Chapter 167: Hidden Mission?

This secretive, stammering manner was undoubtedly smuggling. But those present wanted to know: what exactly had he been smuggling to the north? It wasn't just curiosity; they were also wondering if they could reap some benefits from it!

They were merchants, not government officers; what they valued was profit!

Someone leaned in and asked, "Salt, iron, tea... which one were you involved in?"

The merchant, who had been unwilling to speak, waved his hands vigorously: "None! Don't guess blindly!"

In the south, he might have dared to do a little, but in the north, without strong connections and influence, he truly wouldn't dare to dabble in such trades at will, let alone smuggling! As a medium-sized merchant who was neither here nor there, without a backer and being an outsider to boot, if he tried to get a hand in on someone else's turf, the powerful merchants of Beidi might finish him off first.

Someone didn't believe him: "Really not? You don't need to worry; the imperial court is gone now, and they won't pursue past deeds."

"No need to worry. Given the scale of your caravan, it's really nothing in the current Xinzhou City. If even you were to be held accountable, those nobles in Xinzhou City, every single one of them, would all..."

"Ahem! Watch your tongue!!"

The merchant said again: "It really isn't! Salt, iron, tea in the north—which one of those do I dare touch? I'm truly not qualified!"

The others were even more curious: "What kind of goods were you transporting? Silk? Porcelain? Spices?"

The merchant said: "Just a bit of spice, and it was even robbed by horse bandits."

The others believed this even less.

Did he really think they didn't understand the horse bandits of Xinzhou?

Spices, whether for incense or food seasoning, were not the first choice for Xinzhou horse bandits!

Xinzhou horse bandits, especially the Caishan Horse Bandits currently being hotly discussed in the streets, were likely more interested in salt, iron, and tea.

But looking at this person's reaction just now, he indeed wouldn't rashly run to the north to touch those three things.

The merchant, however, did not intend to continue speaking. He stood up to take his leave and walked away with a frown, appearing deep in thought. Regardless of how others suspected him, at this moment he was only thinking: the Patrol Guard Division's actions shouldn't be too fast.

He still had time!

If he analyzed it carefully, that batch of goods should still be there! At that time, the north had also fallen into chaos shortly after, and the horse bandits hadn't had time to fence the stolen goods! During his time coming to Xinzhou, he hadn't seen that batch of goods on the black market either.

If he could find it, perhaps he could welcome an even greater opportunity!!

Who wouldn't want to get ahead?

The streets remained lively.

The people from the Patrol Guard Division displayed the spoils of war for everyone to see, while simultaneously dispelling rumors in the streets to calm the public heart; naturally, they wouldn't let these horse bandits be easily stoned to death.

Executions would have to wait until after the interrogations.

Deputy Envoy Wen had said that they might be able to pry more useful information out of these horse bandits.

At the same time, there were still people from the Patrol Guard Division secretly continuing to search for those who had slipped through the net.

"Have you found that person?"

"No."

They had been keeping watch on the crowds of onlookers and had not discovered any suspicious individuals.

According to the latest news received, this gang of horse bandits still had a "military advisor."

It was a "military advisor" the Caishan Horse Bandits had encountered on their way to Xinzhou City when the world fell into chaos. That the horse bandits were able to blend into Xinzhou City so quietly was also thanks to the guidance of this "military advisor."

It was just that the "military advisor's" whereabouts were uncertain; the horse bandits only knew he should still be in Xinzhou City, but they didn't know where he lived.

The "military advisor" had changed places several times over two years, and later the horse bandits only communicated with him via letters.

The leader of the horse bandits was literate, though not very well-read, but the "military advisor" also knew they were uneducated, so the letters were written in simple language.

This time, the Caishan Horse Bandits wanted to snatch the "Immortal Pill" and didn't tell the military advisor, because the military advisor wanted to stay, while they wanted to leave; their philosophies didn't align, and their futures were not on the same path.

The two sides hadn't had any letter exchanges for some time.

To prevent being reported, they hadn't contacted the military advisor for this operation. This increased the difficulty for the Patrol Guard Division to find the person.

Fu Pian followed the prison carriage patrolling the streets.

Ming Tiao continued to investigate the horse bandits' channels for delivering letters.

Yu He led men to continue searching for those who had slipped through the net.

Patrol Guard Division East Office.

Wen Gu called for Cheng Zhi and had him look at more case files.

Since it was confirmed to be the Caishan Horse Bandits, the information still needed to be screened again to avoid errors or omissions.

These case files, piled into a small hill on the table, had been sent over from other County Towns in the last few days, and they were first being concentrated for "information entry." Cheng Zhi asked suspiciously: "Deputy Envoy Wen, I heard that other Commanders are looking for the horse bandits' 'military advisor'; do we not need to continue looking?" Wen Gu said: "Those are the responsibility of the Commanders; let's look at this first."

