Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 375 Thorough Investigation
Wei Xian struggled hard, trying to move his wrists, but the ropes that bound him were stronger than he had imagined. The friction only made his wrists more painful, so he had to give up the idea for the time being.

"Is anyone there? Is anyone there?" He called out tentatively in a low voice. His voice echoed in the empty room but did not elicit any response.

If someone came, as long as they approached him and said a few words to him, even if they cursed him, it would be completely insignificant, but he might have found a chance to escape. As the leader of the Jinyiwei, he had enough confidence in his skills.

As time ticked by, Wei Xian grew increasingly uneasy. He pricked up his ears and heard faint footsteps outside the house. The sound was light and rapid, as if someone was deliberately trying to keep quiet. His heart leaped into his throat, and his mind quickly weighed the pros and cons—should he continue to feign unconsciousness, or try to negotiate with the other party?
A moment later, the door was slowly pushed open, and a figure flashed in. With the faint light of the fire outside the door, Wei Xian could see the other person's outline clearly - a middle-aged man with ragged clothes, but holding a shining dagger in his hand.

"Awake?" The other party's voice was low and hoarse, with a thick Zhangzhou accent.

Wei Xian took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He tried to force out a calm smile: "Brother, we can talk it over. You arrested me, do you want information or money?"

The man snorted coldly, a sinister glint in his eyes. "Ming army dog! Don't even think about playing tricks. Let me ask you, has Zheng Laoer decided to side with the Ming army?"

Wei Xian's heart sank suddenly. The other party was obviously not an ordinary kidnapper, but a spy sent by Zheng's army.

"Brother, you misunderstood. I'm just a businessman. How would I know about any military secrets..." He quickly concealed his emotions and tried to delay time.

However, the other party was obviously not buying it. He brandished his dagger and shouted, "Stop talking nonsense! Either answer honestly or I'll cut off your tongue right now!"

Faced with such a threat, Wei Xian's mind was working rapidly. He had to find a way to delay the other party - no matter what, he had to buy more time for himself.

But after a shout from outside, the man stared at Wei Xian for a while, and suddenly left. The room fell silent again, as if nothing had happened.

Wei Xian leaned against the wall, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his mind. He tried to recall the scene of the attack, but the picture that emerged in his mind was fragmented - the surging crowd, the roar of the carriage, the jeers and shouts of the onlookers.

These scattered memories were like beads on a broken string, unable to be strung together into a complete picture. How exactly had he been attacked? Wei Xian closed his eyes, frowning as he pondered. He remembered that the attacker seemed to blend in with the crowd, taking advantage of the chaos, and then he was forced into the carriage. The entire time, he couldn't even see the attacker's face clearly.

This person was obviously not Zheng Hongkui's, so it must be from another faction. Various speculations were swirling in his mind, and he felt that the answer was within reach, but he could never grasp it.

"This can't be in the mountains. We should still be in the city." Wei Xian shook his head vigorously, trying to dispel the ambiguity. He began to review his actions and the people he had come into contact with one by one - from his entry into Zhangzhou to the grocery store he stayed in, he repeatedly chewed over every detail.

Those people in the grocery store? He had a slight suspicion, but he quickly dismissed the possibility. He knew that the store owner and the clerks didn't know his true identity. They thought he was just a smuggler with some connection to pirates.

If these people really betrayed him, the reason seemed far-fetched. Or... were they actually forced? A series of hypotheses flashed through his mind, but none of them were convincing enough.

Zheng Sen's spies? The thought made Wei Xian frown. He knew the Zheng army had many spies in the south, but if the other side really had such powerful organizational skills and could have abducted him directly from the dark, would he still have the opportunity to calmly speculate here?
As time ticked by, Wei Xian continued to review his memories, filtering through every person and event he had encountered during this period. However, clues slipped through his fingers like grains of sand. Despite this, his sense of crisis grew stronger. This was one of the most perilous situations he had ever faced.

He felt a dull ache at the back of his neck and head, scars from the attack. He must have been knocked unconscious with a stick... and then tied here.

