knife

Chapter 46 Uninvited Guest

Wan Feng never imagined that his final fate would be the extermination of his entire clan.

Over the years, he chose to back down step by step in the face of Linghuye's relentless pressure. He tolerated Linghuye's attempts to divide, weaken, and win over his trusted generals, and to install his own loyal subordinates in power.

He just loves money and just wants to be a peaceful, wealthy man.

Taking advantage of the opportunity of the barbarians sneaking into the pass, his son Wanyou went to find Chen Liang, borrowed soldiers from Chen Liang, and then disguised himself as a barbarian to massacre three villages and towns, obtaining a large amount of money. To be honest, he really didn't know this at first.

He didn't realize what was happening until a large amount of gold and silver had entered his estate.

But what can we do at this point?

Should we sacrifice family for the greater good?
That's impossible, of course.

They could only discuss with Chen Liang how to make this matter watertight.

Chen Liang was promoted by him from humble beginnings, rising from a lowly soldier to his current rank of fifth-grade general. He also married a concubine's daughter from the Wan family, so he was someone he could trust.

He never expected that Commander Linghu was so desperate for money that he could get money, win the hearts of the people, and win the hearts of the army all at once. If he missed this opportunity, he, Linghu Ye, would still be considered a master of military strategy.
Linghu Ye's spearhead was aimed directly at Wan Feng, and Wan Feng naturally could not stand idly by. While he was still trying to find a solution, his son Wan You made another foolish move, actually wanting to silence Chen Liang.

This plunged Wan Feng into an abyss of no return.

Originally, as long as Chen Liang didn't betray him, he would still have room to maneuver. Now that his son has been caught red-handed, and faced with the undeniable fact that Wan You wanted to silence him, Chen Liang was utterly despondent and confessed everything.

Looking back at Wan You, who was kneeling behind him and bound hand and foot, Wan Feng only regretted not killing the bastard sooner.

It was precisely because of his own pampering that he developed this lawless nature, which ultimately harmed his entire clan.

He looked up at the execution platform.

His former colleagues were mostly watching him from the stage.

Their expressions were extremely complex.

There was joy, fear, compassion, and indifference...

"Linghu Ye harbors rebellious intentions, eliminates dissidents, frames and slanders, eliminates dissidents, Wang De, Xiao Changche, today you sit idly by and watch me be killed, tomorrow it will be your turn!" Wan Feng suddenly jumped up and roared.

A soldier standing behind Wan Feng kicked him in the back of the knee, causing Wan Feng to collapse to his knees. The soldier then reached out and gently twisted Wan Feng's jaw, dislocating it. He made a whimpering sound, but could no longer speak.

Judging from the soldier's extremely skillful techniques, he was clearly a veteran.

It's pitiful that Wan Feng was once a master of the eighth rank of Xuan Yuan. Although he has neglected his martial arts due to indulgence in pleasure in recent years, he was a tough guy who fought on the battlefield in his early years. However, when he was captured, Chang Jian crippled his martial arts. Now, he was being humiliated by an ordinary soldier. Many generals on the stage felt sorry for him.

Wang De's eyelids twitched, but he pointed his halberd at Wan Feng and shouted, "Wan thief, you still have the nerve to complain here? What have the more than a thousand people from Hejia Village and the other three places done to deserve this? You actually killed and robbed them. Being ranked alongside you is a disgrace to us. Even when you are about to die, you are still trying to sow discord. It is utterly ridiculous."

When Wang De spoke, the officers on the stage realized that this was the time to express their stance. If they didn't speak now, wouldn't the commander-in-chief think that they were sympathizing with this guy?
That would be bad.

Besides, it's a certainty that this guy committed murder and robbery; he's not innocent at all. Everyone was quite envious of the several large silver balls that rolled out of his house.

Shouts erupted from the stage, and some, eager to perform, even took off their boots and threw them at Wan Feng.

Everyone here practices martial arts, so their aim when throwing things is impeccable. The boot hit Wan Feng squarely in the face.

Li Guohua, who was in charge of the execution, sat in the main seat, smiling as he looked at everyone.

He is satisfied.

However, when he turned his gaze to Xiao Changche, his smile faded slightly.

Xiao Changche looked at the chaotic scene on the stage with some disgust, stood up abruptly, and said to Li Guohua, "The commander-in-chief asked us to come and see Wan Feng off, so I've come too. I have other important matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now!"

Li Guohua showed no airs whatsoever towards Xiao Changche, standing up and bowing, saying, "If you have something to attend to, please go ahead. The commander-in-chief only asked us to come here to fulfill a formality!"

Xiao Changche nodded and turned to leave. However, when he reached the guy who had thrown the boots, he stepped right on the guy's bare instep. The guy screamed and jumped up, clutching his foot. He wanted to yell, but when he turned around and saw Xiao Changche's cold gaze, he immediately shut his mouth.

Xiao Changche stepped down from the stage and drove away.

Zhang Ruo was also standing below the stage at this moment. Of course, it wasn't his own choice to come; he was dragged here by the people from the headquarters.

As a prisoner sent to serve in the army, his position was quite special, as he was located directly below the execution platform.

