Chapter 181: Spy

Inside the county yamen, numerous merchants sat gathered in the hall; Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled as he sat upon the high dais, his eyes like crystal-clear river water, permeated with wisdom and composure. This was a bidding auction, and everyone harbored a heart set on wealth.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu scanned his surroundings, as if able to pierce the deepest recesses of each merchant's heart. He slowly spoke: "Gentlemen, you have all come for the new-style tender. I have two business ventures up for bid: glassware and iron mines. I solemnly promise that all transactions will be fair and impartial, absolutely without exploiting any of you."

His words were like a gentle breeze, softly brushing against every merchant's heartstrings. Jiang Jiang Mingyu continued: "First, we are tendering the agency rights for glassware, with a starting price of five thousand taels of silver. Gentlemen, please place your bids."

At that moment, the county yamen was abuzz with excitement; the merchants eagerly raised their hands, as if wagering all their hopes in a gamble of life itself.

A portly merchant, his belly ample, impatiently raised his hand and shouted: "Three thousand five hundred taels!" His voice brimmed with passion, as if reborn for the sake of the glassware agency rights.

Next, a merchant with a small mustache followed with a loud bid: "Four thousand taels!" Greed flashed in his eyes, as if he already saw the gates of wealth swinging open.

Immediately after, a wave of bids rose and fell, surging like a tide:

"Four thousand three hundred taels!"

"I bid five thousand three hundred taels!"

"A mere five thousand three hundred taels? I bid ten thousand taels!" Everyone was immersed in the mist of wealth, vying fiercely for the glassware agency rights.

Amid this frenzied competition, the price for the glassware agency rights swiftly climbed to twenty-one thousand taels of silver, a figure that left onlookers dumbfounded.

Standing upon the high dais, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's smile never faded; a hint of humor gleamed in his gaze. He knew well that human hearts often waver under the lure of wealth, and when profit lies before them, people often act impulsively. Silently, he mused: Such is human nature; for private gain, one often forgets everything else. And he, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, was like an observer who saw through it all, holding the reins of this commercial auction.

Every merchant was deeply scheming; in this tender, which among them had not laid out gold, silver, and treasures upon the trading table, hoping to curry favor with Jiang Jiang Mingyu and secure an opportunity for themselves? Yet, as the price kept rising, merchants whose strength could not keep pace gradually withdrew from this fierce bidding war.

Just as Jiang Jiang Mingyu was about to strike the gavel, a fat man named Pan Li suddenly shouted out thirty thousand taels of silver! The small-mustached merchant, who had previously bid seventeen thousand taels, sneered and said: "Brother Pan, a brilliant move; this humble one admits defeat. I shall no longer contend with you for the iron mine auction."

With the strike of the gavel, the glassware agency rights ultimately went to Pan Li, while the iron mine agency rights were secured by the small-mustached merchant, Zhao Lu.

Everyone signed the official documents inside the county yamen and prepared to disperse. However, just as they were about to scatter, a merchant named Zhu Ge Yu suddenly spoke up: "You there, slow down! Halt!" He extended a finger, pointing at a young man in his early thirties, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, dressed in a luxurious cotton robe.

Startled, the young man reluctantly stopped and asked: "What are your orders, Mr.?"

Zhu Ge Yu turned his gaze toward Jiang Jiang Mingyu and said calmly: "Do you not recognize me?"

The young man replied offhandedly: "You, sir, hold a high position; I am but a mere merchant. How could I be so fortunate as to know you?"

On Zhu Ge Yu's face, two scar lines ran like rivers from the corner of his right eye straight to his left cheek. His eyes, like two sharp knives, pierced through the young man across from him who claimed to be a merchant.

Zhu Ge Yu had once been the most famous talent in the prefectural city, mastering poetry, prose, songs, and odes, while also possessing an extremely keen business mind. His family was moreover one of the greatest commercial powers in the prefectural city, maintaining intricate connections with various factions.

Although the Zhu Ge family was no more and he had fallen into despondency for a time, this had not stripped him of his sharpness and wisdom. He still maintained a keen sensitivity and insight into his surroundings. He immediately spotted something amiss with this young man. Unlike other merchants focused on the auction results, this one was looking all around at the arrangements and personnel within the Inspector's residence. A sinister and cunning glint shone in his eyes, forming a stark contrast with his usual expression. Moreover, he repeatedly touched something hidden within his sleeve, as if confirming his own safety.

