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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter Forty-Nine: The Warlord
"The General has arrived, Governor is here."
With this announcement, many high-ranking officials stepped out of the mourning hall to await the arrival of the General, Supreme Commander Jiang Wannian.
Not far away, a procession was slowly approaching. Flags bearing the Emperor's bestowed insignia, the General's flag, and the Commander’s flag were held aloft. The sounds of gongs and drums filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere.
Under the winter sun, the procession appeared imposing and regal.
Tang Jiner watched the procession with anger. "That old man Jiang Wannian is making such a grand show for a memorial service; he’s clearly here to stir trouble."
But Jiang Wannian was a powerful warlord of the Border Troops; who would dare challenge him?
Tang Jiner reluctantly stepped forward to greet him. "This General welcomes Supreme Commander Jiang."
At that moment, a stout man emerged from the crowd, dressed in a golden robe, playing with two steel balls in his hands, his smile wide enough to squint his eyes.
This man was Jiang Wannian. Without his official attire, he resembled a local tycoon. "Ah, it’s my niece Jin'er. No need for such formalities; please rise quickly."
"With the Grand Marshal present, I have failed to welcome you properly; I deserve to be punished severely."
"Oh, what are you saying? It was my own impetuousness in coming without prior notice; how could I blame you?"
Only then did Tang Jiner stand up, and all the officials followed suit. Especially those who had accompanied Tang Jiner could not help but scrutinize this powerful figure.
The Commander, General, and Grand Marshal represented the pinnacle of military positions within the Border Troops. Jiang Wannian commanded two hundred thousand elite soldiers and oversaw twelve prefectures.
As Jiang Wannian entered the mourning hall, everyone made way for him. He gazed at the memorial banner that read "Unfulfilled Ambitions, Eternal Spirit" and couldn’t help but sigh deeply. "I never expected Brother Qiu to leave us so soon; it is truly lamentable. I remember when Brother Qiu first arrived; we spoke intimately and became close friends. It felt like we had known each other forever. Even now, his bright smile lingers in my mind; who would have thought he would die on the battlefield? Alas... another loyal servant lost to the court!"
"This old man certainly knows how to perform," Tang Jiner thought to herself before saying, "I was unaware that the Grand Marshal had such a deep friendship with Lord Qiu. Lord Qiu served his country loyally but fell victim to treachery and died in battle. I will surely carry out Lord Qiu's last wishes and eradicate all evil spirits without mercy."
"Noble Niece, you speak truly. Brother Qiu's death is quite suspicious, and I have heard whispers of it as well," Jiang Wannian said, adopting a senior's demeanor as he earnestly advised. "Not only must you capture the murderer, but you must also uncover the mastermind behind it all to understand their motives."
"Rest assured, General. Avenge Lord Qiu is my top priority. No matter who the true culprit is, I will not show mercy and will ensure they face justice."
"Good. With a heroine like you seeking vengeance for Brother Qiu, I can feel at ease. This is a significant matter for my Border Troops, so Noble Niece should investigate without restraint. Anyone who dares to harm a county general in my jurisdiction—this incident occurring within my twelve counties—will not go unpunished. I will lend my full support."
"I appreciate the General's goodwill on behalf of Lord Qiu. If I find myself unable to proceed, I will certainly seek your assistance."
The conversation between the two leaders of the Border Troops seemed quite harmonious, but Lin Feng sensed an underlying tension.
After paying respects to General Qiu, Tang Jiner invited Jiang Wannian to the main hall for tea.
Jiang Wannian did not decline and readily replied, "I hear Noble Niece has brought some fine tea from the imperial city; I won't be polite today."
"Please, General, this way."
Jiang Wannian only brought two martial generals with him into the hall. Lin Feng understood that this was a high-level meeting of the Border Troops and felt it inappropriate to enter. However, when Tang Jiner walked in, she beckoned him with her hand behind her back.
"This girl wants to get me killed," Lin Feng thought helplessly, shaking his head with a wry smile before stepping inside.
There were not many people in the main hall. On Tang Jiner's side stood Lin Feng next to her along with two local martial generals. Tang Jiner took her seat at the head of the table while Jiang Wannian sat in the guest seat of honor, followed by his two accompanying generals.
Jiang Wannian spoke first, "How is the Emperor?"
"Thank you for your concern, General; my father is well."
"I saw the Emperor last time I returned to the Imperial City and noticed he didn't seem very well. Perhaps it's due to heavy state affairs and late nights. He is getting older now; it's not like it used to be, so he must take care of his health."
"Thank you for your concern, General. I will convey your kind intentions to my father."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Jiang Wannian got straight to the point. "I heard Brother Qiu was killed in action?"
"That's true."
"Noble Niece, you just arrived and took up the position of Deputy General, and now the General has died. There are many rumors circulating outside, all sorts of nonsense. Some ignorant people are spreading falsehoods, claiming that the Deputy was responsible for the death of the former General. These rumors have even reached my residence. Noble Niece, I am quite worried about you. If these comments reach the Imperial City, even though you are the Emperor's most cherished princess, you could still face censure from the officials."
Upon hearing this, Lin Feng, standing behind Tang Jiner, could clearly sense her delicate body tremble slightly. However, Tang Jiner remained calm and composed as she replied, "There are indeed shameless rumors. The innocent will clear their names; the truth will eventually come to light. Among the officials in the court, there are certainly wise and upright individuals who would not believe such slander."
