Chapter 76: Is This It?

Shangmu County, the Prince of Qi's Palace Gardens.

Xiao Sanzi walked into the room and saw the Prince of Qi sitting by the table, an uncommon smile on his face. He gently bowed to the Prince of Qi and said, "Your Highness, Commandant Jiang Da Ren has arrived at the palace gate with the military rations."

The Prince of Qi's smile slowly faded as he asked, "Did Jiang Jiang Mingyu come personally?"

Xiao Sanzi kept his head down and replied, "Commandant Jiang said the county office lacks staff and the military rations cannot be delayed, so he personally delivered them."

The Prince of Qi instinctively touched his beard, thought for a moment, and said, "Very well, let him wait in the main hall; this King will arrive shortly."

A cup of tea's time passed.

The Prince of Qi arrived at the main hall, saw Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Tu Tu Kesiluo, and reluctantly nodded, saying, "Commandant Jiang has worked hard."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu managed a relatively natural expression: "Your Highness Prince of Qi overestimates; this is merely my duty." He pointed to the military ration boxes on the floor and said, "These are this month's rations; please, Your Highness, inspect them."

The Prince of Qi merely glanced casually: "No need; Commandant Jiang handles affairs, and this King has confidence."

"This King will order the rations distributed shortly. Commandant Jiang is busy with official duties; if there is nothing else, please return."

He did not even intend to invite Jiang Jiang Mingyu for a cup of tea.

But Jiang Jiang Mingyu clearly had no intention of leaving, saying, "Your Highness Prince of Qi, I cannot comply."

"Since I have rarely come personally, would you not consider leading me on a tour of the border troops? Or perhaps have the soldiers come to meet?"

"As I temporarily serve as the local official, coming to your side without visiting the border soldiers seems somewhat unjustifiable, does it not?"

"How about this, Your Highness: please summon all the soldiers of the City Defense Camp so I may personally distribute their rations and propagate the Court's teachings to them, how about that?" The Prince of Qi's face grew increasingly grim: "Commandant Jiang, currently many soldiers are on duty at the various county gates, making it temporarily difficult to summon them all."

"This King will naturally have Commandant Li distribute the rations. Does Commandant Jiang fear this King will embezzle them all?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled and said, "Your Highness worries too much; how could I think such a thing?"

"May I ask, Your Highness, approximately how many are currently patrolling the four gates?"

The Prince of Qi recalled slightly: "Approximately fifty or so. What of it?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu shook his head: "That means there are currently eight hundred and twenty or so remaining in the City Defense Camp."

"Then please, Lord Wang, summon them all. This humble official has been ordered to propagate the Court's teachings to them publicly."

Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu stubbornly refuse to leave, the Prince of Qi's face twitched, and he spoke sternly: "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, what exactly do you mean?"

"This King's City Defense Camp is a critical military site; how can a mere civil official simply look around as they please?"

"If this King's military secrets are leaked and Shangmu County suffers any mishap, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, your crime will be great."

"This King advises you to conduct yourself wisely and not meddle in everything; it will do you no good."

"There is a saying you should have heard: 'The more one knows, the more dangerous it becomes.' Commandant Jiang, do you understand my meaning?"

He stared fixedly at Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes, the threat unmistakable.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu showed no fear: "That is an interesting statement; this county official truly does not know what military secrets the City Defense Camp actually holds."

"Is Your Highness preparing to lead a surprise attack on the foreign tribes, or is there some even more extraordinary grand action?"

"Danger is even less of a concern; if this humble official dies in your City Defense Camp, Your Highness Prince of Qi would likely find it hard to explain, wouldn't you?"

"This humble official says it once more: propagating teachings is an order from the Court; who in the entire Great Feng dares disobey?"

"If Your Highness does not believe it, after today, go personally and ask the Emperor to see if what this humble official says is true."

"I have said what should be said and what should not; Your Highness, please issue the order to assemble the soldiers so this humble official may proceed to inspect?"

Hearing this, the Prince of Qi became furious, his body trembling with barely contained rage: "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, are you determined to oppose this King today?"

His fist, thick as a bowl, slowly clenched, killing intent thick in his eyes; he had clearly regarded Jiang Jiang Mingyu as a grave threat.

