Chapter 1474: Chapter 1474: The Treasure Ship Returns, a Backup Remains

As the Longevity Festival approached, Commandery Princess Dongyang, also known as Niu Pan’er, who had been dispatched to support the treasure convoy, finally returned to the capital, bringing with her over a dozen carts of gold, silver, and jewels, valued at tens of millions of taels.

Emperor Chu was exceedingly delighted, Song Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief, and Ministry of Revenue’s Chief of Staff nearly wanted to set off dozens of long strings of firecrackers to celebrate.

Heaven above, the silver that flowed out like water this summer was finally going to return to the National Treasury. Heaven help him, every time he saw the increasingly sparse accounts of the treasury, he would worry himself into pulling out a few strands of beard.

Emperor Chu summoned Niu Pan’er, and upon seeing her energetic appearance, except for her face being slightly sunburned, she did not seem to have suffered any injuries, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"It is good that Lord Niu is not hurt. Otherwise, if you were injured, I would have no face to confront Prince Dingbei."

Niu Pan’er bowed and said, "Thanks to Your Majesty’s blessing, the journey was relatively smooth. On the way there, we joined forces with the stationed troops to wipe out bandits once. The return was peaceful. The only dangerous encounter was at the Han River, where we encountered water bandits attempting to use gunpowder to blow up the military ships and seize the treasure. We lost over a hundred men in action, capturing fifty water bandits as prisoners. Upon interrogation, they were from a river gang called Matao Village, who learned that our convoy carried a treasure ship from a strategist named Chou Da, who also planned the ship explosion and treasure robbery."

Emperor Chu furrowed his eyebrows and looked at Song Zhiyuan.

Song Zhiyuan asked, "Was that strategist caught?"

Niu Pan’er shook her head and said, "No, according to the chief, that strategist named Chou Da only joined their village this year due to the disaster. His family’s destruction forced him to take up banditry with his son."

"The other side has a child with them?"

"Yes, according to the chief, when they were about to set off, that child broke his arm, so he stayed back at the village for first-aid. However, when I led the troops to search Matao Village, apart from some women and children, we didn’t find the alleged strategist. The women in the village said they had long gone down with the men to rob the treasure."

Such coincidence, there must be foul play.

"What about those prisoners?"

Niu Pan’er replied, "They have been escorted back to the capital with the treasure ship and imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison of Shuntian Prefecture, awaiting your decision."

Emperor Chu nodded and said, "You have worked hard on this journey, rewards will be discussed later, you have been away from home for many days, reunite with your husband and Princely Heir as soon as possible, I believe they have been waiting for you a long time."

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty’s great favor." Niu Pan’er bowed respectfully, nodded to Song Zhiyuan, and withdrew.

Once she left, Emperor Chu turned to Song Zhiyuan with a solemn expression and asked, "What do you think of this so-called strategist?"

"Someone who knows exactly what treasures the convoy carries must be a remnant of the previous dynasty under the Xia family."

Emperor Chu sneered, "Moreover, naming himself Chou Da, clearly it’s an alias. Chou Da, who does he have a great grudge against, me perhaps? Ha."

He tapped the table lightly and said, "These people, like centipedes that refuse to die completely, even after being dispersed, they still have the strength to contend with me. It seems their development over the years cannot be underestimated."

Song Zhiyuan clasped his hands in his sleeves and said, "Though they coagulate but don’t gather, they are not much to fear. Slowly we can weed them out. But the strategist bringing a child makes me a bit concerned."

"Why?"

"You know that although a centipede does not stiffen after dying, back then, the Ning family’s people were wiped out, and even burned after death, leaving no trace for identification. What if something is hidden?"

Emperor Chu’s face sank, if this were the case, then Cabinet Minister Ning had preserved a trump card.

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