Lin Jue sat in the corner frowning and thinking, the words of these people were not much different from the previous information. Lin Jue thought that in that situation, whoever made the most unreasonable decision would be very suspicious. However, when you think about it, the decisions made by several people are actually reasonable. Ma Bin and He Chao abandoned the ship and fled, because they were defeated by the bandits' survival instinct. Lin Ke's decision may seem suspicious, but if you consider it from his point of view, it is also the right one. If the entire convoy were to catch fire, it would also be a catastrophe.

At least on the surface, it was difficult for Lin Jue to judge who was acting suspiciously. Lin Jue didn't want to bother thinking about this question, he thought it would be better to ask some information that would be more helpful for the follow-up.

……

The problem that Lin Jue was concerned about was also the problem that King Liang cared about, and after a while, King Liang calmed down.

"Can anyone tell me if the identity of this gang of bandits is certain? What is the situation? At the moment, the king is most concerned about who are these people? Where are they? How can I get my birthday gift back?"

"Lord Qiqi, I have already found out before I come back, and the identity of this gang of bandits has been determined. They are a group of lake bandits entrenched on Guishan Island in Hongze Lake. Nearly 20 years ago, this gang of bandits roared on the lake, initially with only a few dozen people, and now there are nearly 3,000 people. They occupied the area around Hongze Lake and harassed the towns around the lake, which had become a problem for the imperial court. Ma Bin preemptively reported.

Liang Bing nodded slightly, this news was consistent with the previous analysis results.

Can you be sure that they did it? Where did you get the news? Chuzhou Yamen? Liang Bing frowned and asked, he was a little worried that this matter had been learned by the Chuzhou Yamen, which meant that they might report to the imperial court.

"Lord Qiqi, after the incident, we will avoid chaos in the situation...... So the news was blocked. It was night when the accident happened, and although the people around saw it, they didn't know what was going on. As for the source of this information, it is infallible. Because the plague of bandits in Hongze Lake is very severe, our Imperial City Division has already sent people to pay attention to their movements more than ten years ago. This time, he was ordered to escort the birthday ceremony to Beijing, and the brothers of the Imperial City Division along the way also greeted him. After the incident, they sent news confirming that a large boat had returned from Qingzhou Stream to Baima Lake overnight, and it must have been the hijacked ship carrying birthday gifts. You can't be wrong with this news. ”

Guo Bing nodded slightly, he knew very well what the Imperial City Division was doing. Originally, at the beginning of the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Imperial City Division was just a 'head of the palace city in and out, Zhou Lu and Su Wei, and the palace gate opened and closed. 'The little yamen. But although it is a small yamen, it is extremely urgent. Because the Imperial City Division controls the forbidden entry and exit of the various palace gates, it is very important for the defense of the imperial city. However, all courtiers and nobles entering the palace to meet the saint must be strictly inspected by the Imperial City Division, dismounted and parked, and the inspection of the number of people and belongings carried by the Imperial City Division was handled by the Imperial City Division. If the Imperial City Division is not allowed, even the Prime Minister and Prince may not be able to enter the Imperial City.

Because of this, the envoys of the imperial city are all the most trusted military attaches of the saints, and in the twelfth year of peace, there is a precedent for the internal servants to be stationed in the imperial city department as the chief envoy. It was also from that year that the Imperial City Division began to collect information for the Holy Lord and serve his subjects. Later, it developed into a large-scale intelligence gathering work from the capital to the major state capitals to secretly monitor local officials and public sentiments.

The Imperial City Division is low-key, and it is not too famous, and the folk fame is not revealed. But in the eyes of the imperial court center and some officials who know the inside story, the Imperial City Division is definitely not easy to mess with. They also tried their best to have a good relationship with the Imperial City Division and make it cheaper for them to act. Although it is only a five-grade yamen, even the prime minister's privy council is also polite to them.

The imperial court has always attached great importance to such a major event as the bandits of Hongze Lake. Although it has been encircled and suppressed many times without success, even if it cannot be eradicated, it is necessary to pay close attention to the movements of these lake bandits and collect information on them. Of course, this responsibility fell to the head of the Imperial City Division. Therefore, Ma Bin said that the source of this news was the manpower of the Imperial City Division in Chuzhou, which is enough to show the reliability of this source.

"Very good, thank you brothers of the Imperial City Division. Now that it has been determined that it was indeed committed by the group of lake bandits in Hongze Lake, then they know the main master, and there is no need to bump into them like headless flies. Deputy Envoy Ma, your handling of this matter afterwards is quite appropriate, remember, the news must not be spread, you should also take care of your brothers in the Imperial City Division, and ask them not to spread the news to the capital. This king is not for anything else, but he doesn't want to block her old man's house before the queen mother's birthday is about to come, and he doesn't want to make the saint unhappy because of this matter. For those of us who are courtiers and sons, the most important thing is to take the initiative to solve the things that can be solved, don't do nothing without thinking about making progress, and let the people above be tired and tired, so what do we need to do? Guo Bing's tone softened a little, quite a bit of a seductive taste.

Although these words were said in a dignified manner, those who knew the inside story understood that this was just a crown word. The prince didn't want the above to know, because it would be unlucky. Of course, the people on the table didn't want the court to know, because they would be even more unlucky. If this matter can really be resolved secretly, it will naturally never be reported. One of the rules in officialdom is to 'report good news but not bad news', and the second rule is to 'hide from the top and not from the bottom', and everyone understands these things.

