Blood debts must be repaid in blood
At the Blackstone Fortress camp, the central command tent was temporarily converted into an interrogation room.
General Huo sat upright in the main seat, leaning on a cane, but his back was as straight as a javelin, and his face was so dark it could drip water.
Tiger stood to one side, his eyes burning with the flames of revenge.
Shen Yan and Ling Zhan sat at the lower end of the tent, one observing coldly, the other occasionally calming the faint howls of wolves coming from outside the tent—Lan Ying, with the Wolf King with the wide ears and several elite snow wolves, stood quietly around the tent like the most loyal guards, their invisible intimidation making the air seem to freeze.
Deputy General Wang Ben personally led the blockade and arrest operation.
All personnel in the camp involved in the allocation of provisions, route planning, dispatch of scouts, and even those who had access to core military intelligence before the Tiger Squad's expedition, regardless of their rank, were escorted here by their fierce personal guards.
In an instant, the tent was filled with people kneeling inside and out, each with a different expression.
Some were bewildered and uneasy, some tried to remain calm, and others had shifty eyes and were covered in cold sweat.
General Huo didn't waste any words. He directly ordered the military judge to read aloud the details of the Tiger Squad's annihilation, especially the suspicious points about the enemy's precise ambush. With each point read, some people in the kneeling crowd couldn't help but tremble.
"explain!"
General Huo slammed his fist on the table, his voice booming like thunder. "Who leaked the route to the Di dogs?! Speak now, and I'll grant you a quick death out of consideration for your past bloodshed for the Northern Frontier! If I were to find out..." His icy gaze swept across the room, "...execute your entire family!"
The chilling words "extermination of nine generations" struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.
The tent was deathly silent, save for the sound of heavy breathing.
"General! I've been wronged!"
A minor official in charge of grain and fodder records suddenly broke down, kowtowing with tears streaming down his face.
"I was merely copying documents; I would never dare to reveal this! I still have an elderly mother at home..."
"Shut up!" Wang Ben shouted. "I didn't ask you! If you dare to make another sound, you'll be court-martialed!"
Just then, a man kneeling in the corner, wearing a low-ranking scout uniform, looked up suddenly at Zhao Si, an inconspicuous captain of General Huo's personal guards, with a fierce struggle in his eyes.
When Zhao Si met that gaze, his face turned deathly pale, and his hand instinctively went to the hilt of the knife at his waist.
"That's him!"
The scout seemed to have gone all out, hissing as he pointed at Zhao Si, "It's him! Zhao Si! The night before Captain Shen set off, I saw him sneaking off to the abandoned beacon tower three miles outside the camp! That's where the Di spies used to meet! And then...and then Captain Shen's team..."
"You're spouting nonsense!"
Zhao Si suddenly sprang to his feet, drew his sword, and lunged at the scout with lightning speed, clearly demonstrating his exceptional skill.
However, he was fast, but someone was faster!
A bright flash of light arrived first, like lightning tearing through the darkness, striking Zhao Si's wrist with perfect precision!
"Pfft!"
"ah--!"
Zhao Si let out a miserable scream as his knife-wielding hand, along with half of his forearm, shot skyward, blood gushing out like a fountain!
He was kicked away by a tremendous force and crashed heavily to the ground.
Ling Zhan slowly sheathed his sword, as if he were merely dusting off the dust from his sleeves, his face expressionless.
His ruthless and decisive actions stunned the entire audience!
"Take it down!"
General Huo's eyes flashed with a cold light.
The guards rushed forward and pinned down the screaming Zhao Si. They quickly searched his pockets and found a bone whistle wrapped in oilcloth, engraved with a special Di totem, as well as several Di gold coins in excellent condition.
The evidence is irrefutable!
"Zhao Si!"
Tiger's eyes were bloodshot. He stepped forward and grabbed Zhao Si by the collar. "My brothers... treated you like family! Why?!"
Zhao Si's face was contorted with pain, but his eyes were filled with resentment and madness: "Why...why? Haha...money! And...future! That old bastard Huo...blocked their path! The Northern Frontier...cannot be peaceful! Shen Xiao...you and your father...both must die!"
He coughed up a mouthful of blood, glaring venomously at General Huo, "...I won't let him go..."
"Who?!" General Huo demanded sharply.
The man's head was drooping; he had been poisoned again. General Huo's voice was icy cold: "Drag him away! Convict him of treason and murdering his comrades, and execute him by slow slicing! His head shall be displayed at the gate for three days! His immediate family members, regardless of age, shall all be arrested and escorted back to the capital to be judged by the Three Judicial Offices! Anyone implicated shall be punished as an accomplice!"
