knife

Chapter 45 Killing the General

Xiao Changche's nerves are basically on edge all year round.

Whether it's business or personal matters, nothing allows him to relax.

Only when he returned to this mansion, with Luo Hua by his side, did he dare to completely let down his guard and relax entirely.

This was the most precious time for him.

So he slept until noon and still didn't wake up.

For his subordinates, however, it was an open secret.

Our general is only twenty-five or twenty-six, in the prime of his life, and Xiao Changche's strict self-discipline is evident to all his subordinates. Now that he's back home, Luo Hua is stunningly beautiful, and it's only natural for a young man to be fond of bedroom pleasures. Even if the sun is high in the sky, what if he doesn't go downstairs for three days?
With our general's cultivation level, what's this?

So everyone went about their business as usual, and no one bothered Xiao Changche to enjoy this rare moment of leisure.

However, this tacit understanding was finally broken in the afternoon when a messenger arrived at the Grand Marshal's headquarters, requesting Xiao Changche to attend a meeting there immediately.

"So impatient? You've fallen into a trap in just one day and one night?" After dismissing the messenger, Xiao Changche shook his head. He had really overestimated Wan Feng.

Indeed, once a person's mind is tainted by greed, their intelligence will plummet.

However, such a scoundrel who slaughtered the people under his rule to line his own pockets did not deserve any sympathy. Moreover, with his downfall, he could still get a share of the spoils, and his soldiers could enjoy the New Year.

Thinking of this, Xiao Changche became happy.

Zhenwu City today is clearly different from what it used to be.

Every now and then, squads of soldiers, fully armed, would rush through the streets, and the civilians passing by all wore solemn expressions.

Wan Feng was a general, one of the most important figures in the area outside the Great Wall.

Although he has gradually faded into obscurity due to being sidelined by Linghu Ye over the years, it does not mean that he lacks the ability to fight to the death or has any hidden trump cards.

Once this person makes up his mind to fight to the death, Linghu Ye doesn't care about anything, but the ordinary people in the city will definitely suffer.

But by the time the news spread and became known to the common people, there was no chance to escape the city, because the city gates were already closed. Xiao Changche could see from afar that banners were fluttering on the city walls, and the army belonging to the Grand Marshal was ready for battle.

At this moment, only Linghu Ye's personal guards could leave the city.

Wan Feng was truly trapped and beaten.

His estates outside the city also fell into Linghu Ye's grasp. It's likely that these places were surrounded by Linghu Ye's men before they even received the news.

Whether it's Li Guohua or Linghu Zhishu, doing such things is effortless for them.

The sound of horses' hooves echoed behind him. Xiao Changche turned around and saw Xiao Dongwei riding towards him. The one-eyed general had a gloating expression on his face. Judging from the direction he came from, he probably went to the Wan family mansion to watch the excitement before coming here.

“General, it’s Linghu Zhishu leading the team, with Chang Jian in command.” Xiao Dongwei’s one eye gleamed with a sly light: “Wan Feng really has no guts. I thought he was going to fight, but after being threatened by Linghu Zhishu, he surrendered on the spot.”

"When this person plots and schemes to kill people and seize their wealth, he has long lost his courage," Xiao Changche said calmly. "I suppose Linghu Zhishu has reaped quite a harvest?"

Xiao Dongwei nodded repeatedly, like a chicken pecking at rice: "General, you don't know, we got four huge silver balls from the Wan family mansion. They're this big!"

Xiao Dongwei gestured, then felt it was too small. He widened the distance between his arms again, but it still seemed a bit small: "Anyway, it's huge. Linghu Zhishu had his men roll these four silver balls along the street towards the Xingyuan Mansion! General, you should at least get us one too. I estimate one of these will cost no less than 100,000 taels!"

"You're greedy for money!" Xiao Changche glared at him irritably.

"Even a hero can be brought down by a single penny!" Xiao Dongwei argued. "Besides, General, if you don't ask for it, the Commander-in-Chief will just swallow it all. At least everyone who sees it gets a share, so we should at least get a little bit too!"

"The commander-in-chief promised to pay me 70%, so it has to be 70%, not a penny less!" Xiao Changche said calmly. "As for the rest, I have my own plans!"

"That's good, that's good!" Xiao Dongwei beamed.

Our general has always been arrogant and domineering, even in front of the commander-in-chief. He's never one to suffer a loss. This time, with Wan Feng's house confiscated, everyone can have a prosperous New Year.

Xiao Changche glanced at the two snowmen outside the camp several times before realizing they were Zhang Ruo and the criminal investigator from Chang'an.

It seems Linghu Ye isn't a very magnanimous person!

Xiao Changche smiled, dismounted, tossed the reins to the guard, and walked in with his head held high.

The two rows of guards at the entrance of the camp, who looked like statues, bowed in unison to the General of Chariots and Cavalry.

This is the name of a person, the shadow of a tree.

Xiao Dongwei, however, was petty. He walked up to Zhang Ruo and chuckled like a duck, "Isn't this Scholar Zhang? What's up, pretending to be a snowman here? Hahaha!"

Zhang Ruo shivered from the cold, rolled her eyes at Xiao Dongwei, who was smug and arrogant, but couldn't be bothered to pay him any attention.

