Chapter 188 Collaboration with the Enemy
Gu Huan flipped through the account books and was shocked by what she saw.
Not only those from the Jiang family, but also those from the Yuan family and other aristocratic families, all of which are evidence of the dealings between Yifengtang and them.
"Sister Zhilan, take a look at this."
Gu Huan didn't quite understand the power of the imperial court, and nothing could be seen from the account books, which looked like normal business transactions.
If she didn't know the true identity of Yifengtang, she wouldn't be able to associate anything with this account book.
Zhou Zhilan flipped through the pages, her eyebrows knitted tightly together: "How dare the four major families privately trade weapons and coin-making ore? How audacious!"
Gu Huan was shocked: "Ah, how did you know that?"
Even if she didn't understand, she had seen the raw materials of copper, tin and lead used in weapons and coinage in miscellaneous books.
These mines were all controlled by the imperial court.
If you resell mineral deposits, it is a capital crime.
Zhou Zhilan pointed at one of the items and said, "This is a batch of wooden boxes and cages that the Jiang family sold to Yifengtang from Shaozhou Censhui. However, Shaozhou Censhui produces copper, so where did the wooden boxes and cages come from? Moreover, judging from the weight of each box and cage recorded during transportation, it is not the weight that wood should have, it must be copper! The copper boxes and cages are used to cover up the sale of copper mines!"
Zhou Zhilan became more and more angry as she spoke: "How dare they!"
Gu Huan was also shocked when she heard this.
However, these account books alone are not enough to bring down the Jiang family.
More witnesses and physical evidence are needed.
"There is another letter here." Zhou Zhilan picked up the letter at the bottom of the three account books and handed it to Gu Huan.
The envelope was originally sealed with beeswax, but has been opened.
She pulled out the letter and was shocked to see the contents: "Sister Zhilan, look quickly, the letter mentions Mu Juncheng and Mu Junfeng."
Mu Juncheng is Mu Junyan's elder brother and the former prince of the Duke of Yong.
Mu Junfeng is Mu Junyan's second brother.
Five years ago, the two of them were accidentally trapped in a valley during a battle and unfortunately died in battle.
Zhou Zhilan came closer and her face changed when she saw the content clearly.
"Oh my god! In that battle five years ago, they were actually tricked!"
Gu Huan felt a chill down her spine.
"Calculation?"
Zhou Zhilan quickly took the letter from Gu Huan's hand, folded it and put it back into the envelope, then looked around vigilantly to make sure no one was there.
Whispered in Gu Huan's ear: "This matter cannot be made public. Find a way to return to Beijing and make plans."
Gu Huan nodded and quickly put the account book and letter back into the wooden box.
Gu Huan was a little confused: "But, will the Jiang family know about the existence of this thing?"
Zhou Zhilan was worried about this, and nodded seriously: "It's very likely. Who told you about this thing?"
Gu Huan said in a low voice: "Brother Ji told me this before he died. He only told me. I didn't have the chance to tell Ziyuan yet."
"That's good."
Zhou Zhilan held the box and looked around, but there was no place to hide it: "I'd better hide this thing. It will cause you trouble if I keep it with you."
Gu Huan grabbed her nervously: "I wonder when Ziyuan will be able to return victorious? This matter..." If I tell him, he will definitely find a way to avenge his two brothers, right?
Zhou Zhilan comforted her, "You are pregnant, don't worry. The old lady was worried about you, so she waited for you to leave for five days and then secretly asked Donghua and Dongqing to rush over. Fortunately, we are here, otherwise who would take care of you and the child? In short, nothing is more important than you and the child."
Gu Huan stroked her belly and suppressed her anxiety: "Don't worry, I'm fine. How's Donghua?"
"She's fine."
Only then did Gu Huan breathe a sigh of relief.
In this life, she will definitely take good care of her child and do her best to protect the child's father.
She was very nervous.
She never expected that Brother Ji would give her such an important thing.
"Sister Zhilan, please let Chiyu come down."