The Prince of Qi knew clearly that if the matter of the City Defense Camp leaked, not only Jiang Jiang Mingyu, but even the Emperor would not spare him lightly.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered: "Your Highness, you should think about whether the Emperor will oppose you if you delay any further."

Forced to this point, the Prince of Qi's forehead veins bulged, his voice cold to the extreme: "Very well, then please wait a moment, Commandant Jiang."

"This King will immediately order the Commandant to assemble the troops; please, Commandant Jiang, inspect as you wish. Should this satisfy you?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu remained expressionless, not even lifting his eyelids: "Then I trouble Your Highness Prince of Qi."

The Prince of Qi glanced coldly at Jiang Jiang Mingyu, and as he turned to leave, he muttered a curse in his heart: "Seeking death."

Seeing the Prince of Qi depart, Tu Tu Kesiluo, who had been standing beside Jiang Jiang Mingyu, could not help but express concern: "My lord, the Prince of Qi's gaze just now was quite unfriendly. We are currently on his turf; if he sets some trap, would we not be in danger?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu stood up, stretched his somewhat stiff arms, and said lightly: "Overly clever schemes backfire, costing one's own life. We are prepared; no matter how cunning the Prince of Qi is, he will hardly see through our true strength."

At that moment, the Prince of Qi, who had just stepped out, immediately summoned Commandant Xiao Sanzi and urgently ordered: "Go quickly and order the assembly of all troops. Additionally, immediately dispatch my personal guard to assemble at maximum speed; act quickly!"

Within the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the Prince of Qi gazed at the hundred personal guards before him, his eyes cold as knives: "You are all the most trusted people of this King."

"In a moment, you will follow this King's side, watch my signals, and kill Jiang Jiang Mingyu by surprise."

"And that Tu Tu Kesiluo as well; resolve him too. This man possesses high martial arts; under no circumstances must he escape."

Hearing he intended to take the life of the Imperial Envoy, the guard members immediately whispered in remonstrance: "Your Highness, killing a court official is the crime of rebellion. What exactly has happened that you would take such a ruthless step?"

"This is a crime punishable by beheading; we truly dare not..."

"..."

The Prince of Qi sneered: "You do not yet know. I have ascertained that Jiang Jiang Mingyu secretly colludes with foreign tribes, intending to rebel. If we kill him, we commit no crime; rather, we will have Li Le Da Gong for the Court."

"Killing Jiang Jiang Mingyu is for the people of Shangmu; you will be regarded as heroes, not criminals."

Hearing him say this, the personal guards immediately became impassioned, responding in unison: "This subordinate obeys!"

They had forgotten to question why, if what the Prince of Qi said was true, he did not simply use heavy forces to seize Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Watching the crowd depart, the Prince of Qi shuddered and muttered to himself: "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, your fate is sealed; before long, you will become corpses on the border. At that time, we will claim it was revenge by the foreign tribes, killing you officials who wandered about. Even if the Emperor knows, he will be powerless."

After an incense stick's time, the Prince of Qi, having made all arrangements, returned to the main hall and said lightly: "Commandant Jiang, please proceed; the soldiers have assembled."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu scanned the formation of approximately four hundred men before him and sneered: "Your Highness, are these the seven hundred or so soldiers you reported? It seems my judgment was correct; you blatantly falsified troop numbers to defraud the Court's military rations. Your Highness has done a fine job!"

"It seems this humble official guessed correctly; blatantly eating the Court's empty rations. Your Highness, you are truly impressive."

"Now that the evidence is conclusive, what more do you have to say?"

Under Jiang Jiang Mingyu's piercing gaze, the corner of the Prince of Qi's mouth actually curled into a cold sneer.

Immediately, he shouted loudly, "Jiang Jiang Mingyu is colluding with foreign tribes, the evidence is conclusive! Everyone, come forward and cut this spy to pieces!"

The ten personal guards, already prepared, instantly drew their swords and rushed at Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

But before the cold sneer on the Prince Qi's lips could widen, Tu Tu Kesiluo's blade was already pressed against his throat.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu maintained his calm and composed smile, saying lightly, "Prince Qi, our game ends here."