Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

As autumn deepens, the rammed earth section of Xinghuo Fort's new city wall has reached nearly half a person's height. The winding, earthen-yellow wall stretches across the hills, creating a rather spectacular sight. Most of the grain in the fields has been harvested and stored, and the air is filled with the fresh scent of new rice and a faint chill in the air. On the surface, everything is progressing steadily towards the goal of "building high walls and storing ample grain," and an atmosphere of steadfastness and hope permeates both inside and outside the fort.

However, beneath this seemingly stable prosperity, a subtle shadow is spreading, like a stone thrown into a still lake, creating unsettling ripples, thanks to the scattered information gathered by Li Shu's intelligence network.

At first, there were only minor, seemingly insignificant disturbances. An intelligence agent stationed near the Dongtun and Huiyubao trade points, disguised as a fur merchant, mentioned in his routine report that during the last two trade fairs, the junior manager from Huiyubao seemed particularly interested in topics such as Xinghuobao's "construction progress," "autumn harvest," and "the lord's daily routine," asking much more detailed questions than usual, and always weaving these questions into seemingly casual conversation. Almost simultaneously, another intelligence agent, who had infiltrated from the direction of Tieyanbao under the guise of repairing pottery, overheard two drunken low-ranking soldiers from Tieyanbao complaining in a tavern that their superiors had recently tightened their control, forbidding them from fishing in a certain stream near Xinghuobao, but they vaguely heard the corporal mention that some "distinguished guests" were coming from that direction, and they needed to keep quiet.

Individually, these two pieces of information might seem like coincidences or over-interpretations. However, they almost simultaneously point to external forces probing for information within Starfire Fortress, and possibly unusual activities in the border buffer zone between the two sides.

Li Shu dared not delay and presented these two pieces of information, marked with their source and time, along with dozens of other daily messages, to Chen Xing and Wu Xuejiu. Chen Xing's gaze lingered on these two pieces of information for a moment, his fingers lightly tapping the table.

"Have Li Shu inform these two intelligence agents to find out, without revealing their identities, who is behind that minor steward of Gray Valley Fortress? Who are the so-called 'distinguished guests' of Iron Rock Fortress, when and where did they come from, and what is their purpose?" Chen Xing said to Wu Xuejiu. "In addition, have Chen Wei strengthen nighttime patrols of the buffer zone bordering East Village, South Outpost Camp, Iron Rock Fortress, and Gray Valley Fortress, paying particular attention to any traces of small groups of people secretly crossing over."

Wu Xuejiu's expression was grave: "The lord of the fortress suspects..."

"Building walls and stockpiling grain is quite a commotion, and it's only natural that it would attract attention," Chen Xing said calmly, but his eyes were sharp. "Hu Yong of Huiyu Fort is playing both sides, wanting to know more about our strengths and weaknesses, whether for self-preservation or to wait for a better price, which is understandable. Sun Han of Tieyan Fort has a tense relationship with us, and his border situation is unusual, which requires extra vigilance. I hope I'm just being paranoid."

However, a report a few days later transformed this "paranoia" into concrete suspicion. The intelligence agent from Dongtun managed to befriend a heavy-drinking warehouse manager at Huiyu Fort, getting him drunk and extracting information: the manager was directly instructed by a trusted advisor of Hu Yong, the lord of Huiyu Fort, to gather as much information as possible about Xinghuo Fort's "inside story," especially regarding "any signs of instability," "complaints from newly arrived people," and "whether the city construction labor has caused discontent." The reward was substantial.

Intelligence transmission from Ironrock Fortress was even more perilous. The "potter" left a new coded message at the agreed-upon secret delivery point: he had observed figures dressed outside the fortress quietly entering and exiting a small side gate in the southeast corner of Ironrock Fortress after midnight for two consecutive nights, each escorted by a low-ranking officer. He risked approaching to eavesdrop, only vaguely catching fragments of words such as "After the deed is done... Black Mountain... will surely reward you handsomely," and "...the location of the granary... the garrison rotation..." and one of them seemed to have a northern accent.

The word "Black Mountain!" exploded like a thunderclap in the minds of Chen Xing, Wu Xuejiu, and Chen Wei. Combined with the "location of the granary" and the "troop rotation," the meaning was self-evident—collusion between insiders and outsiders, with treacherous intentions!

"Investigate!" Chen Xing's face was ashen, his voice filled with icy killing intent. "We must find the traitor as soon as possible! Otherwise, all our efforts to build walls and stockpile grain will be for nothing but benefiting others!"

The investigation unfolded in utmost secrecy. Chen Wei personally took charge, employing the most loyal and reliable veterans of his personal guard, and securing covert cooperation from Murong Mingyue's cavalry. The relevant areas were sealed off to prevent leaks or the escape of any internal traitors. Li Shu, meanwhile, assisted by reviewing all suspicious time periods, examining personnel entry and exit records and supply flow accounts for the relevant areas, searching for any unusual clues.

