"Correct. He was Jiang Che."
Liu Zhi replied.
"Fine, let us say he had exceptional talent, and you teaching him martial arts was understandable. But then he privately passed the Body Tempering Method on to others and took silver in return. How do you explain that?"
Now that matters had reached this point, Gou Buren and Liu Zhi had thoroughly torn their faces apart. Naturally, he would do everything he could to suppress Liu Zhi.
"Teaching a cultivation method and taking silver—you have certainly slapped quite a large hat on him. Geng Dabiao, Wu Changfeng, and the others performed outstandingly in their last sparring session. When Jiang Che cultivated the Body Tempering Method, several of them saw it and begged to learn it.
"Afterward, Jiang Che reported it to me, and I gave my permission. As for the silver, it was merely their way of thanking Jiang Che. What was wrong with that?"
In order to win them over completely, Liu Zhi took all the blame onto himself.
As a dignified Deputy Commander, doing such things did not count as breaking regulations. But if it had been Jiang Che, it would have been a capital crime.
"Ridiculous." Just as Gou Buren was about to say something, Liu Zhi interrupted him again and bowed.
"My lord, this subordinate has another important matter to report."
"Speak."
Zhu Sheng waved a hand.
In truth, passing on a cultivation method was not some grave crime. It was merely the Body Tempering Method, something as common as goods strewn across every street. It was not worth his attention at all. The reason he had summoned them here—
Was mainly because of their identities.
One was a Commander, while the other was a Deputy Commander in whom he had placed great hopes. Since the two had come into conflict, it naturally fell to him to decide the matter.
"This matter is of great importance. May this subordinate approach?"
"Come forward."
Seeing that Liu Zhi did not appear to be putting on an act, Zhu Sheng nodded.
Liu Zhi calmly walked to the desk, leaned down, and whispered several sentences.
Zhu Sheng's initial indifference swiftly vanished. His gaze changed as he sized Jiang Che up several times, then looked at Liu Zhi and asked,
"Is this true?"
"This subordinate is willing to guarantee it with his life."
Liu Zhi answered without the slightest hesitation.
Though Gou Buren could not hear their conversation clearly, he vaguely sensed that something was amiss.
Once Liu Zhi returned to his side, he hurriedly said,
"My lord, everything Liu Zhi said is merely meant to shield Jiang Che. The truth is that Jiang Che spread the cultivation method throughout the Auxiliary Barracks in order to collect silver. Wu Changfeng is only one among many. This subordinate can find other witnesses as well."
Zhu Sheng did not answer. After narrowing his eyes and pondering for a moment, he turned to Jiang Che.
"You are the key to this matter. Do you have anything to say?"
"Yes."
At last given a chance to speak, Jiang Che hurriedly nodded.
"Speak."
Zhu Sheng's gaze toward him had grown far more genial.
"This lowly one wishes to speak of another matter."
"Hmm?"
"This lowly one, Jiang Che, stakes his life to accuse Lord Captain: Gou Buyi, squad leader of the Kitchen Camp, has embezzled and broken the law. He bought low and sold high, sold the camp's meat provisions to others at exorbitant prices, accepted bribes, and exchanged the camp's grain supplies for personal gain.
"At the same time, he formed cliques. Several men in the camp led by Scarface Wu Chengdong have all benefited from this affair!"
Jiang Che dropped to one knee, every word piercing hearts and condemning souls!
Gou Buyi broke out in a cold sweat. Pointing at Jiang Che, he cursed,
"Jiang Che, you're farting nonsense!"
"Do you have any right to speak?" Zhu Sheng snorted coldly.
"I..."
Gou Buyi wanted to defend himself, but seeing Gou Buren give him a look, he hurriedly lowered his head.
"Do you have evidence for what you have said?"
Zhu Sheng lightly asked, tapping his fingers against the desk.
Jiang Che glanced at Liu Zhi. The latter gave an imperceptible nod, and Jiang Che continued.
"This lowly one is the evidence. Back then, several fellow villagers in my camp craved meat and wanted to buy some. After asking around, they elected me to seek out Gou Buyi. At a price thirty percent above the market rate, I bought several pounds of pork.
