Chapter 262

Bian Liang, Inspection Bureau dungeon.

Here, sunlight never reaches year-round; the air is filled with a mixture of bloody, putrid stench and a pungent medicinal herb used for disinfection.

The torch's halo flickered on the damp walls, casting light on the mottled dark-red stains on the torture rack, like some kind of ferocious abstract painting.

Qian Gui sat upright in a grand chair, expressionlessly examining the thick confession in his hands.

Before him, the once high-and-mighty Minister of War Sun Jing lay like a mangy dog with its spine ripped out, sprawled on the cold stone floor, his clothes torn to shreds, not a single patch of intact flesh on his exposed skin, his breath faint.

That confession came straight from Sun Jing's mouth.

Or rather, it came from his collapsed will.

"Fu An… Fu An identified you, saying you three times took advantage of inspecting armaments to leak to him the details of the palace west gate garrison's rotation, and helped mark the entrance of the underground drainage near the imperial gardens."

Qian Gui's voice was not loud, yet in the silent dungeon it rang especially clear and icy.

"Do you have anything else to say?"

Sun Jing painfully lifted his head, his scattered eyes brimming with fear and despair.

"I… I… Marquis, spare my life…"

His voice sounded like a leaking bellows.

"It… it was that eunuch dog Fu An who forced me! He seized the huge gambling debt IOU of my worthless son in Hebei's gambling den, and… he also knew of my earlier embezzlement of military provisions…"

"He said… if I provided some trivial information, he would… would help me suppress…"

"This lowly official… this lowly official has lost his mind!"

"Trivial?"

Qian Gui's mouth curled into a sliver of cold cruelty.

"Palace defense details, secret underground passages— in your eyes, are they trivial?"

"Do you know how many Iron Crow Army death warriors slipped into the palace that Blood Moon night because of those 'trivial' tips you gave, and how many loyal brave officers died as a result?"

Sun Jing shuddered all over, tears and snot streaming, unable to utter another word.

Qian Gui no longer looked at him, turning his gaze to another file.

It concerned Li Congshan, a judicial official of the Ministry of Punishments.

Li Congshan's backbone was a bit sturdier than Sun Jing's, but only slightly.

Before the Inspection Bureau's torture experts—who understood the limits of the human body and whose interrogation skills and insight had been temporarily boosted by Qian Gui's "broadly endowed eightfold efficiency"—his pitiful perseverance quickly collapsed.

He confessed that Fu An had lured him under the pretext of "studying a former dynasty's secret case," and while reviewing old archives he secretly copied the detailed maps of Bian Liang's underground drainage.

In return, Fu An gave him a large sum of silver and gold and promised to help him maneuver for the position of Vice Minister of Punishments.

Greed, too, is a poison that corrodes loyalty.

"Who else is on the list?"

Qian Gui set down the file and glanced at the sharp-eyed, hawk-like recorder beside him.

"Have the few names Fu An screamed before his death been verified clearly?"

"Replying, Marquis, they have basically been verified."

The recorder answered respectfully, handing over a list.

"Besides Sun Jing and Li Congshan, there is also a deputy commander of the Palace Gate guards, a chief clerk of the Ministry of Revenue's Clearance Office, and… three mid- to low-ranking officers scattered among different divisions of the Imperial Army."

"Based on the fragmented confessions left by Fu An and cross-referencing these individuals' movements, we can confirm they are all peripheral members of the Iron Crow Army, responsible for transmitting messages, providing convenience, or serving as backup contacts."

Qian Gui's gaze swept over the list; each name felt like a poisoned thorn driven into the body of Great Chen.

"Is the evidence solid?"

"Human evidence, material evidence, correspondence, and financial flows have all been preliminarily grasped."

"Good."

Qian Gui slowly rose to his feet; the dim light in the dungeon cast deep shadows across his face.

"Then… let's close the net."

He spat out two words, tinged with the metallic tang of blood.

"Convey my orders!"

"Seize the people according to the list! If they resist, kill them without mercy!"

"Notify Lord Zhang Cheng, Lord Wang Pu, and the Privy Council: effective immediately, the entire city is under lockdown—no one may enter or leave!"

"Seal off the residences of all implicated officials, confine their families, and await investigation!"

"As you command!"

The orders spread like invisible ripples, instantly sweeping through the entire Inspection Bureau, then like a cold tide surging to every corner of Bianliangcheng.

Ministry of War headquarters.

As Sun Jing was dragged out of the duty room by two Inspection Bureau constables fierce as wolves and tigers, he was still struggling and crying out for justice.

"Outrageous! I am a third-rank official of the Imperial Court—by what authority do you seize me!"

"I demand to see Lord Zhang! I demand to see the Emperor!"