When Zhang Ru first heard that Linghu Ye wanted to execute the General of the Guard, a third-rank official, she was furious. Since the General of the Guard was appointed by the imperial court, he could only be dealt with by the imperial court. Linghu Ye's actions were an overreach of authority, an act of arrogance, and a symbol of his ambition.

But after the clerk on the platform loudly and deliberately announced Wan Feng's crimes, Zhang Ruo felt that if such a cruel and harmful person was not killed, how could the people's anger be appeased?

The onlookers had already been hurling clods of vegetables, stalks, and dirt at the Wan clan, leaving many members bruised and battered. At this moment, old and young, men and women alike, some closed their eyes to await death, some wept bitterly, and some cried out their injustice. The entire clan must be exterminated!

Frankly speaking, the punishment for Wan Feng's crime is not excessive.

The killing of over a thousand civilians and the confiscation of their property for personal use is such a horrifying act that it is truly unprecedented in my life and an eye-opener.

Xiao Changche was not in a good mood.

Even if Wan Feng has become a wooden or clay sculpture in the past two years, as long as he is still here, Linghu Ye will still have to be wary. If he hadn't committed such a serious crime, it wouldn't have been easy for Linghu Ye to kill him and seize his wealth so cleanly and efficiently.

In the past, Wan Feng could share some of the pressure with me, but now that he's dead, the pressure I might face will obviously increase.

Wan Feng's death will have a significant impact on the military structure outside the Great Wall. Will the court send another General of the Guard?

I'm afraid it's unlikely.

If the imperial court wanted to deal with Linghu Ye forcefully, Zhang Ruo would not have appeared outside the pass.

It is highly likely that Linghu Ye will recommend one of his own people to serve as General Wei, and this person is very likely to be Li Guohua.

At this critical juncture, the imperial court certainly wouldn't refuse Linghu Ye's request.

With the recent defeat in the south and the dowager empress of Southern Chu being increasingly aggressive, the path to peace negotiations is fraught with difficulties. At this moment, the imperial court clearly will not allow any further complications to arise beyond the Great Wall.

Linghu Ye's power will expand even further next year.

Those opportunists outside the Great Wall will naturally follow the wind and side with him.

Many of the local faction members who originally supported him will likely switch their allegiance to Linghuye.

Over the past two years, these people have become more ambitious. Li Guohua and Linghu Zhishu have been secretly poaching talent from outsiders. The local faction outside the Great Wall is now also tempted.

If Linghu Ye were to raise an army and vie for the throne one day, then everyone who follows him will gain even more. If he succeeds, everyone will be a founding hero; if he fails, everyone will retreat to the borderlands, and it won't be a big deal.

In the struggle for power, failure always results in the downfall of the leader, while the followers have many other options. This kind of opportunity, requiring little initial investment but promising generations of wealth, is something many people are eager to try.

However, his focus on the Northern Expedition and the destruction of the Yuan Dynasty was becoming increasingly less appealing to the local faction.

After all, even if we win a war against the Northern Yuan, we won't gain much. The Northern Yuan is even poorer than the area outside the Great Wall, and the losses from fighting against them are simply too great.

This is a typical case of high input and low return.

For the local faction outside the Great Wall, fame is really of little use.

Those who firmly support him are still those who have a blood feud with Bei Yuan, but these people are not very strong. This is because their forces were almost entirely wiped out by Bei Yuan during the process of forming a feud with them.

The road ahead is truly becoming increasingly difficult.

Xiao Changche was not actually willing to become Linghu Ye's tool, to first pacify the interior of the pass, and then to govern the exterior, consolidate strength, and launch a full-scale attack on the Yuan.

Because there is too much uncertainty.

When that time really comes, will Linghu Ye still let him go back to the border?
I'm afraid that's impossible.

Isn't he worried about becoming the next Linghuye?
He returned to the Xiao family mansion dejectedly.

"You acquired all the artisans of the Wan family and their workshops?" Luo Hua was both surprised and delighted. "The Wan family's artisans are renowned beyond the Great Wall. This time, the Commander-in-Chief is quite generous to you!"

"If you want to take, you must first give. Our commander understands this principle well!" Xiao Changche said, "I plan to take these craftsmen back to Yuan'an."

“Of course we should bring them back to Yuan’an, that’s where your foundation is!” Luo Hua said. “The Wan clan was killed by Linghu Ye. If these people want to survive, besides you protecting them, who else outside the pass has the responsibility? I’m sure they understand this too. Once they go to Yuan’an, they can work for you with peace of mind.”

Xiao Changche nodded in agreement.

As the two were talking, a servant came over carrying a box and said, "General, a man has come from outside who says he is your friend and wants to see you. I asked him who he was, and he gave me this box, saying that as soon as you see what's inside, you'll know who he is!"

"What's inside?" Luo Hua frowned slightly.

"I opened it and checked, it's a demon mask!" The servant's expression was somewhat strange.

Xiao Changche flew into a rage, grabbed the waist knife he had just taken off, and strode out: "You bastard, you actually dared to come here to bully us! I'll kill you!"

(End of this chapter)