plotting something huge this time and had given him an enormous sum, so Xiao Guan, the Private Broker, was now dedicated solely to serving the rebels.

This judgment, from another angle, proved: Tian Da and Tian San, these two rebels, indeed possessed information on the storage location of a large sum of gold and silver.

After reaching this judgment, Du Chong and Bao Shinan were still quite excited.

Their investigation operation, up to this point, had been conducted behind their superiors' backs. This meant that, aside from the various personal favors expended, even calling upon private subordinates required providing funds.

Every day from now on, the funds needed to operate the surveillance network were private capital split between Du and Bao.

Having mobilized so many private Resources, they naturally sought the best possible outcome. Now that the matter was visibly showing signs of developing in a "favorable" direction, the next step could involve further investment.

Next, on the third day when Xiao Guan visited the prison, Tian San, who had previously been burning with fever and unconscious, had not only regained consciousness but had also begun taking liquid food.

There was no need to question this recovery speed. Adult males who could Survive to adulthood in the Seventeenth Century and still campaign across regions rebelling against government troops were, without exception, the fittest products of natural selection.

So once the Imperial Peace Powder's bactericidal effect took hold, Tian San, who had been comatose, quickly woke up.

Sitting outside the bars, watching Tian Da feed Tian San rice porridge, Xiao Guan could not help but beam with joy: "Third Lord is out of danger now."

"I must thank you for the divine medicine, brother. This time, Third Brother has narrowly escaped with his life."

Tian Da, who was speaking, already looked much better than a few days ago. An ample supply of protein had given Tian Da a ruddy complexion and a strong, full voice. In just a few days, he had recovered to a Battle-ready state, able to eat and fight.

At this moment, Tian San, who was reclining on clean bedding nearby, slowly clasped his hands together over his abdomen in a gesture of respect and uttered in a weak voice: "My thanks... Brother Guan, for the grace of saving my life."

"No, no, I cannot accept such formality."

Xiao Guan hurriedly made a stopping gesture from a distance: "I, your brother, am merely acting on another's behalf. If Third Lord wishes to give thanks, wait until your body has recovered and you are out of prison; then you can personally thank your benefactor. There is no rush."

"Speaking of getting out of prison..." Tian Da lowered his voice at this point: "Has there been any progress on this matter?"

The reason Tian Da dared to ask so openly was that, starting today, the jailer who had always stood behind Xiao Guan during prison visits was now nowhere to be seen.

This change, in Tian Da's view, meant the jailer found it troublesome and stopped accompanying Xiao Guan. As for the truth Behind the Scenes... each side had its own interpretation, which was beyond what Tian Da could guess.

This question from Tian Da was long anticipated by Xiao Guan. He likewise lowered his voice and immediately countered: "The key right now is still Third Lord's body—when will he be able to walk?"

Tian Da glanced down at his brother and replied hesitantly: "To come and go freely, it will take at least five to seven days. But no matter, if it's just 'getting out,' in another two days, I can support Third Brother and he can walk."

Xiao Guan frowned upon hearing this: "To avoid questioning by patrolling guards, it's best if he can walk freely and naturally."

Hearing Xiao Guan say this, Tian Da knew that the romantic scenario he had imagined—"brothers killing officials and storming the execution ground"—was impossible. The brothers providing support outside were likely few in number... This aligned with Tian Da's private, objective assessment.

So Tian Da pressed further: "How many of our brothers have come this time?"

"The number is hard to say, and the names are hard to say as well."

Xiao Guan could not reveal the full picture to Tian Da now, because if he kept it simple, it would raise more questions; if he explained in detail, the current Environment and time did not permit it: "This is a beheading business. I, Xiao Guan, received instructions from the heroes outside and actually know very little. All matters, wait until Master Tian is out, then you can discuss them among your own people."

With Xiao Guan, the intermediary, saying this, Tian Da instead felt it was only proper. He nodded gravely: "Understood."

The next moment, Xiao Guan stood up, packed the food box, and once again whispered his instructions: "For now, set aside all other matters. We only wait for Third Lord Tian's body to recover."

"Brother, you have worked hard."

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After exiting the prison gate, Xiao Guan boarded his carriage as usual and headed to Yun Ke Lai.

However, today's Yun Ke Lai was no longer the same as before.

