Chapter 415

The False Song cavalry captured by Grey Valley and their equipment were swiftly and secretly escorted back to Chen Dynasty territory, directly to a secret outpost of the Bureau of Peace and Stability set up in this border military region.

Upon receiving the news, Qian Gui rushed over immediately via the optimized light‑curtain passage.

The interrogation room was dark and dry, the air filled with a faint mixture of herbal and metallic scent, to conceal any possible bloodstains and to keep the interrogator's mind focused.

On Qian Gui's youthful face, there was no ripple; only his eyes, sharp as a hawk preparing to prey.

He did not rush to interrogate all the captives.

Instead, he first carefully examined all items seized from the captives—standard leather armor, a curved blade with faint luminous traces, specially made nether‑energy crossbow bolts, and some personal belongings.

He even had them carefully inspect the captives' clothing seams, mouths, and hair buns—places where information could be hidden.

"The equipment is excellent and well maintained; they are elite among the False Song's border troops, and specifically used for infiltration harassment."

Qian Gui picked up a nether‑energy crossbow bolt, feeling its icy touch and faint energy fluctuation with his fingertips, and said to his deputy beside him,

"This standard crossbow bolt has stable energy fluctuation; it is not a temporary enchantment, but likely mass‑produced."

It seems that the False Song side, or rather the Iron Crow Army, has made another step in the application of Yuan energy.

The deputy recorded Qian Gui's judgment.

Sir, which one should we interrogate first?

Qian Gui's gaze swept over the roster, and his finger tapped on the name of a prisoner called Wang Lao San.

Him then.

Based on preliminary observation, this person offered the weakest resistance when captured, his eyes darted, his will to live was strongest, and his finger joints were thick, with thick calluses on the tiger's mouth, but the rest of his palm lacked heavy calluses, not like a seasoned sword-wielding brute; he is more like… an archer or crossbowman, or someone who often operates some kind of device.

Let's start with him and pry open a crack.

Yes.

Soon, Wang Lao San, stripped of his armor, wearing only a single layer, with his hands bound behind his back, was brought in.

His face still bore abrasions from the Huigu battle, his eyes were panicked, and as soon as he entered he fell to his knees with a thud.

General, spare my life! General, spare my life! I'm just following orders, trying to earn a meal…

Qian Gui said nothing, merely staring at him with his icy eyes.

An intangible pressure permeated the silence.

Wang Lao San's pleas grew weaker, finally turning into suppressed sobs, his body trembling slightly.

Only then did Qian Gui speak slowly, his voice steady, without a trace of emotion.

Name, unit, military post.

Wang… Wang Lao San, belonging to the Great Song… uh, no, the False Song's Dingnan Army forward skirmishing camp third team, he is… a crossbowman.

Wang Lao San answered in a trembling voice.

What was the mission for this border crossing? Who issued the order?

It… it was an order from the squad leader, saying that superiors demanded periodic border crossings to harass, inflict casualties… inflict casualties on your patrol personnel, creating tension.

And the purpose?

The squad leader said… said it was to pin you down, so you wouldn't dare move troops easily, interfering… interfering with the southern war.

Qian Gui's eyes narrowed slightly.

Southern war? Be more specific.

Wang Lao San swallowed saliva, struggling to recall.

I… I hold a low position, I don't know much.

I only heard the squad leader boast while drinking, saying the court… the False Song court is now using troops in the south, aiming to completely sweep away those disobedient remnants and unify the realm.

The sovereign… Emperor Zhao Guangyi attaches great importance to this, having mustered heavy forces, determined to succeed.

He also seemed to say something like, this is 'the Mandate of Heaven's destination,' not to be lost…

Qian Gui carefully captured every piece of information from his words.

Zhao Guangyi? How is his health now? What is the situation in the court?

Wang Lao San froze for a moment, seemingly not expecting them to ask that.

The sovereign… the emperor's dragon body seems to have caught a chill a while ago and hasn't recovered; most state affairs are handled by the crown prince… oh, now it's Kaifeng Prefect Zhao Heng assisting in the handling.

Specifically, I really don't know; this is just something I heard occasionally from literate clerks in the camp chatting.

Qian Gui then asked about their unit organization, equipment supply, daily training, and the situation of other border outposts.

Wang Lao San, in order to survive, held nothing back; although much of the information was trivial and limited to a grassroots perspective, piecing it together also gave a rough understanding of the False Song border forces' deployment and condition.

After interrogating Wang Lao San, Qian Gui then successively interrogated two other prisoners who appeared more timid, cross-checking the information.

Finally, he interrogated the captured squad leader.

This person was somewhat tougher; at first he tried to remain silent or fabricate lies.

But after Qian Gui presented the partially corroborated details obtained from the other prisoners, and pointed out that he still had an elderly mother and young children at home (learned from a seized family letter), his psychological defenses also gradually collapsed.

Although he still did not reveal too many core military secrets, he confirmed Wang Lao San's statements about the 'southern war' and 'pinning the border.'

And he added an important detail:

"Before this operation, the Commander-in-Chief especially emphasized that this harassment must 'grasp the proper measure'—it should make you feel pain, but not overstimulate and provoke large-scale conflict."

"Everything must yield to the southern situation."

"It is said… said that this was an edict issued directly from Bianjing City."

All interrogation records were quickly organized, compared, and analyzed.

Late at night, Qian Gui, carrying the organized intelligence, returned through the passage to the hidden mountain villa to report to Chen Wen.

"Your Majesty, it can basically be confirmed."

Qian Gui presented the summarized intelligence.

"The False Song Emperor Zhao Guangyi is indeed gravely ill; his son Zhao Heng is deeply involved in state affairs, with succession imminent."

The False Song's strategic focus is currently entirely in the south, aiming to complete the unification of the remaining southern forces shortly before Zhao Guangyi's death or soon after the new emperor's ascension.

The border disturbances are a top-down strategy intended to restrain us and prevent us from possibly interfering in the southern war.

They currently do not want the border situation to escalate excessively.

Chen Wen carefully reviewed the intelligence, his gaze falling on the information about Zhao Guangyi's grave illness and Zhao Heng handling affairs.

Zhao Guangyi…… he has little time left.

He lightly tapped the tabletop.

The False Song is about to enter the era of the new monarch.

And unifying the south is undoubtedly the best congratulatory gift for the new emperor's ascension, as well as a key step in consolidating his legitimacy.

Such an important historical juncture……

He raised his head, a flash of realization crossing his eyes.

The Iron Crow Army will surely exert all its efforts to ensure this process proceeds without a hitch.

Any possible 'variable' that might interfere with this process will suffer their harshest strike.

He looked toward Qian Gui.

Our previous small maneuvers in the south have probably already attracted their attention.

Next, their control and purge of the south will become even stricter.

Qian Gui nodded, his expression solemn.

What the lord says is absolutely correct.

Then should we temporarily halt our infiltration of the south?

Chen Wen pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

No.

Precisely because this is a critical juncture, we cannot retreat.

They want smooth sailing? I'll make this path of unification full of obstacles!

However, the strategy needs adjustment.

Issue orders to all points in the south: halt all direct confrontations and shift to deeper concealment.

Our goal shifts from 'creating trouble' to 'deepening their cost of rule'.

How exactly to do that……

His gaze swept over the several core senior officials present.

We need to plan this out properly.

The False Song intends to achieve everything in one battle, completing the unification of the south.

And this, in Chen Wen's view, is an excellent opportunity to add obstacles to the 'script' that the Iron Crow Army carefully maintains, allowing us to make a big fuss.