"Treason?"
"Kill him?!"
All of the soldiers paled when they heard Ping Yang's words. Just 15 minutes ago, they were pinning the blame on Fang Zhengzhi.
But now...
All of them were being accused of the same thing.
Treason!
This was a crime punishable by death!
All of the soldiers did not want to die, much less have their families executed. However, since ancient times, if the emperor wanted his subjects to die, they had no choice but to die. Furthermore, they were just ordinary soldiers.
"Your Highness, please spare us!"
"Your Highness, please spare us! We did not know this!"
"General Wang was the one who ordered us to kill Fang Zhengzhi. We were just following orders. Your Highness, please don't kill our entire family!"
Everyone kowtowed. All of the soldiers knelt on the ground, none of them daring to raise their heads.
After all, the person in front of him was Ping Yang, the current Emperor's favorite Ping Yang. He was known as the tyrant of the Flame Capital City. Even the ministers of the court, including the Prime Minister, did not dare to provoke him.
Chi Guyan looked at the scene in front of her.
She did not reply immediately, nor did she stop Ping Yang from pleading for the soldiers. Instead, she turned and walked to Zhang Yangping's side.
"Greetings, village chief!"
"Ah... princess... princess!" Zhang Yangping looked at Chi Guyan nervously.
After all, everyone in the Northern Region knew of Chi Guyan. If Fang Zhengzhi was the pride of the Northern Mountain Village, then Chi Guyan was the pride of the Northern Region Five Constabularies.
"Zhengzhi, thank you for taking care of us for so many years. I came a little late today and do not know what happened. Can you explain to me?"
"Yes, yes!" Zhang Yangping nodded.
Then, he began to recount everything that had happened, from the moment the black faced general entered the village. Then, he recounted everything that had transpired.
Chi Guyan didn't interrupt Zhang Yangping. She just listened quietly at the side.
Fang Zhengzhi had already helped Fang Houde and Qin Xuelian to the side and arranged for the injured villagers to be rescued. As for the thousand soldiers, they were all kneeling on the ground nervously.
However, when they heard about what the black faced general had done in the Northern Mountain Village, they were all shocked. They didn't expect the black-faced general to hurt innocent villagers without any reason.
After a short while, Zhang Yangping had told him the whole story.
Chi Guyan nodded, her bright eyes once again looking at the thousand soldiers kneeling on the ground. She pursed her lips slightly, as if she was thinking about something.
"A military order?"
Chi Guyan knew that Fang Zhengzhi had killed the soldier last night. She had been watching from the side, but she did not stop him. This meant that this incident did not have much of an impact.
As an official of the Imperial Court, Fang Zhengzhi had the responsibility to restrain the soldiers from bullying the villagers. Then, during the conflict, he killed someone. He was guilty of overstepping his authority, but he didn't deserve death.
However, if the soldier insulted Fang Zhengzhi's parents, then the crime of overstepping one's authority would be nullified according to the laws of the Imperial Court. Instead, the soldier would be punished for insulting the parents of an official of the Imperial Court.
According to Fang Zhengzhi's current rank, he was a Rank Four official in the capital. As such, he was sentenced to death. It wasn't too much.
However, today was different.
Nearly a thousand soldiers besieged a village, injuring so many villagers, and so many soldiers were killed. Furthermore, he was holding onto a military token.
The impact of this incident was too great.
Under normal circumstances, Fang Zhengzhi had already revealed his identity yesterday. Even if the army didn't know Fang Zhengzhi's current rank, they should have sent envoys to investigate. They shouldn't have used the army to surround the village.
Even if they used the army to surround the village... They would have arrested Fang Zhengzhi and handed him over to the army. They wouldn't have harmed the villagers and then massacred the entire village.
This was undoubtedly courting death.
Someone must have been behind this. This order could not have been given by General Wang.
Then, who gave the order?
King Duan?
Chi Guyan felt that this was unlikely. King Duan was in charge of the army. He was the prime suspect. Anyone would think of him immediately.
However, because of this, it was even more impossible for him to do this.
King Duan was not so foolish as to send people to kill Fang Zhengzhi when he was returning to his hometown. Furthermore, he had used the power of his own army to do so with such great fanfare.
