Chapter 246 I Steal Myself
Chapter 246 I Steal Myself
Inside the imperial palace, in the autumn woods, golden fallen leaves were scattered on the smooth stone slabs.
In the sunlight, it looks like a burning flame.
Xu Zhenguan stood quietly in the forest, his slender and beautiful wrist turned slightly, and the sword inlaid with a coiled dragon ornament in his hand "swished" and embedded straight into the gap between the stone slabs.
She took out a silk handkerchief, slowly wiped her white and slender hands, and asked curiously:
"Has he made any progress?"
The word "progress" here naturally refers to the case of the traitor in Prince Jing's Mansion.
After Zhao Duan entered the Shenjiying, Xu Zhenguan initially had too high expectations of him because of his amazing performance in the imperial court.
Therefore, even the outrageous request that Tang Ping and others be dismissed was calmly agreed by the empress.
Even Xue Shence and others who entered the palace were all stopped by her.
However, what came back from the Shenji Camp next was all kinds of criticisms about Zhao Duan's enjoyment of himself.
It seemed as if he had completely forgotten his mission to investigate the case.
Xu Zhenguan, however, still let it go, his curiosity aroused, wondering what this little imperial guard was up to.
She had also heard about today's so-called military exercise in advance.
At this moment, seeing Mo Chou rushing to report in such a hurry, his expression and behavior were abnormal.
Naturally, everyone guessed that Zhao Duan had caused trouble again, and there was no breakthrough in the case.
However, Mo Chou, who walked closer, shook her head and said:
"Lord Zhao has not yet started investigating the case. At least I can't see any traces."
The empress's beautiful eyes showed a trace of surprise, and she asked doubtfully:
"Could it be that there was trouble during the military drill? Who did he have a conflict with?"
Mo Chou couldn't help but smile bitterly and shook her head: "...Not really."
The empress was really curious now. Her beautiful eyebrows frowned slightly, as if she had encountered an interesting puzzle, and she chuckled:
"Let me guess. It has nothing to do with the case, and there is no conflict. It is impossible that something has happened to the exercise itself."
The strange look on Mo Chou's face became more intense, and she said respectfully:
"Your Majesty's eyes are like torches, and you can see everything clearly!
The subordinates reported that during today's drill, Lord Zhao took out two new firearms and practiced with the new battle formation, which was far superior to the previous muskets...
The Privy Council and the Minister of War witnessed it with their own eyes, and they all hurriedly wrote congratulatory letters and delivered them to the palace..."
She told him everything she had learned.
Xu Zhenguan was really stunned this time.
As the autumn wind blew by, the empress in white's long black hair, which hung vertically down her waist, rose slightly.
The hair brushed across her fair cheeks, plump lips, straight nose and dark eyebrows like distant mountains...
She stopped wiping her hands quietly, and subconsciously held the handkerchief tightly in her white, moist palms.
"You said that Zhao Duan invited Gongshu Tianyuan to cooperate with Chen Gui to make a new firearm?"
"Yes."
"Far beyond the musket?"
"Yes. According to Zhao Chenshi, the blueprints stolen from Prince Jing's mansion are like waste paper."
"He only provided some ideas?"
"Yes, that's what the chief of the Firearms Bureau said."
silence.
At this moment, Queen Dayu couldn't help but recall that some days ago, she and Zhang Tianshi watched through the water curtain in Tianshi Mansion the scene that Zhao Duan told Gongshu Tianyuan.
She suddenly had a strong intuition that the core of this new firearm might be closely related to that small imperial guard.
How to do it?
Just like the “Three Golden Strategies” described in Xiuwen Hall, it can only be attributed to his extraordinary talent.
She actually found that she accepted this matter very naturally.
Or rather, she had gotten used to the surprises that guy gave her from time to time.
only……
Is this surprise a little too big?
To solve the case of stolen firearms once and for all...So, he was indeed not wasting his time during this period, but he also did not go to investigate the traitor. Instead, he did more important things.
