Chapter 213: Espionage Incident
Yang Jing has run the gambling house for so many years, and this is the first time he has seen someone use gold to place a bet. At most it’s silver. Gold is such a precious thing—how could it possibly be used for gambling?
Today for the first time someone used gold for gambling, which really opened Yang Jing’s eyes. But what shocked Yang Jing even more was that this piece of gold was actually a merit reward gold ingot cast by Cao Cao last year.
To commend the ministers who had merit in exterminating Yuan Shao, Cao Cao specially cast a batch of gold ingots engraved with the two words “merit reward.”
And this piece of gold was engraved with those two words. Yang Jing was also puzzled: how could a merit reward gold ingot cast by Cao Cao last year end up in Yuzhang Commandery?
Yang Jing pondered for a moment. He decided this matter still needed to be reported upward. He immediately asked the shopkeeper, “Tell me, who brought this gold ingot to the gambling house?”
An hour later, this merit reward gold ingot appeared on Gan Ning’s desk.
Gan Ning toyed with this heavy gold ingot and asked Lu Su, “Did Yang Jing say anything about its origins?”
Lu Su nodded. “It was a young man named Liu Wu’er who brought it to offset his gambling debt. He had lost two hundred thirty guan qian over several months, and this gold ingot cleared it all.”
“Then the gambling house must know everything about this Liu Wu’er. Otherwise, how would they accept the gambling debt?”
Lu Su nodded. “I also think they know. Marquis of Chu, there must be something big behind this gold. This subordinate suggests a thorough investigation!”
“I understand. Strategist, you can go first! I’ll notify you when I have results.”
Lu Su gave a salute and left.
Gan Ning casually pulled a rope. Soon, Ma Liang hurried in. “Please give your orders, Marquis of Chu!”
“Immediately send someone to find Wang Xiaoman and bring him to see me!”
Wang Ping and his brother Wang Xiaoman were both colonels now. Wang Ping commanded ten thousand troops responsible for guarding Chaisang’s safety, while Wang Xiaoman served as colonel of the internal affairs camp, leading two thousand elite soldiers for internal guard duties, with the main mission of countering spies.
Just as Gan Ning had established the Intelligence Department with intelligence points deployed in various places, similarly, his territory also had a large number of enemy army spies, even including spies sent from Jiangdong. Most of these spies were in Chaisang, almost all using business as cover to collect various intelligence.
Soon, Wang Xiaoman hurriedly entered the official residence, knelt on one knee, and saluted. “This subordinate pays respects to the Marquis of Chu!”
“Rise, General Xiaoman!”
Wang Xiaoman stood up. Gan Ning handed him the gold ingot. “This was sent by County Magistrate Yang. There’s a Nanfeng Gambling House under their family. This gold appeared today at the Nanfeng Gambling House. This is a merit reward gold ingot cast by Cao Cao last year, and it actually appeared in Chaisang—very unusual. You can go to the Nanfeng Gambling House and find their shopkeeper. You must investigate the source of this gold ingot.”
Wang Xiaoman took the gold ingot and bowed. “This subordinate will definitely get to the bottom of this within two days!”
Wang Xiaoman exited Gan Ning’s official residence. Without delay, he immediately led several subordinates to the Nanfeng Gambling House.
The Nanfeng Gambling House was steaming hot inside, crowded with gamblers. Wang Xiaoman found Shopkeeper Xia and was led to the shopkeeper’s room.
Wang Xiaoman placed the gold ingot on the table and said flatly, “Shopkeeper Xia should recognize it.”
Shopkeeper Xia smiled obsequiously. “How could I not recognize it? Just over an hour ago, I handed it over to my family’s master.”
“I am the colonel of the internal affairs camp, ordered by the Marquis of Chu to investigate the origins of this gold ingot. Please tell me the truth, shopkeeper!”
Shopkeeper Xia nodded. “It was a gambler named Liu Wu’er who used it to offset his gambling debt.”
“Since this Liu Wu’er owed a gambling debt, you should know all about his background!” Wang Xiaoman continued asking.
