Chapter 256 Transaction
Su Qianqian saw Tao Huan's hands shaking uncontrollably.
“I have no idea what happened in the meantime. I just didn’t receive any reports from the scouts. It’s a big taboo for a leader to march directly into the enemy’s territory without knowing how the enemy’s troops are deployed. At this time, the Daliang army had already deployed heavy troops on both sides of the valley, opening their pockets.
My brothers and I from the scout camp could only bypass the Daliang army's formation at the mountain pass and go back in a roundabout way to deliver the letter. However, before we arrived, we heard the rumbling sound of rolling stones and rockets exploding in the valley, followed by flames shooting up into the sky in the valley. By the time we broke through the siege and arrived, there were pieces of flesh and corpses everywhere. The flesh mud had flattened the rocks, and the blood had dyed the mountain streams red.
Then the Daliang army attacked from the front and back of Mount Xumi. Those soldiers who were injured and disabled by the hidden weapons set in the valley were no longer able to resist the brave Daliang soldiers. It was a one-sided massacre. The order issued by Marshal Jian Hong who led the Daliang army was not to accept any surrendered soldiers and not to leave any alive. ”
Tao Huan lowered his eyes, suppressed the dark tide in his eyes, paused for a moment before continuing: "The last time I saw the old Wuning Marquis and the prince, they protected the soldiers holding the flag, but at that time the old marquis and the prince were already bloody and mangled by rockets. The marquis was not afraid, but looked at the dead soldiers on the ground with a sad look...
The enemy outnumbered us and there was no way to turn the situation around. My right arm was chopped off and I fainted. When the autopsy was done, I was stabbed and found to be still breathing. When Prince Ping was cleaning up the battlefield, for some reason he changed my clothes into those of a Daliang man and brought me back to his tent, leaving my body for Prince Ping to use. ”
Tao Huan stopped and looked at Su Qianqian, his eyes slightly cold: "Tao wants to know, why has no one investigated what happened in all these years? The old Marquis Wuning died in battle and was humiliated by the people of Daqi and the court officials. Why didn't the Marquis Wuning's Mansion seek justice for him?
What did the herald deliver to the Marquis back then? Why was the Marquis so eager to send troops? And why did he mention that a noble person had been abducted? Could it be that the Wuning Marquisate really chose to keep quiet for the sake of wealth and fame, and was unwilling to mention what happened in the past again? ”
"Has Mr. Tao finished speaking?" Su Qianqian asked, putting down the teacup.
"Madam, what advice do you have? Are you willing to do business with me?" Tao Huan also calmed down and returned to his usual expressionless face.
“Tao Changshi, the Qin family is a subject, and we must always put the king’s orders and the people first. At that time, Daliang’s morale was greatly boosted by the battle of Mount Xumi, and they refused to surrender and pay tribute. In the past four years, the Northern Frontier has used so much food and money to support the people, and they have to endure Daliang’s harassment of the people. It was not until five years ago that the young marquis led the army to the battle, and it took five years to return victorious. How can we settle down if the country is not stable?
Tao Changshi, when Zhou Tang's wife was close to Xie Fangyuan, a constable from the city patrol wanted to kill her, but did you protect her? "Su Qianqian suddenly changed the subject and asked.
Tao Huan nodded.
[My lady, how did you know? I don’t know! 】The system shouted in surprise.
[Guessed.] 】Su Qianqian blinked without changing her expression.
"Since Chief Secretary Tao knew that the Marquis was looking for Zhou Tang's wife, he should have known that the Qin family would not just ignore it. However... he did not know about Zhou Tang's order before! All the Qin family soldiers died on the battlefield that year, and no one could prove it. Chief Secretary Tao was the only person who witnessed that battle.
Mr. Tao, did anything happen before that day? Why didn't the other people in the army follow the old marquis into Mount Xumi? After that, Duke Xu took over the management of the military camp for the old marquis until the border general arrived. Did anything happen during this period? My Lord, I have been investigating but have no clue. ”
Su Qianqian said in a deep voice.
"Madam Hou, do you agree to the deal with me?" Tao Huan's eyes flashed as he looked at Su Qianqian.
"Yes, I am willing to make a deal with Mr. Tao. Please give me some advice. As for the matter of the six ministries... as long as it does not involve leaking secrets, I will do my best to find out what you need to know."
"Okay, it's a deal. The sincerity I've shown should be enough. I'll tell Madam everything I know. It's inconvenient for me to get close to Marquis Wuning, so I'll have to ask Madam to tell me on my behalf."
Su Qianqian blinked and said in her heart: [Is it convenient for you to get close to me? 】
Tao Huan coughed and continued, "Before the messenger went to the military camp, because it was a great victory, he transferred the Qin family army and some soldiers to Xijun to prevent bandits. This is why there were only 30,000 people in the military camp later. The people who were transferred returned to the Northern Frontier after the battle and were completely unaware of it. I just found out about this recently.
Duke Xu was once a close friend of the old marquis. He left after escorting the grain and grass, but I heard that he later returned to take charge of the military camp for the old marquis. The soldiers were very convinced of him, but only people around the marquis at that time could know what kind of order the messenger delivered. I have been investigating, and I hope there are still people alive who can find out. ”
Tao Huan took out a piece of paper from his arms with a few names written on it.
"These people usually serve the old marquis with food, clothing, and tea. They don't have to go to the battlefield, but they are always in the camp. Even if it is an imperial decree, they never avoid it. But no one knows where they are, so I would like to ask the marquis to cooperate with me to search for them together.
Also, there was one very strange thing. The Daliang commander Jian Hong, after returning to Kyoto, claimed to be sick and stayed indoors, but his spies were still active everywhere.
I have been investigating in Daliang for many years, but after all, the people of Da Qi are constrained in every way, so I have not found any results. However, I found that these spies frequently traveled between the northern border and the capital of Daliang. ”
Su Qianqian put the paper away solemnly, thought for a moment and said to Tao Huan, "It's getting late, Mr. Tao should go back as soon as possible. If I have any news in the future, I will leave it in Anmin Teahouse. As long as there is a yellow bottle of perilla leaf tea on the tea shelf, Mr. Tao will ask the shopkeeper for a can and put the news in the tea.
If Tao Changshi has something to say, put the message in the teapot and ask the shopkeeper to make tea for you, and the shopkeeper will naturally pass it on. ”
Tao Huan nodded, stood up, covered his face with a veil, and bowed to Su Qianqian to say goodbye.
"Master Tao, do you have any relatives at home? If it is inconvenient to visit, Su Qian is willing to send someone to deliver some things on behalf of Master Tao."
Tao Huan was shocked, stared at Su Qianqian for a moment, and shook his head: "Tao Huan is living in Daliang, and I am ashamed to see my parents and brothers. I'd better let them think that I am dead, so as not to shame them."
Tao Huan climbed over the wall and escaped. Su Qianqian returned to Wuning Marquis Mansion with Xue Ke and Su Xing. She received too much information that day. Su Qianqian thought about it all the way and didn't know how to tell the Qin family about the circumstances when the old marquis and his son died in battle, as well as those strange things. It would definitely be another blow.
Thinking this, I entered the second gate of the Marquis' Mansion, and saw Su Mu waiting there with an anxious look on his face.
"Madam, please go back to your room and change your clothes. The second lady of the Su Mansion has been crying in the old lady's yard for most of the day, waiting for you to come back."
"Second Madam, why is she crying in front of her mother?" Su Qianqian said as she got into the warm sedan chair.
[Why else? Her brother died and the money was gone. This time, she heard that you were involved in the trial, so she came to ask you to help her get justice and get the money back! 】
The system snorted.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
