Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

Chen Anning was led to the inner living room to wait, and Butler Sun immediately went to deliver a message to Chang Benchu.

He waited in the hall for nearly half an hour, and after the tea was changed once, Chang Benchu ​​finally appeared before him, supported by two maids. He was dressed in a white robe, with a bandage hanging from his head, looking haggard and walking with difficulty.

Chen Anning was immediately taken aback and hurriedly stepped forward, saying, "General, what's wrong with you? Why do you look so haggard after just a few days?"

Chang Benchu ​​seemed extremely tired, and waved his hand listlessly: "Anning, what urgent matter do you have that you need to come looking for me?"

Chen Anning said, "General, something big has happened. The imperial court has dispatched a new inspector to inspect the officialdom in Suzhou. It seems that the Empress is suspicious of the case of Liu Wu's arrest."

"General, please return to the Suzhou camp immediately to oversee the situation, so that Minister Zheng (Zheng Bisheng) can handle the matter calmly."

After saying that, he looked at the old and frail Chang Benchu ​​with suspicion.

Chang Benchu ​​pursed his lips and said in a hollow voice, "What does the imperial envoy's rectification of the Suzhou officialdom have to do with my military camp?"

"General, the imperial envoy this time is none other than the current Empress's husband, Duke Shen Lang. We have secretly investigated and found that he has already gone to the Suzhou camp for inspection."

Upon hearing this, Chang Benchu ​​was immediately taken aback.

But soon, it wilted again.

"If he wants to go, then let him go. The Suzhou camp is full of my men. What kind of trouble can he possibly cause during his inspection?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Anning became anxious: "General! Shen Lang is a man of great cunning and shrewdness. In just a few months, he was able to recapture the old capital of Chang'an and win the hearts and minds of the powerful clans in Guanzhong."

He went to the Suzhou camp, but who can guarantee that the commander-in-chief of that camp is still a general?

Upon hearing this, Chang Benchu ​​couldn't help but sneer: "Shen Lang is nothing but a young punk not even twenty years old, yet he's become a member of the royal family just because of his good looks."

In truth, there's nothing to worry about. I've managed the Suzhou camp for many years, and the soldiers there are utterly loyal to me. What ability does he have to control the Suzhou camp?

Anning, you're overthinking it. Let him be. Sigh.

Chen Anning was almost numb with exhaustion, and advised again, "General! It's better to be safe than sorry!"

Even if, as you predict, the imperial envoy inspects the military camp, the general should be present to receive orders!

Chang Benchu ​​had lost his patience: "I have urgent matters at home that I haven't dealt with yet, and everyone in the army knows that. Even if Shen Lang is an imperial envoy..."

He should understand the importance of priorities and be considerate of me. After I've dealt with these trivial matters in a few days, I'll personally go to apologize to him. Don't worry."

"General, if something happens at the Suzhou camp, not only will the Suzhou officialdom be shaken, but the entire Jiangnan officialdom will likely be thrown into turmoil. Please think it over!"

Upon hearing this, Chang Benchu ​​suddenly looked up and raised his voice, "Why are you pressing me so hard? Don't you know I'm about to die!"

Chen Anning couldn't help but shudder: "General, what makes you say that?"

Chang Benchu's face immediately showed a sorrowful expression, and he slowly said, "I have six sons, but only the youngest one is the one I love the most."

Now, my youngest son is only seven years old, but he has contracted scabies on his back and suffers from unbearable pain every day. I…

As he spoke, a tear, belonging to an elderly father, fell from his eye.

"My mind is in complete disarray, I am unable to control myself, how can I possibly handle military affairs!"

Numb, completely numb.

Chen Anning felt his mind go completely blank.

"Now, my son is suffering terribly from sores in bed. I have sought out many famous doctors to treat him, but to no avail. Now, I am in utter turmoil, utterly turmoil..."

As Chang Benchu ​​spoke, he immediately covered his face and wept, heartbroken.

Chen Anning stood there, stunned, unable to think of any reason or excuse to persuade Chang Benchu ​​to return to camp.

Seeing his grief-stricken appearance, so full of filial piety, I felt a tightness in my chest.

Just then, a servant came to report: "General, the master of the Holy Path Sect is waiting outside the mansion gate!"

Upon hearing this, Chang Benchu ​​immediately perked up: "Quickly, quickly invite them in! We can only ask the immortal to perform the ritual now!"

"Pray for my son's well-being and to ward off evil spirits. If anything happens to him, I'll gladly go with him."

As he spoke, he removed the bandage from his head and said to Steward Sun, "Quickly help me change my clothes; I want to personally welcome Master Shenfa!"

"Yes!"

