Chapter 93

This is a gesture of goodwill and a way to win favor, but it is also a naked threat. There is no such thing as a free lunch. If the other party is willing to eliminate all their enemies, then what they want in return must be even greater.

Looking at the two men opposite him, Scissors fell silent. He did not know what kind of value he held in their eyes.

"Deputy Captain Duan, do you know the truth about the western border army's annihilation?" Xin Jianli picked up the wine jug on the table, pouring wine for Scissors while smiling and asking.

Scissors' body suddenly trembled. The complete annihilation of the western border army was an incomprehensible event to everyone in the Death Corps. It wasn't just a few hundred or a few thousand people, but a full six thousand border troops, none of whom returned, all annihilated in the Luoying Mountains.

Losing a battle was not unusual, and the Death Corps had also fled in defeat before. But such a complete annihilation was, in their view, like a fairy tale. How could it happen right before their eyes?

At that time, Qin Feng had told them that there was a problem with the court. But what exactly the problem was, they, as minor figures, could not understand.

What Xin Jianli said nonchalantly was the very question that the Death Corps had been pondering over and over. The Death Corps was part of the western border army. Although they were often marginalized and seen as outsiders, on the battlefield, they were still comrades and brothers, having fought side by side many times. The Death Corps had saved them, and the other border troops had saved the Death Corps.

"Someone betrayed the western border army." Scissors glared at Xin Jianli. He realized that a huge secret was about to unfold before him. The unremarkable old man sitting in front of him held a golden badge, something only high-ranking officials could possess.

"That's right. Indeed, a high-ranking official in the court betrayed the western border army, leading to the complete annihilation of Zuo Lixing's army. But you probably can't imagine who betrayed Zuo Lixing." Xin Jianli said calmly.

Scissors glared at Xin Jianli but did not press for more. He knew that if the other party had brought him here, they would naturally reveal the secret.

"It was the Crown Prince!" The words that came out of Xin Jianli's mouth made Scissors jump up from his chair. With a crack, the wine glass in his hand shattered, and the wine splashed everywhere. He looked at Xin Jianli with disbelief.

"Unbelievable, isn't it?" Xin Jianli was not surprised by Scissors' shock. He slowly picked up a towel and gently wiped the wine from his face. "Everyone finds it unbelievable."

"Why did the Crown Prince do this?" Scissors asked in a hoarse voice.

"Why?" Xin Jianli laughed. "Of course, it's for the Dragon Throne. This is the highest level of struggle in our Great Chu. You are just a minor deputy captain, so naturally, you find it hard to believe."

"Six thousand people!" Scissors sat down dejectedly. "To strike at the Second Prince, the Crown Prince sent six thousand people to their deaths?"

"Six thousand people, what's that?" Xin Jianli chuckled. "In the Crown Prince's eyes, six thousand people are just a cold number on the military roster, not living, breathing individuals. To secure his position as heir, he thought it was worth sacrificing six thousand border troops. But he clearly forgot what kind of wise ruler our emperor is, so he ended up outsmarting himself. I'm sure you know that the Crown Prince is now imprisoned in the Eastern Palace?"

"I've heard. They say he behaves erratically and is disrespectful to his superiors." Scissors growled in a low voice. "Why not publicize his crimes and punish him according to the law?"

Xin Jianli and Yang Yi exchanged a glance and burst out laughing.

"Brother Duan Xuan, you are too naive." Yang Yi shook his head and smiled. "Who is he? He is the Crown Prince, the once-recognized heir to the Great Chu. If this were to be made public, what would it do to the court's reputation? What would it do to the emperor's position? Would the emperor want to bear such a stain even after his death?"

"Righteousness and family loyalty should be recorded in history." Scissors said fiercely.

"That's what ordinary people think." Xin Jianli shook his head. "The royal family cannot afford such a blow. It would severely damage the royal family's credibility. The emperor is not long for this world. Even a tiger does not eat its own cubs. The emperor cannot bring himself to order the execution of the Crown Prince, as he only has two sons."

"Are you going to let him get away with it? Are you going to let six thousand border troops die in vain in the Luoying Mountains? How can you explain this to the people? How can you maintain the court's dignity and the royal family's honor?" Scissors asked in rapid succession.

"For someone like the Crown Prince, depriving him of the right to inherit the throne and confining him to a small courtyard for the rest of his life is more painful than death. As for giving an account to the people, the court will naturally provide one." Xin Jianli said slowly.

"How will they explain it?" Scissors pressed.

Xin Jianli smiled but said nothing.

Yang Yi stood up, walked behind Scissors, placed his hands on Scissors' shoulders, leaned down, and whispered in his ear, "This is why Mr. Xin came to see you."

Scissors first looked at Xin Jianli in confusion, but then he understood. His eyebrows shot up, and he slapped the table, causing the dishes to rattle. He tried to stand up, but his shoulders were tightly held by Yang Yi, a seventh-level expert, who was far more skilled than Scissors. With Yang Yi holding him down, Scissors could not move.

"So you want the Death Corps to be the scapegoat? No way. Do you have any conscience? Have your consciences been eaten by dogs? For years, the Death Corps has fought bravely, and so many have died on the front lines. In the end, you want to pin this crime on us?"

"So what?" Xin Jianli leaned back. "Even if the Death Corps has accomplished much, they are still just a group of convicts. Compared to the noble Crown Prince, what is there to pity? Can the Death Corps be compared to the royal family's honor and credibility?"

Scissors struggled angrily. "To you, the Death Corps is just a number, but to me, they are living, breathing people."

Xin Jianli looked at the struggling Scissors coldly. "Yang Yi, let him go."

Yang Yi released Scissors, who immediately jumped up, reached into his boot, and pulled out a sharp dagger, raising it high but hesitating in mid-air.

Xin Jianli chuckled and stared at him.

"Deputy Captain Duan, think carefully." He slowly pulled out a military department letter from his chest and placed it flat on the table. "Here is a blank appointment letter. I can fill in your name, Duan Xuan, or someone else's."

Scissors panted heavily, then suddenly turned and walked out.

Yang Yi's hand moved to the hilt of his sword, but Xin Jianli shook his head and let Scissors leave.

"Mr. Xin!" Yang Yi watched as Scissors' figure disappeared at the door and said urgently, "If we let him go, the Death Corps will surely cause chaos. We can't let him leave!"

Xin Jianli chuckled. "General Yang, come, sit down, and have a drink with me."

Looking at the calm Xin Jianli, Yang Yi was in a turmoil of emotions. He sat down reluctantly, but it felt like sitting on pins and needles. This matter was crucial to his future wealth and life. One wrong move, and he would be finished.

"Come, have a drink." Xin Jianli raised his wine glass and gestured to Yang Yi. "Some things need to be figured out by himself, or they won't work."

The wine tasted bland in Yang Yi's mouth. He carefully pondered Xin Jianli's words but could not understand their meaning.

When Xin Jianli raised his second glass of wine, the tightly closed door creaked open, and Scissors appeared at the door.

Xin Jianli raised his glass toward the door. "Deputy Captain Duan, your wine is still here. Come in and have a drink."

Scissors' throat made a gurgling sound. His feet seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, but he finally lifted them, walked into the room, sat down, and raised his glass. With a gulp, he drank the wine in one go and slammed the glass heavily on the table.

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