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  After Wen Yanbo took over with a full heart, the first thing he did was to strictly enforce the law. Those merchant teams that relied on the indulgence of the government office were immediately plunged into trouble.

  However, Wen Yanbo forgot that the Job Department was not only responsible for inspecting those merchant teams, but also had an important task of obtaining intelligence from neighboring countries from those merchant teams.

  Even when necessary, they would disguise themselves as merchant groups and enter other countries. In other words, they were the external intelligence agency of the Song Dynasty.

  So, as a result of getting entangled with those smugglers, the Great Song Dynasty did not receive any intelligence about the surrounding countries for an entire month.

  Two days ago, a piece of news from the Tanguts shocked Renzong: Li Yuanhao had launched a western campaign and captured three key military strongholds of Tubo - Guazhou, Shazhou, and Suzhou - within two months. This also means that the Tanguts have carved out a path to survival amidst the squeeze from the Song and Liao dynasties; it's likely they will be uncontrollable from now on.

  Wen Yanbo was actually unaware of this matter, and when Renzong asked him about it, he had not received any news.

  Renzong was enraged and summoned Lü Yijian and Xia Song at the same time to discuss how to adjust their strategy towards the Tanguts.

  Bao Zheng arrived at Renzong's place when Xia Song was pleading for Wen Yanbo.

  Xia Song had once led troops in the west and fought against the Tanguts, so when Renzong brought up the matter, Xia Song immediately responded: "Your Majesty, I think that Wen Yanbo was not at fault in this affair."

  Ren Zong glared: "He's not wrong? You say he's not wrong? If it weren't for the Tangut people sending letters that were discovered and examined by local officials, I still wouldn't know that this mouse beside me had turned into a tiger!"

  Xia Zong glanced at Wen Yanbo, who was kneeling beside him, and signaled to him not to be afraid. He continued, "Your Majesty, the main responsibility of the Zhifangsi is to investigate foreign trade and gather intelligence from merchants about neighboring regions. These two tasks, I believe, Minister Wen has completed exceptionally well. Since Minister Wen took over the Zhifangsi, the amount of smuggled goods we have seized has increased dramatically, which can be seen as a testament to his achievements. Moreover, for those legitimate merchants, Minister Wen also conducted routine inspections, and it was those merchants who intentionally concealed information for the sake of the party. Therefore, I believe that Minister Wen is not at fault."

  Ren Zong's hand trembled with rage, his finger pointing at Xia Gong. The muscles on his face twitched violently. But in the end, Ren Zong still put down his hand and sat down with a flick of his sleeve.

  Xia Yu continued: "I think, Your Majesty, that this news is not being spread because the merchants are being stubborn and hiding it from the enemy for their own private gain. I suggest that you issue a decree to severely punish those merchants."

  Ren Zong looked at Bao Zheng who had just entered and said, "Bao Ai Qing, take a rest first. Lu Xiang Guo, what do you think about this matter?"

  Lv Yi Jian had not spoken yet, when Bao Zheng stepped forward: "Your Majesty, the matter I wish to report is extremely urgent, please allow me to speak first."

  "Good, go ahead and speak."

  Bao Zheng recounted what had happened the previous night and then presented his own judgment and analysis, finally requesting: "Please issue an imperial edict to thoroughly investigate Xiangguo Temple."

  Strictly investigate Xiangguo Temple? This is not a trivial matter, even Renzong dare not lightly issue an edict. With some suspicion, he said: "Bao Ai Qing, I don't even know what Ye Lu Nuolu has done, and you ask for an edict to investigate Xiangguo Temple. If there's no mistake, even I won't be able to bear it."

  Bao Zheng hesitated when he saw Ren Zong, and his heart suddenly became anxious. He still insisted that his inference was correct and hoped to persuade Ren Zong.

  At this time, Lü Yi Jian unexpectedly spoke up: "Your Majesty, the matter that Lord Bao mentioned, I may have some understanding of it."

  "Speak quickly!" Ren Zong said hastily.

  Bao Zheng also made a fist: "Dare to ask Master Xiang to point out."

  Lü Yi slowly said: "Half a year ago, I was still in charge of the work of the Ministry of Works. At that time, I heard that Liao had sent a group of spies to infiltrate our Great Song territory and draw maps of our borders and defense deployments. I ordered my subordinates to investigate and get the names of those people from Liao, but unfortunately, just as things were about to succeed, they encountered a group of horse bandits who killed all of my subordinates."

  When he said this, Bao Gong seemed to understand something and immediately followed up: "What the Prime Minister means is that Yelü Chucai originally came to draw a map?"

  Lü Yi Jian bowed his fist: "What Lord Bao said is exactly what I guessed. If the Liao people have completed the map, they must give it to a reliable person to bring back, that Ye Lu Nu Gu Lu, he must be here for this matter."

  Emperor Renzong immediately realized the severity of the situation. If the Liao people really knew everything about the border like the back of their hand, then the Song Dynasty would be in danger.

  The whole person also stood up from the dragon chair, looking a bit uneasy: "Bao Ai Qing, I permit you to go to Xiangguo Temple immediately and search carefully."

  Bao Zheng led the order: "Your subject obeys!"

  "Try again!" Chen Yuan's mouth was sour, he finally proved one thing, that human teeth are much sharper than knives and swords.

  The rope on Hu Jing's shoulder had been gnawed through by him, and now less than a third of it was still connected.

  How long has it been? Chen Yuan didn't know either, this room couldn't see a bit of sunlight, anyway, his teeth were sour and his gums hurt, if it still didn't work. He would continue to gnaw on, of course, he had to rest his teeth first.

  Hu Jing strained her arms, but in an instant, she heard a "pa" sound, and the ropes on her body finally broke.

  Hu Jing immediately loosened the rope and turned around to untie the dead knot behind Chen Yuan's back, a kind of abnormal excitement surged up in Chen Yuan's heart.

  At least now I have the ability to try and open this prison gate myself.

  After the two broke free, Hu Jing immediately used her hand to pull that simple iron door. The iron door was small but very solid. Hu Jing exerted all her strength, but she still couldn't break it.

  Chen Yuan thought for a moment, recalling every detail of the monk's actions after he was thrown in and the monk locked the door from the outside.

  Chen Yuan took a deep breath, picked up the rope that had bound him earlier from the ground, tied it to the window, and said to Hu Jing: "It may not work pushing outward, let's try pulling it from inside. We'll use our combined strength, come on, give it a try."

  Two men tied a good rope from inside and pulled hard, but the door didn't budge at all. After pulling for over a dozen times, Chen Yuan finally gave up this method.

  Hu Jing also sat softly on the ground, and the two people's heavy breathing sounds mixed together, making the atmosphere in this darkness even more oppressive.

  After a moment, Hu Jing suddenly started sobbing again. This time, she stretched out her own arm and hugged Chen Yuan's waist, whispering softly: "Chen Gege, I'm sorry."

  Lao Hei is asking for votes, brothers. My chrysanthemum was exploded by "Reborn America" yesterday. I think he must be very pleased now...

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