"What happened to the mission?"
Lei Hu revealed a lot of information in just a few words. Di Jin pondered briefly, preparing to ask questions one by one.
Lei Biao began to explain.
Since Xiazhou King Li Deming professed his vassalship to the Song Dynasty, he would send envoys to Bianjing to pay tribute on the emperor's birthday, winter solstice, and New Year's Day. Song Zhenzong would send envoys in return. The current Renzong Dynasty still maintains this habit.
A major responsibility of the Imperial City Department was to monitor the members of the envoys, including those from various countries entering the Song Dynasty, and those sent by the Song Dynasty to various countries.
After all, in espionage operations, the envoys account for a large proportion and are extremely active in many periods.
Because in ancient times when communications were extremely underdeveloped, the most efficient way to contact officials of hostile countries was through envoys. Therefore, even if they knew that each other would place spies in the envoys, spies from the two countries would often contact them. Pass on information and instigate rebellion against the craftsmen.
The maid Zhu who escaped this time was a craftsman.
Wei Mu was the wife of Li Deming, the current lord of Xiazhou, and she was granted the title of Madam. Song and Xia had good relations. Queen Mother Liu E would give Wei Mu some of the finest Shu Brocade and Wu Ling from Huzhou every year to make luxurious clothes. .
In fact, it is to corrupt and win over, wear beautiful clothes, wear good-looking accessories, and supplement it with various exquisite enjoyments, so that they will admire the sinicization of their hearts and gradually become compliant.
In view of the fact that Xia women's female beauty is not up to standard, even tailors are prepared.
The ancient Central Plains dynasties have always rewarded surrounding peoples in this way. In addition to high-quality goods, they also include craftsmen. But this is not the case. The three thousand craftsmen included in the dowry given to Princess Wencheng by Li Shimin for his marriage. Tubo developed because of this. That is simply history. Rumors, but historical records, state that Li Zhi gave Songtsen Gampo a hundred noble craftsmen to teach them some techniques for noble enjoyment and taught them how to use the imperial gifts.
The result is now good, the tailor who made the clothes has run away.
The identity seems to be quite unusual.
Di Jin derived a question from this: "If Zhu is really a spy sent by the Liao Kingdom, she was assigned to the envoy this time. She should have returned to the Liao Kingdom from Xia as a matter of course. Why did she flee midway?"
Lei Biao said: "Because a letter was lost in the envoy, I started a self-examination."
Di Jin asked: "What letter?"
There was a hint of awe in Lei Biao's tone subconsciously: "A letter written by the Queen Mother to Li Deming's wife, Wei Mushi!"
Di Jin was speechless.
It is an old tradition for the Song Dynasty's top officials to exchange letters with enemy countries.
Before the Alliance of Chanyuan, Song and Liao were fighting during the day and writing letters at night. As long as the war ahead of the Liao was slightly unfavorable, Empress Dowager Xiao and her son would immediately "beg for peace" and then go to war. Song Zhenzong Zhao Heng also Send envoys to convey your peace intentions.
The two sides were at each other's throats, sometimes softly asking for peace, sometimes using coercion and inducement. This lasted for several months, which was a spectacle.
To put it bluntly, both sides have no confidence and are preparing for a retreat from peace talks.
During the Song-Liao War, Liu E's status was still low, but her husband Song Zhenzong's every move was naturally seen, and she also learned this "skill". With the help of envoys, she formed friendship with the other party's female family members and won over this "skill". Madam Gaoming".
"But let's not talk about it. Judging from the subsequent development in history, it does have some effect. Isn't this Wei Mushi the mother who was killed by Li Yuanhao?"
In history, Li Yuanhao killed his mother, wife, son, and slept with his daughter-in-law. Among them, the mother he killed was Wei Mu.
One of the reasons why she was killed was that her mother's family wanted to rebel and assassinate Yuan Hao; another was that she was leaning towards the Song Dynasty and did not want Li Yuanhao to attack the Song Dynasty on his own, or it could be a combination of both.