The breakthrough came from the secret surveillance of a guard on duty at the Dongtun granary. This guard was originally a refugee who was selected for the garrison due to his honesty and diligence, and was responsible for guarding a medium-sized granary at night. Intelligence indicated that the information about the "granary location" mentioned from the direction of Tieyanbao was quite accurate, and those who knew the exact location of the granary, the number of guards, and the general rotation pattern were, besides the garrison manager and a few garrison officers, these guards on duty.

After three consecutive nights of secret surveillance, Chen Wei's sent-out sentries discovered that after the midnight shift change, the auxiliary soldier did not immediately return to the communal quarters. Instead, he would circle around to a secluded woodpile behind the granary, seemingly waiting for something. On the third night, when he once again stealthily approached the woodpile and was about to place something under a stone slab, he was suddenly apprehended by the personal guards who covered his mouth.

What was found under the stone slab was a small roll of rough hemp paper wrapped in oilcloth. On it, a simple layout map of Dongtun was drawn crookedly with charcoal pencil, highlighting the locations of the granary, well, and garrison. Next to it were a few lines of text: "On the 8th and 23rd, at the third quarter of the hour of Chou (1:45 AM), there is a gap under the third beacon tower on the south wall, large enough for one person to pass through. The messenger will signal with three partridge calls." The signature was a blurry fingerprint.

The interrogation was conducted under strict isolation. Initially, the auxiliary soldier gritted his teeth and claimed that he was just wandering around because he couldn't sleep, and that the drawings on the paper were just random scribbles. However, when Chen Wei coldly revealed his hometown, the fact that he still had an elderly mother and a young sister at home, and presented indirect evidence provided by the intelligence officer regarding someone in Tieyan Fort mentioning "a generous reward from Heishan," the auxiliary soldier's psychological defenses crumbled.

He tearfully confessed that about a month ago, while chopping firewood outside Dongtun, he was kidnapped by two men who claimed to be "merchants from the north." They threatened his family's lives, forcing him to provide information on Dongtun's defenses and the location of its granaries, promising him a sum of money sufficient for his family to flee. Forced to comply, he had already delivered the message twice. They promised to release his family and give him the money if he completed one last relay mission. He didn't know their exact identities, but their accents suggested they were from the north, and he suspected they were connected to the Black Mountain Commander.

Following the clues, based on the auxiliary soldier's description of the contact's characteristics and possible hiding place, Chen Wei mobilized elite troops. With the cooperation of Murong Mingyue's cavalry, they captured two men preparing to meet him again in a dense forest outside Dongtun. The two men were agile and resisted fiercely, ultimately resulting in one death and one injury. A pass from Tieyan Fortress and a small packet of wound-healing medicine used internally by the Black Mountain Army were found on the wounded man. The wounded man succumbed to his injuries, his last words a sinister grin: "The Black Mountain army... will arrive soon... you... will all be reduced to dust..."

Almost simultaneously, a cross-checking of the personnel inside the fortress uncovered another clue. At the construction site, a clerk responsible for calculating the earthwork for a section of the wall had recently become quite wealthy, not only paying off his previous debts but also buying a silver hairpin for his mistress. Li Shu reviewed his accounts and found several discrepancies between the earthwork quantities and the actual acceptance records, suggesting possible fraudulent claims for work points. Further investigation into his social circle revealed a close relationship with an official within the fortress responsible for purchasing some supplies; this official had been seen privately contacting merchants from Gray Valley Fortress outside the fortress.

This junior clerk was secretly controlled. Faced with irrefutable accounting problems and suspicions surrounding his sudden wealth, he quickly confessed: the purchasing official had lured him with promises of high rewards, instructing him to manipulate records of earthwork and labor consumption for the city's construction, creating the illusion of "excessive manpower and resources being wasted while progress was slow," and then leaking this data through specific channels. The aim was to damage Xinghuo Fort's reputation, exaggerate the difficulties of construction, create the illusion of internal conflict, and coordinate with external propaganda to undermine morale and increase leverage in potential negotiations. As for Huiyu Fort's ultimate goal, he was unaware.

When the purchasing official realized his scheme had been exposed, he attempted suicide by poison, but Chen Wei, who was already on guard, sent men to stop him. A search of his residence revealed an undelivered booklet containing exaggerated data on the cost of building materials, as well as a portion of the deposit given by Gray Valley Fortress. The man was stubborn and refused to reveal any deeper collusion with Gray Valley Fortress, only admitting that he was greedy for money.

Within a few days, two leads involving collusion between insiders and outsiders were uncovered. Although they did not involve high-level officials, their nature was egregious and their intentions sinister—one was an attempt to lure the enemy into sabotaging a key grain depot, and the other was an attempt to create chaos and corrupt the people. And the shadows of Black Mountain Commander and Gray Valley Fortress were vaguely emerging behind them.

Chen Xing convened an emergency meeting of the core leadership. The atmosphere in the study was oppressive.

"The investigation is complete; both individuals are identified, and the evidence is conclusive," Chen Wei reported. "The one who lured the enemy to sabotage the granary, though coerced, ultimately betrayed his master for survival and nearly caused a major disaster. The one who falsified data and colluded with the enemy to damage our reputation was purely driven by greed; his intentions are despicable. Please advise on how to handle this, Lord Fortress."

