The Ning Army’s main encampment. A single tent served as a makeshift interrogation room — though none of that truly mattered. The room, the instruments, none of it was important. What mattered was that whenever Zhang Tang sat across from someone, he was more effective than any of it.

Zhang Tang sat in an open space. That open space became the interrogation room. The moment he opened his mouth to ask a question, it was as if the instruments had already been applied.

Liu Yuan sat across from Zhang Tang. Even a man like him could not entirely suppress a flicker of unease.

As a seasoned intelligence operative with years of experience, Liu Yuan understood how interrogations worked. He knew that once Zhang Tang gained psychological control, there would be nothing left of you.

So before Zhang Tang could open his mouth, Liu Yuan decided to speak first — to disrupt Zhang Tang’s rhythm.

“Why didn’t you dislocate my jaw?”

Liu Yuan asked.

Zhang Tang glanced at him, said nothing, and lowered his head to straighten the blank dossier in his hands. Only after tidying it did he look up at Liu Yuan again.

But he did not answer. Instead, he turned the question back: “Why would I need to dislocate your jaw?”

Liu Yuan gave a faint smile. “You’ve broken all four of my limbs. If I were to bite off my tongue, what could you possibly get from me?”

Zhang Tang: “Then why haven’t you?”

Liu Yuan froze.

That single counter-question had thrown off the entire plan he had just laid out in his mind.

Liu Yuan drew a slow breath, reminding himself inwardly not to lose composure.

Given his current situation, if he could provoke Zhang Tang into losing his temper and killing him on the spot — that would be victory.

He knew how terrifying the Tingwei Corps’ methods of punishment were. Falling into Zhang Tang’s hands was worse than descending into the underworld.

So dying quickly was already the best outcome he could hope for.

Zhang Tang set the blank dossier he had just tidied aside, then waved his hand, signaling the subordinate who had been grinding ink to leave as well.

Now only Zhang Tang and Liu Yuan remained in the tent. And in that moment, Liu Yuan knew — Zhang Tang’s offensive was about to begin.

Zhang Tang set down the dossier. He stopped bothering with the ink. It seemed almost as if he were telling Liu Yuan: *I never actually intended to ask you anything.*

Liu Yuan sensed this was Zhang Tang applying pressure. But he was not afraid. If Zhang Tang was not going to ask questions, if pressure was all he had — then the only threat left was death. And death was exactly what Liu Yuan was hoping for.

Zhang Tang said: “You didn’t bite off your tongue because you know it won’t actually kill you — is that it?”

Liu Yuan went rigid.

Zhang Tang continued: “Biting your tongue won’t kill you. The correct method of suicide by tongue is to bite off as large a piece as possible and then swallow it, causing a blockage that results in asphyxiation. It requires considerable technique. If the piece is too small, it simply gets swallowed. To bite off a large enough piece and still force yourself to swallow it — that is far more difficult.”

He met Liu Yuan’s gaze. “If you’d like to try, I can help. I’ll have someone cut out your tongue and stuff it into your windpipe. No need to put yourself through the trouble.”

Liu Yuan’s complexion had already changed.

Zhang Tang crossed one leg over the other, smoothed his robes, and sat there with elegant composure.

“Now, allow me to answer your question — why I took no precautions against you biting off your tongue. There are two reasons.”

Zhang Tang held up one finger. “First: your four limbs were broken, but your tendons were not severed. So the broken bones are no cause for concern — rest for a while and they’ll mend. Writing is not physical labor; it doesn’t even require a hundred days of recovery.”

He looked at Liu Yuan and said: “Which means I have exactly the time it takes for your bones to heal to do as I please with you. I need no answers from you during that period — I’ll simply torment you every day, and when your arms are strong enough to hold a brush, I’ll ask my questions then. Prince Ning has told me there’s no rush. This battle will drag on for a long time. The Yongzhou Army has no easy path across the river now. Holding out one or two months is no problem.”

Zhang Tang raised a second finger. “Second: do you think I actually want to uncover the truth?”

Liu Yuan narrowed his eyes. At first, he did not quite grasp what Zhang Tang meant.

