Green Mountain
Chapter 164 - 120, Civil strife_3

Chapter 164: 120, Civil strife_3

Chen Ji pondered for a moment, "The commoners I know of don’t have the gall, unless they’re starving to death, otherwise they wouldn’t rebel... Additionally, the Heavenly Horse lord has arrived."

Jin Zhu turned around abruptly, only to see a figure in white, the Heavenly Horse, standing on the edge of the city wall’s parapet, unnoticed until now.

A sudden sense of calm washed over him.

Chen Ji solemnly instructed, "If someone tries to kill me, it must be a spy from the Liu Family, please, Heavenly Horse lord, shoot them down."

"Wait, what if the grain doesn’t arrive? The Heavenly Horse can’t stop so many disaster victims!"

Chen Ji calmly said, "I’m betting Lord Zhang will manage to bring in the grain in time."

Jin Zhu gripped the battlements and looked down, only to see the disaster victims weren’t surging forth to kill Chen Ji; instead, they slowly backed away a few steps.

The cries of killing abruptly ceased.

...

...

23:45.

On Guangji Street, more than ten riders galloped with a thundering sound against the bluestone pavement, crisp and clear.

On horseback, Zhang Zhuo’s hair flew in disarray as the wind blew against him. Clutching the reins with his right hand, he leaned low and turned his head to West Wind at his side, "Hey, who was that young fellow just now?"

West Wind replied cautiously, "Lord Zhang, why do you ask this?"

Zhang Zhuo said offhandedly, "You all are unmasked, only he was masked. Can’t I be curious?"

West Wind explained, "His identity is special, for fear of attracting revenge from the rebels of the Jing Dynasty, so he has never shown his true face. My lord, please do not inquire further, as it is a matter of our utmost confidentiality."

Zhang Zhuo’s gaze shifted, changing the subject, "Has that young man offended the Jing Dynasty?"

West Wind chuckled, "Severely so. Because of him, the Jing Dynasty has lost troops and generals multiple times."

Zhang Zhuo appeared contemplative, then after a moment asked again, "Is he your superior?"

West Wind muttered, "Not yet, but he should be soon... My lord, why are you so curious about him?"

Zhang Zhuo just chuckled and said nothing.

Thirty minutes later, the party arrived in front of the grain depot camp’s gate, where they reined in their horses, and soldiers with long Iron Halberds came out to meet them, "Who goes there in the middle of the night?"

Zhang Zhuo dismounted, "I am the Luocheng City Prefect, Zhang Zhuo, requiring an emergency procurement of 300 bushels of grain. Open the gates at once!"

However, the soldiers at the camp did not give way, looking back at a colonel behind them. He wore an expressionless face; he neither nodded nor shook his head, nor did he utter a word.

The soldiers stood firm with their halberds and turned to Zhang Zhuo, "Not everyone in a red official robe is necessarily Lord Zhang; it could also be a rebel from the Jing Dynasty in disguise... Do you have the government office seal?"

Zhang Zhuo frowned; he was supposed to go to the Lumming Banquet tonight, so how could he possibly carry the government office seal with him?

His gaze passed over the soldiers to the Colonel behind them, speaking calmly, "I’ve seen you, and you surely have seen me too! Step forward and let’s talk!"

The Colonel rested his hand on his waist knife, his demeanor bland, "We are under the jurisdiction of the Luocheng Military Department. The grain depot is a crucial military site. If you wish to commandeer us, you need not only the Luocheng City Prefect’s seal but also the Tiger Talisman from General Liu."

Zhang Zhuo narrowed his eyes, "What if I don’t have it?"

The Colonel replied calmly, "Then you should go back."

Zhang Zhuo did not speak. What the Colonel said was the standard procedure. On any other day, he could simply wait, but not tonight.

He turned his head and whispered to West Wind, "Do we absolutely need this grain? Chen... Does that young man have any other plans we could choose from?"

West Wind replied, "No."

Zhang Zhuo asked again, "Did he mention what the consequences would be if we don’t get the grain?"

West Wind considered and answered, "He said the Liu Family intends to drive you and Mr. Chen out of Luocheng City. If you can’t procure the grain, I fear your position is at risk."

"The hell, it’s been such a challenge to climb to this rank, and the Liu Family dares target my position?" Zhang Zhuo muttered to himself softly, "It’s as if the Liu Family knew someone would come to requisition grain tonight, even a mere Colonel dares to defy the City Prefect. But the more they do, the more it proves that the young man’s judgment was right."

In the next moment, Zhang Zhuo strode directly towards the Colonel, commanding with an unprovoked authority, "Step aside!"

The Colonel raised his eyebrows, but did not see Zhang Zhuo as a threat, standing unyielding like an iron tower.

Zhang Zhuo’s footsteps did not falter.

When he reached the Colonel, he suddenly drew the knife from the Colonel’s waist and reversed the blade across the Colonel’s neck.

In an instant, fresh blood sprayed onto Zhang Zhuo’s red official robe, staining it with purple spots.

Zhang Zhuo stood wielding the knife and declared menacingly, "I am the Luocheng City Prefect, Zhang Zhuo. Today, I act out of necessity to requisition grain for an emergency. Anyone who disobeys will be charged with treason!"

West Wind’s eyes widened; he had never before seen a civil servant kill with a knife.

Once he came to his senses, he immediately bellowed, "Protect Lord Zhang!"