Chapter 19: Seizing Power
Yin Chuan then asked Scout Bai Tao a series of questions about the missing Huang Tan, and finally came to the following conclusion:
1. Huang Tan is a soldier who is not good at performing reconnaissance missions. It is even possible that he finds it difficult to do so as an ordinary soldier.
Second, the officer who assigned him to the reconnaissance squad should have been aware of this, but for some reason, he was neither eliminated from the independent regiment nor became a low-ranking officer, and his position was neither high nor low.
3. On the surface, this person does not seem to have any substantial interpersonal relationship with the victim Duan Biao, whose body was found nearby. However, judging from his status before and after the incident, it is difficult for him to clear himself of suspicion in the murder of Duan Biao. He may even be involved in the death of the group leader Chen Hui.
After Yin Chuan told Du Yunzhang and Linlang about these three conclusions, Linlang said in a deep voice, "I think there's a more important issue hidden behind these three points."
"What's the problem?" Du Yunzhang asked.
"Who is the person behind this Huang Tan?"
Yin Chuan nodded, "Yes, this is crucial. Perhaps this person knows the truth about the murders of Chen Hui and Duan Biao, and may even know the conspiracy behind the bandits' sneak attack last night."
"But the problem now is that Huang Tan is missing. If we can find him, wouldn't all these problems suddenly become clear?"
"Well... if you think that as long as we find Huang Tan, the truth about Duan Biao and even Captain Shen's murder will be revealed... I can give you a piece of information, which I don't know if it can be considered a clue." Bai Tao said hesitantly.
"Tell me! What news?" Yin Chuan's eyes lit up.
Bai Tao glanced at Linlang. "If this woman is truly from Chenjia Village, she should know that, despite being within the reach of bandits, the village is rarely plundered, perhaps because they prefer to avoid the grass near their burrows. Sometimes, even during years of disaster, the largest nearby village, Liuzi Black Cloud Village, even sends people to deliver rice and flour for relief, making them more popular with the villagers than the government. The leader of Black Cloud Village is a fierce female bandit known as Green Robe Deng Erniang. She's a master of horseback riding, and her two-handed gun is a surefire hit. It's said that she drifted here from outside the Great Wall in her early years and was initially taken in by the only wealthy family in Chenjia Village, a non-Huang family. Later, she left the village and resumed her old trade. So, remembering the kindness of her former adoptive parents, she's taken special care of Chenjia Village."
"How do you know about this?" Yin Chuan asked with a frown.
"This is exactly what Huang Tan told me. Think about it carefully. Huang Tan's surname is Huang, and the wealthy family from outside Chenjia Village who took in Deng Erniang is also surnamed Huang. Isn't there..." Having said that, Bai Tao deliberately stopped talking.
His words were crystal clear. Du Yunzhang suddenly realized, "You mean Huang Tan is most likely from the Huang residence in Chenjia Village, and that he escaped from the military camp with the intention of seeking refuge at the Huang family compound?"
Bai Tao grinned, "I didn't say that. I just told you what I know. As for what you think, or whether it's true or not, it has nothing to do with me."
Although Bai Tao was trying to make a fuss and the information he provided was not guaranteed to be true, it at least made Yin Chuan feel that this was indeed a possibility and he would definitely not ignore it.
"If this Huangtan is really related to the bandits in Heiyun Village, perhaps the truth behind the murders of Chen Hui and Duan Biao will be revealed soon!" Linlang said excitedly.
It seemed that this increasingly complicated case was gradually showing signs of being solved, but Yin Chuan still frowned, without any sense of relief.
"Until we find Huang Tan and find out the true identity of the person behind him, nothing can be determined. Moreover, no one knows for sure whether Huang Tan has actually taken refuge with the Huang family compound."
Du Yunzhang thought for a moment and then said, "Old Yin, leave this matter to me. I'm going to the Huang family compound in Chenjia Village right now to see if Huang Tan is there. If he's there, I'll bring him back for you and interrogate him as you please. If he's not there, I'll ask the Huang family's patriarch where Huang Tan could be hiding. In short, I won't come back to see you until I catch him!"
Yin Chuan was left in a state of confusion by Du Yunzhang's thoughtless boasting. "I'm telling you to stop causing trouble. After all, Chenjia Village is right next to the military camp. Could Huang Tan have simply fled to his family's nearby home? He had to run far away at least!"
"Well, you nevermind, Huang Tan might really do such a thing." Bai Tao said with certainty.
"Are you so sure?"
"You don't know, right? Just yesterday when the bandits attacked on a snowy night, didn't he and I receive orders to defend the First Battalion headquarters? This guy refused to move at first. If the men from the First Battalion hadn't put a gun to his head and warned him that if he didn't go, it would be disobeying military orders and he could be executed on the spot without being held accountable, he would have gone reluctantly. And it just so happened that the First Battalion's barracks were closest to Chenjia Village in the entire regiment. It was even said that it was only an arrow's throw away from the Huang Family Compound. Huang Tan was about to run out of the camp halfway, and it seemed that he wanted to go straight to the Huang Family Compound. I didn't hold him back, and he was about to slip away. At that moment, the bandits suddenly attacked here, bullets flew, and the whole place was in chaos. That's why he didn't run away."
