Chapter 414: 414


    Chapter 414 – Hu Che-er


    Hu Che-er was one of the historical figures that made a name of himself during this civil war period . In the other timeline, he served as one of Zhang Xiu’smanders .


    When Zhang Xiu and Jia Xu plotted to kill Cao Cao at Wan, Hu Chu-er was the one who volunteered that he would poison Dian Wei, who was acting as Cao Cao’s bodyguardmander . He stole Dian Wei’s halberds, so their men could kill everyone .


    Hu Che-er seeded, but Dian Wei still had short weapons with him . Unfortunately, Dian Wei discovered Hu Che-er’s plot and killed him, but the former still died by the overwhelming army of Zhang Xiu .


    In a way, Hu Che-er was the key contributor to Dian Wei’s death .


    But in this world, Hu Che-er did not serve Zhang Xiu since Zhang Xiu did not dere independence from Li Jue and Guo Si’s regime . Instead, Zhang Xiu and Zhang Ji were sent to serve Tong as a tribute .


    Without a lord, Hu Che-er found a mercenary organization to make a living . Liu Yang and Khan found them and recruited them to their army .


    Now, Hu Che-er received amission from Liu Yang that he and his men had to keep Hua Xin and Huang Wan’s family as hostages, so both Han loyalists could be ckmailedter .


    They could have kept their family members in Chang’An to enve Hua Xin and Huang Wan forever . Also, Khan could have used his brainwash skill to tamper with these people’s minds . Unfortunately, Khan declined all of Liu Yang’s suggestions and kept on saving his lifespans to create more soldiers, so he could wage wars against Han citizens .


    In Liu Yang’s mind, Khan was a mad man and untrustworthy .


    As illogical as it looked, Liu Yang took everything with her, so she could have more options to improvise to any situation .


    Hu Che-er and the family of the former ministers were also the variable options that she kept . However, she did not expect that Hua Xin and Huang Wan would be bold enough to take risks .


    .


    Inside the hideout, the assassins were resting . Although it was noon, most of them were sleeping, leaving only a few guards to monitor the Hua Xin and Huang Wan’s family members .


    Everybody thought that no one would find trouble with them on daylight since this was Tong’s capital city .


    The hideout was an open field inside of the city wall, which used for assembling the garrison army or erecting a temporary encampment for VIP merchants . At this ce, Hu Che-er had constructed wooden shacks and pitched several tents for his 1,000 men and their hostages .


    Liu Yang paid a high price to rent this space for these people, so the minor officials or lowly guards would not dare to offend them .


    Hu Che-er was in a bad mood because they were in a bad position in this territory . Since Ye City disallowed all civilians to possess any weapon, such as swords, spears, or even a short knife, they could not wander around the city to establish their dominance in this city . With policemen swaggering around with swords and shields, they did not dare to stir trouble .


    "What kind of city is this? Even Luoyang doesn’t have this security . "


    Without proper weapons, Hu Che-er was afraid that Hua Xin and Huang Wan’s family could escape if they fight back .


    The assassin leader looked at his men and voiced his thought, "We should leave that girl here and escape when we have the chance . I’m sure those two geezers will rat us out . "


    His subordinates disagreed, "No, boss . I don’t think they have the balls . We have the hostages here . "


    "These hostages are as good as none! All of them should have been imprisoned at Chang’An, but that stupid girl took them here . It’s like telling Zhang Tong’s men that [We are offering these hostages back, so pleasee and kill us!] . You get it?"


    Unfortunately, Hu Che-er’s men did not think that way . They still believed that Hua Xin and Huang Wan’s family members were their trump card, and they could continue ckmailing these two ministers to do their bidding indefinitely .


    "You’re overthinking, boss . Our princess is doing the right thing . Had she left them at Chang’An, we wouldn’t have been able to exploit those two bastards . With them here, we can enjoy our retirement without having to work, right?"


    Hu Che-er’s face twitched, "Fine . I’ll take a walk on the street . All of you keep guarding, then . "


    "Okay, boss . Buy us some women when you return!"


    "..."


    The assassin boss abandoned his men . Instead of visiting the town as he promised his goons, he took his horse, nning to leave the city before hell could break loose .


    Unfortunately, a transparent being appeared in front of Hu Che-er .


    It was one of Tong’s souls, [Sloth] .


    Sloth pointed his index fingertip at Hu Che-er’s head .


    Sloth Curse!


    It was a unique skill that only demons who overcame their [Sin of Sloth] had .


    Hu Che-er suddenly felt exhausted as if he had not slept for days . He copsed on the ground and fell asleep .


    Not only Hu Che-er was affected, but everyone in the camp, including all hostages, also was inflicted with the curse . Purple gas enveloped the hideout, putting all assassins and hostages asleep .


    It was a peaceful approach to rescue all hostages without a casualty .


    An hourter, Hua Xin, Huang Wan, Lu Zhi, and policemen with many carriages arrived . They separated all hostages from the assassins and escorted them to Lu Zhi’s resident . As for the assassin group, they were tied and brought to the justice department for trial and interrogation .


    All assassins and Hu Che-er woke up at night .


