The night was as dark as iron in the capital's military camp.
Inside the commander's tent, Shen Ce was carefully wiping his sword by the candlelight. The sword reflected his scarred face, his expression calm as still water, but his eyes were sharper than the blade.
Ever since Xuan Ying's late-night visit, he knew he had embarked on a path of no return. The Emperor's methods filled him with both awe and fear. And he was acutely aware of the Regent's suspicions. He understood that he, once his most trusted pawn, was now, in the Regent's eyes, a poisonous thorn that had to be removed.
He had been waiting. Waiting for that deadly hand from the Regent's Palace.
A light footstep sound came from outside the tent, and a guard at the door reported, "General, Deputy General Zhang Meng requests an audience."
"Let him in." Shen Ce's voice was completely calm.
They've arrived.
Lieutenant Zhang Meng strode into the tent, his usual honest smile on his face, carrying a food box in his hand. "General, you're still up so late? I've prepared some wine and dishes, and come to share a few drinks with you."
Shen Ce put down his sword, smiled, and stood up to greet him: "Vice General Zhang, you are too kind."
The two sat down, and Zhang Meng diligently served them wine and dishes, saying seemingly casually, "General, you say the winds of change in the court really do shift quickly. Just a few days ago, the Prince was... Today His Majesty has sent General Chen Bin to assist in military affairs. I really don't know if this is a blessing or a curse."
As Shen Ce poured wine, he said calmly, "We are soldiers who eat the emperor's food and are obligated to serve him. It is our duty to guard the capital and protect His Majesty. Why should we concern ourselves with those court disputes?"
"General, you are right. I was just being nosy," Zhang Meng quickly echoed, a barely perceptible glint of coldness flashing in his eyes. He raised his wine cup. "Come, let me toast you, General!"
Just as their glasses were about to clink, Shen Ce suddenly flicked his wrist, spilling all the wine onto the ground, and said coldly, "Zhang Meng, you can keep this wine for your own journey!"
Zhang Meng's expression changed drastically, and the wine glass in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter. He hadn't expected Shen Ce to suddenly attack, and instinctively reached for his sword.
However, he was fast, but someone was faster than him!
With a series of swift "whoosh" sounds, the tent flap was suddenly flung open, and several armored soldiers wielding powerful crossbows rushed in from outside. The dark crossbow bolts instantly locked onto Zhang Meng! At the same time, two figures flashed out from behind the screen inside the tent, and two gleaming longswords were already held to his neck, one on each side.
Zhang Meng's face turned ashen instantly, his body stiffened, and he dared not move an inch.
"General... what do you mean by this?" He tried to keep his voice up, but it was already trembling with fear.
Shen Ce slowly stood up, looking down at him with eyes as cold as knives: "What do I mean? That's what I should be asking you. Zhang Meng, what benefits did the Prince give you that made you disregard our years of camaraderie and want to kill me?"
As he spoke, he reached into Zhang Meng's arms and easily pulled out the wax pellet that had not yet been destroyed.
The moment Zhang Meng saw the wax pellet, he was utterly devastated.
In front of him, Shen Ce crushed the wax pill, took out the slip of paper inside, unfolded it, and then read it aloud:
"'Find an opportunity to eliminate Shen Ce, then die unexpectedly.' Hah... What a fine 'accidental death'!" Shen Ce's laughter was filled with endless mockery and coldness. "Zhang Meng, tell me, did the Prince also ask you to take over the capital's military camp after you succeeded?"
Zhang Meng's face turned ashen, and he collapsed to the ground.
"Guards!" Shen Ce shouted sternly, "Beat the drums and gather the generals!"
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
The dull, rapid beat of war drums quickly shattered the tranquility of the military camp. Moments later, all the officers of the rank of colonel and above in the capital's main camp gathered nervously on the drill ground in front of the central command tent. Confused, they assumed there was an urgent military emergency.
The torchlight illuminated the drill ground as bright as day.
Holding the secret letter, Shen Ce, with Zhang Meng bound hand and foot, walked onto the command platform.
"Brothers!" Shen Ce's voice was loud and clear, echoing throughout the entire training ground. "Since I took command of the Jingji Camp, I have always been able to share joys and sorrows with you all and have never treated you unfairly! Today, I have gathered you all here because I have a shameful matter to announce to you!"
