Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

The Great Zhou Palace, Qianyang Palace.

In the warm pavilion of the rear hall, the incense burner was warm and the fragrance of burning incense was refreshing. It was still as warm as spring, but the original tranquility was long gone.

The atmosphere inside the pavilion was unusually solemn. Following Emperor Jia Zhao’s instructions, Guo Lin added a table and chairs, along with all the writing implements, to the west wall of the pavilion.

Because the matter was of great importance and involved military and state secrets, Guo Lin originally intended to summon the cabinet clerks, but Wang Shilun stopped him in time and he personally drafted the document.

Gu Yankui and Shi Ding stood beside him, explaining the overall planning of the five military camps, the mobilization of troops from the four prefectures, the defense of the three passes on the northern front, the requisition of grain and fodder from the nine towns, and the planning of the new grain route.

Wang Shilun wrote swiftly, recording the two men's words in detail. The three consulted with each other from time to time, forming a preliminary strategy, which was then submitted to Emperor Jiazhao for final approval.

……

For Emperor Jiazhao, a war between the Great Zhou and the remnants of the Mongols was inevitable. The so-called peace talks between the two states were merely a buffer for both sides.

However, the way the war broke out was completely unexpected by Emperor Jia Zhao, making him feel extremely embarrassed and angry.

While instructing Gu Yankui and Shi Ding to plan military supplies and supplies to counter the enemy, he would show no leniency towards any leaks of military and state secrets that could lead to the loss of the initiative in the war.

With a major war imminent, we must not only defend against external threats but also secure our internal stability. The culprits who leaked military secrets must be eliminated as soon as possible.

Otherwise, if the war between the Great Zhou and the Mongols were to begin, and if the Donggang Town incident were to occur again in the rear, the military would be attacked from both sides, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

Wei Guanyao, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, was strict and upright, and he had a group of capable officials under him. Although these people were efficient in their work, they were too rigid in their adherence to rules.

Lacking Jia Cong's meticulousness, resourcefulness, and ingenuity, he was unable to simplify complex matters and offer fresh perspectives.

This is also why, when Emperor Jiazhao faced a major event and summoned other civil and military officials, all of whom were officials of the third rank or above, he still summoned Jia Cong to the palace for consultation.

……

After listening to the emperor's question, Jia Cong pondered for only a moment.

He said, "Your Majesty, the military report describes everything in detail. The enemy had laid an ambush beforehand, acted meticulously, and struck the target in one fell swoop."

It is beyond doubt that the location of the military granary was leaked. In my opinion, there are only three possible channels through which the military granary was leaked.

One of the leaked locations was Shenjing, which was the place for the collection, transfer, and transportation of military provisions for the Nine Border Regions.

The Ministry of Revenue was responsible for the collection of military rations, the Ministry of War was responsible for the distribution to military garrisons, and the Five Military Commissions were responsible for the storage and transportation of military rations.

These three government offices all had many officials who, due to their official duties, were able to learn about the secrets of the grain transport routes along the nine borders.

If the source of the leak is in the capital, the perpetrator must be one of these officials. With a thorough investigation, there will surely be clues to be found.

Secondly, the leaks occurred along the route. Since the beginning of October, preparations were underway at the Nine Borders, and the transport of military supplies was frequent, with a constant stream of wagons and horses on the supply routes.

If the remnants of the Mongols sent spies into the pass and tracked the trails along the way, even if the grain convoy was heavily guarded, it would inevitably leave traces.

However, a thorough investigation is not aimless; it must be based on prior knowledge of clues in order to follow the trail.

The intelligence gathering that uncovered the grain transport route came from the source of the leaked information; therefore, this is only a secondary point.

The third leak occurred in military towns, where the military supply officers, grain transport soldiers, and garrison commanders of each border town all knew the location of the military depots.

There is a risk of leaks, but the military is strict and disciplined, which is incomparable to the laxity of government offices and bureaucracy.

Moreover, with the two states locked in a standoff across the nine borders, the Great Zhou holds a firm upper hand. While there may be instances of corruption within the army, colluding with the remnants of the Mongols would be detrimental to both sides and would be extremely unwise.

The military granaries were breached by the Mongol invaders, and all towns were plunged into a food shortage crisis, which was not only their own doing but also a self-inflicted wound.

