"Old Qin, what did it say?" Mu Kun asked Qin Zhenming.
"It has nothing to do with you." Qin Zhenming immediately put the scroll into his Storage Ring and said flatly, "You and Ao Benyu just need to suppress the rebellion. There are some matters you needn't concern yourselves with."
It was actually a clever little method for dealing with the Beast Tide, one that could turn passivity into initiative and earn a great deal of military merit.
If Mu Kun and Ao Benyu found out, they would certainly want a share of it. He had no intention of giving any away.
Yet the more he acted this way, the more Mu Kun and the others wanted to know what was in the scroll. Still, they did not press him for answers just yet.
Qin Zhendong said gravely, "The witnesses and evidence are all present, and the facts are clear. The Jia Lie family of Wutan City and the Ao Ba family colluded with the Dark Cloud Guard of the Chuyun Empire. They are traitors of the empire. Therefore, the Black Armored Guard has both the right and the duty to suppress them."
"Speed is paramount in war. Send word immediately by flying mounts. Have every major pass and city conceal the news that the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits have been killed. While the Jia Lie family and Ao Ba family may not yet know that their crimes have been exposed, Commander Mu Kun will lead the Tian Character Camp, while Ao Benyu will lead the Earth Character Camp. Assemble your troops at once and launch a surprise raid on Wutan City. Arrest every member of both clans."
"Kill those who resist. Seal the cultivation of those who surrender, escort them to the Imperial Capital, and await the Royal Family's judgment."
The Black Armored Guard had not received an imperial order to execute the traitors. Though they could act first and report later under the pretext that speed was paramount in war, they absolutely could not simply wipe out both clans and leave no witnesses behind. That would only complicate matters.
"Yes, sir!"
Mu Kun and Ao Benyu rose to accept the order, their expressions solemn.
After receiving their command tokens, the two immediately left the hall to assemble their forces.
As for provisions and equipment, they only needed to collect a few large Storage Rings from the quartermaster's office.
"Commander Qin, then this old man will take his leave as well," Lin Zhengqing said as he rose.
Two of Wutan City's three great clans were about to be eradicated. As the city lord, he naturally had to return to handle the aftermath.
"City Lord Lin, travel safely," Qin Zhendong said with cupped fists.
The others all rose and returned the courtesy, Zhang Yuan included.
He had no plans to return to Wutan City anytime soon. He had already handled everything that needed arranging and everything that needed saying.
"Farewell." Lin Zhengqing strode away.
After he left, Qin Zhendong swept his gaze over the crowd and said, "I must report the matter of the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits to the Imperial Capital. You may all withdraw for now."
"Zhang Yuan is qualified to serve as a commandant. Zhenming, make the arrangements."
The military merit for killing the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits alone was enough for Zhang Yuan to be promoted to commandant, given that his strength met the requirements. What was more, the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits were no longer merely mountain bandits troubling the Northeast Province; they were also Dark Cloud Guards of the Chuyun Empire. The merit for killing them was even greater.
If the credit for exposing the Jia Lie family and Ao Ba family as traitorous clans was added as well, Zhang Yuan could become a commander or even the lord of a city without issue, provided he possessed Dou Ling strength.
Qin Zhendong could decide internal promotions right now, but the specific rewards still required the Royal Family's decision. It was certain that Zhang Yuan would receive more than military merit and honors; there would also be special rewards, such as pills, Dou Techniques, natural treasures, and the like.
"Yes, sir," Qin Zhenming answered.
Everyone departed one after another. Zhang Yuan followed Qin Zhenming toward the Black Armored Guard's Xuan Character Camp outside the western gate.
Once they arrived outside the city gate and Zhang Yuan made sure no one was nearby, he asked Qin Zhenming, "Commander, is Lord Ge Donglai naturally stern in temperament, or was he targeting me?"
Qin Zhenming turned to look at him and replied, "Hard to say. But I can tell you that he is from the Tianye Ge Family."
The Tianye Ge Family?
A look of realization appeared on Zhang Yuan's face.
Tianye City was a major city in the Central Province of the Jia Ma Empire. The Ge Family dominated the city. Though they had no Dou Wang, they possessed several Dou Ling experts.
Like the Mo Family of Salt City in the Eastern Province, they were backed by the Misty Cloud Sect. One of their clan members, Ge Ye, served as an elder in the Misty Cloud Sect.
"The Misty Cloud Sect, the Jia Ma Empire Royal Family... Hmph."
The struggle between those two forces had clearly not arisen overnight.
If Xiao Yan had not appeared out of nowhere, the Misty Cloud Sect would certainly have become the new master of the Jia Ma Empire.
"I understand." Zhang Yuan nodded.
Qin Zhenming did not ask what he understood.
Some things were better left unspoken.
Several dozen breaths later, the two arrived at the main camp of the Xuan Character Camp. Shi Jiu, Meng Xu, and the others had not yet left.
