Chapter 1248: Within Reach! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”Right, Milord, there is one other matter.”
As if remembering something, Old Eagle suddenly raised his head.
”Lord Zhangchou just sent word that Zhang Chaoshu committed suicide in prison. Before his death, he left behind a letter admitting that he had fabricated his reports and taking the blame for everything, freeing the Grand Preceptor and the other civil officials of blame. Zhang Chaoshu also mentioned in his letter that he did all this out of a sincere love for his country, and although his methods were wrong, he did not have bad intentions. But the country has its laws and the clans have their rules. After committing these crimes, he said that he needed to be punished, but he hoped that His Majesty would not blame the Grand Preceptor and the other civil officials, who did not know the truth!”
Old Eagle relayed almost word for word the contents of Zhang Chaoshu's letter.
”What!”
Wang Chong's eyebrows shot up at Old Eagle's words. He had already suggested to Zhangchou Jianqiong that the Bureau of Military Personnel increase the number of men around Zhang Chaoshu to prevent any accidents. But he hadn't expected Zhangchou Jianqiong to commit suicide.
”Cutting off the tail to survive! They've made a clean escape this time!!”
Wang Chong closed his eyes and became motionless.
Wang Chong could not determine whether this had been Zhang Chaoshu's will or the will of the schemer behind the curtain, but there was no doubt that with Zhang Chaoshu's death, there would be no more clues left behind. And they had already taken care of those reports by artificially aging them.
The new and strange officials in the Imperial Court were almost impervious. Not even Wang Chong could do much about them now.
After a long period of silence, Wang Chong massaged his temples and finally opened his eyes. He could not change the events of the past, only accept the result.
”I understand. You're dismissed!
”In addition, take this silk bag. Open it after you leave! Remember: don't divulge the contents of the silk bag to anyone!”
”Yes! Milord!”
Old Eagle took the bag and quickly departed.
”It seems like I can no longer use Zhang Chaoshu,” Wang Chong muttered to himself as his finger lightly tapped against the table.
His opponent had reacted much more quickly than he had imagined, but this was fine and all within his expectations. Zhang Chaoshu had only been used to scare and startle them.
When striking a snake, one had to strike its vital points. It had always been impossible to rely on these reports and documents to vanquish his foe.
”Since you've shown up, you can no longer remain in hiding. Next is for me to drag you out and see just where you came from!”
Wang Chong slowly closed his eyes, and quiet and serenity gradually returned to the study.
……
Wang Chong's uncle-in-law Li Lin arrived at midday of the next day.
”Chong-er, you were looking for me!”
Li Lin came into the estate in a rush, and even before he had entered the reception hall, his voice resounded through the grounds.
Over this more than half a year, Li Lin had diligently cultivated and was already completely different from the impression Wang Chong first had of him. He had the demeanor of a dragon and the gaze of a tiger, and he walked with great energy and momentum.
When one remembered that Li Lin had started out as a minor officer assigned to supervise a gate, this was simply a jaw-dropping transformation, and all this was possible because of Wang Chong.
”Uncle-in-law, there's a matter that I will have to trouble you with.”
Wang Chong got straight to the point with Li Lin.
”Haha, speak! As long as I can do it, even if I have to dig three feet into the earth, I will do it!” Li Lin said.
Wang Chong pointed at the table and said, ”There is some information on the table. I need Uncle-in-law to mobilize the men of the City Guard to investigate the people of the capital. They should be looking for a Confucian scholar of twenty-six or twenty-seven who has stayed in the capital for no more than five months. And this person should have some minor reputation amongst the Confucian scholars.”
”Chong-er, you're…”
Li Lin blinked in surprise. Wang Chong's request was exceedingly strange, but Li Lin was no fool. In this period of time, there was no matter that had caused a greater stir in the Great Tang than the matter of Khorasan.
”Chong-er, have you already found the tracks of those people?”
”Mm.”
Wang Chong nodded.
”If all is as expected, the person I'm looking for is in this group. I hope that Uncle-in-law can investigate these people as quickly as possible along with their associated documents.”
Forcing out his opponent was only the first step. Now was the time for Wang Chong's true counterattack. Perhaps his opponent thought himself to be well-concealed, but as long as Wang Chong had only a tiny clue, he would not let them so easily escape.
To find a young man of twenty-six or twenty-seven in the capital was like trying to find a needle in the ocean, but the fact that they also needed to be a Confucian scholar greatly narrowed down the scope.