Chapter 42

The wind was strong, and a storm was brewing. The local officials were inexplicably terrified, their legs giving way as they collapsed to the ground.

An almost suffocating silence lasted for a few seconds. Zhang Boqian suddenly turned around, his sharp eyes sweeping over Yang Yanzong, Ji Yan, Ji Lin, Ji Yuanhao, Mr. Fang, and other representatives of the Fourth, Sixth, and Seventh Princes’ residences.

Yang Yanzong, Ji Yuanhao, Mr. Fang, and the others remained composed. These people were too deep and calculating; although they were inwardly shocked and alarmed, they showed no fear or unusual expressions. But Ji Yan was different. He was too young, and having tampered with the silver ship behind the Sixth Prince’s back, he had a guilty conscience. Caught off guard by Zhang Boqian’s sharp gaze, he momentarily showed a hint of panic on his face.

Yang Yanzong frowned, but before he could speak, Ji Yuanhao stepped forward, blocking Ji Yan, and coldly said to Zhang Boqian, “General Zhang, what do you mean by this?”

Ji Yuanhao didn’t have a particularly good relationship with Ji Yan and the Sixth Prince’s residence, but Zhang Boqian’s sharp gaze clearly lumped the three princely residences together as suspects. Even if the three princely residences weren’t currently allied, they would still stand together to counterattack in this situation.

Zhang Boqian sneered coldly, but before he could speak, Imperial Uncle Kun raised his hand to stop him. “Now is not the time to discuss this!!”

Imperial Uncle Kun’s face was grim, and his brows furrowed tightly. He raised his hand to interrupt the tense standoff and brought the topic back to the main issue: “Fifty-six million taels of official silver!! Where is it now?!”

Each side had already sent their trusted aides to investigate, and the results came back quickly. The silver chests had not been tampered with.

“So, it wasn’t an issue during transportation?” Mr. Fang spoke up.

As the chief advisor to the Sixth Prince, though not an official, Mr. Fang had remained silent until now, but the situation’s urgency left no room for silence.

Fifty-six million taels of silver had vanished, an amount nearly equivalent to a year’s tax revenue for the Da Qing. This massive loss cast a shadow over the Sixth Prince’s residence, making it impossible for him not to feel the pressure.

To open the silver chests, the seals, fire lacquer, and wax had to be broken. When these large camphor wood chests were salvaged, it was clear they hadn’t been tampered with. As for abnormal openings, inspections showed no signs of the chests being pried open and reassembled. Everyone’s gaze turned upstream to the starting point of the silver chests’ journey at Wuchuan County in the upper reaches of the river. Since there was no issue during transportation, the problem must have occurred during the packing process. Was it during the remelting, the inventory check, or the final sealing and packing? It was unknown. But one thing was certain: regardless of which stage it was, more than one person or group was involved. The process of handling official silver and taxes had strict procedures, requiring repeated checks, handovers, and signatures to ensure accuracy. Fifty-six million taels of silver—what an astonishing and shocking amount!!

The result of the salvage operation was unexpected by everyone, leaving them with heavy hearts and grim faces. Zhang Boqian coldly glanced around, “What are you waiting for?!”

No one wasted any words, and they had no time to deal with the local officials who were uncontrollably ecstatic and then sorrowful upon hearing that the issue wasn’t during transportation. They quickly boarded the large ship again, set sail, and headed upstream at the fastest speed!

Su Ci didn’t even have time to say a word to Yang Yanzong. She hurriedly boarded the large ship, where no one dared to laugh or joke. The atmosphere on the three-deck official ship was tense, like a bowstring about to snap. Even those with the lowest political sensitivity could sense that something was wrong. But no one present had anticipated the situation would escalate to this extent. The imperial envoy team spent three days traveling day and night at the fastest speed to reach the Shangzhou Silver Mint.

The Shangzhou Silver Mint was built on the banks of the river, with the vast river and Wuchuan Plain on one side and the rolling mountains on the other, making water transportation convenient. As mentioned earlier, Wuchuan was rich in mineral resources, with many processing plants, including silver mints. There was a state-owned silver mine near Shangzhou, managed by Feng Shang, with considerable output. This mint was responsible for melting irregular silver blocks into standardized silver ingots with official markings. After this process, the silver officially became registered as government silver. The Liu brothers discovered a new super-silver mine starting from this state-owned mine. It took them ten years to follow the mountain range’s winding paths. In a straight line, this super-silver mine still belonged to Shangzhou.

The Liu brothers had already established a complete mining, refining, and transportation system, which was very mature and ready for immediate use. Silver blocks were transported directly from there to the Shangzhou Silver Mint by rail, taking only a few hours. They were then melted, registered, and transported out.

To trace the problem, the group hurried to the Shangzhou Silver Mint.

