Chapter 208: Code Name: Xinzhou Hound

No one knew what the people in the prison responsible for interrogations and torture felt when they saw page after page of confessions filled with writing. The content on those papers was so detailed it was as if the prisoners were kneeling before the Yama Hall to repent; one death-row inmate even confessed to what burial objects were placed in his ancestral grave! One look and it was clear it wasn't just made up!

Some details in the confessions showed that the prisoners might have been overly emotional and disorganized at the time. But that didn't matter; everything that needed to be confessed had been. The prison officials scratched their heads, trying to figure out what methods Deputy Envoy Wen had used.

Anything that could be interrogated in the prison, Deputy Envoy Wen had it under control.

Anything that couldn't be interrogated in the prison, Deputy Envoy Wen still handled it!

There was no help for it; they could only roll up their sleeves and work harder.

Now they were putting their all into interrogations and had learned many techniques from other places.

If everything really required Deputy Envoy Wen to do it personally, what were they there for?

Once the people in charge of the prison started working hard, a whole batch of others followed suit.

The new employee, Du Shitou, felt this very deeply.

He had originally thought that an important power institution like the Patrol Guard Division must be full of scheming and deceit.

... Although that existed too, generally speaking, from the top officials and deputies down to the miscellaneous laborers, no one had much energy to spare for such things.

They couldn't keep up with the work; they simply couldn't keep up!

Not to mention the pressure the officials inside the Patrol Guard Division were under.

People on the outside once again witnessed the Patrol Guard Division's specialty—precision house-raiding!

The cartloads of supplies raided and brought back made people gasp.

What shocked everyone wasn't which big shot the Patrol Guard Division had investigated again. They caught quite a few people this time; each of these corrupt officials, taken individually, could actually only be considered a small fry, yet the Patrol Guard Division managed to round them all up in one go! And they raided so many things!

"Either just be a little corrupt, or if you're too corrupt and get targeted by the Patrol Guard Division, everything becomes theirs. Not only is your own life gone, but your whole family has to go to prison! What's the point?" a passerby discussed. "That's not the point! They are the... Xinzhou Hounds are really something!" another person said mysteriously.

The nickname "Xinzhou Hound" given to the Patrol Guard Division by the public was well-founded!

Their dog noses were truly sharp!

"They can even conduct a precise house-raid from so far away! And they can dig up everything that was hidden!"

"There are even rumors in the streets that the Patrol Guard Division even knows what is buried in the other party's ancestral grave!"

It sounded absurd at first, but the more people they asked to verify it, the more chilling the results became.

No one spread the specific details of the prison, but that didn't stop everyone from inferring the process from the results.

The more they deduced, the more terrifying they found the Patrol Guard Division.

It would be one thing if you Patrol Guard Division people targeted big shots, but why are you watching small fries so closely too?

It was as if no secret could be hidden from the Patrol Guard Division, as if countless eyes were distributed everywhere, monitoring everything in Xinzhou.

Terrifying indeed!

Everyone had been wary of the Patrol Guard Division before, but now when they gossiped about the Patrol Guard Division in private, they didn't even call it by its name, but used the code name "Hounds." For example, "What action are the Hounds taking today?" or "Whose house are they going to bite tomorrow?"...

There were even rumors in the streets that the Patrol Guard Division specifically placed informants to eavesdrop at people's walls.

It was said that some noble masters even checked their own courtyard walls for dog holes, and if there were any, they blocked them all up!

It was also clearly felt that the officials in Xinzhou City had been much more restrained in their actions these past two days.

The head of the Hounds... ahem, the chief official of the Patrol Guard Division, Pei Jun, also faced probes from many sides, such as:

"How many informants have you Patrol Guard Division people planted in Xinzhou?"

"Pei Jun, given our relationship, give me a hint. Do you Patrol Guard Division people have someone squatting at my wall?"

Pei Jun denied the rumors: "That's not the case!"

But no one believed it.

The more restrained ones would say it was "undignified," while the more intense ones would directly curse them as "insane"!

Cursing was one thing, but these matters weren't enough to make the wealthy families and nobles move house.

Generally speaking, Xinzhou City was still quite good; as long as one didn't cross the line, there were no other troubles.

Moreover, cursing aside, the stronger the Patrol Guard Division was, the more reassuring it was in such chaotic times.

One could also see the Zhao Family's control over Xinzhou from this; they would only tilt more material support toward Xinzhou.

At the Bai Family, Bai Hang listened to the rumors of this period and watched the changes in Xinzhou City.

"This is truly killing the chicken to warn the monkey!"

"Can't compare, really can't compare!"

Only the Bai family members could grasp the meaning of these words.

Turning back, the Bai family members couldn't help but mutter in private: Did the Patrol Guard Division really send people everywhere to eavesdrop?

To the point that before they discussed matters in private, they had to check if there was anyone under the wall outside and check if there were any suspicious figures on the eaves. It wasn't just their family; many families did the same.

Those wealthy clans cursed the Patrol Guard Division plenty in private, but at the same time, they were diligently preparing gifts for Wen Gu's Capping Ceremony.

Zhao Fu.

Wen Gu returned to Xinzhou City from Huang Dashi's experimental base and told Lao Zhao about the research progress at Huang Ji.

The second step of the trial for treating the Evil Plague had already begun and was currently going quite smoothly; if everything could develop as expected, they would soon have good news. "If the second step of the trial can succeed, the previous plan can proceed," Wen Gu said.

"Mm," Lao Zhao said in a deep voice, "Many things can indeed start to be prepared!"

