Chang Yu still overestimated the speed of the team. A horse can run fifty miles in one hour, which does not mean it can run five hundred miles in ten hours, let alone five thousand miles in one hundred hours.
When it got dark, the exhausted team barely made it to Zhangjiakou and finally entered the city just before the city gate was locked.
"Let's take a good rest here tonight and set off early tomorrow morning." After entering the city, Chang Yu took a deep breath and said.
"I'm afraid the factory supervisor won't be able to sleep well tonight." Wu Mengming's sudden eyes flashed with a cunning light.
"You old fox," Chang Yu chuckled, "Do you smell money?"
Wu Mengming nodded vigorously: "How does the factory owner plan to take action?"
"Let's get straight to the point." Chang Yu looked at the deserted street, his eyes extremely cold.
Zhangjiakou is an important pass in the north of Xuanfu Town, one of the nine important towns in the Ming Dynasty. More than a hundred years ago, it was just a place for garrisoning troops. During the eighth year of Jiajing, Zhang Zhen opened a small gate in the north city wall, hence the name Zhangjiakou.
, at this time it has become the most important gateway and town from the Ming Dynasty to Outer Mongolia.
There is a post station in the city and it is heavily guarded. The residents in the city are a mixture of people and ethnic groups, just like Shanghai in modern times, and there are various spy forces entrenched in it.
As soon as Chang Yu's troops entered the city, there was a quick stir in all directions. The guard general Wen Zhongliang came after hearing the news. He did not dare to neglect the arrival of the emperor's two most important confidants.
Wen Zhongliangsheng was a general under Wang Chengyin, the commander-in-chief of Xuanfu. He was unknown, at least neither Chang Yu nor Wu Mengming had heard of him.
The eunuch army pressed the silver chariot with the Tengxiang Guards. Wen Zhongliang arranged for the Fujun Guards to go to the military camp. Chang Yu refused Wen Zhongliang's other arrangements and resolutely moved into the inn with Wu Mengming.
As for Wu Mengming's Jinsanbai Jinyiwei, they are responsible for security work.
Although this place is heavily guarded, it is also said that this is a sensitive place, hiding spies from countless forces, including spies from Outer Mongolia and the Manchu Qing Dynasty.
It cannot be ruled out that some Xiaoxiao heard about the identities of Chang Yu and Wu Mengming and took the risk to assassinate them.
As a post station in an important border defense town, Zhangjiakou's post station is second to none in scale and configuration due to its high utilization rate. However, with the arrival of Chang Yu and Wu Mengming, problems also arise.
The two people's identities were sensitive. Before moving in, Jinyiwei conducted a carpet search and investigation, and soon discovered a huge loophole. There were actually many guests staying here without real-name registration.
You must know that the inn is an official hotel, and only officials and soldiers come and go. Such inaction at this time shows that not only the pillars of the Ming Dynasty were cracked, but also many seemingly inconspicuous places were full of holes.
Chang Yu was furious and immediately held the person in charge of the station accountable. Guards in brocade uniforms strictly checked the identities of the residents. If there were any discrepancies, they were immediately arrested and interrogated. Seeing the boss of Dongchang getting angry, Wen Zhongliang also broke out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly hurriedly followed.
Not daring to show any signs of neglect, he even directly transferred 500 soldiers from the military camp to blockade several streets around the inn, fearing that if something went wrong, his future would be over.
After a lot of trouble, the post station finally calmed down. After checking their identities, there were only a dozen or so people left in the post station, all of whom were military couriers delivering military reports. The rest were eliminated.
A post station in a border fortress is so chaotic. You can imagine the rest. Chang Yu is really angry, angry and chilled. Gang Ji has been corrupted to this extent. It is not a day's cold.
The largest room in the station was cleaned and rich meals were arranged. Chang Yu and Wu Mengming ate happily and appointed Wen Zhongliang to accompany them.
Wen Zhongliang was extremely cautious. After all, the old man and young man in front of him were people who made the government and the public frightened. They could be described as executioners who killed people without blinking an eye or paying for their lives, and he was just a small general.
Of course Chang Yu didn't ask him to accompany him just to show off his prestige, but he also asked some sideways questions, such as whether the Xuanfu's military salary was in place and whether there was any debt?
Wen Zhongliang replied truthfully: "Everything has been paid, and there is no debt."
"General, please don't fool the factory governor at will. I can send people to the military camp at any time to hear the news. If you conceal anything, you will be punished immediately!" Wu Mengming threatened.
"I don't dare, humble duty. Everything you say about humble duty is true. All the wages owed have been paid a few days ago. Your Excellency, please send someone to investigate and we will find out." Wen Zhongliang was frightened and stood up quickly, clasping his fists with a look of sincerity and fear on his face.