The benevolent policy continued from Zhenzong to Liu E's administration did win over a group of party nobles in Xixia. From the perspective of the Song people, they naturally hope that these people who are inclined to them will live well. Unfortunately, this group of people is really not strong enough to support them. Feeling lonely, after Li Yuanhao ascended the throne, he killed everyone, wiped out all the opposition forces in the country, and then launched an army to attack the Song Dynasty.
Di Jin roughly sorted out this story in his mind: "Has the letter been found?"
Lei Biao said: "The letter has been recovered. This exposed the Zhu family and had to flee in advance."
"In this case, her exposure was due to a strange combination of circumstances..." Di Jinqi said: "In that case, how did a mere palace maid escape into Bingzhou?"
Lei Biao said: "Zhu is very cunning. Although she did not expect that the loss of the letter would expose her, she secretly colluded with several forbidden soldiers to help her escape by drowning in the Fen River. Afterwards, our company sent people to search along the river. Many people passing by saw traces of Zhu who was all wet. Finally, she entered the city from the west gate and disappeared..."
Di Jin nodded slightly.
Yangqu City is a mixed bag, and there are many places to hide someone. For example, a wealthy family has many maids. If they hide in the inner house, they will say that they are temporarily hired. As long as the servants are more careful, they will not be discovered at all.
Ever since, Lei Hu's daughter was kidnapped.
His men searched aggressively, questioning anyone they were unfamiliar with immediately, and taking the person away if there was anything wrong. Once they found any clues, they would even dare to break into the inner house of a wealthy family and search people, just to find his precious daughter. .
Frightened by Lei Hu's reputation, each family would also investigate, fearing that if the thief really hid Miss Lei in their own property, they would be implicated.
This method is equivalent to bringing the whole city together to find someone, which is not easy to use.
In the end, nothing was found.
Di Jin said: "The people who want to come to your company have already guarded the surrounding arteries. If Zhu loses her composure, she will throw herself into a trap. But now she is hiding in this crowded city with a population of tens of thousands and remains unmoved. , and the troops outside the city cannot hold on all the time. One day they will be withdrawn, and then they will no longer be able to hold on!"
Lei Biao frowned and did not deny: "It is true, time is running out!"
Nearly a month has passed since Zhu's escape. Not only the Imperial City Division dispatched with the envoy, but also hundreds of capable nursing staff under his command were dispatched at the same time, and they were unable to catch a single woman. It was really a huge pressure.
Otherwise, there is no need to turn to a fifteen-year-old boy for help. Even if the other party is Mr. Di Liang, he has solved two cases and has to seek medical treatment urgently for some illness.
Di Jin pondered and spoke slowly: "Have the Liao spies set up a stronghold in Taiyuan, and the Zhu family can enter it and be safely protected without worrying about being hunted by the outside world?"
Lei Biao's eyes became sharp: "The counties in Bingzhou dare not say that there is no such place in Yangqu City!"
Di Jin was noncommittal and continued: "Considering the situation of the envoy, this woman has outstanding appearance and may be seductive?"
Lei Biao sighed: "You and I are thinking the same thing. In fact, recently, we have interrogated the wealthy and lustful people in Yangqu, especially those who hang out in the land of fireworks and cannot stand the temptation of women. , but they did not hide the Zhu family secretly..."
Di Jin concluded: "So the main direction of investigation by Lei Yuanwai so far is the maidservant who suddenly appeared next to the female family members of the mansion, and the secret residence of the lecherous official among the people... What you have been looking for is the sudden appearance of an extra person?"
Lei Biao was a little confused: "Isn't it wrong?"
"If it were me, I would indeed check in this way and regard Zhu's hiding as the local people's protection of outsiders. But since there is no gain, I have to change my thinking..."
Di Jin said: "Is there a possibility that although Zhu fled in a hurry, she had already concealed another identity in Yangqu. She fled into the city and used this identity. Now she is already a Are you a local?"
