Chapter 324

Longzhou, the main camp of the western frontier army of Great Chen.

The night was as dark as ink, with no starlight or moonlight; only scattered torches in the camp flickered in the cool night breeze, illuminating the vigilant silhouettes of night patrollers and their cold armor.

Beside the commander's large tent, a somewhat secluded military tent housed dim yellow candlelight.

Deputy General Wang Bing of the Zhenrong Army could not rest.

He wore a semi‑old battle robe, sat on a folding bed, brows furrowed, fingers unconsciously rubbing the hilt of his waist‑worn saber, his gaze occasionally flicking toward the tent flap, as if waiting for something.

The atmosphere inside the tent felt somewhat oppressive.

Wang Bing was about forty, with a rugged countenance, a commander who had fought his way out of the bloody battles of Jinzhou with sword and spear, and was known for his bravery.

But at this moment, his usual heroic bearing was absent; instead, a barely perceptible anxiety and… struggle showed on his face.

A few days earlier, a distant cousin suddenly visited, bringing news that his elderly mother back home was gravely ill, along with a generous gift.

Initially, he thought it was just a routine visit and assistance among relatives.

However, in the cousin's words there were many hints, probing indirectly, asking about the frontier army's deployment, the generals' temperaments, and even obliquely suggesting that, if he were in False Song, a general of his standing would long ago have been ennobled and made a commander, rather than serving here as a restrained deputy general.

It further implied that if he were willing to 'turn from darkness to light,' not only would high office and generous salary be within easy reach, but his elderly mother could also receive treatment from famed physicians and enjoy her twilight years in peace.

Wang Bing immediately broke out in a cold sweat, shouted a stern rebuke, and drove him away.

But the gift he left behind and those heart‑cutting words lingered in his mind like a haunting specter.

Wang Bing asked himself whether, loyal to the emperor and Great Chen as he was, with how many brothers having bled on the fields beneath Jinzhou—having himself crawled out of piles of corpses and blood—could a few sweet words sway him?

But… his mother's grave illness and the family's straitened circumstances were also facts.

In False Song, could he really be ennobled more swiftly?

A stray thought, like a poisonous weed, once sprouted, is hard to eradicate.

Just as he felt uneasy, a low voice of his personal guard came from outside the tent:

"General, that man… has come again, saying he has a family letter."

Wang Bing's heart tightened; he instinctively gripped the saber's hilt, fell silent for a moment, then spoke softly:

"Let him in."

The tent flap lifted, and a middle‑aged man in ordinary merchant's garb, with a gaunt face, slipped in, wearing a smile that was humble yet tinged with an odd fervor.

"I, your humble servant, have seen General Wang."

"What else do you want?" Wang Bing said in an icy tone, his eyes sharp as he fixed on the man.

The merchant produced a sealed letter with wax from his bosom, presented it with both hands, and apologetically said:

"Please don't blame me, General; it is truly that the old lady's condition has worsened, the elders of the clan are anxious, and they have specially sent me again to inquire about your intentions."

"False Song… oh no, the Great Song side, General Murong personally promised that if you go over, a position as Inspector is guaranteed, with rewards of money and silk far exceeding what you have now…"

"As for the old lady, Great Song has already sent precious medicinal herbs and invited a renowned physician; you can rest assured, General."

Wang Bing listened to the man's words, looked at the so‑called family letter, and his heart grew colder and colder.

The other party even knew so clearly that his mother was being 'taken care of'—this is no inducement, it is outright coercion!

A surge of anger, mixed with a feeling of humiliation, rushed up to his head.

How could Wang Bing be one who sells his lord for glory!

But just as he was about to erupt, his mind suddenly flashed back to the loyalty‑education conference presided over by Lord Wang a few days earlier, those ringing words, and the fate of comrades who had been openly executed for betrayal.

He also recalled the scene beneath Jinzhou where General Han Tong fought to the death for the country, the emperor himself braving arrows and stones to lead them in a desperate counterattack!

A rush of hot blood surged through his entire body in an instant.

That stray thought born of family worries seemed laughable and base before this surge of hot blood.

He drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the impulse to draw his saber and cut the man down, his face showing a flicker of wavering and struggle, and he said in a low voice:

"This matter… is of great importance; allow me to consider it for a few more days."

"Go back for now and tell your clan that I will give it careful thought."

Seeing his tone soften, the merchant's eyes flashed with a hint of delight, and he hurriedly said:

"Of course, of course! It is proper for the General to ponder deeply! May I return in three days to hear your good news, sir?"

"Very well." Wang Bing nodded without expression.

