The fire at the military supply depot raged for a full night.
What it burned was not just the warehouse full of moldy, stale grain, but also the decay and darkness that had accumulated in Zhenbeiguan for many years. When the first rays of dawn shone on the charred ruins the next day, all the soldiers and civilians of Zhenbeiguan felt that the sky had truly brightened.
In the following days, the entire Zhenbeiguan area was immersed in an unprecedented atmosphere of excitement and busyness.
The news of His Majesty the Emperor and Empress's visit to the border had already spread to every corner. Countless soldiers would sneak off to the vicinity of the General's Mansion during their shift changes, just to catch a glimpse of the legendary imperial procession from afar, and then return home satisfied to boast to their comrades for a long time.
Meanwhile, the election for the "Military-Civilian Inspectorate" was in full swing. Veteran Li Daniu was unanimously elected as the first president without any suspense. For the first time, this veteran, who had spent half his life in poverty, straightened his back, and a flame called "mission" rekindled in his eyes.
Lin Wanwan was busy integrating the "Zhenbei Textile Workshop" and the newly taken-over logistics system. She introduced modern warehousing management and financial transparency systems. Although the soldiers and civilians didn't understand many of the terms, the only thing they knew was that the kitchen now served meat at every meal!
Everything is developing in a positive direction, and things are thriving.
After his initial ruthless actions, Xiao Che found himself with more leisure time.
At this moment, he was sitting in the study of the general's mansion, leisurely sipping the fine tea that Meng Wei had treasured for many years. He had changed back into his usual black casual clothes embroidered with dark patterns. Although he was not wearing a dragon robe, his innate imperial majesty still made Meng Wei, who was standing to the side, feel a sense of pressure.
“Your Majesty,” Meng Wei reported respectfully, “Qian Yong (Qian Canjun) and Zhang San and other prisoners have all been imprisoned in the Imperial Prison, awaiting your order to be executed.”
"No rush." Xiao Che gently blew on the tea foam, his tone calm. "Keep the people for now. I'm still waiting for a big fish."
Meng Wei felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that His Majesty was referring to the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Lord Zhou, who was far away in the capital.
“Your Majesty,” Meng Wei said with some concern, “that Vice Minister Zhou has many cronies in the court, and is also a key official in the Ministry of Revenue who controls the purse strings, I’m afraid…”
"I'm afraid he won't let this go easily, is that right?" Xiao Che smiled, a hint of cold mockery in his smile. "I'm afraid he won't let this go easily."
What he wanted was not just to punish a few corrupt officials on the border, but to take this opportunity to uproot all the cancerous growths hidden beneath the prosperity of the capital! He wanted to let those self-satisfied rats in the court know that the Emperor's sword, though far away on the frontier, could be hanging over their necks at any time!
Just then, a guard rushed in to report: "Your Majesty, General! An envoy from the capital is requesting an audience outside the residence!"
It's here!
Xiao Che and Meng Wei exchanged a glance, both seeing understanding in each other's eyes.
"Let him in," Xiao Che instructed calmly, then picked up his teacup, took a small sip, as if the person about to arrive was merely an insignificant guest.
A moment later, a middle-aged man dressed in the robes of a fourth-rank civil official, with a lean face and gleaming eyes, was led in by his personal guards.
This man was none other than Qian, the most trusted confidant and advisor of Vice Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Revenue, and a distant relative of Military Advisor Qian. Ostensibly, he came on the orders of Vice Minister Zhou to "comfort" the soldiers at the border, but in reality, he was there to "rescue" people and, incidentally, to probe the truth of the matter.
In his mind, the border region was far from the emperor's reach, and as long as he invoked the name of the Vice Minister and offered him substantial benefits, that rough-around-the-edges General Meng Wei would most likely give him face and let his good-for-nothing nephew get away with it.
However, when he confidently stepped into the study and looked up to see the young man sitting leisurely in the main seat, sipping tea, the smile on his face instantly froze.
Although he had never had the honor of seeing the emperor in person, he had served as an official in the capital for many years and had seen the portrait of the supreme ruler countless times!
The young man before me, though dressed in casual clothes, possessed an incomparably handsome yet naturally dignified face, and deep eyes that seemed to pierce through to the very core of one's being...
Who else could it be but the current emperor?!
