CHAPTER 97: CHAPTER 95 SWORDS AGAINST EACH OTHER

Upon hearing the deputy general’s words, the hands beneath the Zhenzhou County Magistrate’s official robe couldn’t help but tremble. Finally, he couldn’t resist saying, "Deputy General, you must first make things clear."

The deputy general looked at the Zhenzhou County Magistrate: "Didn’t the county magistrate hear? They’ve already killed people. If they surrender willingly to the government office’s people, that’s best. But if they still resist... those people are traitors, rebels."

After saying this, the deputy general’s expression subtly changed: "What? As the Zhenzhou County Magistrate, you can’t even handle this matter? Does the Lord County Magistrate need to go back to the government office to discuss?"

Go back to the government office to discuss with whom? Naturally, it would be Song Xian.

The Zhenzhou County Magistrate shivered: "No, no... I saw it with my own eyes, there’s no need to discuss."

The deputy general smiled slightly. He had to remind the Zhenzhou County Magistrate, although the court had given the garrison power of Zhenzhou to Song Xian, he was not in control here, fortunately, the Zhenzhou County Magistrate knew the times.

"Move out." At the deputy general’s command, everyone headed towards the hiding place of the Chen Family Village members.

...

Song Qizheng was still on his way to Zhenzhou, with just half an hour left to reach Zhenzhou City.

"General."

Two riders approached, and Song Qizheng recognized them as coming from the direction of Qi State.

The deputy general rode up in a rush, and Song Qizheng pulled back his reins, stopping to wait for the deputy general’s report.

"General, there’s trouble at the Qi State Camp."

Song Qizheng’s entire body tensed: "What happened?"

The deputy general replied, "Just now, Dong Liang suddenly attacked within the camp, attempting to kill Jiang Quan."

Dong Liang had once followed Song Xian, while Jiang Quan was a deputy general under Song Qizheng, stationed with troops at Qi State.

Song Qizheng asked gravely, "How is Jiang Quan?"

The deputy general said, "General Jiang was caught off guard and injured, but luckily, the deputy general by his side quickly came to his aid, or else he would have died at Dong Liang’s hands."

Song Qizheng felt a throbbing at his temple: "Where is Dong Liang?"

The deputy general replied, "He ran towards Zhenzhou. General Jiang sent people to chase after him, and I came to report to you."

Before Song Qizheng could speak, Song Min suddenly stepped forward: "Father, could it be that our brother found out we discovered something suspicious? So... so..."

Song Min’s words trailed off, but they were enough to clarify the current situation.

Song Xian had discovered something was amiss and had his trusted aides seize the Qi State Camp. What was he trying to do? This was an attempted military rebellion.

Song Qizheng felt a pain in his gut, the spot where he had been stabbed during an assassination attempt. During that attempt, he caught over a dozen people who were all death warriors, refusing to reveal a word regardless of his interrogation.

Later, after he investigated every soldier in the North, he finally found someone who had seen those death warriors, and realized they had been brought to Mo State from the Qian Ning Army.

At that time, it was the deputy general by Song Xian’s side who was in Mo State. Following the clues, Song Qizheng discovered that this deputy general had connections with his steward.

Under torture, the steward confessed that everything had been orchestrated by Song Xian in secret. Song Xian had already gained considerable renown in the military. If Song Qizheng died, Song Xian would surely inherit the entire Song Family army.

To avoid suspicion, Song Xian deliberately went to the battlefield and got seriously injured. In that battle, he shielded Song Qizheng from most of the Liao people. Initially, Song Qizheng was pleased to have such an eldest son. However, after learning the truth, upon reflection, he realized that Song Xian was doing this to gain his trust so that no one would suspect Song Xian after he was assassinated.

Song Qizheng found it amusing; he hadn’t trained this boy in vain, as Song Xian had both courage and resourcefulness, setting up such intricate schemes with great effort.

The capture of Song Yu and Song Min was already peculiar; someone secretly informing the Liao people led to their capture by the Liao. That incident preceded his assassination attempt.

To say it had nothing to do with Song Xian, even he couldn’t believe it.

Song Xian had gathered too many allies in the army over the years. During several battles, Song Qizheng personally witnessed subordinate deputy generals obeying Song Xian’s orders. He also noticed that the household generals he had originally chosen for Song Xian appeared outwardly respectful to him but, in their hearts, only acknowledged Song Xian.

In the past, he controlled everything in the North, but as Song Xian grew and he aged, he could clearly feel the authority of his army gradually becoming weaker compared to Song Xian’s.

Even with solid evidence, he ultimately didn’t kill Song Xian, but instead, he executed that deputy general in front of Song Xian. He wanted Song Xian to know that if such things happened again, he would not show leniency.

The bond between father and son was almost non-existent at that moment, but it was all he could give—a biological son who schemed against his father’s and brother’s lives, better to have none at all.

When Song Xian was a child, Song Qizheng had already noticed his extraordinary intelligence, which led him to focus on Song Xian’s training. He hadn’t intended to let his mother’s mistakes affect Song Xian.

Sadly, in the end, Song Xian turned out to be just like his mother, inherently cold-hearted, devoid of compassion, and utterly filthy.

Now Song Xian was colluding with the Liao people again...

There was a hint of murderous intent in Song Qizheng’s eyes, just like when he learned of Song Xian’s mother’s deeds and thought of eliminating her by his own hand.

Song Yu, standing aside, was startled: "Father, don’t be anxious, let me go and ask my brother. There must be some misunderstanding here."

As Song Yu spoke, he was ready to head first to Zhenzhou.

Song Qizheng looked at Vice General Qiao beside him: "Instruct all the camps to be on high alert, command all of Song Xian’s troops to remain within the camp and await orders. Confiscate their weapons, and without my command, they are not to leave the camp."

Song Min’s eyes flickered, feeling resentment towards Song Qizheng’s decision. As expected, when it came down to it, their father still wouldn’t act against Song Xian.

Restraining Song Xian’s forces was a preventative measure against rebellion. Even with the allegation of colluding with the enemy, it seemed he wanted to minimize the impact, ultimately leaving an escape route for Song Xian.

Song Min smirked coldly inside, glad that he had made preparations in advance.

"Father," Song Min said, "let Vice General Qiao stay with you, and I’ll go. If I encounter my brother, we can talk as brothers."

Song Qizheng hesitated slightly before finally agreeing and instructed a few people to accompany Song Min to the camp.

Song Min rode off with his men, making haste towards the nearest camp.

Half an hour later, Song Min dismounted at the edge of the camp. He walked quickly inside, and once the deputy generals were gathered, he presented his token: "To all officers and soldiers, Song Xian has colluded with the Liao people and refuses to confess. He has incited a military revolt in the Qi State army. Everyone, follow me to eliminate Song Xian’s troops."

At Song Min’s words, the deputy generals present turned pale.

"What?" Song Min said coldly, "You refuse to obey orders? Do you intend to rebel against Daqi along with Song Xian?"

"No, we dare not." Someone lowered his head first, followed by the others echoing.

"Prepare the troops," Song Min ordered, "I will go with you."

Watching the deputy generals go to gather the troops, Song Min donned his armor and gripped the long knife in his hand. Tonight, he intended to claim Song Xian’s head, and no one would stop him.

...

Zhenzhou.

Xie Liangchen heard the sound of chaotic footsteps outside, followed by someone’s voice: "People of the Chen Family Village, the Zhenzhou County Magistrate is here, come out and speak quickly."