Ten Directions Sword Master

The Imperial City Bureau was the most notorious intelligence agency in the Northern Wei Dynasty. Its investigations covered everyone from the lowest rungs of society to the highest officials in the imperial court and the generals of the military.

At its peak, it commanded tens of thousands of henchmen, stirring up the martial world, overseeing the imperial court, and wielding absolute power.

Towards the end of the dynasty, many of the local powers were severed, but the small city of Bingzhou still wielded considerable influence.

Lu Li's plan was to use the Imperial City Guard's authority to tell a story that would captivate the entire Bingzhou region.

Using irresistible bait, they forced the rebel army and He Zheng to engage in a final showdown within a month.

What does his subsequent exposure and inability to recover have to do with his return to Bailu Academy?

"This token is genuine. It cost me two hundred taels of silver to find it. Even a real Imperial City Guard agent would be confused by it... Moreover, according to historical records, at this point, the Imperial City Guard's focus was on the upcoming Yuanlong Conference in the capital, and all the experts from various prefectures were recalled."

This is Lu Li's confidence. The Imperial City Commander's Token was made using amethyst, a material unique to the royal family. Its hardness is comparable to that of divine weapons, making it difficult for outsiders to imitate.

Besides the commander of the Yingtai, no one else was qualified to know the identities of all his colleagues. He could easily fool most people with the real token he bought from the antique shop in Pengcheng and his understanding of the Imperial City Guard system.

"Impersonating the Imperial City Guard has three advantages. First, since Heyin County has not openly raised the banner of rebellion, Imperial City Guard spies have far greater personal safety guarantees than young people with no known background. Second, if you want to push the rebel army in the desired direction, or even drag more forces into it, you need a trustworthy and powerful endorsement."

Lu Li returned to the inn, ate his meal, and began to review his actions, checking for any flaws and areas for improvement.

"Thirdly, if Zhao Sanqin is no match for He Zheng, then we're doomed... Just to be on the safe side, it would be best to bring in two more Foundation Establishment experts."

He didn't want to entrust his life to the uncertainties of luck; the recent missions issued by the Nebula Compass had been increasingly difficult.

It was clear that the world they were about to travel to would not be as uneventful as the first one.

Back then, as long as you were careful enough and had a bit of a clever mind, you could survive.

If one's strength cannot keep up with the pace of improvement in the future, leading to significant changes, the Nebula Compass of endless opportunities will obliterate one in the next moment.

Having confirmed that there were no problems communicating with Liu Zhang of the Gray Wolf Gang, the next step was to wait for the pebble thrown into Bingzhou City to create a large enough ripple.

A secret agent from the Imperial City Guard suddenly arrived in the prefectural city to purchase a large quantity of grain; this will surely be reported to the three major families.

It all depends on which company takes the bait first and helps him continue this grand performance.

……

Fourth day.

The Shen family of Bingzhou, Jishan Hall.

The mountains in Heyin are numerous and dangerous, and farmland is scarce. A mu of fertile land with irrigation canals can fetch thirty silver-edged dragon-patterned coins, and even then, there is no market for it.

If it weren't a time of famine, and people couldn't survive, no family would be willing to sell their ancestral farmland.

One of Shen's ancestors was a third-rank imperial censor who, after retiring from office, returned to his hometown to purchase land and estates, accepted donations from relatives, and expanded his family.

Their descendants passed down the family tradition of farming and studying, and the family never stopped producing mid-level officials of the fifth or sixth rank, growing ever larger and larger.

The clan's land alone exceeds 50,000 mu, and there are also lands belonging to the various branches of the family that have been separated.

In these difficult years, the Shen family not only opened soup kitchens and did a lot of good deeds, but also doubled the amount of clan land.

In Bingzhou, the price of grain, whether it rises or falls by a single coin, requires the approval of Old Master Shen.

"Tell me, for the sake of those two truckloads of century-old petrified wood you delivered, let's hear what you're up to."

The elderly man, sitting upright in the main seat, had a ruddy complexion and a loud voice. He put down his teacup with a smile.

