Chapter 195: Investigation

Seven days later.

Fanyang.

Yuan Li looked at Ma Yuan and the five thousand Gongting Jinjunjun behind him with an expression as calm as a stagnant pool.

He naturally understood the purpose of Ma Yuan's trip, but so what?

His Yuan Family was indeed going to rebel.

Now that things had reached this point, he was fearless.

It was just that before receiving instructions from the Northern Di, he felt he could not kill Ma Yuan directly.

For the moment, he still had to prevaricate for a few more days.

"Prefect Yuan, this is the Emperor's decree. Before the assassination incident is investigated, please hand over the Military Tally and the official seal, Prefect Yuan." Ma Yuan handed the read Imperial Edict to Yuan Li.

"Since it is the Emperor's decree, this official will naturally comply." A look of pained regret appeared on Yuan Li's face, "However, this official is indeed loyal to Yan Wang. That Mo Di has always been dissatisfied with my Yuan Family; this is purely slander."

"Whether it is slander or not, this official has his own judgment." Ma Yuan stood with his hands behind his back.

Yuan Li chuckled twice; this Ma Yuan's foul temper was known to the entire Imperial Court, and he naturally knew it.

So, he ordered someone to fetch the official seal and the Military Tally.

He did not care about these two things at all.

His true trump card was the Yuan Family; the Prefect's official seal only commanded the officials of Yanzhou, and the Military Tally only served to govern the County Soldiers of Yanzhou.

To mobilize the Yuan Family's troops, why would he need these two things?

Ma Yuan took them, his gaze looking deeply at Yuan Li.

Then he said to the general behind him: "You lead five hundred men to Lulong Mountain to search the mountain and find the assassin's Armor and Weapon there."

Then he said to another general, "You lead one thousand men to guard Prefect Yuan."

Yuan Li narrowed his eyes, but immediately revealed a carefree laugh, as if he were upright and honorable, and completely unafraid.

Ma Yuan ignored Yuan Li.

On the road here, his heart felt heavy.

This matter was too big.

Whether it was Yuan Li colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, or Yan Wang and Mo Di communicating in secret.

Either one could shake the foundation of Da Song.

And as long as one was true, he feared he would die in Yanzhou.

Leaving the Yuan Mansion.

He led his troops to Yanguan immediately.

To him, Yan Wang was the weakest of the three, so he needed to confine Yuan Li and Mo Di first.

After more than a day, Ma Yuan arrived at Yanguan.

After reading the Imperial Edict to Mo Di, Ma Yuan ordered Mo Di to be placed under house arrest in the General's Mansion.

"Censor Ma, this is simply absurd. It was my father who was assassinated; why is he being placed under house arrest? Do you know how dangerous Yanguan is right now? Once the Yuan Family and the Northern Di coordinate from inside and out, and my father is under house arrest, Yanguan will surely fall," Mo Yu shouted.

Mo Di closed his eyes and sighed deeply, his heart feeling slightly sour. He said: "The Emperor still cannot fully trust this subordinate."

Ma Yuan's expression did not change, and he said to Mo Yu: "It is not just your father; even Yan Wang will be confined. This is the will of the Emperor and the ministers of the Imperial Court. As a Censor, this official must act according to orders."

"Censor Ma is truly a pillar of the Imperial Court. That is right, no one should be favored in this matter; we must get to the bottom of it," Xiao Yuanshan said from the side with a mocking smile.

He was the happiest person now; Mo Di was under house arrest, and he would act as the head of Yanguan in his stead.

He had finally become the Main General of Yanguan.

Although this was only the Main General during the investigation period, what if Mo Di really was in collusion with Yan Wang?

Then he would be the Main General of Yanguan forever.

Furthermore, even if Mo Di was not in collusion with Yan Wang, he could create some evidence to ensure Mo Di could never recover.

"You..."

Hearing this, Mo Yu looked at Xiao Yuanshan, wishing he could eat him alive.

Xiao Yuanshan snorted coldly, "You, a dismissed Yanguan general, what qualification do you have to stay in Yanguan? If you do not leave, this general will throw you into the dungeon."

Mo Yu was furious, clenching his fists and preparing to rush forward.