Chang Yu smiled slightly and waved his hand for Wen Zhongliang to take a seat. By observing his words, he knew that the general in front of him was a straight-tempered, unscheming person who was not good at lying. Moreover, he also believed that Wang Chengyin did not dare to deceive, especially when Wen Zhi
After he became the admiral of Dongchang, anyone with any brains would not dare to do anything wrong. You must know that when Chang Yu first arrived at the Xuan Mansion, he was just a little-known eunuch. At that time, he dared to show off to Wang Chengyin and fight with him.
Okay, now the tide is rising, all boats are lifted, and holding Shang Fang's sword in his hand, Wang Chengyin naturally should weigh it carefully after hearing the news.
"Don't be excited when I hear that General Wen is not excited. This governor is not here to check military pay, but to handle another major case, and General Wen will be required to help!" Chang Yu said with a calm expression.
"I have a humble job and am ready to be driven by the factory supervisor." Wen Zhongliang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He said that generals these days are always accurate in their investigations. He could take a breath after learning that he was not investigating corruption in the army.
"Will General Wen Shen know who Fan Yongdou is?" Chang Yu's words made Wen Zhongliang's heart rise to his throat again...
How could he not know that the richest man in Zhangjiakou, "Jia was in the border town and wrote with faith", and even the richest businessman in Shanxi, Fan Yongdou, not only knew about it but also had close contact with them.
One became the largest merchant, and the other became the powerful guard of the border town. How could it be possible without any contact? How could Chang Yu not know about this?
Why Wen Zhongliang seemed so panicked? The reason was very simple. Those who were targeted by Dongchang must have committed serious crimes. Fan Yongdou had close contacts with him, so would he be implicated...
"I know, I know, Fan Yongdou is the largest businessman in Zhangjiakou, so he knows his humble position." Wen Zhongliang felt that he was sweating and reached out to wipe it.
"Now that we know it, it will be easy to handle. Wen Shen will accompany Mr. Wu to Fan's house to do some errands later, is that okay?"
"In my humble position, I will do my best to assist Mr. Wu in handling the case," Wen Zhongliang stood up quickly and said.
"In that case, you two should go and return as soon as possible. It's getting late." The governor was tired and wanted to go to bed early. After saying this, Chang Yu threw down the bowl and chopsticks in his hands and turned around and walked towards the inner room.
Wu Mengming smiled bitterly and shook his head. He had to do the hard work himself.
"Wen Shen will leave." Wu Mengming stood up and left.
"Master Wu, what crime did the Fan family commit? I dare to ask," Wen Zhongliang followed behind and asked in a low voice.
"You are committing a serious crime, collaborating with the enemy and betraying your country!" Wu Mengming sneered.
Ah! Wen Zhongliang broke out in cold sweat.
Fan Mansion in the north of the city, as a wealthy family, Fan Yongdou's house is second to none in Zhangjiakou. It covers a vast area. Although it does not have the specifications of a vassal king, the layout is close.
It was not too late at night, and as soon as Fan Yongdou finished the banquet and saw off the guests at the door of his house, someone quietly came to report: "Master Fan, something bad has happened. Please go out and escape immediately."
Fan Yongdou was shocked and couldn't figure out what he needed to avoid in Zhangjiakou. However, the messenger said this in a hurry and left immediately.
Fan Yongdou, who was confused as to what was going on, quickly returned to his house and sent someone to go to the Yamen to find an acquaintance for information. Unexpectedly, his servant quickly returned with a horrified look on his face: "Master, our house is surrounded!"
Fan Yongdou was shocked!
The Fan Mansion was first surrounded by officers and soldiers, with orders not to allow anyone to leave. Then the guards in Baijin uniforms rushed in and started to take people away.
For a time, the chickens and dogs in Fan Mansion were restless, noisy, and everyone was in a panic.
The Jinyiwei rushed in without saying a word, and went straight to the Fan family's inner house to get the person. If they encountered any obstruction, they immediately chopped him down with a knife, and no one dared to stop him.
"What are you doing? What law have I violated?" Fan Yongdou screamed loudly when he was pushed to the ground, but was quickly silenced...
During this arrest, Wen Zhongliang was in charge of the perimeter security. Wu Mengming, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, took command and directly captured the people. His actions were fast and accurate, and there was an unexpected surprise. Fan Ming and Fan Yongkui, who had fled from Jiexiu, turned out to be like this.
Shi Jing also arrived at Zhangjiakou and was picked up directly by Wu Mengming.
After taking the head of the Fan family, the door of the Fan family was immediately sealed, and no one was allowed to enter or exit. Anyone who disobeyed the order would be executed!
On normal days, there must be someone who smoothes the relationship and secretly accommodates, but the emperor's two most trusted confidants are here, who thinks he will live long, and even Wen Zhongliang, the most powerful garrison commander in Zhangjiakou at this time, is involved in the operation. He and the Fan family are involved in the operation on weekdays.
It can be considered a close relationship. At this time, everyone strictly follows orders, and no one else dares to make mistakes.
Not to mention that the Fan family was in a panic at this time. Fan Yongdou and his son, together with several nephews, stewards, accountants and more than ten people were directly taken away by Jin Yiwei and taken to the inn for separate interrogation. (To be continued)