"We meet again, Elder Gu."
Xiahou Xian looked sternly at the old man trembling below the dais.
"Prefect, I have been wronged!" Though Elder Gu's voice shook, he still loudly defended himself. "There is absolutely no way I could be a spy!"
"But your accomplice has already betrayed you." Xiahou Xian pointed at Ji Shao, who was also kneeling on the floor.
Elder Gu turned to look at Ji Shao, whose hair was disheveled and whose body was stained with blood, and grew even more bewildered.
He suddenly unleashed a torrent of abuse at Ji Shao. "Young Master Ji, there is no grudge or enmity between us! Why are you trying to brand me as a villain?"
Ji Shao merely knelt there without speaking.
Seeing that Ji Shao did not understand at all, Elder Gu raised three fingers toward Xiahou Xian. "Prefect, I swear, if I am a spy for Wu State, may heaven strike me down and earth destroy me! May I die a wretched death!"
"Good. I believe you," Xiahou Xian said casually.
Elder Gu froze. "Then, Prefect, you mean...?"
"I believe you, but General Man might not." Xiahou Xian gave a sly smile. "Man Chong. You must have heard of General Man's reputation?"
Elder Gu's expression changed drastically on the spot. Though he was from Jiangdong, he had heard of Man Chong.
Back when Man Chong served as magistrate of Xu Capital, he had been someone who dared to execute even Cao Hong's relatives. Even Yang Biao, the Han dynasty's Grand Commandant, had once been thrown into prison and brutally tortured, nearly dying there.
No matter who someone was, once they fell into Man Chong's hands, he would strip them down to their underpants. On top of that, Man Chong had a background in penal affairs. With physical punishment and mental torment applied in tandem, life was simply worse than death.
"Prefect, we can talk this through, we can talk this through." Elder Gu forced a smile. "Let us discuss it here instead."
Xiahou Xian waved a hand. "Ah, I already said I believe you. We shall leave the rest to General Man. Since you are so innocent, Elder Gu, I imagine General Man will not make things difficult for you."
As he spoke, the armored soldiers on either side prepared to haul Elder Gu away.
"Prefect! I'll talk, I'll talk! I'll confess everything!"
Xiahou Xian signaled for the soldiers to release him. Elder Gu lay prostrate on the floor, struggling to organize his words.
"Very well. I will give you one incense stick's worth of time," Xiahou Xian said.
Two double-hours later, Xiahou Xian sat in the seat of honor in the administrative hall, his expression grave.
Just then, Jia Chong returned.
"Master Jia, how did the investigation go?"
Jia Chong replied, "Everyone who had contact with the Wu merchants has been identified. I have sent men to keep watch over them."
"Hmm..." Xiahou Xian propped up his chin, considering his next move.
He had not expected Elder Gu to have another hidden story.
Wu State had been established in Jiangdong for many years, and shipbuilding and the salt industry along the coast were already quite mature.
In recent years, relying on its formidable shipbuilding capabilities, Wu State had even expanded into maritime trade.
Rumor had it that Wu State had acquired many things through trade in Jiao Province and the Southern Ocean Islands, including rare treasures such as luminous pearls, peacock feathers, and rhinoceros horns.
Of course, all these things naturally belonged to Sun Quan, the ruler of Wu, and almost none could make their way into private hands.
Yet this Elder Gu had somehow found a channel through which he could regularly obtain such treasures. Selling these illicit goods in Wu State was naturally impossible, so he had turned his attention to Wei State.
Although this was not enough to convict him in Wei State, once word got out, he would never be able to return to Wu State.
That was why he had behaved so unusually.
Could he really not be a spy for Wu State?
Xiahou Xian leafed through the register Jia Chong had handed him. Most of those listed were wealthy local merchants, but interestingly, Ji Shao was not among them.
He had only traded with the other party in goods such as sea salt and Wu embroidery.
Suddenly, the appearance of one name caught Xiahou Xian's attention.
Wang Guang!
He remembered that the eldest son of Wang Ling, the Inspector of Yang Province, was named Wang Guang.
Xiahou Xian slowly closed the register. "Master Jia, have your men keep a closer eye on those people. At the slightest rustle of wind or stir of grass, inform me immediately."
Jia Chong nodded.
Xiahou Xian had a clerk prepare the horses. He intended to visit the Wang residence.
Come to think of it, he had been in Yang Province for some time since taking office, yet had still not paid Inspector Wang a visit. That was somewhat inappropriate.
After all, in name, the inspector oversaw the local commandery administrators and was his superior.
The carriage left the administrator's residence and reached Wang Ling's residence after traveling only a short distance.
Xiahou Xian had not expected their residences to be so close together.
After his arrival was announced, the person who received him was none other than Wang Ling's son, Wang Guang.
Wang Guang had a full beard and a very tall frame, and looked at least forty. Yet when Xiahou Xian asked, he said he had not yet reached thirty.
Xiahou Xian could not help marveling at how much of a hurry the man's looks had been in to mature.
Wang Guang led Xiahou Xian into the inner residence. "Prefect Xiahou, what unfortunate timing. My father left the day before yesterday to conduct an inspection in Lujiang."
"No matter. I brought a modest gift, which your steward accepted just now. Please do not disdain it, Master Wang."
"Not at all, not at all. You are far too kind, Prefect." Wang Guang led Xiahou Xian into the reception hall.
Then Wang Guang instructed the servants to prepare wine and food.
The servants all went out to attend to their tasks. In the empty reception hall, the two men simply sat facing each other, neither knowing what to say for a time.
As the host, Wang Guang naturally did not want an awkward silence, so he gave orders for the residence's dancing girls to come sing and dance for their entertainment.
Xiahou Xian shook his head and politely declined. "There is no need, Master Wang. I came today not only to pay my respects to Lord Wang, but also for another matter."
Wang Guang asked in puzzlement, "What is it, Prefect Xiahou?"
Xiahou Xian drew a piece of plain silk from his broad sleeve. On it was a simple portrait sketched with a writing brush.
Xiahou Xian slowly unfolded it and showed its face to Wang Guang. "I wonder whether you recognize this man, Master Wang?"
As Wang Guang's gaze lingered on it, Xiahou Xian watched his face intently.
Wang Guang blinked involuntarily several times. He stroked his thick beard, then shook his head. "I do not know this man."
"Oh." Disappointed, Xiahou Xian took back the silk, then explained, "To be frank with you, Master Wang, I have recently been instructed by General Man to conduct a thorough investigation into Wu State spies hiding in Huainan. This man is one of the suspects."
"I see." Wang Guang gave Xiahou Xian a meaningful look, then immediately cupped his hands. "If there is anything I can do to assist you, Prefect, please give the word."
"Then I am sorry for the trouble, Master Wang." Xiahou Xian returned the salute.
After having a meal at Wang Guang's residence, Xiahou Xian prepared to leave.
Wang Guang made a few polite attempts to persuade him to stay, then accompanied Xiahou Xian outside the gates and warmly instructed a servant to lead over a horse for him.
He watched Xiahou Xian's carriage disappear down the street outside the gates, and the expression suffusing his face suddenly darkened.
"Young master." A servant silently approached Wang Guang.
With his hands behind his back and his gaze fixed straight ahead, Wang Guang said quietly, "Go choose a swift horse and hurry to Lujiang immediately to see my father. When you arrive, tell him this..."