Chapter 434: First Volume, Chapter 434: All Under Heaven Stirring

First Volume, Chapter 434: All Under Heaven Stirring

According to the Black Inspector's account.

The Jin Yi Wei and Beixi County complement each other: under the Jin Yi Wei's oversight, external imperial spies cannot infiltrate Beixi County at all; even if they slip in, they are immediately exposed and executed on the spot—whether Black Inspector or Night Owl. Conversely, the Jin Yi Wei Headquarters is located within Beixi County, protected by it: unless Beixi County falls, no one can touch the Jin Yi Wei.

Through relentless efforts by the Black Inspector Office, the whereabouts of over a dozen Jin Yi Wei agents near Jingdu have been uncovered, yet it cannot be denied that many Black Inspectors have also been discovered by the Jin Yi Wei.

A rash attack on the Jin Yi Wei would inevitably spark a shadow war, at which point the Jin Yi Wei would surely retaliate by eliminating countless Black Inspectors across the realm.

A war between spy organizations has no winner.

The Liang Emperor sighed deeply; Qin Feng's growth today had long surpassed the Liang Emperor's expectations and control.

"That Qin Feng—seeing how valiant my Palace Guards were, he forged the Tianji Camp Guards; seeing how imposing my Imperial Capital Garrison's hooves were, he formed the Heavy Armor Black Cavalry. Now he's cultivated the Jin Yi Wei to counter the Black Inspector Office. Hmph. Even if I trusted him deeply, seeing such conduct, I cannot help but grow wary."

"But what can be done? For now, all must be set aside, with the National War as priority."

The Liang Emperor's tone was unmistakable: since the plan of "Tiger to Devour Wolf" was in motion, this tiger Qin Feng must continue to be used—even if it might invite the wolf into the house—yet the bow had been drawn, and there was no turning back.

…

Meanwhile, in Jiang Nan Tang Qi, through the mediation efforts of the Lin family and their behind-the-scenes forces, the first batch of ten thousand shi of military grain had been assembled and was ready to be sent to the Northern Border.

Lin the Steward personally saw them off outside the city: "Commandant Ning, the journey to the Northern Border is long, and escorting so much grain—be vigilant."

Facing Lin the Steward's "kind warning," Ning Hu sneered: "Vigilant? Hah. Go ahead and spread the word—let every bandit, outlaw, and marauding army come to plunder. A thousand come, I kill a thousand; ten thousand come, I kill ten thousand. My Beixi County transports grain—let those who fear not death come."

Lin the Steward smiled bitterly: "Commandant Ning, you jest. These grain supplies are the blood and sweat of Jiangnan's people—I naturally hope they reach the Northern Border safely. Please, Commandant Ning, take care."

Ning Hu ignored Lin the Steward entirely, waved his hand, and led his troops, escorting the grain, in a massive column toward the Northern Border.

Watching Ning Hu's departing back, Lin the Steward spat: "What a brute! Let's see how long these fools can keep up their arrogance."

The servant beside him, furious, gritted his teeth: "Steward, that Ning Hu has gone too far! Are we just going to let this slide? Won't the powerful clans of Nan Jing laugh at us?"

At these words, Lin the Steward's face turned pitch black: "Summoning a god is easy; sending him away is hard. If Ning Hu simply left, ten thousand shi of grain would be nothing. But I fear complications—what if they recall him?"

As he spoke, Lin the Steward pointed at a subordinate officer behind Ning Hu: "See that man? He's not from Beixi County—he's… from the Chariot and Cavalry Army!"

At this, the servant gasped in shock: "Does that mean the Chariot and Cavalry General and Qin Feng are already aligned?!"

Lin the Steward's face grew utterly grim: "Who knows?! The Grand Protector has his own decisions. We servants merely fulfill our duties and guard the Lin Family's ancestral lands in Jiangnan!"

Meanwhile, from the Jiangnan Commander's Camp, a cavalry force of three thousand surged forth, heading toward Ning Hu's inevitable route.

The leading Deputy General shouted: "The Grand Protector's order: annihilate Ning Hu's entire force, leave not a single soul alive! Send messengers at once to mobilize all troops and secure every key pass—no one must escape!"

The light cavalry had barely ridden ten li when a small team of over a dozen men blocked their path.

The Deputy General roared: "Who dares block the road?!"

A burly middle-aged man stepped forward; though he bowed, his lips curled in a hidden sneer: "I am a subordinate officer under the Chariot and Cavalry General, stationed here to escort Commandant Ning and his grain convoy back to the Northern Border."

Hearing this, the Jiangnan Commander's Deputy General flew into a rage: "You insolent dog! Your Northern Border troops dare set up checkpoints in Jiangnan? Do you have no regard for military law or imperial law?!"

The Chariot and Cavalry officer paid no heed to the rebuke, stood tall, grinning wide: "Shut your mouth, you fool. I respect you, I call you 'General.' I don't respect you, I call you 'cat or dog'—what's the difference? Your Jiangnan Commander dares act tough before my Chariot and Cavalry Army—who gave you the courage?!"

"All of you, get the hell back—or face the consequences!"

As the two sides teetered on the brink of conflict.

At this critical moment, a messenger rushed up and shouted to the Deputy General: "General! The Commander orders: recall all troops!"

"What?!" The Deputy General's eyes widened.

The messenger's face was grim: "The Central Plains Imperial Party has sent word: with the National War imminent, unauthorized troop movements suggest treason. If you don't recall your troops immediately, the Imperial Party's army will come to suppress you. And…"

"And what?!"

The messenger took a deep breath: "The Piaoqi and Border Army have also sent word: if Commandant Ning does not return safely to the Northern Border, then…"

Seeing the messenger stutter, the Deputy General waved his hand—he understood the stakes.

Lin the Grand Protector relied solely on the Jiangnan Commander, but Qin's military power was not comparable to Lin's. Today, the Qin Family fears nothing more than force. With no choice, the Deputy General could only watch Ning Hu depart, helpless. Yet he could not fathom: how had all three Northern Border armies become inseparable from Beixi County?

Unbeknownst to him, in the back courtyard of Beixi County Yamen, the Chariot and Cavalry General, the Piaoqi General, and the Former General of the Border Army—three Great Generals—stood in perfect formation, bowing to the Ming Prince.

"We pay our respects, Old Prince!"

The Ming Prince, now officially settled in Beixi County, felt more at ease than ever—as if released from long-term soft detention and finally seeing daylight again.

Facing the salutes of his three "disciples," the Ming Prince nodded with deep satisfaction: "Since our parting on the Northern Border, how long has it been since we last met?"

The Chariot and Cavalry General's eyes brimmed with reverence: "Old Prince, it has been nearly twenty years. When you took up residence in Fuyun County, neither the heir nor the Baron of Fuyun existed yet."

Hearing this, the Ming Prince sighed deeply: "Twenty years have passed—how time changes all. You three were once my Deputy Generals; now you are each Main Generals. I am deeply pleased."

Though now at the pinnacle of power, the three Great Generals remained utterly reverent toward the Ming Prince—for without his cultivation, none of them would have reached today's heights.