Li Chenghua, the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guard, is determined to do one thing, and there is nothing she can't do. Although the emperor has ascended the throne, she is still searching for the Youzhou merchants who helped the Khitan assassins.
She collected the list of all Youzhou merchants in Chang'an through various channels, a total of more than 40 people.
Then, based on the appearance and body characteristics of the several injured assassins, they were screened one by one. The scope became smaller and smaller, and finally three people were targeted.
These three people all have the same characteristics. They are middle-aged, short and fat, and semi-bald.
On the fourth day of the first lunar month, several internal guards came to Hongji Pharmacy in Xianyang County in plain clothes. One person went in to inquire, and came out a moment later to report: "Their shopkeeper is here!"
The leader of the internal guards walked into the drug store and asked, "I'm looking for shopkeeper Zhu!"
"I am!"
A man stood up behind the counter. He was about forty years old, short and fat, with a half-bald head. He looked at the people in surprise, "Who are you?"
Several internal guards had blocked his escape direction, and the leading internal guard showed his bronze medal, "We are internal guards, please come with us and help us investigate!"
Shopkeeper Zhu’s expression changed drastically and he said anxiously: “I haven’t broken any laws, you can’t just arrest me!”
The captain smiled and said: "Don't get excited, Shopkeeper Zhu. We didn't say you broke the law. You just came with us outside. We asked a few questions and helped us investigate a case. Then everything will be fine!"
"Then go to the inner room!"
The captain of the internal guard shook his head and said, "The person we are questioning is outside, sitting on a carriage, and it is inconvenient to come out. He is right at the door of the store."
"You're not trying to trick me into getting into the carriage, are you?"
A guard sergeant next to him got angry and pushed him, "There's so much nonsense, let's go!"
The shopkeeper had no choice but to follow several internal guard soldiers out in fear. Several carriages were parked across the street. Several internal guard soldiers led shopkeeper Zhu to a carriage. The carriage was completely enclosed and only opened a few small doors.
A few pairs of eyes must have been fixed on Shopkeeper Zhu.
Shopkeeper Zhu suddenly collapsed, collapsed on the ground and cried: "Don't identify me, it's me. I rented the house in Han Chang'an City, and I also rented the houses in Xinfeng County and Xianyang County. I just rented the house and provided food."
, and was not involved in anything else.”
"Then get in the car! Go to the inner guard and explain in detail."
Shopkeeper Zhu was pushed onto the carriage, and dozens of internal guards rushed into the drug store to conduct a search. Five clerks were also arrested at the same time and taken back to Chang'an.
"Have you found that person?" Li Chenghua turned around and smiled.
Liu Wutong nodded, "I found it. There is a medicine shop in Xianyang County. Dutong is really powerful. There is really a Khitan intelligence station hidden behind it. It is very hidden. It has been in Chang'an for ten years."
"How to say?"
"This shopkeeper Zhu is called Zhu Yi. He is not an intelligence agent, but a businessman. He rented a house in Chang'an for a Khitan medicinal material merchant ten years ago. Since then, he has been paying the rent, and the medicinal medicinal material merchant has used medicine to
He had to pay the rent for ten years. This time he rented three courtyards, which was also requested by the medicine merchant. It was only when he saw the Khitan warriors that he felt something was wrong and became afraid."
"Actually, the medicinal merchant has no records!"
"That's right. I have already asked Xiaoshi to lead people to arrest him."
Li Chenghua nodded and said with a smile: "The two children met the day before yesterday and were very satisfied. We have decided on this marriage."
Liu Wutong said quickly: "I will arrange for a matchmaker to come to propose marriage!"
Li Chenghua waved his hand, "I can arrange this with my sister-in-law. I'm afraid you don't have time."
Liu Wutong was startled, "Why?"
Li Chenghua took out an appointment letter and said: "An anti-smuggling and smuggling inspection office has been newly established under the Internal Guard, with 2,000 soldiers and 300 warships. You will serve as the first director. The official office is located in Yangzhou, but your second
The first stop is Dengzhou, and we will lead the army to Dengzhou tomorrow to severely attack the arrogance there."
"Where's Xiaoshi?"
"He will go with you. I have promoted him to the rank of captain. Once the wedding date is determined, you can bring him back before the agreed wedding date."
Liu Wutong was overjoyed, it was great to have such a mother-in-law! He was promoted to school captain.
"I understand and will definitely come back on time!"
In Yankangfang, Chang'an County, Liu Xiaoshi led 300 soldiers to surround a small courtyard covering an area of one acre. The soldiers kicked open the door and rushed in, and within a short time seven people were captured.