The squad leader snorted coldly and slapped the blood‑stained confession onto his face.

"Minister Sun, your evidence of guilt has been submitted to the cabinet and the Privy Council by Marquis Jing'an!"

"If you have anything to say, save it for King Yama!"

"Take him away!"

The surrounding Ministry of War officials fell silent as cicadas, watching their usually lofty minister being dragged away like a dead dog, faces paling, hearts churning with shock.

Almost at the same moment.

Ministry of Punishments, Ministry of Revenue, Palace Gate garrison…

One by one, officials and generals either in robes or armor were seized on the spot by suddenly appearing Inspection Bureau constables, under the astonished, fearful, disbelieving gazes of colleagues and subordinates.

Resistance exists.

The deputy commander of the palace gate guard, confident in his bravery, tried to resist arrest and even drew his sword, wounding an imperial guard.

But what he faced was the Inspection Bureau's elite, carefully selected by Qian Gui and temporarily endowed with a "concentrated strengthening effect".

Only three moves.

The broadsword in his hand was cleanly severed, his whole body kicked to the ground, his jaw dislocated, and he was dragged away like a dead pig.

The high efficiency and swift action left everyone stunned.

The entire purge operation had basically concluded before sunset.

None of the nine mid- and high-ranking officials and generals on the list escaped.

The secret correspondence with the Iron Crow Army found in their mansions, the gold, silver, and jewels they received, and some contraband Nether Energy Crystal Ore fragments became the final nail in the coffin sealing their guilt.

Dusk fell.

Bianliangcheng was shrouded in an unusual tranquility.

Pedestrians on the street were noticeably sparse, the number of patrolling armored soldiers doubled, and the cold light of drawn blades glittered in the sunset.

A solemn, killing atmosphere permeated the early summer evening breeze.

Huangcheng, the main hall of the Privy Council.

Zhang Cheng, Wang Pu, and several senior officials who remained on duty looked at Qian Gui's final report and that thick stack of evidence, remaining silent for a long time.

Although they were already mentally prepared, the extent and methods of the Iron Crow Army's infiltration still sent a chill through them.

"If it weren't for Zi Hou's decisive strike, thunderous sweep of the nest, given time, the consequences would be unimaginable."

Wang Pu let out a light sigh, his tone tinged with lingering fear.

Zhang Cheng nodded solemnly, his face grave.

"The internal pests have been removed; only then can we truly unite our strength to face the strong enemy in the northern borders."

He looked at Qian Gui, his eyes filled with approval and a hint of imperceptible complexity.

"The Jing'an Marquis has achieved great merit this time."

Qian Gui showed no sign of pride on his face, merely performing the salute calmly.

"This is merely my duty as a subject."

"However, Fu An's dying words 'the signal has been sent', and the occasional mentions of 'higher level' and 'sleepers' in his confession, still require vigilance."

"The Iron Crow Army has been operating for a long time; there may still be deeper, more concealed pieces that have not yet been activated."

Wang Pu pondered for a moment.

"This matter still needs to be investigated covertly."

"But after this battle, the Iron Crow Army's eyes and ears in Bian Liang and even the entire Zhongyuan have been cut off by more than half."

"At least, in the short term, they will find it hard to organize any effective internal sabotage."

The news spread like it had grown wings, quickly disseminating.

The court and populace were shaken.

Some clapped and cheered, praising the Jing'an Marquis's effective methods for removing a malignant tumor from the new dynasty.

Others were terrified, secretly glad they were not involved, and at the same time developed a deeper awe for the young emperor and his ruthless officials.

In the streets and markets, after the initial shock, public opinion also began to shift.

"Well killed! These traitorous dogs!"

"If it weren't for them, how could Bianliangcheng have fallen into such chaos last time? How many people died!"

"Your Majesty, sage and bright! Qian Qingtian, mighty!"

When the internal enemies were clearly identified and mercilessly eradicated, the populace's panic found release, and cohesion was strengthened to some extent.

The shroud of suspicion and fear that had long hung over Bianliangcheng seemed to have been blown away in part by this bitter gust.

Deep within the imperial palace.

That cluster, only Chen Wen could clearly perceive, representing the 'Fortune Momentum' of Great Chen, seemed to become more substantial and lively upon hearing the news of Qian Gui's successful purge.

Although it still cannot be actively summoned, its indicated meaning is self-evident.

Only with a firm foundation can branches flourish and leaves thrive.

Qian Gui stood on the high tower of the Inspection Bureau, gazing at the pitch-black northern sky, slowly clenching his fist.

"Your Majesty, I have done all I can."

"From now on, it's up to you."

The wind from the northern borders carries the smell of gunpowder and blood, blowing straight into our faces.