Volume One, Chapter 18: Catching Them All in One Sweep
Page 1 of 3
“Speak.”
“In Suzhou, Hangzhou, and other places, the local gentry are holding secret meetings. It seems they are discussing some major matter.”
Zhu Youjian sneered. “Perfect. Let them come.”
He turned to the assembled generals. “Everyone, the time has come. Return to your respective posts at once and prepare for action.”
“We obey Your Majesty’s decree!”
The generals withdrew.
Zhu Youjian walked to the window and gazed at the distant palace walls. He knew that a grand drama was about to unfold.
Cao Huachun’s voice came from outside the hall. “Your Majesty, there is one more matter to report.”
“Speak.”
“This servant discovered several suspicious merchants in the city. They seem to be in contact with the Jurchen.”
Zhu Youjian narrowed his eyes. “Have you found out the truth?”
“We are still investigating. However...” Cao Huachun lowered his voice. “Recently, they have been making frequent visits to the residences of the Jiangnan clans.”
Zhu Youjian sneered. “These people truly have no fear of death.”
He turned to Wei Zhiren. “Bring in everyone from the Eastern Depot. I want these people to learn the meaning of regret.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Wei Zhiren bowed and withdrew.
Zhu Youjian returned to the throne and sat down, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. He knew these people must be concealing an even greater conspiracy.
“Cao Huachun,” he said suddenly.
“This servant is here.”
“Open several more of those shops of yours.”
“Your Majesty means...”
“Place them along all the major routes. Send more men and keep watch on those suspicious individuals.”
Cao Huachun’s eyes lit up. “This servant understands.”
Just then, Wei Zhiren hurried back in. “Your Majesty, the men of the Eastern Depot are ready.”
“Good.” Zhu Youjian rose. “Tell them not to act yet. They will await My command.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
He walked to the map and ran his finger across the Jiangnan region. “These people think I dare not move against them.”
Cao Huachun asked cautiously, “Your Majesty, should we...”
“Not yet.” Zhu Youjian sneered. “Let them jump about for a few more days.”
He turned to Wei Zhiren. “Tell Sun Chuanting to prepare. The moment anything changes, he is to send in the troops.”
“Your servant obeys.”
Wei Zhiren withdrew.
Gazing at the distant palace walls, Zhu Youjian suddenly asked, “Cao Huachun.”
“This servant is here.”
“Do you think these people have already sensed something?”
“Well...” Cao Huachun thought for a moment. “Probably not. However...”
“However what?”
“They have indeed been behaving somewhat strangely lately. They have been moving large sums of silver with unusual frequency, as though preparing for something.”
Zhu Youjian sneered. “Just as I thought.”
He returned to the throne and sat down. “Tell the men below to keep an even closer watch.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded outside.
“Your Majesty!” A eunuch rushed in. “An urgent report from Shanhai Pass!”
Zhu Youjian narrowed his eyes. “Speak.”
“The Jurchen army is gathering. It seems they intend to—”
“March south?” Zhu Youjian sneered. “Perfect.”
He turned to Cao Huachun. “Tell Sun Chuanting to proceed according to plan.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Zhu Youjian walked to the window and gazed at the distant palace walls. He knew these people could never imagine that every move they made was already under his control.
“Wei Zhiren,” he said suddenly.
“This servant is here.”
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“Bring me the list of those merchants.”
Wei Zhiren soon returned with a list. Zhu Youjian studied the names carefully, then suddenly laughed.
“These people,” he sneered, “truly have no fear of death.”
He turned to Cao Huachun. “Tell the men below to keep these merchants under close observation. The moment they show any unusual movement, report it at once.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Cao Huachun bowed and withdrew.
Zhu Youjian looked at the list in his hand, then at the map. The Jiangnan clans, Jurchen spies, rebellious generals... all of them were pieces upon his chessboard.
“Your Majesty,” Wei Zhiren said cautiously, “should we...”
“No need.” Zhu Youjian waved a hand. “Let them enjoy their triumph for a little while.”
He returned to the throne and sat down, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. From the distance came the faint sound of bugles—the imperial guards drilling.
“Cao Huachun,” he said again.
“This servant is here.”
“Do you think these people will regret what they have done?”
“Regret what?” Cao Huachun asked, puzzled.
“Regret choosing the wrong master.” Zhu Youjian sneered.
Just then, another burst of hurried footsteps sounded outside.
“Your Majesty!” A eunuch rushed in. “We have discovered Huang Daozhou’s whereabouts!”