Wei Xian looked up and around. The room looked like a woodshed, dimly lit, and the air was filled with the smell of dry sawdust. His hands and feet were bound, but not tightly. He tested them briefly and felt that with a little effort, he should be able to break free. These people were unprofessional... or rather, they didn't need to be professional.

He listened intently, trying to detect any movement around him, but aside from the occasional whisper of wind, there was no other sound. Wei Xian's thoughts returned to the identity of the attackers, and he even wondered if someone was deliberately stirring up trouble. If it was Zheng Hongkui's men, that would be far-fetched, considering he knew I was there to assist. But it wasn't completely impossible...

Thinking of this, Wei Xian's brow furrowed even more. Although Zheng Hongkui had nominally surrendered, his power was deeply intertwined with those within and outside of Zhangzhou City. Had he accidentally stepped on some hidden line?
He shook his head, unwilling to continue speculating about Zheng Hongkui's suspicion. After all, he was one of the few people who knew his whereabouts.

This forced him to be more cautious. Although Zheng Hongkui didn't seem to have any motives for betrayal, his captivity showed that the situation in Zhangzhou was more complicated than he had imagined. Wei Xian suddenly realized that the footsteps seemed to be heading towards a corner outside the house, which made him realize that this must be a larger courtyard, otherwise there wouldn't be such a clear echo.

"What on earth are these people trying to do?" He tried to calm his breathing, pondering his next move. At this moment, the only thing he could do was to protect himself as best he could, hoping to find more clues after daybreak.

He tried to find some logical way around the dilemma. The attackers weren't particularly sophisticated, and they hadn't taken any further action. They didn't seem to intend to kill me, so what was their goal?
In the dim woodshed, time seemed to stand still, but Wei Xian's thoughts continued unabated. He knew that any detail in this environment could be the key to escape. He paid close attention to the floor beneath his feet, the wall behind him, and even the beams above his head, but he hadn't noticed anything unusual yet.

"Unless..." Wei Xian's eyes turned cold again. He could almost conclude that the attackers were not ordinary people, but a group of forces with ulterior motives.

If they were Zheng Hongkui's spies, their purpose might be to test him. If they were Zheng Sen's men... then the complexity of the situation was far greater than one could imagine. Wei Xian felt as if his head had been struck by a hammer. The stabbing pain made it almost impossible to concentrate. His memory was like a broken thread, with only fragments remaining. The dim and threatening environment made him even more irritable. He opened his eyes and saw a mountain of firewood before him. The smell of sawdust filled his nose, and he could even smell a faint hint of decay and mold.

Wei Xian couldn't help but be furious, and he couldn't help but curse in his heart, spewing out every swear word he could think of. However, before he could fully vent his anger, his stomach started to growl at an inopportune time, and the sudden feeling of hunger made him regain some composure.

Wei Xian was no ordinary man, but one of the Ming Dynasty's most elite Jinyiwei, having received systematic and professional military and intelligence training. He carefully adjusted his posture again, checking the ropes binding his hands and feet, and sneered inwardly. These people clearly had only a superficial understanding of binding techniques; the knots weren't tight enough, and their technique was unprofessional.

If it were the Jinyiwei who had taken action, he wouldn't have had such an easy chance. Wei Xian was even more fortunate to have a specially crafted dagger hidden in his leggings, his ultimate self-defense weapon. While he couldn't use it directly, if he could untie the ropes around his hands, his chances of escape would greatly increase.

He tried to move his wrist and found that although the rope was a little tight, he thought that if he twisted it a few times, he might be able to find a way to loosen it. At the same time, Wei Xian knew that the more than 30 personal guards in Zhangzhou must have noticed something unusual by now.

Although there weren't many of them, each of them was a seasoned warrior. Furthermore, his identity was unique; once the news spread, the entire Zhangzhou Prefecture would be in turmoil. Thinking of Zheng Hongkui's reaction after hearing the news, Wei Xian could even imagine how distraught he must have been.

In the woodshed, Wei Xian was still struggling to free himself from the ropes. He heard the occasional footsteps outside, and his mind grew increasingly alert. The kidnappers hadn't left anyone behind to guard him, which meant they didn't fully understand him, and perhaps even underestimated his abilities. This was his chance.

