Chapter 1236: Civil-Military War, Cannon Fodder Waiting to Die

"Wait, a civil-military war—doesn't that mean Wu She and the other three might be beheaded?" Chen Guanlou suddenly realized the risk of this civil-military war.

Wu She and the other three were the sacrificial offerings for the war, sooner or later to be beheaded to offer to heaven.

Sun Daojing nodded, very approvingly. "That's right, Wu She and the other three are basically determined; they are dead for sure! Once the local officials are escorted to the capital for trial, whether it's to maintain the imperial court's face or to maintain the Emperor's face, those officials will definitely die! Since they are all dead, what reason is there for Wu She and the other three to continue living?"

Chen Guanlou suddenly gasped.

He asked in a low voice, "Old Sun, according to your experience, how many people will die this time?"

"That depends on the Emperor's meaning. I've observed the Emperor's mood; it hasn't been very good lately. I reckon if a hundred or so people don't die, I'm afraid it will be hard to calm things down."

"Is there no room for maneuver?"

Sun Daojing stared at him with deep eyes.

Chen Guanlou immediately touched his face; could it be he was too handsome, blinding Old Sun's eyes?

"This case, if nothing unexpected happens, will surely be dragged out until next year before there is a result. With such a long time, do whatever you want to do."

"You're harming me, Old Sun!"

With such an obvious hint, how could Chen Guanlou not understand?

Don't!

Absolutely don't!

He was a law-abiding Heavenly Jiang Jiang Yucheng; he didn't do things that violated the law and discipline. Old Sun was greatly evil, digging a pit to bury him.

Sun Daojing gave a cold hum. "You haven't done less of this kind of thing."

"That's different. I'm acting under orders!" Chen Guanlou had to remind the other party.

Sun Daojing waved his hand. "Anyway, this case doesn't have much to do with you; just watch the show from the sidelines, absolutely don't intervene. With Chen Guanfu there, they might not necessarily die."

"The key is whether Chen Guanfu is willing to protect the four of them."

"That's Chen Guanfu's business; I don't care. As a clan member, you can ask privately. If you get news, tell me secretly."

"You're dreaming! You want me to be a spy; do you think I'm that kind of person? Your civil-military war—just as you said, I'll watch the show, absolutely not participating!"

Chen Guanlou saw through Sun Daojing's plan at a glance.

Having been exposed, Sun Daojing didn't feel embarrassed. He said with great disdain, "Alright, alright. I knew I couldn't count on you. Don't forget you are a person of the Ministry of Justice; if the Ministry of Justice has good days, you can also follow along and share the light."

"Do you give money?" Chen Guanlou was very direct. Trying to draw him a pie—Old Sun's cultivation was still a bit shallow.

Sun Daojing immediately became unhappy. "Look at you, opening your mouth is money. Besides money, you don't have a bit of spirit to contribute to the Ministry of Justice in your heart."

Chen Guanlou directly returned a roll of the eyes and said, "No money, no talk!"

He was just dead set on money!

Money could test everything and everyone!

Money was the best yardstick!

Everyone wanted power, yet power was hard to get, concentrated in the hands of a few people throughout the dynasties. Money was different; even the poorest slacker, if they worked hard, could take out ten copper coins.

Knowing that the fate of Wu She and the other three was still full of variables, he was too lazy to continue chatting and went straight back to the Heavenly Prison.

Having eaten and drunk his fill, carrying a small teapot, he went down to the Grade A prison.

He wandered to the front of Wu She's cell door. "General Wu, showing off your might in the main hall must have been very satisfying, right?"

Wu She, however, looked guilty, ashamed, and remorseful. He held his head and didn't want to speak.

Bai Yushu in the next cell sighed and was the first to speak: "We failed to live up to Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen's arrangements; apologies."

"No need to apologize to me."

Chen Guanlou smiled but not quite. "You only wasted a bit of my time and breath, not worth mentioning. You were truly brave; the first time you went to court, you risked your lives. You were really afraid you wouldn't die fast enough! For your act of disregarding death and rushing to die, I feel deeply impressed!"

He knew how to be sarcastic.

The four people lowered their heads in shame, one after another, feeling both annoyed and regretful. Why did they lose their brains once they went to court? They had clearly rehearsed before.

Chen Guanlou drank his tea, feeling wonderful.

He said calmly, "I've inquired for you; there will be more court sessions, at least three or five more. Prepare well; perhaps there's still a chance to pull your heads back from under the guillotine."

"Death is death!" Wu She suddenly became irritable. "Anyway, I have a clear conscience! Everything I did was for the soldiers below, absolutely without a shred of selfishness. If the imperial court insists on beheading me, I accept it. But the three of them were implicated by me. Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, is there any way to protect their lives?"

"General, if we die, we die together!"

"Shut up!"

The four argued in a mess.

Chen Guanlou rubbed his ears, finding it noisy!

He roared, "Shut up, all of you! General Wu, you want to take on all the blame—I'm afraid that's not up to you. Also, I want to remind you, if you take the initiative to take on all the blame, it's possible you will be sentenced to have your nine generations wiped out. You'd better think clearly. Originally, only four people needed to die; with your operation, in the end, dozens or even hundreds of people will die—are you sure?"

Wu She's face turned white instantly.

Chen Guanlou shook his head secretly; he was indeed a rough-hewn man, still playing that set of Jianghu loyalty even in prison. Did he really think the government was the Jianghu! Did he really think taking on all the blame was brave and would win him praise! The nine-generations-wiped-out package would let all those acting on impulse know what the severity of the law, the majesty of the imperial court, the face of the Emperor, and how sharp the guillotine really was!

"General, absolutely not! We aren't afraid of death! Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen is right; at this time, you absolutely cannot act recklessly. Whoever's crime it is, it is theirs; if the four of us die to protect everyone, that is the best strategy."

Bai Yushu spoke earnestly, fearing Wu She would act recklessly on impulse, and hurried to persuade him.

"Military Advisor Bai finally has a brain!" Chen Guanlou smiled. "Keep a good eye on your general; don't let him talk nonsense. Next time you go to court, it's best if you speak on their behalf. At least you have some wit and won't roar in the main hall."

Bai Yushu felt very awkward. Having been praised, he felt he had lost both his inner and outer face.

He sighed. "Many thanks for Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen's kind reminder."

"Then let me remind you one more time: the capital's water is very deep; this is the political center of the world. Don't take that set you had in the Northwest to mix in the capital! I might as well tell you the truth: you still have a glimmer of survival, it just depends on whether you can grasp it. Like the scene of going to court today, don't let it happen again. Otherwise, even if the gods come, they won't be able to save you."

"I understand. Today in the hall, because the questions they asked were truly... clearly insulting us, that's why I couldn't help but get excited."

Chen Guanlou sneered. "Insults count for a fart. If you can't even endure this bit of insult, you might as well die early and be reincarnated. You've already entered the Heavenly Prison, yet you still want respect and want to go to court with dignity—you're thinking too beautifully! Not having been tortured in the hall is already an extra act of grace!" ===== CHAPTER 1237 =====