"Your Majesty?" Mochou's gentle call woke her up from her distraction.
"Uh..." Xu Zhenguan responded subconsciously, and then said: "The firearms drawings..."
Mo Chou said with a gloomy look:
"To prevent leaks, it is only in the Firearms Bureau and has not yet been presented to the palace, nor has the Privy Council touched it."
Then, she talked about the follow-up of the exercise.
"Good, very good! Since the new firearms have not yet been fully manufactured, they will be handed over to the Firearms Bureau for full supervision!" Even with her shrewdness, she could not hide her joy.
When two armies fight, the strong one is indeed the key.
But looking around the world, whether it is warriors or sorcerers, their absolute numbers are too small.
Even with her level of cultivation, it would be difficult for her to fight against thousands of troops alone.
This further highlights the importance of mortal military formations.
How can I not be happy when I suddenly hear the good news?
"Also Zhao Duan, call him into the palace immediately..."
The empress said half a sentence, then stopped, realizing that something was wrong. After a moment's thought, she smiled and said:
"Xue Shence is going to hold a celebration banquet for him tonight?"
Mo Chou understood what he meant: "Your Majesty, are you going there in person?"
Xu Zhenguan nodded slightly and said with a smile:
"The carriage is light and the entourage is small, so there is no need to alarm too many people. Although the traitor has not been found, how can I not personally congratulate him for such a great achievement? My general has given me such a surprise, so I will give him a surprise as well."
Mo Chou felt a sour feeling in her heart, as if she had eaten a lemon.
I thought, His Majesty is going to clear that guy's name himself.
……
……
Xiuwen Hall.
The scholars were busy at work, and in the spacious "office", piles of official documents were piled up on the desks.
As the new policy was gradually rolled out, countless affairs flooded into the newly-born Xiuwen Academy. A group of scholars were forced to work around the clock, and their eyes were dull with exhaustion.
This group of young officials are also growing at a terrifying speed through hardships.
"Dangdang!"
Suddenly, the door was pushed open forcefully.
The autumn wind rushed into the room, lifting up the papers on the long table, and the rustling sound was like pure white waves.
"What happened? Why the rush?"
Han Zhou raised his head. His swollen eyelids and loose eye bags were his medals for working overtime:
"Whose clerk is this?" The clerk who came in panted and said:
"It was sent by the Minister of War, and it's related to the Shenji Camp."
brush--
The scholars looked at him with puzzled expressions:
"Shenjiying? The one that Master Zhao went to? It can't be related to Master Zhao, right?"
The clever maesters reacted quickly and swiftly.
Behind a desk in the corner of the room, Master Dong, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened his eyes:
"Bring it to me and see."
After a moment, the octogenarian Dong Xuan slowly sat up and rubbed his blurry eyes, as if he could not recognize the words above.
……
Baima Prison, the rear court.
The autumn wind was blowing, and the lush green leaves of the big tree in the yard were gradually turning yellow.
The old eunuch Sun Lianying recently got a rocking chair and especially liked to sit under the tree and take a nap, covering himself with a round cattail leaf fan.
"Sir, there is new news from the Shenji Camp."
A messenger pushed open the small door and walked quickly forward.
Sun Lianying didn't even open her eyes and said softly, "Speak."
When the subordinate messenger was halfway through speaking, the old eunuch opened his eyes.
He kept clenching his teeth, lost in thought.
I thought: Zhao boy, you are not going to catch thieves, so you are playing like this, right? !
……
"Father...Father..."
Inner hall of the Ministry of Personnel.
As one of the six ministries in charge of the transfer of officials throughout the country, this is also where Prime Minister Li Yanfu sits.
In the past, at noon, the elderly and frail Li Yanfu would rest in the inner courtyard and outsiders were not allowed to disturb him.
However, today, a figure hurriedly crossed the thresholds.
