I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 324 Wang Rong
"Your master is just a merchant, yet he dared to kill an official of the imperial court. He's got some nerve!"

Tang Zhao stroked his chin. "Which leader of the river protection army do you have dealings with?"

The bandit's face stiffened.

Before the words "Someone, continue" could even be typed, the bandit cried out, "My lord, I only know that the Hu family has dealings with the river protection army, but as for who they deal with and how they deal with them, I really don't know!"

"Sir, you should ask Hei San. He is the chief's confidant, and he certainly knows more than I do!"

Tang Zhao turned to look at another bandit.

The bandit named Black Three was a spineless coward. He had already wet his pants in fear at the sight of the Third Leader's mangled body. As soon as he saw Tang Zhao looking over, he said without saying a word, "The First Leader's sister is the beloved concubine of Lord Wang Rong, the garrison commander of the river protection army!"

The biggest secret has been revealed, so there's no need to hide the rest. "Every now and then, the head of the gang would disguise himself as a merchant and send gold and silver to Lord Wang Rong under the guise of subsidizing his sister. Lord Wang would then pretend to arrest us after receiving reports from the merchants."

"Pretending to arrest each time?"

"The chieftain will deliberately leave some of the villagers behind for Lord Wang to capture and hand over, and then release them after the case is closed."

Tang Zhao raised an eyebrow. "Bandits captured by the river are punishable by death according to the law. How can they be released?"

Hei San lowered his head. "Before the execution, Lord Wang will secretly replace the person."

Tang Zhao frowned. This Wang Rong was truly treating human life and the law as a joke!

"Keep a close watch on them. Once it's light, we'll go and meet this Lord Wang."

"Yes!"

Tang Zhao returned to the cabin, threw himself onto the bed and rolled around, "It's only been three days since we set off and so much has already happened. This job is really inhuman."

Gu Ci walked to the bedside and sat down, reaching out to take off Tang Zhao's boots. "If you're tired, go to sleep early."

"It'll be dawn in three hours, we should go to sleep early," Tang Zhao said without changing his clothes, and crawled into bed. "Guard Gu, you may take your leave now."

Gu Ci took off his shoes and squeezed onto the bed. "That won't do. I am ordered by the Emperor to protect you closely."

Tang Zhao was pressed against the wall. "Don't try to intimidate me with the imperial decree. Whose guards share a bed with an official?"

Gu Ci stretched out his arm and pulled Tang Zhao into his arms. "His Majesty's decree instructs me to serve you wholeheartedly, not only to protect your safety, but also to serve you tea and water, massage your waist and legs," he whispered in his ear, "and of course, that includes serving you in bed."

Tang Zhao bent his leg and kicked, "If you want to serve me in bed, go find someone else. I don't need you."

"But I only wish to serve you in bed, my lord," Gu Ci said, pressing his face close to Tang Zhao's and pleading in a low voice, "Please grant my request, my lord."

Tang Zhao was both amused and exasperated. "I've dressed up like this and you still dare to get so close? Are you so desperate?"

Gu Ci lifted Tang Zhao's chin and examined her carefully for a moment. "Is she ugly? I think she's quite pretty."

Tang Zhao's lips twitched. "When did you go blind?"

Gu Ci said from the bottom of his heart, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In my eyes, you are the most beautiful man."

Tang Zhao raised his hands in surrender, "You win."

"Then, sir, may I serve you in bed?"

"Let's talk about this later."

Gu Ci sighed inwardly, but showed no sign of it on his face. He lowered his head and kissed Tang Zhao's cheek, then gently patted Tang Zhao's back. "Go to sleep."

Tang Zhao nestled in Gu Ci's arms, closed her eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, the morning light was bright.

When Tang Zhao opened her eyes, Gu Ci was no longer there. She was too lazy to get up and stretched her arms and legs on the bed.

Hearing the noise outside the cabin, Dongmei ran in. "Miss, you're finally awake! There's an adult waiting for you outside for a long time." "What adult?"

"I don't remember his official title, but the people around him all call him Lord Wang."

Wang? Could it be Wang Rong, the garrison commander of the river protection army?

Tang Zhao became interested and stopped staying in bed. After quickly washing up, he drew on his birthmark, put on his beloved mole, and then went out of the cabin.

"Your humble servant, Wang Rong, the garrison commander of the river protection army, pays his respects to the Salt Commissioner!"

"Please rise, Lord Wang," Tang Zhao said, sitting down in his chair. "What brings you here, Lord Wang?"

Wang Rong knelt on the ground without moving, saying, "This humble official has come to beg for forgiveness!"

"What crime?"

"I failed in my duty to guard the canal, allowing the river bandits to attack you, sir. I beg you to punish me!"

"I traveled to Jiangnan incognito without showing my identity to the river protection army. If anything unexpected happens, it cannot be blamed on the river protection army," Tang Zhao said, taking a sip of tea. "Besides, I have guards personally bestowed by His Majesty to protect me. How could a mere river bandit possibly harm me?"

Wang Rong kowtowed, "Thank you for your kindness, sir!"

"However, last night I captured a few prisoners and learned something interesting from them. Would Lord Wang be interested in hearing it?"

"I would like to hear the details."

"I've heard that Lord Wang has a beloved concubine surnamed Zheng."

“Yes, sir,” Wang Rong replied. “The concubine was the sister of a merchant surnamed Zheng. The two siblings were attacked by river bandits while transporting goods south. I happened to be on duty and rescued them.”

"Because I had physical intimacy with Miss Zheng when I was saving her, in order to protect her reputation, I had no choice but to take her as my concubine. However, I have always disliked dealing with merchants, so I rarely see the two siblings."

"Has Lord Wang not investigated the Zheng siblings?"

“I have investigated. I had someone check the household registration in Suzhou Prefecture and confirmed that the Zheng siblings are just ordinary merchants,” Wang Rong said, pausing for a moment. “Does Your Excellency mean that the identities of the Zheng siblings are questionable?”

Tang Zhao carefully observed Wang Rong and said, "According to the confession of the river bandits, that Zheng brother is the leader of Tengjiang Village, which is causing havoc on the canal."

Wang Rong's face was grim. "This humble official failed to judge people properly. I beg you, sir, to punish me."

“The Zheng siblings clearly set this trap on purpose to lure you in, and it’s understandable that you didn’t realize it at first,” Tang Zhao said, looking at him sympathetically. “Here’s what we’ll do: go back and arrest that concubine, imprison her, and await my interrogation.”

Wang Rong lowered his head deeply. "Your Excellency, my concubine suddenly gave birth last night, but died in childbirth this morning."

Tang Zhao remained silent for a long time; the deck was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"What a coincidence," Tang Zhao suddenly smiled. "I had hoped to get some useful information from that woman to help the river protection army wipe out Tengjiang Village, but it seems that this plan will not work now."

"My lord, there is no need to worry. My spies have already located the stronghold of Tengjiang Village. I am confident that I can wipe out the river bandits in one fell swoop!"

"Excellent!" Tang Zhao clapped his hands and personally helped Wang Rong up. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Lord Wang. It's a pity I had to send someone to assist you."

"I dare not trouble your guards, sir," Wang Rong hurriedly declined, "My men are more than capable of leading the river patrol to wipe out the river bandits."

"Very well! After Lord Wang has wiped out the river bandits, I will personally submit a memorial to recommend him for commendation!"

"Thank you, sir!"

"When will Lord Wang make his move?"

"Tonight!"

"Then I wish Lord Wang every success!"