Chapter 39

In the cold wind, Jiang Mingyu coughed once: “I, the imperial envoy, have no silver.”

Little Hu growled in rage: “Jiang, are you mocking me?”

His broad saber was instantly half-drawn with a sharp hiss.

Blade light flashed, casting a bloody red glow in the sunlight.

Before the threat of death, Jiang Mingyu remained calm: “Don’t rush—I may have no silver, but I can point you to a clear path.”

“Wait a moment—you’ll soon know who to ask for the silver.”

He turned to Cloud of the Murong and ordered: “Brother Cloud, fetch the ledger I reviewed last night—the top one.”

Cloud of the Murong glanced at the calm Jiang Mingyu, then wary-eyed Little Hu, before reluctantly turning and hurrying off.

Jiang Mingyu was the hope of Shangmu County—he couldn’t be killed so carelessly.

Little Hu’s eyes narrowed with suspicion: “What do you mean? Don’t try any tricks, or…”

He slapped the hilt of his saber—everything left unsaid.

Jiang Mingyu rubbed his stiff hands: “Relax—I’ll give you a proper answer today.”

Cloud of the Murong moved quickly; soon, the ledger was placed in Jiang Mingyu’s hands.

Jiang Mingyu flipped through it with ease, then waved to Little Hu: “Come take a look.”

Little Hu blinked skeptically, then slowly stepped forward.

Seeing the shock and disbelief on his gaunt, yellowed face, Jiang Mingyu chuckled: “Understand now?”

Little Hu stared in utter disbelief: “Impossible… this can’t be…”

Jiang Mingyu smiled at Little Hu: “This bears the official seal of the former Assistant County Magistrate—how could it be forged?”

He declared loudly: “All of you, look closely—your military pay was already delivered to Commandant Ma before the former Assistant County Magistrate was removed.”

“As for why you never received it, you’ll have to ask your own Commandant.”

Little Hu still doubted: “Is this true?”

Jiang Mingyu weighed the ledger in his hand: “Evidence is clear—what do you say?”

“If you still don’t believe me, I’m willing to confront Commandant Ma face-to-face.”

After a long hesitation, Little Hu slowly sheathed his blade: “Fine—we’ll trust you this once.”

“But remember—if this is false, you’ll die a terrible death.”

“Commandant Ma treats us like brothers—no one can falsely accuse him. Brothers, let’s go.”

Watching the angry retreating backs of the men, Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly: “Commandant Ma, your turn to suffer—let’s see how Prince Qi protects you now.”

The elegant Cloud of the Murong, frowning in confusion, spoke up: “Brother Xingqiu, what’s going on?”

Jiang Mingyu didn’t hide it—he slowly let his smile fade: “The so-called unpaid military pay was already disbursed.”

“But Commandant Ma, taking advantage of the foreign incursions, colluded with Liu Ershou to embezzle it all.”

“He thought Liu Ershou’s dismissal and the missing documents meant he could act with impunity.”

“Had I not reviewed these documents thoroughly last night, today would have been a disaster.”

Tukesiluo’s thick eyebrows knotted as he spat curses: “Damn it! Embezzling military pay is madness—this is no better than a beast! I’ll report it to His Majesty and have his head cut off and his clan exterminated!”

Since Tukesiluo was also a soldier, he was furious at such military pay theft.

Jiang Mingyu shook his head: “He’ll get his comeuppance—let’s not talk about him now. Let’s head into town.”

Tukesiluo grunted harshly, then signaled Cloud of the Murong, Li Goudan, and Wu Xiaoer to follow Jiang Mingyu out the door.

At midday, West Street in Shangmu County.

Jiang Mingyu carefully observed his surroundings—the houses along the street were mostly crooked and dilapidated, as if powerless against the ravages of time.

Some homes, battered by years and merciless fires, stood as only crumbling walls, evoking memories of past prosperity and present desolation.

Occasionally, a relatively intact dwelling appeared, yet still decayed and littered with ruin.

The street held few pedestrians—only a few ragged beggars and frail elders shuffled together, their faces etched with suffering and helplessness.

The young had all but vanished from this street; only withered, trembling old men leaned on canes, moving slowly in utter despair.

“Where are all the strong, able-bodied men? If the foreigners return, how can these old, weak, and sick defend the town?”

Jiang Mingyu felt confusion and unease, and turned to Li Goudan.

Loud and boisterous Li Goudan gave a bitter smile, explaining helplessly: “It’s all because of the foreigners—who wants to struggle in Shangmu? The strong and young saw no future and fled; only the old, crippled, women, and children are left to hold on.”

“If my mother and Xiaoer’s weren’t too old to endure the journey, we’d have left Shangmu long ago.”

Jiang Mingyu looked at the ruined houses and asked: “How many soldiers remain in Shangmu?”

Li Goudan replied with regret: “Just over a thousand—should the foreigners return, these old, weak, and sick won’t stand a chance.”

Jiang Mingyu nodded, then asked Cloud of the Murong: “Why didn’t you ask the Emperor to transfer you back to the capital?”

Cloud of the Murong’s smile vanished; his soft voice carried visible pain: “You’ll understand later.”

Even Li Goudan and Wu Xiaoer grew visibly uneasy upon hearing this.

Jiang Mingyu didn’t press further: “Fine—the day’s still early. Let’s head to East City.”

On the way to East City, Jiang Mingyu spoke with local civilians.

He learned that Shangmu County had faced countless hardships over the years.

Corrupt officials colluded with bandits, worsening the people’s livelihood.

Food shortages led to frequent hunger and starvation.

Repeated foreign invasions threatened the county’s peace and stability.

The local economy had stagnated, leaving the people destitute and the young with no hope.

Yet Cloud of the Murong’s gaze remained faintly distant, his mind elsewhere.

Jiang Mingyu clearly sensed a chill around Cloud of the Murong—colder than the northern wind—like an impenetrable wall separating him from everyone else.

At that moment, a man’s unusual behavior nearby made Jiang Mingyu’s expression darken.

Jiang Mingyu’s brow furrowed in anger; his eyes flashed with sharp intensity as he pointed his right hand and shouted loudly: “Stop! What are you doing?”