Chapter 8

In the marketplace, at Gao Xianzhi's camp!

In the central large tent.

Prince Song of the Song Dynasty and Gao Xianzhi were sitting on one side, sipping tea, while Lin Chong stood respectfully in front of them.

"How is the morale of the soldiers now?" Prince Song asked with a smile.

Lin Chong nodded and said, "The arrangements made by the Commander have indeed made the soldiers more proactive. They now hate Gu Hai immensely. Now that they can communicate with their families, their spirits are even higher. When we capture the surrounding cities, they fight even more fiercely. Our speed in capturing the cities within the three passes is getting faster and faster!"

"What about those wealthy merchants?" Gao Xianzhi asked, taking a sip of tea.

"The wealthy merchants no longer dare to act recklessly. No one dares to set off fireworks. They keep a low profile, bringing only some letters from the rear, or secretly including some aggrieved parties. However, after the Commander's description, the soldiers have all blamed the disappearance of their family members on Gu Hai. The soldiers are no longer as angry as before!" Lin Chong said with admiration.

"Gu Hai's schemes are unpredictable. Keep a close eye on those wealthy merchants, and don't let them interact with the soldiers for too long. If anyone resists, take them down immediately!" Gao Xianzhi said, taking another sip of tea.

"Yes, Commander, but...!" Lin Chong suddenly frowned.

"Oh?" Gao Xianzhi's expression suddenly tightened. What new trouble has arisen?

Since Gao Xianzhi learned that Gu Hai was his opponent, he had never dared to relax, even for a moment. He was cautious about even the smallest details, especially after the recent mutiny that almost happened silently.

Lin Chong looked at Prince Song.

"What's the matter? Do you need me to leave?" Prince Song said with a stern face.

"No, Commander, Prince, you should know that it's possible that Gu Hai has kidnapped some military families and framed local officials. Although it's not right, it has caused panic among the people. Even though the Commander has already asked the Emperor to impose severe penalties to stabilize the military, the 'massacre' incidents continue to occur!" Lin Chong explained.

"That's true. We are already aware of this. What's different this time?" Gao Xianzhi asked, puzzled.

"This time, the target is the current Crown Prince, Song Zhengxi!" Lin Chong said solemnly.

"What?" Prince Song's face changed, and he suddenly stood up.

Crown Prince? That's my son. My son is far away in the capital, Song City. How could he be framed?

Gao Xianzhi's pupils also contracted.

"Before, it was just ordinary officials and nobles, but this time it's the Crown Prince? Is Gu Hai showing his fangs?" Gao Xianzhi said with a grim expression.

"What's going on?" Prince Song's face changed.

"News from Song City reports fifteen cases of mass murder, all pointing to Song Zhengxi. The reasons are that Song Zhengxi coveted beauty and caused chaos in Song City. Currently, fifteen soldiers are kneeling in front of my tent, begging me to ask the Commander to take action!" Lin Chong said, frowning.

"Damn Gu Hai, framing my son? Lin Chong, have you explained to them clearly? These are all false accusations!" Prince Song said anxiously.

Lin Chong frowned and said, "I have investigated. The news comes from the families or close relatives of the fifteen soldiers. However, thirteen of them are just missing, and Gu Hai hasn't gone so far as to kill the military families!"

"Hmm, if Gu Hai had directly killed those families and framed my son, wouldn't that be more advantageous for him?" Prince Song asked, frowning.

"Not good, not good!" Gao Xianzhi's expression changed.

"What's wrong?"

"I just realized how vicious Gu Hai's intentions are. It's terrifying. I almost let the surface deceive me again. His evil plan contains another evil plan! Gu Hai kidnapped the families of the soldiers. Although the soldiers hate Gu Hai, they still have a glimmer of hope, thinking their relatives are still alive. At least they are still alive. Their hatred for Gu Hai hasn't reached the point of mortal enmity. At least Gu Hai hasn't killed their entire families. In the soldiers' minds, being kidnapped by Gu Hai is the best outcome. If the news is true, it would be a real disaster. I suppressed their anger and beliefs, but they didn't calm down; they just restrained themselves. If this suppressed anger erupts again, even my words won't be heeded. Moreover, if their relatives are really in Gu Hai's hands, these soldiers will hesitate in battle. Although it's just a small group, the mood will spread! I don't know what other plots Gu Hai has for them. If he turns them, it would be...!" Gao Xianzhi's expression kept changing.