Wen Gu was very patient with Secretary Cheng, and he explained:

"The Caishan Horse Bandits don't even know the 'military advisor's' residence, which means the 'military advisor' might be hiding in the mansions of certain people with high status." Only those places could avoid all the eyes and ears, both open and hidden, in Xinzhou City.

"The Patrol Guard Division wants to find the person, but it will be very difficult to find them for a while."

"Also, if that 'military advisor' wanted to stir up trouble in Xinzhou City, he would have already had the horse bandits cooperate; it wouldn't be completely quiet until now. Based on the information already mastered, that 'military advisor's' level of danger is not as great as the horse bandits'. So, let's finish the matter at hand first," Wen Gu said. Cheng Zhi suddenly understood and replied: "I'll start flipping through the files right away!"

In order to finish reading this pile of case files as quickly as possible, Cheng Zhi planned to work overtime!

The Patrol Guard Division had a place for temporary sleeping, so Cheng Zhi told his family.

His mother and his brother and sister-in-law were very proactive, quickly packing up bedding and daily necessities and sending them over.

In their simple view, working overtime meant more tasks, which was equivalent to being valued by one's superior.

That is, one step closer to a promotion!

Cheng Zhi had the same thought.

Thus, when the two clerks, Fang and Lu, from the East Office's writing room were making plans to go to the street to see the horse bandits, they saw Cheng Zhi running past with a bundle, his face full of joy. The two immediately felt suspicious.

"What is he doing again?"

Clerk Fang hurried to follow.

Learning that Deputy Envoy Wen had asked him to look at case files, Clerk Fang originally didn't want to take on more work for himself, but watching Cheng Zhi flipping through the files there with such high spirits, he felt somewhat unwilling to be left behind!

Fang and Lu whispered to each other: "Hasn't the matter of the Caishan Horse Bandits already ended?"

"Could there be a hidden mission?"

"Is there some hidden mission that we aren't allowed to know about?"

The two exchanged glances and went over to probe again.

"Clerk Cheng, may we also look through these case files?"

Cheng Zhi recalled what Deputy Envoy Wen had said before leaving: these case files did not need to be kept confidential internally, and others could look at them if they wished.

So he nodded and said, "Yes, you may!"

Fang and Lu walked over; seeing a few case files nearby that looked like they had been flipped through and organized, they asked, "Have you finished reading all the ones here?" Cheng Zhi said, "Yes, I've already finished them."

He picked up the case files that had already been read and handed them over to the two seniors.

Fang and Lu thanked him politely and picked up the case files to flip through them roughly.

Most were case files regarding horse bandits; some had been resolved after being reported to the authorities, while others had become cold cases.

In Xinzhou, such things happened from time to time, and everyone was used to it.

When goods were robbed by horse bandits, most of the time they could not be recovered, and one could only accept the loss.

Clerk Lu probed, "Is Deputy Envoy Wen still going to continue investigating the Caishan Horse Bandits?"

Cheng Zhi's eyes were clear as he said, "I don't know; Deputy Envoy Wen only told me to finish reading these case files first."

Fang and Lu exchanged glances.

Although they couldn't be sure yet, some of their doubts were leaning in a certain direction.

Referring to Wen Gu's past achievements, he would not do meaningless things!

It really might be a hidden mission!

He wants to leave us out when there's a good thing?

In his dreams!!

The two were no longer in a hurry to go to the street to watch the excitement, and also sat down to flip through the case files.

Perhaps, could they find clues within them that Cheng Zhi hadn't discovered?

They also told their families that they had to stay at the Patrol Guard Division to work overtime!

At this time of day, there was nothing going on in the various offices of the Patrol Guard Division, and everyone was making plans to go watch the excitement together.

The prison carriage from the West Office was truly a peculiar sight!

It would be a pity not to see it!

On the several main thoroughfares of Xinzhou, there were plenty of people watching the excitement.

Fu Pian had sharp eyes; with one sweep of his gaze, he saw the clerks from the West Office, and subsequently discovered other clerks.

He swept his gaze again.

He was puzzled and frowned.

Was someone missing?

Fu Pian asked his subordinates beside him, "Did you see the clerks from the East Office? Are the three clerks from the East Office not here at all?" The subordinate looked carefully and said, "It seems so."

They were not quite sure, so they specifically had someone run to the Patrol Guard Division to take a look, and they returned to report, "The people from the East Office are in the office flipping through case files."

Fu Pian's train of thought was, at this moment, synchronized with Clerk Lu and Clerk Fang.

What hidden clue has that kid Wen Gu discovered again?

He had his own affairs to attend to and it was inconvenient to go ask Wen Gu directly; of course, this did not stop him from sweeping his gloomy gaze toward his own clerks—look at the others!

I am a martial man, and my brain is indeed not flexible enough, but you are scholars! Use your brains!

Is the brain on your head only there for eating skewers?!

The clerks who were watching the excitement soon noticed Fu Pian's gaze.

That sinister gaze was truly too intense!

"Who provoked him again?"

"Probably the horse bandits."

"Hey, he always has that temperamental personality; just get used to it."