A sharp gleam flashed through Zhu Youjian’s eyes. “Where?”
“In Jiangnan...”
“Ha.” Zhu Youjian sneered. “That old fox is hiding there after all.”
He turned to Wei Zhiren. “Tell Sun Chuanting to make preparations.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Zhu Youjian walked to the window and gazed at the distant palace walls. He knew these people would soon discover that every one of their plans was already under his control.
“Your Majesty,” Cao Huachun said cautiously, “should we...”
“No need.” Zhu Youjian waved a hand. “Let them enjoy their triumph for a little while. When the time comes, I will naturally let them learn the meaning of regret.”
From beyond the hall came the orderly sound of marching feet—the imperial guards changing shifts.
Zhu Youjian looked at the list in his hand, then at the map. All these people were pieces upon his chessboard.
And he was the one moving them.
“Wei Zhiren,” he said suddenly.
“This servant is here.”
“Tell the men of the Eastern Depot to prepare for action.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Zhu Youjian returned to the throne and sat down, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. He knew that a grand drama was about to unfold.
“Cao Huachun,” he said again.
“This servant is here.”
“Do you think these people could imagine that every move they make is under My control?”
Cao Huachun smiled. “This servant believes they certainly cannot.”
Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction. “Good.”
He rose and walked to the window. From far away came the faint sound of bugles—the imperial guards drilling.
“Your Majesty.” Wei Zhiren hurried over. “The men of the Eastern Depot are ready.”
“Good.” Zhu Youjian sneered. “Have them await My command.”
He turned to Cao Huachun. “You must be ready as well. The moment anything changes, act at once.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Zhu Youjian gazed at the distant palace walls and suddenly laughed.
“These people,” he sneered, “will soon learn the meaning of regret.”
From outside the hall came the orderly sound of marching feet—the imperial guards changing shifts. Zhu Youjian knew that a grand drama was about to unfold.
Wei Zhiren and Cao Huachun exchanged a glance, each seeing a trace of dread in the other’s eyes.
They knew that this new emperor was far more terrifying than anyone had imagined.
“Go and make preparations,” Zhu Youjian said calmly. “Await My command.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The two men withdrew together.
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Outside the hall, the sunlight was bright. From the distance came the faint sound of bugles—the imperial guards drilling.
Cao Huachun hurried out of the hall, then suddenly stopped. He glanced back at the great hall and felt a secret shiver run through him.
Zhu Youjian watched the numbers constantly changing on the system interface:
[Accumulated silver: 4,870 taels
Intelligence station level: LV2
Number of intelligence agents: 30]
“System,” he silently thought, “can the level be upgraded?”
[Can be upgraded to LV3
Silver required: 2,000 taels
New functions:
- Increased intelligence reliability
- Expanded intelligence-gathering range
- Increased agent capacity]
“Upgrade.”
[Upgrading...
Silver deducted: 2,000 taels
Current balance: 2,870 taels
Upgrade complete]
Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction. He opened the intelligence station interface:
[Intelligence station status updated:
- Agent capacity: 50
- Coverage radius: 100 li
- Intelligence reliability: 98%]
“Your Majesty.” Cao Huachun hurried over. “This servant has arranged informants in every location as instructed.”
“Tell Me about it,” Zhu Youjian said indifferently.
“Your Majesty, in addition to the teahouses and taverns already in place, this servant has opened two more shops in the southern part of the city.”
Zhu Youjian looked at the list of agents on the system interface:
[New intelligence agents:
- Shopkeeper
- Accountant
- Runner
Total added: 15]
“Good.” He nodded. “What of those suspicious merchants?”
“They are all under surveillance,” Cao Huachun replied in a low voice. “Recently, they have been making frequent visits to the residences of the Jiangnan clans. It seems they are plotting something.”
The system suddenly issued an alert:
[Urgent intelligence:
Suspicious merchants discovered meeting with Jurchen spies
Location: A residence somewhere in the southern part of the city]
A sharp gleam flashed through Zhu Youjian’s eyes. “Continue.”
“On the surface, these merchants deal in silk. In reality...” Cao Huachun lowered his voice. “Their cargo seems to contain some unusual items.”
“What items?”
“Weapons blueprints, as well as several secret letters.”
The system interface continued to update:
[Intelligence reliability: 99%
Recommendation: Take immediate action]
Zhu Youjian gazed at the distant palace walls. “Tell the men below to keep watching. When the time is right, we will wipe them all out in a single stroke.”