Yuwen Chengdu's Arrival

No matter what Cheng Jingmin thought, he didn't slow his steps. He hurried forward at a trot to greet him.

"Whoa!"

"This subordinate, Cheng Jingmin, greets the Great General Tianbao!"

"No need for formalities, General Cheng! I'm here on a private matter this time, so there's no need to make a great fuss."

"Yes! Great General, please follow me to the tent and rest!"

"Mm! Let's go!"

After Cheng Jingmin welcomed Yuwen Chengdu into his own tent,

he ordered his subordinates to guard the entrance and let no one inside.

"Young Master Yuwen! Please take the seat of honor!"

Yuwen Chengdu didn't stand on ceremony. He sat down quite naturally in the place where Cheng Jingmin usually sat.

"General Cheng, you can probably guess why I've come this time. Has there been any movement over there lately?"

"Reporting to Young Master, there has been no movement!"

Cheng Jingmin had spent this period on tenterhooks, terrified that Zhang Sheng and his people would come to assassinate him. Lately, he had been living in the military camp.

Now that Yuwen Chengdu had arrived, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. After all, Yuwen Chengdu's strength and formidable reputation spoke for themselves.

"No news is the best news! Father was already somewhat dissatisfied with you over what happened last time,

and now you've nearly made another mess. You'd best rein yourself in from now on, General Cheng!"

Hearing Yuwen Chengdu's words, which were almost a warning, Cheng Jingmin was so frightened that cold sweat began pouring down his face. He hurriedly begged for mercy.

"This subordinate deserves to die! I'll never take matters into my own hands again!"

"Good, as long as you understand, General Cheng! Tomorrow I'll pay a visit to Heshui County and have a look at that dragon's pool and tiger's den-Blue Silver Village!"

After giving Cheng Jingmin a warning, Yuwen Chengdu had no reason to stay any longer. He went straight out of Cheng Jingmin's tent.

The next morning, after seeing off Yuwen Chengdu, who had arrived so suddenly, Cheng Jingmin let out a long sigh of relief.

With such a great god staying there, he had been terribly ill at ease, his heart constantly in his throat,

afraid that one careless move would offend him and bring his official career to an end.

"It seems the Yuwen Clan carries more and more weight at court! They even managed to suppress this matter!"

Yuwen Chengdu had never imagined that his arrival would put Cheng Jingmin under so much pressure.

But even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared.

After all, he was the Great General Tianbao, personally appointed by the emperor of Great Sui, and Great Sui's foremost warrior.

Heshui County itself was a small county under Luoyang City's jurisdiction, so it wasn't too far away.

Riding on horseback, Yuwen Chengdu and his party reached the county seat's gates in only about two hours. Without stopping, they went straight to the county yamen.

"Who goes there? Dismount at once before the county yamen!"

"Listen up! The Great General Tianbao, Lord Yuwen, has arrived! Hurry and summon your county magistrate to greet him!"

"Hiss! The Great General Tianbao! Lord Yuwen!"

"What are you standing there for? Get going!"

"Yes! Yes! I'll go at once!"

Watching the yamen runner dash into the county yamen in a panic, Yuwen Chengdu couldn't help the slight upward curve of his lips.

Soon, hurried footsteps came from inside. Lord Jia was coming out with his subordinates to welcome them.

"This humble official, Jia Shiren, magistrate of Heshui County, respectfully welcomes the Great General Tianbao!"

"Dispense with the formalities! I'm passing through your county on business today. I hope I haven't disturbed you, Lord Jia!"

"Not at all! Not at all! It's our good fortune that the Great General has come to our little county. How could I dare call it a disturbance?"

At that moment, County Magistrate Jia carried his fawning manner

to its utmost, practically kneeling and licking Yuwen Chengdu's boots.

"Then sorry to trouble you to receive us, Lord Jia!"

"It's only proper! Only proper! Great General, please follow me inside to rest in the inner hall."

"Lead the way, Lord Jia!"

"Please follow me!"

Jia Shiren hurriedly led Yuwen Chengdu toward the inner yamen, not forgetting to turn back and instruct his subordinates.

"Keep a close eye on Great General Yuwen's fine steed. If anything happens, I'll hold you accountable!"

The inner hall was usually where Lord Jia himself rested, and it was furnished quite elegantly.

Now that Yuwen Chengdu had arrived, however, there was no place of standing for Lord Jia here.

"Your residence is quite nice, Lord Jia!"

"Oh! Great General, you've misunderstood me! I haven't embezzled anything. All this was left by the previous county magistrate. It has nothing to do with me!"

"Hehe! There's no need to be so nervous, Lord Jia. I haven't come to investigate you this time, so put your mind at ease!"

"Yes! Yes! I was rash!"

Jia Shiren wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead. Yuwen Chengdu had given him quite a fright.

"Lord Jia, I've come this time because there's something I'd like to ask you."

"What might it be? If I know, I'll be sure to tell you truthfully!"

"Since you've said so, Lord Jia, that's for the best. You must be familiar with a place called Blue Silver Village!"

"What! Blue Silver Village!"

"What's the matter? Haven't you heard of it, Lord Jia?"

"I haven't... haven't heard... I have heard of it!"

"Have you or haven't you? Think carefully before you answer, Lord Jia!"

"Spare me, Lord Yuwen! I had no choice. Blue Silver Village is simply beyond someone like me to provoke!"

"So you know the truth about Blue Silver Village?"

"This... this..."

"'This' what? Hurry up and tell me the truth, or I'll charge you with dereliction of duty!"

"Spare me, General! I'll tell you right now, right now!"

After Yuwen Chengdu coaxed and frightened him, Jia Shiren could no longer concern himself with anything else. He prepared to tell him everything he knew.

"To speak of Blue Silver Village, I have to start with that incident..."

After Jia Shiren had talked for half an hour, Yuwen Chengdu had gained a further understanding of Blue Silver Village.

As for Jia Shiren, Yuwen Chengdu could see what he was: a corrupt official who had only restrained himself somewhat after being taught a lesson.

"What a fine county magistrate you are, Lord Jia! Truly a fine official who serves the people! Hmph!"

Thud!

Slap!

Slap!

"I deserve to die! I deserve to die!"

At Yuwen Chengdu's biting sarcasm, Jia Shiren was so frightened that he fell to his knees.

He slapped himself hard across the face several times in succession and began begging for mercy.

"Enough! I didn't come this time because of your damned mess. I came for Blue Silver Village!"

"General! This Blue Silver Village..."

It wasn't that Jia Shiren was especially kindhearted. He simply didn't dare let Yuwen Chengdu go there like this.

If anything happened, he certainly wouldn't survive either. After all, the Yuwen Clan wasn't so easy to deal with.

"I'm only going to take a look. I won't come into conflict with them!"

"That's good! That's good!"

Hearing Yuwen Chengdu say that, Jia Shiren felt a little more at ease. After all, an elite force of five hundred had disappeared just like that,

let alone Yuwen Chengdu's handful of people. Although he had heard of Yuwen Chengdu's reputation, he had only heard of it.

"That's settled, then! Go prepare some food for us. We'll be setting off for Blue Silver Village shortly!"

"Why such a hurry, General? Once you've rested, it won't be too late to go tomorrow!"

"I took leave to come here this time, so I don't have much time to waste. I should go and return as soon as possible!"

"Yes! I failed to think it through!"