Chapter 361 - Chapter 361: Chapter 361: Acting Guard Commander_l (1/2)

Chapter 361: Chapter 361: Acting Guard Commander_l

“This…this, I cannot say just yet, unless your Highness can promise guarantee the life of me and my family!” Zheng Zhongye made his demand.

“You’re already a prisoner, and you still dare to make demands?

“If your Highness does not promise to spare me and my family, I will not reveal the mastermind. Either way, I’m facing death! I have nothing to fear now!”

Chu Lan said, “Do you think that after committing these crimes, I can let you remain alive in this world? At most, I can only spare your wife and children. If you do not agree, no one needs to live.”

What Zheng Zhongye had done struck a chill into the hearts of the soldiers. Chu Lan could not possibly let Zheng Zhongye go, otherwise, it would be hard to appease public outrage.

Zheng Zhongye’s face turned ashen when he realized there was no hope for him.

After contemplating for a while, Zheng Zhongye slowly lifted his head and said, “Alright, as long as your Highness can safeguard my wife and children, I will reveal who commanded me.”

“Fine, I promise you. Speak.”

-Not just yet, I cannot guarantee if your Highness will change his mind. Once I have seen my wife and children and assured that you will not involve them, I will disclose everything.”

After pondering for a while, Chu Lan agreed, “So be it.

“Bring Zheng Zhongye away and guard him strictly,” Chu Lan ordered.

“Wait a moment,” Wei Mingting remarked. “I have one more question for

Commander Zheng.”

“Go ahead, lord Wei,” Chu Lan agreed.

Wei Mingting approached Zheng Zhongye and asked, “Commander Zheng, you have won countless battles and are seen as a hero in the army. Why would you do something that harms your own brothers?” This was something Wei Mingting could neither comprehend nor tolerate.

Zheng Zhongye laughed, “Wei Mingting, you were born into the Loyal and Righteous Duke Residence, yet you have had a hard time in the military. Don’t you know how hard it is for someone of my humble background to climb up the ranks in the army? It is true that I have achieved outstanding war accomplishments and was loved by the soldiers, but what use is that? If you want to ascend the ranks, gain promotions and generous stipends, don’t you have to appease the nobles?”

“I, Zheng Zhongye have no foundations or connections. Even though I was a low-ranking officer in the army, I could only receive a meager stipend with which to support my wife and children. Rapid career advancements have never been about how much you are willing to risk on the battlefield or how many military accomplishments you can amass. If this was the case, I would have to be willing to die ten or eight times before my wife and children could enjoy a good life.”

■■How does it matter whether we lay down our lives at the frontlines? Don’t our lives and destiny still lie in the hands of the civil officials in the capital who know nothing but carousing and joy? With just a few words, they can erase all our hard-earned accomplishments!”

“Stop being naive, Wei Mingting. All that talk about resisting the enemy invaders and defending the nation is a downright lie! The imperial court cannot see us! My defeat was due to my bad luck. But, if I were to follow the rules all my life, I would not even be able to maintain the position of the guard commander.”

Wei Mingting found himself at a loss for words.

Seeing Wei Mingting dazed, Chu Lan gestured to his men to take Zheng Zhongye away.

Zheng Zhongye was hauled up by two soldiers and was on the way out of the tent when he suddenly collapsed on the ground, convulsed, and started throwing up black blood.

Chu Lan shot up from his chair. Wei Mingting also hurriedly stepped forward. “Call the military doctor!” Wei Mingting called for the doctor. But before the doctor could arrive, Zheng Zhongye had already died and lay there motionless. After the examination, the military doctor confirmed that Zheng Zhongye had died from poison.

After conducting a search, a new needle prick wound was discovered on Zheng Zhongye’s waist. As the interrogation of the two soldiers who led Zheng Zhongye away from the tent was about to begin, one of them suddenly dropped dead under similar circumstances.

This substantiated what Zheng Zhongye had claimed. There were definitely individuals manipulating behind the scenes, and there was more than one such person in the military. But there was no longer any chance for Zheng Zhongye to reveal who it was.

This was where the an investigation hit a dead end and all Chu Lan could do

was to leave it at that.

After reporting the matter to the imperial court, they would have to wait for the Emperor’s decree.