"boom--!"
This messenger, who was considered quite shrewd and worldly in the capital's officialdom, felt as if his mind had been struck by a hundred bolts of lightning at the same time, leaving him completely blank!
His Majesty? !
Your Majesty, what are you doing here?!
Shouldn't he be reviewing memorials in the Forbidden City, thousands of miles away?!
Overwhelming fear, like a cold tide, instantly drowned out all his reason. His legs gave way, and with a thud, he knelt down—no, collapsed.
"This sinful...this sinful subject...Qian Lin, the Principal of the Ministry of Revenue...pays homage...pays homage to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor...long live the Emperor..."
His teeth were chattering, he spoke haltingly, and he didn't dare lift his head. He was trembling like a leaf in the wind.
Xiao Che didn't even bother to lift his eyelids; he simply put down his teacup slowly, making a soft "tap" sound.
The soft sound, though faint in the deathly silent study, struck Qian Lin's heart like a heavy hammer, making him tremble and almost faint on the spot.
"Minister Zhou, how are you feeling?" Xiao Che finally spoke, his tone as casual as if he were chatting with a neighbor.
"Thanks to... thanks to His Majesty's good fortune... Lord Zhou... he... he is in good health..." Qian Lin stammered, cold sweat already soaking through his official robes.
"Oh? Good that you're healthy." Xiao Che nodded. "I thought he would be worried sick and unable to eat or sleep after hearing that his most beloved nephew had committed a crime at the border."
Upon hearing this, Qian Lin was terrified. He kowtowed frantically, his forehead hitting the cold bluestone slab with a dull thud.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, please forgive me! Lord Zhou... he had no such intention! He sent this humble subject here to comfort the soldiers at the border, and he knew nothing about... about Military Advisor Qian!"
He tried to absolve his master, but his weak and feeble explanations seemed utterly ridiculous in the face of the emperor, who had seen through everything.
Xiao Che finally turned his gaze to him. In his eyes, there was no anger, only a kind of teasing, cat-and-mouse game.
"Is that so? Completely unaware?" Xiao Che smiled. "It's alright, I'll make you aware today."
He turned to Meng Wei and instructed, "Meng Wei."
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Go and bring up the 'return gift' that I prepared for Minister Zhou."
"Yes, sir!"
Meng Wei accepted the order and left. A short while later, two guards came in carrying a heavy wooden box and holding a square object wrapped in black cloth.
"Bang!"
The wooden box was placed heavily in front of Qian Lin.
Qian Lin raised his head cautiously, looking at Xiao Che with confusion.
"I have no intention of killing you," Xiao Che said calmly. These words did not reassure Qian Lin; instead, they filled him with even greater fear. "I want you to bring these three items back to the capital intact and personally hand them over to your master."
He held up one finger.
"The first one."
He gestured to his guards to open the wooden box.
The box was opened, revealing a thick ledger wrapped in oilcloth and a bag stuffed full of letters stained with blood.
It was that "true ledger" that recorded all the evil deeds, and that bag of "blood and tears family letters" that had been embezzled!
Qian Lin's pupils constricted sharply! He knew that once these two items returned to the capital, it would cause a massive upheaval not only for Vice Minister Zhou, but for the entire Ministry of Revenue!
Xiao Che extended his second finger.
"The second one."
He gestured to another guard to uncover the object wrapped in black cloth.
The black cloth was lifted, and a human head, with its eyes wide open and a frozen expression of terror and despair, appeared right in front of Qian Lin!
It was Qian Canjun's head!
"ah--!"
Qian Lin let out a shrill scream in terror and collapsed to the ground, a foul-smelling liquid spreading from beneath him.
Xiao Che frowned in disgust, extended his third finger, but his voice remained calm:
"As for the third thing..."
He pointed to Qian Lin himself.
"...It's your dog's life. I want you to go back alive and tell your master in person what good things his good nephew has been doing at the border."
Qian Lin collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, feeling as if he had already died once.
Xiao Che stood up, walked slowly to him, and looked down at him as if he were looking down at a lowly ant.
His voice, soft yet chilling enough to freeze the soul, rang in Qian Lin's ears, each word distinct and deliberate:
"Go back and tell your parents."
"Wash your neck clean,"
"In the capital..."
"—Wait for me!"
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