roccoschili Chapter 7: The Eastern Depot is mobilized to kill all the officers who set the fire!
Chapter 7: The Eastern Depot is mobilized to kill all the officers who set the fire!
After leaving the Qianqing Palace, Cao Zhengchun's heart was filled with murderous intent.
Zhu Houzhao's rage terrified him.
He understood that the Emperor's anger could only be quelled through bloodshed and death.
Anyone who infringes upon the imperial authority shall die!
This is the meaning of their existence as factory guards.
Cao Zhengchun did not go straight to the various guard posts, but instead returned to the Eastern Depot's office first.
"Pi Xiaotian!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
Pi Xiaotian, the chief of the Eastern Depot, stepped forward and stood in front of Cao Zhengchun.
He had white eyebrows and white hair, and was an excellent archer.
In addition to being the head of the Eastern Depot, Pi Xiaotian also led a black-clad archer team, specializing in assassinations.
Cao Zhengchun's face was devoid of its usual playful smile, replaced only by deep anger.
"You shall immediately lead a contingent of agents from the Eastern Depot to kill the officers of the Jinghai, Daxing, Ninghe, and Wuqing garrisons."
"Anyone who resists may be executed!"
"Yes, Supervisor!"
After receiving the order, Pi Xiaotian immediately gathered the black-clad archers and headed towards Jinghai Guard.
After Cao Zhengchun reassembled some of the Eastern Depot's agents, he headed towards the other garrisons that were on fire.
Huairouwei, this was also a garrison that caught fire.
Only after the granary was burned down did Xu Jingyu, the commander of Huairou Guard, feel somewhat relieved.
Although he bears responsibility for the grain warehouse fire due to inadequate supervision, it is still a lighter charge than corruption.
He didn't have to wait long before Cao Zhengchun arrived at Huairouwei with the people from the Eastern Depot.
Xu Jingyu hurriedly led his personal guards to greet him.
Before Cao Zhengchun could even stop his horse, Xu Jingyu said with a look of annoyance.
"Eunuch Cao, it's all my fault for not supervising properly!"
"Before you even came to inspect it, the granary suddenly caught fire!"
"I will certainly write a proper memorial and personally apologize to His Majesty!"
His expression and appearance were exactly the same as those of Liu Yong, the commander of Miyun Guard.
Cao Zhengchun habitually chuckled coldly, "No need. In my opinion, there's no need for you to write this petition of apology anymore."
"Eunuch Cao, what do you mean by this?"
Xu Jingyu's expression changed, and he asked warily.
Cao Zhengchun sneered twice, then suddenly ordered, "Come on, arrest all the officers of Huairou Guard and execute them!"
"Any resistance will be met with immediate execution!"
"Yes, Supervisor!"
In an instant, the agents of the Eastern Depot sprang into action, wielding sharp blades, and attacked the numerous officers of Huairou Guard.
Xu Jingyu was filled with shock and rage, and immediately shouted, "What right does your Eastern Depot have to kill me?!"
"Brothers, grab your knives, let's fight our way back!"
Cao Zhengchun sneered: "His Majesty has decreed that all officers in any garrison that catches fire shall be executed along with their entire families!"
"This matter has nothing to do with ordinary soldiers. Soldiers who do not want to be implicated, lay down your weapons immediately!"
"If they resist, they will be killed without mercy!"
"What?!"
Xu Jingyu was terrified and his mind was in turmoil.
He never expected that Zhu Houzhao would be so ruthless.
In every garrison that caught fire, without even investigating the cause, the officers and their entire families were executed?!
Isn't Your Majesty afraid of rebellion by the officers of the local garrisons?!
Before Xu Jingyu could think too much, the agents of the Eastern Depot had already attacked the garrison officers.
His garrison soldiers, fearing implication, all laid down their weapons and ceased all resistance.
Without the numerical advantage of soldiers, these officers were no different from lambs to the slaughter in the hands of the Eastern Depot agents.
