To the First Emperor of Qin: The state has decreed this!

Chapter 239 Zong Yu secretly investigates the coal flow!

After a brief moment of shock!

Zong Yu suddenly stood up and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Good! Excellent!"

Zong Yu's laughter was full of smugness.

"Zhang Fan, oh Zhang Fan!"

"The people all say you are of noble character and have devoted yourself wholeheartedly to the Qin Dynasty!"

"So you're one of those embezzlers too!"

"Zhang Fan, you really aren't exactly incorruptible after all!"

He gripped the piece of coal tightly, as if he had grasped Zhang Fan's lifeline.

Unauthorized resale of vital strategic materials belonging to the imperial court!

This is a serious crime!

Zong Yu's smile vanished, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

He immediately turned around and gave orders to the guards and servants accompanying him.

"Send a few men to search these tire tracks thoroughly immediately!"

"We must find out exactly where these wagons went and to whom they delivered the coal!"

"Remember, investigate discreetly; never alert the enemy!"

"promise!"

Several capable guards immediately accepted the order and quickly left following the direction of the cart tracks.

Zong Yu patted the dirt off his hands, turned around and walked back to the carriage, a cold smile on his lips.

"The rest of you, follow me into the city!"

"I want to see just how many shady dealings Zhang Fan is hiding in Changzi County!"

Zong Yu, accompanied by his entourage, swaggered into Changzi County.

To avoid attracting attention!

He was wearing a long robe embroidered with Shu brocade patterns, and a large jade pendant hung at his waist.

He was exactly like a wealthy and powerful merchant from Guanzhong.

Upon entering the city, Zong Yu was stunned by the sight before him.

Unlike typical desolate border counties, Changzi County was bustling with people and herds of mules and horses in its streets and alleys.

What alarmed him most was that the blacksmith shops on both sides of the street were lined up in one row!

The clinking and clanging of metalware filled the air, and the trade in ironware was even more active than in Xianyang.

"Zhang Fan, you've managed this place so well, it's practically an impregnable fortress..."

Zong Yu snorted coldly, his eyes burning with anger.

As he walked, he pretended to be extravagant and sent his servants to gather information.

He himself led a group of men, pulling several carts of goods to conceal his identity, and paraded through the city.

at the same time.

Ji Honglou.

In the private room by the window on the top floor, sheer curtains fluttered and incense wafted gently.

A woman in a fiery red dress sat quietly by the window.

Her skin was like solidified cream, and her eyes and brows exuded both heroic spirit and charm.

It was Mi Yueyao.

With a creak!

A bodyguard in tight-fitting clothes hurried upstairs, bowed, and said:

"Miss, a new group of merchants has arrived in town. The leader claims to be a major grain merchant from Guanzhong!"

"Strangely, the goods they were carrying with them weren't grain, but rather a large quantity of tarpaulin!"

"Oilcloth? Isn't that something that's abundant along the coast?"

Mi Yueyao paused slightly in the hand holding the celadon teacup, and her beautiful eyebrows furrowed instantly.

She got up and walked to the window, looking in the direction the guard pointed, and slowly began to speak.

"Changzi County is located in Gaoping, with an arid climate, and there are very few heavy rains throughout the year."

Mi Yueyao put down her teacup, her voice cool yet tinged with amusement.

"You sell oilcloth here?"

"If it was to provide shelter for their food supplies, why didn't they bring any?"

"If it were sold to the local people, the people of Changzi County probably wouldn't use it even once a year!"

She turned around and said softly and coldly, "This leading merchant is either an idiot or has some serious problem!"

"This tarpaulin can actually be used to cover...armor!"

"Go and investigate this thoroughly!"

Mi Yueyao stroked the red string on her fingertip, her eyes cold.

"This place has no place for people of dubious origin!"

"Investigate his background and find out where he came from!"

"promise!"

The guards obeyed and vanished into the shadows in an instant.

The sound of the guards' footsteps completely disappeared.

The private room fell silent once again.

Mi Yueyao stood quietly by the window, her usually cold eyes now showing a hint of resentment.

Her gaze passed over the rooftops of Changzi County and looked toward the distant east.

a long time.

She let out a very soft sigh and looked away.

His gaze slowly fell on the rosewood desk next to him.

There, lying quietly, was an unopened secret letter.

The envelope had no superfluous markings, only a single, bold, and powerful handwriting—

item!

……

Time flew by and it was already the next day.

Inside a secluded private room in a restaurant in Changzi County.

The guard who had been sent out to investigate the wheel tracks last night returned and knelt on one knee before Zong Yu.

"My lord! We've investigated thoroughly!"

"Those heavy carts carrying coal were heading due east."

But after crossing the Qinshui River, all traces completely disappeared!

The guard lowered his voice to report to the commander.

"Our subordinates discovered numerous boat tracks of varying depths along the riverbank!"

"They most likely transported the coal by waterway!"

"waterway?"

Zong Yu frowned, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

The guard tentatively asked:

"My lord, illegally trading in the imperial mines is a capital offense!"

"Now that we've located the waterway, should we immediately submit a memorial to His Majesty, impeaching Zhang Fan?"

"No!"

Without even thinking, Zong shook his head.

"What do you know?"

"His Majesty currently favors Zhang Fan, even entrusting him with the lucrative territory of Changzi County to manage!"

"A few tire tracks and traces disappearing by the river are far from enough to convict him of a capital offense!"

"If things go wrong, Zhang Fan might even turn around and bite back!"

He said it was what he needed to make ironware!

Zong Yu stood up and paced around the room with his hands behind his back.

"These charges are not enough to bring him down completely!"

"What I need is irrefutable proof that he will never be able to recover!"

He stopped in his tracks, his eyes turning cold.

"You few will remain in Changzi County!"

"Keep a close watch on those blacksmith shops and waterways!"

"At the slightest sign of trouble, send a message by carrier pigeon!"

"As for me... I must set off for Xianyang immediately."

Zong Yu gritted his teeth, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes.

He used illness as an excuse to "resign" from the court this time!

The holiday is only three days long!

If he fails to return on time, it will arouse suspicion from his political enemies in the court, and he will suffer more losses than gains.

After everything was arranged!

Zong Yu quietly left Changzi County in an inconspicuous horse-drawn carriage.

Because he had dispatched a large number of guards, he only kept three or four trusted guards with him.

The carriage sped along.

As evening approached, darkness gradually fell, and the surroundings were enveloped by a dense ancient forest.

The shadows of the trees swayed and danced, like ghosts!

"Whoosh—!"

A sharp, piercing sound suddenly rang out from the silent, dense forest!

"Pfft!"

A flying arrow, crafted from fine iron, pierced precisely through the neck of the horse pulling the carriage!

"Neigh—!"

The warhorse let out a mournful cry and collapsed to the ground.

The immense inertia caused the carriage to lurch forward violently.

"Protect the adults! There's an assassin!"

The guards cried out in alarm and drew their swords.

however!

Before they could even form a battle formation.

"kill!"