Chapter 421: Entering The Sheep Herd
writer:
mao.ni update:2022-06-28 16:36
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The study door was closed tight just like how the mouths of idealistic gentlemen would never open in the face of torture.
Dang Xiaobo and others were being tortured in the back garden, but their mouths had long been gagged with smelling cloths so they did not make wretched cries.
Hong Changqing looked alertly around in the dark night. Leading the few bailiffs the Jiaozhou Zhizhou had sent over around the study, they prevented anyone else from nearing the room.
The study sank into a deathly silence. No one knew what Fan Xian and Xu Maocai were talking, discussing, debating, and fighting about inside.
Looking in by the faint candlelight seeping out, the expressions of the two people could be seen becoming more and more serious and a glimmer of coldness appearing in their eyes.
Fan Xian lowered his head slightly, the shadows on the two sides of his nose become very clear. In a light voice, he said, “This matter will end here.”
Xue Maocai thought for a bit then nodded, “Yes, Sir.”
The two people temporarily paused their conversation about the fast and the future. Xu Maocai forcefully suppressed his excitement and recovered his usual calm, changing Fan Xian’s title from young master to Sir.
He knew that he and Fan Xian’s conversation was an act of treason. If someone else found out what he and Fan Xian had talked about, he would be killed without a doubt. Fan Xian would also not have a pleasant future.
“We’ll talk about the future in the future,” Fan Xian said calmly. “What are we going to do about the problem at hand?”
Xu Maocai has already been in the Jiaozhou Navy 20 years. Starting from the very lowest level of a soldier, he had worked his way up step by step and endured until he had reached his present important general rank. Among the navy, he had connections that others could only hope to have. If Fan Xian had his help in dealing with the Jiaozhou Navy, it would certainly be much easier.
“I will go connect people in the military.” Xu Maocai thought for a bit then said, “If you need someone to step out, I can try.”
Fan Xian frowned in thought. If he was able to bring a large number of middle- to low-level officers to his side, things would go much better. Although the general from the old Qin family was not willing to step out, Xu Maocai was willing to help him. It would probably be much the same. However, after thinking for a bit, he shook his head and said, “Don’t step out personally.”
Xue Maocai looked at Fan Xian in some confusion.
Fan Xian said, “I don’t anyone to find any problem……after all, you are of the Jiaozhou Navy. Since you have had this identity for all these years, there is no need to step out today.”
Until it was a critical moment, this pawn of Fan Xian’s in the military could not be exposed. For just a malformed arm like the Jiaozhou Navy, he certainly did not need to use the new sharp cleaver he gained with great difficulty along the way.
“However……help me think of some ideas of the lower levels of the navy,” Fan Xian continued saying. “Influence those you can to at least have them be a bit more peaceful. After the sky brightens, I will go to the navy to announce the edict. I don’t wish to be surrounded by tens of thousands of soldiers.
Xu Maocai smiled and bowed. “Rest assured, actually, tonight, I think you have over-thought this matter.”
“Oh, what do you mean?” Fan Xian raised his eyebrow, interested.
“You’ve underestimated the military’s loyalty to the Emperor and the influence of the Emperor on the soldiers,” Xue Maocai said peacefully. “Perhaps Chang Kun could single-handedly control one part of the navy, perhaps his trusted aids can incite those soldiers that do not know the truth……but under the current circumstances, Chang Kun is already dead while Dang Xiaobo and his people have been placed by you into jail. Regardless of whether they were soldiers or commoners, if they have the daring to move against an imperial envoy, then there needs to be a person taking the lead.”
Xu Maocai continued, “If the sheep dare to rebel against the wolf, there has to be a wolf hiding among the herd of sheep.”
Fan Xian’ eyes lit up. Looking at Xu Maocai, he didn’t speak for a moment. It was only now that he had found that the lucky person his mother had left behind indeed had a unique way of looking at problems.
“However, I am a foreign wolf,” he smiled as he said, “while the old wolves in the navy love feathers.”
Xu Maocai said lightly, “Escort them there, and they’ll have to go……they also don’t need to say anything. As long as they stand in the camp, the naval officers would naturally know their stance. If there are still people causing problems in the military, you could kill some of them.”
“Kill to establish dominance?” Fan Xian frowned. “I am afraid of causing a rebellion. The iron stench of blood is shocking and pungent. It is easy for others to lose their heads.”
