If I made you cannon fodder, how did you manage to achieve your goal of conquering the wolf's l

The council chamber remained silent for a long time.

The iron box on the table had been taken over by the border patrol officer's personal guards.

One by one, military supply books were laid out in front of Tang Su, each one recording the name, year, and mark.

Zhao Wu wanted to speak several times, but seeing Tang Su's expression, he ultimately held back.

Tang Su finished reading the last transfer document.

"These things can prove that Commander Chen embezzled the military supplies of Black Stone Fortress, and also prove that someone in Yunzhou covered for him."

Zhao Wu immediately responded.

"My lord is wise."

"However, embezzling military supplies and Xu Qingshan murdering his superior are two different things. Even if Commander Chen committed a serious crime, he should be dealt with according to military law, not a centurion who can take matters into his own hands."

Tang Su raised his eyes.

"I haven't finished speaking yet."

Zhao Wu's smile froze.

"This humble general has spoken out of turn."

Tang Su closed the document.

"Commander Chen is dead. The iron box can only prove what he did during his lifetime, but it cannot prove who started the fight that day."

"To get to the bottom of this, we need to find someone who was there."

Xu Qingshan knew who he was going to find.

"Commander Wang is still imprisoned in the inner fort."

Zhao Wu said, "This man has been imprisoned by Xu Qingshan for many days, and he has probably already been forced to change his testimony."

Xu Qingshan looked at him.

"The man hasn't even been brought here yet, and Commandant Zhao already knows what he's going to say?"

"This captain is merely reminding Lord Tang."

"You reminded me quite early."

Tang Su tapped on the table.

"Bring General Wang the flag."

The two guards turned and left.

A moment later, the sound of an iron chain dragging across the bluestone floor came from outside the hall.

General Wang was brought in.

After being detained for several days, his hair was a mess, and his face had become noticeably thinner. Although he had several wounds on his body, most of them had already scabbed over.

Upon entering the council chamber, he first saw Xu Qingshan.

His steps faltered.

His gaze swept over Tang Su and finally landed on Zhao Wu.

A glimmer of hope suddenly appeared in those dull eyes.

Zhao Wu also noticed his reaction.

"Commander Wang, the border patrol commissioner, Lord Tang, is personally handling the Black Stone Fortress matter. You only need to tell the truth, and no one can harm you."

General Wang licked his chapped lips.

"Can Commandant Zhao save my life?"

"If you acted on the orders of Commander Chen, then Commander Chen will naturally bear the responsibility for your crime."

Zhao Wu walked up to him.

"As long as you can prove that Xu Qingshan had long harbored rebellious intentions, took the opportunity to kill Chen Baihu, and seized military power, this captain will plead with Lord Tang on your behalf."

Wang Zongqi's eyes flickered.

The soldiers of Blackstone Fortress outside the hall all frowned.

Hou San asked in a low voice, "Is this what you call a truthful confession?"

Tie Niu said, "They've even taught me what to say, so it saves me a lot of trouble."

Zhao Wu turned his head and glared at the two men.

"Shut up!"

Hou San immediately shut his mouth, but Tie Niu turned his head to the side.

"Your hearing is still fine."

Tang Su's expression darkened slightly.

"If anyone disrupts the interrogation again, throw them all out."

The area outside the hall finally quieted down.

Wang Zongqi lowered his head, his breathing gradually becoming rapid.

Xu Qingshan kept looking at him.

"You risked your life for Commander Chen, and now he's dead."

Wang Zongqi's body stiffened slightly.

"Now Zhao Wu is preparing to have you die in Chen Huaishan's place."

"You're talking nonsense!"

Zhao Wu immediately shouted, "General Chen has been guarding Yunzhou for many years and has nothing to do with this matter!"

Xu Qingshan pointed to the iron box on the table.

Whether it matters or not is not up to Commandant Zhao to decide.

"General Wang isn't stupid."

"When Chen Baihu was alive, what he knew wasn't exactly a secret. After Chen Baihu died, the more he knew, the faster he died."

Wang Zongqi's expression had changed.

Zhao Wu frowned.

"Commander Wang, don't listen to his provocations."

"As long as you identify Xu Qingshan, this captain can protect you."