Xiao Dongwei snorted, tapped Zhang Ruoluo's snow-covered head with his riding crop, and said, "You old codger, don't you dare fall into my hands one day. If that day ever comes, I'll make you suffer. Don't think that just because Li Dachui is protecting you, I won't dare to mess with you. Others may be afraid of him, but I'm not!"

Zhang Ruo looked up at the sky, her eyes pointing upwards, leaving all the whites of her eyes to Xiao Dongwei.

Xiao Dongwei was furious and wanted to crack the whip, but seeing the solemn expressions around him, he finally put it away. "We'll see!"

Watching Xiao Dongwei's retreating figure, Wu De whispered to Zhang Ruo, "Scholar, something big seems to have happened in Zhenwu City. Why don't we go back and come back tomorrow?" "Something big has happened? Let's see what it is!" Zhang Ruo was full of interest.

In the morning, Linghu Zhishu led a large group of people out of the Xingyuan Mansion.

Immediately following, guards carrying command arrows rushed out of the mansion in all directions.
The faint sounds of drums and horns could be heard from within the city, clearly indicating the deployment of troops and adjustments to defenses.

However, he was currently just a criminal awaiting punishment, while Wu De was merely a judicial officer. The two were unfamiliar with the place and no one paid them any attention, so naturally they didn't know the inside story.

Yuan Rong rushed over.

"Scholar, something terrible has happened!"

"What's going on?" Wu De asked hurriedly. "There are troops being mobilized in the city. Has the Northern Yuan attacked? Or have more barbarians infiltrated?"

"How could that be? This is Zhenwu City. The hundreds of thousands of troops surrounding it are just for show!" Yuan Rong said. "I just found out that it was Commander Linghu who ordered the arrest of General Wan Feng. The city is on high alert because they are worried that Wan Feng might be desperate and cause trouble."

Zhang Ruo was stunned.

"What's going on? How could Linghu Ye arrest a dignified General Wei just like that?"

"It is said that Wan Feng condoned his subordinates to kill innocent people and seize their wealth, and then framed the barbarians. Now the matter has come to light!" Yuan Rong said, "The four large silver balls that were pushed out of the Wan family mansion are worth at least several hundred thousand taels of silver."

Zhang Ruo and Wu De were both stunned.

Inside the lobby, however, the atmosphere was somewhat strange.

Some people's excitement was palpable. This year, they had been short of money and supplies, and their men were already complaining. Now, they had the money!

Some of the men looked terrified; these men were naturally under the command of General Wei, Wan Feng.

Although everyone has openly or secretly pledged allegiance to the Commander-in-Chief over the past few years, nominally we are still General Wei's subordinates! Now that Wan Feng has fallen, if things are really investigated, will the things we did with General Wei in the past be brought up again? If they investigate thoroughly, things will get complicated.

These are ordinary generals.

Wang De sat there silently with a gloomy expression.

The rabbit mourns the fox's death. Over the years, both he and Wan Feng have been ostracized. Now that Wan Feng has ended up like this, will he be next?

Looking up at Xiao Changche across from him, he thought to himself, "That bastard is filing his nails again. He'll probably break them."

To save Wan Feng's life, he and Xiao Changche would have to both oppose it.

But will Xiao Changche protect Wan Feng?

No need to think about it.

I'm afraid even Xiao Changche himself wanted to smash Wan Feng's head with a hammer.

Having worked together for so many years, Wang De knew Xiao Changche's temperament well.

If you can't hold up the boat alone, then you can only keep quiet.

I need to find a way to leave quickly! I also need to keep in touch with the high-ranking officials in the court, otherwise I'll be next.

Li Guohua read out Wan Feng's crimes one by one. It was unclear how long they had been preparing, but Wan Feng had committed over a hundred crimes.

Any one of these crimes would be punishable by death.

"What do you all think? Should this person be killed?" The warlord's gloomy voice came after the major case.

"Deserves to be killed!"

"Execute him immediately without pardon!"

The loud roar inside the room startled Wang De. When he looked at Xiao Changche, the other man was still calmly filing his nails. Turning his head to look down, he saw that the one who was roaring the loudest was none other than Wan Feng, General Wei's subordinate.
“Changche!” Linghuye looked at Xiao Changche.

"The commander-in-chief has the final say!" Xiao Changche replied simply and clearly. "However, commander-in-chief, it is enough to exterminate the Wan family. Their servants and retainers should not be implicated in the execution of too many others."

Linghuye smiled and turned to look at Wang De.

Wang De immediately cupped his hands and said, "Wan Feng deserved to die. The commander has rid us of a great scourge."

"But Wan Feng is a general appointed by the imperial court!"

“When a general is in the field, he may disobey the emperor’s orders. This is military law, and even the imperial court has no right to object!” Wang De said.

Ah!
Linghu Ye nodded repeatedly: "General Zuo is right. Then let's follow the advice of General Zuo and General Chariot and Cavalry, enforce military law, punish all the traitors, and restore order to the region beyond the Great Wall."

Wang De lowered his eyelids.

Your mother!

How did it become that I wanted to kill Wan Feng?
(End of this chapter)