The leader is a Khitan medicine merchant named Yelu Kang. His true identity is the Khitan's intelligence chief in Chang'an. He hides very deeply and never collects top-secret intelligence, only public intelligence.
He didn't even care when Khitan assassins came to Chang'an. If he hadn't asked Shopkeeper Zhu to rent three courtyards this time, he wouldn't have been discovered.
Yelu Kang was put into a carriage with his face ashen as death. This time they were in doom.
Liu Xiaoshi immediately led people to clean up the intelligence. At this time, a piece of intelligence caught Liu Xiaoshi's attention. It should be a pigeon letter sent from Khitan. Just when he opened the small volume, the content inside turned out to be that the Bohai Kingdom had been destroyed and annexed by Japan.
.
This news was very important! He hurried back to the inner guard.
Li Chenghua also attached great importance to this information and quickly interrogated the arrested Yelu Kang.
"Why did the Khitan give you this information?"
Li Chenghua placed the intelligence pigeon letter in front of Yelu Kang. Yelu Kang sighed and said: "Bohai State has a large amount of money in Chang'an, which is controlled by the Bohai State Chamber of Commerce. Khitan has been planning on this money. Once Bohai State is destroyed,
The Bohai State Chamber of Commerce will transfer this money to Liaodong for the reconstruction of the new Bohai State. The Khitan side wants me to keep an eye on the Bohai State Chamber of Commerce. They must also keep an eye on the money they transfer, and the Khitan will intercept it halfway.
"
"Where is the money?" Li Chenghua asked.
"There should be Baoji Cabinet Shop, but I don't know how many exactly!"
Li Chenghua nodded and asked: "Are you talking about the Bohai Chamber of Commerce, the Bohai Chamber of Commerce located in West City?"
"Yes! That's it. They are actually an official chamber of commerce, not a private chamber of commerce."
This information was very important, so Li Chenghua asked her men to continue interrogating her while she hurried to the Daming Palace.
The fourth day of the first lunar month is the last day of the New Year's holiday, but that is for middle and low-level officials. Almost all senior officials above the third rank are at work.
There is no attendance record for third-grade high-ranking officials. It doesn't matter if you leave early and come in late, or you don't come in for a few days off, but if that happens, it means that power will leave you.
Things have to be solved. If you don't do anything, the officials will naturally look for the person in charge. As time goes by, they will gradually be ignored.
Therefore, although senior officials did not check their attendance, they did not dare to take it lightly.
Li Ye also came to his new imperial study today. The new imperial study is located in the Ideological and Political Yuan to the west of Xuanzheng Hall. It is a group of magnificent buildings. In fact, this group of buildings has been built intermittently since the Tianbao period.
It took nearly twenty years and was just completed a month ago.
Li Ye's imperial study room is located in the center of the Ideological and Political Court, surrounded by various functional rooms, library, staff hall, meeting hall, and staff rooms.
At this time, Li Ye was reviewing the memorials that had been accumulated for several days.
Du You, a member of the Zhongshu family, said at the door: "Your Majesty, the inner guard Li Dutong wants to see you!"
Li Ye nodded, "Invite her in!"
After a moment, Li Chenghua hurriedly walked in, bowed and saluted, "I am here to see you, Your Majesty!"
Li Ye smiled slightly and said, "I heard that Li Dutong plans to marry Liu Wutong. Is there any progress?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. It has been confirmed. Both parties agree. The next step is to start discussing the marriage."
"Who is the matchmaker?"
"The matchmaker is Xie Sen, the commander of Jinwu Guard City. He was originally a lowly deputy general."
"That's right! That's right! I and the Supreme Emperor will give you gifts when you get married!"
Li Ye's congratulatory gift was for Li Chenghua, and the congratulatory gift from Emperor Li Dai was for Liu Wutong.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Li Ye then smiled and asked: "What's the emergency on the fourth day of the first lunar month?"
"Reporting to your Majesty, today we cracked an intelligence point set up by the Khitan in Chang'an. It has been collecting public intelligence for ten years, so it has never been discovered. It was only after the Khitan assassins dug it out this time."
"Is there any more unexpected discovery?"
Li Ye knew Li Chenghua. If it was just this matter, she would not report it to him on the fourth day of the first lunar month. There must be a bigger discovery.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, at the Khitan Intelligence Station, we found a pigeon letter sent by the Khitan. The content on it is very surprising. The Bohai Kingdom has been destroyed and has been annexed by Japan!"