Out on the street, Deputy Minister of War Jiang Qianneng and Chief Justice Gui Yuanshu rode together in the same carriage toward the Hero Assembly’s encampment.

Inside the carriage, Gui Yuanshu said nothing. Jiang Qianneng naturally understood why he said nothing.

“Does Minister Gui feel I was too ruthless?”

Jiang Qianneng straightened his official robes — the garment was new, as he had only just been promoted to Deputy Minister of War.

For a man of his age to reach the rank of Third Grade Senior Official in Dachu, even in peaceful times, that would have been genuinely remarkable.

His movements were gentle. As Chief Justice, Gui Yuanshu could see at a glance how much Jiang Qianneng treasured his official robes.

Gui Yuanshu said: “Minister Jiang received this appointment in a moment of crisis. Using extraordinary measures in extraordinary times — it is entirely reasonable.”

Jiang Qianneng gave a bitter laugh.

“What choice did I have?”

Jiang Qianneng’s voice took on a note of sorrow: “If I’m not mistaken, this set of Deputy Minister’s robes — more than two years ago — was supposed to be worn by Minister Gui.”

Gui Yuanshu was slightly taken aback. He had not expected Jiang Qianneng to say this.

Jiang Qianneng said: “At the time, I was a Sixth Grade Secretary in the Ministry of War. When I heard the news, I was both delighted and full of anticipation.”

He looked at Gui Yuanshu: “I should actually address you as Elder Brother from the Academy. You simply don’t know who I am.”

Gui Yuanshu was taken aback again: “You… were also a student of the Yuanshang Academy?”

“Yes…”

Jiang Qianneng answered: “Elder Brother graduated three years before me. Back then, you were the target I set my sights on — and my model to follow.”

“When Elder Brother was at the Yuanshang Academy, you once spoke before three thousand students about what it means to be young — what it means to have an edge, to forge ahead without hesitation, to have a heart devoted to serving the nation. How many of us were like me, listening to those words and taking Elder Brother as the goal and ideal for our lives.”

He looked at Gui Yuanshu: “After I graduated from the Yuanshang Academy, I placed first in the palace examinations and was appointed by His Majesty to the Ministry of War. At the time, Elder Brother was a Fifth Grade General in the Ferocious Cavalry. You would occasionally come to the Ministry of War, and I watched you several times from a distance — envying you, because you came from the Academy and yet could wear armor and lead troops.”

Gui Yuanshu also gave a small smile — equally bitter.

The Ferocious Cavalry’s prowess in battle was known to all.

More than three years ago, the Ferocious Cavalry had been ordered by the new Emperor to leave the capital and place themselves under the command of Prince Wu.

While on the road, they encountered rebel forces. Three thousand six hundred Ferocious Cavalry soldiers slaughtered nearly forty-nine thousand rebels, leaving bodies scattered across the field.

Yet what was shameful was that the nephew of the Minister of War, Zhao Jingzhong — one Zhao Kelin, who had been propped up by his uncle to the position of Supreme Left Guard General — appropriated the Ferocious Cavalry’s military achievement for himself.

At the time, the Supreme Left Guard’s thirty-six thousand府兵府兵 garrison soldiers were encamped not far from the rebels and stood by watching as the rebels burned, killed, and pillaged — doing nothing.

Refugees fleeing the carnage knelt outside the Left Guard’s camp begging to be saved. Zhao Kelin ordered the refugees slaughtered, reported them as rebel forces, and claimed the kill count as military merit.

The Ferocious Cavalry happened to pass through this area, and the rebel leader had apparently lost his mind — thinking that this small force of a few thousand could be beaten, wanting to seize their weapons, armor, and warhorses.

So nearly fifty thousand rebels launched a fierce assault on the Ferocious Cavalry. In the battle, the Ferocious Cavalry killed over twenty thousand rebels, and the remainder fled in all directions in terror.

That was when the Left Guard arrived. Zhao Kelin announced he was taking command and told the Ferocious Cavalry they were free to go.

The Ferocious Cavalry’s Fourth Grade General Guan Sheng refused to accept this and went to Zhao Kelin’s camp to argue. Zhao Kelin ordered him bound, and he was whipped to death.

Zhao Kelin, fearing the truth would leak, ordered the Ferocious Cavalry — who had just fought a brutal engagement — to pursue the fleeing rebel remnants.

Worried that the Ferocious Cavalry, as elite soldiers, might overcome whatever he arranged, he first ordered them on a forced march north for two days and two nights. Then he sent word redirecting them — a forced march to the southeast, another day and night.

Zhao Kelin, meanwhile, personally led troops and set an ambush in the forest, slaughtering nearly all two thousand eight hundred Ferocious Cavalry soldiers who had just fought a major battle and were wholly depleted.

Gui Yuanshu was not among the soldiers who were ambushed that day.

During the earlier engagement against the rebels, he had personally cut down over thirty enemies but had also sustained serious wounds. General Guan Sheng had sent a few men to escort him back to Daxing to recover.

They were halfway there when the news reached them: the Ferocious Cavalry had been annihilated.