    When they found that everyone was tied and locked in prison, they panicked .


    "What the fuck had happened!? Why are we here!?"


    "This is a dream, right?"


    "No way! I remember that I just went to sleep!"


    While everyone was in an uproar, Hu Che-er remembered thest thing that he saw .


    It was a ghost or a spirit that cursed them .


    ’Come to think of it, Zhang Tong is known to be an immortal emperor . Many of his subordinates are rumored to be immortals, as well . Well, fuck . This trip was a mistake . That little girl must have already been caught . Hua Xin and Huang Wan should have ratted us out the moment they arrived . ’


    The assassin leader sighed .


    ’I should have migrated to this city and join them as a normal soldier from the very beginning . I’m a stupid idiot!’


    Soon, Sima Fang’s men isted every prisoner for a separate interrogation . The investigationsted all night .


    When it was Hu Che-er’s turn, it was already the morning of a new day .


    The assassin leader was brought to an open field with four of his subordinates . Each of them was still tied with ropes .


    Sima Fang, who had dark bags under his eyes, did not sleepst night . He was busy squeezing all information from this group . Several tight mouths were executed after a bit of torturing by slicing a piece of their skin, one piece at a time .


    The ground that Hu Che-er knelt on was soaked with blood . The stench of iron made everybody here nauseous, but they kept on working .


    As Hu Che-er looked at the floor, he found several white pieces of human skin .


    Sima Fang did not clean the floor on purpose . He left it to intimidate other prisoners .


    "What’s your name?" Sima Fang red at Hu Che-er .


    Intimidated, the assassin leader had no will to resist . He confessed, "Hu Che-er . "


    "Are you a Han citizen, or are you from Xiongnu?"


    "Neither . I’m from Turkic Tribe . "


    "How did youe to work with the Xiongnu?"


    "Well, I’m the strongest warrior in my tribe, and these guys hired me . What can I say?"


    "From the records, you are their leader, right?"


    "Yes . "


    "Then, what’s your objective in this city?"


    Hu Che-er gulped . Although he did not want to confess, surviving was more important . He was afraid that he might get killed if he was caught lying . Since they had interrogated many men, some of them should have spilled all the information already .


    "We’re using Hua Xin and Huang Wan’s family as hostages so we can manipte them to work for us . "


    "Is that all?" Sima Fang knew that there was more hidden info .


    "No . We’re working for the princess . We’re waiting for hermand, but we have lost contact with her . "


    Sima Fang got interested, "Who is she, then?"


    "She’s called ... err ... I forgot . "


    Hu Che-er could not recall Liu Yang’s name . Since everyone was calling her "Princess," no one paid attention to her real name .


    "Was her name Wang Yi?"


    " . . . I’m not sure . "


    Sima Fang changed his approach, "Had shee together with you when you entered this city?"


    "Yes . The princess went to seek an audience with the emperor with Hua Xin and Huang Wan . She said that she nned to use both of them as her parent or something, so she can infiltrate the emperor’s harem . "


    "Ah, we already know of that part . Well, do you have anything else to say?"


    "A-Are you going to let me live?"


    "If that’s all the secret you know, then you’re useless to us . If you want to live, you need to tell us something else that we didn’t know . "


    Sima Fang used a mind game with Hu Che-er . With the psychological pressure, prisoners usually spilled random information or secrets to save their skins .


    "I-I know the Xiongnu’s movement! Chanyu Khan has upied the Yi Province, and he is nning to strike Jing Province next! They are also using Yuan Shu’s territory as a buffer, so Cao Cao and the emperor can’t attack them while they are attacking other provinces!"


    Sima Fang nodded . His expression was as solemn as ever, "Keep going . "


    "Yes! Chanyu Khan is also a mad man . He doesn’t care about his domestic affair at all! All of the captured Liu Yan’s officers have been killed, and they are looking for survivors . All citizens have be the Xiongnu’s ves or have been forced to join their military . Most of their cities have been reduced to ruins!"


    "Then, do you know about Khan’s rtionship with this so call princess?"


    "T-They are not in good terms . The princess wanted to protect the people and improve the agriculture and finance of all regions, but Khan refused to follow her advice . "


    Sima Fang’s subordinates grinned as they acquired a few more puzzle pieces regarding the Xiongnu . With this new Intel, they had just scored some achievements .


    "If you have a chance to work for the emperor, will you be his loyal subject?"


    "Yes! Yes! Definitely!"


    Sima Fang waved his hand, "Release this man . From now on, you work for me and his majesty . "


    "THANK YOU! Hu Che-er greets my lord!"


    The minister clicked his tongue, "Don’t you dare to call me [My lord]! Do you want to make me a rebel!? Can someone take this brute away and give him a bath!?"


    The interrogation continued . In the end, Sima Fang executed half of the assassins as some of them had uneptable attitudes or suspicious background .


    As for the surviving prisoners, Sima Fang transferred them into his Intelligence Agency, nning to squeeze more information from them with a more extreme method .


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    The next day, Sima Fang presented his investigation result and brought Hu Che-er along so that Tong could interrogate this assassin leader himself .