The first appearance of the golden sword
Like hounds scenting blood, the Imperial City Division and Lu Qinglan's forces descended upon the Flying Tiger Camp outside Beijing from different directions. The investigation unfolded simultaneously amidst intense secrecy and fierce competition.
A few days later, the investigation results of both parties were presented to the emperor and Kunning Palace almost simultaneously. The contents were surprisingly consistent, but each had its own emphasis.
Cao Jin, the Imperial City Commander, knelt before Xiao Jingche, his voice filled with suppressed excitement and chilling emotion. "Your Majesty, we've verified this! Feng Chuang's crimes must be executed! The Flying Tiger Battalion should have 3,000 powerful bows on its books, but the actual inventory only has over 2,500, with nearly 500 missing! They should have 1,000 powerful crossbows, but they only have 800! They should have 5,000 sets of standard iron armor, but they only have 4,300! Furthermore, the Ministry of War's records of replenishing the Flying Tiger Battalion's military equipment over the past six months completely mismatch the losses reported by Feng Chuang, a far cry from common sense! More importantly, in the secret compartment of one of Feng Chuang's concubines' residence, we found a large number of gold beads of unknown origin, as well as... several secret letters with Northern Di characters. Although the contents have yet to be deciphered, their format is extremely similar to those previously found at Rui Yuxuan!"
As Xiao Jingche listened, his expression darkened, eventually turning livid. The evidence was irrefutable! Feng Chuang had not only embezzled military equipment, but was also suspected of collaborating with the enemy! He was indeed the "military commander"! He was the "Ninth Brother"'s venomous fang planted in the capital!
"Great! What a great Feng Chuang!" Xiao Jingche laughed in anger, "Such a giant pest is hiding in my important capital! Cao Jin!"
"The servant is here!"
"Assemble the imperial guards immediately, take my handwritten order, and surround the Flying Tiger Camp! Arrest Feng Chuang and all his trusted generals! Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!" Xiao Jingche's eyes were filled with murderous intent. He could not wait any longer and had to pull out this nail immediately, otherwise he would not be able to sleep or eat!
"I obey your order!" Cao Jin was greatly encouraged and immediately stood up to make arrangements.
Almost at the same time, in Kunning Palace, Fu Yu also brought more detailed investigation results.
"Your Majesty, our men have infiltrated the Ministry of War to verify the accounts and discovered that most of the Flying Tiger Battalion's missing weapons were written off in batches over the past three months under the guise of 'daily wear and tear' and 'training damage.' This timing closely matches the frequent visits of several mysterious 'merchant caravans' to Feng Chuang's compound outside the camp. Furthermore, Feng Chuang's most trusted grain and fodder officer, whose brother-in-law was a former purchasing manager at Rui Yuxuan, disappeared a month ago."
Lu Qinglan listened quietly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. The missing weapons, the mysterious caravan, the intricate connection with Ruiyuxuan... Feng Chuang was undoubtedly "Ninth Brother's" man.
"Has Feng Chuang done anything unusual recently?"
"Extremely vigilant. The camp's guards have been significantly increased, with his trusted aides taking turns on duty day and night. Our people also discovered that he always has three fast horses in his barracks, as if he's ready to evacuate at any moment."
"He wants to escape? Or... is he waiting for some instructions?" Lu Qinglan's eyes narrowed. "Are Wei Zheng's men in place?"
"We have followed Her Majesty's orders and split up into smaller groups, lurking in various strategic locations around the Flying Tiger Camp. It will be difficult for a bird to escape."
"Okay." Lu Qinglan stood up, walked to the window, and looked towards the direction of the imperial city. "I think His Majesty has already obtained the evidence and is ready to take action."
Before she could finish her words, a young eunuch hurried over and whispered something in Fu Yu's ear. Fu Yu's face changed slightly, and she turned to report, "Your Majesty, the Imperial City Department has received His Majesty's handwritten order and has mobilized the imperial guards. They are leaving the palace and heading straight for the suburbs of Beijing!"
Xiao Jingche took action! And it was so fast and swift!
A complex expression flashed across Lu Qinglan's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. She'd expected the Emperor to take action, but his eagerness was a bit reckless. Since Feng Chuang had been prepared, how could he simply sit there and wait for death?
"Notify our people, as well as Wei Zheng's people," Lu Qinglan spoke quickly, his voice filled with determination. "Keep a close eye on the Flying Tiger Battalion's movements, but don't intervene in the Imperial Guards' actions for now. If Feng Chuang surrenders, then wait and see what happens. If...if he becomes desperate and attempts to lead his troops to attack the capital or create chaos, then immediately cooperate with the Imperial Guards and suppress him! Our primary goal is to capture and kill Feng Chuang. We absolutely cannot allow him to escape or contact the outside world during this chaos!"
