Chapter 252: Double-agent Scout
A quarter of an hour later, Wang Xiaoman reported to Gan Ning. Gan Ning pondered for a long time before asking, “How long has Zheng Zhao been in contact with him?”
“They just made contact. Zheng Zhao’s wife is seriously ill and needs money to buy expensive medicinal materials, so Wang Yao often sends him some medicinal materials. That’s how the two got to know each other.”
“Does Zheng Zhao know that Wang Yao is Cao Cao’s intelligence scout?”
“Not yet. Wang Yao is very cautious. He said he wants to make Zheng Zhao accept a large sum of money, gradually sink him into it, then reveal it to him and force him to submit. It’s just starting now. Zheng Zhao hasn’t fallen into the trap yet, so he won’t expose himself.”
Gan Ning nodded. “Secretly take Zheng Zhao away tonight, take him away overnight. Question him properly about what military secrets he knows, then tell him the truth and see his expression. Before dawn tomorrow, release him to go home and tell him not to say anything.”
Pausing for a moment, Gan Ning added, “As for this Wang Yao, turn him into one of ours. I need to provide intelligence to Cao Cao through him.”
“This subordinate understands!”
Wang Xiaoman gave a salute and hurriedly left.
Gan Ning clasped his hands behind his back and walked to the window, squinting at the sky. Zheng Zhao was personally promoted by Strategist Lu and was his confidant, participating in various important meetings, even handling all kinds of confidential documents. That was close!
Gan Ning pondered for a moment, then pulled a rope. Ma Liang quickly walked in. “Please give orders, Marquis of Chu!”
“Go invite Strategist Lu!”
Ma Liang turned and left. Gan Ning took a deep breath. He decided to explain this matter clearly to Lu Su and not conceal it from him.
Soon, Lu Su hurried over, smiling. “I guessed it must be something important.”
Gan Ning nodded. “Strategist, please sit down first!”
A trace of unease suddenly rose in Lu Su’s heart. An intuition told him something had happened.
Gan Ning sat down in his seat and pondered for a moment before saying, “What kind of person is Zheng Zhao?”
Zheng Zhao? His most valued right-hand man.
Lu Su nodded. “He is exceptionally talented. Although from a poor family, his knowledge is far more profound than that of most noble heirs, and he handles matters steadily, considering everything very thoroughly. He is worth cultivating well.”
“What about his character?”
“His character is very good, resilient and self-disciplined. He once managed tens of thousands of guan qian in wealth but never sought even one wen qian benefit for himself.”
Lu Su’s heart grew increasingly uneasy. He asked in a low voice, “Zheng Zhao… has something happened to Zheng Zhao?”
Gan Ning nodded. “Cao Army intelligence scouts are approaching him.”
“Ah! How could this be?”
Lu Su was stunned. He immediately said anxiously, “What exactly happened?”
Gan Ning briefly explained the discovery of the Cao Army intelligence scout and added, “Currently, Zheng Zhao still doesn’t know that Wang Yao is a Cao Army intelligence scout, but his weakness has been grasped by Wang Yao. His wife is seriously ill and needs expensive medicine, but he can’t afford it. Wang Yao plans to give three hundred taels of gold.”
Lu Su was speechless for a long time. He suddenly slapped his forehead in self-reproach. “His family is in this situation, and I didn’t even know. That was truly negligent!”
Lu Su looked up again, his face earnest. “He hasn’t made any mistakes yet. Is it still not too late?”
Gan Ning understood what Lu Su meant by “not too late.” He nodded. “I will protect him, but we must handle it according to the rules. Tonight, the internal guard will question him about the situation, but we won’t let his wife know. If he is truly trustworthy, I will arrange for him to play along with the ploy.”
Lu Su nodded and sighed. “I haven’t cared enough about my subordinates.”
At night, Li Qun brought several subordinates and knocked on the courtyard gate of Zheng Zhao’s home. Zheng Zhao’s home was an official residence covering two mu, located in the east of the city, very quiet.