Then...
Could it be the Crown Prince?
Killing two birds with one stone. Kill Fang Zhengzhi and accuse King Duan of incompetence?
It seemed like a good idea, but it was full of flaws. Firstly, this was equivalent to declaring war. He was fighting King Duan for power. King Duan had been in charge of the army for so many years. How could Fang Zhengzhi affect him? Secondly, if he could immediately think of such a counteraccusation, how could the Emperor not be aware of it?
He could not touch King Duan's position, yet he had to take such a huge risk. He would even leave the impression that he was fighting for power. The Crown Prince wanted stability.
He had to be virtuous and capable. He also had to appear open-minded and tolerant.
Most importantly, the art of an emperor was about balance. The Crown Prince knew that King Duan was the one who kept him in check. As such, he knew that he could suppress him. However, as long as King Duan did not go overboard, he would not fight for power.
If he did not make a mistake, he would be the final winner.
If not, he would not be able to protect himself.
King Duan was at the peak of his power. He had a good reputation in front of the Emperor. If the Crown Prince wanted to use this incident to fight King Duan for power?
That was not possible.
Then, who could it be?
"Who gave the order from the military gate?" Chi Guyan finally spoke after some thought.
"This... we don't know. The intruder was dressed in a black robe. He entered General Wang's tent late at night five days ago. At that time, the sky was too dark and we couldn't see clearly. After that, he never left the tent. Last night, a soldier came to report that the soldiers stationed at the Northern Mountain Village had been chased out. Furthermore, two of them had died. Then, General Wang ordered us to go to the Northern Mountain Village to capture the intruder." One of the deputies replied immediately.
"Five days ago?" Chi Guyan frowned. The other party had chosen to enter the Northern Mountain Village early. There were two possibilities. One, they were afraid of being discovered. Two, they had other motives.
And the order to capture Fang Zhengzhi... Perhaps it was a last-minute decision.
This made things even more complicated. If it was a last-minute decision, how did the other party know that something like this would happen?
Unless...
All of this was planned by the other party. Did they want the soldiers to bully the villagers? That was one possibility. Another possibility was that the other party had other motives.
Was it because of the Heaven Dao Sage Tablet?
If it was because of the Heaven Dao Sage Tablet, why didn't they enter Cang Ling Mountain? Did they have anything to do with the Demons? Who had the power to make a general of the army listen to his orders?
Questions surfaced in Chi Guyan's mind.
However, Chi Guyan did not ask any further. The black faced general was already dead.
Such a huge commotion in the Northern Mountain Village meant that the black robed man had probably left the tent. There was only one way to investigate this.
Lure the snake out of its hole.
Then... The only soldiers who might know the truth would be locked up and interrogated.
That was the only way for the other party to strike again.
"Even though you were ordered to harass the villagers today, the details of your actions must be investigated. From now on, no one is to communicate with each other. All of you are to remain on standby. Anyone who tries to escape will be executed! "
"Roger!" None of the soldiers objected to Chi Guyan's orders. Even though Chi Guyan was not in charge of the army, but... He was the future Grand Marshal of the Central Plains.
How could they not accept this?
"Sister Yan, these people are so despicable. Why don't we kill them all?" Ping Yang was indignant.
"The mastermind has yet to reveal himself. If we kill all of them, wouldn't we be silencing them?" Chi Guyan explained. She knew Ping Yang's personality well.
"I see. Then let them live for the time being! How does Sister Yan plan to deal with them? "
"We will punish them according to the laws of the empire!"
"Are we going to hand them over to the army?"
"No, at least not now!" Chi Guyan shook her head.
"Are we just going to let these people kneel here?" Ping Yang looked at the dense mass of soldiers kneeling on the ground and a cunning smile appeared on his face.
"Mm, kneel for now! Someone will come and take them away later! "
"Where is Sister Yan taking them to?"
"The Divine Constabulary!"
...
After half an hour, an armored man in his forties appeared in front of Chi Guyan.
Fang Zhengzhi recognised this man.
It was the General Li who came to the Southern Mountain Village with Chi Guyan eight years ago. However, compared to eight years ago, General Li's hair now had a hint of white.
