The princess regretted it.

Chapter 260 Discovery of Secret Letter

Zhong Chuzhou signaled his men to take out the items. When they opened the box, they saw it was filled with gold, silver, and jewelry, which shimmered alluringly in the candlelight. The letters, the writing, and the seals on the covers all revealed an unusual aura.

Zhong Chuzhou picked up a letter and quickly skimmed through it, the more he read, the more shocking it became. These letters detailed the Zhang family's secret dealings with various factions, including collusion between officials and businessmen, the sale of official positions, the smuggling of contraband, and so on. Each and every one of them was ironclad evidence enough to bring the Zhang family to ruin.

He looked at Master Zhang Wu and said coldly, "The Zhang family is truly an eye-opener. Master Wu? Really? What do you think your Zhang family will do if these things are presented to His Majesty?"

Uncle Zhang Wu couldn't make any sound, he could only twist his body wildly, staring at Zhong Chuzhou with his eyes as if he wanted to eat someone.

Zhong Chuzhou ignored him and turned to Mo Qing and said, "Keep these evidences carefully and send someone to guard them strictly. Also, search the camp thoroughly to make sure that no important clues are missed." Mo Qing nodded in agreement and took his men to carry out the task in an orderly manner.

Zhong Chuzhou looked down at Wang. "What's your name and where are you from? The information you provided is very good. I will then plead with His Majesty to ensure that your wife and children are spared from the disaster. How do you think?"

Wang looked at Zhong Chuzhou and instantly understood what he meant. He was inextricably linked to each of these disasters, and even if he didn't die, he would be badly injured. However, if he could save his wife and children, it would be a blessing in disguise.

A trace of determination and gratitude flashed in his eyes, and he kowtowed quickly and said, "Your Excellency is wise and kind! My name is Wang Chao, and I come from a poor family in Qingzhou. My family has been farming for generations, and we barely make a living with just a few acres of thin land. I have been studying hard since I was young, and I wanted to pass the imperial examinations and change the fate of my family, but unfortunately, I was unlucky and failed the exams many times. Later, due to the pressure of life, I joined the Zhang family by chance, but I didn't expect to go astray and commit many sins. Now, fortunately, Your Excellency has shown mercy. If you can keep my wife and children safe, my life will be at your disposal. I will tell you everything I know, and I will not hide anything!" His forehead banged on the ground, and soon it became red and swollen, but he did not dare to stop, as if only in this way could he express his sincerity and gratitude.

Zhong Chuzhou nodded slightly, his eyes filled with scrutiny and coldness. "Wang Chao, you must understand that a poor family background and bad luck are no excuse for aiding and abetting the evil. Ultimately, it's your inner desire to take shortcuts, to gain something for nothing, and your inherent impurity. You've already made so many mistakes, and only by making amends with all your might can you hope for a glimmer of hope. I hope you can keep your word. Stand up, and first, tell me where the supplies in this camp are hidden. Then, detail the troop movements within this camp and the communication methods with other strongholds."

Wang was so embarrassed by these words that he stood up tremblingly, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, and then he quickly replied, "The supplies are... in the cave behind the camp. There are food, weapons, and some medicinal herbs."

Zhong Chuzhou nodded with satisfaction and asked, "What about the troops? Besides the people in the camp, are there any other reinforcements outside?"

Wang said, "Originally... there was a patrol nearby, but seeing you guys show up like this, I think they no longer pose a threat. The rest of them were in the camp, but now they've all been... controlled by you."

After a pause, he continued, "Sir, the communication between this camp and other strongholds mainly relies on carrier pigeons. The carrier pigeons are kept in the pigeon house on the west side of the camp. Usually, there are carrier pigeons going back and forth every day to deliver messages. However, there has been no news from other strongholds during this period, so the number of times the carrier pigeons are released has decreased a lot." At this point, he raised his eyes and glanced at Zhong Chuzhou.

After listening to him, Zhong Chuzhou realized that the situation was similar to the previous stronghold, except that this time they had received a lot of letters, which was the most powerful evidence. After Wang finished speaking, he turned to Mo Qing and said, "Mo Qing, take a team to the pigeon loft to see if all the carrier pigeons have been controlled. Be sure not to let anyone take advantage of the opportunity to fly them out to pass on messages. Also, arrange for personnel to strengthen patrols around the camp to prevent any fish from escaping."

Mo Qing took the order and left, moving swiftly and decisively without the slightest delay. Zhong Chuzhou looked at Wang again, "Go on, are there any other details I need to know?"

Wang tried to recall, "Sir, the granary is on the east side of the camp, and it contains about three months' worth of food. Also, there's a secret training ground to the north of the camp, where some special weapons and training facilities are hidden, but only a few core personnel know about it."

After Zhong Chuzhou obtained the information he wanted, he ordered Wang to be taken away and guarded. He also arranged for Changsheng to lead the Zhenbei Army to deal with food and weapons. These supplies were like a blessing to the Zhenbei Army, and they could be properly stored and used to enrich the army's reserves and enhance its combat effectiveness.

He walked towards Master Zhang Wu again and said, "Master Wu, look, your companions are much more sensible than you. You should think carefully about what choice you should make."

Master Zhang Wu gritted his teeth and glared at Zhong Chuzhou fiercely. He couldn't speak, but he knew the truth. He was well aware of the danger of his situation; speaking or not, it seemed impossible to escape the shadow of death. After all, what he had participated in was, to put it bluntly, the crime of treason. Given the emperor's majesty and resolve, the punishment of his entire clan was not excessive. He only clung to a glimmer of hope, believing that if he remained silent and refused to admit anything, the old Grand Tutor might, out of their old friendship, come to save his life. Though this hope was as slim as a candle in the wind, it was his only spiritual support at the moment.

Zhong Chuzhou shrugged, as if he had anticipated Master Zhang Wu's reaction. "It seems that you have decided not to talk about it. Then we will see. Come, take him away and keep him in solitary confinement. No one is allowed to approach him."

Two well-trained secret guards quickly approached, one on each side, carrying Master Zhang Wu away. Though Master Zhang Wu struggled mightily, the effects of the drug still lingered. Zhong Chuzhou found a seat in the room, calmly flipping through the confiscated letters, quietly awaiting further news.

Zhong Chuzhou had been working tirelessly, sleeping in the open air, and completely devoted to the arduous task of seizing each stronghold. He personally participated in every battle and every deployment, meticulously planning each move, but he had a purpose. First, as the grandson of the eldest princess, he had a duty and obligation to eliminate the potential dangers and instability in the Jin State. Second, he hoped to accumulate more merit through this operation, so that he could confidently request a marriage from the emperor.

Because he was so absorbed in this plan, he was completely unaware that the Emperor had already granted him a marriage with Jin An. His fate was now even more closely tied to that of the imperial family.