The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 282 - 247, Deception Tactics, True and False Spies!

The atmosphere in the room suddenly stiffened.

"Are you crazy?" After exchanging glances for a while, Haitang’s somewhat sharp voice rose as she glared at Zhao Douan with wide eyes, her expression resembling someone who had seen a ghost:

"You want us to commit theft?!"

She suspected Zhao Douan was joking.

Unfortunately, the two greatly shocked individuals could only see seriousness and...

Solemnity in his eyes!

"What exactly do you want to do?" Zhang Han exchanged looks with Haitang before asking.

Zhao Douan swept his gaze over their faces and calmly said:

"You are all aware of the firearms incident that occurred in the Capital Camp last time, right?"

"Nonsense, that’s what we were investigating... wait a minute!"

Haitang stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing something:

"You want to investigate this case too?"

Zhao Douan nodded, his expression serious:

"To be precise, I went to the Divine Mechanism Camp to root out the spies lurking inside who haven’t been exposed yet."

"Weren’t you there to study firearms? We also heard about the military drills..." Zhang Han furrowed his brows.

However, Haitang caught on a step ahead, her eyes lighting up:

"Could it be that making firearms is also part of your plan?

By openly meddling with these, and today, through the drills, you revealed the power of the new firearms in front of many military officers to show that the ones lost last time are no longer important... Was this also to lure out the spy hidden among the military officers to make a move again?"

The skilled female detective easily slipped into analysis mode.

But then she shook her head and said:

"No, that’s wrong! Even if the spy knows about this and wants to steal the new firearms, it would be far too reckless for them to act at this time, especially through sneaking in... If I were the spy, I’d definitely wait... Firearm manufacture cannot be hidden, and once mass production begins, it would be much easier to acquire, not to mention the technology would have improved by then..."

Zhao Douan shook his head to interrupt her:

"But by that time, it would be too late! People in Prince Jing Mansion hidden in the Capital would also worry that, with the previous theft experience, the court would definitely take precautions.

Right now, when no one would expect someone to steal at such a critical moment, the difficulty decreases...

Of course, what the spies from Prince Jing Mansion think isn’t important.

What is important is that I need the blueprints to be stolen."

The two were puzzled by his words, showing confusion.

Zhao Douan leaned forward, gestured for them to come closer, and the three huddled around the table, their heads together, as if conspiring.

He stared at them and asked:

"Do you still remember how I originally exposed the rebels in the Imperial Court?"

Haitang responded irritably:

"How could we forget? Wasn’t it because you tricked..."

She stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing something, and blurted out:

"Are you planning to..."

Zhao Douan nodded in satisfaction:

"Old tricks work well, why use them only once? This time, I still want to trick them."

Saying so, he lowered his head, picked up a tea cup from the tray, and placed it outside the tray.

"This represents the spies from Prince Jing Mansion hidden in the Capital."

He pointed at another tea cup inside the tray:

"This represents the spy hidden among the military officers."

He drew an invisible line between the two teacups:

"Prince Jing Mansion uses the spy to communicate with the military spy and transmit messages... Last time, I eliminated that group of spies, but so much time has passed, they definitely brought in new ones.

Logically, the new spy must have a way to contact the military spy, but there’s no trust between them and their communications are bound to have ’delays’...

Haitang, you also said the spy wouldn’t act at this critical moment because the risk of exposure is too high.

So, what would happen now if someone from ’Prince Jing Mansion’ stole the blueprints?"

Haitang paused, then said:

"The spy in the military would be extremely surprised and nervous... wanting to verify the situation...

Ah! So, you want us to pretend to be spies, fake the theft of the firearm blueprints...

Then, you can observe the reactions of those suspects and test them individually, just like when you deceived us before?"

Zhang Han also realized the deviousness of the plan:

"Even if the military spy holds back and does nothing, once the spy hidden in the Capital learns of this, they’ll definitely suspect a trick...

At that time, the spies from Prince Jing Mansion would worry, fearing that the military spy might be deceived and thus exposed... So, the spies might also become restless and go to contact the military spy proactively... Brilliant!"

How intelligent were they?

Zhao Douan simply explained the plan, and they immediately grasped the sickening aspect of this deceitful tactic.

And silently, he carried out the implications in his mind.

The tactic sounded complicated, but was in fact remarkably simple.

It exploited the information gap between "spy" and "military spy."

Both parties were like a long-distance couple, each becoming suspicious and forced to act due to external changes.

Even if both parties saw through the ploy, knowing that the "theft" was fake, it didn’t matter.

Because they would worry that the other might fall for it...

If they were familiar "partners," it might be fine, as there would be an understanding.

But unfortunately, the last group of spies had been eliminated by Zhao Douan.

The new spy and the military spy were likely lacking in understanding and trust.

And even if the plan didn’t succeed, there was no loss, as the blueprints weren’t really stolen.

It was a no-risk, all-gain scenario!

