Chapter 1075

"Foreign envoys, are you so arrogant within the Great Ming Realm?"

"Korea? Isn't Korea at war?" sneered the young man in blue-green robes. "They're still begging Great Ming to send troops to rescue them, yet dare to ignore us like this?"

The two exchanged glances, and a wicked idea instantly formed.

Pan Yun's men were all fresh off the battlefield, steeped in the stench of death.

Even though they had just disembarked and rushed on foot, leaving their heads dizzy, they still dutifully kept watch as required.

So when they heard light footsteps approaching the envoy's quarters, the soldiers seated cross-legged inside instantly opened their eyes, gripped their crossblades, and silently moved to the window.

They saw three shadowy figures creeping close and pressing against the envoy's window.

The soldier frowned, glanced at his companion, and signaled him.

The companion frowned and whispered, "I recognize them—they're the attendants of those two Sun family relatives from the inn today. I saw them report during meals. Royal kin, but shouldn't we show some restraint?"

"Hmph, why care so much? These three are sneaking around—clearly up to no good. So what if they're royal kin? How many of our men died sending troops to Korea for the sake of bilateral relations? If the state envoy is harmed at this suburban inn tonight, we'd be lucky to die for it—ten thousand soldiers' efforts would be ruined."

"So what do you suggest we do?"

"Strike the moment they pry open the window. If they resist, kill them on the spot!" The soldier's eyes flashed with cold light as he whispered, "So what if they're royal kin? Our deputy commander is the imperial tutor's own elder brother. As for backing, we're no worse off!"

Hearing this, his comrades agreed wholeheartedly. Two positioned themselves beside the door, one pressed against the window, watching as the intruders pried open the lock, pushed aside the window frame, and prepared to climb in—then they moved as one.

The two by the door burst through instantly, charging toward the three.

The watching soldier also dashed forward immediately. The two sides clashed right outside the Korean envoy's window—thud, thud, thud. The three attendants had no chance against soldiers seasoned in bloodshed; in mere moments, all three were smashed to the ground, their vision spinning.

Yet the three soldiers made no loud noise. Swiftly, they yanked off the men's shoes and, before they could scream, stuffed socks into their mouths.

After tying the three together with their own belt straps, they straightened up—and met Pan Yun's cold gaze.

The three soldiers flinched, then hurried forward: "General, we—these men were spying on the envoy, so I…"

Pan Yun smiled at them and nodded. "Well done. That was my order."

The three soldiers exhaled in relief.

Pan Yun stepped forward, patted them down, and pulled out a good deal of silver, plus three jade pendants and jade tablets—clearly indicating they were of high status.

Pan Yun shoved everything into his robes and told the three soldiers: "These three are bandits. Hang them outside the inn. Tomorrow, have the inn guards deliver them to the county magistrate for punishment."

The three soldiers brightened—this meant Pan Yun was willing to back them. If the Sun family retaliated later, they'd target Pan Yun, not them.

But who in the imperial court would dare openly target the Pan family now?

The three soldiers eagerly dragged the three men out of the inn and hung them from the trees across the way.

The night was clear and bright with moonlight; the ground glowed as if lit by day—no lantern needed, they could clearly see how to hang them.

The three men had their own stinking socks stuffed in their mouths, their hands bound behind their backs with their own belt straps. As they were dragged out of the inn, their loose pants slipped down and hung around their ankles.

The three soldiers didn't bother with them. They tied ropes, swung them, and pulled—three men were hoisted up.

They tied the other end of the rope to a tree trunk, fixing the three men suspended about two meters above ground.

Watching the soldiers clap their hands and prepare to leave, the three men panicked, frantically whimpering, signaling they had something to say.

But would the soldiers let them speak?

Knowing they were the Sun family's cousins' attendants was one thing—letting them openly admit it was another.

The three soldiers exchanged glances, slung arms over each other's shoulders, and cheerfully returned to the inn.

Pan Yun had already closed the envoy's window again and stood in the courtyard waiting for them.

He tossed them the three pouches of silver and three jade pieces. "Divide them among yourselves."

As soon as they touched them, they knew the general had kept not a single coin—they immediately offered to give him the lion's share.

Pan Yun waved his hand dismissively. "You captured them—the spoils are yours. If anyone outside asks, say I took them."

They were Li Song's men, but not for the first time serving under Pan Yun—they knew this deputy commander was generous. Beyond the standard spoils he couldn't refuse, everything else he either turned over to the army or distributed to his men.

In his own words: he had never married or fathered children, his father didn't yet need support, one man fed, the whole family was fine—this money was unnecessary.

And this General Pan truly wasn't greedy. During inspections of the camp and military affairs, countless people had bribed him openly and secretly—he never even glanced at the money.

That's precisely why Li Regional Commander had quickly become his close friend.

Oh, Li Regional Commander had only taken office four months ago; previously, he was deputy commander of the Liaodong Regional Military Commissioner. He was promoted to commander only after the former commander was dismissed.

By the way, it was Pan Yun who arranged the former commander's dismissal, imprisonment, and family confiscation—all in one go.

The three soldiers happily carried their pouches back to their room to divide the spoils, while Pan Yun returned to his quarters—but didn't lie down again.

The second half of the night was his watch.

The soldier assigned to keep watch with him struggled to open his eyes, his eyelids trembling for a long time, yet never fully opened.

Seeing how hard he was trying, Pan Yun said: "Sleep. I can keep watch alone."

The man who had never opened his eyes instantly calmed down, his eyelids stopped trembling, and soon, snoring began.

Until the first ray of sunlight entered the room, the sleeper on the bed jolted upright in panic: "Damn it, I forgot my watch!"

Pan Yun had already packed his belongings. He turned and looked at him calmly.

The soldier was filled with regret and hurried to explain: "General, I dreamed you told me I didn't need to keep watch, so I…"

"That wasn't a dream."

The soldier sighed in relief: "Really? Then that's good, that's good."

Pan Yun tightened his pack. "Get up, pack your things, eat breakfast. We depart in two quarters of an hour."

"Yes!"

The Korean envoys in the next room also woke, packed up, and carefully opened their chests to inventory the state gifts. After confirming everything was intact, they replaced the seals and locked them completely.

There were three envoys total, sharing one room, with several attendants housed in separate quarters.

After confirming the gifts, they dared not leave them alone in the room. Two stayed behind to guard them; one went to speak with Pan Yun.

Pan Yun had breakfast delivered to their room and said: "We depart in fifteen minutes."

The envoys agreed.

They were all seasoned travelers, moving quickly. Within half a quarter-hour they had finished their morning meal, then ordered the attendants to load the crates and luggage onto the carts, while the rest of the party mounted their horses.

Envoy A shook one of the crates lashed to the cart, and once he confirmed all was well, swung himself up onto his horse. The moment he raised his head, he faintly glimpsed a drifting shadow among the trees of Lin Zi. So startled that his body tilted sideways, he went tumbling straight toward the ground, but was caught by the quick-handed Pan Yu, who steadied him and pushed him back up onto the horse.