The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty Episode 34 Recap
> The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty Recap
Under Xue Ling's command, the Imperial Guards maintained surveillance on a suspicious butcher shop. When Ding Man entered, Xue Ling's men immediately knew the situation was critical. Xue Ling instructed them to follow without engaging or revealing their identities.
Inside, Ding Man, acknowledging the danger of his sudden appearance, informed his confederates that plans had changed: Wang Xian was to be immediately taken out of the city to meet the Oirat delegation in the suburbs and then returned to the Oirat homeland. Wang Zhi's investigation into palace staff rosters revealed that Ding Man was the only person unaccounted for during the abduction. Realizing this was a key lead, Wang Zhi immediately ordered a carriage to Sui Zhou's residence.
At Sui Zhou's home, Sui Zhou, having been out tracking, discussed the case with Wang Zhi and Tang Fan. Sui Zhou suspected Wang Xian’s abductors disguised themselves as part of the Oirat delegation, which was set to leave the capital soon, but hadn't confirmed their numbers. He also noted that the Iron Market's Oirat spy had made contact with someone in the palace.
Tang Fan, who had initially been secretive about recognizing a particular handwriting from a previous investigation, now revealed that the script was familiar. Connecting this with Wang Zhi’s discovery of Ding Man’s absence and Ding Man’s role in managing the Emperor's daily life and handling imperial edicts, they all concluded that Ding Man was the traitor who had accessed secret memorials to learn about Wang Xian and arrange his abduction.
Wang Zhi and Sui Zhou, eager to apprehend Ding Man, decided to go immediately. Tang Fan stopped them, cautioning that arresting Ding Man without knowing Wang Xian's location would endanger Wang Xian. Wang Zhi countered that securing Wang Xian was paramount, even if it meant risking his life. Tang Fan requested time to devise a plan.
He then presented his strategy: knowing that the Oirat delegation was set to leave at 9 in the morning, and that the city was under strict siege, Tang Fan suggested they provide an apparent "opening." He instructed Wang Zhi to draft a memorial ordering the lifting of the city-wide siege at 9 in the morning and ensure Ding Man would see it.
This "lure the snake out of its hole" tactic would make Ding Man believe it was safe to move Wang Xian, thereby revealing their location. Wang Zhi was to let the Imperial Guards handle the tracking, giving the Western Depot a day off to ensure the enemy felt secure. As predicted, Ding Man, using his method of secretly accessing memorials, read the fake memorial and believed its contents.
Xue Ling and the Imperial Guards initially lost track of Ding Man, leading Xue Ling to believe they had failed. However, Tang Fan reassured him, explaining that this was part of the plan: by seemingly losing track, they allowed Ding Man to relax his guard and move freely, leading them to Wang Xian's location.
Tang Fan admitted he hadn't fully disclosed the plan to Xue Ling out of concern that knowing too much might make Xue Ling nervous and compromise their operation. Meanwhile, Little Loach continued to secretly follow Ding Man, regularly reporting his whereabouts to Tang Fan. The Oirat operatives disguised Wang Xian in a wooden box, transporting him in a carriage towards the city gates.
One operative complained about Wang Xian's unruly behavior and wished they could knock him out, but was reminded not to touch him, only to get him into the carriage. Ding Man, meanwhile, settled at a tea stall by the city gate, surveying the surroundings. Despite the seemingly normal bustling street, subtle cues, including strategically placed "beggars" and "street vendors" (Little Loach and others), caught Ding Man's attention. Upon spotting Sui Zhou's men, he realized his plan was compromised.
He overturned the tea stall and fled. Sui Zhou and his men gave chase, but Ding Man was whisked away by a waiting carriage. In the struggle, Sui Zhou managed to snatch a cloak from Ding Man. Tang Fan arrived and, upon seeing the cloak in Sui Zhou’s hand, asked excitedly where it came from. He recognized it as the one that had played a part in his initial acquaintance with Duo Er La.
Connecting this with Duo Er La’s sudden disinterest in finding Aras and Wuyun’s frantic work on a carriage, Tang Fan realized with a shock that Aras was, in fact, Ding Man. He correctly deduced that Ding Man would use Duo Er La to escape and immediately headed to the Iron Market. Meanwhile, Wang Zhi received an update that Wang Xian was rescued but uncooperative, and Ding Man had escaped.
Despite his frustration with the Imperial Guards, Wang Zhi ordered all city gates sealed, ensuring no one could leave. Tang Fan's hunch proved correct: Duo Er La was indeed the one who rescued Ding Man. As they rode in the carriage, Ding Man explained to Duo Er La that all his actions were solely for the Oirat people.
Duo Er La, who had previously dismissed Tang Fan’s offers to help find Aras, expressed how much she had missed him over the past three years and questioned his activities. Ding Man dismissed her questions, reiterating that his loyalty was to the Oirat. Duo Er La recalled Ding Man's earlier words about fostering peace through trade, exchanging Oirat horses, furs, and medicine for Ming iron, food, and salt.
