Hooves thundered along the official road. Seven days later, they slipped into Liaodong.
At dusk, a bonfire was lit inside a ruined temple.
Jia Huan ate some dry rations, then ordered:
"Water Skimmer!"
"Present, sir!" Water Skimmer hurried forward.
Jia Huan looked at him and said sternly:
"Go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Liaodong Guard Station yourself and find Hundred-Household Commander Cheng discreetly."
"If he refuses to help, show him the Waist Token."
With that, he handed over the Waist Token carved with a golden python dragon.
"Yes, sir!"
Water Skimmer mounted his horse with two Embroidered Uniform Guards and galloped away.
They did not return to report until well past midnight.
Behind them followed a lean man of forty with piercing eyes.
His Silver Flying Fish Uniform was edged with four strands of golden thread-a veteran Hundred-Household Commander.
Hundred-Household Commander Cheng respectfully stepped forward and cupped his fists.
"My respects, Lord Thousand-Household Commander!"
His reverence came from the bottom of his heart.
Among all the Embroidered Uniform Guards under heaven, who did not admire Thousand-Household Commander Jia?
With an Embroidered Spring Saber in hand, he had carved a bloody path from a mere Strongman to a Thousand-Household Commander bearing seven python patterns, leaving heaps of bones behind him-all belonging to powerful figures of lofty rank!
"No need for ceremony." Jia Huan personally helped him up and asked bluntly:
"Five years ago, Wei Cijing, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, fell into the water and drowned. Were you the one who investigated?"
Hundred-Household Commander Cheng nodded without hesitation.
"Five years ago, Vice Minister Wei was crossing the Liao River by boat. The edge of the boat was slippery, and he was walking in a hurry, so he accidentally fell into the river. Vice Minister Wei could not