General Wang slowly raised his head.

"And what about the things I did before?"

"As I said, you were just following orders."

"What about looting the grain?"

Zhao Wu paused for a moment.

Commander Wang continued, "The illegal sale of weapons, the murder of deserters, and the annual shipment of grain, warhorses, and silver to Yunzhou—all of that is attributed to Commander Chen?"

The atmosphere in the council chamber froze instantly.

Tang Su sat up straight.

"What did you just say?"

Only then did Wang Zongqi realize that he had let something slip.

Zhao Wu said urgently, "Sir, this man has been imprisoned for so long, he is probably not in his right mind. What he says is not credible at all."

Tang Su looked at his personal guards.

"Move a stool."

A wooden stool was quickly delivered to Wang Zongqi's back.

"Sit down and talk."

Wang Zongqi glanced at Zhao Wu, hesitated, and then sat down.

Tang Su continued, "What does Blackstone Fort send to Yunzhou every year?"

Wang Zongqi kept his head down.

"I have no idea."

Tang Su did not urge him.

The hall was so quiet that you could hear everyone breathing.

After a moment, Xu Qingshan spoke.

"You still want Chen Huaishan to save you?"

"The iron box has fallen into Lord Tang's hands, and the matter of Commander Chen embezzling military supplies can no longer be hidden."

"Someone in Yunzhou has to take responsibility."

"Commander Chen is dead, and you were the one who worked for him back then. If everything is pushed onto the two of you, Chen Huaishan will still be the general guarding the border."

Wang Zongqi's lips trembled.

Zhao Wu angrily said, "Xu Qingshan, if you dare to disrupt the interrogation again..."

"Let him speak."

Tang Su interrupted him coldly.

Zhao Wu's chest heaved, and he could only retreat to his original position.

Wang Zongqi remained silent for a long time.

When he spoke again, his voice was already a little hoarse.

"Chen Baihu sends things to Yunzhou every year."

"Silver is delivered in spring, and grain and warhorses in autumn. When caravans pass by, some of the furs, salt, and medicinal herbs are also taken."

Tang Su asked, "To whom is it given?"

"Officially, the goods were sent to the Yunzhou military granary, but I don't know where they were actually sent."

"Each time the escorts returned, they would bring back Chen Huaishan's warrant."

Zhao Wu said, "The garrison commander of Yunzhou is in accordance with military regulations when allocating provisions and warhorses."

Wang Zongqi glanced at him.

"The items that were sent away are not listed in the Blackstone Castle documents."

"Chen Baihu would first seize them from the military households and passing merchant caravans, and then send them to Yunzhou separately."

"Sometimes when we couldn't collect enough, he would have us collect from nearby villages."

A chorus of low curses erupted outside the hall.

Many military households have experienced this.

The levies mentioned by Chen Baihu never left any evidence.

The grain was brought into the military fort and then transported away by Commander Wang and others.

In the end, no one even dared to ask where they went.

Tang Su's expression grew increasingly grim.

Why did Commander Chen send these things?

"To stay in Blackrock Fortress."

Commander Wang said, "Black Stone Fort is remote, but it has a lot of military supplies, and no one checks it. Commander Chen sends a batch of supplies every year, so Chen Huaishan lets him continue to be a commander."

"If anything goes wrong, Yunzhou will cover it up for him."

Zhao Wu slammed his hand on the table.

"Nonsense!"

"General Chen is the garrison commander of Yunzhou; how could he possibly protect a mere border fortress centurion for such a paltry sum?"

Tie Niu muttered to himself outside the door.

"That's quite a lot of stuff."

Hou San nodded.

"Commander Zhao probably wouldn't be interested. When he leaves, don't give him anything."

Zhao Wu's face darkened, but he forced himself not to turn around.

Tang Su asked, "Do you have any evidence?"

General Wang hesitated for a moment.

"have."

Zhao Wu's eyelid twitched.

"What evidence?"

Wang Zongqi looked towards the west side of the inner fort.

"There's a cellar beneath the old granary."

"Because Chen Baihu was worried that Chen Huaishan would turn against him, he hid several warrants inside. One of them was written in Chen Huaishan's own handwriting and was stamped with his personal seal."

Tang Su stood up.

"lead the way."