“Of course we know. This Liu Wu’er’s home is at the west end of Three Bridges, only a mile from our gambling house. He’s only twenty this year. His father is a small merchant selling charcoal, and the family is fairly well-off. To be honest, Liu Wu’er’s gambling debt was so large we thought he couldn’t pay it, but today he actually brought a piece of gold.”
Wang Xiaoman grew even more suspicious. How could the son of a small charcoal-selling merchant have Cao Cao’s merit reward gold ingot?
He immediately said, “Arrange for someone to guide us. I want to find this Liu Wu’er right away.”
Three Bridges was not far from the gambling house. Both sides of the bridge were residences. The guide pointed to a fairly large courtyard residence. “That’s Liu Wu’er’s home!”
Wang Xiaoman walked up and saw a token hanging at the door: “Liu Shi Charcoal.”
The gate was open. The courtyard was piled full of charcoal like small mountains, and quite a few customers were carrying baskets to select charcoal.
The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man standing at the scale weighing for two customers.
The man was Liu Wu’er’s father. Seeing several soldiers enter, he thought they were there to buy charcoal too.
He hurriedly shouted, “Wu’er, come greet the customers!”
“Coming!”
A lazy voice came from the room, and a young man walked out.
Wang Xiaoman sized up the young man before him. He was quite thin and small, with a sharp face like a monkey—clearly a good-for-nothing loafer. He had actually racked up over two hundred guan qian in gambling debt in half a year. His father probably had no idea.
The guide, following Shopkeeper Xia’s instructions, stepped forward and whispered a few words. The young man suddenly widened his eyes and said urgently, “I’ve already paid it off!”
“If you don’t want your father to know, then talk outside!”
Liu Wu’er indeed didn’t dare let his father know, so he said to his father, “Friends are looking for me for something. I’ll go out for a bit!”
Liu Wu’er’s father had no choice with his son. Seeing the several soldiers didn’t seem to be there to buy charcoal, he couldn’t be bothered anymore.
Wang Xiaoman also turned and led his subordinates out. He saw Liu Wu’er standing at the bridge head, talking agitatedly with someone from the gambling house.
Wang Xiaoman waved his hand. Three subordinates surrounded him. The gambling house person was only there to keep Liu Wu’er steady. Seeing the internal guards had arrived, he immediately slipped away.
Liu Wu’er then realized he was surrounded by soldiers. Panic surged in his heart. Just as he was about to shout, a soldier covered his mouth. The three together lifted him into a carriage by the roadside. Wang Xiaoman also entered the carriage, which then left the bridge head.
Liu Wu’er was terrified, curling up on the floor like a dog, shaking all over.
The carriage stopped in a secluded spot. Wang Xiaoman knew this Liu Wu’er would be easy to interrogate—no need for drastic measures.
He took out the gold ingot and asked, “Tell the truth: where did this gold ingot come from? As long as you tell the truth, I’ll let you go!”
“I… I picked it up.”
Wang Xiaoman hadn’t expected this rascal to be so scared yet still dare lie. He drew his dagger, pressed it against his ear, and said coldly, “Looks like I need to leave you something before you’ll tell the truth. Let’s start by cutting off one ear!”
He applied a little force. Intense pain hit, and a trickle of blood flowed down his face. Liu Wu’er was so scared he wet himself. He screamed, “I stole it! I stole it!”
Wang Xiaoman stopped the dagger. “Where did you steal it from? Speak!”
Liu Wu’er burst into loud sobs and said, “From my brother-in-law’s house.”
“Brother-in-law’s house?”
Wang Xiaoman was interested. “What does your brother-in-law do? Where is his home?”
“My brother-in-law is an artisan. His home is in Chaixi Town!”
Wang Xiaoman’s heart sank. Chaixi Town was a gathering place for important military master craftsmen. How could it involve a master craftsman?
He pressed further, “What is your brother-in-law’s name? What specific kind of artisan is he?”
“My brother-in-law is named Wang Lei. I don’t know what specific artisan work he does, but I heard my older sister say he earns thirty guan qian a month.”
Thirty guan qian a month—that was a first-class master craftsman!
Wang Xiaoman grew even more uneasy and continued pressing, “How did you steal the gold? Tell me honestly!”