"Only afterward did I learn that Gou Buyi had not brought that meat back incidentally while making outside purchases. He had skimmed it from the camp's own meat provisions for profit.
"This lowly one was terribly frightened at the time and immediately sought out Commander Liu. Yet Commander Liu told me not to act for the moment, but to investigate slowly first.
"It was precisely because of this that Gou Buyi framed and persecuted this lowly one. I beg my lord to see clearly!"
This... was the countermeasure he and Liu Zhi had agreed upon on the way here.
His private sale of cultivation methods was indeed true, but Liu Zhi could take that burden upon himself. Gou Buyi, however, had skimmed meat provisions and sold them to others at high prices—a grave offense. Since they had already offended him beyond repair, they might as well send him on his way.
Jiang Che had formed this idea long ago, when Gou Buyi first targeted him.
"Gou Buyi, is this matter true?"
Zhu Sheng's gaze fell upon him. An invisible pressure forced his legs to tremble as he fell to his knees, shuddering so hard he could not speak. Denial was useless in this matter, because it could be investigated.
At this moment, he regretted it.
He regretted targeting Jiang Che and allowing things to reach this point.
He regretted relying on Gou Buren and completely forgetting that Jiang Che knew about these matters as well.
"This subordinate failed in discipline. I beg Lord Captain for mercy—spare Bu Yi's life."
Gou Buren also fell to his knees, his forehead striking heavily against the ground.
Wu Changfeng, who had originally been brought as a witness, was so frightened that he nearly went numb. He had never expected things to develop this far.
Gou Buyi... was finished!
What about him, then?
He had offended Jiang Che and Liu Zhi. How could he continue getting by in the Auxiliary Barracks?
At that thought, his knees went weak with fright, and he collapsed face-down on the ground.
"Liu Zhi, how do you think... this matter should be handled?" Zhu Sheng abruptly shifted the subject and looked toward Liu Zhi, seemingly wishing to hear his opinion. The corners of his mouth even curled into an almost imperceptible smile.
"Military law is merciless. He should be executed to warn others!" Liu Zhi knew what Zhu Sheng wanted to hear. Changes would soon take place in the camp, and both Gou Buren and he would be transferred away.
Zhu Sheng's style in commanding subordinates was balance—making the two of them oppose one another.
Zhu Sheng had hinted at this matter to him long ago. That was why, when Jiang Che clashed with the Gou brothers, he had spoken up to protect Jiang Che and give him a chance to prove himself.
Now that matters had reached this stage, there were reasons involving both Jiang Che and himself, but Zhu Sheng's restraint was also a factor. Liu Zhi saw this very clearly, which was why he had said such words just now.
"Have mercy, my lord! Have mercy!"
Gou Buyi hurriedly cried and begged.
Liu Zhi swept his gaze around the tent, then suddenly looked at Wu Changfeng and demanded sternly,
"Wu Changfeng, Gou Buren brought you here as a witness. Then let this Commander ask you: regarding Jiang Che passing on the cultivation method, was I right, or was Gou Buren right?"
"I... I..." Wu Changfeng's body trembled as he lowered his head.
"It... it was all Gou Buyi forcing me to falsely accuse Jiang Che. It was... Commander Liu who was right. That silver was given to Jiang Che only because I wanted to thank him."
Jiang Che and Liu Zhi exchanged smiles.
Under overwhelming pressure, Wu Changfeng had indeed changed his testimony. Only by doing so could he avoid death, while also leaving himself a sliver of hope before Liu Zhi and Jiang Che.
Their statuses had reversed. This matter... was resolved.
"Buren, you have followed by my side for seven years now, have you not? Liu Zhi says military law is as immovable as a mountain, and that he should be executed to warn others. What do you think?"
Zhu Sheng asked.
Gou Buren understood Zhu Sheng's meaning. He turned his head to look at Gou Buyi, gritted his teeth, and knocked his forehead against the ground.
"Gou Buyi violated military law. He should... should be executed. This subordinate... has no objection!"