CHAPTER 100: CHAPTER 98 FEAR

Song Xian is going to capture the traitors?

The first thing that came to Song Qizheng’s mind was that Song Xian was using this banner to take preemptive action.

However, Song Qizheng quickly had another thought. He looked up at the guards within Zhenzhou City, not only the people in the barracks but also the government officials in the government office. He recalled that his subordinates reported to him that the Zhenzhou County Magistrate and his deputy general had gone to apprehend the corrupt, so why would the Zhenzhou County Magistrate close the city gates on him?

There’s something strange about this, and Song Qizheng hesitated slightly between entering the city and leading troops to pursue Song Xian.

The Zhenzhou County Magistrate seems to have no achievements and is not outstanding; he shouldn’t be able to cause any major issues.

So Song Qizheng still chose to pursue Song Xian.

If there were problems in Zhenzhou City, it was most likely orchestrated by Song Xian, and capturing Song Xian would resolve everything.

Having made up his mind, Song Qizheng turned his horse around and chased after Song Xian. Along the way, he didn’t forget to ask the messenger: "Where did Song Xian lead his troops to?"

The messenger said, "Toward Dingzhou."

The Dingzhou Camp was where Song Qizheng managed the soldiers and horses, aimed directly at him. Song Qizheng’s eyes were stern; he was here, and he hadn’t mobilized his troops, so where could a rebellion come from?

Song Xian’s unauthorized use of troops without the court’s permission was at least a crime of disorderly soldiers, not to mention his private dealings with the Liao people...

"Seeking his own death," thought Song Qizheng, feeling he had already done his utmost for this rascal. Even though he was his own son, he could not cover it up.

As the group pursued Song Xian, midway, Song Qizheng instructed Vice General Qiao, "Go to the camp ahead to gather troops."

Vice General Qiao hesitated, his eyes flickering as he wanted to speak but stopped.

Just as Song Qizheng noticed and was about to question him, he saw someone else rushing forward in a panic.

"National Guardian General."

Song Qizheng recognized that this person was a deputy general who was supposed to be stationed here.

"Why have you come here?" Song Qizheng’s eyes fell on the deputy general, seeing him clad in armor, with an injured right arm, looking utterly disheveled as if he had lost a battle.

Song Qizheng frowned.

The deputy general said, "We received the General’s order to capture Song Xian, but encountered resistance from Song Xian, who falsely accused us of being rebel forces. He scattered the five hundred men I led, and Song Xian let me go to deliver a message to the National Guardian General..."

Song Qizheng was shocked that in the blink of an eye, all five hundred men were captured by Song Xian. Not only that, but Song Xian could also release someone to deliver a message to him.

Song Qizheng asked in a deep voice, "What did he want you to say?"

The deputy general said, "Song Xian said, the soldiers fighting alongside the National Guardian General are in a difficult situation, and the National Guardian General, you..."

The deputy general dared not continue speaking.

Song Qizheng said, "Speak."

Only then did the deputy general continue, "The National Guardian General, do not protect the traitors and Liao spies, lest you bring disaster to the North."

As the deputy general spoke these words, Song Qizheng vividly pictured Song Xian’s arrogant, cold face in his mind.

Song Qizheng couldn’t help but grip the longsword at his waist tightly. Despite his fury, he noticed one thing and asked the deputy general in a deep voice, "Who sent you to capture Song Xian?" His order was not to capture Song Xian but to order Song Xian’s subordinates not to leave the camp.

The deputy general looked at Song Qizheng in astonishment and stammered after a brief pause, "It was... it was... you, the National Guardian General."

Song Qizheng furrowed his brows tightly, "What did you say?"

The deputy general nodded, "I... I saw the token used to mobilize troops, which is why I led the army to go."

The token to mobilize troops?

Song Qizheng’s mind buzzed; he hadn’t ordered the mobilization of troops, and the token was kept in the General Mansion in Dingzhou. How did they see the token?