Ding Man countered that peace was far off and Oirats only sought survival, blaming the Ming for desiring war. He passionately described how the weapon "Bolang" was developed by the Ming specifically to destroy the Oirat people, who struggled for survival on horseback. Duo Er La, knowing the Ming officials, initially rejected this, but Ding Man insisted the Ming understood the Oirat's weaknesses too well, hence creating such a devastating weapon.
He declared that his sacrifices were to protect his people, including Duo Er La herself. Ding Man urged Duo Er La to forget him and return to the prairie, promising never to return to the capital herself. Duo Er La, heartbroken, wanted him to return with her, but he regretfully stated he couldn't.
Ding Man asked Duo Er La to retrieve an important iron box he had previously entrusted to her, explaining that it was crucial for the future of the Oirat people and needed to be given to their delegation to take back to the prairie. Duo Er La agreed to retrieve the iron box, and Ding Man instructed her to return to the prairie with Wuyun after his escape.
When Duo Er La and Ding Man arrived at the Iron Market for the box, they were intercepted by Tang Fan. Tang Fan urged Ding Man to reconsider his path for the sake of peace between the Ming and Oirat. Ding Man scoffed at the idea of peace, reminding Tang Fan of the devastating explosion three years prior. Ding Man accused the Ming Dynasty of secretly developing weapons of mass destruction.
Tang Fan explained that the three-year-old explosion was an accident, and even the Emperor was unaware of the weapon's true destructive power then. After witnessing its effects, the Emperor ordered a complete halt to all related armaments research to prevent future tragedies, emphasizing this as the Ming's genuine commitment to peace. Tang Fan implied that if the Ming had wished for war, they would have continued production.
From the iron box, Ding Man retrieved the igniter, revealing it to be the device that caused the explosion three years prior, which he had taken from Wang Xian. Tang Fan, shocked, asked why it wasn't destroyed, to which Ding Man sneered about Ming hypocrisy. Overcome with emotion, Ding Man lunged at Tang Fan, intending to kill him, but Duo Er La bravely stepped in front of Tang Fan to shield him.
Seeing this, Ding Man changed tactics, seizing Tang Fan as a hostage to force his way out of the siege. Duo Er La, unwilling to leave them, followed them into the horse carriage. Wang Zhi received reports that Tang Fan and Duo Er La had been taken by Ding Man. Though concerned for their safety, Wang Zhi's priority was retrieving the secret documents (the igniter), as they involved Ming national security.
He bluntly stated that national interests could not be compromised for one or two individuals, meaning Tang Fan's sacrifice was acceptable if necessary. As reports came in that the carriage was still within the city walls, Wang Zhi ordered a full assault. Sui Zhou immediately intervened, reminding Wang Zhi that Tang Fan was inside and a forceful attack would endanger him.
Wang Zhi argued for a swift resolution due to the national importance, but Sui Zhou, recalling Tang Fan's previous sacrifice to save his life, physically placed himself in front of the armed guards, declaring they would have to kill him first. Wang Zhi, frustrated, told Sui Zhou to move as the guns were loaded and the situation was too critical for theatrics.
Sui Zhou insisted on a non-lethal approach, warning that pushing Ding Man to extremes would imperil Tang Fan, but Wang Zhi remained resolute, reiterating the high stakes involved. Inside the carriage, a tense standoff continued. Tang Fan tried to convince Ding Man to surrender, emphasizing that he couldn't escape with the secrets and that the Western Depot would prioritize national security over Tang Fan's life.
Ding Man, in turn, urged Duo Er La to leave, promising Tang Fan's safety once he was clear of the city. Tang Fan continued to pressure Ding Man, reminding him that if he didn't surrender, Duo Er La would also be in grave danger, as she wouldn't leave until both he and Tang Fan were safe.
Duo Er La, desperate for the truth, was told by Tang Fan that Ding Man had no chance of escape and only surrender could save his life. Ding Man, cornered, then used the ultimate threat: he told Duo Er La to get off the carriage if she wanted him to live, or he would immediately detonate the igniter, leaving the choice of life or death to her. Amidst the intense arguments, Duo Er La inadvertently activated the "Bolang" igniter.
Ding Man immediately realized it was armed and told Duo Er La he was sorry for how he treated her and hoped to make amends in the next life. He then urged her to take Tang Fan and leave. Tang Fan, hearing the device activate, desperately pleaded with Duo Er La to use her horsemanship to stop the carriage, believing Sui Zhou and Wang Zhi could find a solution. Ding Man stated that once activated, nothing could stop it.
In a heroic act, with the carriage about to explode, Duo Er La forcefully pushed Tang Fan out of the moving vehicle just moments before it violently detonated before his eyes. Sui Zhou, who was watching nearby, called out Tang Fan's name in distress.
