Starting from 1618 of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 145 The Intelligence Network Takes Shape

night.

Dengzhou City, the prefectural magistrate's office, the study in the backyard.

The oil lamp flame flickered gently, casting the shadows of the two people on the wall.

Lu Yan sat behind the desk, with a stack of documents in front of him.

Shen Qing stood to the side, his expression solemn.

"Master," Shen Qing said, "the Shadow Guard's intelligence network has begun to take shape."

Tell me about it.

Shen Qing took out a document from his sleeve and handed it to Lu Yan.

"Please take a look, Master."

Lu Yan took the document, unfolded it, and took a look.

The document was covered in tiny, densely packed characters and divided into three parts.

"The first part is the business intelligence network," Shen Qing said. "This is the overt network, based on Manager Hu's business, covering the three prefectures of Dengzhou, Laizhou, and Qingzhou."

.

"Three prefectures?" Lu Yan raised an eyebrow. "So fast?"

'

"Yes," Shen Qing said. "Manager Hu's business already has branches in all three prefectures. I have placed two or three people in each branch, specifically responsible for collecting business intelligence on price fluctuations, goods circulation, merchant movements, and government tax policies—"

"These people are ostensibly employees of the trading company, but secretly they gather information for their subordinates. The intelligence they collect is compiled every three days and sent to their subordinates."

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Lu Yan nodded.

"continue."

"The second part is the official intelligence network," Shen Qing said. "This is a clandestine network that infiltrates the Dengzhou prefectural government, county governments, garrisons, and the navy."

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"To what extent has it infiltrated?"

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"In the Dengzhou government office, I have three people under my command—one is a clerk serving the prefect, one is a clerk in the criminal division, and one is a calculator in the household registration department," Shen Qing said. "These three people are responsible for collecting information on the prefect's movements, the progress of criminal cases, and tax collection."

"In each county government office, there were also people planted among the subordinates. In Penglai, Huangxian, Zhaoyuan, and Qixia, there were one or two informants in each county."

"At the garrison, I bribed a centurion to monitor the garrison's movements."

.

"As for the navy, Wang Tiezhu is already the boss's man, and I have planted two spies under him to corroborate each other's claims."

Lu Yan listened, a satisfied expression on his face.

"Okay. What about the third part?"

'

Shen Qing's voice became even lower.

"The third part is the military intelligence network. This is the most secretive network, specifically used to monitor Kong Youde and others."

"Kong Youde?" A glint flashed in Lu Yan's eyes.

"Yes," Shen Qing said. "I have planted a spy by Kong Youde's side. This person is Kong Youde's personal guard and is responsible for taking care of his daily life. I know who Kong Youde meets, what he says, and where he goes."

"And Geng Zhongming, Li Jiucheng, Chen Youshi, Wang Zideng—these people also have spies planted around them by their subordinates."

.

Lu Yan nodded after hearing this.

"it is good."

He stood up and walked to the window.

"Shen Qing, are these eyeliners reliable?"

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"Reporting to the master," Shen Qing said, "I have three criteria for selecting spies—first, greed; second, cowardice; and third, having something on them that I can't get."

"A greedy person will risk their life for enough money. A cowardly person dares not betray. A person with leverage over them, even if they want to betray, dares not."

"Only those who meet all three criteria can become the eyes and ears of subordinates."

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Upon hearing this, Lu Yan's lips curled up slightly.

"Shen Qing, your skills are indeed the true inheritance of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"You flatter me, sir," Shen Qing said. "I'm just copying the methods of the Northern Garrison Command; there's nothing new about it."

"Just copy it," Lu Yan said. "The Embroidered Uniform Guard's methods have been passed down for over two hundred years, and they've long been perfected."

We don't need innovation, we just need to copy.

He turned around and looked at Shen Qing.

"Anything else?"

"Yes," Shen Qing said. "My subordinates have also established two intelligence channels—one leading to Liaodong and the other to the capital."