Zhao Tiezhu, enraged, shouted, "Is that even a question? He'll be torn to pieces! Let everyone see what happens to those who act as traitors!"

Wu Xuejiu stroked his beard, his face grave: "A nation cannot stand without laws, and a fort cannot exist without laws. These two have violated the fort's rules, committing the grave crimes of colluding with the enemy, betraying their master, and violating the law. According to the law, they should be executed. Moreover, this is a critical time for our fort, as we are building walls and stockpiling grain, surrounded by external enemies. We must use swift and decisive measures to purge the traitors and deter others from following suit. However... whether to publicly punish them still needs to be considered. It might cause unrest among the newly annexed people."

Murong Mingyue said coldly, "The newer the country, the more it needs to understand the strictness of our laws. Concealing them will only arouse suspicion. Public punishment and clear-cut execution are the only ways to completely sever the thoughts of those who collude with us, and also let all the people of the country know what the bottom line is and what the inviolable iron law is."

Chen Xing remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "Mr. Wu's words are reasonable, and Mingyue's view also aligns with mine. These two are irrefutable victims, and there is no room for leniency. Not only must they be killed, but they must be killed publicly, so that everyone sees it and remembers it!"

His voice was resolute: "Order: Tomorrow at noon, an execution platform will be erected in the central square of the fortress. The fortress will be openly tried by the managers of all the garrisons, officers of the rank of centurion and above, workshop leaders, school instructors, and representatives of the fortress residents! Wu Xuejiu will preside over the trial, Li Shu will read the charges, and Chen Wei will oversee the execution! After the trial, they will be executed in public immediately! Their heads will be displayed at the fortress gate for three days! Their families, if unaware of the crime and not benefited from it, will not be implicated, but must be relocated and placed under strict surveillance. Those who participated or knew about it but failed to report it will be punished as accomplices!"

"Yes, sir!" The crowd responded sternly.

"Furthermore," Chen Xing's gaze was icy, "Issue the 'Anti-Traitor Order': From this day forward, anyone who reports and exposes acts of collusion between internal and external forces, or of betraying the fortress and colluding with the enemy, will be richly rewarded! Anyone who knows but fails to report will be punished the same as the criminals! Anyone who voluntarily confesses and performs meritorious service to atone for their crimes may be given a lighter sentence depending on the circumstances. This order, along with tomorrow's public trial and execution, must be known to all the soldiers and civilians within the fortress!"

The following day at noon, in the central square of Starfire Fortress. Although it was late autumn, the sunlight was somewhat dazzling. In front of the makeshift wooden platform, a large number of representatives from all walks of life had been summoned, while on the outer perimeter stood a large number of fortress residents who had rushed there upon hearing the news. Everyone's face was solemn, and there was not a sound.

On the wooden platform, Wu Xuejiu sat in the main seat, Li Shu stood to his side, and Chen Wei stood with his hand on his sword in front of the platform. On both sides stood the personal guards holding halberds. The two traitors were bound hand and foot and knelt in front of the platform, their faces ashen.

The trial was brief and somber. Li Shu clearly and loudly read out the crimes, evidence, and violations of the fortress rules committed by the two men. Wu Xuejiu, in accordance with the fortress rules, sentenced them to death, to be carried out immediately. There was no excessive embellishment, only cold facts and ironclad legal provisions.

As the gleaming blade of the ghost-head saber flashed, two heads rolled to the ground, and blood stained the sand in front of the platform, the entire square fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the whistling of the autumn wind sweeping across the flagpole. Many people instinctively held their breath, their faces pale. Among the newly appointed representatives, quite a few had their legs go weak and were drenched in cold sweat.

Chen Xing did not personally attend the execution, but he stood on a high point in the Fortress Lord's Mansion, gazing towards the square. He could imagine the solemnity and shock of the scene.

"The traitor has been eliminated, but the hidden dangers remain." He whispered to Murong Mingyue beside him, "Black Mountain Commander's hand has already reached in. Gray Valley Fortress is not as submissive as it appears. This public execution was for internal use, but also for those who are watching from the outside. Starfire Fortress is not a soft persimmon that can be easily infiltrated and manipulated."

Murong Mingyue nodded: "After this incident, morale may be temporarily low, but in the long run, the rules will be clearer and the people will be more united. However, what about Commander Heishan..."

"He won't let this go easily." Chen Xing looked north, his eyes deep. "Having our inside game destroyed will only make him more certain that our fortress is a major threat to him, and his desire for revenge will only intensify. Our decisive battle with Black Mountain Commander is probably... not far off."

The bloodstains on the square were quickly cleaned up, but the lingering stench of blood and the imposing authority of the law remained. Starfire Fortress, on its path to growth, had undergone its first baptism from within. The purging sword severed the intruding hand, and also forged the steely resolve of this nascent foundation in its adherence to rules and loyalty. In chaotic times, mercy and hope alone are insufficient for survival; sometimes, the iron-fisted laws are needed to defend the hard-won light.