People like Sun Zhanying committed numerous evil deeds and committed suicide, but they were a very small minority. I believe the possibility of a leak within the army is not high.

In my opinion, the location of the military depot has been leaked, and the relevant government offices in the capital are of utmost importance and must be thoroughly investigated.

If the secret was indeed leaked in Shenjing, and the remnants of the Mongols launched a surprise attack on New Year's Eve, there is much information to be gleaned from this.

The exchange of leaked information, the mobilization of troops and the setting of ambushes, and the waiting for the right opportunity all require a considerable amount of time.

According to my estimation, it will take at least half a month to a month. Based on this, the leak must have occurred around the twelfth lunar month.

During this period, officials in charge of the three major government offices and the grain transport routes were subject to strict investigation.

We need to screen not only their daily official duties, but also their interpersonal interactions to check for any suspicious activity.

By peeling back the layers and following the clues, one will surely find something...

……

Jia Cong's words were insightful and meticulous. Wang Shilun, Gu Yankui, Shi Ding, and others had long admired his talent and strategy, but they were not surprised by them.

Chen Yi and Yao Ruchang were seeing for the first time how Jia Cong could speak before the emperor, and they saw that he could give such a meticulous response in an instant, almost without thinking.

Such quick wit is unheard of; his reputation as a runner-up is well-deserved.

However, the proposed investigation strategy is too sharp and frightening, cutting off all shadows and leaving no room for maneuver, giving it a hint of the style of a cruel official.

If the investigation is carried out in his manner, none of the officials in charge of transporting grain in the Five Military Commands will escape the investigation, and who knows how many people will be implicated.

Upon hearing Jia Cong's words, Chen Yi, the Left Army Commander, was even more alarmed.

According to Jia Cong's strategy, his second grandson Chen Ruichang was responsible for escorting grain on multiple occasions and even witnessed the incident in Donggang Town. No matter how you look at it, he was an important target for investigation.

Chen Yi knew his grandson's temperament well. Although he was also a playboy, he was meticulous and cautious in his actions and would not be negligent in leaking secrets.

However, regardless of the circumstances, such a major case of leaking military secrets carries unpredictable risks for anyone who gets involved.

For powerful and influential families, the loss of one can lead to the loss of the whole. To maintain their wealth and status, they must proceed with extreme caution. Every mishap brings more worries...

……

After hearing Jia Cong's words, Emperor Jiazhao's tense expression relaxed, and he asked, "Minister Wei, what do you think of what Minister Jia said?"

When Wei Guanyao thought of the major cheating case in the imperial examinations, he went to the palace to report to the emperor. Jia Cong happened to be there, and it was Wei Guanyao who gave his advice, which directly pointed out the crux of the cheating case.

This prompted Emperor Jia Zhao to change his mind and transfer the fraud case to the Dali Temple for trial, thus putting the case back on track and preventing it from escalating into a bigger scandal.

This time, a major disaster occurred at the military camp in the north. The emperor summoned relevant civil and military officials to the palace for an emergency consultation on countermeasures, and even fifth-rank officials whose duties were not commensurate with the situation were invited to participate in the discussion in the same hall.

It is evident that they admire and rely on this young man, and Jia Cong's words just now were all insightful and to the point, surpassing even the seasoned officials of the Three Judicial Offices.

……

Although Wei Guanyao agreed with Jia Cong's words and found his proposed strategy to be meticulous, flawless, and quite brilliant, he still had some doubts.

He said solemnly, "Lord Weiyuan's analysis is thorough and his planning is meticulous. What he just said are all important strategies for solving this case. I admire him very much."

But why did the Earl of Weiyuan believe that the matter of leaking secrets was less important for the military garrisons than for the capital? What was his basis for this claim?

Jia Cong said, "Lord Wei must know that last October, the Mongol delegation came to the capital to negotiate peace. I served as the secretary of the peace negotiations between the two countries and am very familiar with all the matters related to the peace negotiations."

Having just read the urgent report from Liaodong, and reflecting on the peace negotiations, I find myself filled with many doubts.

When the Mongol delegation first arrived in Beijing, they proceeded with the peace negotiations in a methodical manner. However, as the twelfth lunar month approached, they suddenly changed their tune.

For the Great Zhou, unilaterally increasing the trade volume by 40% is simply impossible to implement.

