Chapter 239: Shadow Duel
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At the Wei Family Restaurant, Zhao Kuan’s eyes briefly scanned the innkeeper before he turned and stepped outside.
Today was a rest day—one of the rare days each month when craftsmen from the Machinery Department were allowed to leave for a day of respite.
Over the past two days, Zhao Kuan had been planning how to acquire artillery technology. He had already made contact with several merchants from Zhao territory. However, he was well aware that everything he did had likely already been noticed by Prince Qi.
Still, he sneered inwardly. If Xiao Ming thought that was enough to disrupt his plan, then he was sorely underestimating his opponent.
Ever since Qingzhou’s goods began flowing into Zhao territory, King Zhao had taken an interest in the region. Many of the “merchants” from Zhao were in fact trained spies, carefully planted under royal orders. These agents were well-versed in gathering intelligence.
During this time, Zhao Kuan and his network had also used money and empty promises to recruit many local informants in Qingzhou.
After all, betrayal isn’t impossible—it just means the price hasn’t been right yet. Zhao Kuan understood this perfectly. Offer a street thug from Qingzhou wealth and power on King Zhao’s lands, along with the promise of marrying a beautiful wife, and more often than not, he’d be happy to switch sides.
Using such methods, they had already buried quite a few informants within Qingzhou. Of course, he knew full well that other feudal princes had also quietly deployed their own agents here.
This time, his obvious, public meetings with Zhao merchants were nothing more than misdirection—bait to distract Xiao Ming’s eyes and ears.
The real operation would not be carried out by those Zhao merchants—but by sleeper agents already stationed within Qingzhou.
As he headed out this morning, Zhao Kuan planned to spend the day drinking and feasting with those merchants, touring the city. It was a ploy to draw attention and occupy Prince Qi’s surveillance.