"Yes!" the military judge and Wang Ben replied in unison, their voices carrying a chilling tone.
Zhao Si was dragged out like a dead dog.
The others kneeling inside the tent were all silent and trembling like leaves in the wind.
General Huo, leaning on his cane, slowly stood up, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping over all the generals: "The traitor has been eliminated, but this matter is not over…!" He uttered these two words heavily, his killing intent chilling, "From today onwards, the entire army will be rectified! Anyone who slacks off morale, colludes with foreign enemies, embezzles military pay, or enriches themselves, no matter who their backers are, will suffer the same fate as Zhao Si! Wang Ben!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Raise the troops! Prepare for war! The Di people stole our supplies, and I will make them pay back with interest, in blood! I will also show them that the spirit of my Northern Frontier army cannot be burned out or frozen down!"
"Yes, sir!"
Inside the tent, all the generals roared in agreement, their long-suppressed fighting spirit and rage ignited, their voices shaking the rooftops. Outside the tent, as if sensing this soaring killing intent, Lan Ying raised her head and let out a wolf howl that pierced the clouds and shattered rocks. The pack of wolves echoed in response, their howls reverberating through the wind and snow.
The capital city, the Imperial Study.
The atmosphere, however, was a stark contrast to the brutality and turmoil of the northern frontier.
Even the somber scent of ambergris couldn't suppress the surging undercurrents.
The Dowager Empress Huo sat at the head of the table, calmly sipping her tea, the crisp sound of the lid gently stirring the foam on the surface clearly audible.
The emperor sat behind his dragon-patterned desk, his young face bearing a subtle hint of irritation and caution.
The fingers gripping the vermilion brush tightened slightly.
Minister of Works, Lord Jiang, stood respectfully at the lower end of the table.
Large beads of cold sweat rolled down his forehead and slid into his temples as he tried to remain calm.
The eunuchs and palace maids standing by held their breath, not daring to utter a sound.
The Dowager Consort Huo put down her teacup, her voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable authority.
"Your Majesty," I said, "what I just said was for the long-term benefit of the nation. The threat from the Northern Barbarians is not a recent phenomenon. Building cities and cultivating land may cost money in the short term, but it is the foundation for a hundred years to come. Minister Jiang of the Ministry of Works always says it's wasteful."
Her gaze shifted to Minister Jiang, a faint hint of coldness playing at the corners of her lips.
"But little do they know, the military expenses lost in the northern frontier due to the Di harassment over the past few decades, the grain and supplies looted and burned, and the losses of displaced people, added together, are probably enough to build several fortified cities, aren't they? Minister Jiang is in charge of the Ministry of Works and is skilled in calculations. Why don't you... give His Majesty and I a detailed list and calculate this cost? That way, His Majesty and all the civil and military officials can understand whether building cities is more expensive, or whether being passively attacked and robbed every year and filling this bottomless pit is more expensive?"
The four words "nurturing bandits to enhance one's own importance" were like poisoned steel needles, piercing deeply into Minister Jiang's heart.
His face turned deathly pale, like gold leaf.
His Adam's apple bobbed laboriously as he managed to speak.
"Your Highness, this account... involves a wide range of issues and dates back a long time; it will likely require a thorough investigation over time..."
"It's alright."
The Dowager Empress Huo interrupted casually.
“I can wait. Your Majesty is also in the prime of life, and has plenty of time to see clearly who is truly planning for the long term for the country.”
"Who are they..."
She paused, her gaze piercing Jiang Shangshu like an icicle.
"They only focus on the petty gains in front of them, and even go so far as to support bandits to enhance their own power, use war to seek personal gain, and sit idly by while their soldiers bleed and the people suffer!"
Minister Jiang felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, his legs went weak, and he almost couldn't stand up.
The emperor's gaze suddenly sharpened like a knife, sweeping over his sweat-soaked official robe.
The Dowager Empress Huo seemed oblivious to his lapse in composure.
He changed the subject, his tone becoming gentler, yet carrying an even deeper chill.
"Oh, by the way. I heard that Minister Jiang and Empress Dowager Jiang have recently become quite 'concerned' about the young head of Shen's Workshop? They suspect him of treason?"
She smiled gently and looked at the emperor.
"Your Majesty, speaking of this Shen family head, I am reminded of an old story. Back when the late Emperor was alive, there was a courtier named Shen who was extremely skilled in ingenuity and craftsmanship. His skills were divine, and he was deeply trusted by the late Emperor. Unfortunately, later... due to an 'accident,' he died young, leaving behind only an infant son who has disappeared without a trace."
She picked up her teacup and slowly took a sip.
"Judging by her age, she's about the same age as this Patriarch Shen..."
