The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty Episode 12 Recap
> The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty Recap
Wang Zhi enacted a plan by setting up a performance with Dong, intending to use her as bait to lure out the human traffickers. He dispatched fourteen groups of men and instructed them to be vigilant and ensure Dong's safety, emphasizing that no harm should come to her. However, neither Wang Zhi nor Dong anticipated the criminals' experienced and ruthless methods. Wang Zhi's overconfidence led to Dong's abduction by the perpetrators.
Deeply remorseful, Wang Zhi immediately organized a group of young beggars, instructing them to infiltrate the traffickers' lair by any means necessary, even if it meant being abducted, to find Dong and ensure her safety, and if possible, bring her out. If they couldn't bring her out, they were to report back, or if truly unable to escape, to stay inside and ensure her safety by all means.
Upon learning of Dong's abduction, Tang Fan became enraged and confronted Wang Zhi, accusing him of being heartless and selfish for endangering a child for his own ambitions, even questioning if Wang Zhi would betray his own father for promotion and wealth. Wang Zhi attempted to explain, but Tang Fan refused to listen, questioning Wang Zhi's humanity and his willingness to sacrifice others' lives.
Sui Zhou intervened, urging Tang Fan to calm down and focus on finding and rescuing Dong, stressing that every moment wasted in arguments increased Dong's danger. Desperate to find Dong, Tang Fan repeatedly asked Pei Huai to administer acupuncture needles to forcefully sharpen his mind. Pei Huai refused, warning that this method would severely damage Tang Fan's heart, kidney meridians, and liver, carrying a risk of sudden death. Tang Fan, however, insisted.
During their argument, Duo Er La and Wuyun arrived, offering their help. Sui Zhou, to Tang Fan's dismay, harshly drove them away. Tang Fan tried to defend them, reminding Sui Zhou that they had once saved his life. Sui Zhou, however, explained that while defending the border, he had once received a war report indicating traces of Oirat people. He then sent several groups of cavalry to investigate, but all vanished without a trace.
When he went to investigate, he discovered that all his men had been killed. He explained that these men were his comrades, closer to him than family, and their tragic deaths at the hands of the Oirats made him extremely cautious about allowing anyone under his command to face similar dangers. Despite being rebuffed by Sui Zhou, Duo Er La and Wuyun remained determined to help Tang Fan.
They learned of a kind Han man known as Well-doer Zhu, who had extensive connections. They sought his assistance, and after hearing their plea, Well-doer Zhu promised to help inquire about the lost girl, asking them to provide a detailed description of Dong and their address for updates. Meanwhile, at Wantai Tea House, its proprietor, Qian Tai, was entertaining Mr. Chen with premium Longjing tea.
During their conversation, Qian Tai's subordinate informed him of a new "batch of goods" that had arrived. It was revealed that Qian Tai was the mastermind behind the abduction cases, and the "goods" were the children, including Little Loach, who had infiltrated the group on Wang Zhi's orders. Little Loach found Dong and secretly assured her that he would get her out as soon as possible, warning her not to eat the food provided by their captors.
As Qian Tai's carts approached the city gate, where Xue Ling's men were conducting strict inspections, he attempted to bribe the imperial guards. Qian Tai's convoy secretly contained the abducted children, and he hoped to secure swift passage out of the city. After Xue Ling reported this to Sui Zhou, Sui Zhou immediately ordered a thorough inspection of Qian Tai's vehicles.
Realizing the situation was dire, Qian Tai quickly had his subordinates move the carts containing the children back into the city. When Sui Zhou's men found fewer carts than expected, they prepared to take Qian Tai to the Northern Administrative Court for questioning. However, Qian Tai produced a token, revealing he was an inner official under the direct command of Commander Wan.
Seeing the token, Sui Zhou had no choice but to let Qian Tai go, though he instructed his men to ensure the rest of Qian Tai's convoy (implied to be the carts with the children) did not leave the city. Tang Fan dreamt that something terrible had happened to Dong.
He woke up to find Sun, an official from Shuntian Prefecture, informing him of a female corpse, aged thirteen or fourteen, found nearby, asking him to identify if it was Dong. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou rushed to the scene. Fortunately, the body was not Dong's. Sui Zhou examined the footprints around the body, determining it was a dumping site.
He noted that the incoming footprints were deep, suggesting the person was carrying a heavy object, while the outgoing ones were shallow, indicating the body had been disposed of. He also observed an uneven stride, leading him to conclude the perpetrator was a cripple. Furthermore, he found wide ruts in the vicinity, indicating a vehicle with specialized wheels for mountain roads, rarely seen in the city.
Commander Wan summoned Sui Zhou and reprimanded him for unilaterally closing the capital's gates, arguing it disrupted commerce and trade, costing the city thousands of taels daily. He ordered Sui Zhou to immediately lift all restrictions. As a result, Qian Tai's goods were smoothly transported out of the city. Qian Tai later visited Commander Wan at the Northern Administrative Court, offering him shares of his tea house as a gift.
Commander Wan made it clear that while he would turn a blind eye to some activities, they must not overstep their boundaries, or no one could help them. He then declared the abduction case closed, instructing Sui Zhou to cease investigations. Despite Commander Wan's orders, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou continued their investigation. Tang Fan analyzed the numerous abduction case files, noting the alarming number of children kidnapped and the low rescue rate (less than 10%).
He concluded that the children were being quickly transported out of the city, possibly beyond the Great Wall, and theorized that the human traffickers were disguising their operations within large trade caravans, such as those dealing in horses, rice, or tea, to facilitate such massive transportation. On their way back to the Northern Administrative Court, Sui Zhou spotted Qian Tai leaving Commander Wan's residence, confirming his suspicions about Qian Tai's involvement.
Sui Zhou immediately sent Xue Ling to gather men and head to Wantai Tea House, while he rushed ahead alone, planning to leave a trail for Tang Fan. He also instructed his subordinates to inform Tang Fan to go to Wantai Tea House. Meanwhile, Qian Tai returned to his tea house, furious about the expenses incurred to suppress the recent incident, and berated his subordinates, calling them useless.
He announced that he had found a major buyer who would take all the children at once, setting the delivery location at West Mountain outside the city. He then instructed his men to pause operations for three months after this transaction to let the uproar subside. His subordinates worried about income during the hiatus, but Qian Tai assured them he would cover their expenses.
Wang Zhi, having also traced the lead to Wantai Tea House after Little Loach sold himself to the traffickers and was tracked there, and after informing Tang Fan, rushed to the tea house with his men. However, by the time they arrived, all the abducted children had already been moved. Wang Zhi's subordinates discovered deep ruts leading south, indicating the children's cart, and shallower ruts leading north, indicating Qian Tai's departure.
Sui Zhou, who had already been there laying groundwork, had left similar marks confirming the divided routes. Sui Zhou was already pursuing the cart heading south. The human traffickers arrived at West Mountain for the supposed transaction, only to find that the "buyers" were assassins sent by Qian Tai to eliminate them, as they knew too much. In the ensuing chaos, Little Loach seized the opportunity and led all the children into the forest to escape the ambush.
Simultaneously, Well-doer Zhu found Duo Er La, informing her that he had located the child she was seeking and that Wuyun was on the way. He urged them to hurry, as the traffickers might escape if they delayed.
