Chapter 97: All Men Are Born Equal

He sneered, curling his lips: "Inspector, that’s an exaggeration. Jiang Mingyu recruiting troops privately was always a plot of malice and grave crime."

"As the Sima of this commandery, I am naturally accountable to the court—I ask myself, have I done anything wrong?"

"As for you, my lord, even if you were unaware of Jiang Mingyu’s actions, as Inspector, can you escape the blame for negligence?" Tang Cheng’s tone was haughty, his eyes resolute.

But what he didn’t know was that while Wang Zhe’s eyes blazed with fury, he also quietly exhaled in relief. As long as Tang Cheng’s letter to the Rabbit Minister didn’t mention Jiang Mingyu’s ten thousand taels of silver, everything could still be managed.

Wang Zhe sneered, a flicker of cunning in his eyes: "Commandant Tang, if you think you can topple me with this, you’re gravely mistaken."

Tang Cheng frowned in confusion: "What do you mean?"

"Jiang Mingyu’s troops are now stationed in the Shangmu County garrison—I saw them with my own eyes. Are you still trying to deny it?" Tang Cheng raised his voice, his tone edged with agitation.

Yet Wang Zhe remained calm, studying the other man’s eyes with a mocking tone: "How do you know Jiang Daoren recruited troops privately?"

"In the days you were away from Yasimo Regional Command, besides Huang Chaoran’s dismissal, many other things happened at Yasimo."

"One of them is that I have already reported this matter to the Ministry of War—and received their official reply."

"The reply is kept in the Inspector’s residence. Commandant Tang, if you doubt it, send someone to fetch it anytime." Wang Zhe was utterly composed, his demeanor arrogant.

Tang Cheng’s face changed—he hadn’t expected Wang Zhe to be prepared. His hasty move had already put him at a disadvantage.

When Huang Chaoran and Jiang Mingyu had clashed fiercely, Tang Cheng had been touring the surrounding counties.

By the time he returned to Yasimo Regional Command, Jiang Mingyu had already returned to Shangmu County with his recruitment orders, leaving him completely in the dark.

The moment Wang Zhe finished speaking, Tang Cheng’s expression collapsed. His slightly upturned lips drooped instantly, his eyes widened, his whole body tensed, and he looked stunned—as if struck on the head.

"This... this can’t be possible?" His face turned ashen, his voice trembling as he muttered to himself; his earlier confidence vanished completely.

Wang Zhe snorted, raising a hand to cut off his excuses.

Wang Zhe frowned displeasedly and coldly said: "It’s written plainly in black and white—how can you say it’s impossible?" His gaze was full of contempt, as if watching a foolish child.

"Do you, Tang Cheng, truly believe that as a Regional Commissioner, I must be a rebel plotting treason?"

"Besides, what do you think Jiang Daoren recruited troops for? He did it for the people of Shangmu County—for defending the northern gate of Da Feng."

"Without those tens of thousands of troops, what happens when the Xixia return? What happens to Shangmu County? What happens to the entire Yasimo Regional Command?"

"Will you, Commandant Tang, personally take up arms and use your flesh to block the Xixia cavalry?"

He flicked his wide sleeves and paced the hall. The amber light cast shadows across his stern face, making his presence even more imposing.

"As a Commandant of a commandery, a frontier official, to harbor such vile thoughts—truly, it chills me to the bone."

"Do you only rejoice when the people of Shangmu County are all dead and the Xixia cavalry are at the gates of Yasimo Regional Command?"

He slammed his fist on the table—the heavy sound echoed through the empty hall.

Tang Cheng’s face turned even paler. He lowered his head, unable to meet Wang Zhe’s gaze.

Wang Zhe gave Tang Cheng no chance to speak, pressing on: "Or are you dissatisfied with Da Feng?"

"Have you secretly colluded with the Xixia to sabotage Jiang Daoren’s recruitment plan, to open the gates of Yasimo Regional Command from within?"

"Tell me—if I report this to His Majesty, how will he punish you? Will it be dismemberment by five horses, or burning you alive as a torch?"

Wang Zhe sneered, turned away, his robe sweeping the floor with a rustling sound.

Tang Cheng jolted, quickly clasped his fists in salute, bowing deeply: "Your servant was foolish—it’s all my fault for being blind! Please, my lord, forgive me!" His movements were groveling and desperate, like a monkey scrambling on all fours.

