"It’s all co out now; behind this is Qiandao Temple. These people are all outdoor disciples of Qiandao Temple, with only one indoor disciple, who is currently in Yulin County," said the soldier, keeping pace with the Marquis of Zhenbei in front.
"What about Yulin County?" the Marquis of Zhenbei asked.
"The person there is not the real Ku Zhen. The real Ku Zhen is dead. They used a fake face of Ku Zhen to impersonate him. This matter is a secret, thus Yulin County is unaware," the soldier said quickly.
The Marquis of Zhenbei had crouched down, pinching up a strange face with one hand, frowning, lost in thought.
The unfamiliar face before him was indeed dressed in Ku Zhen’s forr attire. What the Marquis of Zhenbei couldn’t figure out was, when exactly had Zheng Congyuan co to an understanding with Qiandao Temple?
Exactly when?
"What else do you know?" the Marquis of Zhenbei asked, and the man’s disheveled pupils imdiately began shaking.
"I really don’t know anymore; I have already told everything I know. I only beg for a quick death." The man spoke unclearly, blood following from the corner of his mouth, a result of his own biting, although by then even the strength to bite had left him.
"When did you start taking action? And how did you learn about our military route?" the Marquis of Zhenbei asked.
"I told you, we began six months ago. The magic artifacts of these Spells require months of empowernt to take effect. We rely wait for news regarding the military route," the man explained.
"Six months ago?" the Marquis of Zhenbei snorted coldly. "Six months ago, the Wen Family hadn’t rebelled yet; you had already begun preparations?"
It seed that Zheng Congyuan had long harbored the intention to kill them. Whether they rebelled or not appeared to make no difference to him; even if they had not rebelled, Zheng Congyuan was not prepared to spare them.
The man suddenly smiled, as if having resigned to fate post-acknowledging death; it seed there was also no need to conceal anything further since he did not know much more.
"You think it’s because your Wen Family rebelled that we from Qiandao Temple need to kill you?"
At these words, the Marquis of Zhenbei looked at the man, sowhat bewildered. It was a mont when he felt the man was not lying, and he even believed it montarily.
The man indeed did not disappoint the Marquis of Zhenbei.
"Even if you don’t rebel, our Qiandao Temple still needs to act. With you present, the smooth transition of power in Nanzheng State would be impossible."
The Marquis of Zhenbei squinted, looking at the man, wanting to counter the man’s words, but finding no argunt to refute them. Even six months ago, their Wen Family had not even entertained the thought of rebellion.
"Since a change of dynasty is inevitable, why can’t it be my Wen Family—" said the Marquis of Zhenbei disdainfully.
"Naturally, it cannot be, because the prophecy does not say so..." This was the third ti the Marquis of Zhenbei heard of the prophecy.
"What exactly does the prophecy say?" the Marquis of Zhenbei imdiately asked. Not the Wen Family? Not Zheng Congyuan? So, Qiandao Temple needed to act for whom, to clear the path? The Marquis of Zhenbei imdiately thought of Qiandao Temple’s actions at the Northern Border. Could clearing Ghoul Ravine have also been in their plans all along?
But aside from these, who could the person in the prophecy be?
The man glanced at the Marquis of Zhenbei and suddenly stopped speaking, but instead slowly curled his lips, displaying bloodstained teeth in a disturbing smile, and then he started laughing.
"The secrets of heaven cannot be revealed, hahaha—"
"Who exactly is it?" the Marquis of Zhenbei shook the man, the man’s laughter imdiately becoming intermittent. The next mont, he exerted force suddenly, and fresh blood spurted out of his mouth.
Marquis of Zhenbei suddenly ceased moving, realizing that the man had spoken so much rely to conserve so energy, just waiting for this mont to bite his tongue and preserve his strength.
The Marquis of Zhenbei dropped the corpse and muttered a curse, then stepped back. The soldiers imdiately moved to wipe off the blood on him, but the Marquis of Zhenbei stopped them.
"Continue the interrogation"— the Marquis of Zhenbei dropped these words and turned away.
The troops rested on spot in the courtyard of Yulin County, accustod to the severe cold of the north, the North Border Army didn’t even consider the current cold a matter worth attention; they didn’t even pitch tents, simply wrapping themselves in blankets and sleeping on the ground.
From afar, a group of torches hurriedly approached; it was Governor Li Daren, who had just received the news and hastened here. Carrying a torch himself, he hurried until he was stopped just in front of the North Border Army’s campsite and then hurriedly advanced in a fluster.
"Marquis, marquis, your humble servant is dull, only now aware of the marquis’s arrival in my Yulin County."
The Marquis of Zhenbei was not annoyed. Governor Li might not be clever, but he was valued for his loyalty. He had handed over all district and county revenues to the Wen Family and had done everything he could to supply the North Border Army.
"Let him in"—the Marquis of Zhenbei waved his hand, still trusting Governor Li. If soone were to defect, they would pick soone smarter.
Governor Li imdiately rushed forward and knelt on the ground with a thud.
"Marquis, Daren is foolish, and I can’t even manage my n properly, not even knowing of the marquis’s presence here," Governor Li hurriedly said.
The Marquis of Zhenbei waved his hand, as more words were futile and the other party wouldn’t understand.
"It was I who didn’t notify anyone. How are the preparations with the supplies?" the Marquis of Zhenbei asked.
"Rest assured, marquis, the orders you gave are always at the forefront of my mind, all is ready." As he spoke, he gestured with two fingers in front of him, "I’ve increased the tax by two layers; it’s a blessing for the people of Yulin County to be able to offer tribute to the marquis."
"Daren, well done. Have the goods already arrived?"
"Yes, they have, marquis, rest assured, everything is without fail."
The Marquis of Zhenbei did not believe in the phrase ’without fail’, but if there was to be an issue with transporting the supplies, it would have happened already, and it would have caused a significant disturbance, not waiting until now.
"Marquis, this wilderness is hardly suitable, why don’t you co with Daren back to the governor’s residence? Your humble servant has prepared quite a lot of..." Governor Li hadn’t finished his sentence before the Marquis of Zhenbei raised his hand to stop him, finding his lack of subtlety and off-putting speech valuable for their sincerity.
"Daren, I appreciate your sentint, but how could I leave my n? Besides, I am accustod to staying in the north. You go back. I have my own plans, and there is no need for you to co see off tomorrow. I will proceed directly through Yulin County to Zheng Capital," said the Marquis of Zhenbei.
Seeing this, Governor Li dared not speak further, only looking at the marquis with sadness, yet not daring to let him sleep in this snowy wasteland; naturally, he couldn’t speak of sharing hardships.
"Marquis, shall your humble servant leave first?" Governor Li said, as he and his n hurriedly left.
The next morning, the Marquis of Zhenbei and his n directly marched towards Zheng Capital.
At this ti, Zheng Capital had already fallen into chaos. Although the Wen Family Army was steadily retreating, having so many soldiers ant they could not be quickly overco.
The previous restraint and reservations had turned into violent retaliation, countless houses were burnt, bodies littered the ground, and as the Wen Family Army slowly dwindled, the Crown Prince’s forces, hidden in shadows, gradually took to the streets, confronting the Wen Family Army head-on as both factions held their ground throughout Zheng Capital.
Countless citizens had fled outside the city.
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