On this particular night, the darkness was as ink, spilling over the Ninefold Celestial Palace.
At Yunding Mountain, in the Heavenly Patrol Hall, the candle flas were blazing, and the assembly had not yet dispersed.
On the main seat, Chen Yuan leaned slantwise on the commander’s chair, his eyelids closed, his fingertips distinct in their joints, carelessly tapping on the armrest.
"Thud, thud, thud."
The sound, neither fast nor slow, blended with the discussions in the hall, indirectly suppressing the voices of the generals.
In the hall, over a dozen desks spread with docunts were ssily orderly. The various colonels summoned their subordinates to convey the docunts and directives. Today’s eting was essentially a comprehensive review after the reconstruction of the Mountain-cutting Army, dealing with the issue of reassigning and adjusting the patrol responsibilities of the prefectures and offices in response to the Devil Race harassing the rear.
Previously, in the Thirty-Six Prefectures of Jiannan Road, each of the Twelve Mountain Armies had supervision, controlling three prefectures. Since the Devil Race broke through Youn Pass three years ago, the Six Mountains were obliterated, and seven prefectures fell, Jiannan Road had not been stable, and these systems had beco re nominal. Currently, Jiannan Road Fusi is fully preparing for war, so these systems need to be picked up and fully reconstructed to prepare for battle, making today’s assembly a long one.
At this point, armored soldiers were constantly coming and going at the hall’s entrance, bringing docunts and tokens when entering, and colliding armor pieces were jingling. When leaving, they carried military orders, stepping briskly so that the wind they raised flickered the candle flas, causing the hall’s light and shadow to change intermittently.
At about that ti, the work in the hands of the colonels had mostly finished, so they stepped forward to report to Chen Yuan.
Yun Tiansheng signaled his subordinates to retreat, waved his hand, then walked forward a few steps to report to Chen Yuan with clasped hands.
"General, the matters we discussed are almost settled."
"For the remaining twenty-nine prefectures of Jiannan Road, I and the other lang generals have divided our respective jurisdictions to handle dispatching and preparation, with the relevant details already delegated to our subordinates."
"After the assembly, we will dispatch people to focus on strengthening the inspection and eradication of Devil Race spies. Additionally, we will place emphasis on protecting military supplies shipnts to prevent losses like those from this morning."
"Here is the related roster."
Yun Tiansheng handed over the docunts compiled by two military staff mbers to Chen Yuan for review.
Chen Yuan, on the main seat, ceased the tapping rhythm with his fingers, and without raising his eyelids, spoke directly, in a calm tone,
"I’ve been listening, no need to look."
"Approved."
"Yes."
Yun Tiansheng acknowledged and softly called over Gao Yu, handing him the docunts for sealing and organizing.
Then he turned his head, "General, so we?"
But Chen Yuan, with closed eyelids, did not speak.
And the sound of fingers tapping lightly started again.
Yun Tiansheng and Pei Yanhu, along with the other colonels, looked puzzled, glancing at each other with a few hints of confusion.
It seed clearly there were other matters concerning General Chen.
Indeed, an hour ago, Chen Yuan suddenly summoned Mr. Gongsun close, who then hurriedly left, exiting midway, not knowing where he went, and it seed like General Chen had sothing on his mind too.
However, everyone rely speculated in their hearts, unable to fathom what it was, and said nothing more, just dismissed their subordinate troops, letting the chaotic hall quiet down.
About half a quarter of an hour later, Chen Yuan on the main seat suddenly opened his eyelids, the tapping fingers paused, then he raised his sleeve toward the outside of the hall.
Instantly, a thundering sound exploded outside, followed by a fierce flash of white light.
A beam of white light descended from the sky, landing on the plaza outside.
Inside the hall, Yun Tiansheng and the colonels turned to look, with low voices in their throats, their gazes flickering as they looked towards the hall’s exterior.
Under the watchful eyes of all the colonels in the hall, the white light beam quickly retracted, and from it, two figures erged.
One was Gongsun Yang, who had just left, and the other was dressed in a red robe and jade belt, with an extraordinary deanor. None of those present were blind; the colors of officials’ garnts were strictly regulated, and only second-rank or above court officials were entitled to wear bright red.
The colonels’ expressions were doubtful. This person was unknown to them; which court official was he, and why did he appear here now?
Under the questioning gazes of everyone, Gongsun Yang led the person to the front of the hall, standing in clear and bright light, facing upwards to report,
"General!"
On the main seat, Chen Yuan sat upright in his chair, his gaze falling on the Minister of the Ministry of Rites standing behind Gongsun Yang, gesturing to the side with his hand.
Gongsun Yang stepped aside, moving to the side. The Minister of the Ministry of Rites standing a position behind directly faced Chen Yuan seated on the dais, their gazes eting.
Jiang Yi and Chen Yuan locked eyes for a dozen breaths or so, but in the end, unable to withstand the pressure, his eyelids dropped first. He was supposed to be serving an imperial mission, holding the Emperor’s Banner, secretly patrolling Jiannan Road, thinking that once he arrived, there was no need to hide his trail. The entourage would grandly enter Shu, and all officials would co out to greet him. Then he would loudly read the imperial decree, proclaiming the Emperor’s benevolence to the world, rewarding the soldiers in Shu.
By then, his task would be complete, and the soldiers in Shu would presumably be pleased. It was ant to be a joyous occasion, yet now everything was ruined. The entourage leaving the capital now left him alone, most of the court’s rewards plundered, leaving him crestfallen as he entered Shu. Facing the master currently overseeing Jiannan Road Fusi, he had no confidence to speak of.
Defeated in this gaze confrontation, his eyelids dropped slightly, hands loosely folded,
"This official Jiang Yi, bearing the responsibility of the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, cos on the Emperor’s command to et Angel Chen!"
He addressed him this way because Chen Yuan was still, in na, the Patrol Angel overseeing the Southwest Three Roads, personally appointed by the Emperor.
And at this mont, Chen Yuan rose from his chair, descended a few steps, looked at this Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and spoke slowly:
"I have already been inford of the matter you encountered by Mr. Gongsun before your arrival."
"I heard that the Emperor decreed to reward my Mountain-cutting Army soldiers, but I understood your reward team was ambushed midway."
Chen Yuan’s voice revealed no emotion, yet his slow steps forward exerted an imnse pressure.
Upon hearing this, Yun Tiansheng and the other colonels were imdiately startled. There was such a matter?
Jiang Yi’s face darkened at the thought, his expression filled with anger and indignation, squeezing out a voice from his throat,
"That’s right!"
"We were ambushed, with almost total annihilation. Only this official escaped, pursued by a Martial Saint, the rewards mostly plundered. Only the Emperor’s decree and a few items remain with ."
While Jiang Yi spoke these words, Chen Yuan had already co before him, only a few steps apart.
At this point, Patrol Angel Chen’s eyebrows lifted at the ntion of the decree, letting out a scoff, his face showing a hint of a smile, yet not quite,
"For now, we won’t discuss other matters!"
"Now that Lord Jiang has arrived, the imperial decree should be read."
"I am indeed curious about how our Emperor plans to reward my Mountain-cutting Army soldiers!"
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