“Are we there yet?” Su Ci looked ahead and saw rows of large blue-brick buildings and tall, blackened chimneys. She guessed they had arrived. She stood on tiptoe and saw that they were indeed in Shangzhou. She never expected to return so soon and in such a manner. She asked twice but didn’t hear Yang Yanzong’s response. Surprised, she turned and saw him staring at the green water rushing past the ship.

Su Ci lowered her voice, “What’s wrong? What’s with the water?!”

She quickly looked down again, but the river water was green, becoming murky near the dock. She didn’t see any problem!

Yang Yanzong shook his head. He said nothing. The dock at the mint was very deep, and the large ship docked quickly. With a “thud,” the large iron anchor was dropped, and the first people leaped ashore, rushing into the mint. But what they saw inside was unexpected!

The imperial guards pounded on the door, but the mint didn’t open. An enraged Zhang Boqian slashed the chain lock with a single stroke, and the guards quickly pushed open the large iron doors, rushing inside.

But once inside, everyone was stunned into silence.

Blood, blood everywhere, and bodies lying on the ground. Workers who had been feeding the furnace with coal had fallen, their shovels dropped, their bodies half-hanging on the steps, blood flowing from their necks from the top of the furnace platform to the ground. The bodies were already stiff, eyes wide open in terror. There were also workers pushing carts and overseers patrolling. Some were killed and fell into the cooling pool, while more lay on the ground in groups of three or five. Some were caught off guard and killed, but most were chased down and murdered while fleeing in panic. The area near the door had the most bodies. The entire mint was eerily silent, the stench of blood filling the air. Everyone was dead, from top to bottom, not a single person left alive!

The sudden scene made Su Ci gasp. A chill ran up her spine to the top of her head!

Everyone’s breath caught. They had come to investigate the missing official silver, but the entire mint staff had been slaughtered. Was this to silence them? Who did this? Who dared to do this?!

Zhang Boqian suddenly turned, his sharp gaze sweeping over the people from the princely residences. Imperial Kun’s face was grim as he shouted, “No one speaks, no arguing!!! No matter who it is, fifty-six million taels of silver, they can’t have gone far!! Search, chase them!!!”

Indeed, with the silver mine and mint here, the Shangzhou section of the river had strict checks on deep-draft ships, with multiple water checkpoints along the river and shore. They had passed these checkpoints earlier, and the personnel reported no issues or recent abnormalities. So they had to trust them for now. In fact, it was logically difficult to transport such a large amount of silver through the official waterways in a short time. The river was not only monitored by official checkpoints but also by many villagers living by the water, who relied on fishing for their livelihood. Their homes were built on stilts along the river, and they were there day and night. With so many large ships passing by, not to mention the countless small boats, it would be like a swarm of bees. Even if the checkpoint personnel were dealt with, it was impossible to cover the eyes of many water residents and fishermen.

Imperial Uncle Kun quickly ordered people to gather information along the river. Fast boats and horses were dispatched, and the sound of copper gongs echoed. Officials in both formal and plain clothes spread out. By nightfall, the news confirmed their judgment: the official silver had not left Shangzhou via the river.

Meanwhile, Yang Yanzong and his group had already headed into the mountains.

Such a large amount of silver, if not transported by water, would surely leave some traces. As soon as the search teams set out, they conducted a thorough search of the mint and its surroundings, eventually finding some clues. First, they confirmed that the switch of the official silver had indeed occurred at the Shangzhou Silver Mint. At the west gate, they found traces of heavy boxes being moved recently, with the freshest stone marks still clean and white, indicating it happened within the past few days. Following the trail from the west gate, they soon passed the cleaned-up area and found repeated heavy cart tracks, now turned to mud by the rain. These tracks led to a secluded large estate. Breaking open the gate, they found nothing inside, but the back door showed dense heavy cart tracks. These tracks all pointed to the western mountains. These were the same mountains connected to the mint.

In the drizzling rain, Ji Yuanhao wiped the rain from his face and said gravely, “This is bad! The rail carts!! They’re using the Liu brothers’ dock!!!”

The rail carts were used by the silver mine garrison for convenient transportation. They installed iron tracks where possible and used baskets where tracks couldn’t be laid, saving a lot of manpower and resources. The state-owned silver mine in Shangzhou had its rail carts connected to the Shangzhou Silver Mint. The Liu brothers’ private super silver mine, developed over ten years, also had a complete rail system. After it was nationalized, the state mine and mint found that the private mine’s rail system was close to the state mine’s tracks, so they connected them. Due to urgent orders from the cabinet and the emperor, a large number of craftsmen and laborers were urgently assembled before the New Year, working day and night to connect the two rail systems in the shortest time, and it was operational before the New Year. Now, these tracks pointed directly to the rail system!

