Steel Dynasty - Chapter 240

[Chapter 240: A plan within a plan]

East City, the chaos gradually subsided.

Three businessmen from Zhao were captured by the soldiers who arrived, and all three craftsmen arranged by Li San were injured. At the same time, news came that there was also chaos in the West City, and the craftsmen were also injured.

“What’s going on?” Li San frowned and said, everything was originally according to his plan, but things seriously exceeded his expectations.

“Inform all the craftsmen immediately to return to the Equipment Department. We may be fooled.” After thinking for a while, Li San said in shock.

He turned to look at the Wei Family Restaurant and saw Zhao Kuan turning around and entering the restaurant.

He continued to ask: “How is the situation in the restaurant?”

“Two guards have gone somewhere?” said a waiter in the restaurant.

Li San felt that something was wrong more and more, “Go and do it quickly, I will go to see His Highness right away.”

The secret guards responded and dispersed, and Li San immediately went to the palace.

“What, the craftsman was beaten?” Xiao Ming was slightly surprised when Li San told the situation in the east and west cities.

To be on the safe side, he said to Zhao Long: “Go immediately and inform the soldiers guarding the city to close the city gate. No city gate is allowed to be opened without my order.”

Then he said to Li San: “Let’s go, let’s go to the Equipment Department now. “

The two went out, when three long and two short bells rang in Qingzhou City. This was an order to urgently summon the craftsmen back to the Equipment Department.

When we arrived at the Equipment Department, some craftsmen had already returned one after another. After waiting for about an hour, almost all the craftsmen arrived.

“Your Highness, what happened?” Chen Wenlong also rushed to the Equipment Department, looking nervous.

“I’m afraid something has happened.” Xiao Ming looked at these craftsmen one by one and always felt that one person was missing. He often visited the Equipment Department and was naturally familiar with the craftsmen here.

“Your Highness, Zhang Liu is missing.” A craftsman suddenly shouted.

Xiao Ming nodded, it was Zhang Liu.

When Chen Wenlong heard this, his expression suddenly darkened. He understood that all forces were now eyeing the Equipment Department, and this craftsman was their target.

“Your Highness, is it…” Chen Wenlong hesitated.

“I’m afraid Zhang Liu was captured. I really underestimated the courage of these people. I thought they would only use bribery, but I didn’t expect that they just captured the people.” Xiao Ming said solemnly.

Li San’s face turned red and he said angrily: “Who followed Zhang Liu?”

“Li Dutong, it was me who followed Zhang Liu. I saw Zhang Liu enter the street in front of Duanjiafang and stopped following him. After all, we used to They all follow me like this.” A secret guard said fearfully.

“How could Zhang Liu be arrested after entering Duanjiafang?” Li San asked confused.

A craftsman said: “Unless the handover is taking place at that time, there will be no traffickers patrolling the streets in front of Duanjiafang at that time.”

“What a careful plan. It seems that they have prepared this for more than two days a day. Day.” Xiao Ming smiled bitterly.

Speaking of which, the secret guards were not established for a long time, and since the Zhao land has been passed down from generation to generation, King Zhao naturally has a mature intelligence system, and his secret guards are still a bit green.

Zhang Liu is one of the core craftsmen of the Equipment Department. Not only is he involved in the refining of steel, but he is also a core member of the production of artillery. He also participated in the production of hydraulic forging machines.

If Zhang Liu is kidnapped, it will mean that all the craftsmanship mastered by Zhang Liu are likely to be obtained by others, and this will lead to very serious consequences.

“Look for me. Even if I turn Qingzhou City upside down, I still have to find him.” Xiao Ming said.

Li San said angrily: “Your Highness, why not just arrest Zhao Kuan and interrogate him strictly.”

“Do you have evidence? Which force Zhang Liu was captured by, are you sure?” Xiao Ming asked.

Li San looked ashamed and shook his head.

Xiao Ming said: “The work of the secret guard is still not rigorous enough. You are responsible for Li San.”

Li San knelt down and said: “Please punish me, Your Highness.”

“Whether you punish or not depends on whether you can bear the crime and make meritorious service. Zhang Liu must not leave this king’s fiefdom,” Xiao Ming said solemnly.

“Yes, Your Highness, I’ll do it right away.” Li San was annoyed. He was being fooled this time. This was a provocation to him.

Standing up, he looked at the secret guard who had lost track of Zhang Liu and said, “What are you still doing? Immediately notify all the secret guards and use all your intelligence to find Zhang Liu. If Your Highness chops off my head, I will chop off your head.” “

The secret guard trembled with fright and immediately left the Equipment Department.

Li San also turned and left.

Chen Wenlong sighed at this time, “Your Highness, there are so many craftsmen and the Secret Guard’s manpower is limited. It is impossible for everyone to keep an eye on them so carefully. Now there are so many craftsmen in Qingzhou that it is difficult to guard against them. We must find a safe way.”

Xiao Ming He nodded, “You’re right, but it’s just too difficult.”

Since ancient times, spies have been a very difficult group of people to guard against. The most effective way to deal with spies is spies, that is, led by Li San and Wang Xuan secret guard.

In addition, no matter in the Equipment Department, Military Workshop, or other workshops, the craftsmen who master the core secrets will sign a confidentiality contract. The contract stipulates very clearly that anyone who leaks Qingzhou’s secrets will be severely punished. .

This was to prevent being bribed by spies from the craftsman level, but this time neither he nor Li San expected that this detailed work would be so bold and even kidnap people directly.

He was worried when suddenly Li San came back, and Wang Xuan came in with him.

Li San looked unhappy, while Wang Xuan said with a smile: “Your Highness, I caught the person who kidnapped Zhang Liu, but this person claimed to be the Crown Prince of Zhao, and I hope your Highness will deal with it.”

” Caught? How did you catch him?” Xiao Ming asked confused.

The secret guard is now divided into the left guard and the right guard. Li San is currently responsible for the fiefdom, while Wang Xuan is mainly responsible for external intelligence spying.

Wang Xuan said: “Your Highness, this matter is just a coincidence. Li San would never recruit ruffians from the market to serve as secret guards, but in my opinion, these people are the most suitable to act as informants, so I have introduced them a long time ago.” A group of people entered the secret guard. Similarly, the businessmen in Zhao seemed to have bought some street gangsters as I thought. However, one of them was a member of the secret guard. After learning about this, I asked him to trick him. Just to see what these Zhao merchants want to do? I never thought that today they would get the temporary order to kidnap Zhang Liu.”

After a pause, Wang Xuan continued: “At this time, time was already very tight, so I did not notify Li. Three, he took the secret guard and robbed the carriage on the way.”

Hearing this, Xiao Ming breathed a sigh of relief. He invested a lot of money and manpower, and the secret guard finally had some effect.

“Wang Xuan, you deliberately want to embarrass me in front of His Highness.” Li San looked aggrieved, and he had no chance of making meritorious deeds.

(End of chapter)