Chapter 465: Di Jiu

"What interesting things does Zhu Gaoyang have?"

"He likes to impersonate other people's names."

"Whose?"

"Zhang Siche."

"He says his name is Zhang Siche?"

"Yes." Pei Ye nodded firmly. "The first time we met, we were complete strangers, yet he insisted on saying so. He even kept pulling things out of his stomach. I suspect he's out there ruining the reputation of the Vice Minister every single day."

"To think such a thing exists."

"The Pavilion Master probably doesn't know about this."

"Whether I know or not is of no consequence," Xu Chuo said, "but I do know that Minister Zhang certainly doesn't know."

Pei Ye tilted his head slightly.

The two chatted idly. Tonight, Xu Chuo seemed to have cast all her attention here as well, watching the development of the situation alongside him.

The strict search by the stern-looking military force continued ahead. To thoroughly investigate such a large pavilion would take more than a single night, but for the soldiers of the Longwu Army, finding anomalies against their targets was not a difficult task.

Seeing that the time was about right, Pei Ye picked up his sword and walked up. The man in black armor guarding the entrance tilted his head to look at him and gave a slight nod, without words or action. Pei Ye nodded and entered. The interior had already been occupied by the iron-clad Longwu Army. Pei Ye walked straight ahead until he reached the very depths of the Carp Pavilion.

Dozens of armored soldiers stood in a tight circle. Some people of unknown names were bound and held to the side. There was a middle-aged man in exquisite robes, and a fierce-looking man kneeling shirtless, one of his arms already hanging limply. Two heavy iron hammers lay scattered to the side.

A hidden wall was being dismantled. A young general in silver armor stood to the side, supervising with a halberd, his helmet held in his hand, revealing messy black hair and a handsome face.

Pei Ye walked up and stood beside him: "So you really are leading troops. How majestic."

The young general sighed lightly: "For me, Shang Lang, a halberd-bearer of the Right Longwu Army, trampling a gang is hardly like galloping on the battlefield."

"Congratulations on your promotion."

"It's a pity that my cultivation has now reached the Eighth Life Realm; a mere halberd-bearer can no longer contain me."

Pei Ye turned his head: "Is this the place where they hide people?"

"We've almost trampled the entire Carp Pavilion. It's just that there's a space behind this wall that can't be seen from the outside." Shang Lang gripped his halberd, turned his head to look around, and sighed, "What a luxurious place."

"This is just one of their properties. I never thought a gang could hoard so much money."

Shang Lang nodded: "Do you know? I just heard them say that the entrance threshold for this place costs twenty taels of silver."

He looked at Pei Ye and repeated: "Think about it, twenty taels!"

Pei Ye frowned and nodded: "It is indeed expensive."

Shang Lang was silent for a moment, then turned his head back to watch the soldiers break the wall. He sighed, kicked his halberd up, and picked it up: "Be careful, there might be death warriors behind the wall."

Pei Ye nodded and vigilantly gripped his sword hilt.

But a moment later, the two were stunned. Shang Lang stood his halberd back on the ground, and Pei Ye also let go.

The two looked together into the dismantled wall, their expressions silent. Dozens of people in shackles were huddled in different cages, some panicked, some dazed. Their food and lodging were not treated too harshly; there were brocade blankets in the cages, as well as pastries and clear water. However, everyone had a cruelty inflicted upon them by human hands.

There was even a sense of nausea amidst the horror. There were scholars, martial artists, and young, beautiful women... No need to look closely to know that these were the results of careful selection.

Pei Ye pursed his lips and slowly gripped his sword hilt again.

"These well-trained ones are called 'Human Brushes'. Their tongues are cut out, their eyes gouged, their tendons severed, and then they are tamed through means until they become like wooden dolls."

The man in black armor said this without emotion. Pei Ye and Shang Lang stood beside him. At the entrance of the dark room in the distance, a person with clean clothes, a pale face, and a quiet demeanor was being led out.

Pei Ye was silent for a while: "... Why? To use as... ghostwriters? To write essays and poems for themselves, to take exams and gain fame? Can't they just buy that with money?"

"That too," the man in black armor said, "but mainly for amusement."

"... Amusement?"

"It's just like fighting crickets. Comparing literary talent, flying flower games, wine-cup-on-winding-water games—all literary plays can be played with Human Brushes. Comparing whose is better, whose is more impressive. Different brushes have different literary talents and specialties, so some people collect different ones to play with." The man in black armor said coldly, "Those with a graceful posture and delicate features like this one are most liked by the ladies of noble families."

"..."

"After getting them, they brand masks on their faces or add decorations as they please, often making them look very exquisite." He tilted his head slightly and pointed again, "The same goes for those martial artists. Their meridian trees must be locked, and the keys are given to the buyers. These fighting humans are not allowed to have hands; usually, knives or swords are inserted into their wrists, or their limbs are simply removed and replaced with mechanical or spiritual limbs from the Nourishing Intent Pavilion. Some are even deliberately made to look like dogs or wolves, watching them fight and kill, and placing bets on them for amusement."