From that time on, the peace negotiations between the two countries reached a stalemate. I listened to the peace process every day, but apart from the officials of both sides arguing, it was really meaningless.

Looking back now, the leader of the Mongol delegation was well aware that increasing the trade volume by 40% was absolutely impossible.

Originally, I thought they were trying to raise the price and get as much benefit as possible, and I was also worried that they would delay.

However, nothing unexpected happened at the time, so the latter speculation has no basis.

Looking back on this matter now, the timing of the mission increasing the trade volume coincides perfectly with my speculation about the timing of the leak, which inevitably raises suspicions.

After the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, the mission suddenly changed its mind and agreed to the trade quota proposed by the Great Zhou, and signed a peace agreement between the two states at a very fast pace.

Such a stark contrast between arrogance and obsequiousness is truly astonishing.

Starting on the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, the delegation's camp outside the city began to return in batches.

By the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, the three leaders of the mission and their entourage had all officially left Beijing, eager to return home, their departure revealing a sense of haste.

Only three days had passed since the signing of the peace treaty between the two countries, and the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month was just before New Year's Eve.

However, four days was enough for the delegation to leave the territory of Yongzhou!

……

Jia Cong recounted the story in detail, his words meticulous and calm, revealing a cool certainty and a cold scrutiny that seemed to bewitch people, leaving them speechless with a single rebuttal.

At this moment, Wang Shilun and Gu Yankui, who had served as the chief negotiators, were both drawn to Jia Cong's words, and a chill ran through them.

Emperor Jia Zhao's face darkened, his expression revealing unspeakable anger.

Wei Guanyao suddenly realized something and felt a chill run down his spine.

He said in a deep voice, "According to the Marquis of Weiyuan's speculation, the Mongol delegation used the pretext of entering the capital to negotiate peace to find out the location of the border town's military depots in the capital."

In order to gain time to deliver the message and prepare for a surprise attack, they suddenly increased the trading quota, delayed the time, and confused the public.

Therefore, the Earl of Weiyuan concluded that the leak of military secrets must have occurred in the capital!

……

Upon hearing Wei Guanyao's words, the emperor and his ministers in the warm pavilion all felt a chill run down their spines, as if they had fallen into a strange and unpredictable vortex.

Jia Cong said, "Your Majesty, if my speculation is correct, the Mongol invasion of the capital to negotiate peace is nothing more than a trick by them to catch their breath and survive, and to cover up their maneuvering."

Emperor Jiazhao angrily said, "Anda Khan is a wicked and ambitious man. If this barbarian is not eliminated, the northern lands of the Great Zhou will never have a peaceful day!"

He then asked, "Minister Jia, based on your deduction, did Noyan Taiji of the Ordos tribe secretly know about this matter all along?"

Jia Cong's mind tightened instantly, and he said, "Your Majesty, the increase in the trade volume by the Mongol delegation is enough to conceal their intention to hoard military grain warehouses."

If Noyan Taiji had known this earlier, he wouldn't have gone to the trouble of negotiating appeasement with the Great Zhou.

Jia Cong's words were cryptic, as his private trade with Ordos was a highly confidential matter.

Only Emperor Jia Zhao, Jia Cong, Wang Shilun, and Gu Yankui were aware of it.

Therefore, his words were vague and not clear, but Emperor Jia Zhao understood perfectly, and his doubts instantly vanished...

Jia Cong said, "The Ordos tribe is far weaker than the Tuman tribe, so they are unlikely to have any covetous intentions."

Although Anda Khan was ambitious, the remaining Mongol tribes were not a monolithic entity.

Emperor Jia Zhao nodded slightly: "This matter will be discussed later..."

He continued, "Minister Jia, now that the war has begun, I know you have the ability to solve cases, but you bear the heavy responsibility of supervising the manufacture of firearms, so you must not be too distracted."

"I grant you the authority to consult on this matter. The strategy you just mentioned can be discussed with the Court of Judicial Review. You need not worry about the specific investigation."

Jia Cong said, "Your Majesty, I obey your decree. After I leave the palace, all workshop officials and craftsmen shall return to work immediately to resume the construction work."

Currently, we have sufficient stockpiles of various types of firearms. Therefore, I believe the focus of future firearms production should be on strengthening the production of porcelain grenades and fireballs to prepare for war.