Xu Maocai looked at him and smiled. In an even voice, he said, “Sir, the stench of blood will also easily make people fearful, particularly those lower level people who were not very brave to start with.”
Although these words were said evenly, they carried a strange resentment. It was likely that 20 years ago when the Quanzhou Navy was being purged, this man had seen many people who had remained silent out of fear at the stench of blood and did not take any action.
Fan Xian thought for a bit then nodded his head.
Xu Maocai saw that the worry between his brows had not yet been removed and knew what he was worried about. After thinking for a moment, he probingly said, “Even if I don’t step out today, I can try after this.”
Try what? Naturally, it was to experience having the Jiaozhou Navy under Fan Xian’s control. Given Xu Maocai’s present experience and position, as long as he stood out a little in the navy case the court was investigating and showed his loyalty to the Emperor more purely, even if Fan Xian did not help him, there was still a great chance that he would be promoted to the admiral of the navy.
For Xu Maocai, this suggestion was not for his future career prospects. He was thinking that he could help Fan Xian obtain a powerful support.
However, Fan Xian only shook his head.
“I knew of your matter too late,” he said. “Thus, I have no previous arrangements. The future of the Jiaozhou Navy has long been decided. After 10 days, the Bureau of Military affairs will take over. As for you……I will think of a way so you are not implicated and continue to live in Jiaozhou, however, the admiral’s position is impossible.
Xu Maocai nodded. He knew that the future of the navy had already been decided by the court. Since Fan Xian did not know of his identity, of course, he had not made previous arrangements.
“The next admiral will be?”
“Qin Yi,” Fan Xian slowly said. “Qin Heng’s younger cousin.”
Qin Heng was currently the head of the Jingdou garrison, the leading figure of the second generation of the old Qin family. While Fan Xian was in the capital, their relationship had been relatively harmonious.
However, Xu Maocai had only heard this name when his expression became a bit strange.
“What’s wrong?” Fan Xian could see his worry and asked curiously.
“Why would the Emperor allow someone of the old Qin family to take over?” Xu Maocai frowned and said. “Even if the Ye family has now lost favor, there is more than just these two families in the military. There are a number of generals in the western expedition military that have been waiting a long time for an appropriate position.”
“I also don’t understand,” Fan Xian smiled and replied. However, in his heart he thought that for such an important place as Jiaozhou, the Emperor would definitely choose his most trustworthy confidant to control it in order to avoid another Chang Kun incident.
Xu Maocai gazed at Fan Xian, wanting to speak then stopping. A moment later, he finally made up his mind and said, “The old Qin family is not that simple.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t have any evidence, but I always felt that the Qin family is not that simple,” Xu Maocai frowned and said. “As you know, the third-ranking person in the navy is that person from the Qin family. Chang Kun has meddled so much in the navy, leading thousands of soldiers down South, how could it have been without him knowing? Why did he never report it to the court? If he had talked to the old Qin family, yet they did not tell the Emperor……this matter is a bit strange.”
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Fan Xian became silent, carefully calculating the details he then said, “Thus you need to stay in Jiaozhou and keep an eye on the admiral that is about to arrive. I believe that the Qin family would not betray the Emperor because no matter how you look at it……there is no advantage to this at all.”
Xu Maocai thought that this was indeed the logic. Right now, the Great Prince controlled the Imperial Army while the Ye family was now too terrified to make a sound after being scolded by the Emperor and could only keep their heads tucked away in Dingzhou raising horses. In the entire Qing Kingdom military, it was the Qin family whose reputation was the best. If they betrayed the Emperor, it would be impossible for them to obtain a higher position and glory.
The decisions in politics were the same as doing business. No one wanted to do those things that brought them no benefit.
“Go do what you need to do,” Fan Xian smiled warmly. “Be careful of your safety. In the future, if I do not actively seek you out, don’t do anything for me.”
Xu Maocai smiled and rose. Walking to stand in front of Fan Xian, he knelt and respectfully kowtowed once. Without saying anything, he turned and left.
Looking at the departing figure of this 40-something-year-old general, Fan Xian placed his hands behind his back and narrowed his eyes. He knew that the other person’s kowtow had been completely voluntary; he was probably incomparably happy. For something 20 years ago to come to fruition now……after all, there are not many 20 years in a lifetime. Yet, this person was able to wait for so long. It was truly a feat.