"It is good that you are all still here." Qin Zhenming sat in the main seat and said briskly, "I am announcing two matters."
"First, intensify training and prepare to be stationed in Qinghai Town ten days from now."
"Second, from this moment onward, Zhang Yuan is promoted to commandant and will command the left division of the Xuan Character Camp."
These two orders left the four commandants and five deputy commandants stunned.
The first order was nothing unusual. They merely had to obey it.
But the second order—Zhang Yuan was actually being promoted to commandant? Even if he had led people to eliminate the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits and earned enough merit for promotion, was this not too fast?
"Commander, I refuse to accept this!" Meng Xu's face turned livid as he became the first to object.
During this reassignment to Qingyun Town, after his family learned of his circumstances, they had sent him a Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, helping him successfully break through to become a Seven-Star Da Dou Shi.
He had long regarded the position of commandant as his for the taking.
Shi Jiu had even mocked him earlier, saying Zhang Yuan would prevent his promotion after returning. He had been preparing to use this opportunity to prove himself.
Yet Zhang Yuan had now taken the position that should have been his. Why?
"You refuse to accept it?"
Zhang Yuan walked up to Meng Xu and looked down at him slightly.
Though he was only sixteen, he was already over six feet tall, nearly half a head taller than Meng Xu.
"Of course I refuse to accept it," Meng Xu said bluntly. "High positions in the army belong to the capable. Even if you earned enough military merit by wiping out the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits, by rights you should first serve as my deputy commandant."
"Positions belong to the capable, huh?" Zhang Yuan turned with a smile. "Come out and spar. If you can beat me, I will let you be commandant."
Meng Xu did not follow immediately. Instead, he looked toward Qin Zhenming, only to see him examining a scroll without the slightest intention of intervening. Clearly, he tacitly approved.
"Fine, Zhang Yuan. You brought this upon yourself." Meng Xu quickly followed.
The two arrived one after the other at the center of the Xuan Character Camp's training ground.
Seeing this, Shi Jiu and the others could not help asking, "Sir, are you really going to let them make such a scene?"
"Make a scene?" Qin Zhenming slowly raised his head and said, "This is the rule."
"But sir, Meng Xu is already a Seven-Star Da Dou Shi." Shi Jiu said anxiously, "What if he strikes too heavily and seriously injures Zhang Yuan while you are not watching? Aren't you afraid the commander will question you?"
"A Seven-Star Da Dou Shi?" Qin Zhenming frowned slightly.
Seeing this, Shi Jiu thought there was hope and immediately wanted to continue persuading him.
Before he could speak, however, he heard Qin Zhenming mutter, "Then Meng Xu should last a few more exchanges. This commander will have to wait a little longer."
The commandants and deputy commandants: ?
At that moment, they heard many cries of alarm from the Black Armored Guards outside the tent.
No longer caring to persuade him, they hurried outside, only to witness a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives.
The moment they emerged, they saw Chang Wei beating someone up—pah, they saw Zhang Yuan brutally beating Meng Xu.
Everyone: ???
In the blink of an eye, five days passed.
The blazing sun hung high over Wutan City, and the sky stretched cloudless for thousands of miles.
Yet the upper ranks of the Jia Lie family were in an extremely gloomy mood.
Their clan head, Jia Lie Bi, had left the family more than ten days ago and had not returned. There had not even been a single message from him.
This gave them a terrible sense of foreboding.
"Could the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits have robbed him after the deal?" the Jia Lie family's Second Elder asked.
"This old man thinks that is unlikely," Third Elder shook his head. "The Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits still need us to provide daily supplies. The clan head did not bring any valuable items with him, so there was no reason for them to do such a thing."
"Then could the Ao Ba family have hired the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits to eliminate the clan head?" Second Elder guessed again.
"There is no need. The Xiao Clan is the one growing stronger now." Third Elder still felt it was wrong.
"Could the plan have failed?" Second Elder said in a sinister tone. "Could Zhang Yuan, a mere One-Star Da Dou Shi, really lead several dozen Black Armored Guards to kill the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits? Even a Dou Ling could not manage that."
Jia Lie Qing snorted coldly. "That 'mere' person you speak of crushed the clan head. He is stronger than all of us."
Second Elder was immediately left speechless.
In truth, they had held discussions like this several times already. Jia Lie Qing had even sounded out Ao Ba Pa, but gained nothing.
They would likely get no definite answer today either.
Just then, the three felt a tremor rise from the ground beneath their feet.
They were in the family's rear courtyard. Feeling such vibrations here was highly abnormal. Could it be an Earth Dragon Overturn?
The three immediately rushed outside, only to see several guards land at their feet, coughing blood.
"What petty scoundrel dares cause trouble at the Jia Lie family!" Second Elder roared.
What answered him was the pressure of a Dou Ling expert.
"Jia Lie Clan, your crimes have been exposed."
"This commander has come under orders to arrest you."
"Those who resist will be killed without mercy!"
(End of chapter)
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