High Martial Arts Three Kingdoms: The Incompetent Strategist

Jian Shuo sighed, "Young Master is truly a talent. This method is indeed very intimidating. Who wouldn't be afraid? However, after all this trouble, people will die, and there will be no chance to get a confession. It's only good for warning future generations."

“There’s a way to get a confession out of them,” Tang Ke immediately suggested another method that could be considered the most cruel torture in the Ming Dynasty.

"Has Eunuch Jian ever played the pipa?"

Jian Shuo was taken aback: "No, what does this musical instrument have to do with punishment?"

"This 'playing the pipa' is not playing a musical instrument. It involves making the prisoner lie flat on the ground, fixing his hands and feet so that he cannot move, and then using a sharp blade to cut back and forth on his lap bones, plucking them like a pipa. The sound is beautiful, but the prisoner suffers terribly! Even a person made of iron cannot endure it."

"You're a real genius at torture!" Jian Shuo was overjoyed. Looking at the terrified Ma Yuanyi, he said, "Let's combine playing the pipa and pouring mercury on him. I don't believe he won't confess."

Tang Ke nodded: "Let's try playing the pipa first. If that doesn't work, I have many other methods. We'll try them one by one, and there's bound to be one that suits him."

Jian Shuo immediately ordered someone to bring over two bone scrapers and a whetstone, and without saying a word, he began sharpening the knives right in front of Ma Yuanyi.

The sharp, intermittent sound of sharpening knives pierced Ma Yuanyi's ears and stimulated his mind.

This Jian Shuo has even incorporated psychology into his torture methods; Tang Ke secretly reminded himself that he should be careful around him in the future.

After sharpening one of the knives, Jian Shuo picked it up and began to practice on Ma Yuanyi.

"Don't rush, Uncle Jian. Sharpening the axe won't delay your woodcutting. You haven't finished sharpening your axe yet!"

Jian Shuo didn't even lift his eyelids, still preoccupied with figuring out where to start cutting: "Sharpening this knife is enough; scraping flesh with a dull knife hurts more."

"Stop scratching, I confess!" Ma Yuanyi finally couldn't withstand the psychological pressure and broke down emotionally.

Tang Ke deliberately snorted coldly: "Why didn't you do this earlier? You should have given Eunuch Jian a few scrapes first; he's been sharpening his knife for ages."

Jian Shuo glared at Tang Ke, squatted down, stuck the knife in front of Ma Yuanyi, and gestured for Tang Ke to enter.

Tang Ke no longer stood on ceremony with him and immediately instructed the scribe to take notes, starting with information about Ma Yuanyi's parents and continuing until he assassinated Emperor Ling of Han in Luoyang.

This wasn't because he had nothing better to do; he knew Ma Yuanyi's past experiences inside and out, which he used to verify whether Ma Yuanyi was lying later.

The interrogation lasted for two full hours, and the records related to Taiping Dao alone filled more than ten pages.

Ma Yuanyi still held back some things, but he also revealed a lot of new information. He did not explain the Taiping Dao's plan to revolt, but he did reveal the identities of Feng Xu and Xu Feng.

Tang Ke had long realized that the relationship between Feng Xu and his gang and the followers of the Taiping Dao was not simple. Although the two were in the Taiping Dao, they were ruthless when Ma Yuanyi and his group attempted to assassinate him, and seemed to be completely unaware of the assassination.

It's quite unexpected that Ma Yuanyi insisted on selling them only now.

Jian Shuo stared blankly at Tang Ke's interrogation, filled with regret. Ma Yuanyi's confession was extremely detrimental to Feng Xu and Xu Feng, and they might end up following in Zhang Rang's footsteps.

Unfortunately, the clerk had already written down his statement. He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, but on the surface, he had to pretend to be nonchalant.

After a long and arduous trial, Tang Ke and Jian Shuo each received a copy and left the yamen with their own thoughts on the matter.

Just as Tang Ke was about to return to He Jin's residence to report on the battle results, a eunuch came to summon him to the palace to see the Empress.

Tang Ke had no choice but to change his route and follow them into the palace.

After he saved her once, Empress He not only exonerated him on several critical occasions, but also recommended him for important positions. He was truly a benefactor in her life.

However, this was the first time he had been summoned to the palace for an audience. After all, he was not a eunuch, and it would be inappropriate for him to go to the inner palace alone.

Lost in thought, they had already arrived at Changqiu Palace.

"I heard you're doing really well lately?"

Empress He dismissed her attendants and looked at the young nobleman of the Han Dynasty with a slightly disapproving expression.

While inwardly condemning his own hypocrisy, Tang Ke tried his best to appear humble and unlearned, hoping to leave a good impression.

"It is entirely thanks to Her Majesty the Empress's support and recommendation that I have been able to barely gain a foothold in Luoyang. I dare not express my gratitude enough, and I hope Her Majesty will continue to guide me in the future..."

"Do you still need my guidance? These past few days you've been jumping around and stirring up trouble in Luoyang, transforming yourself from an ordinary citizen into the leader of the Imperial Guards of the capital. You've risen through the ranks in no time."

The empress, who was originally full of anger, saw Tang Ke kneeling in front of her with a sincere and pitiful look on his face. She couldn't bring herself to scold him. Instead, she deliberately put on a stern face and said a few sarcastic words.

Tang Ke realized that something was wrong, but he was not sure what exactly had happened, so he could only reluctantly reply: "This is all thanks to Her Majesty the Empress's strong recommendation. I have only done my best to do a few small things for Your Majesty and Her Majesty."

"Is that so?" Empress He remained noncommittal, saying indifferently, "So, abusing your position to bully my sister is one of the few small things you've done for me?"

Tang Ke was so shocked he almost jumped up. Although he knew He Lingyi's affair would eventually come to light, he didn't expect the news to spread so quickly.

Someone must have secretly tipped them off!

He quickly planned his escape route in his mind while pondering an excuse.

"Have you lost your mind? You dare to do it but not admit it?" Empress He's eyes sharpened, and her expression turned serious.

Tang Ke carefully prepared his words: "Your Majesty, please do not believe slanderous words. This is blatant defamation. Your humble servant is utterly loyal and devoted; how could this be..."

"The evidence is conclusive, yet you still dare to use such clever words!" Empress He threw a piece of paper in his face and shouted, "The evidence is here, see for yourself!"

Tang Ke secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The fact that they were willing to show him the evidence meant that they did not intend to harm him. Otherwise, if they had just sent him to Emperor Ling of Han, even ten of his lives would have been cut off.

He picked up the letter, which detailed how he arrogantly extorted money from Zhang's residence and coerced and lured He Lingyi into his own possession.

The latter is particularly vivid and colorful, comparable to a pornographic work.

Empress He snatched the letter back: "You're still engrossed in reading it, aren't you? Don't you have any shame?"

"Tsk tsk tsk! Not bad writing!" Tang Ke praised, "It's just a little disrespectful. How come I came out of the room in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn? It's a bit unrealistic."

"You've become arrogant, haven't you?" Empress He kicked him hard, knocking him to the ground.

Tang Ke quickly got up, dusted himself off, and knelt down again, saying, "Your Majesty, this letter has high literary value, but it has absolutely no credibility. It is completely fabricated and cannot be believed. Please investigate thoroughly, Your Majesty."