Watching the officers around him die one after another, Xu Jingyu finally regretted it!
But it was too late.
"All rivers flow into the sea!"
Cao Zhengchun casually made a move and smashed Xu Jingyu's head with a single palm strike!
On the other side, outside Jinghaiwei, several miles away.
Pi Xiaotian held eight sharp arrows in his hand and drew the bowstring taut.
The next moment, eight sharp arrows swiftly pierced the wind and struck the commander of Jinghai Guard and seven other officers on the forehead with lightning speed.
In the blink of an eye, eight officers of Jinghaiwei died.
Just as the soldiers of Jinghaiwei were at a loss, Pi Xiaotian drew his long sword.
"All officers of the Eastern Depot, heed my command! Storm into Jinghai Guard and slaughter all officers!"
"Yes, boss!"
The next moment, Pi Xiaotian led a group of Dongchang agents, like wolves entering a sheepfold, and attacked the officers of Jinghaiwei.
……
Shenhou Mansion.
The investigation by the Four Great Constables has made some progress, but the progress is far from satisfactory to Zhuge Zhengwo.
"After investigating for so many days, you've only found this few people?!"
Zhuge Zhengwo looked at the list in his hand, slammed it on the table, and was furious.
"They're all small fry, not a single official of the fourth rank or higher. Do you expect me to submit this list to His Majesty?!"
"I, Zhuge Zheng, cannot afford to lose face like this!"
The four men, Wuqing, Tieshou, Lengxue, and Zhuiming, sat in front of Zhuge Zhengwo, their faces somewhat grim.
They rarely saw Zhuge Zhengwo so angry, and for a moment they were at a loss for how to deal with it.
"Uncle, we have too few clues right now. And you won't allow us to torture those Grand Secretaries, Ministers, and Dukes, so we're helpless!"
"Shut up! Still making excuses!"
Zhuge Zhengwo slammed his fist on the table: "Is interrogation the only crime-solving skill I've taught you?"
"Those Grand Secretaries, Ministers, and Dukes—without concrete evidence, who would dare to torture them except by order of His Majesty himself?!"
"Cold-blooded, didn't you say you could do better than those imperial guards? Didn't you want His Majesty to give you a chance?"
"Now that you have the chance, why can't you seize it?!"
Faced with Zhuge Zhengwo's questioning, Leng Xue looked embarrassed, lowered his head, gritted his teeth, and did not utter a word in rebuttal.
The four constables all felt somewhat aggrieved.
This time, they only caught some small fry, a result that clearly did not satisfy His Majesty.
But you can't entirely blame the Four Great Constables. There were too few clues, and they couldn't torture these Grand Secretaries, Ministers, and Dukes.
Even if they can guess some of the candidates, without substantial evidence, they cannot easily make a decision.
Just then, someone came to report.
"Lord Divine Marquis, Cao Zhengchun, the Director of the Eastern Depot, requests an audience."
"Cao Zhengchun, what's he doing here?!"
"Could there be a trap here?"
This was Zhuge Zhengwo's first reaction upon receiving the news.
It's no wonder Zhuge Zhengwo was so cautious; the Six Doors and the Eastern Depot both served His Majesty, so there was some competition between them.
Normally they keep to themselves, but this time Yu Huatian's West Depot stole the show, and Cao Zhengchun's East Depot also made a contribution.
Only the Six Doors had accomplished nothing, which made it difficult for Zhuge Zhengwo to maintain a good impression of Cao Zhengchun.
Furthermore, Zhuge Zhengwo already disliked Cao Zhengchun, and his dislike only intensified at this moment.
But after thinking for a moment, Zhuge Zheng thought for a moment and said, "Let's go see what tricks Cao Zhengchun is up to!"
"Yes, Uncle."
Zhuge Zhengwo led the Four Great Constables to the main hall of the Divine Marquis's Mansion.