Chapter 444

Inside Luoyang City, Si Wushuang was deploying battle plans to Murong Ke, Tufa Yan, Cui Yan, and others standing by the sand table.

"Tongguan is the gateway to Chang'an and cannot be lost. General Murong..."

Si Wushuang's fingertip pointed to the location of Tongguan on the sand table. "I order your unit to add two battalions of elite archers, rotating shifts day and night, to strictly guard against Beijiang climbing the walls for a sneak attack. Also, prepare more fire oil and rolling stones; Han Xiao is cunning in his use of troops and accustomed to using fire attacks, so we must be on guard early."

Climbing the walls for a sneak attack was not the first time Beijiang had done this; Luo Feng had done so when attacking Guansongling, and Bai Ting had done the same a while ago!

So Si Wushuang had to be on guard and must not be negligent and let Beijiang succeed.

Murong Ke cupped his hands, his face no longer having its former steadiness, but instead looking somewhat gray due to the defeat: "This subordinate obeys! I will surely make Han Xiao never return!"

Si Wushuang nodded slightly and turned his gaze to Tufa Yan: "General Tufa, the small victory at Eagle Beak Pass has dealt a heavy blow to the enemy's momentum, but we still cannot underestimate the enemy.

Now your unit should shrink the defense line, rely on the mountain dangers of Lantian, and dig deep trenches and build high walls.

Send more scouts and deploy them widely, especially being vigilant against Beijiang making a detour from the Shangluo direction. Remember to focus on defense and do not go out to fight without orders."

Tufa Yan pressed his hand to his chest and said in a deep voice: "Military Advisor, rest assured! This subordinate will surely hold Lantian firmly and never let Bai Ting step across the line again!"

Now Tufa Yan was much more honest, not daring to underestimate Si Wushuang again, nor daring to disobey orders.

Finally, Si Wushuang looked at Cui Yan: "Master Cui, although the moles in Guanzhong have been heavily damaged, a centipede dies but does not stiffen.

I trouble you to use all the remaining channels of the Cui family to strictly monitor the movements in Chang'an and Kuangcheng, especially the details of the grain transport and troop movements of Luo Feng and Han Xiao's units. Report any wind or grass movement immediately!"

Cui Yan bowed quickly, his tone even more cautious: "I understand! I will surely do my best and not fail the trust of the Military Advisor and the Prince!"

It could be said that Si Wushuang throwing Helian Bobo out as bait made everyone see Si Wushuang's ruthlessness, so their attitudes toward Si Wushuang had changed to varying degrees.

Plus, at this juncture, the mole had not been caught, and if one were to be labeled a mole because of offending Si Wushuang, then one would really have no way to explain it!

After all, at this time, Wei Wenlie would not listen to your explanations; he would rather kill the wrong person than let one go.

After the deployment was completed, everyone took their orders and left.

The look of planning and strategy on Si Wushuang's face instantly faded, replaced by exhaustion and irritability.

In a corner, on an inconspicuous table, there were mountains of files, testimonies, transcripts of secret reports, and a list of personnel circled with cinnabar.

It seemed that he had shifted his focus to the front line, but in fact, his goal was still to catch the rat hiding in the dark.

Only by showing to the outside world that his attention was attracted by the front line would the "rat" relax their vigilance and reveal flaws.

Now that Beijiang had just been ambushed, they should not take the initiative to launch an attack for the time being.

And this was the "rest" time Si Wushuang wanted; he had to catch the mole during this time so that he would have a chance of winning when facing Beijiang later.

"Eagle Beak Pass..."

Si Wushuang walked to the table and picked up a detailed secret report about the battle, his fingertip sliding over the line "Zhang Honghong's unit received reinforcements in time."

"The timing was so precise, and Bai Ting's reinforcements were like a godsend! If they hadn't known the location and time of Tufa Yan's ambush in advance, how could it be like this?!"

Moreover, the situation written in the battle report also made Si Wushuang feel terrified; even when trapped in a heavy encirclement, Zhang Honghong was still incredibly brave, and as a female general, her combat power far exceeded most of the generals in Western Liang.

Then what about great generals like Luo Feng and Bai Ting? Wouldn't they be even more fierce?

It could be said that in terms of leadership and martial arts of generals, Western Liang was already a step weaker, and if they were also inferior in strategy, then Western Liang would truly be a lost cause.

Thinking of this, he slammed the secret report onto the table, his voice carrying suppressed anger: "There is nothing to investigate in the delivery process, and the suspicions of Tufa Yan and Murong Ke have been basically ruled out... then, the leaker must be within the core circle who knows the entire plan!

Si, Cui, Fu, Lu... and the attendants in the palace..."

Si Wushuang closed his eyes, and faces and details flashed through his mind rapidly.

He sat back at the table and began to sort out and review, tracing back from Eagle Beak Pass to the earlier defeats at Qishan, Chencang, and Shangluo, looking for that faint clue.

"Someone come!" he called out in a deep voice.

The trusted secret guard appeared at the door silently: "What are the Military Advisor's orders?"

"First!"

Si Wushuang did not even look up. "Secretly isolate all the clerks who handled the final draft of the 'Eagle Beak Pass Ambush Plan' in recent days, regardless of their rank! The list is here!"

He handed over a note. "Remember, it's everyone, not a single one missing. Use 'verifying military merit' or 'transferring transcripts' as an excuse to avoid alerting the enemy.

Interrogate them separately, focusing on who they contacted in the two days before and after the plan was finalized, whether their whereabouts were abnormal, and whether there was any unexplained wealth in their homes."

"Yes!" The secret guard took the list and replied solemnly.

"Second!"

Si Wushuang continued. "Strictly monitor the movements of the core figures of the four major families and their confidants over the past three days. Cui Yan, Lu Wenchang, Third Master Fu, and others, as well as... several uncles of my Si family.

Who they met and what they said, even if it was just an ordinary banquet or poetry gathering, must be recorded.

Pay special attention to whether there are abnormal emotional fluctuations or sudden refusals to see guests."

"This subordinate understands!" The secret guard took the order.

"Third!"

A cold light flashed in Si Wushuang's eyes. "Check all entry and exit records of the palace in the past three days, especially foreign officials or attendants who could have access to the Prince's study or the Military Affairs Department.

Focus on screening who had 'accidentally' approached the relevant area after the plan was finalized, or had brief contact with people from the four major families."

"Yes! This subordinate will go and do it immediately!"

The secret guard retreated, and Si Wushuang picked up his pen and drew a heavy circle next to the name of Third Master Fu on the list.

The Fu family... Fu Ruyan defected to Beijiang, while her father and family split off and defected to Western Liang; on the surface, there seemed to be no problem, but they were blood-related after all.

More importantly, Fu Qingshuang's defection in Chang'an made the status of the entire Fu family in Western Liang extremely subtle and awkward.

Even if the two Fu families were not the same family, they still came from the same lineage decades ago.

Although Wei Wenlie did not say it explicitly, the seeds of suspicion had long been planted.

"Third Master Fu..."

Si Wushuang muttered: "If it really is your Fu family... then this game of chess will be even more interesting."

Late the next night, in the underground interrogation room in Luoyang.

Si Wushuang did not show up in person, but hid in the dark room next door, observing through a specially made peephole.

The person brought in was a young clerk named Li Si, who was deathly pale and trembling all over.