Wang Zhe sneered, patted Tang Cheng’s shoulder, feigning magnanimity: "Forget it, we won’t pursue this. But you should thank me—had I not intercepted your letter, it would’ve already reached the Rabbit Minister’s hands. That would’ve been slander!"

"Then not only you, but even the Rabbit Minister who believed your lies would face His Majesty’s wrath."

"Think—once your protector, the Rabbit Minister, suffers a blow because of this, who will he blame first?"

His cold eyes held an unhidden smile, as if watching a clown on stage.

Tang Cheng shuddered violently, his face turning deathly pale, his lips trembling.

He clasped his hands together, pleading with Wang Zhe, his eyes filled with terror and despair.

Wang Zhe was right—if the Rabbit Minister took a hit over this, he would be finished.

Thinking of the dire consequences if the Rabbit Minister flew into a rage, Tang Cheng, who had just been dreaming of triumph, was drenched in cold sweat.

Seeing him like this, Wang Zhe, smiling broadly, shoved the “greeting” letter directly into his hand.

Wang Zhe spoke slowly: "Enough. I’ve said all I will. Now, Commandant Tang, what you do next is up to you."

With that, in high spirits, he swept his wide sleeves and strode away with measured steps.

But the instant he turned to leave, Wang Zhe’s previously smiling eyes turned icy. His furrowed brows and tightly pressed lips betrayed his inner anxiety and urgency.

He thought to himself: "If I don’t remove this pest, Tang Cheng, I’ll be living in constant dread. I must inform Jiang Mingyu of this immediately—to prevent disaster."

As soon as Wang Zhe left, the servant, seeing his master standing motionless, ventured cautiously: "Master, how should we arrange the letter delivery?" His tone was timid, as if facing a volcano ready to erupt.

Tang Cheng, desperate to vent his rage, slapped the servant hard across the face. The servant clutched his reddened cheek but still dared to ask: "Then... should we send the letter?"

Tang Cheng’s eyes bulged as if he wanted to devour the man whole: "Letter? Eat it!"

Seeing the servant’s confusion, Tang Cheng slammed the table and roared: "Are you deaf? I told you to eat the letter!"

The servant trembled, dared not speak again, and crumpled the letter into a ball, shoving it into his mouth. His bobbing Adam’s apple made Tang Cheng’s eyes grow colder.

"Huang Chaoran, you beast! For your grudge against Jiang Mingyu, you dared deceive me and humiliate me before Wang Zhe! This is beyond endurance! I can’t deal with Wang Zhe yet, nor can I punish a commoner like you—but you’d better wait!"

"Wang Zhe, Jiang Mingyu—you both wait! When I get the chance, I’ll kill you both!"

Within Shangmu County, the Mount Sanqing bandit stronghold.

Beneath the sickle-shaped moon, the snow-covered ground glowed with cold silver light.

The blood of over a hundred bandits, long frozen into ice, still looked startlingly vivid.

Zhuge Yu had long since returned, but Jiang Mingyu, sitting alone in the hall, still had no sleep.

Under the lamplight, Jiang Mingyu sat in a massive rosewood chair, clad in a thick black sable fur cloak, his tall frame casting a huge shadow.

His hands gripped the chair arms tightly, his knuckles whitened with tension.

Deep wrinkles etched his furrowed brows; his solemn gaze held a glint of cunning.

Occasionally he rubbed his temples hard, as if devising a strategy.

After a long while, the wooden chair creaked as Jiang Mingyu suddenly slammed the table, his voice booming: "Fate cannot be avoided—if it’s fortune, it won’t harm you; if it’s disaster, you can’t escape it—the bandits must be exterminated."

"Only then can I gain greater public favor and the people’s support."

"As the saying goes, public anger cannot be defied—even if the Prince of Qi knows everything, if he wants to strike me, he must weigh it carefully."

Here, he sneered, a cruel expression crossing his face. He leaned forward, hands braced on his knees, his eyes glinting with frost: "Since I came here, the Prince of Qi has insulted me and schemed against me—what does he think I am?"

"I’ve endured long enough, powerless, forced to bow. But now I command a large army and have the people’s backing—does he still expect me to kneel?"

Jiang Mingyu punched the table, making the chair shake. His voice rang loud and righteous: "All men are born equal. I am a man, just as the Prince of Qi is—why should I bow? I will resist him to the end!"

Jiang Mingyu’s eyes blazed, radiating unwavering confidence and certainty.