Butler Sun turned and left, shaking his head helplessly as he passed by Chen Anning.

“Anning, you should go back first. If there’s anything, you can go to the Governor’s Mansion to discuss it with Minister Zheng. Once my son has recovered, he will return to the camp to take charge.”

"General!!!"

"Go back, go back, ah—"

Chen Anning wanted to say something, but Chang Benchu ​​waved him away.

"Ah~"

Chen Anning sighed, turned around and went out the door.

……

Inside the Suzhou camp, after the inspection at the drill ground, Shen Lang summoned all the mid- to high-ranking military officers to his main tent to receive orders.

"Please explain. The Suzhou garrison should have a standing force of 23,000, so why is there less than 15,000 during this inspection? Where did the remaining 5,000 go?"

All the officers and soldiers inside the tent sat on both sides, and no one uttered a word.

After all, no one could have predicted that Shen Lang would actually call out names one by one according to the military register, and record each one he called out, uncovering more than a thousand people who were just filling in the ranks.

Even imperial envoys in the past wouldn't have examined things so thoroughly; this one was remarkably patient.

Therefore, when faced with Shen Lang's questioning, everyone chose to remain silent, hoping to get away with it.

Seeing that no one responded, Shen Lang simply went for the tough part.

"You think you can get away with this by not speaking? Well then, I'll put my words on your lips right here and now: if no one gives me a satisfactory answer within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn..."

Then you should all voluntarily relinquish all your military posts and go back to your normal duties. After all, the Great Chu army doesn't support useless people!

Upon hearing this, a lieutenant immediately stood up, looking at Shen Lang with a sinister expression: "Lord Shen, what right do you have to dismiss us from our military posts?"

Shen Lang narrowed his eyes: "As an imperial envoy, I am here on behalf of the emperor to inspect the local areas, and I naturally have the right to dismiss you from your military posts."

The adjutant sneered, "Lord Shen, I know you are an imperial envoy, but I must remind you, the military pay for the Suzhou camp..."

These were all issued by the army's commander-in-chief. If you were to remove us from our military ranks without authorization, General Chang would definitely be unhappy.

"Oh, that's how it is?"

Shen Lang put on a thoughtful expression.

The adjutant, thinking Shen Lang had reservations, continued, "Lord Shen, I know you are a member of the imperial family and an official appointed by the court, but I hope you understand one thing..."

Sometimes, it's better to turn a blind eye than to look at things. That way, it's better for everyone. Otherwise, if things escalate to a point of no return, it might be difficult to handle the situation when you return to the capital, don't you think?"

The other officers nodded in unison, looking at Shen Lang with mocking eyes.

Seeing this, Wang Rui was so angry that he couldn't help but reach for the sword at his waist.

Shen Lang suddenly nodded and said directly, "You're right, the Suzhou camp listens to the commander-in-chief."

"Since that's the case, I'll reluctantly accept the position of commander-in-chief of the Suzhou camp for the time being."

Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this, not understanding what Shen Lang meant.

But the next second, Shen Lang stood up and said, "I, the official, will temporarily assume the role of commander-in-chief of the Suzhou camp on behalf of the Emperor. My first order is..."

Chang Benchu ​​is hereby relieved of all his military posts. Do you have any objections?

"You want to seize General Chang's military power?!" The adjutant's eyes widened. "Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you're a member of the imperial family?!"

Shen Lang ignored him and instead glanced around with a normal expression.

"Now, those who agree to my taking over the Suzhou camp, please sit down; those who disagree, please stand up."

As soon as he finished speaking, twenty-two of the thirty people in the tent immediately stood up without the slightest hesitation.

Their gazes toward Shen Lang were full of provocation, as if to say, "Come on, if you dare!"

Zhang Dayong also wanted to get up, but when he thought of the imposing aura emanating from Shen Lang, he chose to sit down at the desk instead.

"Very good. It seems you are all loyal to General Chang. In that case, I will grant your request."

After saying that, Shen Lang slowly sat back down at the desk, took out his Browning pistol, opened the magazine, and flicked the bullets one by one onto the table.

Just as everyone was wondering what was going on, a group of Jingwei Division members armed with rifles suddenly rushed into the tent.

Before the people standing there could react, Mu Qingqiu gave an order.

"Shoot all those who are standing, leave no one alive."

Bang bang bang bang bang——

Instantly, a gunshot rang out inside the tent.

Amidst the splattering of blood, one after another, lives that were once vibrant instantly fell silently into pools of blood.

Only after all twenty-two men standing were killed did Shen Lang reluctantly reload the bullets into the magazine.

His expression remained unchanged throughout, as if the dead before him were not people, but a herd of livestock.