Just this morning, Room No. 3, adjacent to Jiazi No. 2 Room, had been permanently rented by someone.

The person who came to rent the room was naturally a figure from the Prefectural Yamen whom even the Shopkeeper had to Be Careful dealing with. Fortunately, this time they were somewhat reasonable and paid the full price in silver. So the Shopkeeper and the staff obediently followed instructions: operate as usual, do not make any noise, and do not guide guests to Room No. 3.

Watching the two Shaanxi men enter their private room at the usual time, the Shopkeeper, sensing something, dared even less to say anything now.

Those who had entered the adjacent private room in advance were Du Chong's first and third disciples.

These two had brought their tools today. Among them were not only the Copper Listening Tube but also various small gadgets for drilling and sealing cracks.

However, what the eavesdroppers did not know was... there was a reason the two Shaanxi men chose the private room at Yun Ke Lai. The lighting and positional conditions here were very suitable for observation from the second floor across the street using a telescope.

Their every move had long been captured in the lens by the observation post on the second floor across the street. And the furnishings inside this private room they had long rented had also long been swapped for identical pieces by someone else.

In this Seventeenth-Century intelligence war, the local powers who held the advantages of terrain and human connections lost without any suspense to Native intelligence elites armed with the espionage thinking and equipment of Later Generations.

And so, over the next few days, even though no one had ever visited the prison as punctually every day as Xiao Guan, and even though no customers had ever met as punctually every day as those in Jiazi No. 2 Room, Xiao Guan still visited the prison on time, went to Yun Ke Lai on time to report, and on time let Du Chong eavesdrop.

Both Sides involved in the major case of rescuing the rebels now held back, waiting; it seemed as if nothing had happened, as if everything was normal.

This strange atmosphere was broken four days later.

At noon four days later, inside Death Row. Tian San, separated by the bars and in front of Xiao Guan, slowly walked five or six Circles around the cell.

Seeing Tian San, whose forehead was sweating and who was slightly out of breath after sitting down, Xiao Guan said joyfully: "Third Lord is greatly recovered!"

"I can't be a burden to the brothers."

"In that case, listen carefully, both of you."

Seeing this, Xiao Guan first glanced left and right, then leaned forward and said: "From tomorrow onward, I will not come. Within these next few days, there will be a change. Both of you, stay alert at night, do not sleep deeply, and act according to the circumstances when the time comes."

"Understood!"

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That afternoon, Du Chong's senior disciple, stationed at Yun Ke Lai, overheard a shocking conversation through a copper tube.

"Gentlemen, Master Tian has already told me today where the silver is buried."

"Excellent, excellent. Where is it?"

"Heh heh, as for where it is… well…"

"Brother, not a single bit of the reward promised to you will be short. Besides, after we dig up the silver, we'll still need you to purchase the grain and fodder."

"Heh heh, it's good that you two understand what's at stake. In times like these, people like me, who dare to risk their heads helping rebels arrange grain purchases, are truly few and far between."

"Absolutely, absolutely."

"Mm. The silver is in Xiaogan. We'll go together to dig it up, just as we agreed before. Once it's unearthed, ten percent goes to me. With the rest, I'll help you two exchange it for grain and fodder, and hire a convoy to leave the city."

"That's the plan! When do we leave?"

"I have an ailing mother at home; please allow me some time to settle her. Tomorrow at dusk, outside the city in the Purple Bamboo Forest, at that abandoned Jade Buddha Temple."

"In that case, it's settled!"

Not long after, the behind-the-scenes duo stationed in the Criminal Division learned the exact details.

Bao Shinan, Bao the Jailer, clapped his hands and laughed on the spot. "Excellent, excellent! The fish has finally taken the bait!"

Du Chong, Constable Du, was also all smiles. "Allow me to muster the manpower. Tomorrow at the Jade Buddha Temple, we'll catch all the fish in one net."

At the same moment, Nan Wangchuan, dressed in a soft cotton robe, stood with his hands behind his back under the eaves. Gazing up at the sky, he said lightly to Zhou Yi beside him, "I observe the heavens; it will rain tomorrow."

"A good thing," Zhou Yi said, equally lightly. "With rain, bloodstains are easily washed away."

Chapter 661: Saving the Rebels (VII) GET/HTTP/1..

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