But it didn’t take long before it dawned on him — and when it did, the color drained from his face until there was none left.

He had not expected it. Zhang Tang, that ruthless official — was actually willing to go this far.

Zhang Tang had no intention of extracting a confession. He wanted to kill as many people as possible.

Zhang Tang’s voice remained calm as ever. “You should know that I am not part of the intelligence corps. I have never thought much of intelligence operatives — especially those from the Mountain-River Seal and the Cloud-Mist Map. If I could use this opportunity to eliminate every last one of them, I would be more than happy to do so.”

“I can sit here with you without asking a single question. Yesterday I went to Prince Ning and requested full authority to handle this case — including the right to act with sole discretion. Prince Ning said he would consider it.”

Zhang Tang said: “The fact that Prince Ning did not immediately refuse means there is still a chance.”

He paused there, then — unexpectedly — smiled. “So your testimony means nothing to me. You’re welcome not to believe me, of course.”

Liu Yuan’s face was ashen. It felt as though his very heart had begun to tremble.

He had spent his life as an intelligence operative, living daily in danger. He had believed himself strong enough — immune to threats.

Yet Zhang Tang’s words sent chills crawling through him — rising cold from the marrow of his bones.

Zhang Tang was capable of doing exactly what he described. And he was willing.

In other words, the reason Zhang Tang existed under Prince Ning was precisely to do these things. If Prince Ning did not need a man like him, Zhang Tang would not exist.

So when others spoke such words, it might be a threat. When Zhang Tang spoke them, it was simply a statement of fact.

Watching Liu Yuan fall into silence, Zhang Tang waited a moment. When no words came, he rose and made to leave.

“Rest and recover. If I don’t come back for a long time, it means Prince Ning has granted my request. If I return soon — then you… I pity you, because that would only mean I have nowhere else to vent my frustrations.”

With those words, Zhang Tang turned and walked out of the tent.

Outside the tent, Gui Yuanshu had been leaning against a tree listening to the entire exchange. He looked at Zhang Tang now with an odd expression.

Because he too understood clearly that Zhang Tang was not threatening anyone. Zhang Tang genuinely wanted to purge the entire intelligence corps from top to bottom.

Seeing that expression on Gui Yuanshu’s face, Zhang Tang asked: “Do you think what I intend to do is excessively brutal?”

Gui Yuanshu did not know how to answer.

After a moment, he shook his head. “No.”

Zhang Tang gave a single nod. “Thank you.”

Gui Yuanshu said: “If our lord truly grants your request, what do you plan to do?”

Zhang Tang had already taken a few steps forward. He stopped, turned to look at Gui Yuanshu. “If our lord truly grants my request, you should be receiving a transfer order before long.”

Gui Yuanshu went quiet.

The intelligence corps had been so thoroughly infiltrated by the enemy — no, to be precise, nearly half of the intelligence corps *were* the enemy’s people. It was beyond salvaging.

So Zhang Tang’s meaning was clear: if their lord agreed, it would mean the intelligence corps was to cease to exist.

There might be something new in the future, but this old institution would be swept away completely by Zhang Tang.

Just then, a personal guard came running from a distance, stopping before Gui Yuanshu with a cupped-fist salute. “Deputy Director Gui, our lord requests your presence.”

Gui Yuanshu’s heart lurched.

About half a shichen later, Gui Yuanshu emerged from Li Chi’s central command tent, tilted his head back to look at the sky, then released a long, heavy breath.

Zhang Tang, who had been waiting outside, glanced at him, then said in an even tone: “Congratulations are in order.”

Gui Yuanshu looked at Zhang Tang, then lowered his head and walked away.

For his great merit in defeating the Yongzhou Army, Li Chi had promoted him to the Third Rank, effective immediately. He was to be transferred into a military post and serve under Xiahou Zuo’s command.

The intelligence corps was to be temporarily handed over to Zhang Tang for reorganization.

Gui Yuanshu had taken a few steps when he turned back to look at Zhang Tang. “Many of them are men of merit.”