The Supreme Left Guard General Zhao Kelin submitted a memorial to the court claiming the Ferocious Cavalry had advanced recklessly, resulting in their complete annihilation, and that General Guan Sheng had committed grave dereliction of duty — an unpardonable offense.

He wrote that if not for Zhao Kelin personally leading the Left Guard to engage and utterly destroy the tens of thousands of rebels, all of the Left Guard’s warhorses, weapons, and armaments might have fallen into rebel hands.

In this engagement, the Left Guard reported eliminating over forty thousand rebel forces and then pursuing and killing the rebel leader over hundreds of li.

At the time, Minister of War Zhao Jingzhong knelt before the Emperor in the palace and loudly denounced General Guan Sheng of the Ferocious Cavalry — condemning him as an irredeemable criminal who had caused the destruction of three thousand six hundred elite soldiers.

Poor General Guan Sheng — who had led the Ferocious Cavalry to break through an enemy force many times their number — was executed after death, his family wiped out and their home stripped bare.

And the Supreme Left Guard General Zhao Kelin, for his distinguished military achievement, was ennobled as a First Rank Marquis.

Although Gui Yuanshu had not personally witnessed the battle in which the Ferocious Cavalry was destroyed, he understood exactly what had happened.

But he had no evidence. And he stood utterly alone.

He ran about for days, seeking justice for the Ferocious Cavalry, seeking to clear the names of the fallen soldiers — to clear the name of General Guan Sheng.

Instead, he was accused by Minister of War Zhao Jingzhong of spreading false and seditious rumors, and was directly arrested by the Military Supervisory Office.

Inside the Military Supervisory Office, Gui Yuanshu was beaten until he was covered in wounds and barely clinging to life.

Had it not been that Prince Wu happened to return from Jizhou at that exact moment — coming to the capital to report on the Jizhou campaign — and heard of the Ferocious Cavalry’s matter, then personally mentioned before His Majesty that this Gui Yuanshu was a person of exceptional ability… Gui Yuanshu would likely have died there and then.

And His Majesty had known nothing of the fact that Gui Yuanshu had been thrown into the Military Supervisory Office’s cells — the Emperor had thought Gui Yuanshu was resting at home recovering from his injuries.

Before Prince Wu departed, he warned Zhao Jingzhong that if he continued his crimes and misconduct, he would invoke the Imperial Disciplinary Rod.

Zhao Jingzhong did not dare antagonize Prince Wu, and so he released Gui Yuanshu. But he told Gui Yuanshu: *If you breathe a word about being imprisoned in the Military Supervisory Office’s cells, I will not release the condolence payments for the Ferocious Cavalry’s fallen soldiers.*

Who could truly understand the state of Gui Yuanshu’s heart in that moment?

Jiang Qianneng said: “I can understand how agonizing that must have been for Elder Brother. Because I was in the Ministry of War at the time…”

“And then later, I heard that Elder Brother went to petition Prince Wu, asking him to arrange a position for you in the Ministry of War — in truth, you simply wanted to personally ensure that the condolence payments for the three thousand six hundred fallen Ferocious Cavalry soldiers were distributed…”

Jiang Qianneng exhaled a long breath: “You were willing to work under Zhao Jingzhong — just so the families of the fallen could receive that meager condolence payment.”

He looked at Gui Yuanshu: “So at the time, I was desperately hoping you would come. I even privately swore to myself — as long as Elder Brother came, I would stake my life to stand alongside you and fight Zhao Jingzhong to the end…”

“But in the end, Elder Brother never came to the Ministry of War. And I, too, remained the useless, ineffective Secretary I had always been. Fortunately, I was transferred to the Military Supervisory Office, where I was able to do at least something — however small — for the brothers who served as soldiers…”

Jiang Qianneng’s eyes were bloodshot: “Elder Brother — back in the Imperial Study just now, you may have all thought I was too ruthless. But that was the fate they deserved.”

He asked Gui Yuanshu: “Elder Brother — do you want revenge?”

Gui Yuanshu immediately understood what Jiang Qianneng meant.

In an instant, his own eyes began to redden.

Minister of War Zhao Jingzhong had been stripped of his office, confined to his home, barred from coming or going, and forbidden from receiving visitors. But it was clear to all that, because the Left Guard’s tens of thousands of elite soldiers remained in Zhao Kelin’s hands, even His Majesty had reservations — and so even His Majesty had not dared to simply execute Zhao Jingzhong.

The moment Zhao Kelin learned the news, those tens of thousands of Dachu garrison soldiers could become rebels.

Zhao Kelin commanded his forces in the field and had persistently refused to return to Daxing on imperial order — his intent to rebel was plain for all to see.

Jiang Qianneng said: “The reason I pulled you out here, Elder Brother — to handle this matter together with me — is because I know how much pain has been living inside you these past few years. The blood of the three thousand six hundred brothers of the Ferocious Cavalry has been flowing through your heart all this time.”

He closed his eyes. In his mind was the image of Gui Yuanshu from years ago, kneeling on the street, weeping and wailing in despair.