Emperor Jia Zhao said, "You are a master of firearms, and I hereby grant you the authority to make all decisions regarding the construction of the workshops..."

……

The urgent report from Liaodong, which traveled 800 li, had not yet caused a stir in the court or among the people, but it had already stirred up a huge wave in the warm pavilion of Qianyang Palace.

Jia Cong entered the palace at noon and did not leave until sunset. In the warm pavilion, the emperor and his ministers discussed politics in an orderly manner.

Based on the needs of the policy, Emperor Jiazhao summoned relevant officials to the palace. Even as night fell, officials were still frequently seen entering and leaving Qianyang Palace. The palace guards increased their manpower and strengthened the defenses of Qianyang Palace, setting up posts every five steps and adding sentries every ten steps. The palace gates were locked an hour later.

A major event occurred in the north. Under Emperor Jia Zhao’s extremely pragmatic approach, the six ministries of the Great Zhou Dynasty operated like a tightly meshed mechanical behemoth, running at high efficiency and speed.

……

As night fell, various decrees in the rear hall and warm pavilion began to take shape, and drafts were drawn up one after another.

The plan included troop mobilization, northward defense deployment, grain requisition and allocation, and the distribution of supplies to various prefectures and counties, with plans to develop new grain supply routes.

Various military and political measures were drafted on the spot and approved by Emperor Jiazhao. Some of them will be announced at the morning court tomorrow, while others will require the relevant officials to refine and finalize the policies.

Regarding the matter of investigating the leak of secrets in military granaries, Wei Guanyao followed the strategy proposed by Jia Cong, and the two consulted and verified each other to determine the investigation steps.

Wei Guanyao and Xu Kun, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, worked together to agree on the division of authority between their respective government offices.

Left Army Commander Chen Yi and Right Army Commander Yao Ruchang each compiled a list of officials in charge of transporting military supplies.

Gu Yankui of the Ministry of War and the newly appointed Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue also provided a list of officials involved in military food affairs.

These lists of inspection targets will be the focus of the Dali Temple's investigation. The Emperor himself is in charge, and the lists are meticulously drafted.

……

Neither Chen Yi nor Yao Ruchang dared to conceal anything, hoping to get away with it, and the number of people they provided on the list was no less than the number they had not.

They wouldn't naively assume that the Dali Temple would simply read the list verbatim; they would definitely collaborate with the Jinyiwei to conduct a thorough review.

If any flaws or omissions are found in the list, they will be in deep trouble and unable to clear their names no matter what.

Military secrets are of paramount importance, and the emperor is furious. All reasons converge on one thing: even those with high official rank and noble titles will lose their heads.

It is foreseeable that at dawn tomorrow, the Dali Temple and the Embroidered Uniform Guard will be mobilized everywhere, and many officials from the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, and the Five Military Commissions will be summoned for questioning.

It wasn't until the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), when the night was pitch black and the bright moon hung in the sky, that Jia Cong and the other court officials left the warm pavilion.

He walked along the quiet, empty palace path, reflecting on the emperor's suspicions about Noyan Taiji.

Jia Cong would not hesitate to explain the matter, believing that Noyan Taiji was unaware of the surprise attack on the military camp beforehand.

This was not only based on his logical deduction, but also on his interactions with Nuoyan, where Nuoyan's words, actions, and intentions convinced him of the matter.

Jia Cong felt somewhat disappointed. Now that the incident in Donggang Town had occurred, the remnants of the Great Zhou and the Mongols were locked in a bitter struggle. He wondered how Nuoyan would respond...

……

On the sixth day of the first month of the sixteenth year of the Jiazhao reign, in Xuanfu Town.

In an unnamed alley in the city, the heavy stench of blood, mixed with the acrid smell of burning, permeated every corner.

At the end of the alley stood a residential house, a typical single-courtyard house, originally neatly and cleanly furnished.

The place was now a mess, with overturned chairs, scattered clothes, and shattered cups and saucers everywhere, as if it had just been looted.

Two bodies lay in the yard, an adult man and a seven or eight-year-old child, both killed by stab wounds.

A woman lay on the couch in the main room, her clothes torn, a knife wound in her chest.

The woman's lower body was covered with a thin blanket, revealing a section of her bare calves.

