Chapter 536 Informing
Even though Li Shiyue told Niu Sangeng to get up and talk, how could Niu Sangeng dare to get up at this moment?
He remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise his head, his hands trembling as he pulled out a piece of silk cloth, warmed by his body heat, from a hidden pocket in his inner garment.
He raised his hands high above his head: "General, I... I found this in the hidden layer of the sole of Huang Wanchang's shoe when I was collecting his body."
The man is illiterate, but he knows this thing must be very important. He dares not keep it to himself, much less show it to others.
Thus, I was restless day and night, and after much thought, I decided to submit this to the General!
Li Shiyue's eyes narrowed slightly, and she gestured to Sun Xiaoliu.
Sun Xiaoliu stepped forward, took the piece of silk cloth with his sleeve as a pad, carefully examined it, and after confirming that it was not poisonous, unfolded it with his hand and handed it to Li Shiyue.
Li Shiyue took it, her gaze falling on the densely packed tiny characters on the silk cloth.
At first, her expression was just her usual cold and stern, but as she read down the lines of text, her brows gradually furrowed and her eyes became sharper and sharper.
Niu San, who was still kneeling on the ground, seemed to sense the low pressure emanating from Li Shiyue. He lowered his head even further and dared not make a sound.
The room was eerily quiet, with only the faint rustling sound of silk being squeezed by fingers.
What was recorded on the silk cloth far exceeded Li Shiyue's expectations.
It was not a simple letter, but rather a secret memorandum that recorded key information about Huang Wanchang's multiple exchanges with a person codenamed "Shan".
The contents involve the allocation of military equipment, border patrol routes, and even a few vague transactions involving large sums of money.
The most crucial detail is that on a certain day of a certain month last year, "Shan" provided Huang Wanchang with the exact route and date of Liu Tan's border patrol with his troops!
Li Shiyue guessed that Huang Wanchang was able to make advance arrangements with the town army to cover up the loopholes in Jian'an's coastal defenses and inform the Japanese pirates, so that the Japanese pirates would stay away from the waters around Jian'an for a period of time, thanks to the tip-off from the "mountain" people!
Although the text uses pronouns and coded language, Li Shiyue almost instantly identified "Shan" as Liu Xiao, the garrison commander of the Sanshan County garrison in Jinzhou!
Liu Tan's distant cousin, Liu Xiao, had a courtesy name—Qishan!
If Li Shiyue's guess is correct, then everything in Jian'an will be clear!
Regardless of whether Liu Xiao was after money, military power, or anything else, his collusion with Huang Wanchang was an act of treason, plotting to murder his superior and defecting to the enemy!
This news wasn't exactly earth-shattering, since Li Shiyue had already had some suspicions in her mind, and she had also subtly mentioned it in her secret letter to Liu Tan.
However, in the past month or so, she had led Sun Xiaoliu and Chen Yong to search the entire governor's mansion, especially Huang Wanchang's bedroom, study, and treasury, but they had not found a single letter from Huang Wanchang to Jinzhou.
She was about to give up when, unexpectedly, the jailer Niu Sangeng brought her this piece of silk!
Li Shiyue slowly rolled up the silk cloth, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
She looked at Niu Sangeng, who was kneeling on the ground, his body trembling slightly.
This person has truly given her a great gift!
With this, Li Shiyue had even more reason to ask Liu Tan for manpower and supplies!
Moreover, if there are conflicts among the upper echelons of the army in Jinzhou, that would be a good thing for Li Shiyue in Jian'an!
What Li Shiyue lacks most right now is time!
She needs to kill the bandits in Jian'an!
She needs to establish her own base; she needs to build her own army!
At that time, Liu Tan will only be busy in Jinzhou seizing Liu Xiao's military power to prevent riots from breaking out in the army;
She didn't have the time to think about or ponder her affairs in Jian'an.
Isn't this a good thing for Li Shiyue?
She doesn't need Liu Tan's attention!
All she wanted were the troops and provisions that Liu Tan provided!
After carefully putting away the silk cloth, Li Shiyue looked at Niu Sangeng, who was still kneeling on the ground.
Feeling Li Shiyue's gaze fixed on him, Niu Sangeng felt a little flustered, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, which he dared not raise.
Finally, Li Shiyue spoke, her voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Niu Sangeng?"
"I...I am here!"
"Besides you, who else has seen this object?"
There is absolutely no one else!
After the scoundrel discovered this, he dared not tell anyone, not even his wife at home!
"It's always been carefully hidden!"
Niu Sangeng hurriedly raised his head and made this promise to Li Shiyue, who was sitting at the head of the table.
"Um."
Li Shiyue nodded slightly, "You did very well."
This item is indeed of great importance. Presenting it to this general will be a great service to you.
Niu Sangeng's heart, which had been in his throat, calmed down a little after hearing Li Shiyue's words.
Li Shiyue turned to Sun Xiaoliu and said, "Xiaoliu, bring me one hundred taels of silver."
A hint of surprise flashed in Sun Xiaoliu's eyes, but he then carried out Li Shiyue's order without hesitation.
A short while later, Sun Xiaoliu returned with a tray of official silver covered with a red cloth from the treasury.
“Niu Sangeng, this hundred taels of silver is a reward for you. It is in recognition of your loyalty and your ability to keep secrets.”
Li Shiyue spoke calmly to Niu Sangeng, who had already stood up.
One hundred taels!
Niu Sangeng suddenly looked up, staring wide-eyed at the plate of gleaming silver.
He had never seen so much money in his entire life!
His monthly salary is less than a thousand copper coins, and he could never earn this hundred taels in several lifetimes!
"This...this...this humble one...this humble one thanks General for the reward!"
"Thank you for the reward, General!"
Niu Sangeng was so excited that he was incoherent and started to stutter.
"Take it."
Li Shiyue gave Sun Xiaoliu a look, and Sun Xiaoliu stepped forward, wrapped the hundred taels of silver (ten ingots of ten taels each) in the red cloth covering the silver, and handed it to Niu Sangeng.
Li Shiyue's tone softened a bit, "You're working in prison now. Being a jailer is a lowly profession with no future."
Niu Sangeng raised his head, holding the heavy silver in his hands, which were trembling.
Li Shiyue looked at him and continued, "I think you are a down-to-earth and cautious person."
After the start of spring, the Xuanjia Army will be expanded.
I'll first offer you a position in the military. If you have the willpower, you can start from the bottom and rise through the ranks based on your military merits.
If you just want a peaceful life, that's fine too. The Xuanjia Army has logistical positions and doesn't need to go to the battlefield, but the salary is still quite good.
Are you willing?
They escaped their lowly status, joined the army, and didn't even have to go to the battlefield!
This is like a golden pie falling from the sky!
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