Chapter 270: Undercover

Chapter 270: Lurking in the Shadows

Cheng Ge let the carriage curtain fall with satisfaction, the smile instantly fading from his face as he lowered his head and took a small bite of the gold bar to test it.

He examined the shallow teeth marks on it—the real deal!

Shutting out the officials outside, who were barely keeping their forced smiles, the carriage rumbled off.

Carefully, he placed the piece of gold he had just tested with his teeth back into the brocade box, storing it alongside the other "prizes" in the chest.

Then, from a hidden compartment in the carriage, he took out a set of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, calmly grinding the ink on the small carriage table.

Spreading out a sheet of note paper, he paused briefly to concentrate, then dipped his brush in ink and began to write in neat, upright strokes:

"Your servant, Cheng Ge, respectfully submits: Upon investigation, after the last impeachment, the involved officials have not only failed to restrain themselves but have grown even more reckless, their actions far more reckless than before.

Today, they even had the audacity to invite me to a banquet under the guise of a 'poetry gathering.'

During the meal, they devised a pretext of 'special prizes' to openly bribe me.

The gifts included: one green jade ruyi scepter, one set of gold head ornaments, one white jade mountain carving, one pair of jadeite pendants, a set of rosewood stationery boxes inlaid with gems...

Their value is considerable, their intention as clear as day—they treat state law as if it doesn't exist; their conduct warrants execution!

These illicit goods, I temporarily seal for safekeeping—first, to preserve evidence; second, to hold them in trust for Your Majesty.

When the case is clear, I will certainly bring them, along with the criminal evidence against the offenders, back to the capital and present them before the throne.

Furthermore, during my maneuvering with them, I accidentally obtained a clue—I caught a glimpse of what appears to be an account book, which seems to be connected to the major case of illegal salt and iron smuggling.

This matter is of great importance, concerning the state's foundation. I shall secretly do my utmost to investigate, ensuring the truth comes to light.

They tried to sway my heart with gold, silver, and jewels, but little do they know my heart is like iron—loyal only to the king's service.

All gifts are evidence; all flattery is testimony.

I humbly beg Your Majesty's wise judgment. I will not fail Your Majesty's trust and will investigate to the very end!

Cheng Ge bows twice and respectfully presents this memorial."

After writing, he gently blew on the ink to dry it, folded the memorial, and handed it to Wufeng.

A few days later, deep in the night, candlelight flickered in the study of the Censorate.

Wufeng and Jiyue's figures quietly appeared, looking travel-worn.

"Sir," Wufeng clasped his fists, his voice low, "Jiyue and I disguised ourselves as a woodcutter couple and tried to approach Luoying Ridge.

But before we could get far, we were stopped by men with knives.

Those people are extremely alert; they have hidden outposts on the periphery. As soon as strangers approach, they forcefully drive them away."

Jiyue added, "We then visited several nearby villages. The villagers are all tight-lipped about Luoying Ridge, becoming flustered the moment they were asked. To avoid alerting them, we did not dare to force an investigation."

Wufeng continued, "But during our three days keeping watch nearby, we discovered people secretly transporting supplies out of the mountain late at night.

The convoy was not large, but it had many escorts, all skilled fighters. The convoy headed west.

Due to their heavy guard, we could not get close enough to confirm what they were carrying."

Cheng Ge listened quietly, his knuckles tapping lightly on the table.

The defenses on Luoying Ridge were so tight, secret transports late at night... there was definitely something fishy going on.

He turned his gaze to Ling Feng, who stood like a shadow in the corner.

"What did you find on your end?"

Ling Feng stepped forward, his voice steady but with gravity, "Sir, I examined Wei County's household registers and mining records for the past five years and found three anomalies."

He unfurled the documents he had brought with him: "First, over these five years, more than two hundred able-bodied young men have been reported as 'accidentally deceased'—a number far exceeding any other district. And these 'deceased' were mostly former miners."

"Second," Ling Feng pointed to a place on the ledger, "The iron ore output registered by the government differs from the actual amount shipped out by twenty percent."

"Third, and most suspicious," Ling Feng looked up sharply, "A government mine that was supposed to have been closed three years ago still has large quantities of daily necessities being delivered to that area."

A cold gleam flashed in Cheng Ge's eyes.

Abnormal deaths of able-bodied miners, discrepancies in iron output, a decommissioned mine still in operation...

He clasped his hands behind his back and walked to the window, gazing at the cold moon half-shrouded by thin clouds, unconsciously stroking the window lattice.

"Now, what is the name and background of the current county magistrate of Wei County?"

Ling Feng answered promptly, "Sir, the current County Magistrate of Wei County is named Shen Chongzhuo, from Yongzhou.

He passed the imperial examination as a third-class *jinshi* in the sixth year of Longde and has been in this post for over six years."

"Six years..." Cheng Ge repeated the time frame slowly, candlelight casting a pattern of light and shadow on his face.

He turned abruptly, the night wind lifting the stray hair from his forehead, "Wufeng, Jiyue, prepare yourselves. Tomorrow, we leave for Wei County."

"Young master, what about me?" Ling Feng stepped forward.

"You and Lü Rou stay here," Cheng Ge's tone was decisive. "If Zhao Yuanliang makes any move, keep him occupied."

...

Three days later, in a mountain village on the outskirts of Luoying Ridge, three "mountain goods merchants" rented a thatched cottage.

Cheng Ge, dressed in coarse cloth, wandered outside the ridge every day, getting the guards' shift change schedule down pat.

On a moonless, windy night, the three of them were lying hidden in the grass outside the ridge, Cheng Ge chewing on a grass stalk.

Then, he fished a handful of dates out from his sleeve, poking Wufeng and Jiyue in the small of the back.

The two understood, reaching out to take the dates, and lay back in the grass, stuffing the dates into their mouths.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted inside the ridge—mixed with harsh shouts and chaotic footsteps.

"Please... let me go..." A shrill cry for mercy pierced the night.

The three froze, then quickly turned and pressed themselves flat, carefully parting the dead grass in front of them.

Through the gap, they saw an emaciated man staggering out from the mining area.

His hemp clothes were already torn and ragged, his exposed back covered with overlapping old and new whip scars.

One leg seemed injured, leaving bloody footprints with every step. "You dare to run?!" The lead guard sneered, swinging his club viciously and striking the man directly in the back of the knee.

“Aaaah—!” The crisp crack of a bone breaking rang out, and the man crumpled to his knees.

Immediately after, four or five clubs rained down like hail, each blow carrying deadly force.

The dull thuds of clubs striking flesh were especially jarring in the silent night.

The man’s screams gradually faded from shrill to weak, leaving only intermittent groans.

“Beat him! Beat him till he's dead!”

The guard captain stood by coldly, watching. “Let those filthy slaves see what happens when they try to run!”

Cheng Ge held his breath, his eyes wide as he followed the guard captain’s gaze—

In the shadows of the distant mine entrance, a dense crowd of ragged miners stood.

Each one was emaciated beyond recognition, with sunken eyes, like walking skeletons.

In the firelight, their faces showed no expression—neither fear nor sympathy—only a deadened numbness.

A young miner took a half-step forward on instinct, only to be yanked back by an old miner beside him.

The old miner shook his head numbly, his clouded eyes reflecting a despair born from years of hardship.

The young man bit his cracked lips and ultimately lowered his head, retreating into the darkness.

“These beasts…” Jiyue clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.

By then, the man on the ground had stopped moving, only the faint rise and fall of his chest showed he was still alive.

Blood streamed from his mouth and nose, pooling into a dark red puddle beneath him.