522 Military Resources (1/2)

Wei Song had never doubted the true identity of Slave Huan back in Biyu City. However, when Gu Shenwei went against Golden Roc Fort by claiming to be the son of Yang Zheng (a servant of Gu family), Wei Song suddenly realized who Slave Huan really was.

Wei Song's relationship with Gu Lun had been closer than Gu Shenwei had imagined. He was only a child at the time and had rarely participated the affairs of adults, so he had never witnessed the frequent exchanges and mutual support between Wei Song and Gu Lun in the Court.

Wei Song also knew Yang Zheng -- so well so that he knew the old servant had never married nor had any children. He also knew that Gu Shenwei's nickname was Huan'er.

Wei Song explained why he had not said anything since realizing the truth.

”I was afraid. You were full of hatred at the time, razing people down like weeds, and never compromising. I thought you'd see me as another object of your revenge. And... And I also hated you for killing my son,” he explained.

Gu Shenwei listened to Wei Song's story calmly. ”This is not a bad thing,” he thought. Since Wei Song knew his true identity, both of them could do away with unnecessary tricks and talk more directly. ”You're still a suspect. And I know you still hate me,” Gu Shenwei said.

Wei Song's lips quivered. Barely squeezing out a smile, he said, ”I know. Lingmiao did such a heinous thing. I understand your suspicion, but I swear to God I didn't know that Golden Roc Fort might have allowed him to take part in it because of me. No one ever told me anything,” said Wei Song.

Wei Song said a lot more. He said that he had conducted a thorough investigation over the years, and confirmed that it was the Royal Families of Norland that had hired Golden Roc Fort to exterminate the entire Gu family.

Gu Shenwei did not say whether he believed it or not. He had been watching the changes in Wei Song's facial expressions. This was a sophisticated man who had spent many years in the Central Plain's Court. In terms of putting on a show, the conspirators in the Western Region were rookies compared to him.

However, there was a fatal flaw in Wei Song's story. Gu Shenwei quickly noticed that Wei Song had avoided one thing in his story. Waiting until Wei Song finished talking, Gu Shenwei pointed it out, saying, ”It seems that in Mr. Wei's opinion, the relationship between the Wei family and the Gu family was never broken, and the two families are still close.”

”If that wasn't true, our two familes wouldn't have intermarried . Alas, I didn't know Lingmiao...” said Wei Song.

”I've been curious about one thing: when my father decided to send my sister and me away back then, why did the honorable Governor ask Yang Zheng to take us to Marshal Yang in Shu-lik City?” asked Gu Shenwei.

Wei Song was like a dumb, but over-confident brute who tried to crack a stone with a sword. Exhausted and sweating as he was, the rock would not move. Having tried with all his might, but still failing to crack the Dragon King, Wei Song could only explain, ”Mr. Gu didn't ask you to come to Jade City to find me? He knew that I was going to be the Governor.”

”Hum, my father never mentioned you. During the first two years in Jade City, I didn't even know the Governor was an old acquaintance of my family,” said Gu Shenwei.

Wei Song turned pale. He lowered his head to avoid Gu Shenwei's eyes. All of a sudden he looked much older. ”It seems that Mr. Gu had not forgiven me,” he admitted.

”Here come the old stories again,” Gu Shenwei said to himself.

But this time, there seemed to be more truth in Wei Song's story.

”Mr. Gu and I were both old ministers promoted by the late Emperor. We had been in serious opposition to the other faction of old ministers. When the late Emperor passed away unexpectedly, Mr. Gu wanted to stay away from the Central Plain rather than collude with the former enemies... but I -- The Wei family was a large one in the Central Plain -- and I couldn't abandon it, so I surrendered. Yes, I surrendered. I pledged loyalty to the Empress Dowager and bowed my head to my former political enemies. Mr. Gu didn't like that. Before he left the Central Plain, we had an argument...” he said.

”And Gu Lun still wanted to marry his daughter to the Wei family,” Gu Shenwei said to himself. He could not help but want to pull out the Five Peaks Saber and dig out Wei Song's heart while it was still beating to see what it contained.

”Mr. Wei, have you ever suspected that the Golden Roc killer was hired by the Central Plain?” asked Gu Shenwei.

”Child -- please allow me to call you that -- if you had any knowledge of the Court of the Central Plain, you would understand that the ministers would never think of hiring killers to assasinate political opponents and their families. Besides, Mr. Gu had already left the Central Plain by that time and had no influence on the power of the Court. No, no one would take such a risk. Court disputes were more political disagreements than personal grudges. Otherwise, I would not have been promoted after having changed my political position,” said Wei Song.

”In fact, after returning to the Central Plain from Jade City, I carried out a thorough investigation. Mr. Gu's murder caused great repercussions in the Central Plain. Many ministers, including former political opponents, urged the King to send troops to punish Golden Roc Fort to at least to teach the Supreme King a lesson. But later, another faction believed that the Central Plain was not strong enough in the Western Region at that time. They were afraid that starting a war rashly would offend Norland, so the matter was left unsettled. Anyway, I didn't discover any ministers connected with the Golden Roc Fort. Now that the Golden Roc Fort has basically turned against the Central Plain openly, I have no reason to cover for the ministers,” continued Wei Song.

”So, Mr. Wei, you are sure that Norland is the enemy of the Gu family?” asked Gu Shenwei.

Wei Song had been avoiding the Dragon King's eyes . Upon hearing this question, however, he suddenly looked up and answered loudly, ”Child, I can understand if you don't believe me after Lingmiao did such an evil thing that would incur the wrath of all gods and men. You can investigate and collect evidence yourself, and I will provide you the clues. If there is even one bit of a lie in my words, may heaven strike me dead,” answered Wei Song.

He paused for a moment, and then continued in an eased tone, ”Dragon King, please inquire a little about the Norland King Rizhu. Then you will see that he has been supporting Golden Roc Fort with all his strength, and that his support started just after Mr. Gu's death. You can also inquire about the causes and consequences of his feud with Mr. Gu. Many people in Norland know about it,” he continued.

Wei Song changed the name he'd been using for Gu Shenwei from ”child” to ”Dragon King”, then closed his mouth to indicate that he had finished talking, and it was the Dragon King's decision whether to believe it or not.

Gu Shenwei still didn't believe him. His father might have really had a vendetta against the nobles in Norland, and King Rizhu might have really been behind the massacre, but Gu Shenwei did not believe that Wei Song was innocent of any involvement.

Why was the young son of a senior officer from the Central Plain involved in an assassination ordered by Norland?

Still, he suppressed his feelings. Wei Song was not like Wei Lingmiao. To get the truth from the old fox's mouth, swords were not enough.