Zhang Tang looked at him. “Do you think our lord hasn’t considered that?”

Gui Yuanshu nodded slowly. “I was afraid *you* hadn’t considered it.”

Zhang Tang broke into a grin — a grin that sent a wave of cold dread through Gui Yuanshu’s chest.

Since Gui Yuanshu was now to serve under Xiahou Zuo’s command, he left Prince Ning’s central command tent and went directly to Xiahou Zuo’s tent.

He had barely arrived when he saw Xiahou Zuo emerge from the tent, a thick ledger in hand.

Seeing Gui Yuanshu, Xiahou Zuo smiled. “I was just about to come find you, and here you are.”

Gui Yuanshu bowed. “General, what are your orders?”

Xiahou Zuo held out the thick ledger. “Last night, our lord and I talked for a long time — talked nearly until dawn.”

He gestured toward the open ground ahead. “Let’s walk. I’ll explain as we go.”

Gui Yuanshu took the ledger and fell into step beside Xiahou Zuo.

As they walked, Xiahou Zuo said: “Our lord told me you are being asked to come under my command temporarily — not so you can be a soldier taking orders, but to prepare you for recruiting personnel.”

“Recruiting personnel?”

Gui Yuanshu instinctively repeated the words.

Xiahou Zuo pointed at the thick ledger. “That is a list I stayed up through the night to compile for you after I returned — the finest men from my ranks. To be honest, transferring these men to you… it genuinely pains me.”

Xiahou Zuo let out a hearty laugh. “Fortunately, our lord has agreed that the new intelligence organization — to be called the Bureau of Military Secrets — will remain under my command for the time being. Half the personnel will be provided by me, and the other half you will recruit yourself.”

Hearing this, Gui Yuanshu suddenly understood. He also now understood why Zhang Tang had worn that faintly mocking expression outside Prince Ning’s tent a short while ago.

Zhang Tang had asked him: *Do you think our lord hasn’t considered that?*

Recalling that mockery now, it felt like it could have landed directly on his face.

Xiahou Zuo said: “The brothers from the old intelligence corps never had proper military ranks on record. Our lord has actually been thinking for some time about how to formalize their identities — but as you know, operatives working undercover outside make formalizing their identities very difficult, because it could actually endanger them.”

Gui Yuanshu said: “I understand.”

Xiahou Zuo said: “This is a good opportunity to purge all the Mountain-River Seal and Cloud-Mist Map elements from the ranks. Our lord will likely leave that to Zhang Tang — no one is better suited for it. Just as building the Bureau of Military Secrets, no one is better suited than you.”

Xiahou Zuo stopped and clapped Gui Yuanshu on the shoulder. “Get together with Zhang Tang as soon as possible and give him a list of the names you want.”

Gui Yuanshu understood exactly what *as soon as possible* meant. He turned immediately. “I’ll go now.”

Xiahou Zuo smiled and added: “Also… Tingwei has personally designed the official uniforms for the Bureau of Military Secrets. You might want to go pay him your respects about that as well.”

Gui Yuanshu laughed. “Will do!”

—

Central Command Tent.

Li Chi looked at Zhang Tang. “The matter is in your hands now. Handle it as you see fit — no need to report to me at every step.”

Zhang Tang bowed. “This subject obeys.”

Li Chi smiled. “Last night at the council, Tingwei said your body carries too heavy a scent of blood. He worried it might bring retribution upon you, so he wanted Old Zhenren to write a talisman for you to wear.”

Zhang Tang smiled and asked: “Did the Old Zhenren write one?”

Li Chi pointed at a sword hanging from the tent post. “Old Zhenren said: what good is a talisman? He gave him a sword instead. Whatever retribution dares to come, just stab it — no talisman needed.”

Zhang Tang let out a laugh he couldn’t suppress.

Li Chi smiled. “Listen to Old Zhenren. He is the leader of the Daoist order — he embodies the virtue of cherishing life.”

Zhang Tang could no longer contain it and broke into open laughter.

He lifted the sword from its place, took it in hand, then turned to Li Chi and bowed deeply. He straightened, held his head high, and strode out.

—