A faint glimmer of white rose in the distant horizon, Fan Xian watched it with narrowed eyes. His mind drifted somewhere else with tightly furrowed brows. He felt there was an additional thread of pressure on his heart and an added excitement. Rebellion was not something he would do, just like what Ye Qingmei had said in the letter all those years ago. Unite the world? She did not think it was worth doing, and Fan Xian also did not like to play these games. However, in the future, other than rebellion, there would always be many meaningful things to do such as living happily, having the person who just left live happily, and making some people live very unhappily.
At this moment, there was no clamor in the admiral’s manor, there was only a surrounding silence. Many people were not sleeping, and the dawn had just arrived. ……
As the morning light gradually grew brighter, the closed Jiaozhou city gates were slowly pulled open. The provincial soldiers that had sealed the city for an entire night tiredly retreated, standing weakly to the two sides of the city gate. They used their gazes to send off a group leaving Jiaozhou heading toward the navy camp not far in the distance.
In the center of the group was Fan Xian. Riding on a horse, he had already changed into his official robes and was looking unusually luxurious and full of might. On his left was Hong Changqing, coldly holding the Imperial Sword granted by the Emperor. On his right, the Overwatch Council member held the golden yellow imperial edict.
In front, there were soldiers holding signs and puffing as they walked, behind him were a row of golden yellow umbrellas flying high.
Somehow they had found a musical band in Jiaozhou, which was blowing and banging gongs and drums. There was endlessly liveliness.
It was a simple honor guard for the imperial envoy. Fan Xian looked at it with cold eyes and couldn’t help but smile in his heart. The Jiaozhou Zhizhou was indeed quite capable. In less than half a night, he had managed to rustle up all these things. However, why was the smell of makeup so strong on the musicians? Had he borrowed them from the brothels?
The honor guard of the imperial envoy had been left in Suzhou since Fan Xian had not thought he would use it beside the sea. However, since he was going to the navy to announce an edict, putting on such a show would always be beneficial. However, Fan Xian was a bit worried for Wu Gefei. Would this trickery make those old scholars in Jingdou unhappy?
All of the Jiaozhou officials and the innocent navy generals were following obediently behind Fan Xian. Judging by their expressions, it was impossible to tell whether these people were happy or sad. However, they had been up all night so very few were in a good mood.
The Jiaozhou people who had risen early had already vaguely learned of last night’s incident from the breakfast stalls. They all flocked to the inside of the city gates to watch the scene. The brave commoners pointed at the imperial envoy’s honor guard and spread the news that the young noble as beautiful as a girl on the big horse at the front was the Sir Fan junior of legend.
Fan Xian’s reputation in the public was truly bright.
While the Jiaozhou Navy’s reputation in the city was not very good.
It was unknown who began it, but the thousands of people around the city gates cried out, wishing for the imperial envoy’s health. They then knelt down and bowed disorderly.
Looking at the black wave of people’s heads, Fan Xian couldn’t help feeling a bit dazed. Thinking of the words Xu Maocai had said in the early hours of the morning, only now did he understand that the people at the lowest level of society did indeed have an instinctual fear and respect for the lofty imperial envoy.
This knowledge did not make Fan Xian any more comfortable. He glanced unconsciously at Xu Maocai.
Xu Maocai put on a charming expression and smiled.
Unwillingly, Fan Xian waved his hand to stop the procession of the group. Pushing a warm smile onto his face, he dismounted under the escort of the officials and lightly approached the people outside the line. He warmly returned the greetings and respectfully helped up a few elderly people. He then exchanged a few pleasantries and repeated a few useless phrases such as the Emperor was well and everything was well before mounting his horse and starting the procession. ……
On the navy’s training field, Fan Xian sat peacefully in the chair on the high stage looking down on the soldiers. The expressions of the soldiers were strange. They were either excited, angry, or fearful. However, all the gazes were flickering in the direction of the imperial envoy and officials on the stage.
Most of the navy soldiers already knew about last night’s events. The timing had been too tight, so Chang Kun’s trusted aides in the middle level did not have the opportunity to incite the emotions of the entire camp. They only led a group of soldiers in an attempt to enter the city and rescue people. However, this group had suddenly disappeared in the dark.
