Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 344 A vast intelligence database; imagination is the most deadly.

Whether they are officials or ordinary people.

They all fear power but not morality.

Zhu Jinzhen's dispatch of Yu Huatian to make a nighttime visit to the Northern Garrison Command had already caused widespread panic in most of the capital. After the Six Doors' visit, their subsequent trip to the Dragon Guard Manor further shook the entire capital.

Rumors and speculations abound.

Countless people were filled with anxiety, fearing that they would get into trouble.

Hulong Villa.

Zhu Wushi was imprisoned for regicide and rebellion.

Although the place is not completely deserted, it has already been sealed off by the secret guards.

"The files of the Dragon Guard Manor have always been managed by my godfather, and even we are not qualified to access them."

"Bringing us here won't help."

"Because we have no right to access the files without our godfather's permission."

Upon hearing Shangguan Haitang's words, Yu Huatian simply smiled slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

He led Shangguan Haitang and the agents of the Western Depot to the most mysterious document room of the Dragon Guard Manor.

"The files here..."

Shangguan Haitang's pupils contracted, revealing an expression of disbelief.

"It's strange, why wasn't it destroyed or transported away?" Yu Huatian pushed open the door and entered. Inside stood every intelligence officer from the Dragon Guard Manor's intelligence agency, without exception.

Shangguan Haitang nodded silently.

This is precisely what she can't understand.

As the number one secret agent of the Dragon Guard Manor, he also commands a massive organization as the number one manor in the world.

Shangguan Haitang knew very well that if her godfather got into trouble or disappeared for a period of time, the internal intelligence agency of the Dragon Guard Manor would definitely hide or destroy itself. It would never be foolish enough to wait in place and be seized or accepted.

From that day on, Zhu ignored the exposure of the conspiracy and was placed under house arrest in the palace.

Nearly half a month has passed since then. Logically speaking, the intelligence rooms underground in the Dragon Guard Manor should have already destroyed the files and disappeared, waiting for Zhu Wushi to recall them one day.

But rather...

When she and Yu Huatian stepped into this place, they could clearly sense that the files here were still as they had been, without any signs of being disturbed.

“Miss Shangguan, as the head of the number one manor in the world, your intelligence capabilities are also quite impressive.”

"Guess why this place remains as it is?"

Shangguan Haitang was indeed incredibly intelligent and quick to understand. She soon guessed the reason and turned her gaze to the intelligence room that maintained the huge intelligence network of the Dragon Guard Manor, where a few figures stood out from the crowd.

"Is it because of... Prince Su's secret guards?"

"Clap clap clap!"

Yu Huatian smiled and clapped his hands, saying, "Indeed, you are incredibly clever."

If the secret guards hadn't intervened in time, the intelligence about the Dragon Guard Manor would never have fallen into Zhu Jinzhen's hands.

"Here lies evidence and leverage of the corruption and filth of the officials of the Ming Dynasty."

"If His Majesty had not been so farsighted as to order the secret guards to take control of the Dragon Guard Manor as soon as he controlled the capital, we would never be seeing such a magnificent scene now."

After Yu Huatian finished speaking, he looked in front of him and saw a spacious underground room filled with bookshelves.

On the bookshelf were the complete records of the entire Ming Dynasty court, from the emperor and the cabinet down to the six ministries and officials, as well as local powerful families, officials, gangs, and martial arts sects.

In terms of sheer volume of books, this place is truly vast.

Yu Huatian randomly picked up a volume of intelligence from a bookshelf. It contained detailed files about a certain department, a certain rank of official, and even included annotations and appendices detailing various incriminating acts such as embezzlement, forming cliques, and disregarding human life.

After reading it, Yu Huatian couldn't help but sigh, "As expected of the intelligence organization that Iron-Blooded Marquis spent twenty years perfecting." "All officials of the fifth rank and above in each department and bureau have their records here."

"And it is extremely detailed."

