Having lost Ai Ai as their guide, Colonel Mao and Meng Jianqing could only return to Zhenning Station by the same route. Colonel Mao was naturally dejected and unhappy at losing his beloved general, while Ma Yicheng was even more stricken with grief and collapsed unconscious in his room. Vice General Luo, who had caused trouble yesterday, saw Meng Jianqing return safely while Guo Ying and Ai Ai were nowhere to be seen. His face shifted between pale and sallow, greatly uneasy. But having already tested Meng Jianqing yesterday and knowing he was no match, he restrained himself and dared not cause more trouble.

Meng Jianqing waited at Zhenning Station for a day and night before the post road was cleared. During this day and night, even in his sleep, he kept one eye open with his blade close at hand.

On the road ahead, there might be another Guo Ying or another Vice General Luo.

A month later, Meng Jianqing delivered that crucial account book into Shen Guangli’s hands. Shen Guangli granted him three months’ leave to return to the Ninghai Guard to visit his family. When Meng Jianqing returned to report back from leave, he encountered the outbreak of the Guo Huan case.

Vice Minister of Revenue Guo Huan, in collusion with officials from various provinces and local magnates, had conspired with military commanders to privately sell official grain and even military rations. Seven million shi of grain were traced and recovered. The Hongwu Emperor was furious and issued an edict for a thorough investigation. The confessions implicated many, with tens of thousands dying. Among households of the middle class and above, three or four out of ten were bankrupt.

“One general’s success is built on ten thousand bleached bones.” Meng Jianqing finally understood that this saying didn’t apply only to battlefields.

He also finally understood that bitter smile on Guo Ying’s face before death – both agonized and relieved.

No matter what ambitions Guo Ying might once have had, faced with such a father, he had no choice but to do everything in his power to prevent the matter from being exposed.

Otherwise, when the nest is overturned, how can any eggs remain intact?

Meng Jianqing couldn’t help thinking of himself, of that unknown fierce battle on the Ninghai Guard post road, and his nightmares these past few years – ah, no, that battle wasn’t unknown to everyone.

Because of his father’s situation, and because of his teacher’s background, he would never be able to escape Shen Guangli’s controlling dominance.

Meng Jianqing gripped his blade handle tightly.

Shen Guangli only looked at him coolly and said, “Having handled this case, you can no longer remain in the army.”

Meng Jianqing remained silent.

Although the Guo Huan case first broke in Beiping, quite a few people knew what Meng Jianqing had done.

The ones who first exposed the military grain theft case in Beiping were Meng Jianchen, Gongsun Yi, and that group of young officers assigned there from the Military Academy. They refused bribes, exposed the dark dealings, and brought down a large group of corrupt and incompetent old generals. This greatly enhanced the Military Academy’s reputation for loyal service to the country. Whether it was the Hongwu Emperor, the Crown Prince, Prince Yan, or ordinary soldiers, all were pleased to see this and gave great praise.

However, the dark dealings Meng Jianqing had exposed in Yunnan implicated people from both the new and old systems. Guo Ying, whom the Military Academy held up as a model, had died at his hands and was additionally disgraced. When the Crown Prince and Chief Instructor Cai learned this news, their faces turned green.

He had offended too many people.

After pondering for a while, Shen Guangli said again, “You should formally take a position in the Imperial Guard.”

Meng Jianqing cupped his hands and accepted the order.

Shen Guangli’s gaze had already turned to the moth futilely struggling against the window paper, saying as if to himself, “The enemies of the Great Ming are in the open, but even more so in the shadows.”

Meng Jianqing’s heart stirred slightly. This statement from Shen Guangli seemed to be telling him that whether he was in the army or in the Imperial Guard, he had never violated the Military Academy’s motto: loyal service to the country.

However, one general’s success is built on ten thousand bleached bones.