A thought stirred in Zhu Ge Yu's heart, so he deliberately struck up a conversation with this young man to probe his origins. Just as he expected, this young man did not recognize him at all—the once-glorious Mr. Zhu Ge. What was more, this young man did not even know his surname, addressing him only as "Mr." This further exposed his true identity.

Zhu Ge Yu gave the young man no chance, directly exposing him as a spy who had infiltrated the city. His tone was cold and sharp, his gaze like lightning, sending a chill through the young man.

The air seemed to freeze solid. Facing the fact that his identity had been uncovered, the young man's face instantly turned deathly pale, like a sheet of white paper just fished out of a pool of water.

Terror and bewilderment filled his eyes. "W... what spy? I do not understand. Although the prefectural city is my lord Jiang's domain, you cannot be so unreasonable." His voice was hoarse and feeble, as if someone were tightly strangling his throat.

He attempted to turn and flee, but Zhang Zhang Jiani, like a hunting leopard, seized him fiercely. Her fingers were as hard as steel, making escape impossible for him.

Then, during their struggle, a bronze waist token slipped from his bosom and fell with a loud "Clang!" The token landed at Jiang Jiang Mingyu's feet; he bent down, picked it up, glanced at it, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.

He looked at that young man; his lips moved, yet no words came out. His hands began to tremble involuntarily, like floating ice on a frozen lake.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu slowly picked up that waist token, his fingers gently stroking its surface. Carved deeply into the bronze were the characters "Adjutant of the Luoxie City Grand Camp," the inscription cut so deep it seemed as if this young man's identity was etched profoundly into his very life.

"An adjutant is no minor official; if not for Zhu Ge Yu's alertness, you would have long since fled." Jiang Jiang Mingyu's voice was calm and hard, like a piece of cold steel piercing into the young man's heart. His gaze, sharp and icy as a sword, fixed straight upon the young man.

Zhang Zhang Jiani gripped the hilt of her short sword tightly, its tip aimed at the young man's throat. Coldness and murderous intent filled her eyes, sending a chill through all who beheld her.

Clearly terrified out of his wits, the young man's face grew even paler, almost revealing the pulsing blue veins on his cheeks. His lips moved, then he blurted out: "Ordered to scout the situation and troop deployments of the prefectural city! I also intended to enter the Inspector's residence to gather intelligence, but I did not expect to be discovered by you..."

Hearing his words, Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded with satisfaction, then spoke again: "Very good. Next, speak in detail about the situation in Luoxie."

However, the young man shook his head firmly, saying: "I cannot betray my lord; I beg your lordship for mercy!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu did not become angry; he gestured to the guards nearby and said: "Throw him into the great prison, treat him well, and do not remove him until you have extracted what I need."

As the guards dragged the young man away, his voice still echoed throughout the inn: "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, do not think you can make me talk; that is nothing but a daydream!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's smile gradually vanished; he turned to Liu Liu Yifei, his eyes filled with resolve: "Did you see? Wang Hao has always been opposing me; he sent this man to spy, hoping to seize an opportunity for revenge. Fortunately, Zhu Ge Yu saw through him; otherwise, the current state of the prefectural city would have been known to Fei Hou, and we would have been placed at a disadvantage."

Liu Liu Yifei stood in silence, determination flashing in his eyes: "Jiang Lang, what is your intention?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pointed toward Luoxie and issued a firm command: "Once he opens his mouth, I will leave him no retreat; we will immediately dispatch troops to exterminate Wang Hao and sever Fei Hou's right-hand man. With only thirty thousand troops remaining in the city, Zhang Jiani, you and Tu Tu Kesiluo must quickly recruit another twenty thousand. Our target is Luoxie City; our current forces are far from sufficient."

Zhang Zhang Jiani immediately turned and departed; Jiang Jiang Mingyu quietly watched her receding figure, his eyes filled with firmness and decisiveness, like a fierce tiger silently awaiting the arrival of its prey.