Ma Jinliang, standing to the side, curiously pulled out an intelligence file from a huge intelligence shelf labeled with martial arts sects, and immediately exclaimed in shock, "Not only that, Chief Supervisor!"

"The Dragon Guard Manor is even very familiar with things that happen in the martial arts world."

"Ghost Manor, Old Knife Handle, is actually the Wooden Taoist who was highly regarded by Master Zhang of Wudang?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present turned to look.

Such top-secret intelligence was unknown even to Shangguan Haitang, the head of the Xuanzi No. 1 of the Dragon Guard Villa, let alone to Yu Huatian, Tan Luzi, and other people from the Western Depot.

"interesting."

"Ghost Manor, the Wooden Taoist?"

Yu Huatian took the intelligence file, and after carefully reading it, a strange smile suddenly appeared on his handsome, effeminate face. A man from a prestigious family, a renowned figure in the martial arts world, secretly had formed a criminal organization like Ghost Manor.

Such a talent deserves to be in the Western Depot!
Shangguan Haitang, standing to the side, looked on with shock.

Although her world wasn't black and white, or either/or, she never imagined that Mu Daoren, a respected elder of Wudang and a highly regarded figure in the martial arts world who could become the next leader of Wudang, would secretly create that filthy Ghost Manor.

Yu Huatian's purpose for this trip was clear: to obtain intelligence on the officials in the Fengtian Hall who were trying to test Zhu Jinzhen, and the forces behind them.

Soon, with the cooperation of the people from the West Depot and the intelligence personnel from the Dragon Guard Manor,

Hundreds of files were extracted.

Watching the person methodically copying down the information, Yu Huatian then looked at Shangguan Haitang, who seemed about to speak several times but hesitated, and said, "Master Shangguan, if you have anything to say, please feel free to say it."

Shangguan Haitang pursed her lips, raised her head, and asked in a deep voice, "Is it your order to release me, or the order of that Prince Su?"

“I need to correct you on one point.” Yu Huatian held up a finger and slowly shook his head: “Your Highness is a thing of the past. Today you should address him as Your Majesty.”

Shangguan Haitang frowned, but did not refute.

She already knew everything that happened in Fengtian Hall before she was released.

Knowing that the former Prince Su, Zhu Jinzhen, is now the new ruler of the Ming Dynasty who has not yet ascended the throne.

Another figure like Emperor Taizong.

"Secondly, if it weren't for His Majesty's mercy, we would be strangers, and I am a eunuch. Even if Miss Shangguan is a beauty of unparalleled grace, it would not be worth me taking such a risk."

Shangguan Haitang's eye twitched, and her heart sank.

She asked out of curiosity, though she already had a guess in her heart.

But Yu Huatian's unusual attitude gave her a bad feeling.

"Could it be that Prince Su... His Majesty, has taken a fancy to me?" A bold guess suddenly popped into Shangguan Haitang's mind, and a blush instantly rose on her pretty face.

Fortunately, she was selected from countless imperial secret agents, and she was good at adjusting her emotions, so she quickly concealed the blush on her face.

That's how they managed to keep it from being noticed by the people from the Western Depot standing nearby.

Only Yu Huatian noticed this, but did not point it out. Instead, he pretended not to know and changed the subject: "Master Shangguan is not only a Xuan-level secret agent of the Dragon Guard Manor, but also controls the number one manor in the world. She is a true heroine among women."

"His Majesty has always cherished talent and cannot bear to see you buried with the Dragon Guard Manor and Zhu Wushi."

As for the truth of the matter?

Does that matter?

Yu Huatian didn't care, and many others wouldn't care either.

Even if Shangguan Haitang learns the truth in the future, what can she do?
Little did they know, Shangguan Haitang had long lost her usual composure and calmness. Only one thought kept flashing through her mind: "The Prince Su's mansion is full of experts and talents. It certainly doesn't need me, Shangguan Haitang!"

"Could it be a love for talent?"

(End of this chapter)