With that, he kicked Zhang Meng to the ground, raised the secret letter high, and shouted, "Regent, you suspect me, Shen Ce, of disloyalty, and have secretly ordered your deputy general Zhang Meng to assassinate me! This is the evidence!"
"Whoosh—!"
The drill ground erupted in an uproar! All the soldiers wore expressions of disbelief.
The Regent wants to kill General Shen? How is that possible?!
Shen Ce didn't give them much time to discuss it. He personally handed the secret letter to several of the most senior generals for review. When the generals saw the familiar handwriting and the personal seal representing the regent, their suspicion turned into anger!
"Brothers!" an old general roared in grief and indignation, his hair and beard bristling. "We fought valiantly to defend our country's borders! Yet the Regent, merely out of baseless suspicion, is about to kill us meritorious generals! Such behavior is no different from that of a beast!"
"Whom do we serve? For the Great Liang, for His Majesty! Not to be slaughtered pigs and dogs for some suspicious and cruel prince!"
"That's right! We are loyal only to His Majesty!"
"Set things right! Cleanse the court of corrupt officials!"
Immediately, the crowd was indignant! The soldiers of the Jingji Grand Camp were mostly men of unwavering integrity, valuing camaraderie above all else. The Regent's actions of harming his own men out of suspicion had completely crossed their bottom line.
The army, which had previously harbored doubts about the emperor, completely sided with the side that was "restoring order" at this moment! In their eyes, the high and mighty regent had become a narrow-minded villain who could not distinguish between loyalty and treachery; while the emperor, whom they had always regarded as "sickly and weak," had become the legitimate ruler to whom they should serve!
Looking at the indignant faces below, Shen Ce knew he had made the right bet. The emperor's scheme had been a resounding success!
Without hesitation, he ordered, "Men! Pack up the traitor Zhang Meng along with this secret letter from the Regent and send it to the capital by express courier! Consider it... a generous gift from the 100,000 soldiers of the capital's main camp to His Majesty!"
...
The next day, at the Golden Palace.
The atmosphere in the court remained tense. Regent Xiao Yuan stood at the head of the ranks, forcing himself to remain calm, but inwardly he anxiously awaited news from the capital's military camp. He believed that by now, news of Shen Ce's death should have arrived.
Just as he was feeling uneasy, that familiar voice came from outside the hall again: "Report! Urgent military report from the capital's main camp!"
Xiao Yuan was overjoyed. They've arrived!
He suppressed a smile, adopting a composed demeanor, and waited to hear the "good news."
However, what was delivered this time was not a military report, but a wooden box that was sealed tightly.
Xiao Che glanced at the wooden box, then at Xiao Yuan who was looking expectant, and said calmly, "Bring it here and open it."
De Shun carefully opened the wooden box, and what was presented to everyone was a bloody human head and a letter.
"Ah!" Some of the timid civil officials in the hall cried out in fright.
Xiao Yuan stared intently, and his expression changed drastically! He recognized the head! It was Zhang Meng, the deputy general he had sent to assassinate him!
An extreme chill suddenly surged up from the soles of his feet, making his whole body feel icy cold.
Oh no! Something's happened!
Before he could react, De Shun had already unfolded the letter and read it aloud. The letter contained Shen Ce's tearful accusation against the Regent for persecuting loyal officials, and was filled with earnestness, grief, and indignation.
The final item was another note—a secret order written by Xiao Yuan himself: "Kill without mercy!"
When De Shun held the note high, allowing everyone to see the familiar handwriting, Xiao Yuan felt dizzy and his vision went black.
He's finished! He picked up a stone and smashed it hard against his own foot!
Xiao Che slowly rose from the dragon throne, looking down at Xiao Yuan, whose face was ashen. For the first time, his face revealed an undisguised expression of heartbreak and grief.
"Uncle!" His voice was filled with grief and disappointment. "I thought you only disagreed with me on political matters, but I never imagined you would lay such a cruel hand on a pillar of the nation!"
Xiao Yuan was speechless, unable to defend himself. What could he say? That it wasn't written by him? Who in the entire court didn't recognize the handwriting and the personal seal?
Looking at Xiao Che's "heartbroken" eyes, and then at the disdainful or fearful glances from his colleagues, he revealed a look of panic for the first time in the Golden Palace he had managed for so many years.
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