Soon, the door opened. The one who opened it was Zheng Zhao himself. He was about thirty years old, very thin, with a gentle and refined temperament, but there was a deep fatigue in his eyes.
Seeing that it was internal guard soldiers outside, he was momentarily stunned. “You…”
Li Qun said flatly, “I am Li Qun, the internal guard supervisor. We are investigating an important case and need you to confirm some matters. We hope you can cooperate with our investigation.”
“Of course, but…”
Zheng Zhao looked back, somewhat hesitant. “My wife has no one to care for her at night. I can’t leave. Can we do it tomorrow morning instead?”
“Taking you away during the day would cause unnecessary gossip and affect your reputation.”
“But my wife needs to take medicine at night. I really can’t leave.”
Li Qun hesitated, then finally nodded. “Alright! Then we won’t go to the internal guard. We’ll question you at your home.”
“Please come in!”
Li Qun brought his subordinates into the courtyard and had them wait in the courtyard. He went with Zheng Zhao into the study.
Li Qun sat down. Zheng Zhao wanted to pour tea, but Li Qun waved his hand. “No need. I’m not here as a guest.”
Zheng Zhao had no choice but to sit across from him, looking at Li Qun uneasily.
Li Qun asked, “We’ve checked your security clearance. It’s grade B, which doesn’t match your position. Do you know why?”
Zheng Zhao nodded. “I am Strategist Lu’s assistant. All copies of the top-secret documents he has signed are handed to me for filing. My position isn’t high, but I do have access to top-secret documents.”
Li Qun quickly noted it down and asked, “Next, I need to ask some personal questions. I hope you can answer truthfully.”
Zheng Zhao nodded silently. Li Qun asked, “What illness does your wife have?”
“After a miscarriage, my wife injured her body and has been bedridden, requiring long-term medication.”
“Do you have children?”
“Yes! I have a son, ten years old this year. With my wife seriously ill lately, I’ve temporarily left him with his grandfather.”
“Does your wife’s illness cost a lot of money?”
Zheng Zhao nodded lightly. “Every time it flares up, she must use ginseng to sustain her life. But ginseng is so expensive. My monthly salary can’t even buy one root. I’ve long been destitute. Fortunately, a friend urgently helped me with two roots of ginseng, which saved my wife’s life.”
“Who is this friend who helped you?”
“He is a shopkeeper at an apothecary.”
“How did you meet this apothecary shopkeeper, and how long have you known him?”
Zheng Zhao hesitated. “Is there a problem with this apothecary shopkeeper?”
Zheng Zhao also felt some unease in his heart. Although Shopkeeper Wang was very righteous, no one would give away two roots of ginseng just like that. But with his eagerness to save his wife, he temporarily ignored this unease.
“Supervisor Zheng, you haven’t answered me yet.”
Zheng Zhao had no choice but to nod and say, “A month ago, a neighbor told me that the medicine at Jichun Hall was cheaper, so I went to Jichun Hall to buy medicine. That’s when I met the apothecary’s Shopkeeper Wang.”
“Does he know you are Strategist Lu’s supervisor?”
“The second time I went, he asked where I work, and I told him truthfully.”
“And then you hit it off immediately, and he was very generous to you!”
Zheng Zhao shook his head. “We didn’t hit it off that well, but he was indeed very generous and righteous. Does he have a problem?”
“You also feel he has a problem?” Li Qun asked in return.
Zheng Zhao sighed. “I feel he’s being too generous, actually giving me two roots of ginseng. One root of ginseng costs at least five guan qian! I’ve been troubled by this these past few days. Why is he so lavish? He must have some purpose.”
Li Qun said solemnly, “This Wang Yao is Cao Cao’s intelligence scout. He was captured by us this morning. He confessed that you are his target and that he plans to bribe you with three hundred taels of gold.”
Zheng Zhao abruptly stood up and said coldly, “Is my conscience, Zheng Zhao’s, so cheap? Can three hundred taels of gold buy me?”
