Zhang The Benevolent

"Yes," Zheng Tao nodded, "Please, senior, give me some guidance." 

Seeing Zheng Tao's respectful demeanour, Mo Fan was greatly satisfied. 

He had come precisely to give Zheng Tao guidance on dealing with Wang Hua. 

"Tell me in detail about your investigation results," Mo Fan instructed. 

Zheng Tao, out of his genuine admiration for War Emperor Mo Fan, and partly out of the trust transferred from Mo Qingkuang, did not hesitate to disclose everything. 

"Senior, for the past three months, we have been conducting a secret investigation into Wang Hua. Here's what we have gathered: Wang Hua, originally from Beizhou, near the border, had a poor childhood. His parents were killed by the marauding soldiers of the Blue Flame Empire, and he survived by hiding in a dry well." 

"He studied diligently and at sixteen, he topped the imperial examinations and entered the government, starting his cultivation journey simultaneously." 

"Once he joined the court, he began as a minor official, handling everything meticulously and with justice. Every time he was transferred, he was adored by the people, who saw him off in droves. Seventy years ago, he was appointed as Prime Minister and has been serving our court ever since. He is now 112 years old and is a first-rank Martial King." 

"After his success, he lived in harmony with his wife. Their residence was a gift from His Majesty, and they never hired servants. Every year, he donated all his salary, except for the necessary expenses of his household, to the common people." 

Zheng Tao laid out Wang Hua's basic information. 

"So, Wang Hua has a deep-seated hatred for the Blue Flame Empire, making it unlikely that he is an enemy spy," Mo Fan mused, rubbing his chin. 

Zheng Tao shook his head, "We can't be certain. Such a background could be the perfect cover for his true identity. Mo Qingkuang also analyzed this, saying 'The clearer the water, the less fish there are; but the cleaner something appears, the more likely it is to be dirty from inside.'" 

Mo Fan chuckled internally, knowing it was his own analysis, not Mo Qingkuang's. 

However, he maintained his composure and continued, "So, you suspect he is an enemy spy. As you mentioned earlier, Wang Hua orchestrated the assassination attempt on Mo Qingkuang but had an official take the blame. Wang Hua admitted to his grandson Wang Yu's guilt, and finally even requested to resign?" 

"He wasn't really resigning; it was just a strategic retreat. He hadn't even finished speaking when the entire court pleaded for him to stay, saying the empire couldn't do without him," Zheng Tao scoffed. 

"The entire court seems to belong to the Wang family. Wang Yu's so-called punishment was a slap on the wrist. When Wang Hua returned home, he even wanted to kill his grandson to appease the public. It was only after his wife pleaded with him that he merely broke Wang Yu's legs." 

"What about the official who took the blame? Did you manage to interrogate him?" Mo Fan asked. 

Zheng Tao shook his head, "There was no chance. He committed suicide in court." 

"So, this further solidified Wang Hua's guilt in the assassination attempt on Mo Qingkuang?" 

Zheng Tao smiled bitterly, "What's the use? He's a clever man. By throwing dirt on himself, it becomes meaningless. Even if it was proven that he planned and personally carried out the assassination in front of everyone, his position would remain unshaken!" 

"This is the result of nearly a century of cultivating his public image!" 

"So, due to this 'dirt,' your investigation into his potential espionage activities has stalled again?" Mo Fan asked. "If Wang Hua himself has no flaws, have you investigated the people around him?" 

"Even if he is a spy, he would need to send information to the Blue Flame Empire. You need to investigate his contacts and trace any connections to Blue Flame Empire operatives. Have you done that?" 

Zheng Tao sighed, "Of course we have. We investigated everyone he has interacted with over the past century, even anyone who visited his home and anything that was taken out of his house." 

"Not a single clue?" 

Zheng Tao shook his head bitterly. He had always prided himself on his intellect, but he and Hua Ge were completely outmanoeuvred by Wang Hua. 

Given the current situation, they concluded that either Wang Hua was not a spy for the enemy nation, or his intelligence far surpassed theirs. 

Mo Fan sneered, "How foolish. Tell me about the people Wang Hua frequently interacts with. You remember them clearly, right?" 

Zheng Tao sighed, "Wang Hua lives a very secluded life. The vast majority of officials in the court are his protégés, but after court sessions, Wang Hua always keeps his doors tightly shut and never receives guests. Anyone who tries to give him gifts is turned away. The only person who frequently visits his residence is Hua Ge, with whom he shares a love for poetry." 

"Wang Hua conducts himself impeccably, almost as a model of a clean official. Even the common people he has helped have never been able to thank him personally. There's an interesting story about this." 

"What story?" Mo Fan's eyes lit up. 

"Many years ago, when Wang Hua was still serving as an official in the distant past, he saved a travelling merchant from bandits, not only saving his life but also recovering his goods." 

"That merchant's business flourished over the years, and he is now a famous tycoon in the Tianxuan Empire, with trade routes extending across Tianxuan and the Blue Flame Empire." 

"After his rise to success, this merchant never forgot Wang Hua's kindness. Every year during festivals, he would go to Wang Hua's residence to offer gifts in gratitude, but Wang Hua always threw him and his gifts out, never accepting anything." 

"But the merchant was persistent. Since Wang Hua wouldn't accept his gifts, he would distribute them to the common people, claiming they were from the Prime Minister. Whenever there was a natural disaster or calamity, this merchant would donate generously to help." 

"People call him Tianxuan's second national treasury, and many refer to him as 'Zhang the Benevolent.'" 

Mo Fan burst out laughing, "Are you all idiots? Isn't it obvious that this man is their contact?" 

"Visiting regularly during festivals is clearly a cover for exchanging information! Distributing wealth to win over public sentiment is exactly Wang Hua's tactic." 

"And this Zhang the Benevolent, with his business spanning both countries, has countless opportunities to liaise with the Blue Flame Empire. Most importantly, Wang Hua didn't start practising martial arts until he was sixteen, and he lives a frugal life. How could he have achieved the Martial King level in a hundred years? Do you really think doing good deeds enhances one's cultivation?" 

"There must be a powerful financial backer behind him, and I am certain it is this Zhang the Benevolent!" 

Mo Fan's declaration needed no evidence because it was the truth: Zhang the Benevolent was indeed the lynchpin connecting Wang Hua and the Blue Flame Empire. 

Zheng Tao, however, did not have a look of sudden realization. Instead, he appeared gravely concerned. "Senior, do you think we haven't suspected Zhang the Benevolent? Recently, he visited the Prime Minister's residence again to deliver gifts, and Fu Qing personally staked out the place. There was no mention of any empire-related information in their conversation. Even after carefully analyzing their words, we couldn't find anything useful." 

"Afterward, we secretly searched Zhang the Benevolent's residence but found not a single piece of paper with recorded information. Under Fu Qing's watchful eye, it would have been impossible for Wang Hua to slip something to Zhang when he threw him out."