Liaodong? The capital?

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"Yes," Shen Qing said. "Regarding Liaodong, I've placed two people in Dongjiang Town with the help of my master's maritime trading fleet. These two people are responsible for gathering intelligence on the Liaodong war situation—the movements of the Later Jin, the deployment of the Ming army, and the internal situation of Dongjiang Town—"

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"In the capital, I asked an old acquaintance to place someone there. This person is a gatekeeper for a certain official and can find out some news about the court."

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Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Lu Yan's eyes.

"There are people in the capital now?"

"Yes," Shen Qing said, "but the informants in the capital are too low-level; they can only get some superficial information. They still can't get the really important news."

"The fur is enough," Lu Yan said. "Something is better than nothing."

He walked back to the desk and sat down.

"Shen Qing, how much silver did these eye agents cost in total?"

"Back to the master," Shen Qing said, "the initial capital of five hundred taels has been spent. Later, another three hundred taels were added, which is also almost used up."

"Eight hundred taels?" Lu Yan nodded. "That's not much."

"Yes," Shen Qing said, "but the monthly expenses will be approximately one hundred taels for the informants' monthly fees, tips for information gathering, and bribery fees—"

'

"One hundred taels?" Lu Yan thought for a moment, "No problem."

He took a stack of silver notes from the drawer of the desk and handed them to Shen Qing.

"This is one thousand taels," he said. "Five hundred taels will be used for additional investment, and five hundred taels will be used for expenses over the next six months."

T

Shen Qing took the silver note and solemnly put it into his pocket.

"Your subordinate will certainly not fail the trust placed in you by your master."

"There's one more thing," Lu Yan said. "Kong Youde needs to be closely monitored. I need to know his every move."

"Understood."

"However," Lu Yan emphasized, "don't alert him. Make him feel that everything is normal, and don't let him become suspicious."

"Understood."

Shen Qing turned to leave, but Lu Yan called him back.

"Shen Qing."

"Is there anything else you need, sir?"

How many mutinies did you witness when you were in the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

Shen Qing paused for a moment, then said, "I have met you three times."

What do these three mutinies have in common?

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Shen Qing pondered for a moment and said, "The common point is that they all stemmed from insufficient food and pay, leading to resentment among the soldiers. At first, it was just minor skirmishes, but it escalated and eventually became uncontrollable."

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"Anything else?"

"And—" Shen Qing thought for a moment, "there are always signs before each mutiny. Soldiers gather in private, discuss the court, and spread rumors—these are all signs."

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Lu Yan nodded.

Are there any signs or omens on Kong Youde's side?

"6

Shen Qing's expression changed.

"Master, I have been observing for a while, and there are indeed some signs on Kong Youde's side."

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"What signs?"

"Kong Youde often met privately with Geng Zhongming, Li Jiucheng, and others to drink and criticize the court," Shen Qing said. "They also frequently discussed the issue of grain and pay, saying that the court was mistreating them and that trouble was bound to happen sooner or later."

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Lu Yan's face darkened upon hearing this.

"Shen Qing, do you think Kong Youde will rebel?"

Shen Qing was silent for a moment, then said, "Master, I dare not speak presumptuously. But I feel that if one day the food and provisions are cut off, or if the court does something that they cannot tolerate—Kong Youde may very well rebel."

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Lu Yan nodded.

"I understand. You can go now."

"yes.

"6

Shen Qing turned and left.

Lu Yan sat behind the desk, looking at the stack of documents with a furrowed brow.

An intelligence network has been established.

A three-tiered network of business intelligence, official intelligence, and military intelligence covered the three prefectures of Dengzhou, Laizhou, and Qingzhou, extending to Liaodong and the capital.

This net is his eyes.

With this net, he can know in advance when danger is coming.

But knowing the danger doesn't mean you can avoid it.

Kong Youde's mutiny did indeed occur in history.

Can he change this outcome?

Lu Yan didn't know.

But he knew he had to be prepared.