"Yes!" Fu Yu accepted the order and immediately turned around to convey the instructions.
Beijing suburbs, Flying Tiger Camp.
The night was thick, the campfire flickering in the breeze. Feng Chuang hadn't slept. Dressed in light armor, he sat in his tent, his sword at his side, his mind utterly uneasy. The prying eyes from outside the camp during the day, along with reports from his spies in the city about unusual movements within the Imperial City Administration, had left him feeling the end was near.
He couldn't just sit there and wait for death! The last order from "Ninth Brother" was that once he was exposed, he would do whatever it took to create chaos, attract the court's attention, and create opportunities for other actions.
Just when he made up his mind and was about to gather his confidants to stage a mutiny under the pretext of "night training", suddenly there was a huge fire outside the camp and the sound of horses' hooves was like thunder!
"The imperial edict has arrived! Feng Chuang, please accept it!" Cao Jin's sharp voice pierced the night sky, and countless imperial cavalrymen holding torches surrounded the Flying Tiger Battalion!
Here it comes! Feng Chuang's heart was filled with determination, and his last hesitation disappeared completely. He suddenly drew his sword and shouted to the guards outside the tent: "The emperor has listened to slander and wants to harm loyal officials! Generals and soldiers, follow me to purge the emperor's court and kill Cao Jin, the eunuch!"
He tried to galvanize the soldiers, but the response wasn't widespread. Most were stunned by the sudden turn of events, at a loss for what to do. Only the two or three hundred most trusted men he had gathered immediately gathered around him, weapons in hand.
"Feng Chuang disobeyed the order! Capture him!" Cao Jin was not surprised to see this and immediately ordered the imperial guards to attack.
Instantly, the Flying Tiger Camp erupted in cries of slaughter! Feng Chuang led his trusted followers in a desperate struggle, engaging the Imperial Guards in a fierce battle. However, most of his soldiers were thrown into disarray, some watching from the sidelines while others attempted to stop the fighting, leaving the camp in utter chaos.
Feng Chuang was a skilled martial artist, and he led his trusted followers to charge left and right, trying to break out of the encirclement. He knew that as long as they broke out and joined the "caravan" that was waiting for them, they would have a chance of survival.
Just as he was about to break through a weak link in the Imperial Guards, several cold arrows suddenly shot out from the darkness on the flank, accurately knocking down several of his personal guards! Immediately afterwards, dozens of men dressed in ordinary civilian clothes, but as swift as leopards, rushed out from the shadows, their swordsmanship ruthless, and went straight for Feng Chuang!
They were sent by Wei Zheng! They had been waiting in secret!
Feng Chuang was attacked from both sides and was immediately in dire straits. He blocked with his sword and roared angrily, "Who are you?!"
There was no answer, only a more violent attack. A flash of sword light passed, and Feng Chuang's right arm, holding the sword, was severed at the shoulder! He let out a shrill scream, and then several swords were simultaneously placed on his neck.
The fighting quickly subsided, with Feng Chuang's closest associates either dead or surrendered.
Cao Jin rode forward and looked at Feng Chuang, who was pinned to the ground, his battle robe stained with blood. He sneered, "General Feng, do you have anything else to say?"
Feng Chuang raised his head, glaring at Cao Jin with hatred, then glanced at the "people" who had tried to capture him, and suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood foam: "The victor is the king and the loser is the bandit! Kill them if you want! 'Ninth Brother' will avenge me!"
Cao Jin's eyes glared, and he was about to order him to be executed on the spot, but a clerk from the Imperial City Department hurriedly whispered in his ear, "Superintendent, the Emperor's decree requires him to be killed alive..."
Cao Jin snorted coldly and changed his tone, "Take him back! Keep him under strict supervision!"
The clash of swords subsided, and the Flying Tigers' rebellion was quickly extinguished. But Feng Chuang's hateful words, "Ninth Brother will avenge me," echoed like a curse in the hearts of everyone present.
The threat to the outskirts of Beijing has been temporarily lifted, but everyone knows that the real storm, with Feng Chuang's capture, may have just begun. How many secrets can be pried out of him? What will the mysterious "Ninth Brother" do next? How long can the fragile tacit understanding between the emperor and empress last?
The night grows darker and the colder it gets.
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