Over the course of several days, under General Fang Linyuan’s leadership, the imperial inspector from the capital had nearly turned the entire Yan Prefecture military camp upside down.

The camp’s ledgers, records of grain and pay distribution, detailed logs of warehouse entries and exits, as well as the rosters and numbers of soldiers—everything was meticulously combed through. Not a single issue was found.

Discussions about Fang Linyuan gradually began to grow.

People said that this entire investigation into Yan Prefecture stemmed from General Fang himself. While on a campaign to suppress bandits, General Fang had put undue faith in the crazed ramblings of those very bandits, who claimed that they had been forced into outlawry by General Tan of Yan Prefecture. General Fang then reported these baseless accusations to the court, obtained an imperial edict, and came to investigate General Tan.

Wasn’t this laughable? If the words of every condemned criminal were to be believed, wouldn’t the world descend into chaos?

Soon, rumours in the military were rampant.

As for General Tan Ji, who stood on the sidelines and watched, he was naturally more than happy with the results.

Every couple of days, he would stroll past General Fang’s tent, observe the increasingly agitated expression on Fang’s face, and then casually inquire about the progress of the investigation.

General Fang, naturally, showed him no kindness in return.

Until that day.

That afternoon, after inspecting the camp, Tan Ji once again wandered over to the front of Fang Linyuan’s tent.

Just as he arrived outside, he saw several guards standing there, all looking rather grim. Upon seeing him, the lead guard immediately stepped forward to block his path. “General Tan, please halt,” he said. “Lord Heng is inside.”

Tan Ji glanced toward the tent with a curious expression.

The next moment, a muffled argument could be heard from within.

“General, His Majesty’s decree only authorizes the investigation of internal military affairs. If you have other plans, forgive me, but I cannot comply!”

Following that came the sound of footsteps drawing near, and in the next instant, the tent flap was forcefully flung open.

Their gazes met—Tan Ji and Heng Feizhang both paused in place.

Tan Ji clearly saw the stormy expression clouding Heng Feizhang’s features, his face sombre, brows tightly furrowed.

Seeing Tan Ji, Heng Feizhang faltered in his step, said nothing, and quickly strode off.

The guards at the door hurried after him.

Tan Ji couldn't help but glance at his departing back.

Strange.

Driven by intense curiosity, he lifted the flap and entered the tent. Inside, he was met with the sight of Fang Linyuan pacing with a stormy expression, hands clasped behind his back.

As soon as Fang looked up and saw him, his face grew even darker.

“General Tan, don’t you know you’re supposed to knock when seeing a superior officer?” he barked without preamble.

His tone was cold, but compared to the first day, Tan Ji no longer feared him. Just a paper tiger. After all the fuss these past days, he was already riddled with holes and on the verge of collapse.

Tan Ji smiled deferentially. “My apologies, General Fang. I’ve acted improperly and ask your forgiveness.”

Fang Linyuan said nothing, his face still stormy.

“I saw earlier—was Lord Heng here?” Tan Ji continued. “If you and the lord had any instructions…”

“I already said in camp that these soldiers are poorly trained. Spear technique, formations—all a complete mess. That’s on you as the commanding officer,” Fang cut in.

“Indeed, your criticism is well-deserved, General,” Tan Ji replied, now too lazy to even conceal the contempt in his eyes.

Fortunately, Fang seemed too consumed by anger to notice the disrespect in his expression. “These next few days, arrange a drill. I’ll teach you personally,” Fang declared.

He really intended to go that far?

“Yes, I will give the orders at once,” Tan Ji said, studying Fang Linyuan’s expression as he continued. “Then regarding the investigation into internal affairs…”

“Is training soldiers not internal affairs?” Fang’s fury was immediately reignited by the question.

Facing his intense glare, Tan Ji quickly bowed his head. “Yes, yes, you are absolutely right, General. It’s just that Lord Heng mentioned a few days ago that in a few more days…”

“If he’s in such a rush to return to the capital, he can wait until the drill is done,” Fang snapped.

Tan Ji’s heart leapt in satisfaction. “So the general plans to return after the drill? No need to be in such a hurry—why not stay a few more days…”

“You think my business is for you to meddle in?” Fang looked down at him coldly from above.

“I wouldn't dare!”

“Then do your job properly,” Fang said.

“What I want to see is a full-scale military drill, a grand display. If you can’t make it happen, go bring your Prefect Jiang here too.”

*

Fang Linyuan was getting a headache from playing this game with Tan Ji.

Fortunately, Tan Ji completely bought into it, and that very day smugly went off to make arrangements for a full-camp military drill.

As for Jiang Huaqing, Fang’s groundwork these past few days had paid off.

Heng Feizhang had privately met with Tan Ji once, claiming there were issues in Fang Linyuan’s accounting and that certain matters needed to be discussed with Prefect Jiang directly.