The emperor's hand, holding the pen, paused almost imperceptibly.
"Sometimes, when people look too alike, it's easy to make connections. However," the Dowager Empress Huo put down her teacup, her voice suddenly turning cold, "I think, rather than making unfounded accusations and being paranoid, we should consider how many warm coats and sharp weapons this Chenji Workshop provides to the court and the border troops every year? How many artisans and civilians does it support? If it's confiscated on trumped-up charges, the swords of the soldiers in the north will become dull and frostbitten, and the livelihoods of the people in the rear will be cut off. This enormous responsibility... can the Ministry of Works bear it? Or is it..."
Her gaze swept over Minister Jiang, whose face was ashen, and a mocking smile curled at the corner of her lips.
"The rare white jade Guanyin statue in Consort Jiang's palace, which had a chipped corner, urgently needs to be repaired by a new, skilled craftsman, so..."
"Your Highness, that's enough!"
The emperor finally spoke, his voice carrying suppressed anger and a hint of barely perceptible weariness.
The Dowager Empress's words were piercing and to the heart of the matter.
It also unveiled a hidden corner of the Jiang family's intentions and Shen Yan's background.
He looked coldly at Minister Jiang, who was sweating profusely and swaying precariously.
"Jiang Qing, did you hear what the Empress Dowager said? The Shenji Workshop is related to the foundation of the nation and military resources. Without solid evidence, no action should be taken! If anything goes wrong, you will be held responsible! As for the proposal to build a city in the northern border... we will discuss it again after General Huo's detailed report arrives! You may leave!"
"I... obey your order."
Minister Jiang felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He hurriedly bowed and practically scrambled out of the room.
The hem of the official's robe swept across the polished gold bricks, leaving a few messy, wet streaks.
The Dowager Consort Huo also slowly rose and nodded slightly to the Emperor.
"I am also tired. Your Majesty is busy with state affairs. I will take my leave."
She walked to the gilded palace gate, then seemed to remember something, paused and turned back, her gaze piercing through the fragrant mist inside the palace.
Her voice was calm and even, yet every word carried immense weight: "Your Majesty, I dreamt of the late Emperor again last night. He said that although the snow in the capital is light, the ice in some people's hearts is thicker than the frozen soil of the northern frontier. He urged Your Majesty to... open your eyes wide and not let that layer of ice... freeze your heart."
Watching the Dowager Empress Huo calmly depart, the young emperor gripped the armrests of the dragon throne tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.
His chest rose and fell slightly.
He forcefully suppressed the pent-up frustration that had been stifled by the seasoned veteran's cunning tactics.
Anger, fear.
There's also the exploration sparked by the fleeting revelation of Shen Yan's identity.
With a subtle sense of empathy, an involuntary feeling of compassion.
It was a complex mix of emotions in his eyes.
“Shenyan…the orphan of the deceased crown prince…”
The emperor muttered these words to himself, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.
He suddenly whispered to the old eunuch standing beside him like a shadow.
"Issue my secret decree: order the 'Shadow Guards' to investigate!"
"Investigate the death of that Shen Gongfeng from back then, investigate everything about Shen Yan! His ancestors for eight generations, down to the smallest detail! Be quick and keep it secret!"
"As you command."
The old eunuch bowed silently, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the corner of the palace like a ghost.
Only the emperor remained in the imperial study.
He gazed at the snowflakes falling silently again outside the window, his heart filled with coldness.
Meanwhile, in the warm pavilion on the other side of the Cining Palace.
"Crack—!"
A beautifully crafted imperial kiln teacup was smashed to pieces on the ground.
Consort Jiang's well-maintained face no longer held any trace of her former elegance.
"Old hag Huo! How dare you threaten me with that Guanyin statue... and the matter of the sunken offerings!"
Her full breasts heaved violently, and her meticulously drawn eyebrows and eyes contorted with rage.
"Since your Huo family is determined to protect that bastard of unknown origin, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"Shenyan...a remnant left behind by the late emperor? Let's see how you manage to get rid of that label!"
Her eyes flashed with cold light as she spoke sternly to her trusted palace maid kneeling before her.
"Go! Tell Minister Jiang that the plan has been changed! Chenji Workshop... leave it for now. Immediately send a message to the Northern Di royal court! That old scoundrel Huo is back, and he's brought that eyesore of a silver wolf cub! Tell them to 'treat him well'!"
"Especially that kid surnamed Chen!"
She gritted her teeth, enunciating each word with chilling murderous intent, "If we can 'invite' them to the grasslands as guests... I will guarantee the Jiang family three generations of wealth and honor! If we can't 'invite' them alive..."
A cruel smile curled at the corner of her lips.
"Dead... is fine too!"
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