Thus, the navy soldiers were currently all a bit scared. They didn’t know why the court had suddenly sent an imperial envoy. They also did not understand why Admiral Chang Kun and Deputy General Dang were not on the board. Were the rumors true?
Fan Xian looked down the stage at the moving heads with narrowed eyes. He found the blackness stretched all the way to the side of the port.
It was not until now that he felt a glimmer of worry. He had seen the Imperial Guards before, and the Black Knights were often at his side. Suddenly seeing tens of thousands of soldiers lined up neatly in front of him, only now did he feel the imposing manner the numbers brought. If these ten thousand soldiers were all his enemy, then he probably wouldn’t be able to continue sitting on this stage.
The corners of Fan Xian’s mouth twitched up in a self-mocking smile. He didn’t seriously listen to the words of that third-ranked navy general. He was thinking his luck was pretty good to have found Xu Maocai in the navy. Although the emotions of the soldiers below the stage appeared to be a little unstable, there shouldn’t be any big problems. Xu Maocai must have done a great deal of secret work after midnight.
Chang Kun was already dead, and Dang Xiaobo had been punished. Without anyone in the charge, no matter how bloodthirsty these soldiers were, they would not be able to do anything. Xu Maocai was right. He had overestimated the danger of the situation.
Fan Xian touched the thin paper tucked into his clothes. This was a confession written by a general that had participated in the East Sea matter. Dang Xiaobo had indeed been a tough one. Even after being beaten unconsciously, he still refused to open his mouth. However, not everyone in the military was this tough. Under the torture and forced confessions of the Overwatch Council, finally, someone had caved.
Having gotten the confession, he could act in the name of righteousness. Fan Xian was no longer worried about anything. He listened attentively to the general talking with dry enthusiasm.
The general was the one from the old Qin family. He originally had been unwilling to step out, but Fan Xian listened to Xu Maocai’s suggestion and didn’t even give him an opportunity. He simply shed pretense of cordiality and invited him to step out to admonish with an insincere smile. At the same time, he had given him the arduous task of announcing Dang Xiaobo’s crimes.
Just as Fan Xian expected, when the general announced Dang Xiaobo’s three great crimes, colluding with foreign enemies, privately communicating with sea bandits, and moving troops against orders, the soldiers below the stage began to shuffle around. The middle-level officers in particular began to show the first negative signs.
Fan Xian looked at this scene and slowly left his chair. Walking to the front of the stage, he gazed at the tens of thousands of soldiers below and warmly said, “I am Fan Xian, here by imperial edict.”
He was not an immortal, so he didn’t have the ability to have the entire scene sink into silence using just his gaze. However, his words were imbued with a thread of the Tyrannical zhenqi in his body. It felt out quickly, rising in spirals over the entire training ground and making the soldiers pause.
In this space, Fan Xian began to state his ostensible purpose. “Admiral Chang Kun was assassinated last night.”
A clamor broke out below the stage. It was full of disbelieving discussion and shocked voices.
Jiaozhou Zhizhou Wu Gefei glanced worriedly at Sir Fan junior at the front of the stage. He had not approved of announcing the news to the entire navy together from the very beginning. They could have talked to each camp separately. He didn’t know what Sir Fan junior was thinking.
Fan Xian gazed at the soldiers below the stage and slowly said, “Admiral Chang has been stationed in Jiaozhou for many years. He willingly lived in a miserable place in order to guard a border for his country. He was truly one of the pillars of the country. Each time the Emperor discussed him, he would sigh in praise that Admiral Chang was a merit to the country and that his loyalty was commendable.”
The only three people who knew the inside story on the stage were silent. They had received the results of the case that Fan Xian would announce on behalf of the court earlier. However, the other officials and generals were immediately struck dumb upon hearing these words. Wasn’t Sir Fan junior here to investigate Admiral Chang?
The soldiers below the stage were also gradually quieting down. They looked at the stage with confusion. Not a person had understood what the imperial envoy was saying.
With a glimmer of seriousness on his face, Fan Xian faintly said, “Heaven is blind for Admiral Chang to have died so early……it was those vicious evildoers. They actually dared to do such a wicked thing!”
His voice gradually became higher and filled with anger. His gaze was also filled with a ruthless sternness as if he wanted to find the true suspect from among the tens of thousands of soldiers standing below the stage.
