Soon, Xu Cheng jumped on the boat wearing the boatman's clothes. He saw Lao Fang, the boat boss mentioned by the boatman, a middle-aged man with gray beard and hair.
He walked up to the old man and whispered: "Don't make any noise, I am an internal guard!"
He took out the inner guard silver medal. The ship's boss was startled and asked in a low voice: "What happened?"
"These people are Korean spies who came to Jingzhao to steal military secrets."
"I'm just saying, why can't I understand what they are saying?"
Xu Cheng whispered: "From now on, I am Wang Ping. You tell a few of your subordinates not to be seen through by the other party, otherwise your life will be at risk."
The boat boss nodded and asked again: "Where is Xiao Wang?"
"My men took him back to the city."
The boat boss went to gather several boatmen again and gave them a few words, and Xu Cheng stayed on the boat under the pseudonym of Wang Ping.
At the third watch, at the request of the other party, the ship left the dock and set sail towards Tongguan.
.........
Not long after the ship set sail, Zhong Huan received news that Xu Cheng, the commander, had boarded the ship, disguised as a boatman, and would leave a message at the Huayin County pier.
Zhong Huan immediately arranged for his men to track the large ship from land, and ordered Commander Chu Guangya to lead more than a hundred internal guards to Huayin County by land.
Zhong Huan continued to keep an eye on Pei Qiushan, Yao Kaishan and their accomplices.
...........
Pei Qiushan discovered a troublesome thing. Sifang City suddenly strengthened its security and drove all the small merchants and hawkers out of the city. The gate was full of soldiers, and passes were required for entry and exit.
It should be that they kidnapped Huang Qing and his wife last night, triggering a security alert.
If so, how did they take away the gunpowder master?
Pei Qiushan was a little embarrassed, so he immediately found the county captain Yao Kaishan.
"You have to think of a way. This is a plan personally presided over by the king. We must not go back empty-handed."
Yao Kaishan shook his head, "Gunpowder firearms makers have always been the most strictly controlled. In the morning, there are special carriages to take them to the firearms prison, and there are cavalry guards. It's the same at night. You don't even know their names or where they live?"
Unless you can buy a firearms warrant, it's basically impossible."
Pei Qiushan said unwillingly: "Are there any low-level officials like Kong Yuan who also hold important information?"
"You have also been put under control. To be honest, I am very worried that Kong Yuan is being watched by the internal guards. He is in control of the list. Now that Huang Qing is missing, the internal guards will definitely start investigating. They will definitely suspect Kong Yuan.
I will be arrested if I am under investigation. Have you found out where Kong Yuan is hiding? Kill him quickly!"
"Don't worry! We can't find anything on you. It should be Huang Qing's son who leaked the information. I asked him and found out that several of his classmates knew about his father. The internal guards usually start investigating from the family members around them, and then they finally become suspicious.
It’s the officials’ fault, now think of a solution quickly, what should the gunpowder maker do?”
Yao Kaishan thought for a moment and said: "The only way is to do it on the road. You kill the thirty escorting cavalry, and you can choose the craftsmen in the carriage."
"Don't say such silly things. We only have fifteen people in total. Five left last night, and there are still ten left. Ten people are fighting against thirty cavalry?"
"Then you just have to wait patiently. Opportunities will come when they come!"
Pei Qiushan thought for a moment and said, "If you think about it again, let me know at noon tomorrow. If it doesn't work, we will evacuate to Luoyang first and contact you again in three months."
Pei Qiushan left in a hurry, and Yao Kaishan was pacing back and forth in the room with his hands behind his hands. He was also upset. Kong Yuan was like a knife hanging above his head. He didn't know when it would fall.
At this time, a subordinate said at the door: "Liu Sima of Jingzhao Mansion just sent someone to urge the report. Let's send it over quickly."
The 500 militia soldiers in Xianyang are managed by County Lieutenant Yao Kaishan. They have to write a militia report every month. They are ready, but Yao Kaishan has been very upset in the past two days and has no time to deliver it.