Anyone who had been to Wuchuan last year knew that the Liu brothers’ super silver mine had complete facilities, including rail carts, silver warehouses, and even docks. On the other side of Shangzhou, near the border with Huangzhou, there were mountain docks specifically for transportation, and not just one. Ling Shui, connected to another major river, Ao Shui, was very prosperous. Water transportation of various goods was a major artery of the southwest. With so many passenger and cargo ships coming and going daily, it was impossible to inspect them all like the river.

Everyone’s faces were as gloomy as the rainy weather. As soon as they found the tracks, their hearts sank!

Zhang Boqian gritted his teeth, turned, and glared at the people from the princely residences, shouting, “They can’t have gone far!! It’s only been a few days, and even with rail carts, they can only be halfway!!”

Crossing the entire Shangzhou mountain range was no easy task. It had only been a few days. The silver was minted in January, then immediately sealed, signed, and shipped. The switch could only have happened during this stage; otherwise, there would have been no need for the massacre. Even if they started in early January, gradually moving the switched silver from the west gate to the estate, the sudden exposure of the sunken ship forced them to kill everyone at the mint and urgently transport the silver. The state of the bodies and the freshness of the tracks confirmed that the sudden change happened just a few days ago. The time was too short; they could still catch up. Such a large amount of silver should still be on its way to the other dock.

Zhang Boqian’s gaze was intense. Ji Lin’s personal guard angrily stepped forward but was pulled back by the Fourth Prince’s heir, “Don’t be impulsive!!”

“Find the silver first!!!”

Su Ci couldn’t help but glance at him. This was her first time seeing the Fourth Prince’s heir, and she had to admit, based on this crisis alone, Ji Lin was much stronger than Ji Yan.

The rain fell steadily, cold but not painful, but no one cared. They quickly headed to the rail cart terminal and followed the tracks, urgently pursuing into the mountains!

They pursued all the way to the vicinity of the state-owned silver mine, climbing to the mountain peak. The wet rocks and mossy puddles were everywhere. Looking down, the iron tracks ended here, leading to a suspension bridge between two mountains. This suspension bridge wasn’t meant for people. Seven or eight huge iron cables were connected and reinforced, with vine baskets hanging below, originally used to transport silver ore. The mountain was high and steep, and the wind howled through the pass, causing the vine baskets to sway wildly in the mountain wind!

This path was not one that ordinary people could traverse, so most of the group had to stop here, including Su Ci.

Yang Yanzong quickly thought it over and decided to leave Yang Yanzhen and his brothers behind. He selected seven or eight of the most agile and skilled individuals to continue the pursuit with him while the rest found a place to set up camp.

In the drizzling rain, Yang Yanzong’s hair, forehead, and nose were covered in tiny droplets. His sharp eyes briefly scanned the surroundings before whispering to Su Ci, “The road ahead is difficult. You and Yanzhen find a place nearby to set up camp and wait for my message.” He lowered his voice, “If anything seems wrong, take the people and run to the left, towards the area where the imperial guards are stationed!”

Today’s events were full of strange developments, one after another, leaving everyone puzzled and unsure of the truth.

Yang Yanzong, having spent years dealing with conspiracies, sensed something was very wrong. The situation was ominous!

However, no matter what, there were hundreds of imperial guards. Regardless of any private matters, the guards wouldn’t openly turn against Su Ci and the others. If necessary, they could seek refuge there.

Su Ci nodded firmly, “I understand! Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of myself.” She pulled out a water pouch, removed the stopper, and offered it to him, “Be careful.”

Yang Yanzong nodded, took the water pouch, and drank a mouthful before turning and rushing towards the vine baskets!

Zhang Boqian, Ji Lin, Ji Yuanhao, Yang Yanzong, and several other skilled generals led their men in pursuit. Even the imperial envoy Eunuch Tong Jien, Imperial Uncle Kun, and the Sixth Prince’s heir Ji Yan had their trusted guards carry or protect them, following closely behind.

The group checked the vine basket ropes, quickly jumped on them, and was soon pulled to the other side, disappearing into the dense, dark forest!

The further they went, the more difficult the path became. The iron tracks became fewer, and the suspension cables more frequent. But everyone present was skilled and moved very quickly. As the sky gradually darkened and the rain intensified, the group of dark figures rushed forward through the misty rain and fog.

Finally, in the middle of the night, they reached their destination. Seeing the increasingly evident signs of transportation, everyone’s spirits lifted. They turned a corner and rushed down to find a large transfer warehouse built on a flat area in the mountain valley. Inside the warehouse, they saw lights.

They had arrived!! They had caught up!!

Zhang Boqian wiped the rain from his face and looked up at the transfer warehouse not far away, finally allowing a smile to form. They had finally reached the place!

