"Yes, but they said that the checkpoints are heavily guarded and you can't get out."
Guo Yuanzhen frowned, "Have you ever tried another way?"
"Two groups originally planned to bypass Tibet and Turkestan, but were captured by Wei Chifei's men. Two of them managed to escape, but they didn't dare to try again. Another group entered the desert and hasn't been heard from since. They probably never returned."
"That damn Wei Chifei!" Guo Yuanzhen cursed, then asked with a gloomy face, "Where's Xiao Gu?"
Envoy Lu was silent for a moment before saying, "Last time, when the wanted criminals were on the way in Hexi, our base was accidentally exposed and was taken down by Xiao Gu. The last letter sent back by the escaped spy was five days ago, and there has been no news since then."
Guo Yuanzhen slammed his palm on the table, knocking over the teacup on the table.
"This little emperor had these two bastards hold me down, and then sent this idiot to deliver the decree. It's clear he's trying to force me to rebel."
"Grand Protector, calm down. We can't act impulsively now. Once we are caught, our Beiting will be in danger." Wei Chifei clamped Guo Yuanzhen's hands and feet, and Xiao Gu pinched his throat. If they were not 50% sure, they must not confront him head-on, otherwise they would be seeking their own death.
Guo Yuanzhen was able to become the Protector General of Beiting and the Jiedushi of Beiting not just because of his brute force. He forced himself to calm down and asked the Chief Secretary to pour him another cup of tea.
After drinking the tea, Guo Yuanzhen's mind started to work. He thought about it and felt that something was wrong. The emperor had tolerated him for four years, so why would he suddenly attack at this moment?
"Send someone to the camp and bring back the Deputy Inspector who sneaked back to the capital last time."
"yes."
Lu Changshi took the order and left. Not long after, he brought the deputy envoy to ask for a meeting.
Guo Yuanzhen asked the deputy envoy, "Did Liu Ciling reveal anything to you when you returned to the capital last time?"
The deputy envoy thought for a long time and said, "Aside from asking us to secretly prepare weapons for him, he didn't say anything else. I wanted to stay in the capital for a few more days to observe the situation, but due to the severe flooding in Leyou Township, I was afraid of being discovered by the Dali Temple inspectors, so I left the capital in a hurry."
Dali Temple? Isn't Lou Yunchun from the Dali Temple?
The deputy envoy continued, "After returning, the Liu family sent someone with news that the imperial court was investigating Liu Garden due to the flood in Leyou Township and had suspended the shipment of weapons. They also mentioned that the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate had launched an investigation, resulting in the dismissal of many officials and causing chaos in the court, implicating many officials. They warned us to be careful when interacting with former members of the Jiang family, lest we be exposed and have evidence against them."
"And then?"
"I sent several letters afterwards, but received no response. Then the Hexi and Anxi regions were blockaded, and we were completely cut off from the capital."
Guo Yuanzhen and Lu Changshi exchanged a glance. They had heard the deputy envoy's words before, but hadn't taken them seriously at the time. Now, after carefully considering the current situation, they realized something was wrong.
Lu Changshi said, "The situation in the capital must have changed drastically, making the emperor restless. That's why he's targeting our Beiting. First, he wants to cut off the retreat of the nobles. Second, he wants to force us to take action and find an excuse to suppress and eliminate them."
"I thought he was just a brat, but I underestimated him." Guo Yuanzhen sneered, "He behaves like his father, just as sinister and ruthless."
Lu Changshi said, "The Emperor's actions show that he fears us, and also that the schemes of the nobles in the capital have succeeded, shaking up the court. Grand Protector, this is our chance."
Of course he knew this was an opportunity, but what else could he do now that Wei Chifei and Xiao Gu, two bastards, were staring at him with their green eyes?
At this moment, someone outside came to answer.
"Grand Protector, the Investigation Battalion has submitted a secret letter from a spy."
The Deputy Inspector said, "I think the spies from Anxi must have brought back word that I was summoned by the Grand Protector, so they sent me directly to the palace."
Guo Yuanzhen ordered, "Bring it in and let me see it."
"Yes." The deputy inspector went to the door to get the secret letter and presented it to Guo Yuanzhen.
Guo Yuanzhen unfolded the secret letter and saw the same old story, with reports of people being taken over or being hunted. He read to the end, impatiently, but only one thing was different from the others.
"Wei Chifei is looking for a fugitive from the capital."
"The capital?" Lu Changshi's heart moved. "The man wanted by Xiaogu in Hexi earlier said he was also from the capital, but the spy's letter was sent in a hurry and didn't say the man's name."
"It's mentioned above," Guo Yuanzhen said, "It's a man named Zhao Xiu."
"Zhao Xiu?" The deputy inspector was startled for a moment, then blurted out, "Zhao Xiu!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
