Trouble in the Ranks

Several days later, Murong Qian came to the County Office to request an audience with Yang Qing, only for Dai Sheng to inform her that Lord Yang had already left alone for Yan Pass.

As for when he would return, no date had been set.

Having once again narrowly missed the answer she sought, Murong Qian's eyes flickered with disappointment.

Her gaze settled on the north and lingered there for a long time.

Meanwhile, Yang Qing sat in a carriage, resting with his eyes closed.

In his mind, he recalled the unexpected guest who had come calling that day while he and Bu Er were eating at his residence.

I never expected old General Chen and I to be thinking along the same lines.

He sighed inwardly and said nothing more.

Yan Pass, Western Chu

With Chen Lin recovering from his injuries, the two deputy generals of Yan Pass, Wei Li and Zou Donghai, came to welcome him.

"I've long heard of your reputation, Lord Yang. Now that we meet, your bearing truly is extraordinary. A pleasure, a pleasure!"

Zou Donghai felt a strong liking for the military commissioner before him, who looked like a frail scholar yet had completely eradicated Yan Prefecture's bandit problem in just one short year.

Wei Li, by contrast, merely looked Yang Qing over without saying a word.

A year earlier, he had received a letter from his uncle, Wei Sizhong, warning him that a new military commissioner was coming to Yan Prefecture and telling him to keep an eye on the man, who would be rather difficult to deal with.

At the time, Wei Li had paid little heed to the matter.

In his eyes, the man was merely a military commissioner with no real authority. How great a storm could he possibly stir up?

His uncle had spent so long in high office that he had developed the habit of hearing enemies in every gust of wind and cry of a crane.

Yet who could have foreseen that this military commissioner he had dismissed would resolve the bandit problem in so little time, when Yan Prefecture had failed to shake its foundations in all those years?

And now, the man was even reaching his hand into Wei Li's own Yan Pass.

At the thought, Wei Li offered a smile that never reached his eyes. "You truly are capable, Lord Yang. With such abilities, I'm sure you'll rise ever higher in His Majesty's favor."

"You flatter me, Deputy General Wei," Yang Qing replied. "I merely draw His Majesty's salary and loyally carry out his affairs. How could I compare with men like you, who fight on the battlefield and accumulate such distinguished merits?"

Wei Li gave a quiet snort, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Zou Donghai stepped in again. "You've had a tiring journey, Lord Yang. Why not rest first? The general has already ordered us to arrange accommodations for you."

Yang Qing waved a hand. "You're too kind, Deputy General Zou. His Majesty has ordered that I must not indulge in comfort."

"Lodging in a tent will suffice."

"I'm only afraid you might not withstand the wind and sand out here on the frontier, Lord Yang. If you grow exhausted or fall ill, we could never bear the blame."

"If His Majesty holds us responsible," Wei Li said, "a hundred mouths wouldn't be enough to plead our innocence."

"You worry too much, Deputy General Wei," Yang Qing said calmly.

"Let us hope so."

Yang Qing did not continue the subject with Wei Li. Instead, he turned to Zou Donghai. "I'd like to visit old General Chen first. Would that be convenient?"

Unexpectedly, Zou Donghai looked troubled at the request.

"Before your arrival, Lord Yang, the general instructed us to receive you properly. He is unwell and cannot receive visitors at present. Please forgive us."

Yang Qing considered this for a moment.

When Physician Yan had discussed Chen Lin's condition with him, he had not specifically mentioned that the general could not receive visitors.

Given the situation, there was likely more to it.

Countless thoughts flashed through Yang Qing's mind, but his expression remained as still as an untroubled lake.

"In that case, I was presumptuous. I'll visit when the general is able to receive me, so that I can give His Majesty an account as well."

"Thank you for your understanding, Lord Yang," Zou Donghai said.

Yang Qing smiled. "Sorry for the trouble, Deputy General Zou, but please lead the way. This journey has left me a little tired."

Zou Donghai smacked his forehead. "Look at my memory! I was so busy talking that I nearly forgot."

He swept a hand outward. "Men, take Lord Yang's horse to the stables."

Then he addressed Yang Qing and Bu Er. "Please follow me, Lord Yang."

Yang Qing acknowledged Wei Li before leaving with Zou Donghai. Wei Li alone remained where he stood, his expression dark and unreadable.

The next day, at the Yan Pass drill ground

As Yang Qing watched the ranks of straight-backed soldiers shifting formations and drilling before him, he nodded inwardly.

Old General Chen Lin certainly lived up to his many years of command. He had managed this frontier garrison very well.

Yet before that thought had fully settled, he saw a sudden, inexplicable disturbance break out among the drilling troops.

Soon, the unrest spread from a small area to the surrounding ranks.

For some unknown reason, the soldiers who had been drilling began fighting.

"What's going on?"

Standing beside Yang Qing, Zou Donghai's face turned livid. He hurriedly grabbed a nearby soldier and demanded, "What's wrong with those men?"

"Reporting to Deputy General Zou, I don't know either."

Zou Donghai immediately leaped down from the drill platform and charged toward the restless soldiers.

Crack!

With a forceful swing, the whip in his hand snapped sharply through the air.

"Stop! All of you, stop!"

At Zou Donghai's shout, most of the soldiers stopped what they were doing. Only a handful continued grappling with one another.

"I told you bastards to stop! Didn't you hear me?"

The thought of Yang Qing watching behind him sent a blaze of anger surging through Zou Donghai.

The drill ground had always been orderly, without any trouble, yet these men had chosen today of all days to pull this stunt.

Were they deliberately trying to show Yang Qing how lax their military discipline was?

"Deputy General Zou, don't be so quick to lose your temper. Let's hear what these soldiers have to say. I'm sure they must have encountered some hurdle they couldn't get past, which is why they decided to make a scene here."

Wei Li sauntered over, seemingly unconcerned by the unrest.

At those words, Zou Donghai turned and glared at him. "What exactly do you mean by that, Deputy General Wei?"

Wei Li waved a hand. "Why get so worked up, Deputy General Zou? It was merely an offhand remark."

He then turned toward the soldiers still standing there. "Who will tell me what you were doing?"

"Anyone who dares conceal the truth will face military punishment!"

Hearing Wei Li speak, one soldier answered shakily, "Reporting to Deputy General Wei, it was because there's a rumor that if the general dies, we veterans will have to remain at Yan Pass for the rest of our lives, never allowed to set foot back home."

"Oh? Is there such a rumor? General Chen is merely unwell. Where did this talk of his death come from? Besides, you are soldiers of the imperial court, not General Chen's personal guards. Doesn't such a claim cast General Chen as disloyal and unrighteous?"

As he spoke, Wei Li looked toward Yang Qing. "What's more, Lord Yang is here. Doesn't your behavior put the general in an even worse position?"

"We know we were wrong. We only became agitated because we heard we couldn't return home. Please punish us, Deputy General."

Wei Li was about to speak when Yang Qing stepped forward. "Then who told you this rumor?"

"Well..."

The soldier hesitated. "I truly don't know."

"This matter must be investigated rigorously," Yang Qing said. "Anyone who tarnishes the general's reputation will be punished without mercy!"

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