Wei Xian seized every moment, twisting the knot with both hands while adjusting the angle of the knot. Finally, his wrist felt a little loose, and the dagger on his leggings seemed to be not far away from him.

At this time, several of Wei Xian's personal guards were standing in a secret stronghold in the city, their faces ashen, and the atmosphere was so solemn that it made people breathless.

As soon as they discovered Wei Xian was missing, they immediately reported the situation to the captain of the personal guard. The commander of this team was named Zhao Chengzhi, a burly man with a sharp eagle-like gaze. He was one of the best masters in the Jinyiwei and the core figure of Wei Xian's personal guard.

After hearing the report, Zhao Chengzhi felt a surge of shock within him, but he quickly forced himself to calm down. He knew that if word of Wei Xian's disappearance were to spread outside, it would not only cause great unrest within Zhangzhou Prefecture, but could also plunge the entire southern region into chaos. Those responsible for protecting Wei Xian would likely be among the first to be held accountable.

"Calm down! Everyone, calm down!" Zhao Chengzhi shouted softly. His voice was not loud, but it carried an irresistible majesty. "We can't make a big deal about this for now. Right now, there are only two things we can do: first, find the whereabouts of the adults as soon as possible; second, we must not let other forces notice anything unusual."

"Captain, we're short-handed!" a guard whispered, his tone filled with anxiety. "We only have about thirty of us escorting Lord Wei this time. What if this is a large-scale ambush..."

"Shut up!" Zhao Chengzhi interrupted him coldly. "No matter who the opponent is, if they try to touch the commander of the Jinyiwei, they will never have an easy time. What's more, this Zhangzhou Prefecture is Feng Shuangli's territory. Whether they are enemies or friends, they dare not really kill you."

Zhao Chengzhi paused, then continued, "I've already ordered people to investigate. All the city gates remain closed, indicating that the Lord is still inside. Pass the order down, divide into small groups, and conduct a covert search throughout the city. Also, contact General Zheng and have him send someone to assist, but be careful to use other excuses to conceal the true purpose."

"What's the reason?" someone asked.

"Just say there are spies from the Zheng army infiltrating the city, plotting to assassinate important figures. This will not only mobilize Zheng Hongkui's troops, but also prevent the truth from being exposed." Zhao Chengzhi's tone was decisive and calm. "Remember, no one is allowed to mention the disappearance of Lord Wei, otherwise they will be subject to military law!"

After hearing Zhao Chengzhi's order, several guards followed suit and left. Meanwhile, Zhao Chengzhi stood there, clenching his fists tightly. Wei Xian was not only a member of the Imperial Guard, but also Zhou Shixian's trusted confidant. If anything happened to him, even if they fled to the ends of the earth, they would surely die.

Soon, the captain of Wei Xian's personal guard had obviously made a decisive decision. His face was gloomy and his eyes were sharp. He then waved his hand and led several confidants straight into the county government office.

The already tense situation in Zhangzhou City became even more chaotic because of the actions of this mysterious force. Where had the bailiffs in the county government ever seen such a scene?
Everyone's face was pale and they were at a loss. Some knelt down and kowtowed on the spot, while others ran away, crawling to the back hall to report to the magistrate and the county magistrate.

In the back hall, the county magistrate and the county magistrate were worried about the situation in the city. Suddenly, they heard the news that a mysterious army had broken into the county government office, and they were shocked.

The magistrate's face turned pale, and he muttered to himself, "This... This is fatal!"

The county magistrate was even more anxious, like an ant on a hot pan, constantly urging the yamen runners to investigate. Before long, they finally learned the origins of these soldiers: they were none other than Zheng Hongkui's men. The two men breathed a sigh of relief, but they remained cautious and immediately sent someone to report the situation to the other side.

Meanwhile, Zheng Hongkui had just returned to his residence from the military council chamber, barely removing his armor when he heard the sudden news. Frowning, he slammed the table and shouted, "What's going on? Who broke into the county government office?"

He immediately dispatched his trusted aides and ordered them to investigate the matter thoroughly. Zheng Hongkui knew that any disturbance in Zhangzhou City at this time could trigger a chain reaction and must be quelled swiftly with lightning speed.

(End of this chapter)