Chapter 361: Chapter 361: Acting Guard Commander_l

“This…this, I cannot say just yet, unless your Highness can promise guarantee the life of me and my family!” Zheng Zhongye made his demand.

“You’re already a prisoner, and you still dare to make demands?

“If your Highness does not promise to spare me and my family, I will not reveal the mastermind. Either way, I’m facing death! I have nothing to fear now!”

Chu Lan said, “Do you think that after committing these crimes, I can let you remain alive in this world? At most, I can only spare your wife and children. If you do not agree, no one needs to live.”

What Zheng Zhongye had done struck a chill into the hearts of the soldiers. Chu Lan could not possibly let Zheng Zhongye go, otherwise, it would be hard to appease public outrage.

Zheng Zhongye’s face turned ashen when he realized there was no hope for him.

After contemplating for a while, Zheng Zhongye slowly lifted his head and said, “Alright, as long as your Highness can safeguard my wife and children, I will reveal who commanded me.”

“Fine, I promise you. Speak.”

-Not just yet, I cannot guarantee if your Highness will change his mind. Once I have seen my wife and children and assured that you will not involve them, I will disclose everything.”

After pondering for a while, Chu Lan agreed, “So be it.

“Bring Zheng Zhongye away and guard him strictly,” Chu Lan ordered.

“Wait a moment,” Wei Mingting remarked. “I have one more question for

Commander Zheng.”

“Go ahead, lord Wei,” Chu Lan agreed.

Wei Mingting approached Zheng Zhongye and asked, “Commander Zheng, you have won countless battles and are seen as a hero in the army. Why would you do something that harms your own brothers?” This was something Wei Mingting could neither comprehend nor tolerate.

Zheng Zhongye laughed, “Wei Mingting, you were born into the Loyal and Righteous Duke Residence, yet you have had a hard time in the military. Don’t you know how hard it is for someone of my humble background to climb up the ranks in the army? It is true that I have achieved outstanding war accomplishments and was loved by the soldiers, but what use is that? If you want to ascend the ranks, gain promotions and generous stipends, don’t you have to appease the nobles?”

“I, Zheng Zhongye have no foundations or connections. Even though I was a low-ranking officer in the army, I could only receive a meager stipend with which to support my wife and children. Rapid career advancements have never been about how much you are willing to risk on the battlefield or how many military accomplishments you can amass. If this was the case, I would have to be willing to die ten or eight times before my wife and children could enjoy a good life.”

■■How does it matter whether we lay down our lives at the frontlines? Don’t our lives and destiny still lie in the hands of the civil officials in the capital who know nothing but carousing and joy? With just a few words, they can erase all our hard-earned accomplishments!”

“Stop being naive, Wei Mingting. All that talk about resisting the enemy invaders and defending the nation is a downright lie! The imperial court cannot see us! My defeat was due to my bad luck. But, if I were to follow the rules all my life, I would not even be able to maintain the position of the guard commander.”

Wei Mingting found himself at a loss for words.

Seeing Wei Mingting dazed, Chu Lan gestured to his men to take Zheng Zhongye away.

Zheng Zhongye was hauled up by two soldiers and was on the way out of the tent when he suddenly collapsed on the ground, convulsed, and started throwing up black blood.

Chu Lan shot up from his chair. Wei Mingting also hurriedly stepped forward. “Call the military doctor!” Wei Mingting called for the doctor. But before the doctor could arrive, Zheng Zhongye had already died and lay there motionless. After the examination, the military doctor confirmed that Zheng Zhongye had died from poison.

After conducting a search, a new needle prick wound was discovered on Zheng Zhongye’s waist. As the interrogation of the two soldiers who led Zheng Zhongye away from the tent was about to begin, one of them suddenly dropped dead under similar circumstances.

This substantiated what Zheng Zhongye had claimed. There were definitely individuals manipulating behind the scenes, and there was more than one such person in the military. But there was no longer any chance for Zheng Zhongye to reveal who it was.

This was where the an investigation hit a dead end and all Chu Lan could do

was to leave it at that.

After reporting the matter to the imperial court, they would have to wait for the Emperor’s decree.

Due to Zheng Zhongye’s position as the Guard Commander, and the base could not function without a lead figure for even a day, Chu Lan made the decision to appoint Wei Mingting as the temporary Guard Commander, and Xu Zhengyong to fill Wei Mingting’s vacant role of Deputy Guard Commander.

Xu Zhengyong was somewhat at a loss. It felt reasonable to him for Wei Mingting, who was the Deputy Guard Commander, to temporarily fill in after the loss of the Guard Commander.

However, he had started out as a junior officer and had been suddenly elevated to the position of the Deputy Guard Commander in one fell swoop, which was quite a surprise to him considering that it meant he had jumped three ranks. This seemed a bit too sudden.

“Your Highness, is it not a bit inappropriate for me to temporarily serve as the Deputy Guard Commander?” Xu Zhengyong voiced out his concern.

He too wanted to be promoted quickly, but such a sudden rise did seem to be a little inappropriate.

“NO worries,” Chu Lan said. “Firstly, this is a temporary appointment, whether it will be made permanent depends on the decision of the imperial court; secondly, you have made significant contributions this time, it’s time that you received a substantial promotion.

“Thank you, your Highness.” Hearing Chu Lan’s explanation, Xu Zhengyong willingly accepted the arrangement.

When everyone else had left, Xu Zhengyong was also about to leave.

However, Chu Lan stopped him at that moment.

“Does your Highness have any other orders?” Xu Zhengyong asked.

“Did you arrange today’s plan?” Chu Lan asked.

“Why would your Highness ask that?” Xu Zhengyong inquired.

“Having been with you in the military camp for a while now, I know that you are both brave and resourceful. But you do not have the knack for scheming. Today’s plan does not seem to be your handiwork,” Chu Lan stated with conviction.

Hearing these words, Xu Zhengyong lowered his head.

Chu Lan continued to question Xu Zhengyong, “What is your relationship with Xu Heyou?”

This… Xu Heyou…” Xu Zhengyong stammered, struggling to reply.

“You don’t need to lie to me, I had someone investigate it. The Four Treasure House in Xingshan County once publicly claimed that their unknown patron was a certain Young Master Heyou, and if I remember correctly, your parents live in the backyard of the Four Treasure House in the Government City,” Chu Lan stated.

“This…” Xu Zhengyong still kept his head down.

“Isn’t he the cousin you mentioned?” Chu Lan asked once again.

Xu Zhengyong pondered for a while before finally responding, “Yes, he is my cousin.”

“So it really is.”

Chu Lan felt a sense of joy for some reason when his suspicions were confirmed.

After a moment of silence, Chu Lan dismissed Xu Zhengyong, “I understand now. You may leave, it’s getting late, get some rest.”

“Yes.”

Xu Zhengyong stepped out of Chu Lan’s tent and took a deep breath.

Thank goodness his cousin Ruoruo had meticulously planned everything. She had warned him in advance that the seventh prince might inquire about the “cousin’s” identity, and instructed him to confess that Xu Heyou was his cousin when he was questioned. He was not too flustered thanks to her advice.

Given that such a large amount of food could not have appeared out of nowhere and had been collected in Taizhou prefecture in a short period of time, it was unlikely that the seventh prince was not aware of the source. Even though his cousin Ruoruo did not want the identity of Xu Heyou to be overly engaged with the seventh prince, the need to supply the military with food was far more important. In the face of the greater good, some minor matters had to be overlooked.

Although they were aware that involving the identity of Xu Heyou could bring complications, cousin Ruoruo still chose to send the food..