Even women who travel through time can become prime ministers and nobles.

Chapter 458 Wang Fu's Whereabouts

After returning to the government office, Shen Yanzhou had the leader's body carried away for a thorough examination, hoping to find more clues. He then went to the study with Li Changyu, Shi Wanxia, ​​and others to discuss matters.

The desks and chairs in the study still bore the marks of last night's battle. A deep gash was cut into the corner of the desk by a knife, and although the bloodstains on the floor had been wiped clean, a faint smell of blood could still be detected.

"Master Li,"

After Shen Yanzhou sat down, he spoke first.

"You just mentioned that Rongyang King once slaughtered more than thirty disciples of your Mojian Manor. Could you elaborate on this matter? Perhaps we can find his weakness in the details."

Upon hearing this, Li Changyu paused, his hand holding the teacup still, and his expression turned serious: "This matter dates back to ten years ago."

"At that time, Prince Rongyang was still a prince and was in charge of supervising the salt and iron affairs in Jiangnan, while the young master of the Ink Sword was created by my master's wife."

"Mojian Manor is highly respected in Jiangnan, and many people seek our help when they encounter difficulties."

"That year, there was a severe drought in Jiangnan, and the price of salt skyrocketed. However, Prince Rongyang took the opportunity to hoard salt and drive up the price, causing great suffering to the people."

"My master's wife couldn't stand it, so she opened the manor's granary to help the people. At the same time, she sent people to secretly investigate evidence of Prince Rongyang hoarding salt and iron, preparing to report to His Majesty."

He took a sip of tea and continued, "Unexpectedly, the news leaked, and when the Prince of Rongyang found out, he was furious and sent five hundred assassins to launch a night raid on Mojian Manor."

"At that time, most of the disciples of the manor went out to help the people, and only about thirty people remained in the manor. They all died in battle."

“I was young at the time and luckily escaped the disaster. After seeing the tragic state of the manor, I vowed to avenge my disciples.”

"Over the years, I have been secretly investigating Rongyang Prince's crimes, but I never expected that his ambition would grow so large that he would dare to plot to usurp the throne."

Shi Wanxia was shocked to hear this. She had never expected that Li Changyu and Rongyang Wang had such a deep blood feud. No wonder he would send troops to help without hesitation.

"Master Li,"

She asked, "Do you still have the evidence you found back then? If you can find that evidence, perhaps you can expose Rongyang Prince's crimes before His Majesty."

Li Changyu shook his head: "When I returned back then, the evidence in the manor had been destroyed by the assassins. However, I heard my master's wife mention that among that evidence was a ledger of Rongyang King's collusion with salt merchants, which recorded the amount of salt and iron he hoarded and the profits he made."

"I have been searching for that ledger for years, but I have never been able to find it."

“The ledger…”

Shen Yanzhou seemed to be deep in thought. "Perhaps that ledger is in Chuzhou."

"Last night, the rebels launched a surprise attack on Chuzhou, not only to capture me and seize the granary, but perhaps also to find that ledger and prevent it from falling into our hands."

Just then, Cui Zhihao pushed open the door and entered, his face grave: "Your Highness, I have interrogated those former canal transport officials, and they have confessed!"

"They said the oil barrels were provided by a clerk in the Chuzhou government office, and that clerk was also the leader of Rongyang King's secret agents planted in Chuzhou!"

"A clerk?" Shen Yanzhou's eyes turned cold.

"who is it?"

"It's Wang Fu, the clerk in charge of the household registration department of the government."

Cui Zhihao said, "They said that Wang Fu was in charge of contacting all the undercover agents in Chuzhou City, and the plan to launch the raid last night was also conveyed by Wang Fu."

"Furthermore, they also revealed that Wang Fu possessed a list of officials from Jiangnan who were colluding with Prince Rongyang!"

"it is good!"

Shen Yanzhou suddenly stood up. "Send men to arrest Wang Fu immediately! He must be captured alive; he cannot be allowed to commit suicide!"

"I have already sent someone."

Cui Zhihao said, "However, the soldiers I just sent reported that Wang Fu's mansion is now deserted, with only a secret room left. Inside the secret room are ashes of burned papers, so I'm afraid that list has already been burned by him."

"hateful!"

Shen Yanchu slammed his fist on the table. "He still got away!"

Shi Wanxia suddenly said, "Wait, Wang Fu is the clerk of the Household Registration Office, responsible for managing the household registration and taxes of Chuzhou. There must be household registration books and tax ledgers in his mansion."

"Perhaps we can find evidence of his collusion with the rebels in those ledgers, or even clues to other hidden lines."

Shen Yanzhou's eyes lit up: "Sister Wanxia is right! Huai'an, take men to Wang Fu's mansion immediately and search all the household registers and tax ledgers. Bring back even a single piece of paper!"

Choi Ji-ho accepted the order and left, and the study fell silent once again.

Looking out the window, Li Changyu suddenly said, "Your Highness, perhaps we can start with the old subordinates of Mojian Manor."

"Many of the disciples of Mojian Manor from back then have scattered to Jiangnan. One of them is now a blacksmith in Chuzhou. Perhaps he knows something about Wang Fu."

"Oh?"

Shen Yanzhou said, "Master Li, could you please invite that former subordinate to the government office? I would like to ask him some questions."

"it is good,"

Li Changyu stood up. "This humble subject will go and invite him here."

After Li Changyu left, Shi Wanxia looked at Shen Yanzhou and said, "Your Highness, Wang Fu has run away, which means he already knows we are investigating him. I'm afraid he will contact other informants as soon as possible and escape Chuzhou."

"We must strengthen the city's defenses and strictly prohibit anyone from leaving the city, especially officials and clerks in the government offices."

Shen Yanzhou nodded: "I have already asked Zhao Hu to make the arrangements."

"Although Zhao Hu's injuries have not yet healed, he is familiar with the city defenses of Chuzhou. With him around, it will be difficult for Wang Fu to leave the city."

Half an hour later, Li Changyu arrived at the government office with a middle-aged man.

The man was dressed in coarse cloth, and his hands were covered in calluses, clearly the marks left by years of blacksmithing.

Upon seeing Shen Yanzhou, he immediately knelt down and bowed: "This humble subject, Zhou Tie, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Prince of Xiang, and Lord Shi."

"Zhou, please rise,"

Shen Yanzhou said, "I invited you here today to ask you some questions about Wang Fu."

"You've been in Chuzhou for many years, are you aware of any unusual behavior by Wang Fu?"

Zhou Tie stood up, his expression solemn: "Your Highness, this humble subject does indeed know some information."

"Over the years, Wang Fu has frequently gone to a blacksmith shop in the west of the city under the pretext of checking accounts, and each time he went there he brought a lot of silver."

"I once secretly went to see it. On the surface, that blacksmith shop was forging iron, but in reality, it was making weapons."

"Moreover, the weapons produced are all standard military weapons and are absolutely not for civilian use."

"Standard military weapons?"

Shen Yanchu's eyes narrowed. "It seems that blacksmith shop is the rebels' armory! Zhou Zhuangshi, do you know the location of that blacksmith shop?"

"Know,"

Zhou Tiedao said, "It's located in Willow Lane in the west of the city, and the shop is called 'Fuji Blacksmith Shop'."

"it is good!"

Shen Yanchu immediately drew his spear. "Young Master Lin, come with me to Willow Lane! Destroy that armory!"

"and many more,"