Chapter 437: Chapter 249 The Tenth Brother is My Only Brother
It was night.
Zhao Yao was playing "Eagle Catching Chicks" with Da Niu, Xiao Niu, Lai Man, and Xiao Jin.
Under the training of Uncle Zhang and Zhao Yao, Da Niu and Xiao Niu had become particularly clever. They can now successfully sneak into other people’s homes and stealthily steal money hidden under their beds.
They also often eavesdrop on people’s whispers at home. Their favorite is listening to "pillow talk," which they find very entertaining.
Whenever Zhao Yao arrives, they can’t wait to share with him what they’ve heard... what Zhao Yao calls gossip.
He has heard many funny and bizarre things from them, as well as many stories about the hardships of ordinary families. Zhao Yao would recount these to Liang Zhaoyi when he returned to the palace, and she would write them down.
These days, Xiao Jin and Lai Man followed Da Niu and Xiao Niu to eavesdrop. They heard many secrets from the homes of various ministers. For instance, which minister’s concubine was arrogant and bullied the first wife, which minister liked to go to Yihong House, which general was having an affair with a subordinate’s wife, which general’s subordinate was having an affair with the general’s concubine, and which minister liked to pick his toenails at home...
Zhao Yao exclaimed upon hearing this, saying it was ear-piercing. It’s surprising that these ministers who usually portray themselves as gentlemen are so... shameless in private.
Seeing how Da Niu and Xiao Niu loved eavesdropping on others’ secrets, he sent them and Xiao Jin to eavesdrop on the noble families’ secrets. As for Lai Man, it couldn’t enter the South Market. If it set foot in the South Market, it would be killed by the patrolling guards.
The South Market is close to the imperial city, where people of high status reside. This area is very clean and tidy; not only stray cats and dogs are barred from entering, but even ordinary folks can’t get close.
Ordinary folks approaching the South Market would face punishment if discovered, ranging from a beating at worst to imprisonment.
Zhao Yao sent them like a flock of sparrows to the homes of noble families like the Wang family, Xie family, Xun Family, and Yuan Family to eavesdrop—not exactly. They openly listened to what they said daily and brazenly watched what they were doing.
These days, Zhao Yao was pondering an idea. Should he establish an organization of animal spies, sending them to eavesdrop and spy on the noble families and ministers?
He had always relied on them for some eavesdropping, but never had he thought of forming a specialized organization of animal spies. These past few days, seeing how Da Niu and the others loved spying on humans, he came up with this idea.
Previously, he trained cats and dogs in a secret base in the Cold Palace, but never thought of training birds or other flying animals.
Once he returned to the palace, he planned to talk to them properly and train them well to form a spy organization composed of animals—"Migratory Birds."
As he couldn’t think of a better name, he thought "Migratory Birds" was quite fitting.
The cats and dogs at the Cold Palace’s secret base had completed their training. They were now training the cats and dogs from the abandoned Pei family residence.
Once the cats and dogs from the Pei family’s abandoned residence completed their training, they would train strays throughout the imperial city.
Whether they were from the Cold Palace’s secret base or from the Pei family’s abandoned residence, all of them had once been strays. They also had their own friends and family, hoping that they too could have food, water, and a place to sleep. They were willing to train their friends and family, allowing them to be utilized and live like them.
Currently, half of the stray animals in the imperial city are Zhao Yao’s "subordinates." They are spread across many places in the city, capable of gathering much information, most of which is unknown. Most importantly, this kind of information is difficult to gather.
Animals’ ability to gather information is stronger than humans.
Zhao Yao always knew this, but he previously felt he didn’t need his animal friends to gather information for him. Only when needed, would he ask his animal friends for help. Now, he changed his mind; he must establish a specialized, unique organization for gathering information.
Their information-gathering was not only convenient but also very safe because people don’t guard against animals.
Liang Run returned from outside and couldn’t help but laugh when he saw Zhao Yao happily playing "Eagle Catching Chicks" with Da Niu and the others.