Lin Yi fixed his gaze and noticed that these soldiers were very different from the usual troops he saw.
That’s not right, why is there one with both eyes blinded? And one so old that all his teeth have fallen out?
Could they be the decrepit and disabled soldiers replaced by the Eighth Prince at the Border?
’Alas, to think that they left their hos in their pri to guard the Border, only to be treated without the respect and dignity they deserve in their old age.’
With this thought, Lin Yi retracted the dart he had hidden in his sleeve; he couldn’t bear to harm them, they were innocent.
So, he simply revealed his gold dal and declared loudly, "That’s right, I am the Inspector sent by the Emperor."
Lin Yi quickly recalled the na of a newly promoted official among the Civil and Military Officials, to bluff Guo Huaimu.
’That’s it, Judge Zhong was promoted by my own recomndation, even if Guo Huaimu wants to verify it and contacts the people of the Eighth Prince, it would take five days to make the round trip.’
’Heh heh, my urgent ssage will reach the little Emperor within two days, Guo Huaimu certainly won’t wait for the result of the verification; the Holy Decree of dismissal will arrive first.’
When Guo Huaimu heard that the man before him was the Inspector dispatched by the court, he instantly beca unsettled.
He had been an Inspector for nearly twenty years and this was the first ti he heard that soone from above was sent down.
Could it be that all those shady dealings he had done were exposed?
"Wait, you all back off, let see."
Guo Huaimu, half doubtful, approached and asked, "You say you’re the Inspector, can you be identified just by a gold dal?"
Indeed, the shrewd and cunning Guo Huaimu would not easily believe Lin Yi’s words.
Lin Yi passed over the Imperial Award gold dal and said sternly, "This is an Imperial Award gold dal, could there be a fake? Open your dog eyes and take a good look!"
Intimidated by this rebuke, Guo Huaimu was scared out of his wits; the gold dal was indeed Imperially awarded.
Thinking back to the nonsense he had said to Lin Yi earlier, if these were to be pursued, he’d be in trouble.
But Guo Huaimu wasn’t soone who was frightened easily; just an Imperial Award gold dal couldn’t fully prove that the man before him was the Inspector.
So he boldly queried, "Are you certain this Imperial Award gold dal isn’t sothing you picked up? Seeing as you’re so sly and cunning, could it be that you’ve already killed the real Inspector?"
It must be said, Guo Huaimu racked his brain with suspicions to dismiss this Inspector.
But all of this had already been seen through by Lin Yi, who angrily slamd the table and shouted.
"How dare you!"
"What, as an Imperial Mandate official, seeing the Imperial Award gold dal as if seeing the Emperor himself, you don’t understand this principle? Kneel down!"
Lin Yi’s authoritative voice carried, and upon hearing it, the decrepit and disabled soldiers uniformly knelt before Lin Yi.
In their eyes, imperial authority was the supre symbol.
Seeing his subordinates kneel, yet Guo Huaimu was still unwilling to kneel, caught in indecision and suspicion.
But Lin Yi had no patience for him, directly drawing a soldier’s sword, pointing it at Guo Huaimu, and chastised him.
"How dare you, showing disrespect towards the Imperial Award gold dal is to disrespect the current Emperor; do you dare show great disrespect towards the Emperor? As Acting Minister of Criminal Departnt and Inspector, Zhong Qi, I will now report to Your Majesty and accuse you of contempt for imperial power!"
Hearing the na of Zhong Qi, Guo Huaimu was so frightened that his legs went weak and he imdiately knelt on the ground, pleading.
"So it’s Acting Minister of Criminal Departnt, Lord Zhong, I have been disrespectful."
Even though Jiannan State was far from the Imperial City, Guo Huaimu knew that Zhong Qi was a favorite of the Emperor and was the right-hand man of the Great General Lin Yi.
The position of Chief of Staff is much higher than that of Inspector, of course, Guo Huaimu dared not act rashly.
Looking at Guo Huaimu, who was trembling with fear and respect, Lin Yi felt sowhat unaccustod, his face bearing a playful expression.
"Inspector Guo, I actually prefer your arrogant and domineering deanor."
As these words were spoken, Guo Huaimu’s face turned pale with fear, and he said in a fluster, "Chief of Staff Zhong, it was all a misunderstanding last night, all words spoken in drunkenness. Please, Sir, do not hold this against and spare ."
"Hehe."
Lin Yi let out a cold snicker, wondering if last night’s outburst was truly just drunken talk what about the arrogance he displayed just before entering the door?
’You dared to flirt with my wife right in front of , and now you want to bla it on the alcohol?’
"Inspector Guo, you want to spare you? Tell , if you were in my place, would you let off so easily?"
This question stumped Guo Huaimu.
If it were Guo Huaimu, he would definitely punish the other person severely.
Lin Yi looked at Guo Huaimu, who was shaking all over, and said in a cold voice, "Indeed, our Emperor is too occupied with state affairs to attend to the affairs of Jiannan State and Lingnan State."
"But that doesn’t an you can do whatever you wish. Look at these old soldiers; they can hardly run. How are they supposed to protect and keep peace?"
"I’ll give you two days to get the military forces of Jiannan State in order, otherwise, I will report everything to the Emperor as it is."
Without second thoughts, Guo Huaimu acquiesced to Lin Yi’s demands like a pecking chicken.
But Lin Yi pointed at Ouyang Qian in the secret room and said, "Just now you were rude to my attendant student, I want you to apologize to my student right now."
Without any hesitation, Guo Huaimu promptly apologized and made ands to Ouyang Qian.
And Ouyang Qian did not let him off, stepping forward and slapping Guo Huaimu twice across the face.
"Hmph, dare to call Lin—ah no, dare to call Chief of Staff Zhong a coachman, I think your whole family are coachn!"
After venting her anger, Ouyang Qian returned to Lin Yi’s side, eyebrows raised proudly, even though she didn’t understand why Lin Yi had to disguise himself under the na of Zhong Qi, Chief of Staff Zhong.
But she was certain that Lin Yi must have his reasons for doing so.
"Alright, I still need to inspect other places, Inspector Guo, please leave."
Hearing that Lin Yi was going to other places, Guo Huaimu hurriedly approached with a flattering face.
"Chief of Staff Zhong, you’ve co all the way to our Jiannan State, you must be exhausted. If you do not mind, why not go to my residence, I can provide a feast to wash the dust off your journey."
"My residence has singers and dancers who are skilled in song and dance, they will surely serve you well, Chief of Staff Zhong."
Obviously, Guo Huaimu intended to bribe Lin Yi with the allure of beauty, but this was just the surface.
The truth was, he wanted to trap the Imperial Inspector sent by the court in his own residence, to prevent his subordinates from tipping off others.
But all this had already been seen through by Lin Yi.
"No need, we have not just co here alone; the court has actually dispatched a total of six Inspectors to Jiannan State. If they can’t find , they will beco worried."
"I think the environnt at the Eastern Coming Inn is quite good, very suitable for a welco and cleansing feast."
Lin Yi’s implication was very clear; he was warning Guo Huaimu not to have any crooked thoughts, not to mistakenly think that by silencing others, everything would be fine.
Rejected, Guo Huaimu could only dejectedly leave with his old and infirm soldiers.
...End of Chapter...
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