"Stop," Mo Di shouted, "General Xiao is right. Why are you still staying here? Why don't you return to Yancheng?"

"Father..." Mo Yu felt a wave of sadness.

Why did his Mo Family serve the country with all their hearts, yet suffer grievances at every turn?

"Eh!" Mo Yu stomped his feet violently and turned to leave.

Ma Yuan said at this time: "General Mo, no offense."

Also leaving one thousand men to guard Mo Di, he finally went to Yancheng.

Since Ma Yuan arrived in Fanyang.

The news was passed to the Prince's Mansion by the Flame Guard.

Before Ma Yuan arrived in Yancheng, Zhao Xu already knew what he would encounter next.

Prince's Mansion, Council Hall.

With half a day's journey left, Zhao Xu summoned Chang Wei, Liu Fu, and other generals and officials to tell them about this matter.

Facing the group of generals and officials, he said: "This Prince is going to be confined to the Prince's Mansion this time, but the work in your hands must not stop; everything remains as usual."

"The officials of the Imperial Court really have pig brains. At this critical juncture, they should be investigating Yuan Li, but now they are even investigating us instead. They truly cannot distinguish between the loyal and the treacherous," Chang Wei said angrily.

Liu Fu sighed and said: "How could this matter be so simple? Throughout the dynasties, there has never been a lack of suspicion toward frontier generals and vassal kings. With people in the Imperial Court instigating it, it is impossible for the Emperor to have no thoughts at all. Since he wants to investigate, he will investigate everyone together."

Zhao Xu nodded.

His father, the Emperor, is greedy for pleasure and suspicious by nature.

He is intermittently ambitious, but continuously decadent and corrupt.

That he would pull such a stunt does not surprise Zhao Xu in the slightest.

It is just that an investigation happening at this time is truly ill-timed.

Yet he cannot openly defy the order, otherwise, the charge of plotting rebellion would truly be impossible to shake off.

In the afternoon.

Ma Yuan's entourage entered Yancheng.

After exchanging pleasantries, Ma Yuan proclaimed the Imperial Edict.

"Your Highness, I apologize, but from today onwards, you may not leave the Prince's Mansion." Ma Yuan scrutinized Yan Wang.

This ninth son of the Emperor, born to a mother of humble origins, had been considered a fool for three years.

Yet since arriving in Yan Commandery, he has repeatedly done astonishing things, stabilizing Yanzhou by his own strength, which even he has to admire.

"Censor Ma is merely acting in accordance with the Imperial Edict; there is no offense taken. During this time, I have been somewhat tired and can use this chance to rest," Zhao Xu said.

Yan Wang's composed demeanor made Ma Yuan nod slightly.

In his heart, he did not believe that Yan Wang was colluding with Mo Di to plot a rebellion.

However, even so, he still had to investigate the two of them just as he had investigated Yuan Li.

This was being responsible to the Imperial Court, and also responsible to the two of them.

Cupping his hands, he turned and left.

He immediately ordered the accompanying officials to visit the common people and collect evidence.

At the same time, he entered the army to verify whether Yan Wang had privately recruited troops exceeding the legal quota.

……

The Black Iron Royal Tent.

Enke returned from the Khan Court and arrived here.

After resting in the royal tent for a while, he immediately summoned his ten Langlu.

"The Khan has decided that the Black Iron Royal Tent will head to Ningjin Dusi this very day to rendezvous with the other royal tents and launch an attack on Yanguan," Enke said slowly.

"Ooh—"

"Hahaha—"

"……"

Savage cheers erupted in the royal tent, and the Langlu were all eager to show their strength.

"It has been ten years; our Northern Di's advance has been stalled at Ningjin Dusi for ten years. Now we can finally break through Yanguan and seize more land and wealth," one Langlu shouted.

"More than just land and wealth, there are also those delicate women of the Great Song... haha..." another Langlu shouted, drawing laughter from the other Langlu.

A smile curled the corner of Enke's mouth; the territory of the Northern Di people has no borders.

To every Northern Di person, the purpose of their existence is conquest and enslavement.

Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly heard a commotion outside the tent.

Recognizing the voice, he furrowed his brows.