Chapter 176: Chapter 171: The Spy
Although Inspector He tried to hide it, Zhao Hanzhang still noticed something unusual, especially when they were alone at the end. She could smell a faint, fresh scent of blood emanating from him.
As for why she mentioned it only now?
"He can still pretend to entertain us as if nothing happened, which means he won’t die immediately. As long as he doesn’t die on the spot, it’s not so urgent," Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand, "Just letting you know, it’s late, Mr. Ji and Uncle Qianli, go back and rest."
Ji Yuan pondered, "He’s injured, so the attention of the people around him must be on him, and the control over the outside is certainly not as usual. Miss, should we pick a few people to follow him to Shouchun?"
Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t thought of this, but when she heard it, she immediately turned to the side, "Come, come, Mr. Ji, let’s go inside the tent and discuss this."
Ji Yuan glanced at her and turned to go inside with her.
Zhao Ju: ...So are we sleeping or not tonight?
The intelligence system Ji Yuan previously controlled was handed over to Zhao Zhongyu, as he is the clan leader and it was built using Zhao Family resources, naturally, it should be handed over to him.
Moreover, Zhao Hanzhang was intentionally distancing herself from the Zhao Family, so she needed to cultivate people completely loyal to her.
This opportunity was rare and precious.
"This time Yu Yang is surrounded, and there must be many gaps around him. It’s best to send people in now," Ji Yuan said, "We need to pick several, but unfortunately, time is tight, and we can’t select carefully. Qianli, do you have any suitable candidates?"
As the former leader of the Zhao Family’s deployments, Zhao Ju was naturally familiar with the process of selecting spies, so he thought for a moment and said, "The troops we brought this time are not very suitable, we can only select from the lower ranks."
Ji Yuan: "But they are all newly recruited, they might not be loyal."
Zhao Ju said: "I know a few who are quite clever, and they came along with their families."
Ji Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, "What is their character like?"
"The time has been too short to tell, but from their attitude towards their families, they seem to be affectionate," Zhao Ju replied.
"Then they can be used."
Zhao Hanzhang said, "Let’s bring them here, and we’ll talk to them one by one. To send them as spies, they need to be willing to go."
But being a spy is highly dangerous; it tests both the body and mind when isolated within enemy forces.
If not coerced, then they must be tempted with good offers.
Zhao Hanzhang said, "The recruits this time seem to dislike distributing farmland, so let’s offer them houses, money, grain, and a spot for their family members to study."
Even Mr. Ji couldn’t help but find this offer tempting.
He asked, "Offering such great benefits, what does Miss want them to do?"
Zhao Hanzhang said, "First have them lie low, pretending to truly be under Inspector He, and just occasionally pass along messages about He Ci Shi and Shouchun. When more is needed in the future, someone will inform them then."
Ji Yuan: "Then the person chosen must be well-chosen, requiring loyalty, cleverness, and intelligence."
Zhao Hanzhang, acting like a hands-free manager, said, "I’ll leave this matter to Mr. Ji."
Ji Yuan came back to his senses, "How long will the army stay stationed in Yu Yang?"
Zhao Hanzhang said, "I don’t mind staying a few more days, but I’m afraid Inspector He won’t want that."
"I understand, I’ll have the candidates picked out by tomorrow."
So, Ji Yuan pulled Zhao Ju back and picked out those he thought were decent, trying to understand their backgrounds thoroughly. The two of them almost stayed up all night.
Early next morning, they called in the chosen ones one by one for a meeting.
Zhao Hanzhang got up, washed her face, and before she could have breakfast, Qiu Wu came over, "Miss, someone from the city says Inspector He invites you to join for breakfast."
He lowered his voice, "There’s also discussion about retreating the troops."
Zhao Hanzhang decided to save a meal’s worth of rations for everyone, and said, "Give my breakfast to Mr. Ji and Uncle Qianli, and the rest of you, don’t eat. Let’s go into the city to eat with the wealthy hosts."
Qiu Wu happily agreed and, together with Ji Ping on either side, escorted Zhao Hanzhang into the city.
Inspector He was generous, having the kitchen prepare a lavish breakfast for everyone.
Zhao Hanzhang had her own small table, while Qiu Wu and Ji Ping were left outside but were also taken to have food.
Governor Zhang and others had already arrived and were seated across from her.
Since Zhao Hanzhang was staying outside the city, she was the last to arrive. After sitting down, she saw Governor Zhang looking at her and raised her hand to salute him.
Governor Zhang smiled and returned the salute, asking, "The envoy prepared rooms at the post station, why didn’t Hanzhang stay in the city last night?"
Zhao Hanzhang explained, "It’s my first time commanding troops and lacking experience, so I worried about any disturbances from my soldiers outside, thus went out to check."
Again, this peculiar modesty made Governor Zhang’s heart twinge, and his smile became strained.
He replied with a half-smile, "You’re quite diligent."
Zhao Hanzhang smiled back at him.
Only then did Inspector He enter, seating himself at the head, and with a smile said, "Everyone must be hungry, come, come, let’s start breakfast. A meal in the morning is very important."
Everyone laughed and agreed, waiting for Inspector He to pick up his chopsticks before starting, no one mentioning the troops outside still waiting anxiously for food.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t bring it up either.
In everyone’s eyes, she was seen as Inspector He’s person now, having just accepted his hospitality, naturally, she couldn’t undermine him, besides, she had enough provisions.
And with some supplied recovered from the Xiongnu Army’s camp, Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t in a hurry, so she picked up a bun and began to eat it with relish.
Inspector He ate a little, looked at everyone, and seeing no one mentioning the issue of military provisions, had to bring it up himself, apologetically saying, "I’ve really wronged all the officers and soldiers, yesterday and today we couldn’t supply much food for the army, because Yu Yang has been besieged for so long, supplies can’t come in, we’re really running low now."
Inspector He said this, so what could anyone do?
They could only show understanding.
So Inspector He went on to mention the army’s departure, essentially saying, there’s no food for you here, now that the Xiongnu Army has retreated, when do you plan to leave?
Governor Zhang didn’t speak, leaving the question to everyone else.
Everyone exchanged glances, unable to decide, it was different from what they expected, and not as Governor Zhang promised them.
So, having taken this trip, not only did they expend military provisions and lose soldiers, but they also have to go back empty-handed?
Not to mention the future, but even now they couldn’t answer to the soldiers.
Zhao Hanzhang continued eating quietly, finishing a bun, half a bowl of porridge, and then started eating the sliced meat pie from the plate.
Seeing their reluctance to leave, Inspector He had to call on Zhao Hanzhang, "Hanzhang, Xiping isn’t far from Yu Yang, if you set out today, you’ll arrive by evening."
Zhao Hanzhang wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, took a sip of water, then nodded with a smile, "Yes, so once the troops finish breakfast, we’ll set out. The purpose of our trip to Yu Yang is fulfilled, Yu Yang County and the envoy are safe, now we can rest assured."
Inspector He was delighted and immediately said, "When you set out, I’ll personally see you off."