“Hurry! If nothing goes wrong, the missing silver should be inside!”

Everyone rushed down, but they first found a gatekeeper. Unfortunately, he was already dead and had been for several days. He had been napping under a pavilion, dressed in high-status attire, but had been killed with a single slash. As they rushed down and saw his face, Yang Yanzong frowned. This man looked familiar; he was a mid-level military officer who had joined the Sixth Prince’s faction years ago.

Continuing past the pavilion, they found another twenty or thirty bodies on the ground. In his peripheral vision, Yang Yanzong saw Ji Yuanhao and the Seventh Prince’s heir, Ji Ying, both frowning.

Yang Yanzong’s eyes quickly scanned the bodies. Could Ji Yuanhao and Ji Ying also recognize some of these people? How could this be?

Before he could think further, Zhang Boqian’s face changed. From the moment he saw the first body, his expression shifted from barely concealed satisfaction to a look of utter shock, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar! How could this be?! How could everyone be dead?! And where was the silver? Fifty-six million taels of silver?!

Everyone rushed forward, heading straight for the transfer warehouse. Zhang Boqian was the fastest, slashing the large brass lock with a single stroke, sending sparks flying and breaking the chain. He kicked open the door with a loud bang!

With a creak, the two heavy iron doors slowly opened. The large warehouse was still lit, but inside it was empty, not a single item in sight!

A loud thunderclap rolled through the sky, echoing in everyone’s hearts. Something was wrong. How could this be?

Imperial Uncle Kun panted for a moment, quickly ordering his trusted guards to continue following the rail tracks, but they soon returned, reporting no further signs of transportation.

Everyone’s hearts sank! What was going on?

In the tense silence, Yang Yanzong noticed Zhang Boqian’s heavy breathing. He glanced over and saw that Zhang Boqian’s hands were shaking, and sweat was rolling down his forehead and face!

Everyone was soaked from the rain, but a closer look revealed that Zhang Boqian was sweating.

Yang Yanzong lowered his gaze, and in a flash, he remembered something he had said to Su Ci earlier—”Do you think the old emperor will make any other moves?”

The words echoed in his mind, and at the time, he had reasoned that the old emperor wouldn’t put all his eggs in one basket. The sunken ship, the massacre at the mint, the rail carts crossing the border a few days ago, and most importantly, the transfer warehouse containing people from the factions of the Sixth, Fourth, and Seventh Princes—people who had joined the princely residences early on and couldn’t be easily explained away.

A clap of thunder lit up the sky, and in that brief moment, Yang Yanzong connected all the dots!

The so-called sunken silver case was a play directed by the old emperor himself, targeting the three princely residences!

And the director hidden within the imperial envoy team—Yang Yanzong’s eyes flickered as he glanced at Zhang Boqian, who was drenched in cold sweat and struggling to maintain his composure. Of course, the goal was to create a massive upheaval and attempt to capture all three princely residences in one fell swoop! But this grand scheme encountered a hitch.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

A mysterious group had killed all the witnesses and criminals arranged in the transfer warehouse, and the fifty-six million taels of silver had really vanished!

Who could it be? A flash of insight—Northern Rong!

Yang Yanzong suddenly remembered the traitor who had not yet been identified.

Such a large sum of money—Northern Rong was very poor and desperate. Otherwise, they wouldn’t invade the South every few years to plunder. The war two years ago ended in a stalemate, and Northern Rong didn’t gain much. Moreover, they were hit by a severe drought—this drought affected both inside and outside the pass, and the grasslands were also severely affected. It was said that some areas had reached the point of cannibalism. Northern Rong urgently needed a large sum of money to buy and exchange goods, and it was a matter of life and death.

Realizing this, Yang Yanzong broke out in a cold sweat!

He instantly thought of Su Ci, Yang Yanzhen, and A Kang, who were left in the mountains. His newlywed wife, his two brothers, and his trusted comrades who had been through life and death with him!

This was bad! Terrible!

Since this silver was so crucial to Northern Rong, they must have sent their best warriors. The five hundred imperial guards and his few dozen men left behind would be no match for Northern Rong’s experts.

Moreover, the enemy had likely set an ambush. After all, their every move was under the enemy’s control!!

Yang Yanzong dashed out like lightning, examining the neck wounds on the bodies. Having dealt with Northern Rong soldiers for years, he was all too familiar with their curved blades. He quickly found the characteristic upward-slashing marks on the second body, commonly used by Northern Rong warriors. His heart sank to the deepest depths!

Ji Yuanhao also rushed out, clearly realizing the situation, but Yang Yanzong couldn’t care about anything else. The silver, Northern Rong, everything was pushed aside. He shouted, “Quick, go back!”

He yelled at his men, “Turn around, go back immediately!!!”

“Hurry!!!”