Chapter 422: The Sea Breeze That Brought A Stench Of Blood
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
A slightly salty, slightly wet, and slightly cold wind blew in from the sea chilling Fan Xian’s cheeks. He coldly stared at the densely packed soldiers beneath the stage, but the depths of his heart was gradually becoming calm.
In handling the navy matter, the most important and dangerous time was actually last night. Having reached the morning, the most dangerous time had already passed so he was not overly worried.
The generals and provincial officials who did not have inside information all thought that the imperial envoy was praising first before starting his disparaging comments. To clarify Chang Kun’s loss of reason to the naval officers under the bright light of day made them think that he would immediately carry out the cruelest and most inhumane attack. When they actually heard Fan Xian’s words, they were incomparably shocked that he did not start flogging the corpse.
Fan Xian voice spread extremely far across the expansive training ground. He only warmly and sorrowfully recalled the meritorious deeds that Admiral Chang Kun had performed for Qing Kingdom. He only commended the dead person. His expression was sorrowful and gaze sincere. He did not bring up the matter of the little island on the East Sea at all or the matter of the navy colluding with Dongyi.
Wu Gefei and the third-ranking general from the old Qin family met each other’s gazes and then slowly turned their heads away. Last night, Fan Xian had informed these important figures the intentions of the Palace, so they were not surprised.
Chang Kun was a first-level admiral. There was no strong evidence of who exactly the hand behind him belonged to, although they knew that the Eldest Princess’ Junshang Conference played an important role. Under the circumstances, the court did not wish to expose their shortcomings. They were not willing to openly and publicly strike Chang Kun to the ground.
A first-level official and important military figure was colluding with pirates and communicating with the enemy. Once this truth spread, where was the Qing court to hang their face? Where would the Emperor hang his face?
They wanted Chang Kun to never be able to meddle in the Jiaozhou Navy again. As for evaluations of his virtue after his death, the Qing Emperor and Fan Xian did not really care about it. The most important task was to complete this matter at the lowest price possible.
Of course, the Emperor probably could not swallow this anger. However, after a bit of time, when the situation in Jingdou was mostly settled, the Emperor would sweep clean those family clans that dared to meddle behind his back. Chang Kun would also be dug out of his grave, have his bones ground into dust, and completely lose his standing and reputation.
After finishing his string of praises, Fan Xian’s face was as cold as a rock in the sea. His expression was very ugly.
“Last night, I arrived in Jiaozhou and wished to have a secret meeting with the admiral to investigate the matter of a portion of the navy colluding with sea bandits……however, without seeing him at all, he had already passed. Who dared to be as crazy as to kill inside the admiral’s manor? Who dared to get in before the court investigate the case and to use such savage methods to carry out their rebellion? Who dared, after the incident happened, to try and kill all the officials and generals in the admiral’s manor in order to silence them? Who was it last night that dared to secretly mobilize the navy, to incite the navy’s heart to try and incite a rebellion to take over Jiaozhou, to swallow all this darkness in blood?”
“Who……” ……
The previous night, there had been abnormal movements in the naval camp and the rumors had been spreading. However, it was not until the imperial envoy spoke of it in detail on the stage that the naval officers knew the admiral had not been forced to death by the court, rather he had been assassinated. And, there were generals in the navy that dared to collude with pirates and secretly oppose the court.
Naturally, not everyone believed it. At least, Chang Kun and Dang Xiaobo’s trusted aides would not believe, so the soldiers on the field gradually began to clamor. Someone began to shout, “Where is General Dang? Where is General Dang?”
Someone else shouted, “Where did the pirates come from?”
The crowd became angry. The soldiers were stirred up. The crowd gradually surged toward the front of the high stage.
Fan Xian’s expression was calm, and he smiled slightly.
Xu Maocai gave a meaningful glance toward his trusted aides below the stage. The minds of those officers among the soldiers spun. They began to yell in loud voices, “Revenge for the Admiral! Kill that bastard!”
As for who exactly the bastard was, the tens of thousands of soldiers did not know, but this yell happened to align with the naval soldiers’ anger and suppressed atmosphere. Thus, the calls gradually melded into one, their voices shook the horizons and, whether intentionally or not, they suppressed the incitement of those generals who were not yet resigned and had evil intentions in their hearts.
