Wang Hao, who was standing to the side, also realized that there was a problem.

"That's not right. If they're no longer soldiers, how come they have weapons? And one for each of them. Qin Minglang, are you secretly keeping weapons?"

Luo Jiu waved his hand.

"You're wrong. These aren't crossbows produced by your Ministry of War."

As he was saying this, he reached out to grab it, but Qin Minglang slashed down with his knife, almost severing his wrist.

Fortunately, Mo Yunhan reacted quickly and stopped him.

Wang Hao was furious.

"Qin Minglang, what are you trying to do? Kill someone in front of the prince? If it weren't for this old gentleman's advice, we wouldn't have been able to break this trap. If you dare to hurt him, I'll be the first to object."

Everyone else was also indignant.

Amid the controversy, another lieutenant had already picked up a crossbow to examine it.

"Your Highness, this thing is indeed different from what our Ministry of War issues."

Qin Minglang was terribly flustered and quickly explained, "Some of them are blacksmiths who have served in the army for many years and have experience with crossbows. What's wrong with them modifying their own?"

Mo Yunhan looked at the crossbow in his hand and then handed it to Luo Jiu.

What do you think?

Luo Jiu dismantled the crossbow in a few quick movements, but his expression was extremely unpleasant.

"Your Highness, this is a method used by the Luo family. Only members of the Luo family know it. Outsiders would never be able to do it."

He glared at Qin Minglang as he spoke.

"Tell me, who gave you this?"

Qin Minglang's eyes were filled with panic, but his attitude was unusually strong.

"Why should I answer your question? I am a general, a second-rank official. You have no right to ask me."

Mo Yunhan raised his hand and patted Luo Jiu's shoulder, indicating that he didn't need to ask any more questions.

"Guards, remove Qin Minglang's armor and escort him back to the capital for trial!"

"yes!"

Wang Hao was the first to agree and went up to make a move.

Qin Minglang was extremely anxious.

"Ninth Prince, you have no right to punish me!"

Mo Yunhan raised his hand and pointed at the group of people, saying, "According to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, anyone who privately hoards more than twenty soldiers outside of an official residence shall be executed! General Qin, would you like to count them yourself?"

Qin Minglang was completely panicked at this moment.

“They are not enlisted in the military, they are not soldiers, and they are by no means being kept by me, so how can you say they are hoarding soldiers?”

Mo Yunhan nodded as if he understood.

"General Qin is absolutely right. In that case, let's kill these people who are neither soldiers nor civilians but who hoard weapons, interfere in military and political affairs, and have ulterior motives on the spot."

Upon hearing that they were to be beheaded, the group immediately panicked.

"General Qin, save us! We all obey your orders!"

“Yes, General Qin, you were the one who issued these weapons to us. You told us that if we followed you, we would all become rich and powerful in the future. You can’t just abandon us.”

The accusations from the group infuriated Qin Minglang to the point of wanting his lungs to explode.

"You bunch of idiots, stop talking nonsense. Do you really think you can get away with this? He's clearly trying to kill you to establish his authority."

He tried to incite the group to riot.

It's good for him no matter who dies.

But he overestimated the character of that group of people.

How much of a willingness to fight is there in someone who is solely driven by profit?

Moreover, most of these people were those who couldn't make it in the military, so they wouldn't dare to resist.

Ignoring his provocations, she remained kneeling on the ground, begging Mo Yunhan for mercy.

Qin Minglang gritted his teeth in hatred.

Unfortunately, with his arms pinned down by Wang Hao and Ye Qi, he was unable to move to silence them.

Mo Yunhan's expression remained indifferent.

"Alright, stop kowtowing. Since you all claim to be innocent, I'll give you a chance to clear your names. Tie them up with ropes and take them all back to the capital for trial."

Upon hearing that they would not die, everyone kowtowed in gratitude.

At this moment, Su Liuer walked out from the shadows and bowed.

"Your Highness, we have already investigated that village, and as you predicted, it is completely deserted."

As soon as she finished speaking, Qinghui walked out of the village.

He was also carrying a person whose arm had been dislocated and who was lying on the ground like a rag doll.

It was Zhang the blacksmith.

Jiang Qingwan had just ordered her to come and check the battle situation, but Mo Yunhan had temporarily reassigned her to the blacksmith shop to arrest someone. Unexpectedly, she actually caught one who had slipped through the net.

Mo Yunhan looked down and confirmed his identity.

He then ordered three deputy generals, including Wang Hao, to each lead a team to guard the city, watch over prisoners, and patrol the surrounding area.

Luo Jiu, along with Su Liuer, Qing Sui, Li Dou, and the others, carried all the belongings back to the council hall.

Ye Qi pointed to the blacksmith on the ground and asked, "Your Highness, what should be done with this man?"

A dark and ambiguous light flashed in Mo Yunhan's eyes.

"Take him with you, come with me."

The lanterns in every household were lit all night.

The lights only went out one by one as dawn broke on the horizon.

Jiang Qingwan didn't sleep well. In her nightmare, she saw Xiao Rancuo standing in the mist, looking at her with an unrestrained smile.

He seemed to have a thousand words to say, yet he remained silent.

As she approached, she saw bright red blood flowing from Xiao Rancuo's seven orifices.

"don't want!"

She screamed and sat up abruptly, her hair already soaked with sweat, but she didn't have time to wipe it away.

Her heavy breathing caused her chest to rise and fall, and she raised her hand to calculate again and again.

Each time, I stopped halfway through, yet I was unwilling to give up and started over again.

But I never dared to calculate the final outcome.

A strong sense of unease lingered, and she irritably raised her hand to tap her forehead.

The next moment, he was grabbed by a large hand.

She slowly raised her eyes, and Mo Yunhan was sitting by her bedside, his shoulder covered with a trace of morning dew, clearly having just returned.

After calming herself down a bit, she spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Is everything done?"

Mo Yunhan looked at her with his dark eyes, and after a moment he let go of her hand, pulling at his white undershirt to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!