Song Qizheng’s voice turned low, and his face became even more intimidating as he tensed, "Who took the token to meet with you?"

From Song Qizheng’s words, the deputy general sensed something was amiss. Could there be an issue with the mobilization token? A cold shiver ran down the deputy general’s spine, for unauthorized troop mobilization was a capital crime.

"The General was Song Min. It was Mr. Song who took the token to mobilize troops," the deputy general said, "I checked carefully; there was no mistake with the token, and Mr. Song was accompanied by your deputy general and household general, so I didn’t suspect anything."

Song Qizheng had his suspicions previously, hearing these words confirmed it for him, and his vision went black as Mrs. Rong had secretly taken his token and given it to Song Min.

Song Qizheng turned his head to look at Song Yu, who looked distressed and surprised, "Father, I did not know about this, and Third Brother never mentioned it to me.

If I had known, I certainly wouldn’t have let Third Brother do this."

After saying this, Song Yu asked the deputy general, "What about Song Min? Is he with you?"

The deputy general shook his head, "No... no... Mr. Song... Song Min said he was going to other camps to mobilize troops, to ensure the capture of all Song Xian’s subordinates without leaving any."

Song Qizheng felt like his chest was crushed by a heavy weight. Song Min didn’t just mobilize the five hundred people stationed here; he also went to other camps. Using so many troops, what would happen if the court found out?

Song Qizheng thought of Song Xian’s claim to capture the traitors.

If Song Min acted first, then Song Xian would have a legitimate reason.

But Song Xian said he was acting under the orders of the court.

Things were increasingly feeling off.

Song Qizheng’s mind pieced together the entire sequence of events. Song Min had taken the Commander’s Seal before accompanying him to Zhenzhou, suggesting he had been prepared long in advance.

Simply stealing the Commander’s Seal to mobilize troops was a capital crime if from the beginning, it was all Song Min’s scheme...

As Song Qizheng pondered this, Song Min’s smiling face and his childhood appearances flashed in his mind, along with the scenes of him teaching Song Min swordplay.

Song Qizheng felt a pang of pain in his heart, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Go," Song Qizheng gritted his teeth, "catch up with them."

He had to see it with his own eyes to know the truth.

Vice General Qiao, trailing behind Song Qizheng, had a flicker in his eyes, as the current situation was not what they had anticipated. If Song Min failed or something went wrong, what would they do?

...

The night quickly passed, and dawn gradually broke.

Song Min had rushed about the whole night, followed by three thousand soldiers, with another thousand sent to intercept Song Xian.

Although he had only mobilized four thousand men, at this moment, Song Xian only had one or two thousand to command, and by capturing the leader first, he aimed to bring Song Xian down, then have all Song Xian’s subordinates’ generals convicted.

"Third Young Master, Song Xian is leading troops this way."

Song Xian was coming, meaning the thousand troops hadn’t stopped him.

"Useless," Song Min said, "to have let Song Xian come through so easily." Luckily, he had several thousand troops behind him. With this, he would personally kill Song Xian.

"All soldiers, listen to my command," Song Min raised the token in his hand, "Song Xian has colluded with the Liao people and is now rebelling. Capture him with me, and you will be rewarded for your merits in the future."

The soldiers behind Song Min responded in unison and immediately deployed into formation.

Song Min watched as the troops and horses slowly approached from afar, gave a command, and the soldiers behind him immediately advanced.

The sounds of battle were about to echo, and Song Min was prepared to witness Song Xian’s defeat.

However, the advancing troops suddenly halted.

Song Min frowned.

"Third Young Master, look... whose banners are those...?"

Song Min looked carefully and saw two banners fluttering among the cavalry, one belonging to Song Xian, and the other was the banner of the Palace Department. The golden-edged flag glistened in the rising sun.

Song Min’s expression changed suddenly; why could Song Xian wield Li You’s banner? Watching the soldiers being pushed back step by step by Song Xian’s advance, a deep fear welled up in Song Min’s heart.