Top-notch Little Horseman

Liang Kun suddenly turned his head and stared at Zhao Shaojun, his eyes cold and venomous, like those of a poisonous snake.

Hong Chengye has repeatedly contradicted him today. His ambition to replace him has long been exposed.

But he didn't expect that Hong Chengye would jump out at his most critical moment, and that he would jump out so accurately and so ruthlessly!

"Hong Chengye!" Liang Kun gritted his teeth, his voice forced out, "I have treated you well, yet you dare..."

"You've treated me well?" Hong Chengye sneered, interrupting him.

He took the papers out of the package and handed them to Chen Baiquan one by one.

"General Chen, these are the accounts of Liang Kun's misappropriation of funds and provisions for the cavalry, the illegal sale of warhorses, and other illegal activities over the years."

"Every transaction has a date, a number, and the person who handled it."

"I have been secretly recording this for a long time, but I have been struggling to find an opportunity to report it."

"He held absolute power in the Third Horse Camp, embezzling several thousand taels of silver, withholding and deducting the wages of the horse herders, and selling off no fewer than a hundred horses from the camp."

"I can guarantee with my life that every word in these accounts is true."

Upon hearing Hong Chengye's words, Liang Kun's expression changed drastically.

If Wolf Brother's accusation was a knife, then the accounts in Hong Chengye's hands were a mountain that crushed him.

He could shift the blame for Wolf Brother's affair onto Zhao Shaojun, but he couldn't get rid of the accounts; every single transaction was linked to Liang Kun's name.

Chen Baiquan took the papers, glanced at them briefly, and his expression grew increasingly grim.

He raised his head and stared at Liang Kun, his voice as cold as a knife: "Liang Kun! You hired someone to kill a government stableman, embezzled funds and provisions from the stables, and resold warhorses from the stables. Any one of these crimes could cost you your head!"

Liang Kun's body trembled, and his lips quivered.

His facial expression changed several times in just a few breaths.

Anger, fear, scheming, despair!

Finally, he straightened his back, as if grasping at the last straw, and stared intently at Chen Baiquan: "General Chen!"

His voice was very low, so low that only he and Chen Baiquan could hear it clearly.

"My brother-in-law is Lord Zhu Da, Commander of the Beiping Prefectural Garrison. General Chen must know him, right?"

"What happened today was due to my momentary lapse in judgment and lax management of my subordinates, which allowed that scoundrel Zhao Shaojun to take advantage of the situation."

"I am willing to resign from my position as the head of the Third Horse Battalion and return to Beiping City to reflect on my mistakes in seclusion."

"I implore General Chen to be lenient and show some mercy for the sake of Director Zhu. There's no need to make things awkward for everyone over a mere horseman."

Chen Baiquan paused for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly.

Zhu Da was the head of the Beiping Prefecture's Capital Guard, a fourth-rank military officer, several ranks higher than him in official position.

Zhu Da had been operating in Beiping Prefecture for many years and had a deep and extensive network of connections, which Chen Baiquan could not afford to offend.

Although Ye Chen is quite capable, it's not worth offending the head of the First Capital Guard for him!

Chen Baiquan hesitated at that moment.

His fingers tapped lightly on the account paper, his gaze shifting between Hong Chengye and Liang Kun.

Just then, Luo Kai spoke up.

He sheathed his sword with a crisp sound.

"General Chen!" Luo Kai's voice was not loud, but it was very crisp.

"This Ye Chen is the man my lord wants."

"The General sent me here to invite him to the border army camp."

"The General has hundreds of warhorses waiting for his life. Liang Kun didn't just hire a lowly horseman to kill; he hired someone the General needs."

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping coldly over Liang Kun before settling on Chen Baiquan again.

"And also, I think I heard Liang Kun say that he has a brother-in-law who is a high-ranking official in Beiping Prefecture?"

"General Chen, what's your opinion on today's incident?"

Hong Chengye had been waiting for this question, and immediately stepped forward and said, "General Chen, I've heard that Director Zhu is an upright man with a good reputation in Beiping Prefecture."

"If he knew that Chief Liang was using his name to hire murderers and embezzle public funds, do you think the Director would stand up for Liang Kun, or would he be the first to kill him?"

Hong Chengye's words were like a needle piercing Liang Kun's last and weakest line of defense.

Upon hearing this, Liang Kun's face fell completely.

He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

He knew his brother-in-law's temper all too well; what he hated most was anyone using his name to commit crimes outside.

If this matter were to reach Zhu Da's ears, Zhu Da would not only refuse to protect him, but would also personally bind him and bring him to the government office, thus upholding justice even against a family member.

General Chen remained silent.

The courtyard was so quiet that only the whistling of the wind blowing through the crenellations of the courtyard wall and Wolf Brother's heavy breathing could be heard.

All eyes were on Chen Baiquan.

Liang Kun's eyes still held a last glimmer of hope for survival, while Zhao Shaojun knelt on the ground, his head buried in the yellow earth, too afraid to lift it.

Luo Kai sat on horseback, a cold sneer playing on his lips.

Ye Chen stood aside, quietly watching all of this.

"Someone come here!" Chen Baiquan took a deep breath and finally shouted.

"Capture Liang Kun, Zhao Shaojun, and Zhang Dahu. And all the bandits here—tie them up alive, or load the dead into the truck!"

"Take them all to the Beiping Prefecture and await the prefect's interrogation and judgment!"

He turned around and looked at Hong Chengye, saying, "You will now assume the position of Chief of the Third Horse Battalion. After I report to the Grand General, the official appointment will be issued."

"Your humble servant, Hong Chengye, obeys!"

Hong Chengye took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, knelt down before Chen Baiquan, and bowed respectfully.

When he stood up, a happy smile was on his lips as he looked at Liang Kun, who was being dragged out, his official hat falling to the ground.

Liang Kun rolled twice on the ground, getting covered in yellow dust.

As he passed by Hong Chengye, the resentment in his eyes was almost overflowing.

Hong Chengye did not avoid his gaze, but stared intently at him.

This was the first time in so many years that he hadn't bowed his head in front of Liang Kun.

Luo Kai watched Liang Kun being escorted out of the hospital gate, then turned to Ye Chen and asked, "It seems like no one is injured?"

"I never expected you could withstand so many people..."

"Alright, the warhorses can't afford to be delayed. You should come with us first to the border army camp to tend to them!"

Ye Chen took a deep breath and looked at Luo Kai, saying, "Could you allow me to finish dealing with things here before I leave with you?"

"What could a lowly horseman like you possibly have to do?" Luo Kai frowned upon hearing this, asking somewhat impatiently.

If it weren't for the General's instructions, how could a lowly horse herder be worthy of arguing with him!

Before Ye Chen could speak, Luo Kai suddenly saw Liang Biao and the others, and immediately frowned.

Ok?

His brows furrowed, and his gaze toward Liang Biao and the others was filled with scrutiny and doubt.

Ye Chen's heart tightened immediately; Liang Biao and the others were all deserters!