Tan Ji would of course not miss such a golden chance to strike at Fang Linyuan. The moment Heng brought it up, he readily agreed, and soon invited Jiang Huaqing and various officials from Yan Prefecture to come watch the drill.

As for the few merchants—those were personally invited by Fang Linyuan.

Over the past few days, he had already begun packing his belongings. Once the disaster relief grain in the city had been fully distributed, Fang Linyuan summoned those merchants into the military camp as well, seemingly with the intention of having them leave with him.

Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion, the camp remained calm, and in the blink of an eye, the day of the full military drill arrived.

At the break of dawn, Tan Ji had ordered a grand platform to be constructed in the largest training field in the camp.

At the center of the platform was a couch set specifically for Fang Linyuan and Heng Feizhang, while the remaining seats were arranged on either side. Behind the platform, banners fluttered in the wind.

Jiang Huaqing had arrived at the camp early that morning.

Fang Linyuan met him in front of the camp. Just one look at the way Jiang Huaqing was sizing him up, and Fang immediately understood what Jiang was after.

According to Zhao Chu’s intelligence, while Sang Zhixin in the capital did indeed look down on the officials of Yan Prefecture, he also maintained communication with them.

And Fang Linyuan himself had not always been the fool he was now pretending to be. So he could easily deduce that Tan Ji had likely told Jiang Huaqing he was easy to deal with, and Jiang, in turn, had begun to harbour doubts. Thus, while trying to distance himself from Tan Ji, Jiang would also be eager to meet Fang in person—only after confirming with his own eyes that Fang was truly a fool could he rest easy.

Unfortunately, it was already too late.

Jiang Huaqing, concealing his thoughts, studied Fang while saying with apparent sincerity, “General Fang's diligent service to our Yan Prefecture army is truly a great fortune for us.”

Fang Linyuan couldn't even be bothered to play along.

As the guards around them ushered the group toward the drill grounds, he lazily smiled at Jiang Huaqing without saying another word. Let them think what they will. They were already in the pot—who still had the leisure to humour them?

Fang Linyuan smiled but remained silent. By contrast, Heng Feizhang, standing beside him, wore a relatively calm expression. Seeing this, Tan Ji led Jiang Huaqing directly to him, and the small group engaged in seemingly pleasant conversation as they made their way toward the viewing platform.

Fang Linyuan slightly turned his head.

There, behind the officials, walked the several merchants who had accompanied them. The one at the front wore a golden beast-shaped mask and white robes. As Fang looked at him, the man was looking right back.

The arrogant, condescending General Fang quickly winked his right eye at him.

*

Once everyone was seated on the platform, Tan Ji was the first to rise.

He began with a ceremonious and lofty speech, then turned toward Fang Linyuan and respectfully clasped his hands in salute, expressing gratitude that even on the eve of his departure, Fang had not forgotten to show concern for the troops under his command—his heart was truly moved to tears.

Fang Linyuan gave a faint smile and waved a hand, saying, “General overpraises. Let’s begin.”

Tan Ji immediately acknowledged the order and turned to give commands to the soldiers below the platform.

Of course, everyone’s real interest had nothing to do with the drill. It was just soldiers going through motions—there was no invasion, no real threat. Who cared for a bit of spear-wielding and swordplay?

What mattered was the invisible clash of blades above the platform.

“On the way here today,” Jiang Huaqing was the first to speak, smiling, “I heard General Tan mention how General Fang has toiled tirelessly over these past days—rising early and resting late—to cleanse the entire camp. Truly admirable.”

Tan Ji’s gaze swept across those seated.

He glanced at Fang Linyuan, who was reclining against the couch with a faint, unreadable smile and a detached demeanour—clearly not planning to respond to Jiang Huaqing’s comment.

Tan Ji was about to step in with a smooth follow-up when Fang Linyuan’s voice suddenly rang out. “It’s only good fortune that neither Lord Jiang nor General Tan mind me meddling in affairs,” Fang said.

Tan Ji’s brow twitched.

He turned his head to look—Fang Linyuan was smiling, his words addressed to Jiang Huaqing, yet his eyes were fixed on Tan Ji.

For some unknown reason, a faint unease rose in Tan Ji’s heart.

He tilted his head and exchanged a glance with Jiang Huaqing, then burst out laughing and replied, “How could that be! General’s renown in Longxi has long resounded in our ears like thunder. If you’re willing to offer guidance today, it is truly my humble honour!”

“Oh?” Fang Linyuan raised an eyebrow slightly, then lifted his hand and pointed toward the soldiers drilling below the platform. “Take a look, General. Those two over there—weak stances, can’t even hold their spears properly. If soldiers like that go to war, wouldn’t it be walking straight to their deaths?”

Tan Ji gave a cursory glance toward the training field.

He had never bothered much with the soldiers’ drills. Since the founding of the Great Xuan Dynasty, Yan Prefecture had been at peace for well over a century. Who still thought about warfare?