"These two types can sell for three to five hundred taels each, and famous knights or beautiful female cultivators are even more expensive." The man in black armor withdrew his hand and looked at the last group of women, "These ones with only looks are much cheaper."

Pei Ye turned his head and asked: "Who is buying these?"

The man in black armor did not speak.

"... It's hard to say who is buying," Shang Lang said in a low voice, "it's a trendy luxury."

Pei Ye frowned tightly.

"A bunch of disgusting maggots." The man in black armor said coldly, "Sooner or later, I'll have their heads hung at the Vermilion Bird Gate."

After saying this, he picked up his spear, turned around, mounted his horse, and pulled the reins: "Take everyone back to the Forbidden Garden. Shang Lang, keep fifty men and wait for people from the Jingzhao Prefecture and the Supreme Court."

"Yes!" Shang Lang cupped his fists and lowered his head.

Pei Ye still remembered that when they galloped over, they said the Carp Pavilion was "privately hoarding military weapons." Now, sure enough, more than a dozen people were untying the military crossbows carried by the horses and throwing them on the ground as evidence.

Two hundred cavalrymen trampled through the street. This large pavilion was swept away like leaves in the wind without any resistance. What "Number One Pavilion in Pingkang" or "Number One Gang in Chang'an" could not muster any strength worth looking at at this moment. But Pei Ye had a strange intuition that this was more because they had caught them off guard, and it was just a prelude to some violent collision.

Pei Ye walked out of the gate that had already disappeared. No one approached within twenty zhang of the street, but further away, a crowd had gathered to watch the excitement.

Pei Ye suddenly said: "Actually, to put it plainly, it's just human trafficking."

"Yes." Xu Chuo replied, "One can guess what the Taiping Cao Gang does underneath without investigating. There won't be much new."

"Then for a human trafficking case... is there anything inappropriate about mobilizing such a formation?"

Pei Ye had investigated here following Ding Yukang. He was used to being like a sharp blade piercing the enemy's heart. In his consciousness, there were many ways to handle women. Whether it was letting him infiltrate, sending a few people to assist, or letting these soldiers attack in plain clothes, all might have been more appropriate methods.

Mobilizing the Forbidden Army's heavy cavalry like this would inevitably alert too many forces.

"Nothing inappropriate." Xu Chuo said, "Peeling the cocoon is your way of finding the truth; tearing away the cover is my way of seeing the truth."

She said: "Tell the Divine Capital that I am going to move against the Taiping Cao Gang. Let's see who will stand out."

"..."

For a moment, Pei Ye felt that Xu Chuo was indeed sitting in front of a larger chessboard. After being stunned for a while, his gaze fell back to the present, and he saw his own position more clearly: "Then how are we going to move against it?"

"The 'Tang Code': Those who abduct people and abduct and sell people as slaves shall be strangled; those who make them into retainers shall be exiled three thousand li; those who make them into wives, concubines, children, or grandchildren shall be imprisoned for three years." Xu Chuo said calmly, "Just investigate this case to the end."

"Shang Lang said this is not an isolated case, but a trendy luxury among the powerful in the Divine Capital." Pei Ye said.

"Then this trend will be banned starting with this case."

"... Is the Jingzhao Governor one of ours?"

"An opponent." Xu Chuo said, "But it doesn't matter. This case will be established."

Pei Ye left Pingkang Ward under the cover of night.

He gradually began to understand that the Forbidden Army could take people by surprise, could break in forcefully, and could trample a Carp Pavilion, but to push this case forward, to push it to the entire Taiping Cao Gang, and even further up and back, it still had to be investigated by the Jingzhao Prefecture, and the political orders still had to be issued by the Southern Office.

Pei Ye remembered that Xu Chuo once said they lacked influence over the Southern Office, so he asked this question. Now he also realized what kind of immense resistance the woman's subsequent actions would move through.

That was indeed not his domain. Pei Ye returned to the Sword Cultivation Academy with his sword. The two roommates had not rested yet and were still reading and practicing swordplay. Pei Ye nodded to signal, ate something, washed his face, and took the Yufi Sword to quietly ponder the third step of merging moves.

The stars and moon were silent. When the moon was in the middle of the sky, Yan and Yang finally got up and returned to their rooms. Yan Feiqing looked at the roommate on the eaves who usually slept the earliest: "So busy?"

"No sleepiness today." Pei Ye lay on the roof, holding a book and borrowing the moonlight. "You guys rest."

Yan Feiqing returned to his room.

Looking from the roof under the Imperial City, the Divine Capital, where lamps and candles never went out, spread out like a sea of stars—vast, prosperous, and beautiful enough to make one obsessed.

Pei Ye quietly flipped through the book against this background and lay there for the whole night.

