Chapter 176: Spy Shadows Clash

In Luochuan's spring night, the wind still carried a hint of chilly cold.

Inside an inconspicuous compound beside the Defense Commissioner's residence, lights blazed and shadows moved to and fro.

This is the core of the Inspection Bureau overseen by Qian Gui.

Qian Gui rubbed his somewhat stiff, cold hands, his gaze fixed on the detailed map of Chan Prefecture and surrounding areas hanging on the wall.

Different-colored small markings on it indicated the known and suspicious movements of personnel.

The habitual merchant's smile on his face had long vanished.

In its place was a hound-like focus and sharpness.

"Boss, the Yongfeng grain shop west of the city—its incoming and outgoing shipments over the past two days are off."

A man dressed in short work clothes, appearing an ordinary laborer, reported in a low voice.

"It's up thirty percent from usual, yet market grain prices haven't moved, and their storerooms show no extra grain."

"The deliverers are all strangers, with extraordinary leg strength—not like regular helpers."

Another scout, disguised as a peddler, then spoke.

"Two new fur merchants have arrived at the South Gate Market, their goods coming from the north."

"But their speech carries a Hedong accent, they spend lavishly, and they keep asking about the location of the Artisans' Camp and the guard‑change schedule."

Qian Gui listened silently, his finger tapping the locations of the Yongfeng grain shop and the South Gate Market on the map.

These seemingly scattered clues gradually pieced together in his mind.

Zhao Kuangyin… or rather, the Iron Crow Army behind him, has begun to move.

Their feelers are trying to reach into the heart of Luochuan.

"The one who informed us…"

Qian Gui's voice was low, tinged with a hint of cold.

"At Yongfeng, keep an eye on where their goods ultimately go and who they come into contact with."

"As for those two fur merchants at the South Gate, set a trap for them to test their mettle."

"Remember, keep it clean—don't startle the snake."

The subordinate received the order and departed.

Qian Gui walked into the courtyard and drew a deep breath of icy air.

He knew this was a silent war, unfolding in the shadows where sunlight cannot reach.

The opponent is not only Zhao Kuangyin's scouts, but also the well‑trained, elusive Iron Crow Army spies.

Our Inspection Bureau is still young; in terms of elite troops and experience, we may fall short of them.

But we possess an advantage they cannot match.

——This is Luochuan, this is Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping, this is Linhe, the land they have personally managed and rooted among the people.

Almost at the same time, inside a secret chamber of Zhao Kuangyin's residence in Chan Prefecture,

Zhao Kuangyin's face was solemn as he listened to the report of his trusted aide, Wang Yansheng.

Wang Yansheng was stalwart in build, yet now he appeared somewhat out of breath and flustered.

"Commander, two of the three secret posts we planted in Luochuan have been pulled out in just two days!"

"The remaining post has also lost contact—likely more misfortune than fortune!"

Wang Yansheng gritted his teeth.

"The other side struck fast and hard; our people couldn't even send out a warning."

"It's that Qian Gui under Chen Wen—his Inspection Bureau has a nose sharper than a dog's."

Zhao Kuangyin clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening slightly.

He had obtained the Iron Crow Army's "Quench Fire" training method, and at any cost he forged three hundred stalwart soldiers.

He had thought this would narrow the gap in sheer strength with Chen Wen.

Yet he never expected to suffer a silent loss on the information battlefield right from the start.

The Iron Crow Army had provided some information about Chen Wen's power structure.

But when it came to countering the opponent's all‑pervasive grassroots eyes and ears, that cold information seemed somewhat lacking.

"What does the Iron Crow Army say?"

Zhao Kuangyin asked in a deep voice.

Wang Yansheng shook his head.

"They only gave a rough outline of the Inspection Bureau's composition and Qian Gui's background."

"But as for specific personnel rosters and base locations, they also said they need time to infiltrate."

"They also reminded us that Chen Wen wields deep control over his domain, especially the common folk who benefit from his policies and are reluctant to give him up."

"The people's hearts…"

Zhao Kuangyin squeezed those two words out from between his teeth, a feeling of vexation welling up inside him.

Chen Wen's almost foolish practice of lavishly squandering his precious "ability" on farming, irrigation, and benefiting the people.

He once scoffed at it.

In troubled times, one should employ harsh laws and gather resources to strengthen the army!

But now, this seemingly foolish investment has become the greatest barrier preventing him from probing Luochuan.

"Pull our people back for now, to avoid the sharp edge of the Inspection Bureau."

Zhao Kuangyin forced himself to calm down.

"What about the Iron Crow Army's people? Aren't they boasting of superior tactics?"

"They… they have their own way."

Wang Yansheng lowered his voice.

It seems they are better at using darkness and terrain for one-way information transmission and targeted elimination.

But large-scale network deployment and long-term lurking… seem not to be their forte.

Zhao Kuangyin remained silent.

He faintly felt that the Iron Crow Army's power was strong and eerie.