"Turn them? Hiss!" Prince Song also drew in a cold breath.

"Lin Chong, you said that out of the fifteen soldiers, thirteen have missing family members, but what about the other two?" Gao Xianzhi stared at Lin Chong.

Lin Chong's face turned grim. He looked at the Prince and lowered his head. "Indeed, it was done by the Crown Prince, Song Zhengxi!"

"Hmm?" Prince Song's face darkened.

"Prince, I will speak frankly. The Crown Prince, Song Zhengxi, has harmed many virtuous women in Song City over the years. You know this. Before the war, you even helped the officials in Song City to suppress one of the Crown Prince's scandals!" Lin Chong said softly.

"Bang!" Prince Song slammed his hand on the table.

"Lin Chong, are you sure it was the Crown Prince?" Gao Xianzhi's face also darkened.

"Yes, those two were under my command. I know their sisters were very beautiful. They once wanted to marry them to me, but I had Xiao Die and didn't want to take a concubine, so it never happened. The person who brought the news is their sworn brother, who was injured in a past battle and is now recuperating at home. He witnessed everything, even the bodies of their families. He brought some of their personal items as proof!" Lin Chong said softly.

"Bang!" Prince Song sat back down in his chair.

"Little brat, I told him not to cause trouble before we left. He even wrote letters home to his mother, restraining himself. I never thought, I never thought...!" Prince Song said, pained.

"You just said that the news came from their sworn brother. Is the person reliable? Could he have been bought by Gu Hai? You should know that the depth of a friendship isn't determined by what they've been through, but by the price of betrayal!" Gao Xianzhi said sternly.

Prince Song's eyes lit up. Yes, the person who brought the news could have been bought.

"Sir, I can't guarantee it, but they have been kneeling outside my tent, begging the Commander to take action. According to the severe penalties announced, anyone who insults a military family should be punished immediately. The crime of the Crown Prince warrants immediate execution! They are begging the Commander to act justly and avenge their families!" Lin Chong said solemnly.

"But, but the verdict isn't out yet, how can they be punished?" Prince Song asked anxiously.

Lin Chong looked at Prince Song. "Prince, although I can't guarantee anything, if the Crown Prince really did these things, and you could suppress him in Song City, now that you've been away for so long, there's no one to restrain him. If it was really Gu Hai who bought him, then Gu Hai's actions this time are too extreme. Before the soldiers left, the Crown Prince had already shown behavior that they found repulsive. It has already taken root in their minds. If there's a problem with the messenger, I can't guarantee it, but I believe, with 90% certainty, that there's no problem. I've seen the person, who would rather die than betray, and is deeply devoted. This time, there are even bodies as proof!"

"90% likely to be my son?" Prince Song's face darkened.

"They want the Crown Prince to be executed according to military law!" Lin Chong nodded.

"Song Zhengxi cannot die!" Gao Xianzhi's face darkened.

"Hmm?" Prince Song's eyes lit up as he looked at Gao Xianzhi.

Gao Xianzhi's face was grim.

"I see it clearly now. The Crown Prince is just a banner. If we kill the Crown Prince today, tomorrow we'll receive evidence against the current Grand Tutor, the next day against the current Prime Minister, and then against all the princes and dukes. At that point, executing the nobility every day will shake the morale of the entire army! The war will be impossible to fight, and the court will be in turmoil, shaking the foundations of the state." Gao Xianzhi's face darkened.

"Song Zhengxi cannot die?" Lin Chong looked at Gao Xianzhi in surprise.

"Gu Hai's plots are coming too fast. We can't stay here any longer. We need to immediately gather all the troops and quickly enter the decisive battle. We must immediately march to Hulao Pass, fight with all our might, and end it as soon as possible. Otherwise, no one can defend against it!" Gao Xianzhi's face darkened.

"Then, what should we do now? They are still kneeling outside my tent!" Lin Chong asked worriedly.