Chi Yu, who had been waiting outside, came in and saw that Gu Huan looked very unhappy. He asked nervously, "Madam, are you feeling unwell?"
Gu Huan felt uneasy for some reason, and said carefully: "Before Ji Xuanyu died, he told me that Jiang had framed Mu's army many times. I am very worried about Ziyuan. Do you have any way to send a letter to him to let him be careful?"
Zhou Zhilan was originally worried that she would tell Chiyu about the matter directly. She was afraid that it would affect the morale of the army. She was also afraid that their information was wrong and would cause Duke Yong to make a wrong judgment.
Seeing Gu Huan say this, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Akabane was relieved when he heard this: "Madam, please rest assured. The master has experienced many battles and is very cautious."
Gu Huan didn’t know whether she should say it or not, but the incident happened in the battle five years ago. If someone really framed her, now was not the time to tell Mu Junyan.
She and Zhou Zhilan looked at each other and had to shut up.
Gu Huan asked tentatively: "Chiyu, I wonder if there are any counselors in Juzhou City who are familiar with the affairs of the court?"
Akabane thought for a moment and said, "There is indeed a very powerful one, but he is imprisoned."
"Who is it?"
"It was the staff member of the prefect of Juzhou who collaborated with the enemy and betrayed the country five years ago."
Five years ago again?
"Akabane, do you know about the battle between Ziyuan's two brothers five years ago? Can you tell me about it?"
Akabane: "That year, the lord and the two generals split up into two groups. The lord led his elite troops to launch a surprise attack on the enemy camp, while the late prince and the second general were responsible for encircling and suppressing the enemy in the dangerous mountain range. Unexpectedly, the prefect passed the message to the enemy country, and the lord was ambushed during the surprise attack. Fortunately, he finally broke through the siege. But when the late prince and the second general led their troops to the designated location for encirclement and suppression, they were also ambushed."
Akabane said in a hoarse voice: "The dangerous mountain range is easy to defend but difficult to attack. The narrow mountain pass is blocked by one man and ten thousand men cannot pass. The front and rear roads are blocked. The enemy is afraid of the bravery of the Mu family army, so they only block the way but do not attack. It was snowing heavily at that time. The hungry and cold Mu family army failed to break through several times. Finally, the enemy launched a stone attack... When the lord led his troops to arrive, the 20,000 soldiers were completely wiped out."
Gu Huan was frightened when she heard this and clenched her fingers nervously.
Zhou Zhilan's eyes were red. "I was also in Juzhou during that battle. My brother was also seriously injured in that battle."
"After returning to the city, the master was ill for three whole days. When he woke up, he immediately sent out a scout battalion to secretly investigate the whole matter. In the end, they found the prefect and tore him into pieces in anger. Several of his advisors and staff ran away, but one did not leave and waited for the master to catch him. He talked with the master for an hour, but the master did not kill him and kept him in prison until now."
"Take me to him."
Gu Huan stood up: "Sister Zhilan, please accompany me."
"No." Chiyu and Zhou Zhilan said in unison.
Akabane said: "This person is extremely cunning, and the cell is dark, so it's not suitable for you to go there."
Gu Huan couldn't care less about so many things.
She needed to understand the affairs of the court, she needed to know more.
She wants to be someone who can stand shoulder to shoulder with Mu Junyan, instead of being a dodder that can only depend on a man.
Since the aide of a traitor was able to save Mu Junyan from death and keep him in custody until now, perhaps this person has some abilities.
But the fact that he has been locked up shows that he has not given in.
"Take me there." Gu Huan said as she put on her cloak and looked at Chiyu stubbornly.
Zhou Zhilan knew the inside story and she was also worried about her master.
She also pulled the cloak over and put it on, supporting Gu Huan, "Let Madam go. We'll be with you, it's okay."
Gu Huan sat in the carriage, thinking about how to talk to people when she met them later.
She also needs such a person by her side. Can she win him back and use him for her own benefit?
"Akabane, do you know anything about this person's situation?"
Akabane nodded: "I know a thing or two."
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