Chapter 612 The situation in Tianjin is chaotic!
Zhou Ruyuan: "What do you mean?"
Yuan Lang: "Those soldiers who left didn't go to support the Northwest at all; they must have secretly returned."
"Didn't you say that the spies you sent out were all trusted confidants?" Could it be that the information was false?
Yuan Lang naturally trusted his subordinates, but upon hearing Zhou Ruyuan's words, he became uncertain.
"If the information from the scouts is false, it won't do us any good."
"Once we find out, we'll definitely punish them. They didn't run away."
So the news must be true, it's just that the spies fell into a trap, and they were tricked along with them.
"Impossible. Could it be that the entire city was helping the departing soldiers cover their tracks?"
There are so many people on the street, from vendors to ordinary citizens; it's impossible for everyone to be under the control of the imperial court.
Zhou Ruyuan was actually right.
The cities bordering Tianjin adopted a state of universal conscription, whether it was street vendors, storytellers in teahouses, or courtesans soliciting customers in brothels.
If you were to untie the pouches at their waists, you could see the sergeant's badge with the Northwest Army representative's number.
It's no exaggeration to say that even the petty thugs and lazy beggars living at the foot of the wall have such a purse on their backs.
This idea came from Che Mingyuan, and it was based on his experience in the Northwest.
Holding a sergeant's badge means you are a brave warrior who defends your country.
Regardless of their occupation, with their sergeant's badge, they could receive one tael of silver from the government office every month. If a family member fell ill, they could use their sergeant's badge to receive free medical treatment and medicine at the government-run clinics.
There are also various benefits that were not needed at the time, but would be very useful when actually needed.
If one performs meritorious service, one can be freed from slavery; the poor can ask for silver and houses; those with a skill can be recommended for jobs; and if one is injured or dies as a result, the imperial court will provide for the food and drink of three generations.
After the spies entered the border area, the people, eager to make a name for themselves, immediately reported the whereabouts of these strangers to the authorities.
It is no exaggeration to say that the entire city was filled with the Great Zhou army, with only a few spies who thought themselves clever but had actually been discovered long ago being outsiders.
At this time, who else would come to the area bordering Tianjin, besides the people sent by Zhou Ruyuan?
"This time it was our carelessness!" Zhou Ruyuan's tone was full of regret.
Unexpectedly, the meticulously planned sneak attack ended in disarray with heavy losses and a humiliating defeat.
Yuan Lang frowned as he considered a possibility: "Could it be that someone deliberately leaked our plan?"
"who?"
"Who doesn't want us to be well?" Yuan Lang asked.
Zhou Ruyuan: "Chen Lanxi".
"Anything else?"
Zhou Ruyuan: "Who else could it be?"
"Has His Majesty forgotten Zhou Yanxing, who has been eyeing us covetously all along?"
Yuan Lang already regretted letting Zhou Ruyuan accept Zhou Yanxing, and even more so, he regretted letting Zhou Ruyuan bestow titles upon Zhou Yanxing.
"he?"
Yuan Lang: "That old fox, I suspect his initial goal was to seize our military strength."
Zhou Ruyuan couldn't understand it.
“He has already come to join us. If he goes to join Shen Lanxi, they will definitely not believe him.”
No one would trust a two-faced person who keeps changing their mind.
"What if he had colluded with Shen Lanxi from the beginning to sow discord and undermine our forces?"
Zhou Ruyuan said doubtfully, "No way."
After all, his royal bloodline cannot be faked, and any discerning person should know who the legitimate heir is.
"Besides this, I can't think of anyone else," Yuan Lang said with a straight face.
Zhou Ruyuan thought for a moment and then ordered, "Don't use troops for now. Investigate the people who have come to join us."
"yes!"
~
It's true that someone leaked the information, but unfortunately Zhou Ruyuan and Yuan Lang suspected the wrong person.
"Strategist, you're saying my son was killed by the Third Princess?" Upon hearing this news, Liu Binglin felt dizzy.
Che Mingyuan: "Lord Liu, please take care of your health. The Tianjin Navy still needs you to steer it."
Liu Binglin had long harbored suspicions, but lacked evidence.
How could his son, such a brave man, possibly die at the hands of a woman?
"It must have been that wicked woman who did it."
On several occasions before, his son would take a fancy to a woman, and then Wang Xiangyi would lead the people from the princess's residence to beat the woman to death.
When Zhou Qiwu found out, she was solely focused on protecting her daughter and hastily covered up the matter. She didn't even spare two women who were six or seven months pregnant, resulting in the deaths of both mother and unborn child.
"That mother and daughter are like vipers."
Che Mingyuan glanced at Liu Binglin, thinking to himself, "He hasn't even said anything more infuriating yet."
"According to my investigation, Zhou Qiwu was behind the incidents involving the second and third young masters of the mansion."
Liu Binglin's vision went black, and unable to withstand the blow any longer, he collapsed forward.
Che Mingyuan quickly helped him up.
"Lord Liu, please take care of yourself!"
"I was reluctant to tell you such a cruel story, but I really didn't want Lord Liu to be kept in the dark."
"The crimes committed by Zhou Xiwu and her daughter must be made known to the world."
Liu Binglin gripped Che Mingyuan's hand tightly.
"Strategist, is there any solid evidence? I need to see solid evidence."
Che Mingyuan sighed, keeping his feelings a secret from his elderly father, Liu Binglin.
"have!"
As Liu Binglin looked at the pages of charges and the signatures and fingerprints, he was overcome with rage, spat out a mouthful of blood, and fainted.
...
Upon receiving the letter, Shen Yuanxu's hand trembled, and the letter fluttered to the ground.
His riding the wind...
It was all the Wu family's fault that Chengfeng was ruined.
"General, I heard there's been a letter from the capital?" Hu Jinyu missed his children dearly, and upon hearing from his servants that a letter had arrived from the capital, he immediately rushed over.
It was too late for Shen Yuanxu to hide it.
After reading the letter, Hu Jinyu stood there stunned, her hand holding the letter trembling uncontrollably.
How could that be?
"Why should the Shen family's reputation be traded for my son's marriage?"
Shen Yuanxu was also in pain, but a man must be responsible and cannot show it.
"His Majesty gave two options, and my aunt's suggestion is to choose the first one."
Hu Jinyu had already anticipated the answer, but she was still unwilling to accept it.
"And what about you? What are your thoughts?"
“When family writes to us, it must be to discuss it with us.”
Seeing Hu Jinyu's anxious expression, Shen Yuanxu knew she was worried about her son.
Although he was unwilling, he had no choice but to persuade his wife.
"The letter said that once people had forgotten about this matter, the Wu family girl would be married off to a distant place."
Hu Jinyu's tears rolled down her cheeks, each drop landing on the letter.
"Can't we choose the second option?"
Shen Yuanxu didn't want his wife to be sad, but he was more concerned about the bigger picture.
“Jin Yu, if you are unwilling, I will write back to the capital and ask my family to send the child back to us.”
Hu Jinyu was lost in thought.
Although she missed her child, her future prospects were more important.
If they bring the child here, not only will the place they are stationed in be poor, but in the long run, their family will no longer have a place in the capital.
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