Chapter 283: Li Goudan's Interrogation Method

Tu Tu Kesiluo froze and hastily stopped in his tracks. Jiang Jiang Mingyu finally turned around, looked Tu Tu Kesiluo up and down, then let out a long sigh:

"My warning that day for you to curb your conduct was also out of good intentions. As the Son of Heaven, I will naturally be fair and clear-sighted; I will never punish someone merely for their words. You and I are like brothers, so do not take it to heart."

Hearing this, Tu Tu Kesiluo was greatly shocked; he had never expected Jiang Jiang Mingyu to suddenly speak such words.

So on that day, Jiang Jiang Mingyu was simply concerned about him and had no other ulterior motives. It was he who had thought wrongly and actually harbored suspicions, which was truly too disrespectful.

Thinking of this, Tu Tu Kesiluo immediately dropped to his knees and said excitedly, "Your Majesty sees clearly; I indeed misunderstood Your intentions. I am extremely grateful that you reminded me to pay attention to my demeanor; I will certainly keep it in mind. I hope Your Majesty will be magnanimous; I absolutely have not even a shred of presumptuous intent..."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu hastily gestured for him to rise and smiled, "We have been together for so long; why be like this? I merely mentioned it casually; you need not take it to heart either."

Looking at Tu Tu Kesiluo, Jiang Jiang Mingyu said with a smile, "Could it be that you feel, now that I have ascended the throne, I have forgotten the brotherly bond between us?"

Before Tu Tu Kesiluo could even deny it, Jiang Jiang Mingyu continued, "Between you and me, what need is there for many words? I know very well that both you and the Prime Minister are loyal people who would never rebel."

"Keeping Peng Peng Guolong in the camp during the day was also an opportunity to observe him. I, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, am not the type to burn bridges or cast aside old friends; I would never easily suspect an old acquaintance."

Hearing this, Tu Tu Kesiluo was overjoyed and pressed further, "Does Your Majesty mean that you do not believe at all that the Prime Minister will rebel, nor do you believe Peng Peng Guolong's slander?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded and smiled, "Even if you and I were to fall out, the Prime Minister would absolutely never revolt. His mobilization of troops and handling of affairs must have been due to unavoidable reasons. I believe there must have been changes at the border, and he had no time to report, so he had no choice but to respond on his own."

"Peng Peng Guolong sowing discord like this must have some sinister plot. Keeping him in the army is precisely to take this opportunity to expose his true colors."

Learning the truth, Tu Tu Kesiluo dropped to his knees again to apologize, "I am extremely grateful that Your Majesty sees clearly; I indeed misunderstood Your intentions..."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu hastily helped him up, smiling and telling him not to take it to heart. Only then did Tu Tu Kesiluo suddenly realize, "So Your Majesty has long seen through everything! I am filled with admiration."

The two continued discussing Peng Peng Guolong's objectives. Tu Tu Kesiluo guessed, "He first falsely accused the Prime Minister, then intended to make us fight internally. If Your Majesty had believed him, you would surely have turned around to exterminate the Prime Minister."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in agreement and asked again, "Then what is his ultimate goal?"

Tu Tu Kesiluo blurted out, "The one who benefits the most must be Li Li Haoyang! By luring us back to destroy our own people, he can precisely take this opportunity to reap the rewards while we fight!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed and patted his shoulder, "That's right; you guessed it too. Peng Peng Guolong must be Li Li Haoyang's spy; this southern expedition is their best chance to get rid of me."

"Fortunately, you and I foresaw events like gods and have long seen through his sinister plot. This time, we must turn his own scheme against him and let the spy bring about his own destruction!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered and said, "After the assassin incident, Peng Peng Guolong knows clearly that I am extremely severe regarding rebellion and attempted assassination. When he later instigates strife between us brothers, he can precisely take this opportunity to reap the rewards while we fight."

Tu Tu Kesiluo suddenly realized, "So that's how it is; Peng Peng Guolong must be a spy planted by Li Li Haoyang in our army! He was already lurking in the Ministry of War when we entered the city."

Speaking of this, Tu Tu Kesiluo could not help but say with regret, "I should have seen through that dog's true colors long ago! If not for my turning a blind eye, he would not have dared to act so arrogantly and cause chaos!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu patted his shoulder and said, "The situation was urgent at the time; oversight was unavoidable. Now the most important thing is to root out this spy as soon as possible, lest disaster spring from the mouth."

Tu Tu Kesiluo regained his fighting spirit, "Big Brother is right! We must devise a way to expose Peng Peng Guolong's true colors, lest he continue to sow discord in the army and brew a great catastrophe!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled mysteriously, "Rest assured, I already have a brilliant plan. As long as you cooperate well, we will surely turn his scheme against him and make the spy reveal his fox tail!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo asked excitedly, "What brilliant plan? I will definitely cooperate with all my might!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked left and right, then whispered the details into Tu Tu Kesiluo's ear. After listening, Tu Tu Kesiluo responded repeatedly, "Big Brother is far-sighted; this plan is truly ingenious! I will go handle it immediately!"

In the camp, Peng Peng Guolong was waiting complacently for the result when he suddenly heard Jiang Jiang Mingyu shout angrily from outside, "Nonsense! Why are you all kneeling here? Could it be that you intend to rebel as well?!"

Immediately followed by Tu Tu Kesiluo's excited voice, "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister absolutely has no second heart; I dare guarantee it! I beg Your Majesty to think thrice!"