Tan Ji didn’t catch the deeper implication—he simply assumed Fang Linyuan was trying to stir up trouble. Wasn’t this whole inspection of the drills today just a pretext for making a fuss?

Unbothered, Tan Ji chuckled and said to Fang Linyuan, “General is absolutely right! I’ll immediately send someone to pick out those lazy louts. However you wish to punish or discipline them, I await your orders!”

But Fang Linyuan only gave a faint smile and shook his head. “No need,” he said as he stood up, raising a hand to halt the soldiers’ practice below.

The drills came to an abrupt stop, and all eyes turned to Fang Linyuan.

He lazily raised his hand and called, “Heng Feizhang.”

“Yes, sir.”

To the visible surprise of the surrounding officials and soldiers, Heng Feizhang stood up at once, took the ledger from the guard beside him, and presented it respectfully with both hands to Fang Linyuan. There was not the slightest hint of discord in this display of deference and obedience.

Jiang Huaqing instantly turned his head and glared furiously at Tan Ji. But even Tan Ji was frozen in shock.

Next, Fang Linyuan casually opened the ledger with one hand and began calling out names across the training field in a loud, clear voice.

Seventeen or eighteen names in all.

Tan Ji was still full of confusion when he suddenly felt someone beside him timidly tug at his sleeve. “What is it?” he snapped, irritated, turning his head.

He saw that the soldier beside him was wide-eyed in shock, pupils contracted as if he’d seen a ghost, staring at Tan Ji. “General…” the soldier stammered, trembling. “The ones General Fang is calling out… they all… they all entered the camp only half a month ago…”

He dared not say the rest.

Tan Ji’s entire body trembled.

Half a month ago?

The only batch that had entered the camp half a month ago were the commoners he had gathered from all over Yan Prefecture to replenish the losses from last year’s casualties.

How did Fang Linyuan know that? How could he name them, one by one, so precisely?

Staring at Fang Linyuan in disbelief, Tan Ji saw the man holding the roster in one hand, turning to glance at him—with a smile on his face.

Tan Ji shivered as he looked around.

All around the high platform, the guards from the capital who had accompanied Fang Linyuan stood solemnly in place. At a glance, it seemed to be a ceremonious display—but upon closer inspection…

It was clearly a formation of encirclement.

And while he stood there, stunned, the seventeen or eighteen soldiers Fang Linyuan had named had already been pulled out of the ranks and were now sluggishly lining up beneath the platform.

Fang Linyuan withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes to glance again at the ledger, then asked loudly: “Du Chengfu—which one is that?”

A timid voice finally rang out from below. “H-here, sir…”

Fang Linyuan’s gaze swept over him, then he gave a short “Oh” and said, “Three years in the army, and you still don’t know how to hold a horse stance? Who was your instructor—what kind of teaching is that?”

The man stammered and could not give an answer for a long time. These men had only entered the camp two weeks ago and had spent every day aimlessly following the other soldiers around, muddling through. How would they even know the name of their instructor?

When Tan Ji looked at Fang Linyuan again, his face was ashen, like a man awaiting execution.

He had asked those questions on purpose… He knew. Clearly, he knew everything.

But over there, Fang Linyuan didn’t spare him so much as a glance. Smiling, he continued to fix his gaze on the so-called “Du Chengfu,” watching him for a moment before asking: “You don’t even know who your instructor is? Then tell me—what’s your father’s name? How many people are in your family? Which village are you from? How old are you now?”

A string of questions—all of which the man couldn’t answer.

He began trembling all over, unable to utter a single word for a long while. And Fang Linyuan was in no rush. He simply held the roster in his hands, eyes lowered, patiently observing the man’s reaction.

At that moment, a voice interrupted from the side. “General Fang, what exactly are you doing here?”

It was Jiang Huaqing. When Fang Linyuan turned to look, he saw Jiang’s face had gone slightly pale. He had already stood up, and his expression had grown stiff and strained.

Fang Linyuan gave a warm, placid smile. “Just asking a few questions,” he said. “This man can’t even say how old he is. Doesn’t Lord Jiang find that just a bit suspicious?”

As he spoke, he turned back, eyes cold and unreadable as he looked down at the man below. The smile vanished from his face completely.

Those sharp, dark eyes—calm, bright, and utterly commanding—were like those of a god surveying mortals, serene and wrathful all at once. “Speak. Who are you really?”

He gazed down at the man shivering at the base of the platform, his voice low and steady.

 

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The author has something to say:

The surrounding merchants: Oh no, the gods are fighting. I should be under the cart, not here… (frantically trying to disappear)

Zhao Chu: (eyes sparkling)

Nearby merchant: Young Master Zhu! You’re still watching?! Do you have a death wish?!

Zhao Chu: Don’t you think General Fang is super handsome?

Merchant: (glancing at the coldly smirking General Fang) …Young Master Zhu really does have a death wish.

 

Translator : DarNan