Fan Xian raised his hands flatly and pressed down gently. With a serious expression, he said, “Heaven is blind, but heaven has a heart, Those crazy evildoers have already been caught last night. After the case is closed, there will naturally be a public sentencing to honor the Admiral’s spirit in heaven.”
“Who is it?” The navy soldiers all looked at each other. They were all trying to guess who in the navy was so faring. Looking at the stage that was missing a few generals, some clever people began to guess.
As expected, in the names that Fan Xian read out, they were all well-respected generals in the navy in the past. Dang Xiaobo’s name was shockingly listed at the top.
The voice on the high stage very clearly told these people that it was indeed these generals in the navy that had played such a rat-sh*t role. ……
As he spoke, five bloody generals were escorted forward from the right. These were the generals that had risen in revolt against Fan Xian in the admiral’s manor last night. At this moment, these people’s expressions were deathly white and spirits dejected. After being tortured, they couldn’t even stand steadily. Instead, they fell to their knees directly in front of Fan Xian. No one knew what the Overwatch Council had done. Although these people’s expressions were full of indignant hatred, none of them could open their mouths to cry out their injustice.
Below the stage, the tens of thousands of soldiers became silent at the same time. Using a complicated gaze, they looked at this scene on the stage and the usually lofty generals. They knelt in front of the soldiers’ eyes with their heads hanging low, with disheveled hair and blood, looking incomparably wretched.
In the death-like silence, Fan Xian looked at this scene. His hands behind his body were preparing to clench into a signal.
As expected, a sharp voice suddenly cried out from among the silent soldiers, “The Admiral was killed by those people on the stage! Treasonous officials meddling in the military! General Dang is innocent!”
Dang Xiaobo had his own trusted aides. The group that had gone to the East Sea had their own thoughts. They all understood what this scene was targeting, so they were not willing to see this matter develop in the way the imperial envoy had arranged it. Following this shout, a few other voices also cried out full of anger and hated. They pointed the blame squarely at Fan Xian and the other generals on the stage.
These people were all directly under Chang Kun and Dang Xiaobo’s command, middle- and low-level officers able to influence soldiers below their command. Thus, with this yell, the area below the stage immediately erupted into chaos. The naval officers who had already become a bit anxious from the rumors now did not know who to believe while a thousand soldiers began to push forward.
Fan Xian narrowed his eyes, staring at the people leading the shout. He then clenched the hand he held behind his back into a fist.
The face of the third-ranked general standing behind him dimmed and was forced by Fan Xian to make up his mind. He knew that once a rebellion happened, he, standing on the stage, could only be torn into pieces.
Thus, he came to stand beside Fan Xian. With his eyes glinting brightly, he roared, “You sons of b*tches, are you going to rebel? Will you not even believe our words and the words of the imperial envoy?”
Although he had not been with the navy for long, his status was there. With his roar, the situation below improved slightly, but danger was still lurking beneath. Dang Xiaobo’s trusted aides were still hidden in the shadows, endlessly stirring up trouble and taunting in a loud voice.
Xu Maocai, also following Fan Xian’s hand gesture, gave a second order with a meaningful gaze. Immediately, a different sound appeared among the soldiers below the stage.
“Kill Dang Xiaobo! Revenge for the Admiral!” ……
It was only one and did not create a rolling thunder sound, but Fan Xian still smiled warmly and kindly listened to the will of the people, nodding to his side.
Hong Changqing, along with a few uncomfortable looking navy generals, walked to Fan Xian’s side and pulled out the straight knives they wore at their sides. With one foot, they pushed against the backs of those generals that were Chang Kun’s trusted aides. They pushed these criminal generals to the ground and then chopped down with their knives.
With four cracks, the sharp knives chopped into those sturdy necks, splitting skin and flesh, releasing the blood, and breaking the bone, forcing the heads away from the body. They rolled around on the high stage as a great pool of fresh blood sprayed out.
The bodies of the headless generals swayed for a moment on the stage then returned to silence and death.
Silence fell on both the stage and below it. The navy officers below the stage stared dumbstruck at this scene……thinking, They died just like this? The case had yet to be tried, yet the imperial envoy just killed these generals like this?