Although he had long since died, his eyes remained open, staring intently at the roof beam, his death unfulfilled.

Hou Liang stood up from the corner, walked to the bedside, closed the woman's eyes, and pulled the thin quilt up to cover her more tightly.

His eyes were filled with weariness and anger: "These Mongol Tartars are all utter beasts!"

Guo Zhigui remained leaning against the corner of the wall, with a knife wound on his left chest. Although the wound was not deep and not fatal, it was still there.

However, it caused him to lose a lot of blood, making it difficult for him to walk, and leaving him pale and listless.

Hou Liang said, "Sir, I'll go and arrange the bodies outside. I don't care about giving them a proper burial, but seeing them makes me feel uneasy."

Guo Zhigui said, "I understand what you mean, but the body in the yard cannot be moved for the time being. Let it be left like this for now."

The Mongols would kill anyone they saw alive. If they saw corpses outside, they wouldn't come in to loot, so we could escape for a while.

"Let me catch my breath first; we'll deal with the body when we leave."

……

On the night of the fifth day, Guo Zhigui and Hou Liang learned the truth and were on their way back to Beidaying to report the news.

They had only made it halfway when the southern city was captured by the Mongols, and to this day they still do not know the specific reason.

But the most likely explanation they suspected was that Chen Sanhe led his men, disguised as Zhou's troops, to somehow trick their way through the south gate.

However, the specific reasons were no longer important. Before they could return to the Beidaying camp, the Mongol cavalry, which had stormed into the city, quickly swept through the entire town.

To confront them head-on would be a joke; the only way to survive is to avoid their sharp edge.

In desperation, the two could only hide in various places to avoid the Mongol army that had stormed into the city.

The Zhou army, which was resisting the siege of the city from the north, was attacked from both sides and was thrown into chaos. In an instant, the army was defeated and collapsed, and the north gate was also breached by the Mongol army.

The 6,000 surviving Zhou soldiers were surrounded by Mongol troops several times their size, cut into several pieces, and then encircled and strangled within the city.

Guo Zhigui and Hou Liang were both veteran soldiers. They knew that with the two of them alone, everything would be in vain, and the only thing they could do was to save their lives.

Thanks to their military experience and keen awareness, they have managed to hide in various places and stay as far away from the fierce battle between the two armies as possible, which is how they have managed to survive to this day.

After a day of brutal fighting, the remaining 6,000 Zhou soldiers were almost completely wiped out, and Xuanfu Town lost its last defense.

Before sunset on the sixth day, the massacre of the city began without any suspense. The Mongols burned, killed, looted, and slaughtered all the survivors they encountered.

Guo Zhigui encountered Mongol soldiers several times and could no longer tolerate it, so he took action. Taking advantage of Hou Liang's superior martial arts skills and Guo Zhigui's bravery in battle, he fought back.

Although both men survived, they both sustained additional injuries. Hou Liang only suffered minor injuries, while Guo Zhigui was stabbed in the left chest, and his injuries were quite serious.

In their haste, they found a house belonging to a massacred civilian, which allowed them a brief respite as they prepared to climb over the city wall after dark.

Hou Liang collected all the clothes in the house, tore them into many strips, soaked them in water, and then twisted them into ropes.

This was the only way they could think of to escape; it was a crazy idea, but it was their only option.

…………

Just as Guo Zhigui was frowning and closing his eyes to rest, Hou Liang kept twisting and knotting cloth ropes, when suddenly the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the streets outside the courtyard.

Guo Zhigui suddenly opened his eyes, and Hou Liang stood up abruptly, saying, "Sir, everyone in this alley is dead."

We've been here for almost an hour, and no Mongol troops have set foot here before. Judging from the sound of horses' hooves, there are quite a few coming."

Hou Liang picked up his sword, leaped out of the room, and returned shortly after, saying, "Several dozen cavalrymen have arrived; they look like elite troops."

We can't stay here any longer. There's a low wall behind the house; we can climb over it to the alley across the street. We'd better get out of here for now.

Guo Zhigui struggled to sit up, and the two quickly went around to the back of the house. They saw that the alley across the street was completely silent and deserted.

Only the faint, piercing screams of slaughter could be heard in the distance, sending chills down one's spine.