"Why has the court’s repeated investigations always ended in dead ends? It’s because the enemy has stopped moving, and as long as we make them move, the clues will emerge on their own."

Zhao Douan’s face showed a slight smile, yet his eyes were as calm as the sea before a storm.

What he didn’t say was:

He decided to act tonight urgently precisely because of tonight’s celebration banquet.

Military officers of high standing were all to come.

At this moment, Haitang and Zhang Han’s gaze towards him changed.

They felt a chill down their spine, something creeping.

They revisited their memories and discovered that after Zhao Douan joined the Divine Mechanism Camp, everything he did seemed like a spreading net.

Making firearms, not only compensated for the loss of stolen ones but also reversed his reputation in the military and became a prerequisite for implementing deceptive tactics...

Three birds with one stone.

No, if you count his meritorial performance and forming connections with Gongshu Tianyuan, it was four birds with one stone.

This man, might he have eight hundred schemes up his sleeves?

Haitang suddenly sighed lightly and said,

"I finally understand a bit why Your Majesty values you so much."

Zhang Han pursed his lips and exhaled,

"Last time I was deceived by you... I was somewhat unconvinced, but now I am truly convinced."

I always feel you all are speaking ill of me behind my back... Forget it, I won’t argue with you... Zhao Douan crossed his arms and laughed like a fox, blocking his colleagues.

In a low voice, he started to mutter, detailing the plan for tonight’s actions.

...

...

Meanwhile.

In the Capital, within a secluded civilian house.

A man of ordinary appearance, dressed in a short shirt, carefully confirmed there was no noise outside, then draped a black cloth over the window, instantly darkening the room.

He turned back, saw that the circular table inside was already filled with people.

A large candle burned on the candelabra in the middle of the table.

Even during the day, it spread a dim glow.

Casting the shadows of the figures by the table against the whitewashed wall.

The enormous shadows, like specters, twisted grotesquely with the candlelight.

"Cough."

At the head of the table was a man entirely cloaked, his head covered by a hood.

If Zhao Douan were here, he would certainly find this attire similar to the leader of the former spies in Prince Jing Mansion, the wanted priest of the Magic God Sect.

"Is all the intelligence here?"

The mysterious person asked in a gruff male voice.

"Leader, it’s all here. We’ve confirmed repeatedly. The Divine Mechanism Camp has indeed developed new firearms, far surpassing previous ones," someone answered.

The mysterious person grunted, no superfluities, he took out a map and spread it on the table.

By the light of a candle, the words "Firearms Bureau" on the map were distinctly visible:

"I’ve called you all here to devise the plan for tonight’s raid on the Firearms Bureau, to steal the drawings."

Within the group of spies, some appeared calm.

Others were startled:

"Leader, why the rush?"

The mysterious person said harshly,

"Opportunities do not come twice, and the message from the Prince a few days ago, you’ve all seen it. The Kuangfu Society, those useless fools can’t get anything done, forcing us to show some results quickly.

The matter of firearms is of utmost importance to the Prince; if we can obtain the drawings, we will surely receive great rewards."

Someone hesitated, "Why not contact him..."

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The mysterious person snorted coldly:

"The court has begun strict investigations, he’s already scared out of his wits, and the last few contacts were always evasive.

You think he’d act now?

Ha, no one would expect us to be bold enough to move at this crucial juncture; the more unexpected our actions, the greater our chances of succeeding."

Another person worriedly said,

"But the current drawings might not be perfect, wouldn’t it be better to wait until they are…"

The mysterious person flew into a rage:

"But by then, it would be too late! With the past experience of theft, the court will definitely be cautious..."

He slammed his hand on the table and said sternly,

"I have made up my mind, no need to persuade me, just obey!

Tonight, Xue Shence will hold a celebration banquet for the Zhao thief, with all the military officers in the city attending. It’s the perfect time when the Firearms Bureau is unguarded. You need to cooperate with me to raid this place!"

He pointed fiercely at the center of the map shimmering in the candlelight.

Around him, a group of spies responded in unison:

"Yes!"

...

...

The afternoon passed in the blink of an eye.

As the sun slowly set beyond the horizon, the Capital was shrouded in nightfall.

Imperial Court.

Zhao Douan, dressed neatly and adjusting the Cold Frost Sword hanging at his waist, stepped out of the hall.

Smiling at the four female detectives waiting outside, he said,

"Let’s go."

The group walked out of the government office, only to unexpectedly encounter Ma Yan, with hands behind his back, waiting at the main gate.

"Lord!"

The government officers saluted.

Zhao Douan, surprised, also gave a fist-and-palm salute to his nominal senior brother.

It couldn’t be helped; Ma Yan was third-rank, a grade higher than himself.

For now, still a senior brother, not Little Ma.

The tall, lean-faced, and sullen Ma Yan, with unruly eyebrows, large knuckles, and rarely a smile, glanced at Zhao Douan, gesturing to his spacious carriage:

"Let’s go together, tonight is your celebration party, and I’ll bask in your glory too."