Fan Xian frowned and looked at the fresh blood not far away from his feet as well the deathly pale and heavily breathing Dang Xiaobo who was not far from him. Shortly after, he raised his head and smiled slightly. “I’ve fulfilled your desires, however, Dang Xiaobo is the leading criminal and will be escorted back to Jingdou……I’m afraid only a lingering death will be enough to satisfy the Admiral’s spirit.”
These words were a bit shameless, but the naval officers below the stage did not think so. They just looked at the young man on the stage wearing a luxurious official robe and felt an evil chill surge up from deep within their hearts.
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In reality, the naval officers were not idiots. They would not believe that Deputy General Dang killed Admiral Chang. He had no reason to do so, and everyone knew of their close relationship. However, there were four people’s heads on the stage. Everyone knew that the imperial envoy dared to kill people and was willing to kill people. Admiral Chang was dead and Dang Xiaobo was captured. Even if the court was doing a purge, what could they, insignificant soldiers who had not benefited much from these two figures, do?
Were they actually going to surge up and kill the imperial envoy on the high stage, and then take to the bush and become an enemy of the entire world?
Being bloodthirsty did not mean being animalistic and unable to use the brain to consider problems. Thus, the tens of thousands of soldiers below the stage were silent, including those officers who were trying to incite violent action. Lowering their bodies, they thought about how they could sneak out of the navy.
Killing people to establish dominance. Fan Xian looked down the stage with satisfaction. He knew that Xu Maocai’s words had indeed been correct.
However, this matter had not yet come to an end. There were still trusted aides of Dang Xiaobo and Chang Kun’s diehard followers on the stage. If he didn’t bring these people out, how could the Jiaozhou Navy be said to be peaceful?
Fan Xian stood on the high stage and said, “Last night, someone in the navy received a secret order from Dang Xiaobo and tried to lead the navy in attacking the city. Naturally, such crazed and rebellious behavior cannot be let off easily.”
The moment his words fell, the thundering of horse hooves came from outside the camp. Everyone turned their bodies and looked nervously in that direction.
A group of knights in completely black armor sped down from a small hill. With crossbows on their saddles and sharp knives at their hips, they controlled the reins with one hand and held hemp sacks in the other. They came into the naval camp with rarely seen horsemanship and control. They brought in a plume of dust and a sense of the netherworld.
The Black Knights!
This was the naval officers first time seeing one of the most powerful cavalries in Qing Kingdom who, legend said, were numb to killing and moved in secret-like spirits. The officers were all shocked. They did not understand why these people were here. If they were here to kill people, 100 riders seemed far too few.
The hundred Black Knights rode to a stop below the stage and bowed to Fan Xian from horseback. They then threw the hemp sacks in their hands on the ground. Closing ranks, they followed the two sides of the stage and formed two half circles, one on each side of the high stage.
At the same time, on a little hill behind and to the left of the naval camp, there silently appeared two lines of Black Knights just like two very hard black lines deeply carved into the ridge. Facing the naval officers below, they were posed as if preparing to charge.
The navy officers exploded into a clamor. ……
The hemp sacks were filled with human heads, either with blood covering their faces, missing noses and ears, or had a giant gash on their foreheads. Hundreds of human heads rolled out and piled below the high stage. Such a bloody and terrifying sight had not been seen for a long time in the long peaceful Jiaozhou. The naval officers jumped back a few steps in fright and left a giant empty space, allowing these human heads to adorn this massacre field under broad daylight.
Fan Xian took one step forward on the stage. His luxurious clothing fluttered, and his expression was handsome. Standing proudly with the pile of human heads, he said, “These were the traitorous soldiers who tried to wash Jiaozhou with blood last night. There is no need to panic. The traitorous soldiers have already been caught, and I am not someone fond of revenge.”
The naval officers did not dare speak out of fear.
“However……” Fan Xian slowly said, “I will definitely find who organized this in secret. Whoever dares to act against the court and rebel should be prepared to have their entire families wiped out.”
“The people, I have already found.” He gazed at the people below the stage. “A total of 17 people, no dogs. Seventeen dogs that used the court’s salary to grow their wild ambition!”
The range of the purge was not very big. Including the navy generals on stage, the officers below the stage all sighed. At this moment, the sudden appearance of the 400 Black Knights, as well as the heads on and off the stage, had already intimidated the naval officers’ state of mind. Since no one dared to rebel, they could only wait and see how the court would handle this. They only captured 17, so it had little to do with most of the people.