"Uncle Mao, that's my gift to you. If you just ask, I'll find you even the finest golden nanmu wood suitable for pillars and beams... I've come here because I've encountered a strange matter and would like to ask you for advice."

The middle-aged man was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit and had a rough appearance. Behind him stood two bodyguards whose demeanor was clearly inconsistent with that of Jishantang.

Tang Lie's father was a guard for the Shen family. He saved the life of the then eldest son, now the clan elder, Shen Zhongmao, and in return, he donated money to become a patrol inspector.

After giving birth to Tang Lie, she discovered that her son was born with superhuman strength and had outstanding talent in martial arts. Through the connections of the Shen family, he went to Heyin County, where the county seat was located, to learn martial arts and became a disciple of the Hanyue Sect.

After completing his foundation training, he returned to Bingzhou, took over his father's military post, and married a young lady from a collateral branch of the Shen family, elevating his family's status to a new level.

He displayed astonishing strength, especially during his patrol duties, subduing the Grey Wolf Gang, scattering two groups of refugees, and was awarded the honorary title of Chengwulang.

The burden of patrolling half the city fell on his shoulders.

Their relationship with the Shen family was no longer entirely one of subordination; they had gained a certain degree of influence and independence.

Tang Lie kicked the frail scholar behind him and snapped, "Tell me the truth about what happened the day before yesterday, so the old man can judge!"

Liu Zhang, trembling slightly, stood with his feet together, staring at the surface of his shoes, and recounted how Lu Li had come to buy grain.

I dare not add a single word, nor delete a single sentence.

The Shen family had been entrenched in Bingzhou for over two hundred years, their influence deeply entrenched. Crushing the seemingly powerful Gray Wolf Gang was no different than dealing with a rabbit.

As an inspector, Tang Lie held military power, official status, and considerable strength.

The leader of the Grey Wolf Gang, who had also cultivated his foundation over many years, was defeated in less than twenty rounds of fighting. This was the fundamental reason for the complete defection.

After the suspected Imperial City Guard spy left the day before, Liu Zhang immediately went to the gang leader to report the situation.

After discussing it, they realized they couldn't handle it. Finally, they met Inspector Tang from behind the scenes yesterday, and today they were taken to the Shen Family's Hall of Merit.

"Uncle Mao, I had someone examine the mark. The pattern and font match the secret letters from the Imperial City Guard sent from the county in the past. It's not a forgery... That person hasn't left the inn since returning, and no one has come to visit or make contact."

Tang Lie had lived in Heyin County for more than ten years and had witnessed the arrogant and domineering manner of the Imperial City Guard.

Even a powerful cultivator at the Refining Spirit Realm must put on a smiling face and offer tea and wine to the Eagle Platform Commandant.

With a single word from the Imperial City Guard, each sect must offer up its most precious cultivation resources.

Even though the current environment is different from that of more than 20 years ago, he is still wary, fearing that he might get involved in some major case.

The Shen family, who were related by marriage and were also her benefactors, became the best person to negotiate with.

Since it was that mysterious person who proposed the grain purchase deal, Shen couldn't avoid it even if she wanted to.

At this critical moment, Tang Lie felt a strong sense of powerlessness.

Even though our humble family has had a smooth life for the past few decades, it is still far inferior to a prestigious family like the Shen family of Bingzhou.

A mere secret agent from the Imperial City Guard threw him into a panic. He wanted to seek help from someone, but he had no higher-ranking connections in the official circles.

"Imperial City Guard..."

Shen Zhongmao's brows furrowed, his usual calm demeanor vanished.

"Since they've paid the deposit, the business must continue. Later, take my invitation to the granary and get 1,000 gold coins worth of grain... As for what they're up to, we'll find out when we meet tomorrow. I'll have the third brother go with you, really, there will be further instructions, not a lie..."

"With Third Master traveling with us, there won't be any problems!"

Tang Lie felt reassured. After offering a few compliments, he saw the old man serving tea and got up to take his leave.