The soldier stopped, turned around, and reported, "More than a dozen more people have run out of the woods."
Dou Yong sat up and asked, "Has the army doctor examined you?"
"The military doctor said he needed to consult the company commander and you, but the company commander is already asleep."
Dou Yong nodded and said, "I'll go take a look."
He still needs to find out more details, in case there are important figures among these people, and what important information he might glean.
Sure enough, among these people, another big fish was caught – it turned out to be Hua Yi, the clerk of Linchuan County.
This advisor is quite interesting. He disguised himself and blended into the soldiers without even Cao Qiang and Cao Zheng noticing him. The bandits didn't recognize Hua Yi, and the ordinary soldiers didn't recognize him either, let alone Hua Yi in disguise.
Hua Yi, accompanied by several guards, mingled among the soldiers.
The soldiers didn't pay any attention; it wasn't the first time new faces had joined their ranks.
Dou Yong asked with a stern face, "Why are you, a mere clerk, mixed in with the soldiers?"
Hua Yi was honest enough; she had no choice but to be honest, as she was hoping Dou Yong would order her to receive treatment for the burning pain in her body.
He explained in detail: "Magistrate Cao was worried about Hu Axiong and Young Master Cao, so he sent me to keep an eye on them."
"Young Master Cao, who is that?"
"His name is Cao Qiang, and he is a direct descendant of the same family as Magistrate Cao."
As he spoke, he introduced Dou Yong to the relationship between Cao Qiang and Cao Sen, as well as the basic information about the Cao family.
Dou Yong already knew the relationships between these people, but he still made Hua Yi explain it again, pretending not to know.
After hearing Hua Yi's words, Dou Yong feigned surprise and said, "Don't you trust me? Aren't they all from the Cao family?"
Hua Yi licked his dry lips and said with a wry smile, "My lord, could you please give me some water? I really can't hold on any longer."
Dou Yong didn't make things difficult for him. He ordered someone to bring several bowls of water and put them there, saying, "Whoever gives a proper explanation can drink the water."
Then, pointing at Hua Yi, he said, "Let him drink a few sips first."
Hua Yi gulped down several large mouthfuls before she finally recovered.
“They are all from the Cao family, but Magistrate Cao is from a collateral branch. The Cao family of Jianming has been monitoring and suppressing him in order to make Magistrate Cao obedient.”
“But this time it’s gone too far. Young Master Cao insisted on bringing so many soldiers to Bian’ai County because of Hu Axiong’s words. Magistrate Cao wanted to disagree, but he didn’t dare to offend Young Master Cao.”
"He sent me here for two reasons: firstly, to keep an eye on Cao Qiang so he doesn't cause any major trouble; and secondly, to protect Young Master Cao should he be in danger."
Dou Yong carefully wrote down the confession in detail, and deliberately taunted him, saying, "But you didn't protect your young master Cao."
Hua Yi was even more dejected: "It's my fault. The soldiers panicked immediately, and I couldn't find him even if I took the guards with me."
"The magistrate of Cao County told Young Master Cao to bring more guards, but Young Master Cao did not listen and only brought four, saying that with eight hundred soldiers, what danger could there be?"
Dou Yong waved his hand: "Stop calling me Magistrate Cao and Young Master Cao. Just call me Cao Sen and Cao Qiang. They're not my magistrate and young master."
Hua Yi choked, but dared not refute, and obediently agreed.
"Go on, tell me everything you know."
Hua Yi revealed all the important information she knew. Dou Yong even asked her about Cao Sen's concubines, lovers, and maids, leaving Hua Yi utterly helpless.
But he could also tell that Dou Yong wanted him to tell him everything in great detail.
Hua Yi swallowed hard, and after drinking some water, she felt much better.
Dou Yong suddenly asked, "Does Linchuan County have any spies in Bian'ai County?"
Hua Yi panicked. He knew there were spies, but these were truly classified information; how could he possibly reveal it?
Upon seeing Hua Yi's expression, Dou Yong knew that he knew.
He sneered, "If you don't talk, I won't make things difficult for you. I'll just throw you back into the fire."
Upon hearing this, Hua Yi trembled, his lips even shaking slightly. He certainly didn't want to experience the feeling of being burned.
“I said.”
Hua Yi was Cao Sen's capable assistant and was very familiar with the spies outside.
This time, not only were the spies in Bian'ai County revealed, but also the spies in Jianming Prefecture and other places were clearly explained.
Haha, Dou Yong finally figured it out. It turned out that Cao Qiang hadn't fully explained things. It was his fault, though, for he hadn't considered the situation of Cao's spies outside.
Cao Sen dispatched many spies trained by the Cao family; how could the Cao family have few spies? How could the other aristocratic families have few?
Dou Yong immediately ordered his men to bring Cao Qiang, who had just been resting. The soldiers didn't hold back and threw Cao Qiang to the ground, because they could tell that Dou Yong was unhappy.
Cao Qiang howled a few times, his face contorted in pain.
Upon seeing Cao Qiang, Hua Yi exclaimed in surprise, "Young Master Cao, you're still alive?"
Cao Qiang's howling abruptly stopped. Judging from the voice, the one who could call him Young Master Cao was Master Hua.
How did he end up here?
Cao Qiang endured the pain and turned his head to look; sure enough, it was Hua Yi.
Having escaped from the fire, Hua Yi's disguise had long since fallen off, revealing her true face.
Cao Qiang gritted his teeth; seeing Hua Yi's condition, there was nothing he didn't understand.
"Cao Sen sent you to spy on me?"
Hua Yi waved his hand: "No, no, no, Young Master Cao, the magistrate sent me to protect you."
Cao Qiang didn't believe it. He snorted and wanted to go up and beat Hua Yi, but he hissed in pain and couldn't move.
Hua Yi moved away, not wanting to be injured and then beaten by Cao Qiang again.
Dou Yong sneered, "At this age, you're still acting like the young master."
"Cao Qiang, it seems you really aren't being honest. Men, throw him back into the fire!"
"don't want."
No!
Cao Qiang and Hua Yi spoke at the same time.
Cao Qiang snorted at Hua Yi, but when facing Dou Yong, he didn't dare to utter a word and earnestly pleaded, "Sir, I'm very honest. Please tell me, is there anything else you need to ask?"
Dou Yong said to Hua Yi, "Repeat the information about the scout."
Hua Yi dared not refute it; after all, she had already said it once, so what difference would it make if she said it again?
Cao Qiang's eyes widened in fury. The Cao family's plan to rebel against Wu Aimin was still a secret for the time being, but it wasn't impossible to talk about it. After all, the news wouldn't reach Wu Aimin in such a remote place as Bian'ai County. Even if it did, what could Wu Aimin do? By then, Tao Feng would probably have already sent troops.
However, the Cao family's spies outside were not just spies. Some had already penetrated into the inner workings of the imperial court and various princes and powerful figures. Some even held high positions or were highly valued by those in power.
If these things were exposed, it would be like cutting off an arm for the Cao family, making it even more difficult for them to achieve great things in the future.
What Hua Yi knew was only the tip of the iceberg, and Cao Qiang breathed a sigh of relief.
Before he could even catch his breath, Dou Yong asked him directly, "Cao Qiang, tell me everything you know, or don't blame me for being impolite."
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