The next three days were rare days of practicing swordplay and reading without miscellaneous tasks. That new sword technique was thoroughly studied, and the Qingcheng Sword Theory had another lesson. Pei Ye also went to the Imperial Academy again, but this time without Xu Chuo. He stuck to Fang Jidao and listened to a lecture.

Finally, on the fourth day, the Xiuwen Pavilion sent news for him to go to the Jingzhao Prefecture.

In three days, a fierce confrontation appeared in the officialdom of the Divine Capital. The accountability for the Longwu Army's unauthorized movement happened immediately, but the waves in the military did not reach the outside world and seemed to be firmly suppressed. The Shang family had always been a pillar in the military, and the two hundred men trampling the brothel ultimately ended up with nothing.

The case of the Carp Pavilion hiding and trafficking people was settled on the second day. The Southern Office sentenced the relevant people to be beheaded or exiled according to the law, but they did not mention the possibility of going further and were determined to close the case there.

But after three days of confrontation and pulling in different directions, the result was just as the woman said that night—this case was ultimately established.

The Three Departments were established, and Di Jiu, the youngest Vice Minister of the Supreme Court, took over the case and issued a warrant for it.

He moved the Three Departments away from the Southern Office and set them up in the Jingzhao Prefecture.

When Pei Ye arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture office, this high official in red robes was waiting at the entrance, and Li Zhao stood upright behind him holding a sword.

A carriage was parked in front of the two, and a high official in purple official robes stood under the carriage with a cold and heavy face.

"Minister Lu, to come to the hall without an invitation is rude." The red-robed official said, "Because before this case was reported to the imperial court, it was originally a matter of public security under the Jingzhao Prefecture. Now that the Three Departments have taken over, we have to borrow the precious land and case files."

"Di Jiu, some cases are cases, and some cases are not cases. I advise you to be less stupid." The purple-robed official said coldly.

Di Jiu raised his eyes and looked directly at him: "Sixty-seven victims of mutilation were found in the Carp Pavilion, and the Carp Pavilion has no such business. Governor Lu, where did these people come from and where are they going? Both questions are placed on the table, and there are no answers. The Governor speaks with golden words, yet tells me this is not a case?"

Lu Yu Gu's eyes sank, and he said coldly: "People say you, Di Jiu, are stupid and smelly. Today, it can be said to be well-deserved."

He lifted the curtain and boarded the carriage. As the carriage drove away, he left just like that.

Di Jiu turned to Pei Ye at this time. The first thing that caught the eye was a pair of bright eyes and thick, peak-like eyebrows.

"Your Excellency must be Inspector Pei." These eyebrows bent downwards uncomfortably, revealing a polite smile. "I am Di Jiu of the Supreme Court, and this is my deputy, Li Zhao. He said you have met before."

Li Zhao stepped forward and said helplessly: "My Lord, we said that official ranks are different, so I should be the one to introduce and recommend."

Di Jiu waved his hand: "Sigh!"

Pei Ye cupped his fists and bowed: "Pei Ye has met the Lord."

"Too polite." Di Jiu raised his hand and walked into the gate. "Inspector Pei, I presume we have all read the case. I will mention two key points. First, these people were hoarded in the Carp Pavilion because brothels often have a high flow of people and are not conspicuous, so they served as a transit point. But although the guests coming and going were wealthy, their status was limited. Therefore, these people were not sold to high places through the Carp Pavilion, but through another noble gathering place."

Pei Ye nodded. He remembered the scene he saw when he first arrived that night. Some people had not yet fully completed their "transformation," so it was indeed more like a hoarding place.

"Second," the group walked into the office, but it was somewhat cold and clear, with no one to greet them and no one to say hello. Di Jiu's voice was as usual, "We know nothing about this place, it is difficult to search, and we lack strength. We are still searching for traces on the Carp Pavilion side, but the most feasible way is still through the Taiping Cao Gang."

"Hmm."

"They have been colluding for a long time, one for shielding, one for illegal activities, and they can always be implicated."

"The Taiping Cao Gang cannot escape."

"Naturally, they cannot escape."

The three continued to walk into the office. There were indeed very few officials on the road. Occasionally, when they saw one, they would dodge. Pei Ye looked at this scene and suddenly remembered: "By the way, Minister Di, I heard that the Three Departments are not composed of the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Supreme Court. Why don't I see the Vice Minister and the Censor?"

Di Jiu smiled: "One is sick, one is dragging his feet—no need to think too much. These 'Three Departments' are probably just the three of us."

"..."

"But it's also quiet. Didn't you see that even the one surnamed Lu left?" His voice sank slightly. "The entire officialdom is avoiding it like a snake or scorpion, but I insist on investigating it clearly."

"Come on." He pushed open the door of the case file room first. "Today, we will sort out all the cases related to the Taiping Cao Gang." ===== CHAPTER 466 =====