"Greetings Missus! According to Missus's orders, 2000 soldiers have arrived outside the village. These are the medicine. "
"Mm, leave the medicine behind. Bring these people to the Divine Constabulary. Don't let anyone speak along the way. Split them up and take turns to guard them. When they reach the Divine Constabulary, interrogate them one by one."
"Roger!" General Li replied respectfully, then turned and left.
Before long, almost a thousand soldiers, including a few deputies, were brought away.
Fang Zhengzhi did not stay in the square. After Chi Guyan gave the order, he had already brought Fang Houde and Qin Xuelian home.
Ping Yang looked at the departing General Li, then looked at the villagers who were running away after thanking him with the medicine. Her pink lips curled into a smile.
"Sister Yan, where are we going now?"
"The Northern Mountain Village!"
"But I haven't eaten anything good for a few days. Why don't we go to Huai An County? What's there to eat in the Northern Mountain Village?"
"You are wrong. The food in Huai An County is not as good as in the Northern Mountain Village." Chi Guyan ruffled Ping Yang's hair lovingly. Then, she looked in the direction of Fang Zhengzhi's house worriedly.
"There's good food in the Northern Mountain Village? Where is it? "
"That shameless thief's house."
"Ah? What good food can there be in his house? "
"You will know soon. However, if we want to eat good food today, we will have to put in some effort!" Chi Guyan frowned. Today's events had deviated from her plans.
News of such a huge incident would spread throughout the Great Xia Dynasty. Soon, the Law Ministry would send a summons to the Northern Mountain Village.
Massacring the soldiers of the dynasty.
Not to mention a Rank 4 official, even a Rank 1 official didn't have the authority to do so.
Even though Fang Zhengzhi had his reasons for what he did today, the fact that he had killed almost a hundred soldiers was an exaggeration.
"Why did this happen?" Chi Guyan did not understand. Based on her understanding of Fang Zhengzhi, even if he was protecting the village, he would not have killed to this extent.
She did not think too much about it. Everything would be solved when she saw Fang Zhengzhi. Hence, she brought Ping Yang to Fang Zhengzhi's house.
"Sister Yan, don't you think that the shameless family is behaving strangely today?" Ping Yang asked as she followed Chi Guyan.
"What is it?"
"I keep feeling that when I see him, his gaze seems a little cold. Moreover, he surprisingly didn't express any opinion on how to deal with the soldiers today. This doesn't seem to match his personality, does it?"
"Why don't you ask him later?"
"I'm not going to ask! However, did that shameless fella really grow up in this village? Isn't this a little too shabby? Furthermore, none of the villagers seem to have accessed Dao? How did that guy become so powerful? "
"You should ask him!"
"This again! Sister Yan, you are bullying me!"
...
Before long, Chi Guyan brought Ping Yang to Fang Zhengzhi's house.
Fang Houde and Qin Xuelian were sitting in the room. When they saw Ping Yang and Chi Guyan, they stood up and welcomed them.
"Greetings, Your Highness and Princess!"
"Uncle, Auntie, Guyan said it before. Just treat me like Gu Yan. Otherwise, Guyan will not be used to it." Chi Guyan immediately held onto Fang Houde and Qin Xuelian when she saw this.
"You won't..."
"I still have to disturb you!"
"No!" At this moment, a voice rang out from the room. Then, a figure in a blue robe appeared at the door.
It was Fang Zhengzhi.
When Ping Yang heard Fang Zhengzhi's words, she looked at Fang Zhengzhi and pouted, clearly displeased. "Fang Zhengzhi, I am giving you face by staying here. Furthermore, I saved your life today. Are you trying to be ungrateful?"
"Sure, 100 silvers a night!" Fang Zhengzhi stretched out a finger and wagged it in front of Ping Yang.
"Sister Yan, I want to take back what he just said. This fella has not changed at all. He is still as shameless as before!" Ping Yang was enraged.
"As for you, you are the daughter of the Divine Constabulary. Please find somewhere else to stay. No amount of silvers will work!" Fang Zhengzhi ignored Ping Yang and looked at Chi Guyan with determination.
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