Prince Song also stared at Gao Xianzhi. At this moment, the war between Song and Chen is crucial. If Gao Xianzhi insists on executing Song Zhengxi, even as the Prince, he can't stop it. If he can't stop it, there's the current Emperor and even the Immortal Sect watching. He can't save Song Zhengxi.

But now, Gao Xianzhi wants to save Song Zhengxi?

"Commander, is this using power for personal gain? Protecting the wicked and scolding the good?" Lin Chong frowned.

"No, the situation is more complicated than I imagined. We must immediately suppress it. Prince, you will issue the order to immediately gather the soldiers who have been capturing the surrounding cities, and immediately assemble an army of 800,000. Immediately march to Hulao Pass. Once we break through Hulao Pass, Gu Hai's schemes will be useless!" Gao Xianzhi said solemnly.

"Alright!" Prince Song nodded, grateful.

"What about Song Zhengxi?" Lin Chong looked at Gao Xianzhi.

"You said that fifteen people are kneeling outside your tent, and thirteen of them should be easy to control. We can blame everything on Gu Hai. As for all the soldiers whose families have disappeared, immediately select them and allow them to return to their homes to search for their families. They should be willing. More and faster chapters are available at."

"I understand. I will remove these unstable factors. But what about the two soldiers whose families were 90% likely to have been harmed by Song Zhengxi?" Gao Xianzhi said solemnly.

"Stabilize them, seal the news, and even send them back to the capital to investigate. Make sure the news is kept to a minimum!" Gao Xianzhi said solemnly.

"What if they insist that the Commander must take action?" Lin Chong frowned.

"At this moment, the big picture is most important! Lin Chong, you have been with me for many years. You should understand that compassion cannot command an army!" Gao Xianzhi's eyes flashed with a cold light.

"Yes!" Lin Chong frowned and walked out of the tent.

Prince Song quickly issued the orders.

Lin Chong also met the fifteen people kneeling outside.

He comforted the thirteen of them, blamed everything on Gu Hai, and had them prepare to pack their bags and return to the capital to find their families.

But the other two were still staring at Lin Chong.

Their eyes were already red from crying, and they refused to get up from their knees.

"Rip!"

One of them tore open his shirt.

"Sir, look, these scars on my body are from fighting alongside you. I have never complained in all these years. But now, my little sister has been defiled, my old mother has been killed, and my entire family has been wiped out. I only ask that you help me, Sir. I have followed you for so many years, can't you do this one thing for me?"

"Sir, don't try to persuade us. You know who Old Five is. You saved his life. He has no children, no family, and is physically disabled. Could he be bought? Even if you gave him more money, he couldn't use it. Would he lie to me? What items did he bring? This small stone, my sister always wore it around her neck, never taking it off. It was hidden inside her clothes, and no one knew. If Old Five hadn't collected her body, how could he have gotten it? Sir!"

The two of them kept bowing. More and faster chapters are available at.

Lin Chong was also feeling very uncomfortable. Although he believed them, he had to follow the Commander's orders...

"Don't worry, go back to the capital and investigate. If it's true, then...!" Lin Chong tried to persuade them.

"No, if we go back, who will recognize us? If we ask the Commander to take action later, we are just small people, and we won't even be allowed back into the camp. I may be a rough man, but I understand that if we don't get the Commander's order now, we will never have another chance!"

"Sir, I know that in the past, bullying others was done by minor officials, and they could be killed without any issues. But this time, it's the Crown Prince, a truly powerful person. We are just ants, and we might die on the way without knowing how. Sir, I have already spread the news, and many people in the camp know that the Crown Prince wiped out my entire family. During the war, he should be executed by law! But who would dare to trouble such a powerful person? In the future, he will be the Crown Prince, and then the Emperor. We will never be able to avenge our families. The Commander said he would take action for us, but if he doesn't, then he is just talking nonsense! The Commander's orders are just nonsense!"

"Rude!" Lin Chong glared at them.

The two of them immediately bowed their heads.

"Sir, we want to avenge our families, even if it means death. When we were recruited, we listened to you and joined the army. But now, because we listened to you, our entire families are dead. Sir, wail wail wail...!"

Lin Chong was also feeling extremely uncomfortable, but he had no choice.

"Sir, why do we fight so hard? Song Zhengxi is the future ruler, and we fight for him, but he harms our families! Wail wail w