Under the gaze of many officials from the Ministry of Personnel, he walked straight into the inner hall and pushed open the door.
"Little Minister" Li Yinglong stepped over the threshold.
Looking at the Prime Minister on the bed, who had just opened his eyes and slowly sat up, his expression was subtle:
"Father...I..."
Li Yanfu was sitting on the bed, with a slightly hunched back.
Some of her hair was messy and her eyes were as sharp as an eagle.
The young elder stared at him, his voice gradually lowered, and he snorted coldly:
"How unbecoming is it to be in a panic!"
Li Yinglong opened his mouth and tried to explain:
"My father told me to keep an eye on Zhao Duan and report to him immediately if there is anything important."
"..." Li Yanfu sighed helplessly and waved his hands tiredly:
"Tell me, what has that little wolf done now?"
Li Yinglong immediately described it vividly, and finally said:
"Originally, the conflict between the man surnamed Zhao and the military attaché group became increasingly intense, and Xue Shence also disliked this man. But it is said that after today's exercise, Xue Shence will personally celebrate for him."
He was quite disappointed, as if he was expecting the two families to start a fight.
After waiting for a long time, a cannon was heard and the two sides shook hands and made peace.
Li Yanfu was silent for a long time, exhaled a long breath, and murmured:
"Could it be that God blesses His Majesty?"
……
……
Just as the news was spreading like ripples in the capital.
Zhao Duan, who had once again become famous, left the Shenji Camp and returned to the Zhao Yamen.
In Lihua Hall, I met two old acquaintances who were waiting there.
"Oh, our assistant is back. He has not forgotten his old boss even after getting promoted. This is rare."
The heroic female agent Si Haitang, with long legs, a high ponytail and a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye, sneered and looked sarcastic.
Sitting in a chair in the inner hall, he crossed his legs like Zhao Duan.
Opposite her sat Zhang Han, the top judge of the Ninth Hall, a man with a paralyzed face nicknamed "The King of Zhaoya Scrolls", with a seven-foot sword placed horizontally on the table in front of him.
He also looked over now, but he took the initiative to stand up, clasped his fists and bowed:
"I have met Mr. Zhao."
"Lao Zhang, Lao Hai, what are you doing? You and I are comrades. I've only been away for a few days, how come you don't recognize me?" Zhao Duan laughed warmly.
He does not have the airs of a fourth-rank official at all.
Lao Hai… Haitang, who seemed to have an extraordinary background, twitched her lips and was extremely resistant to this title:
"No, just call me Haitang."
Then, she stared at the smiling tiger-like Zhao Duan with a vigilant look, and changed the position of her long legs:
"Tell us what Kerou wants us to do and what trap she wants us to fall into. Just tell us directly so that we can die with a clear understanding. Don't act like a smiling tiger. I'm scared."
Zhang Han also gave him a questioning look.
"Why do you think of me like this? Have I ever cheated you?"
Zhao Duan pretended to be sad and threw himself into the main seat with an innocent look on his face.
Haitang sneered:
"Do you dare to say no? When we investigated the traitor, who was it..."
"It's all in the past, it's all misunderstanding." Zhao Duan waved his hands, looking hurt.
Then he smiled and said:
"But, I do have something I would like to ask you two for help."
Haha… I knew it… Haitang rolled her eyes.
Zhang Han had a blank expression on his face and spoke in a businesslike tone:
"What is it? Let me make it clear first, I won't help you if it's beyond my job duties."
"Haha, don't worry, it's definitely within your authority and will earn you great credit."
Zhao Duan smiled sincerely, supporting himself on the thick table with both hands, confirming that there were only three people in the hall.
Facing the two people's disbelieving gazes, he said faintly:
"I need you to go to the Firearms Bureau and steal the blueprints of the new firearms."
? ?
Haitang and Zhang Han looked at him in shock at the same time, their eyes dull.
(End of this chapter)