Seeing Zhao Jing Zhong's secret letter, Han Kuang's expression shifted from shock and anger to joy.
“Good!”
“I didn’t expect you, Hundred-Household Captain Chen, to find evidence of Zhao Jing Zhong's treasonous collusion with the barbarian chieftains so quickly. You’re really capable!”
“Now that we have physical evidence, where are the witnesses?”
Chen Ran answered:
“The two Jurchens spies at Fengxian Inn, and Zhao Jing Zhong’s confidant Zhao Mian, are all being held and interrogated at the inn right now!”
“Good!”
Han Kuang, overjoyed, clapped his hands and laughed:
“I'll go report this to the Emperor and apprehend Zhao Jing Zhong!”
As he said this, he took the secret letter and turned to leave.
But Chen Ran hurriedly stopped him:
“Sir Han, it’s been almost an hour since Zhao Mian was captured. Zhao Jing Zhong will realize something is amiss anytime now. If you go to the Palace and wait for the Emperor’s instructions, it will take time to come and go. If Zhao Jing Zhong escapes or sends someone to silence witnesses during this time, it’ll be bad!”
“I am willing to gather men to protect the inn, keep an eye on Zhao Jing Zhong, and simultaneously pursue the spies in the city. But I’m only a Hundred-Household Captain. I’m afraid…”
Han Kuang nodded:
“That’s right. A Hundred-Household Captain like you wouldn’t be able to mobilize the Northern Garrison and the Eastern Factory’s Embroidered Uniform Guard. If Zhao Jing Zhong decides to go out with a bang, we’ll be in trouble!”
He pondered for a moment, quickly wrote a warrant with his brush, then took out a waist token and declared loudly:
“Chen Ran, I appoint you as acting Thousand-Household Captain of the Northern Garrison. From now on, you only answer to me and the Emperor. Capture all the Jurchen spies in the city!”
“Han Chen!”
A sturdy house guard, Han Chen, strode forward from behind.
“You, as a Thousand-Household Captain of the Imperial Guard, will lead the Imperial Guard to cooperate with Chen Ran. First, keep Zhao Jing Zhong under watch. Once I report to the Emperor, apprehend him immediately!”
As he spoke, Han Kuang’s expression suddenly turned extremely cold:
“If Zhao Jing Zhong dares to seize the witnesses or flee, kill him without mercy!”
“Yes!”
Both Chen Ran and Han Chen replied in unison.
But as Chen Ran took the waist token and warrant, a subtle smile appeared on his face.
This was exactly what he wanted!
Although Han Kuang had promised to help him obtain the Thousand-Household Captain position, Chongzhen seemed to have reservations, so the promotion notice had been delayed.
However, now Chen Ran was using the fear of Zhao Jing Zhong going out with a bang and attempting to seize the prisoners or escape, as well as the need to apprehend the Jurchen spies throughout the city, to pressure Han Kuang into directly appointing him as Thousand-Household Captain of the Northern Garrison.
Once he secured this position, it would be his for good!
Uncovering Zhao Jing Zhong’s treason, apprehending the Jurchen spies—these were all monumental feats!
Then, the Thousand-Household Captain position of the Northern Garrison would naturally be his!
After leaving Han Kuang’s residence, Chen Ran said to Han Chen:
“General Han, immediately deploy the Imperial Guard to surround Zhao Jing Zhong’s residence and order the city guards to strictly check anyone leaving the city. I’ll go to the Northern Garrison to summon the Embroidered Uniform Guard to capture the Jurchen spies throughout the city!”
Han Chen’s face immediately lit up with joy as he clasped his hands and said:
“Excellent, let’s split up and act!”
Seeing the smile on Han Chen’s face, Chen Ran chuckled inwardly.
Han Chen thought that by surrounding Zhao Jing Zhong’s residence and capturing him, it would be a sure thing, and he would surely be rewarded with great merit.
But Chen Ran knew that Zhao Jing Zhong was a cunning individual.
Zhao Mian had been captured for an hour, and Zhao Jing Zhong, seeing him not return, would inevitably be alerted.
As the saying goes, a cunning rabbit has three burrows. Zhao Jing Zhong would undoubtedly have other hiding places within the city!
Therefore, in Chen Ran’s view, Han Chen sending troops to surround Zhao Jing Zhong’s residence would likely be a futile effort, like an old cat catching a pig’s urine bladder.
As for the credit for capturing Zhao Jing Zhong, that would inevitably go to Chen Ran!
Because Zhao Mian and the two Jurchen spies were all in Chen Ran’s hands!
Chen Ran’s current objective was to gain control of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the Northern Garrison and then take as much credit as possible!
Thinking about this, Chen Ran immediately spurred his horse towards Fengxian Inn.
“Shen Lian, Lu Jian Xing, how is their interrogation going?”
Shen Lian and Lu Jian Xing hurried out of the room and said:
“Brother Chen, these two have confessed everything they know. Aside from their inn being a Jurchen spy outpost, the owner and three employees of Tianfu Wine Shop in the east of the city are also Jurchen spies!”
“Furthermore, the Jurchens have intermediate stations in places like Zunhua and Luanzhou. We’ve recorded everything they’ve confessed.”
Chen Ran nodded:
“Don’t worry about Zunhua and Luanzhou for now. Leave this place to Fang Cheng and Ding Xiu. The three of you come with me to the Northern Garrison immediately!”
Shen Lian and the others were taken aback:
“To the Northern Garrison? Are we going to ask the Left Thousand-Household Captain for troops?”
Chen Ran smiled slightly and showed them his waist token:
“No need. Because now I’m also a Thousand-Household Captain, and I only answer to the Emperor and the Chief Minister!”
Upon hearing this, Shen Lian, Lu Jian Xing, and Jin Yi Chuan were both surprised and overjoyed.
Initially, when Chen Ran said they were going to the Northern Garrison, they were a little worried that the Left Thousand-Household Captain wouldn’t listen to them.
But now that Chen Ran had obtained Han Kuang’s warrant authorizing him to act as Thousand-Household Captain, he could naturally bypass the Left Thousand-Household Captain and take charge of all the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the Northern Garrison.
This time, they had completely sidelined the Left Thousand-Household Captain of the Northern Garrison!
“Brother Chen, your promotion is too fast!”
Lu Jian Xing exclaimed in surprise.
Chen Ran’s rapid advancement was beyond his imagination.
Although he was currently acting in the position, since he had already assumed the responsibilities of a Thousand-Household Captain, after capturing Zhao Jing Zhong and the Jurchen spies in the capital, this Thousand-Household Captain position would undoubtedly be his!
In the past, Lu Jian Xing had to beg and grovel, burning incense and kowtowing everywhere just to get a Hundred-Household Captain position.
But in just a few days, Chen Ran had gone from a Hundred-Household Captain to a Thousand-Household Captain of the Northern Garrison!
Amazing!
Chen Ran smiled and said:
“This is nothing. The Thousand-Household Captain of the Northern Garrison is merely a stepping stone!”
Upon hearing this, Lu Jian Xing, Shen Lian, and Jin Yi Chuan were all incredibly surprised.
Even the Thousand-Household Captain of the Northern Garrison was just a stepping stone!
Brother Chen’s ambitions are truly vast!
Chen Ran didn’t say more, but leaped onto his horse and shouted:
“Time is of the essence. Come with me to the Northern Garrison immediately! Take charge of all the Embroidered Uniform Guard and capture all the Jurchen spies and Zhao Jing Zhong himself!”