It was due the day before yesterday. No wonder the Jingzhao Mansion urged, "Prepare a carriage for me and I'll go to the capital!"
Yao Kaishan took the document and took a carriage to the capital. Xianyang County was under the jurisdiction of Jingzhao Prefecture. Although Yao Kaishan's boss was the county magistrate, he also had to report to the Sima of Jingzhao Prefecture.
Jingzhao Mansion is located in Wannian County. The carriage slowly stopped in front of the steps. Yao Kaishan stepped out of the carriage and told the driver: "Wait for me for a moment, I will come out soon!"
Yao Kaishan comes to Jingzhao Mansion every month. He is already familiar with the road. He walked all the way to the backyard and arrived at the door of Sima Liu Jiang's official residence. The little tea boy said at the door: "Sima, please come in!"
Yao Kaishan quickly walked into the official room and saw a tall man standing in the room, looking at him with a half-smile. This was not Sima Liu Jiang.
Yao Kaishan felt something bad in his heart, so he turned around and left. The door had been closed. Two sturdy men crossed their hands on their chests, leaned against the door, and looked at him coldly.
"Who are you and what are you doing?"
The man said calmly: "I am Zhonghuan, the leader of the inner guard, you know better than anyone what he wants you to do!"
Yao Kaishan's vision went dark. What he feared most finally happened. He quickly calmed down and said, "I don't understand what you are talking about? I am an official of the imperial court. You can't doubt me at will!"
"I won't talk nonsense to you. I'll get straight to the point. I want to know where there are intelligence points in Goryeo besides Gong County. As long as you explain this clearly, I can keep your son safe. If you don't tell me, wait until we get it.
After netting Pei Qiushan, you will be executed by the whole family, your two sons will be executed together, and your heirs will be cut off."
Yao Kaishan could no longer stand and sat down against the wall, his eyes filled with despair.
"It seems that you are toasting instead of eating the fine wine. Let me tell you, now is your last chance. If you can't stand the beating and are forced to confess, your whole family will be executed and taken away!"
Two big men came forward, picked up Yao Kaishan and left. Yao Kaishan was so frightened that he shouted, "I told you, there are three more places, one in Yanshan Road, Pingzhou, one in Luoyang, and one in Penglai County."
Zhong Huan asked: "Do you know the specific address? This is your last chance. If you tell me, your two sons will live."
"Although I don't know, I know who the leader is and where he is? The leader knows everything."
"Who is the leader and where is he?"
"The leader is my mentor Li Suanzi. He is now a professor at Luoyang Official School, and his pseudonym is Li Zhen. There are five people around him who are responsible for long-term intelligence collection. I am the intelligence supervisor here in Jingzhao, and there are three people around him who are responsible for collecting intelligence.
Information about Jingzhao.”
This was beyond Zhong Huan's expectation. He suddenly realized that his judgment was wrong. Goryeo actually had two lines in the Yong Dynasty, one was the intelligence line and the other was the mission line. Pei Qiushan was the mission line and Yao Kaishan was the intelligence line.
Gong County belongs to the mission line, and I ignored the intelligence line.
Zhong Huan grabbed him by the hem of his clothes and said, "Please tell me everything honestly, and I will report it to the emperor and spare your life!"
Yao Kaishan nodded, "I say, I say anything!"
............
An hour later, Zhong Huan came to the imperial study room to report the latest situation to the emperor.
Chen Qing is also very concerned about Goryeo's intelligence agency. He is about to use troops against Goryeo. Before using troops, he must completely pull out Goryeo's intelligence network.
"How did they pass on the information to Goryeo?" Chen Qing asked.
"It was transmitted to Goryeo by eagle letter from Penglai County. They also transported various materials to Goryeo from Penglai County via trading ships."
Chen Qing nodded, "Then close the net and be sure to catch the intelligence leader in Luoyang. I will give you two months to completely kill all the Korean spies in the Yong Dynasty without leaving any trace behind!"
"Wei Chen obeys your orders!"
That night, the internal guards began to close the net.