After the merchant bowed and withdrew from the tent, his silhouette vanished into the night.

The struggle and hesitation on Wang Bing's face vanished instantly, replaced by a sheet of cold killing intent and resolve.

He immediately summoned the two most trusted personal guards outside the tent and barked in a low voice:

"You two, take my token at once, follow that man covertly, discover where he is lodging, keep him under close watch, but under no circumstances startle the snake!"

"Make haste!"

"Yes, sir!" The guards, though unaware of the reason, saw their commander's unprecedented solemnity and dared not delay; they immediately took their leave.

Wang Bing then hurried to the desk, spread out paper, ground ink, lifted his brush, and at top speed wrote down the full background, his suspicions and judgments, then sealed it with wax.

"Come here!"

Another guard answered the call and entered the tent.

"You must set out immediately, take this letter, travel via the military emergency express route, day and night, to Commander Qian at the Jing'an Bureau in Bian Liang! Remember, you must hand it personally to Commander Qian or his absolute confidant—no mistakes allowed!"

"Yes!" The guard took the sealed letter, concealed it close to his body, turned and left the tent without hesitation; soon the sound of hurried hooves faded away outside.

Having done all this, Wang Bing felt as if drained, sank back onto the folding bed, his forehead beaded with fine cold sweat.

He knew he had just walked on the blade's edge.

If there were the slightest hesitation, or greed gained the upper hand, what awaited him now would likely be eternal damnation.

Three days later, at night.

Within Longzhou city, behind what appeared to be an ordinary goods warehouse.

During the day, that gaunt merchant was in low conversation with two other men, whose eyes were sinister and whose bearing was sharp.

Wang Bin's heart has already been moved, the three-day deadline has arrived, tonight he will surely come to reply.

As long as he nods, once we obtain the border army's deployment map, we will have achieved a great merit!

On the exalted one's side, there will surely be a great reward!

Just as they were lost in their beautiful dreams.

Bang!

The courtyard gate was flung open with tremendous force!

Dozens of elite Jinyiwei riders of the Jing'an Office, dressed in black tight-fitting garments and wielding sharp blades, surged in like ghosts, instantly sealing off the small courtyard, leaving no gap.

The torches suddenly blazed up, illuminating Qian Gui's stern, expressionless face.

He did not personally go to Longzhou, but the one overseeing this operation is his trusted aide, the Commander of the Longzhou branch of the Jing'an Office.

"Seize them!" the icy command rang out.

The merchant and the two men's faces drastically changed; just as they were about to resist or take poison, they were swiftly subdued by the wolf-like Jinyiwei riders, who removed their jaws and searched them for any possible poison.

The operation was clean and swift, with no hesitation.

Almost at the same time, in the main camp of the Zhenrong Army.

Wang Bin, fully armored, hand on his sword, stood calmly, observing his troops, and took into custody the two low-ranking officers in the camp who had contacted that merchant and acted suspiciously.

His last lingering unease also completely settled.

The news quickly returned to Bian Liang.

In the Hall of Martial Virtue, Chen Wen looked at the detailed report presented by Qian Gui, his face showing no joy or anger.

"The False Song's Ministry of Personnel... their methods are endless."

"This time, being able to detect it in time, Wang Bin's contribution is indispensable."

Qian Gui bowed and said:

Your Majesty is sagacious. General Wang is loyal and brave, admirable, and remains calm in crisis. This operation not only thwarted an important defection attempt by the enemy, but also followed the leads to initially grasp part of the False Song Ministry of Personnel's network in Longzhou, seizing several coded letters now being urgently decrypted.

Through this affair, it can also be seen that the loyalty education overseen by Minister Wang has initially shown results.

Chen Wen gave a slight nod.

"Those with merit shall be rewarded. Promote Wang Bin to Commander of the Zhenrong Army, bestow upon him gold and silk, and grant his son an honorary post."

"His mother's illness: order the Imperial Medical Office to select a skilled doctor to go treat her; the needed medicines shall be taken from the inner treasury."

"As for those demons and monsters..." Chen Wen's eyes flashed with cold light, "Make them talk, I want to know what tricks the False Song and the remnants of the Iron Crows still have up their sleeves!"

"Subject, I obey the decree!" Qian Gui responded solemnly, a flash of cold severity in his eyes.

This failed defection attempt was like a precise counterstrike; it not only severed the black hand that the False Song reached out toward the Great Chen Jun Ying, but also greatly boosted internal morale, proving the necessity of loyalty education.

It also let Chen Wen see that, on those battlefields without visible gunpowder, his subjects were likewise fighting desperately, shedding blood.