Chapter 76: That

Shangmu County, Qi Prince’s Palace Garden.

Xiao Sanzi entered the room and saw the Qi Prince seated at the table, a rare smile on his face. He bowed slightly to the Qi Prince and said, “Your Highness, Minister Jiang has arrived at the palace gate with the military payroll.”

The Qi Prince’s smile faded slowly as he asked, “Did Jiang Mingyu come in person?”

Xiao Sanzi bowed his head and replied, “Minister Jiang said the county office is short-staffed and the payroll cannot be delayed, so he came himself.”

The Qi Prince unconsciously touched his beard, thought for a moment, then said: “Very well. Have him wait in the main hall. I’ll join him shortly.”

A cup of tea passed.

The Qi Prince arrived in the main hall and, reluctantly, nodded at Jiang Mingyu and Tukesiluo: “Minister Jiang, you’ve worked hard.”

Jiang Mingyu’s expression softened slightly: “Your Highness flatters me—it is merely my duty.” He pointed to the military payroll boxes on the ground: “These are this month’s payroll. Please inspect them.”

The Qi Prince cast only a casual glance: “No need. I trust Minister Jiang’s work.”

“I’ll have the payroll distributed shortly. Minister Jiang, you’re busy—there’s no need to stay.”

He didn’t even offer to serve Jiang Mingyu tea.

But Jiang Mingyu clearly had no intention of leaving. He said: “Your Highness, I regret I cannot comply.”

“Since I’ve come all this way, wouldn’t you consider showing me your border troops? Or summoning the soldiers to meet me?”

“As the acting magistrate, I’ve come to your territory yet failed to visit the border guards—it seems rather improper, wouldn’t you agree?”

“How about this: Your Highness, summon the entire city defense battalion. Let me distribute the payroll and promote imperial teachings directly to them?” The Qi Prince’s face darkened further: “Minister Jiang, many soldiers are currently on duty at the city gates—collecting them all is impossible right now.”

“I’ll have Commandant Li distribute the payroll. Are you implying I’ll embezzle it all?”

Jiang Mingyu smiled: “Your Highness overthinks it. How could I ever suspect such a thing?”

“May I ask, how many men are currently patrolling the four gates?”

The Qi Prince recalled briefly: “Roughly fifty. Why?”

Jiang Mingyu shook his head: “That means there are still eight hundred and twenty men left in the city defense battalion.”

“Then please have Commander Wang summon them all. I am ordered to address them publicly and promote imperial teachings.”

Seeing Jiang Mingyu refuse to leave, the Qi Prince’s face twitched. He snapped: “Jiang Mingyu, what exactly are you after?”

“My city defense battalion is a military stronghold—how dare a civilian official demand to inspect it?”

“If you leak my military secrets and cause trouble in Shangmu County, Jiang Mingyu, your crime will be grave.”

“I advise you to mind your own business. Interfering in everything won’t serve you well.”

“You’ve surely heard this saying: ‘The more you know, the more dangerous you become.’ Minister Jiang, you understand my meaning, don’t you?”

He stared fixedly into Jiang Mingyu’s eyes—the threat was unmistakable.

Jiang Mingyu showed no fear: “That’s an interesting remark. I truly don’t know what military secrets your city defense battalion holds.”

“Are you planning a surprise raid on foreign tribes? Or some even greater scheme?”

“Danger? That’s absurd. If I die in your city defense battalion, how will you explain it to the Qi Prince?”

“Let me repeat: Promoting imperial teachings is an imperial order. Who in the Great Feng dares defy it?”

“If you doubt me, you may ask His Majesty himself after today—see if I’m lying.”

“I’ve said all I must. Your Highness, please issue the order to assemble the troops so I may inspect them.”

The Qi Prince flew into a rage, his body trembling with fury: “Jiang Mingyu, are you determined to oppose me today?”

His fist, thick as a bowl, clenched slowly. His eyes brimmed with murderous intent—he now saw Jiang Mingyu as a dire threat.

The Qi Prince knew well: if the truth about the city defense battalion leaked, not even Jiang Mingyu, but His Majesty himself, would spare him.

Jiang Mingyu sneered: “Your Highness, consider this: Will His Majesty forgive you if you delay any longer?”

Pushed to the brink, the Qi Prince’s temples bulged with veins. His voice turned icy: “Fine. Then wait, Minister Jiang.”

“I’ll have the Commandant assemble the troops. You may inspect them at will. Will that satisfy you?”

Jiang Mingyu’s face remained expressionless, his eyelids not flickering: “Then I am in your debt, Your Highness.”

The Qi Prince shot Jiang Mingyu a cold glance, turned, and left—muttering under his breath: “Suicide.”

Watching the Qi Prince depart, Tukesiluo, who had stood silently beside Jiang Mingyu, could not help voicing his concern: “Sir, the Qi Prince’s gaze was hostile. We’re in his territory—if he sets a trap, we’re in danger.”

Jiang Mingyu stood, stretched his stiff arms, and said calmly: “Too clever by half—his own schemes have doomed him. We’re prepared. No matter how cunning the Qi Prince is, he cannot see our true strength.”

Just outside the door, the Qi Prince immediately summoned Commandant Xiao Sanzi and ordered urgently: “Quickly, assemble all troops. Also, dispatch my personal guard—fastest possible. Move now!”

Within a stick of incense, the Qi Prince stared at the hundred men of his personal guard, his gaze cold as a blade: “You are the ones I trust most.”

“When the time comes, stay close to me. Watch my eyes—and strike without warning. Kill Jiang Mingyu.”

“And Tukesiluo too—eliminate him. He’s a formidable warrior; he must not escape.”

Hearing he intended to kill a royal envoy, the guards whispered in protest: “Your Highness, killing a court official is treason! What has happened? Why such extreme measures?”

“This is a death sentence. We dare not…”

“...”

The Qi Prince sneered: “You don’t know yet—I’ve confirmed Jiang Mingyu is colluding with foreign tribes, plotting rebellion. Killing him isn’t a crime—it’s a great service to the empire.”

“Killing Jiang Mingyu protects the people of Shangmu. You’ll be hailed as heroes, not criminals.”

Hearing this, the guards’ hesitation vanished. They shouted in unison: “We obey!”

They had forgotten to question: if Jiang Mingyu truly conspired with foreigners, why not simply overwhelm him with troops?

Watching them leave, the Qi Prince shuddered and murmured: “Jiang Mingyu, your fate is sealed. Soon, you’ll be corpses on the border. I’ll claim foreign tribes avenged themselves—killed these meddling officials. Even His Majesty will have no recourse.”

A stick of incense later, the Qi Prince returned to the main hall, his tone casual: “Minister Jiang, please proceed—the troops are assembled.”

Jiang Mingyu scanned the roughly four hundred men before him and sneered: “Your Highness, these are your reported seven hundred soldiers? My assessment was correct—you openly falsify troop numbers to embezzle imperial payroll. Your performance is impressive.”

“It seems my guess was right—you openly siphon imperial funds. Your Highness, you truly are remarkable.”

“The evidence is undeniable. What do you have to say now?”

Under Jiang Mingyu’s piercing gaze, the Qi Prince’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Then he roared: “Jiang Mingyu conspires with foreign tribes—proof is clear! All of you, seize this traitor and cut him to pieces!”

Ten personal guards, already prepared, drew swords and lunged toward Jiang Mingyu.

But before the Qi Prince’s smirk could widen, Tukesiluo’s blade pressed against his throat.

Jiang Mingyu maintained his calm, composed smile and said softly: “Your Highness, our game ends here.”