Jiang Wannian furrowed his brow and put on a worried expression. "Noble Niece, of course, the innocent will clear their names; I understand that better than anyone. But outsiders do not think this way. I have heard that an Imperial Historian in the Imperial City is preparing to report on this matter. They intend to accuse you of plotting against your superior. You know how it is; there are many people in court. Noble Niece, being so young, you must be cautious in your actions."
Tang Jiner's heart tightened as she asked, "Is there really an Imperial Historian who intends to accuse me? Please tell me which one it is."
Jiang Wannian shook his head. "I only caught wind of it. After all, this place is somewhat distant from the Imperial City. But rest assured, Noble Niece; I have already used my connections to investigate this person and will suppress this matter."
Tang Jiner immediately clasped her fists in gratitude. "This General thanks you for your kindness, General."
"Noble Niece, there's no need for such formality. In these times, nothing is easy, especially for those of us in the Border Troops. We don our armor and fight against the demon race to protect our homeland. Those in court do not attend to serious matters; they only create chaos and seize upon our minor faults to stir trouble and cast blame."
"For instance, a few years ago when the Border Troops rebelled. I captured the ringleader of the rebellion and sent him to the Imperial City for execution. At that time, tens of thousands witnessed the beheading at Meridian Gate. Yet now some in court claim that I did not capture the real culprit and that I acted rashly out of a desire for quick results—how absurd! If others were seeking quick results, it might be plausible; but what about my status? I am the Emperor's younger brother and hold the title of Twelve Prefectural Commanders; there’s no further promotion for me. What benefit would there be for me in doing such a thing? Do those people not think before they speak?"
"This situation mirrors what they are doing to Noble Niece. We are both victims here; I have watched you grow up. We should face these difficulties together and not turn against each other, allowing those people to succeed."
At this point, Jiang Wannian paused and looked at Tang Jiner intently as he spoke slowly, "Noble Niece, are you...?"
Tang Jiner fell into deep thought upon hearing his twisted threat; she slightly lowered her head and let her eyelashes cast shadows over her eyes, concealing her thoughts from others.
After a long silence from Tang Jiner, an awkward atmosphere enveloped the hall. A local military officer standing beside her smiled and attempted to ease the tension. "The General makes a valid point; we should..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Jiang Wannian shot him a glance that was sharp as lightning and intimidatingly fierce.
This was the true face of the Twelve Prefectural Commanders, their gaze lethal. The general felt a chill run down his spine and swallowed the second half of his sentence.
A general who accompanied Jiang Wannian spoke in a deep voice, "Shut your mouth. Does my lord's conversation with your commander require your input? What a reckless fool."
This general was tall and robust, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, exuding an intimidating aura.
The general beside Tang Jiner turned red at the reprimand and immediately lowered his head, not daring to retort even a word.
At that moment, Lin Feng stepped in front of Tang Jiner, picked up the teapot, and poured her some tea, seizing the opportunity to whisper, "Agree to him."
"Why?" Tang Jiner looked at Lin Feng in surprise, then Lin Feng's body blocked her view.
"You have no other choice; consider it carefully."
Lin Feng straightened up and returned to stand behind Tang Jiner, maintaining a vigilant demeanor as a dutiful soldier.
Tang Jiner held the teacup that Lin Feng had just poured for her, warming her hands. She sipped her tea slowly, pondering for a long time. When everyone grew anxious, she finally set down her cup and said, "What my uncle says is indeed correct. We are all Border Troops protecting the nation; we should support each other and benefit mutually."
The shift from calling him 'General' to 'Uncle' made everyone aware of the subtle change in dynamics.
Jiang Wannian's face lit up with joy as he clapped his knees and laughed, "Noble Niece is absolutely right. Given the current situation, what insights does Noble Niece have?"
Tang Jiner smiled lightly and replied, "Uncle should not mock me. I am still young and know little. After General Qiu's passing, I had no choice but to shoulder the burden of the Border Troops. Now I feel overwhelmed and exhausted."
"Oh? What difficulties does Noble Niece face? Please share them with us."
"Sigh, Uncle may not know this. After General Qiu's death, I just took office, and many matters were not properly handed over. Currently, the Border Troops are low on provisions; we lack supplies like Xuanjia armor, warhorses, and weapons. Without at least five hundred thousand taels of silver, along with one hundred sets of high-level battle armor and a thousand sets of low-level battle armor, it will be difficult for the Border Troops to survive the winter or engage in battle."
"I can cover the five hundred thousand taels of silver. As for one hundred sets of high-level battle armor, that truly seems excessive."
"Uncle, I have five hundred thousand taels of gold."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wannian's expression darkened for a moment, but he quickly smiled and said, "We are all part of the Border Troops; it's not easy for anyone. However, no matter how difficult it gets, your uncle will save every penny to help you. Two hundred thousand taels of gold, fifty sets of High-Level Battle Armor, and five hundred sets of Low-Level Mystic Armor. This is the best I can do. If you need more, I won't be able to survive myself."
Tang Jiner beamed with joy and replied, "Uncle is righteous; I thank you on behalf of all the Border Troops."
"Sigh, why speak so formally among family? If you encounter any difficulties in the future, just let me know," Jiang Wannian said with a kind smile, adopting an elder's demeanor.
Tang Jiner immediately took the opportunity to say, "Uncle's reminder is well taken. In fact, there is something I would like to discuss with you."
"Oh? What is it?" Jiang Wannian's smile faded as he realized that Tang Jiner was asking for something while still being unsatisfied.
"Although my time in the Border Troops has not been long, I feel that the appointment and dismissal system for officials in the Border Troops is somewhat inappropriate. I intend to reiterate the court's official appointment and dismissal system and hope for your support."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wannian's expression immediately turned grim. This was an attempt to eliminate his influence.
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