That solitary, helpless figure. Tears and blood streaked across his face.

*”Elder Brother… what else could I do?”*

He clenched his fist.

—

Half an hour later, outside the gates of Zhao Jingzhong’s residence, the carriage came to a stop. Jiang Qianneng stepped out.

Imperial Guard soldiers stationed outside, under imperial orders, were guarding Zhao Jingzhong’s compound and permitting no one to enter or leave.

“I am the newly appointed Deputy Minister of War, Jiang Qianneng.”

Jiang Qianneng stepped forward, drew out an imperial decree and raised it high with one hand: “By imperial command, I am here to interrogate the criminal official Zhao Jingzhong.”

The decree he held was actually the order for the execution of Zheng Tuohai and the other condemned prisoners — Zhao Jingzhong’s name did not appear in it at all.

Jiang Qianneng looked at the Guard Captain: “Is it necessary to verify the decree?”

The Captain glanced at the rolled-up imperial scroll, then stepped back: “No verification is needed. Please proceed, Minister.”

Not long after — roughly a quarter of an hour — Zhao Jingzhong and his close family members were brought out, totaling about twenty people.

Jiang Qianneng ordered them loaded into several carriages, while Zhao Jingzhong himself was brought aboard Jiang Qianneng’s personal carriage.

“Minister Zhao — please.”

Jiang Qianneng made a gesture of invitation.

Zhao Jingzhong glanced at Jiang Qianneng’s official robes and gave a cold snort: “Who would have thought — Minister Jiang has risen quite smoothly.”

Jiang Qianneng said: “Minister Zhao need not worry. His Majesty’s intention is simply to go through the formalities. Before long, Minister Zhao will be reinstated, and I will still need Minister Zhao’s guidance.”

Zhao Jingzhong gave another cold snort and stepped into the carriage.

The moment he got in, he saw Gui Yuanshu sitting there. Zhao Jingzhong’s expression shifted: “Why are you here too.”

Gui Yuanshu looked at him, the corners of his mouth twitching again and again.

“I am here under imperial order, to escort Minister Zhao for part of the journey.”

After answering, Gui Yuanshu closed his eyes and said nothing more.

—

Another quarter-hour later, as the procession approached the Hero Assembly’s encampment, both sides of the street were already packed wall to wall with participants.

Everyone was watching the carriages, and the shouting grew louder and louder.

Zhao Jingzhong suddenly realized what was happening. He wrenched the window open and looked outside — the furious crowd was like a burning sea of fire.

“Something’s wrong!”

Zhao Jingzhong immediately panicked: “Where are you taking me? I demand to enter the palace and see His Majesty!”

Gui Yuanshu suddenly moved — he grabbed Zhao Jingzhong and hauled him close, then pummeled him with over a dozen strikes in rapid succession.

Those dozen blows split the skin of Zhao Jingzhong’s face open and left it a bloody ruin. Gui Yuanshu’s own knuckles were broken and bleeding.

“Elder Brother!”

Jiang Qianneng pulled Gui Yuanshu back and shook his head: “Elder Brother — let the wicked be ground down by the wicked.”

Gui Yuanshu nodded, settled back in his seat, and breathed in great heaving gasps.

—

The procession moved slowly into the encampment, and the crowd pressing around them grew denser and denser.

All the condemned were shoved and pushed up onto the high platform of the parade ground. Jiang Qianneng strode quickly up to the top, swept his gaze across the shouting, surging crowd below, and what he saw looked to him like demons and monsters.

And kneeling beside him — also demons and monsters.

“By Imperial Decree!”

Jiang Qianneng called out in a loud voice, then unfurled the decree and read it aloud.

That long roll call of names gradually brought the crowd on the parade ground to silence.

When Jiang Qianneng finished reading, he passed the scroll to the attendant at his side. Then he raised his voice and declared: “His Majesty says — those who rob the nation, those who bring chaos to the people, should be handed over to the people for judgment. He commands that these traitorous criminals be given to all of you.”

He grabbed Zhao Jingzhong and hauled him up, then shoved him off the platform.

The crowd initially lurched backward. Zhao Jingzhong crashed to the ground.

Slowly, one person worked up the courage and stepped forward — then suddenly let out a shout: “Kill them!”

And the crowd surged forward as one.

The condemned were pushed off the platform one by one, and one by one they were beaten into a pulp by the furious crowd.

Jiang Qianneng glanced at Gui Yuanshu. Both men simultaneously knelt on the platform.

“Ferocious Cavalry — three thousand six hundred soldiers. Your debt of blood is paid.”

They bowed their heads to the ground, heavily.

Jiang Qianneng straightened back up, still kneeling, eyes bloodshot, and spoke to himself in a murmur: “Elder Brother — your vengeance is done.”

As he said those words, he bit down, and tears of blood formed at the corners of his eyes.

Because the Ferocious Cavalry’s General Guan Sheng — he was the Elder Brother who had stood at the gates of the Academy on Jiang Qianneng’s very first day, and smiled at him with such warmth and kindness.

—