“That brute Zhao Polu…heh…cough cough…”
"The military pay has been a constant source of trouble... Among all the border armies, is it only Zhao Polu's troops who are short of pay?"
"Was he the only one who discovered that the delivered military pay was mixed with inferior currency?"
"Stupid...so stupid..."
Cao Cheng'an's eyes were unfocused, as if he had returned to those years.
"He actually believed he could appeal to the emperor, and even sent his trusted guards to sneak back to Fengjing with the evidence."
"Doesn't he realize that... with the war in the north raging, even if I, Cao Cheng'an, had ten lives, how could I have the time or ability to mint inferior currency?"
Moreover, there was no mint within the territory under the jurisdiction of Xuanwu Army.
Do you think I have connections everywhere and can make decisions for the entire government?
His voice suddenly rose, carrying a sense of madness and despair, as if he had given up all hope.
The blood-stained fingers trembled, desperately trying to point in a certain direction.
In the end, it could only hang down helplessly, pointing to the void above its head.
"Bad money...who else could it be...hahaha..."
He laughed until tears and snot streamed down his face, mixed with blood, and he appeared completely insane.
"Over the years, so much inferior money has been continuously infiltrating military funds..."
Without the approval of the highest-ranking person in Fengjing City… who could do it? Who would dare to do it!
Boom!!!
It was like a thunderbolt from the heavens striking the very top of one's head!
Li E froze on the spot, the color draining from his face instantly.
After hearing Qu Heng's explanation, he already had various guesses in his mind, and even suspected the person in charge of the prime minister and...
But when this cruel truth actually came out of Cao Cheng'an's mouth, the enormous impact still completely tore his mind apart.
Is it...Your Majesty?
It was actually the reigning Empress Qin Minghuang!
Is it the very king they serve who is corrupting the backbone of the army with inferior currency?!
Was it that high and mighty being who tacitly approved or even orchestrated all of this?!
To cover up the truth, they even went so far as to push Zhao Polu and 1,200 elite border troops to their deaths?!
Boundless anger, a chilling cold, and the overwhelming injustice done to his dead brothers instantly overwhelmed Li E's reason like lava.
"Ugh!!!"
He let out a roar like a trapped beast, his hand gripping the knife trembling violently with extreme rage, veins bulging.
The next moment, driven by an uncontrollable surge of violent emotion, he thrust the dagger forward with all his might.
"Pfft!"
The sharp blade pierced Cao Cheng'an's heart with pinpoint accuracy.
Cao Cheng'an straightened up abruptly, his eyes widening to their maximum size as he stared intently at Li E.
The light in the pupils quickly dissipated and eventually froze completely.
All that remained was an endless void, with blood gushing from his chest and the corners of his mouth.
A great general of the Northern Frontier, the dignified Right Vice Director of the Xuan Ge Division, died suddenly in the government office.
Li E was panting heavily, his chest heaving violently.
Looking at the corpse that was rapidly losing its life, his eyes were filled with extremely complex emotions.
He slowly pulled out the dagger, and a few drops of warm blood splattered on his face.
Silently, he pulled the official robe on Cao Cheng'an's body, which was already stained with blood and its original color was no longer visible, and carefully wiped the bloodstains off the short knife again and again.
Until the blade was once again as smooth as a mirror, reflecting his cold, bloodshot eyes.
Then, he stood up and sheathed his sword.
With a creak, he opened the door to the government office.
Outside the door, the brothers had been standing at attention for a long time. Inside the government office, there was a deathly silence, with only heavy breathing rising and falling.
A sergeant silently brought over a clean, ordinary military uniform.
Without saying a word, Li E took off his blood-stained outer robe, revealing the inner armor underneath, and quickly changed into clean clothes.
The supervisor, Shen Zhijie, who had been keeping a close eye on the situation, immediately struggled and growled:
"Where is Cao Cheng'an? Li E, I'm asking you a question, where is Cao Cheng'an!"
Li E seemed not to hear him at all and walked straight up to him.
Under Shen Zhijie's shocked and furious gaze, he suddenly raised his hand and delivered a precise chop to the side of Shen's neck.
Shen Zhijie groaned and fainted, only to be supported by the soldiers beside him.
Only then did Li E turn around and face all the brothers who had followed him into the den of dragons and tigers.
His gaze swept across the resolute faces, and his voice, hoarse yet clear, reached everyone's ears:
"We got the answer. The issue of counterfeit money has far-reaching implications."
He paused, each word spoken with immense difficulty and as heavy as a mountain:
Cao Cheng'an said that it was always His Majesty who instructed the production of inferior currency.
Dead silence.
Absolute silence enveloped the entire Xuange Division office.
Everyone seemed to have their souls drained in an instant, frozen in place, their faces filled with disbelief, shock, and horror. The air seemed to freeze, and even breathing stopped.
“Captain…this…this…” someone murmured subconsciously, but could not utter a complete sentence.
The news was so shocking and horrifying that it almost overturned all their knowledge and beliefs.
They were all border soldiers, soldiers who had spent their entire lives guarding the northern frontier!
"Walk."
Li E offered no further explanation or extra sentiments, but simply uttered a single word in a low voice.
He took the lead and walked towards the gate of the government office.
The heavy bolt was pulled open, and the gates of the government office were once again wide open, letting in the dazzling sunlight streaming in from the street outside.
More than thirty people filed out in single file, silently and swiftly.
After the last person came out, the door was gently closed from the outside, as if nothing had ever happened.
The group walked silently and quickly into the quiet alley corner, where they reunited in front of the sesame seed cake stall.
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