The two climbed over the low wall one after the other. Guo Zhigui, due to a knife wound to his left chest, landed and the wound aggravated, causing him to lose his balance in pain.

Hou Liang rushed forward to help them up. Just as the two were about to find another place to hide, they suddenly heard a commotion of horses' hooves at the alley entrance, and a group of people rushed in in an instant.

The two were terrified and hurriedly turned back to flee towards the alley entrance. Just as they reached the middle of the alley, cavalry appeared at the opposite alley entrance.

The two groups charged at each other at high speed, forcing Guo Zhigui and Hou Liang into the middle of the alley.

Knowing they were doomed, the two quickly drew their swords, stood back to back, and Hou Liang roared in a low voice, "Sir, let's fight to the death! Kill one, kill one!"

More than ten knights on both sides had their bows drawn and arrows ready. If they made the slightest move, they would be shot to death by a hail of arrows.

……

One of the knights, a burly man as strong as a bear, looked smug and spoke in broken Chinese: "You guys are quite clever, you escaped pretty quickly, but you can't fool me."

Guo Zhigui found it strange that these Mongol cavalrymen were only aiming their arrows but not releasing them.

When they encountered Mongol soldiers in the city, they killed anyone they saw alive. However, this group of Mongol cavalry acted quite differently, and Guo Zhigui's eyes flickered.

At this moment, the cavalry parted, revealing a young general riding a grass-yellow steed. He had fine eyebrows and bright eyes, and was handsome and heroic.

The boy's voice was clear and slightly hoarse as he said, "Do you think you can still escape? Drop your swords."

Guo Zhigui pondered for a moment and said, "Hou Liang, discard your sword."

"Sir, you're doomed if you drop your knife."

"Your martial arts skills are high, and you can withstand one or two rounds of arrows and kicks, but you can't withstand three or four rounds."

“If they wanted to kill us, they would have done it already. Why waste words?”

"Since fighting is futile, preserving our lives is the only way to have anything else to say."

As Guo Zhigui spoke, his expression was calm. He loosened his grip on the hilt of his knife, and Hou Liang also discarded his knife without hesitation.

The boy smiled at Guo Zhigui and said, "You are very smart."

There was no contempt or sarcasm in his words, but rather a strange sense of relief as he said, "Searching their bodies, they must have some skill to have survived this long."

……

When Guo Zhigui saw the knights dismount, he searched them. The other knights drew their bows and stood guard. The scene was solemn and disciplined, unlike any other elite force.

They searched the two men and took all their belongings and silver, which they then presented to the boy on horseback.

The boy paid no attention to anything else, except for picking up two tokens, which were the two men's identity tokens.

When the boy saw the writing on the ivory tag clearly, he was somewhat surprised and asked, "Are you from the Liaodong Garrison Firearms Battalion?"
I heard that among the nine towns of the Great Zhou Dynasty, only the Liaodong Town has a dedicated firearms battalion, which was established by Marquis Weiyuan, Jia Cong, and he personally taught and trained it.

"I see you are all veterans of the army; were you once under his command?"

……

Guo Zhigui had already found it strange that they had drawn their bows but did not kill, and when he heard the young man suddenly mention Third Master, his expression changed slightly, and he became even more certain.

He said, "We are all under the command of the Marquis of Weiyuan. We once followed him a thousand miles beyond the pass to annihilate the Jurchens."

At this moment, even Hou Liang noticed the abnormality. A sudden thought struck him. Now it was a matter of life or death, and he had no more scruples.

He blurted out, "Our commander is not only under the command of the Earl of Weiyuan, but also comes from the Rongguo Mansion in the capital. He was the Earl of Weiyuan's personal attendant when he was young!"

One of the knights, tall and thin with a slightly hunched back, rode up to the boy.

He said, "Taiji, this man is only sixteen or seventeen years old, yet he has already become a captain, leading a hundred men."

Without a prestigious background and powerful connections, it's usually impossible to achieve this; perhaps what he said is true.

Upon hearing this, Nuoyan carefully examined Guo Zhigui, a hint of desolation appearing on her face.

He said, "Tie their hands, give them a horse, and take them back to the camp first."

He fiddled with the dominoes in his hand, his mind churning with thoughts.

Yu Zhang, given this situation, how will you respond? You don't necessarily think I've been deceiving you… (End of Chapter)