Chapter 894: A Terrifying Place
Editor: Henyee Translations

In the camp.

After cleaning himself up, the Prefect finally looked presentable. Arriving at the main tent, he couldn’t stop wiping away tears, “General, I owe my life to Miss Chu. Otherwise, I would have been locked up until death.”

Tang Jinghong focused on the matter at hand, “Why did they kidnap you? And why imprison you?”

Sniffling, the Prefect recounted, “I was abducted a year ago. My wife and daughter went on an outing, and I, caught up in official duties, didn’t accompany them. In the afternoon, I was informed of an ‘accident’ involving them and rushed to the scene without suspicion, only to be ambushed by bandits.”

“That’s how I was captured and subsequently imprisoned.”

“General, could you send someone to the Linzhang City yamen to check on my wife and daughter? It’s been over a year since I’ve seen them.”

Tang Jinghong signaled to Meng Shengdong, “Go check.”

Meng Shengdong saluted, “Yes, General.”

The Prefect continued, “As for why they imprisoned me, I probed the bandits. It seems they coveted the fertile land around Linzhang City.”

“The General must know, the land around Dongling is sparse and barren, except for the vicinity of Linzhang City, which is relatively fertile and includes a plain.”

“I gathered from the bandits that they intended to use the land to grow treasures.”

Tang Jinghong had a grim suspicion, those lands were probably intended for cultivating opium poppies, “Bandits wouldn’t normally dare to kidnap a city’s Prefect.”

The Prefect nodded vigorously, “You’re right, General. They were acting under someone’s orders. The bandits who imprisoned me weren’t the brightest, but their operations were meticulously planned, indicating a mastermind behind them.”

After pondering for a moment, Tang Jinghong stood and left the main tent for the one holding the captured bandits.

The bandits were still in a stupor. Chu Qingzhi had taught Tang Jinghong that stimulating the eyebrows with a silver needle could awaken them.

Tang Jinghong woke up the third bandit, “Will you answer my questions properly?”

Seeing the soldiers, the bandit caved, “If I speak, can I have a chance to live?”

Tang Jinghong replied, “Depends on your performance.”

Eager to redeem himself, the bandit promised, “I’ll cooperate fully. Ask away.”

Tang Jinghong inquired, “Tell me about your stronghold’s origins.”

Desperate to atone, the bandit confessed, “Our stronghold was formed a little over a year ago. The leader was a butcher from Linzhang City who turned to banditry after being wrongfully accused of murder.”

“The origins of the second-in-command are unclear to me.”

“I was a beggar, always following the leader. Initially, he only sought a hideout until it was safe to flee elsewhere.”

“But then the second-in-command appeared, convincing the leader to form the bandits and recruit desperate men from all around.”

“People from all directions, unable to survive otherwise, joined us upon seeing a way out.”

“With manpower, we began looting and established the stronghold.”

“Then, a mysterious man appeared, only known to the leader and second-in-command. With his help, the stronghold expanded significantly.”

Tang Jinghong contemplated, “This mysterious man wouldn’t help you for nothing. What did he want?”

The bandit replied, “He didn’t ask for anything, just used our stronghold to transport boxes, the contents of which we never knew.”

“Where did these goods come from?”

The bandit shook his head, “I don’t know. I only saw goods frequently arriving, then being moved after a few days. I asked the leader, who only mentioned striking it rich, revealing nothing more.”

“Why wait a few days?”

“I don’t know. Those goods were secretly kept in a room, then quietly moved out and carried away through the back mountains.”

Tang Jinghong’s eyes narrowed, “If it’s a secret, how did you find out?”

The bandit hastily explained, “I saw it by chance.”

“Kaiming, take him. Let’s visit the stronghold.”

“Yes.”

Upon reaching the now deserted stronghold, the bandit, seeing no room for betrayal, hurriedly led them to the storeroom.