Chapter 1303 - 1262
Since Guo Pu came to the capital, Zhao Shen has ventured further down the path of theology. Unaware that Zhao Hanzhang was arranging his future, he muttered after sneezing twice, "Could it be someone cursing me?"
He randomly grabbed a dried twig from the side, broke it into different lengths, and then began to chant while arranging them. After a moment, he couldn’t help but exclaim and asked those around him, "I remember it’s Xun Fan who is responsible for disaster relief here, right?"
"Yes, this area is under the charge of Grand Tutor Xun."
Zhao Shen furrowed his brows, "This divination indicates trouble, not great at all. How does it show a capable individual of the Great General facing difficulty? That Xun Fan is the Little Emperor’s uncle, hardly a key figure for the Great General."
A personal soldier answered, "Could it be referring to the Assistant Minister?"
"Nonsense," Zhao Shen’s follower Da An intercepted before Zhao Shen could reply, "Fortune-telling can’t reach oneself; our lord is safe and happy, what difficulty could he face?"
Zhao Shen originally suspected it himself, but listening to Da An’s reasoning, he found it logical, "Right, it shouldn’t be me; otherwise, I would feel it more strongly."
"Assistant Minister, General Yuan is also here."
Zhao Shen was startled, "Why has he come here? Now that the disaster should be largely mitigated; all regions have received relief supplies, and many grain merchants are suppressing grain prices. No one would be audacious enough to inflate grain prices at this time, would they?"
Da An: "Perhaps it’s settling scores after autumn."
Zhao Shen slightly frowned, "Those people are vile, but settling scores afterward is unwise. If Yuan Li doesn’t understand flexibility, it indeed might invite disaster."
He stood up and said, "Let’s go, let’s take a look."
Yuan Li was not inflexible, but rather, it depended on whether he was willing.
If it were before, he certainly wouldn’t be willing; any benefits gained from being flexible wouldn’t fall to him. It’s better to arrest and kill — not only earning spoils but also marking achievements on the ledger.
But now, he already knows to be concerned with Zhao Hanzhang’s urgent matters and worries, therefore he would first seek Zhao Hanzhang’s thoughts before taking action.
Regarding matters reported by Xun Fan, he initially thought a minor punishment to serve as a warning would suffice, investigate clearly, and hold leverage. In the future, the lady might use it.
Thus, his goals were only two: discern the truth and hold leverage; and develop spies, laying the groundwork for Investigation Department’s agents.
However, the first piece of information from the newly converted spy Zheng Quan was that Zheng Zhi and Yu Hong intended to poison him and Xun Fan.
Yuan Li laughed, leaning forward to ask him, "You say Yu Hong wants to poison me?"
Zheng Quan shivered and hurriedly said, "The lord didn’t agree, it was Zheng Zhi who proposed it."
"When do they plan to act, and how?"
Zheng Quan whispered, "They want to lure the General to the riverside, to unexpectedly meet, and while dining, put the poison in the wine..."
Zheng Quan said, "Originally, they planned to act in the mansion, inviting more musicians and dancer girls, with Grand Tutor Xun accompanying, you wouldn’t suspect anything. Once settled, they’d deal with all whom you brought, dump the bodies in the river, and report to the court that you fell into the water while inspecting the riverbank. With the Emperor far away, the Great General surely can’t discern the truth."
Yuan Li was indignantly amused, "They’re clever indeed; what evil deeds have emboldened them to plot against an Angel?"
Zheng Quan whispered, "General, you’ve pressed too hard, with a fearsome reputation. Our lord feels deeply threatened, coupled with Zheng Zhi’s incitement, they conceived such a scheme."
"Since you entered the city, they’ve painstakingly guarded and waited, but couldn’t find an opportunity to act; the lord had dismissed the idea, yet upon your arrival, you immediately began auditing accounts and inspecting grain shops. Within two days, you captured eighteen people. This, if more are captured, their turn would come."
Yuan Li said, "So, Yu Hong ultimately agreed."
Zheng Quan lowered his head, "Though he didn’t verbally agree, he didn’t stop Zheng Zhi either."
This is rather slippery; if successful, all is well; if not, the blame entirely shifts to Zheng Zhi.
Yuan Li chuckled, "Seems Yu County Magistrate isn’t entirely protective of his brother-in-law."
Zheng Quan trembled, not daring to speak.
Although he chose Yuan Li, he was still a confidant of Yu Hong; if the latter could live, he hoped he would indeed live.
Zheng Quan felt miserable; he had explicitly and implicitly advised Yu Hong these two days, already making him angry.
Zheng Quan knew that continuing to advise would surely annoy Yu Hong.
Thus, upon seeing the additional note in the room and a cup of hot tea, he decided to side with Yuan Li.
Not just for his two sons’ futures, but for his family’s survival.
In his judgment, Yu Hong was surely no match for Yuan Li; even if fortunate enough to succeed in killing Yuan Li, it might not conceal the truth from the Great General.