Li Goudan and the others were also speaking up in defense of the Prime Minister, making Jiang Jiang Mingyu even more furious as he roared, "Fine, then just wait to die together with that traitor!"

Peng Peng Guolong rejoiced secretly and smiled, "Excellent; my scheme has already worked!"

He remembered that when Li Li Haoyang had first declared himself emperor, it was he who secretly passed information, enabling Li Li Haoyang to withstand the attack of Fei Hou's great army. This time, he wanted to successfully sow discord between Jiang Jiang Mingyu and his confidants once again.

At this moment, Zhang Zhang Jiani's mournful voice came from outside again, "Your Majesty, how can you lightly believe slander and harm the Prime Minister!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu became even more furious, shouting loudly, "Good, since you all insist so firmly on the Prime Minister's innocence, I will let you see that joint memorial!"

After a moment, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's voice came again, "Where has the memorial gone?! Never mind; someone, summon Peng Peng Guolong quickly; I want him to repeat those lies before your very eyes!"

Hearing this, Peng Peng Guolong secretly rejoiced, stood up, and walked out of the tent. He saw Tu Tu Kesiluo and the others all kneeling on the ground with faces full of sorrow, while Jiang Jiang Mingyu was raging with anger.

As soon as Peng Peng Guolong stepped into the tent, he saw Tu Tu Kesiluo's two sword-like eyebrows raised vertically, glaring at him in fury, "Hurry up and confess everything to His Majesty, you spy!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu also flew into a rage, slapped the table, and said, "Tu Tu Kesiluo, if you speak out of turn again, I will severely punish you!" Tu Tu Kesiluo dared not speak another word and could only glare resentfully at Peng Peng Guolong.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu turned to Peng Peng Guolong and softened his tone, "Minister Peng, for some reason, the memorial you submitted last time has disappeared. To convince everyone that what you said is not false, please rewrite a copy."

Joy spread across Peng Peng Guolong's brows, and he hastily replied, "I obey your command; I will rewrite it immediately." With that, he picked up his brush and began to write.

He had written only halfway when he suddenly heard Jiang Jiang Mingyu slam the case and shout angrily, "Guards, seize Peng Peng Guolong!" The soldiers immediately pinned Peng Peng Guolong to the ground.

Peng Peng Guolong was terrified and lost all color, "Your Majesty, I have no rebellious heart; why are you arresting me and throwing me into prison?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered, took out a document, and heavily threw it onto his head, "See for yourself and you will know!"

Peng Peng Guolong picked it up and looked; his face instantly turned deathly pale—this was precisely the original copy of the "secret memorial" he had submitted last time!

After examining it, he discovered that the two documents contradicted each other in many details, leaving him stuttering and unable to explain.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu said coldly, "Lying always reveals flaws; the evidence of rebellion you fabricated cannot hold water. Do you still wish to continue quibbling?"

Tu Tu Kesiluo also stared viciously at Peng Peng Guolong, "As expected, you are holding the Son of Heaven hostage to command the vassals! Big Brother's wit has left you, dog thief, with nowhere to escape!"

Peng Peng Guolong's expression turned solemn, cold sweat pouring down, knowing his scheme had been completely exposed.

Seeing the gazes of the crowd sharp as knives, Peng Peng Guolong gritted his teeth and said, "Well done, Jiang Jiang Mingyu; you have calculated against me very beautifully! Since I have been exposed, I will no longer quibble about anything!"

"I only ask for a swift execution to spare me further physical suffering! Guards, cut me down!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu burst into loud laughter, "Dream on! I will definitely make you confess all the inside details regarding Li Li Haoyang; he must accompany you to death as well!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sat down and said calmly, "Do not kill you yet; confess truthfully about the spies Li Li Haoyang has in the city and the military intelligence you revealed to Li Li Haoyang."

Peng Peng Guolong asked in surprise, "How do you know..."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled, "Whether I know or not is no longer important; what matters now is for you to confess properly, perhaps you might still die quickly. Otherwise, only the punishment of death by a thousand cuts awaits you; by then, you will seek life but find it impossible."

Peng Peng Guolong pondered for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, even in death I will not betray my master; go ahead and torture me!"

Li Goudan kicked Peng Peng Guolong over, shouting angrily, "Beast, you still dare to talk back! Quickly confess your conspiracy, otherwise I will make you regret it!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu said calmly, "Since you are so obstinately unrepentant, hand him over to you for thorough interrogation; you must extract the truth. Note that you must not let him die too easily."

Li Goudan grinned sinisterly, "Big Brother, rest assured; I will handle the degree very well. I guarantee this beast will wish for death rather than life, crying for his father and mother and begging us to kill him!" With that, he dragged Peng Peng Guolong away.

Watching Peng Peng Guolong being dragged away, Tu Tu Kesiluo gave a sinister smile, "Now Peng Peng Guolong is going to suffer misfortune, haha."

Zhang Zhang Jiani asked in confusion, "Why do you say that?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu was also smiling strangely, leaving her greatly puzzled.

Tu Tu Kesiluo explained, "You do not need to know this. In short, Peng Peng Guolong's upcoming experience will be quite miserable; we need not inquire further."

Zhang Zhang Jiani's face flushed, and she ceased her questioning. Jiang Jiang Mingyu changed the subject: "Since the spy has been captured, we should prepare for the next step."