Logging into the Game World Early and Starting with a Royal Marriage to the Empress - Chapter 19

Good evening!

Xia Chen returned home. Originally, Xia Chen was supposed to go out on curfew patrol tonight, but when he asked, he was told that the curfew task assigned to the two battalions under his command had been completed two days ago.

So, of course, there was nothing to do tonight, and since he couldn’t go to the brothel to listen to music, he simply returned home.

Young Master!

Not long after Xia Chen entered his room, Xia Qian’s voice sounded from outside.

‘Come in!’

Young master, the information you requested about the Daqing secret agents is coming!

Xia Qian entered with a stack of documents. This information is internal to the Yulinwei. Xia Chen is now a Commander and qualified to mobilise it.

In the past month, the situation in the capital has been somewhat turbulent. I have heard that it has reached the ears of the Emperor, which has angered him greatly.

The Lamplighters have been mobilised and have arrested many people in the capital, causing the people of the capital to be on edge.

The northwest military defence map was stolen?

Xia Chen leafed through the file and finally understood what had happened.

The northwestern border of the Great Wu Kingdom borders Daqing Dafeng, where 200,000 border guards are stationed. But now the military defence map has been stolen, which is a serious matter. No wonder the Emperor is furious and has mobilised the Lamplighters directly to make a big arrest in the capital.

How could someone take such an important military map directly from the Ministry of War without alerting anyone? It seems there is a traitor in the Ministry of War!’

Xia Chen muttered as he looked at the file. For decades, Dawu and Daqing Dafeng have been fighting each other relentlessly, but apart from the battle with Dafeng in Huaiyang 36 years ago, there have been no major wars, just minor border skirmishes.

And now the Northwest Military Defence Map has been stolen, which could obviously cause major unrest.

Thirty-six years have passed since Dafeng, and I think it has already recovered. Since the Battle of Huaiyang, Daqing and Dafeng have grown closer, and there is a tendency for them to join forces to resist Wu!

Xia Chen thought about this and continued reading.

The file said that the military defence map was stolen by a low-ranking official in the Ministry of War and later given to a blacksmith in Xicheng, the western city of the capital. After the Lamplighters obtained this piece of information, they went to the homes of the minor official and the blacksmith, only to find that the two had already committed suicide.

The information ended there.

Six or seven days have passed, and the military defence map must have been passed on. It seems that the situation in the northwest will change significantly!

Xia Chen thought, whether the Daqing spy could be found or not, the military defence map had definitely been lost.

It might already have been returned to the Daqing capital.

There must have been at least one other intermediary between the scribe and the blacksmith, but that intermediary is not mentioned in the file. Was it omitted or was it deliberately hidden?

Xia Chen quickly discovered something suspicious in the file. The clerk was able to enter and leave the Ministry of War, and even steal this military defence map from the heart of the Ministry of War. There was no way he could have done all this on his own.

Xia Chen also noticed that the clerk of the Ministry of War lived in the northern city near the city centre, while the blacksmith lived in the western city on the outskirts of the city.

The two were more than 20 li apart in a straight line, so it was absolutely impossible for the clerk to have personally handed the military defence map to the blacksmith.

At night, there is a curfew in both the inner and outer city. No one can go out without a special pass, and the military defence map was lost at night…’

Xia Chen lay in bed thinking about this. The only people who could walk freely at night were the Imperial Guard and the Lamplighters. This meant that both the Imperial Guard and the Lamplighters were suspects and, what was even more serious, both parties had been infiltrated.

Xia Chen thought about many things as he pieced together the clues, but there was simply too little information in his hands. He could only analyse what he had from the case files, and he suspected that the case files were incomplete.

The Lamplighters must have more information. They are professionals in both investigation and detection.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the authority to retrieve the case file from the Lamplighters. Even if I go to their door and ask, the Yulinwei will say they’re helping, but in their eyes I’m probably just a thug.

It is generally accepted that the Yulinwei are not good at investigating cases. They don’t usually bother about it either. At most, they will wait for the bigwigs to find out what has happened and then bring them to the door to be arrested and searched.

Therefore, neither the Lamplighters nor the Ministry of Justice or the Dali Temple would tell the Imperial Guards much about anything.

Xia Chen thought about all this as he slowly drifted off to sleep.

…

The next day!

Xia Chen still arrived at the Imperial Guards’ office early.

Good morning, boss!

As soon as he entered the barracks in the courtyard, Xia Chen saw Li Xi, who had let him in yesterday.

Li Xi’s face was filled with a warm smile, and he ran over with all his might, even lifting the bag in his hands.

Boss, have some steamed buns. No, I bought these specially from Goubuli Steamed Buns. His buns are the best in the capital. Try them…’

Xia Chen looked at Li Xi, who was smiling with all his might, and whose face was clearly wrinkled, even though he was only in his 20s, but looked like he was in his 40s. His eyes narrowed slightly.

Yesterday, this boy had led him straight to the military camp, but whether he was trying to trick him or just enjoying the show was still unknown.

‘Boss, it’s really delicious, the taste is superb, these Goubuli Steamed Buns are hard to come by, you have to make a reservation in advance!

Li Xi didn’t seem to notice Xia Chen’s change in mood and continued to smile.

The Steamed Buns in his hands were about to be shoved into Xia Chen’s.

He was as enthusiastic as a loyal dog.

Xia Chen glanced at him and then at the Steamed Buns in his hands. They really did smell delicious.

‘These are perfectly good buns, but why are they called Goubuli Steamed Buns? The name is a bit insulting. Dogs are our loyal friends, they wouldn’t betray their masters. If they did, I’m afraid they could easily be made into dog meat buns!

Xia Chen pinched the steamed buns in his hands and looked at them. Mmm, the meat is indeed thick and the filling thin, and the taste is good. No wonder some of the powerful officials in the capital like to eat these buns from this shop. He said absent-mindedly as he ate.

Li Xi, who was standing nearby, heard Xia Chen’s words and his eyes changed slightly. He knew that yesterday’s trick had been seen through by the Commander.

Yesterday, this Commander had beaten the son of the Marquis of Jinwu so badly that he was clearly not a good-tempered person to get along with. If he gave him a hard time in the future, how would he manage?

‘The Steamed Buns are good, bring me one every day in the future!

Just as Li Xi was feeling worried,

he heard Xia Chen’s voice in his ear. He looked up and saw that Xia Chen had already left. Li Xi reacted, his face suddenly lit up and he heaved a sigh of relief.

Great, boss, I’ll bring you breakfast every day from now on!

Li Xi shouted excitedly.

Xia Chen’s legs that were about to enter the military tent suddenly stopped, and his face looked strange.

What? Bringing breakfast every day? If you didn’t know him, you’d think he was courting her.

Xia Chen glanced at the delicious looking Steamed Buns in his hands. Crap, the name Goubuli Steamed Buns really isn’t very nice!