They felt unconcerned and let matters rest.
In order to protect themselves, they could sell out the superiors whom they were usually terrified of. ……
Following the sounds of the third-ranked general calling out the names on the stage, the naval officers below the stage began to gradually move in fear, wishing the be as far away as possible from the named officers. Suddenly, 17 small circles appeared on the training ground, little empty spaces. In each empty pace there stood a naval officer whose face was the color of earth.
These were all culprits inciting trouble in the camp and causing a portion of the naval officers to battle the Black Knights outside Jiaozhou.
The clip-clop horse hooves rang out as the Black Knights led their horses slowly into the tens of thousands of people. The knights’ faces were cold. They paid no attention to their surroundings and were not nervous. Although tens of thousands of people were beside them, it was as if they were entering an empty space.
The navy’s courage had all been used up. They all moved aside to make way, allowing in the Black Knights who were here on orders to capture these people.
Three knights captured each person. Although some of the officers bravely resisted helplessly, they were still trapped beasts. With a few slaps, they were flipped onto the ground. They only accomplished pain before they died.
Another 17 bloody and cruel sounds, and 17 human heads returned among their brothers’ heads. The blood stained the high stage. The stench of blood drew countless flies.
Although Fan Xian was present, his expression did not change. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the sun that was gradually moving above his head. He knew that the Jiaozhou matter could be considered completed.
He then began to announce the edict.
Fan Xian waved his hand. Without caring for the rules and etiquette of the court, he had an Overwatch Council subordinate complete this task while he returned to his chair and rested a little. ……
“According to the will of heaven, the Emperor orders……”
Fan Xian did pay much attention to what the Emperor said. Occupied with his own thoughts, he was only looking at the ant-like naval officers kneeling on and below the stage. In the end, he heard a sky shattering cheer and a mountainous cheering of “Long live the Emperor.”
Did the navy officers get another increase in salary? ……
By the time the news of the Jiaozhou Navy got to Jingdou, it was already news from half a month ago. Jingdou was located more inland and didn’t have the moisture from the sea wind, so it seemed a bit drier than Jiaozhou. The climate was not very comfortable. On the contrary, some people whose bodies were weaker began to feel uncomfortable.
Hong Zhu’s fire had been quite big recently……his internal heat, not his anger. He rubbed his nose, thinking, if he still had a nosebleed tonight, he would have to go ask the royal doctors to have a look. The skill level of those doctors really wasn’t much. If mistress Fan was still learning in the Imperial Academy of Medicine, how great that would be.
He trotted to the front of the palace, respectfully pushing the door open, and then leaned close to the empress’ ear to say something.
He had been in the Eastern Palace for some time now and had successfully won the empress’ trust. However, the Crown Prince always felt a bit uncomfortable looking at this little eunuch. For a eunuch to grow pimples and to be so full of internal heat as to often have nosebleeds, how was he like a yin person?
Listening to Hong Zhu’s words, the empress furrowed her brows tightly and asked, “It is logical for Admiral Chang to be given a title posthumously……however, for such a startling case, why was it not tried by three ministers and instead was just investigated by the Overwatch Council alone?”
It seemed like the empress did not know the inside story of the Jiaozhou Navy, but she had faintly guessed that this matter had to be related in some way to the Eldest Princess. She smiled coldly and said, “Let’s see when that Royal Highness will come knocking on our door.”
If the matter was really as she imagined, that Fan Xian had gotten rid of the Jiaozhou Navy, it would be like chopping off one of Li Yunrui’s arms. This Eldest Princess would certainly go crazy.
However, this case was somewhat blurry and unclear. Would a Deputy General dare to collude with bandits to assassinate the admiral, and coincidentally on the night that Fan Xian arrived in Jiaozhou? Did the Jiaozhou Navy actually collude with the pirates on the East Sea? Did Chang Kun not know?
All of the court officials were suspicious. The military side seemed to have intentions to counter-attack because no matter what Chang Kun did, he was an important figure in the military.
However, no one dared to say anything. Although the Emperor expressed sorrow and pain at Chang Kun’s death—the funeral was handled very grandly and his rewards to the Chang manor were very generous—everyone could see that the Emperor was actually……very happy.
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