Qin Zhao's eyes darkened slightly.
"...The Jiangling Intelligence Network is the product of years of hard work. This would mean throwing all that effort down the drain. I'd like to urge you to reconsider, but you've made up your mind."
"I dismissed the informant as you requested and sent you a letter to report, but I haven't received any reply."
"Later, the emperor announced to the world that you were plotting rebellion and had been... executed by imperial decree."
"Plotting rebellion... how ridiculous!" Gu Changzhou was furious. "With your power back then, if your intelligence network hadn't been destroyed, the throne would have been within your grasp. How could you destroy the intelligence network first and then rebel against the throne?"
"Calm down first." Qin Zhao's tone remained steady as he slowly asked, "When did I go to Jiangling to see you?"
Gu Changzhou: "October of the sixth year of Jinghe, autumn and winter."
Chen Yan'an found Qin Zhao, who had lost all his memories, in early November of the sixth year of Jinghe.
He came to Gangneung to disband the intelligence network, and then something happened on his way out of Gangneung.
However, the current emperor announced his death to the world around August of the seventh year of Jinghe.
It's been almost a year since then.
Qin Zhao pressed his eyebrows and asked, "Is that all you know?"
Gu Changzhou replied: "Yes."
Qin Zhao knew that this person was telling the truth.
A secret agent was no ordinary subordinate, and Gu Changzhou was once the head of the secret agent. He never doubted Gu Changzhou's loyalty to him, otherwise he would not have been so confident in being a teacher at the Gu family and deliberately tried to get close to him.
But what this person said today... he couldn't remember anything at all.
Because of the poisoning, Qin Zhao's memories were very messy. The closer he got to the time before he lost his memory, the more vague his memories became.
He didn't remember why he destroyed the intelligence network, nor did he remember what happened after he left Jiangling, why he was poisoned, and why he ended up in Linxi Village.
"Well, I get it." Qin Zhao patted Gu Changzhou's shoulder and whispered, "You've done a great job over the years."
Gu Changzhou lowered his head: "I am terrified."
"I'm telling the truth," Qin Zhao said. "You've run the Jiangling Weaving Mill, helped the prefect, and benefited the people. That's a great achievement."
"If it weren't for Wang..." Gu Changzhou paused and changed his words, "If it weren't for your help, sir, I wouldn't be where I am today. To be honest, you are the real owner of Jiangling Weaving and Spinning."
"Come on, I'm not interested in running a business. You're the expert at this." Qin Zhao chuckled and asked, "Can you still contact your informants?"
Gu Changzhou's expression froze: "You want to..."
Qin Zhao: "If I want to restart the intelligence network, how long will it take?"
"I...your subordinate..."
Qin Zhao raised his eyebrows slightly. "You said that it was your life's work. You wouldn't want it to be completely destroyed by just one sentence from me, right?"
Gu Changzhou's back was covered in cold sweat. He fell off his chair and knelt on the ground. "Your Highness, please forgive me. I... I did destroy the intelligence network back then, but after learning that you were executed by Your Majesty, I... I found some people and brought them back. I have been hiding among the people all these years and have not made any moves."
Qin Zhao narrowed his eyes: "What do you want to do, rebel?"
Gu Changzhou nodded his forehead to the ground and said in a deep voice, "Revenge."
Qin Zhao asked: "How far have you achieved?"
"After you left, the emperor cleaned up the court thoroughly. Most of your former supporters were executed or dismissed. Most of the important officials in the court today are close confidants of the emperor and cannot be infiltrated." Gu Changzhou paused, "Except for one."
"who?"
"General, Xiao Yue."
The name suddenly triggered some memories in his mind. Qin Zhao closed his eyes for a long moment before he spoke softly, "This man has great military achievements and holds military power. He has always been at odds with me. Not long after the emperor ascended the throne, he asked to be stationed at the border and has not returned to the capital for five years. How is he now?"
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