"So that's what's going on... It seems Huang Tan isn't a soldier at all, but rather a slacker hanging around in the barracks waiting to die!" Du Yunzhang sighed. "That's for sure. I'm going to the Huang family compound right now. Bai Tao, please help me get him out of the barracks. As for how to get back..."
Yin Chuan leaned close to his ear and said, "This is easy. If you can find Huang Tan, force him to bring you in. He values his life so much that he will definitely not resist. If you can't find him, just stay in Chenjia Village and don't come back to this place. We have our own way to escape."
"How can this be? How can I just leave you two here?" Du Yunzhang was a little anxious.
"Hey, Brother Du, don't you understand what Brother Yin means? He is..." Linlang also heard their whispers. She was so excited that she almost said it out loud, but because Bai Tao was right next to her, she had to shut up and keep winking at him.
Bai Tao watched from the side as the three of them hesitated to speak and spoke incoherent words, feeling baffled.
"Brother Bai, thank you for your help."
Bai Tao thought about it and nodded, "Okay, then come with me. If you can catch Huang Tan, don't tell the commander that I saw him run away with my own eyes."
"That's natural."
The two left the barracks one after the other. As for how to get them out of the barracks, Yin Chuan no longer cared.
"What should we do next?" The reconnaissance squad barracks was already empty at this time. Linlang asked Yin Chuan who was watching Du Yunzhang leave.
"What's next..."
Before Yin Chuan could say anything, he heard the sound of orderly footsteps outside the barracks. It was obvious that a group of soldiers had arrived and stopped in front of the barracks door, which frightened Yin Chuan and Lin Lang inside. The door opened and two people walked in. To Yin Chuan's surprise, they were not Situ Xin and Han Chi as he had expected, but the Second Battalion Commander, Shen Xi, and another mid-level officer he had never seen before.
"Mr. Yin, Miss Linlang, you are really here!" Chen Xi said with a sneer, "Why is Du Yunzhang not here?"
Yin Chuan frowned and did not answer his question.
"Never mind him. You guys are just as restless as expected. I thought so too. How could Situ Xin lock you up so easily?"
"Captain Shen, can they really find out the truth about the murder of the regiment commander? Captain Wu has always been skeptical." The officer said, squinting at them.
"Honestly, I don't care whether they can find out the so-called truth or not. My brother is dead anyway, and the Independent Regiment can't let Situ Xin cover up everything. We'll do our job, and these two will naturally have their role."
Yin Chuan stepped forward and asked, "Captain Shen, what do you mean?"
"Don't be nervous. Let me introduce you," he pointed to the officer next to him. "This is Deputy Battalion Commander Zhao of the Third Battalion. Since Battalion Commander Wu has been temporarily dismissed, he will take over the military affairs of the Third Battalion for the time being."
"So you said you didn't care whether we could find out the truth about Captain Shen Hui's murder. Is that what you really meant? He is your brother after all."
Chen Xi remained silent. Deputy Battalion Commander Zhao next to him took over the conversation. "Even if the truth is revealed, what will happen? Will Situ Xin spare the former regimental commander's close relatives? Situ has already attacked Battalion Commander Wu. Are we just going to sit there and wait for death?"
"Why did those two come to us in such a threatening manner?" Linlang asked.
Chen Xi and Deputy Battalion Commander Zhao looked at each other and smiled knowingly. Seeing their actions, Yin Chuan immediately guessed about 70% of what was going on.
"You two don't want us to help you seize power, do you?" Yin Chuan squeezed out these words from between his teeth.
"Mr. Yin, you are indeed a well-known detective in the Grand Canal area." Shen Xi nodded in approval. "My subordinates once heard about your deeds from the Cao Gang. I didn't expect you to be brought into the military camp by mistake. Now that you are here, it can be considered as God's arrangement, giving me the opportunity to succeed my deceased brother."
"I suspect Captain Shen is trying to take advantage of Situ Xin's preoccupation with my investigation into the commander's murder, and seize the opportunity when he lets his guard down to launch a mutiny and seize control of the Independent Regiment. However, I remind you two that Situ Xin is no ordinary man. Are you so sure he won't take precautions against your actions?"
"Hmph, that's nothing for Detective Yin to worry about. You just need to be clear and do what you're supposed to do."
Yin Chuan narrowed his eyes and asked, "Why can you be sure that I will listen to you honestly?"
"Why?" Chen Xi smiled contemptuously, his eyes fell on Ou Ye Linlang beside Yin Chuan, "You should care about this woman a lot, right?" As he said that, he took out a pistol from his waist, raised it and aimed at Linlang's forehead.
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