Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 153: Chapter 151: Inside Story

As for whether Li Haoyuan suffered injustice or if there’s any hidden truth, it’s not his concern.

A person should not meddle in affairs that are not their responsibility.

The Court and the Inspection Department will investigate, and the various government offices will handle it. He is merely an Assistant Minister of Rites.

All he can do is to perform his duties well, without unnecessary interference.

He certainly doesn’t want any additional complications.

Watching Li Haoyuan explain everything to Chu Mingrui, he could feel his complex emotions, his deep feelings for the soldiers of the Northern Territory, and his hatred and regret for this military defeat.

The faces of the twenty-three men grew increasingly sorrowful, as if they carried an immense grievance.

He pretended not to see, and Chu Mingrui also pretended not to see.

The two eunuchs in red pretended not to see either.

Chu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

As expected of Huang Cheng’s descendants, they carried themselves arrogantly, seemingly ignoring everyone.

Yet, they are so young, but their character is extremely steady.

They restrained their arrogance and desire to boast, refraining from rashly speaking to provoke these twenty-three men.

Although they all pretended not to know, pretended not to see, these people couldn’t help but speak up: ”Prince, Princely Heir, there’s an inside story to this matter!”

”Silence!” Li Haoyuan suddenly shouted.

His previously calm demeanor changed, eyes glaring with rage, aura as fierce as a roaring tiger.

The men fell silent immediately.

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at him, unfazed.

Whether there’s an inside story or not, telling the Ministry of War, telling the Emperor, telling his peers is useless.

These people should know, why insist on revealing the inside story?

Are they seeking justice, or do they have ulterior motives, or is it because of their deep affection for Li Haoyuan?

Human hearts are complex and unpredictable.

Especially at this time, when Li Haoyuan has hit rock bottom, people’s minds will change, and all kinds of complex thoughts will emerge.

Chu Zhiyuan didn’t want to bother with this, he just wanted to quickly bring Li Haoyuan back to the capital.

Li Haoyuan continued to hand over matters to Chu Mingrui.

After a while, someone spoke again, in a deep voice: ”General, if I don’t say it, I won’t be able to sleep at night, I must say it!”

”Li Huchen, shut your mouth!” Li Haoyuan shouted, pointing outside: ”Get out, don’t speak nonsense here!”

The middle-aged man, with a tiger-like appearance, eyes flashing with a stubborn expression, gritted his teeth and said: ”General, I have to say it!”

”You think I’m dying too slowly, then speak!” Li Haoyuan coldly said through gritted teeth: ”Do you want me dead so badly?”

”General—!”

”Shut up, if you don’t want me dead, then shut up!”

Chu Zhiyuan’s curiosity was piqued, he looked at Chu Mingrui.

But saw Chu Mingrui staring indifferently at the roster in his hand, his expression solemn, deaf to the outside sounds.

This roster listed the soldiers from Fuyuan Town and Gaoling Town.

Name, camp, position, age, place of origin.

Chu Zhiyuan’s gaze flickered, he lowered his eyes silently, like a statue.

The hall fell silent, needle drops could be heard, the atmosphere oppressive.

Time passed very slowly.

Chu Mingrui finally finished reviewing the roster, looked up at Li Haoyuan, and sighed: ”General Li, admire you, ... I will report truthfully.”

After seeing this roster, he was able to confirm that Li Haoyuan had not taken false payrolls.

This was indeed unusual for the Border Army.

Serving at the border for thirty years, Li Haoyuan never took false payrolls, truly exemplary for officials.

Unfortunately, the mistake this time was too grave.

For a General at the border, taking false payrolls is a stain, but not too serious a fault, everyone does so, no one can criticize each other.

The key is still the ability and tactics in using soldiers.

If one is skilled in warfare and can win battles, even if taking false payrolls, the Court tends to turn a blind eye.

If one is not skilled in warfare and loses too many soldiers, even without taking false payrolls, it is still a sin.

But being honest in office can save his life, in the future, there may still be a chance for reinstatement, it depends on his luck.

Li Haoyuan said in a deep voice: ”Thank you, Prince, I take my leave, ... everything here is entrusted to the Prince!”

Chu Mingrui said: ”Rest assured, I will first reclaim Fuyuan Town, then rebuild Fuyuan Town, and purge the inside.”

Upon hearing these final words, Li Haoyuan understood Chu Mingrui was perceptive, no need for further words from him.

After all, as Da Jing’s military god, how could he be a mediocre person, what he thought of, Prince Ying surely thought of?

Thinking of this, he showed a bitter expression, clasped his hands once, turned, and walked away.

”General!”

Those men stepped forward to block his path.

Li Haoyuan glared coldly at them: ”If you wish to live, obediently keep your mouths shut, I’ve said enough, may you take care of yourselves, we’ll meet again in the martial world!”

After saying this, he pushed aside those blocking him and strode out of the government office.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at these men, wondering if they would reveal the inside story.

But they exchanged glances, hesitated, and ultimately said nothing, leaving one by one.

Once they had left, Chu Zhiyuan withdrew his gaze.

Chu Mingrui smiled at him: ”Old Fourth, aren’t you curious?”

”Curiosities that shouldn’t exist are best left alone.” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”One must resist the urge.”

Chu Mingrui chuckled, finding his words amusing, and said: ”Then how do you know when to resist and when not to resist?”

”That’s for one’s judgment.” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Rely on instinct.”

Chu Mingrui lost his laughter: ”You’re so old-fashioned, unlike a young person! ... They’re talking about the inside story of Fuyuan Town’s fall.”

”Tenth Uncle must be very curious, right?”

”Internal and external collusion, of course, there’s some inside story, but internal and external collusion is what it is, inevitably there’s a spy infiltration, we need to purge the spies.”

”... Then Tenth Uncle, you need to be careful around you.”

”Of course, I will be careful.” Chu Mingrui chuckled coldly, ”This kind of insidious method, one glance and it’s clear that it involves some sects.”

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow.

Chu Mingrui said: ”Not many sects could make Li Haoyuan cautious.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with thoughtful understanding.

Li Haoyuan, as the General Zhen Yuan, was not an ordinary general, he had many guards by his side, including not a few Grandmasters.

Yet, he was still cautious, indicating it involved a Great Grandmaster.

There are not many sects with a Great Grandmaster.

Counting on fingers, one could list them, but those bold and secretive in actions are likely even fewer.

”Tenth Uncle, could it be the four Demon Sects?”

”They probably wouldn’t.”

”Then... the Four Great Sects?”

”Likely not either.”

”Then it’s Evil Sect? ... If it’s Evil Sect, it’s not worth mentioning, it’s still likely the Four Great Sects or the four Demon Sects.” Chu Zhiyuan mused, counting on his fingers: ”Moon Palace... Wuyou Sect... Jiuli Divine Sect... Yongling Divine Sect...”

Could these four Demon Sects collude with Da Meng?

He shook his head, thinking no.

The Four Great Sects?

”White Cloud Sword Palace... Qinglu Cliff... Great Spirit Rock Peak... Flying Sky Sect...”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

It was difficult to determine if it was one of the Four Great Sects, even harder to identify which sect it was.

”Alright, eventually everything will become clear.” Chu Mingrui said, ”Go back to Yujing to inquire and let me know the results.”

Chu Zhiyuan replied, ”Tenth Uncle, you have faster communication with Yujing, we’re much slower.”

”It’s different.”

”Alright.” Chu Zhiyuan agreed.

He bid farewell to Chu Mingrui, and when he returned to the inn, he saw a middle-aged man waiting outside.

Chu Zhiyuan avoided meeting this middle-aged man in advance.