As he spoke, Lao Zhao looked at Wen Gu with a smile: "For the next period of time, don't go out again. Your Capping Ceremony is coming up soon; you should at least pretend for a couple of days!" Outsiders all thought Wen Gu had been preparing for the Capping Ceremony, but in fact, this kid hadn't been in Xinzhou City for many days.

He had run off to crack the whip for Huang Dashi!

Because of the start of the second step of the trial, the physicians and Pharmacists in the Outer City District's medical workshops were busy again. They needed to assist in producing some related medicinal materials. Having tasted the sweetness brought by the first step of the trial, this time, those physicians and Pharmacists were all very enthusiastic.

There was even a famous doctor who personally wrote a letter to Lao Zhao, with earnest words, saying that if the second step of the trial succeeded, he hoped to add the names of two Apprentices to that issue of the *Xinzhou Times*. This kind of achievement could be recorded in history; who wouldn't hope to leave a mark on it? Even if it were just a name!

That famous doctor used to put on airs with everyone, and he couldn't be called polite when facing Lao Zhao either.

Now, however, he had become increasingly humble.

Huang Ji's experimental base and plan were all pushed forward by Wen Gu. Therefore, Lao Zhao was truly very satisfied with this junior, Wen Gu, but at the same time, he couldn't help but worry in his heart. Forget it, he could only protect his own junior a bit more.

Wen Gu's Capping Ceremony would be hosted by Zhao Fu.

This matter is known to the entire Xinzhou, no, it should be said, the entire Beidi!

Anyone can see that for Lao Zhao to hold a Capping Ceremony for Wen Gu so grandly, he must hold him in high regard!

Everyone knows that after the Capping Ceremony, more burdens will surely be placed on Wen Gu, and his power will certainly become even greater!

It is just unclear what plans Lao Zhao has, and Wen Gu has not revealed a single word.

Zhao Shaozhu has already rushed back from Shuo City.

The city defense battle for this year has ended; he supervised the construction of defensive fortifications over in Shuo City, then went to check on the construction progress of the courier stations, rushing back before Wen Gu's Capping Ceremony. Having both the grace of a life-saving favor and being an absolute alliance of interests, Zhao Shaozhu is very dedicated to Wen Gu's Capping Ceremony. He never even valued his own Capping Ceremony this much! The invitation cards were sent out long ago.

Those who did not receive one have also been trying every possible way to get their hands on an "admission ticket" during this time.

On the surface, this is just the Capping Ceremony for Wen Gu, this cousin of the Zhao Family, but being able to enter Zhao Fu on that day, to enter that hall, means one can make contact with the power center of Xinzhou!! If you cannot get in, then you can only be excluded to the outside.

Those who truly cannot get in are, of course, not doing nothing; they will also try every possible way to send gifts. They specifically pick valuable, rare things that can prove their own worth to send over!! Sending them directly to Zhao Fu, sending gifts openly and honestly!

They are not afraid of sending gifts; they are only afraid of not being able to send them!

The hot topic of discussion among the common folk in the streets quickly switched from the Patrol Guard Division's hunting dog code names to Wen Gu's Capping Ceremony.

This is a topic being discussed by everyone from wealthy families and great clans to the commoners in the streets.

Beyond gossiping about the topics of the nobles, the commoners are more concerned about:

"I heard that they will also be serving porridge in various places on the day of the Capping Ceremony!"

"It's true! Besides the Zhao and Shen families, several other large households have taken the initiative to bring out grain; there is at least one porridge-serving point in every ward!"

The nobles serve porridge to perform good deeds, and the poor can eat a free meal, saving their families a meal whenever possible; naturally, they are looking forward to it!

The merchant caravans that just arrived in Xinzhou do not care about that bit of porridge, but they can see that the Zhao father and son intend to elevate Wen Gu's status.

These are the top power-holders of Xinzhou City!

"It is hard to imagine how much power he will wield after the Capping Ceremony?"

Lao Zhao and Zhao Shaozhu do not usually come out much, which is to say, when Wen Gu walks on the road in his daily life, no matter who it is, even members of the imperial family must yield the way when they encounter Wen Gu's carriage! "When the time comes, won't he be able to walk sideways through this Xinzhou City?"

Guangning Commandery Princess Mansion.

Guangning Commandery Princess listened to the various hot topics of discussion in the streets and said with a cold laugh: "Being too much in the limelight may not necessarily be a good thing!"

A member of the imperial clan happened to be here and asked: "Guangning, you are also going to attend Wen Gu's Capping Ceremony, right? Can you bring one more person?" Guangning Commandery Princess said: "No, the Zhao Family has long made it clear: one invitation per person, and even attendants can only stand outside. Even if you go, you cannot enter that hall; you can only stand outside and drink the northwest wind!" The imperial clansman was somewhat disappointed: "Fine then."

That place, Zhao Fu, is still too small; if it were built larger, and the hall for the banquet were more spacious, more people could be invited.

Sigh, what a pity.

Putting aside this regret, the clansman looked at Guangning Commandery Princess and could not help but advise: "You must absolutely not get into a dispute with him when the time comes; given our current situation, we should still avoid the sharp edge when we need to!" Guangning Commandery Princess impatiently threw the teacup in her hand onto the table:

"How else am I supposed to avoid it? Who in the entire Xinzhou City doesn't know that he, Wen Gu, is about to walk sideways soon? Do I dare to block his path?"

That imperial clansman did not feel at all that avoiding the sharp edge was a loss of face; as the old saying goes, those who understand the times are outstanding.

"In the current situation, our survival is the most important thing!"

Even if that Wen Gu walks with a crab's gait in Xinzhou City in the future, let him be.