[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence":3,"chapter-warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-473":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Warlord: Starting with Daily Intelligence",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2338936,4572,"Chapter 473: The Stonecrack Duke","warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-473",473,"\u003Cp>And upon investigation, it was indeed as Duke Hernade said—quite easy to determine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the night watches these past two days were all assigned to noble families, tonight’s watch involved only six families total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Commander-in-Chief dispatched personnel to question these noble families,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was quickly learned that only the Stonecrack Duke’s family had over thirty watch soldiers missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you certain? My Stonecrack family’s soldiers?” The Stonecrack Duke had never cared much about uncovering the spy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he cared about now was ensuring his own men could break out successfully in two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the spy potentially endangering the kingdom’s security in the future,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He actually thought it might be a good thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the kingdom is currently controlled by the Crown Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So if the beastmen could throw the Crown Prince into chaos, the Second Prince would have a better chance of seizing the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when he heard that among tonight’s watch soldiers, only his own family had gone missing, he froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Grace, I am absolutely certain—this information came directly from your camp’s Deputy Commander Japas!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Although other families also suffered casualties, those soldiers died on the front wall defending against the beastmen’s breach!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But your Stonecrack family’s soldiers were stationed on the left wall—there was no battle there tonight!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover, Deputy Commander Japas also questioned other Stonecrack family watch squads nearby—all confirmed that no fighting occurred on the left wall before retreat…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, the Northern Legion officer fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the situation was now clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers from other families died on the front wall during the beastmen’s assault—this was verifiable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Stonecrack family’s soldiers, due to the Duke’s status, had always been assigned to the left wall, where no fighting occurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, in a place with no obvious combat, over thirty men had vanished—this alone spoke volumes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So the beastmen most likely entered the city through the left wall—but how did they manage to kill over thirty Stonecrack soldiers without being noticed by nearby guards?” The Commander-in-Chief frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Stonecrack Duke immediately raised his eyebrows, displeased. “Commander-in-Chief, you don’t suspect my Stonecrack family of being beastmen spies, do you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Grace, I have no such thought whatsoever. The Stonecrack family has been a pillar of the kingdom since its founding—there is absolutely no possibility they would do such a thing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am merely puzzled—how did the beastmen kill over thirty guards silently, without alerting nearby soldiers?” The Commander-in-Chief immediately affirmed this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this was no lie—given the Stonecrack Duke’s status, unless he rebelled outright, there was no other way he could betray the kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is another point: under normal circumstances, for the beastmen to sneak into the city, they would seek our weakest point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether the front wall or the right wall, both are far more ‘vulnerable’ than the left wall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet they deliberately chose the left wall—the Stonecrack family’s guards. Why?” At this, Duke Hernade suddenly spoke up, echoing the Commander-in-Chief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, Duke Hernade added, “Of course, Your Grace, I know you may be stingy, but you would never ally with the beastmen!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Stonecrack Duke’s face flushed red and white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hernade’s words were unmistakably offensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet somehow, he felt he ought to thank the man for his trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, since my Stonecrack family is involved, I will investigate this matter thoroughly myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, Commander-in-Chief, if you uncover any Stonecrack family member involved, I will not shield or excuse them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. The night is late. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, the Stonecrack Duke rose and departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Commander-in-Chief and Duke Hernade watched him go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though the Stonecrack Duke is certainly not connected to the beastmen, their choice of the left wall—his family’s post—must have a reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, Commander-in-Chief, if you continue investigating, look into this angle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Duke Hernade, I’ve already ordered my men to compile the full list of everyone entering or leaving Lindongbao in the two days before and after the fire.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But with only these two days free for detailed investigation, the list is merely stored for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duke Hernade nodded. “Keep this list secure. Even if we can’t catch the spy now, the kingdom can pursue it later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Grace, you summoned us? What are your orders?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Solit, Willard—tell me, what were you two doing before the beastmen attacked tonight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Solit and Willard froze, then replied cautiously, “Your Grace, we secretly slaughtered a draft horse and hid it, then ate and drank in our tent…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only ate and drank in camp? Did nothing else?” The Stonecrack Duke fixed them with a piercing gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“N-no! We just ate meat—we were starving these past two days, Your Grace. What’s wrong?” Solit looked bewildered, as if surprised the Duke wasn’t angry about the stolen horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing. Just a reminder—your next actions must be cautious. The army’s last supply convoy was burned, and tonight the beastmen sneaked in—both due to spies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So the Commander-in-Chief and Duke Hernade are investigating spies within the army. You previously contacted the beastmen—though unrelated to these two incidents, I fear word might leak, and then you won’t be able to explain yourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? The Commander-in-Chief and Duke Hernade are investigating spies? This… we… we won’t be caught, right? We only did it to get back at Gervas—nothing else has to do with us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the two turn pale and tremble like leaves, the Stonecrack Duke scowled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once thought Solit, a distant branch descendant, was sharp and somewhat useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, this little scare reduced him to quivering—how could he ever accomplish anything important?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. I’m just warning you to be careful. The Commander-in-Chief and Duke Hernade are hunting spies who set fires and aided beastmen’s infiltration—nothing to do with you. Why panic?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now go back. The army will prepare to break out soon—get ready yourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Your Grace!” Solit and Willard bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they bowed, they exchanged a silent glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unaware Stonecrack Duke watched them leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I must be overthinking it. Even if they had a hundred lives, they wouldn’t dare ally with the beastmen!” The Stonecrack Duke shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>",1019,"2026-06-20T22:44:02.688Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","742d167546bf3be05d0c95ef50dee335f8763c545f621b03c7e8eea386507e9f","warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-474","warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-472",521,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-cover.jpg"]