But it seemed bound by some invisible rule, unable to fully let loose.

Especially in actions directly targeting Chen Wen's core area.

This made him both relieved and somewhat uneasy.

Luo River, South Gate Market.

After the two newly arrived 'fur merchants' packed up their stalls, they sneaked into a secluded alley.

The Inspection Bureau's experts lying in wait here appeared like ghosts, without shout or warning, they lunged straight at them.

However, the two 'fur merchants' reacted with astonishing speed, agile and skilled, their moves vicious.

They bore no resemblance to traders; instead, they looked like seasoned veterans of countless battles.

In the narrow alley, the two sides instantly erupted into a fierce fight, fists and feet colliding, dull thuds continuous.

The Inspection Bureau had numerical advantage and seamless coordination, yet for a moment they could do nothing against these two.

One of the 'fur merchants', gritting his teeth to take a punch, fiercely flung a dark iron caltrop, whistling as it shot toward an Inspection Bureau member's face.

At the critical moment, a brick from the nearby wall top whistled down and struck the iron caltrop away with precision.

A half-grown boy crouched on the wall, seemingly watching the fun, grinned showing a mouthful of white teeth, then flipped and jumped down, disappearing behind the wall.

This sudden interference caused the two 'fur merchants' to hesitate.

The Inspection Bureau members seized the opportunity, swarmed in, finally subdued the two, and bound them tightly with specially made ox-tendon rope.

"Search!" the junior banner officer leading the team panted as he ordered.

Soon, from the inner lining of their close-fitting clothes, they searched out oil-wrapped silk bearing a rough sketch of Luo River's city defenses and markings of the Artificers' Camp perimeter.

Also a small piece of bluish crystal, cold to the touch.

Qian Gui quickly arrived at the temporary detention point.

He picked up the blue crystal, his brows furrowed.

This thing, he had seen similar descriptions; it is closely related to the Iron Crow Army and is called Nether Energy Crystal Ore.

Looking again at the two captives, though captured, their eyes were empty and devoid of fear, Qian Gui felt a chill in his heart.

This is certainly not the equipment and demeanor that an ordinary scout under Zhao Kuangyin could possess.

The interrogation was extremely difficult.

These two were like mutes; no matter what method was used, they refused to speak, their gazes cold and indifferent, not like those of living people.

"Chief, what should we do? We can't get them to talk."

His subordinates felt somewhat disheartened.

Qian Gui narrowed his eyes, sizing up the captives, and spoke slowly.

"Not being able to make them talk doesn't mean they're useless."

"Separate them, hold them in solitary confinement, and provide normal rations."

"But assign people to watch them around the clock, recording any minute movement, expression, even breathing rate."

He turned and instructed his deputy.

"Immediately report this to the Defense Commissioner."

"Also, reinforce personnel to monitor all possible channels of contact with the outside, especially at night."

"I feel they won't be limited to just this group, nor to only this method of contact."

In the Defense Commissioner's study, Chen Wen listened to Qian Gui's report.

"... We can basically confirm they are scouts directly dispatched by the Iron Crow Army, mixed into Zhao Kuangyin's intelligence network."

"Their methods are professional, their will tenacious, and they carry Nether Energy Crystal Ore."

Qian Gui summarized.

"We've knocked out several of their points, also lost two men and wounded five. It's a slight edge, but far from crippling them."

Chen Wen lightly tapped his fingers on the tabletop.

The Iron Crow Army's direct intervention was within his expectations.

"What is special about that crystal?"

"It's cold to the touch, seems able to subtly affect a person's mind; I dare not hold it long. I've handed it to Zhao Lao Nian, to see if the Artificers' Camp can study something from it."

Chen Wen nodded.

"That's right. The intelligence front concerns life and death; we must not be careless."

"Since we hold the advantage of terrain and harmony, we must exploit this edge to the utmost."

"We must not only defend, but also take the initiative to strike, disturbing their judgment."

He pondered for a moment, then said.

"We can appropriately release some hard-to-distinguish true-or-false rumors, such as…"

"About how I, worried over the lord's illness, am anxious and neglect state affairs; or about a certain 'important' research project in the Artificers' Camp hitting a bottleneck."

Qian Gui's eyes lit up: "I understand, sir! Mixing false and true will leave them bewildered!"

"Also!"

Chen Wen looked at Qian Gui, his gaze deep.

"Strengthen surveillance of Chan Prefecture City, especially around Zhao Kuangyin's mansion and its military camp surroundings."

I need to know how the people of the Iron Crow Army came into contact with him.

Yes!

Qian Gui accepted the order solemnly; he knew that this covert contest had only just begun.

After Qian Gui withdrew, Chen Wen walked to the window. In the night, Luo River was tranquil and peaceful.

But he knew that beneath this calm, invisible blades and swords were already intertwined.

His struggle with Zhao Kuangyin and the Iron Crow Army had long since spread from the battlefield to every corner.