"Lord, how should we act now, please make it clear to the prince. We have made great mistakes, but we all have the heart to make up for them. Lord Wang, please command, we will go to the soup and die without giving up. Ma Bin said what everyone wanted to say. The prince said that he could not report it to the court to know, and that he wanted to solve the matter privately, which was of course the wish of everyone. But how to fix it? But these people don't know what to do.

King Liang glanced at Lin Jue, who lowered his head and didn't know what he was thinking.

"There will naturally be a way, but it is inconvenient to announce it at the moment. That's it, you've traveled hundreds of miles all the way back, and I'm afraid you're very tired. Go back and sleep first, and tomorrow morning the king will gather you again to discuss what to do. Let's all go back. Guo Bing waved his hand and stood up and walked out of the hall slowly.

Everyone was helpless, so they had to give up their hands and say: "Congratulations to the prince." After that, they left one after another.

Lin Ke and Lin Run walked towards the outside of the hall, and when they passed by Lin Jue's side, Lin Ke couldn't help but ask Lin Jue, who was sitting still, "Why are you here?" Did Daddy send you to pick us up? ”

Lin Jue shook his head lightly and said, "No, the two brothers should hurry back, the head of the family knows that you are back, and I am afraid that I will be anxious when I wait." ”

Lin Run frowned and said, "What?" Aren't you leaving? ”

Lin Jue said softly: "I can't go, I still have something to do here." ”

Lin Run laughed and said, "What can you do?" ”

Lin Jue said expressionlessly: "There is no comment, the two brothers should leave quickly, don't delay here." At this time, you should keep a low profile and don't hang around here, after all...... The prince is in a bad mood now. ”

Lin Run was about to be reprimanded when he heard this, but Lin Ke frowned and said in a low voice: "Third brother, what he said is right, let's go quickly." When I went back and asked my father, I understood everything. ”

Lin Run glared at Lin Jue fiercely, and followed Lin Ke out of the hall.

After everyone left, Lin Jue came to the study to see King Liang. After analyzing the news he had just learned, Lin Jue said to King Liang: "Lord Wang, that Ma Bin, I want him to go with me, he is one of the candidates I have finalized." ”

Guo Bing's head shook like a rattle, and he said continuously: "Ma Bin? I'm afraid it's hard to get my wish, you can do it if you like anyone in my palace, but Ma Bin is a person from the Imperial City Division, although I am the prince, I can't force him to follow you. Besides, Ma Bin is the deputy commander of the Imperial City Division, and his status is really not low, the danger of going here is too great, if he dies in the bandits, I am afraid it will be even more difficult to explain. ”

Lin Jue sneered in his heart, Guo Bing's implication was that other people's lives are cheap, but Ma Bin's life is expensive, so he can't die, but it's nothing if you die.

"Lord Wang, I must take him with me, because I need to use his identity. As he said just now, he has been paying close attention to the movements of the lake bandits all year round, and he has a lot of information in his hands, and I need their information. If you don't take him there, you won't be able to get help. I need to know some useful information about the lake bandits before I can know this and the other. Besides, this man seems to be very shrewd, and he can discuss things together. Isn't the prince worried that I won't be able to do this? Then find a way to let Ma Bin go with me, so that the prince should be less worried. ”

Guo Bing frowned and was silent, he really didn't feel at ease with Lin Jue, after all, Lin Jue was just a teenager who had not yet reached the weak crown, although he had some strategy and eloquence, but it was difficult to say whether he could really succeed in the bandits' den. If Ma Bin can follow, with Ma Bin's years of experience in the Imperial City Division, it should be of great help.

"Father, I'll go and tell him, after all, he can't get out of this matter with the Imperial City Division, and the matter is in his hands, and it is impossible for him to stay out of it." Guo Kun interjected on the side.

Guo Bing hesitated for a moment, nodded and said, "It's okay, you go and ask him, but don't force him, and don't threaten him." Ma Bin is a close confidant of Lord Chen, the commander of the Imperial City Division, who was born as a guard in front of the palace, and has a deep trust in the saints, so he must not mess around. In addition, you should also explain the danger of going to him clearly, he is willing to go, and don't force it if he doesn't want to. ”

Guo Kun nodded in response.

Lin Jue was very happy in his heart, if this Ma Bin could accompany him, he would be much easier. Using his status, it will be more convenient to act. At that moment, he asked a few more words about the results of yesterday's discussion between the prince and Song Yanping, and got Guo Bing's affirmative answer, and Lin Jue also put his mind at ease. After all, you need to make preparations with both hands, and if you can't outwit it, you will attack inside and outside and use force to exterminate the bandits, which is also the last resort.

After a few words of discussion, Lin Jue got up and said goodbye, but he did not want to leave the palace, but to go to the separate courtyard in the northwest of the palace where the craftsmen that the prince had prepared for him were located, because the drawings he carried in his arms were to be put into practice. Time is pressing, so I can only stay up late and hurry up to do it.

At that moment, someone led Lin Jue to a separate forest courtyard in the northwest corner of the palace. There, more than a dozen skilled craftsmen in the palace had been gathered by King Liang and were waiting for Lin Jue's arrival there.