Utter chaos

Watching Jiang Zhizhou's resolute retreating figure, he summoned Bu Er.

"Bu Er, follow Zhizhou. Make absolutely sure he's safe before you return."

Bu Er left to carry out his orders. Yang Qing gazed around the empty tent, lost in thought for a long while.

Only after pondering for some time did he slowly step outside. He circled the tent several times, then returned inside.

Moments later, a figure slipped into Yang Qing's tent like a phantom.

"Young master, what are your orders?"

Yang Qing did not turn around. "Activate Northern Hawk. I want to know exactly what the imperial family of Northern Liang is plotting."

"See to this as quickly as possible and send word back. Also, investigate the Marquis of An's Residence in Northern Liang while you're at it."

"Young master, isn't it too soon to activate Northern Hawk? Exposing it prematurely would do our plans no good whatsoever."

Yang Qing's voice was cold. "Things have changed. If we don't take precautions, we may be beyond regret when the time comes."

"Yes. I'll see to it at once!"

A gust of wind blew past, and silence returned to the tent. The figure had vanished without a trace, as though no one had ever entered.

Bu Er hurriedly lifted the tent flap and stepped inside. "Young Master Jiang seemed to know someone was following him. After a few maneuvers, he shook me off. I have no idea where he went."

"These past ten years have been far from easy for Zhizhou."

Yang Qing considered for a moment. "Since he deliberately kept you from following him, leave him be. He likely has a way to handle this."

"But you must keep a close watch on Deputy General Zou."

Zou Donghai was an upright man, but he lacked a measure of quick-wittedness and was easily exploited.

As they spoke, someone outside shouted, "Fire! Fire!"

Bu Er shot outside, then quickly turned back to tell Yang Qing, "The provisions storage area is on fire."

From that direction came the faint sound of chaotic footsteps running back and forth, mingled with shouts.

Yang Qing frowned. "Bu Er, go guard Deputy General Zou's tent at once. I'll take a look over there."

When Yang Qing drew near the provisions storage area, he saw Wei Li directing his soldiers as they fought the fire.

Wei Li was covered in soot and dust, evidently having already endured a bout of chaos.

Yang Qing glanced over the scene. There were three separate points where fires had broken out, with considerable distance between them.

Presumably, the arsonist had deliberately chosen several unconnected locations to prevent the men here from extinguishing the fires quickly.

Fortunately, those locations had held only small quantities of provisions. Though everything there had been reduced to ashes, the losses were not particularly severe.

Wei Li soon noticed Yang Qing standing nearby and strode over.

"Lord Yang, were you disturbed?"

"I never imagined anyone within our Yan Pass would devise such a depraved scheme. Burning the provisions—this is nothing less than disregarding the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers!"

"If I discover who did this, I certainly won't let them off lightly!"

Yang Qing agreed. "Indeed. Winter is nearly upon us. If the provisions are lost, everyone's livelihood will be in jeopardy."

"Exactly. Whoever did this has sinister intentions and must not be shown any mercy!"

Wei Li was highly agitated. He was about to continue when a soldier approached. "Report! Our inspection found that a jar of fire oil is missing from the storehouse."

"Fire oil? Are you certain you've checked everything?"

Wei Li said, "Missing fire oil is no small matter. You must be exceedingly careful."

"We've completed the inventory. One jar is indeed missing."

Wei Li pondered for a moment. "The storehouse is a vital location, and Deputy General Zou has always been responsible for guarding it. How could fire oil simply go missing? Bring Deputy General Zou here at once. I'll question him myself."

At this, Wei Li looked toward Yang Qing. "Please join me, Official Yang, and hear what explanation Deputy General Zou offers."

"Of course," Yang Qing replied.

Before long, the soldier sent to summon Zou Donghai returned.

He told Wei Li, "I found no sign of Deputy General Zou in his tent."

"Outrageous! Zou Donghai has actually disregarded military discipline and left his tent without permission?"

Wei Li paced back and forth, then suddenly raised his head. "Could Deputy General Zou have stolen what he was guarding, taking the fire oil to burn these provisions?"

As he spoke, Wei Li's expression darkened completely.

"In consideration of his many years at Yan Pass, I gave him a chance to turn over a new leaf. I never imagined he would prove to be this sort of man!"

"Guards! Dispatch soldiers to hunt down Zou Donghai immediately. Dead or alive, the moment he's found, bring him back to camp!"

"I believe there is more to this matter than meets the eye," Yang Qing said.

Wei Li snorted coldly. "Are you trying to defend Zou Donghai, Official Yang? The facts are plain. If he's truly innocent, why would he flee out of fear of punishment?"

"Let us find Deputy General Zou before reaching a verdict," Yang Qing said.

"Report!"

As the two spoke, a soldier outside the tent announced, "While searching the surrounding area, we discovered two bodies. They belonged to the soldiers assigned to guard Deputy General Zou's tent."

Both soldiers watching Zou Donghai were dead?

Wei Li cast a triumphant glance at Yang Qing. "Lord Yang, I told you Zou Donghai was a depraved wretch. Now my words have been proven true!"

"He must have first killed the soldiers guarding him, then stolen that jar of fire oil from the storehouse, and finally set fire to the provisions..."

Wei Li continued, "A man so utterly devoid of conscience deserves ten thousand deaths! I'll submit a memorial to His Majesty immediately, requesting severe punishment. Will you endorse it, Official Yang?"

Before Yang Qing could answer, Bu Er lifted the tent flap and entered. "Young master, I found Deputy General Zou."

Yang Qing raised an eyebrow. "What's his condition?"

"Deputy General Zou suffered several blade wounds. He was already unconscious when I found him. Of the two attackers, one escaped, but I brought the other back. He's tied up outside."

"I also found fire oil on them."

When Wei Li heard that Bu Er had actually found Zou Donghai, his expression shifted slightly.

Now, hearing that he had also captured the arsonist, Wei Li flared with anger. "How dare he come to our Yan Pass, wound our soldiers, and destroy our provisions? Bring him in. I'll interrogate him thoroughly!"

Bu Er turned and hauled the soot-covered man into the tent. Wei Li stepped forward and kicked him. "Speak! Who ordered you to do this?"

The man lifted his blood-smeared face and spat viciously at Wei Li. "I did it myself! Kill me or carve me up—do whatever you like!"

Rather than growing angry, Wei Li laughed. "A tough one, aren't you? Guards, torture him!"

Yang Qing slowly walked up to the man and looked straight into his eyes.

"Do you know what punishment awaits someone who burns military provisions? I can submit a memorial to His Majesty and have all nine branches of your clan exterminated!"

At the words "nine branches of your clan," the man visibly trembled, and his gaze began to waver.