Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 588 - 76: Comments from the Three Kings, Dispositions and Transfer Orders (Final - of This Volume)_3

Chapter 588: Chapter 76: Comments from the Three Kings, Dispositions and Transfer Orders (Final Chapter of This Volume)_3

"Prince Liang’s Party didn’t necessarily want to keep me around, either; it’s true, I’m just a Sixth-rank Captain. It’d be one thing if you didn’t appreciate a favor, but to constantly impeach me? No one would tolerate that forever."

"But I do need to drop some bombshell news. Now it’s the end of the nineteenth year, and next year will be the 20th year of the Jingxin Calendar," Zhao Xing murmured to himself.

The Jingxin Calendar is only thirty-seven years long; there are only seventeen years left, and that’s not even taking into account the few times we’ve had a ceasefire, nor the over two years of Prince Liang’s rebellion.

High-stakes warfare isn’t far off.

It took over a year just to capture the Qinggang Mine Area; time really does fly.

"It’s difficult to find evidence against Prince Liang, and it’s not my place to do so, but evidence against members of Prince Liang’s Party is much easier to come by."

"When you spread out the net, there’s madness everywhere – just looking around, you can find a mountain of issues." Zhao Xing pulled out the Earth Mirror, and the list of names flowed rapidly before his eyes.

"Choosing the right person matters, too. You need someone with a lower rank but an important position – preferably someone with a big reputation, so you can make a decisive strike."

"The Transportation Department is actually a good institution, but that falls under Liu Tianning’s jurisdiction, and I mustn’t hinder his work. Can’t just catch a small fish and let the big one swim away," Zhao Xing considered. "I must avoid targeting a minor figure and overlook a major one."

Zhao Xing’s search went beyond the Southern Battle Zone, and also beyond the scope of Liu Tianning’s authority over the transportation affairs of the two Prefectures.

As the Earth Mirror continued to slide, it didn’t take long for him to lock onto a few names.

In his past life, Mr. Zhao dealt exclusively with corrupt officials!

Because of this, he had been frequently executed by Liu Tianning.

Finding a good official who Mr. Zhao remembered wasn’t easy.

But finding corrupt ones? That was far too easy.

"It’ll be you, Ji Yuanqiu – commander of the Leiyang Army," Zhao Xing decided, and then cracked a smile.

"Buddy, in this life I wanted to be a good guy, so I can only apologize for the inconvenience."

Ji Yuanqiu was the commander of the Leiyang Army, an official just below the Fifth Rank.

South of the Jiutian Yingyuan Mansion was the Southern Battle Zone.

Heading southwest from Anping Prefecture, across the river, was the Southwestern Battlefront.

The Leiyang Army was situated within this Southwestern Battle Zone.

If it had been before, you wouldn’t have been able to connect them even with an eight-foot pole.

But after Zhao Xing and his forces conquered the Fire Demon Clan’s area, they were much closer; just cross a tributary of the Lanjiang, and you’d be in the Leiyang Army’s defense region.

At that time, the Leiyang Army was just an average-strength secondary legion that didn’t even have a Cave Heaven Station.

But at the beginning stages of the Great Southern Barbarian War, it had gradually grown stronger.

The commander of the Leiyang Army, Ji Yuanqiu, was part of Prince Liang’s Party.

What had he done? Sold war spoils on the side, traded with the Southern Barbarians, orchestrated the forced decommission of warships allocated by the imperial court, and then sold them with marked-up prices to pocket kickbacks...

It must be stressed here that there is a ban in the Military Realm: war spoils are not to be sold elsewhere but can only be exchanged at the arsenal.

Engaging in profiteering, buying low and selling high, is a business that only the Military Realm’s arsenal can undertake. Merchants are forbidden from participating.

Why did Zhao Xing know this? Because in his past life, he worked with Ji Yuanqiu.

He also knew who Ji Yuanqiu’s suppliers and buyers were.

"The Leiyang Chamber of Commerce is one of Ji Yuanqiu’s buyers. However, the current chairman of the chamber is Yi Zhiwen, who has not yet handed over the position to his son, Yi Zhijie," Zhao Xing pondered.

In his previous life when he was involved in these dealings, Yi Zhijie was the one he had contacted, and by that time, Ji Yuanqiu had already been promoted to a regular Fourth-rank official, acting more recklessly than ever.

At this time, the Leiyang Chamber of Commerce was definitely involved in the same activities, only the scale might be different.

"Ji Yuanqiu doesn’t have a high position, but if caught, he can serve as a classic case to handle. The Military Realm hasn’t caught many involved in smuggling and profiteering yet."

"Most of this entire military unit is violating the law, and the Leiyang Chamber of Commerce is making a fortune off wartime profiteering,"

"Using this issue to attack Prince Liang’s Party would carry enough weight."

"Getting evidence is also simple; just grab the chairman of the Leiyang Chamber of Commerce, and everything will come to light."

"Thinking about it, in my past life I wasn’t a corrupt official, I was clearly undercover! Just that I lay low for quite a long time, and only now in this life have I turned legitimate," Mr. Zhao thought to himself.

...

The Southwestern Battle Zone, Yangjiang City.

This place was originally a fortress of the Fire Demon Clan with a long and difficult name. After being occupied by Great Zhou, it was renamed Yangjiang City.

The Leiyang Army was now stationed in Yangjiang City.

Inside the City Lord Mansion in Yangjiang City,

"After more than a year of heavy fighting, we’ve finally achieved victory. Our brothers have worked hard – drink up!"

A burly man clad in Fifth-Order Elemental Light Armor, holding a large bowl, shouted to those around him.

His name was Huang Chaoyang, and he was a Sixth-rank Captain of the Leiyang Army, as well as a trusted aide of Ji Yuanqiu.

Huang Chaoyang was a puppet on strings for Ji Yuanqiu – how the battles were fought and where they were fought, Huang Chaoyang simply followed Ji Yuanqiu’s remote commands from the rear.

Why? Of course, because there were benefits to reap.

Ji Yuanqiu had deep connections with the Black Dragon Army. Following behind the Black Dragon Army, the Leiyang Army was assured of favorable outcomes.

For these somewhat weaker military units, even if they just got a share of the spoils from following behind the Black Dragon Army, it would be enough to fill their bellies decently.

After a ceremonial three drinks to commence the banquet, Huang Chaoyang withdrew from the feast, not joining the other officers, but went to the rear of the City Lord Mansion to a flower hall.

Upon entering the flower hall, curtains around Huang Chaoyang were drawn, some with talismans hidden within them to prevent eavesdropping.

Inside, a more sumptuous banquet had already been set up, but there were only three seats.

Other than Huang Chaoyang, the attendees were the current chairman of the Leiyang Chamber of Commerce, Yi Zhiwen, and his son, Yi Zhijie.

"General Huang, congratulations on your triumphant victory, returning fully laden with spoils," Yi Zhiwen and his son, who were also wearing armor, smiled.

However, their outfits were quite flashy and carried the tribal style of the Southern Barbarians’ army.

"Thank you, Mr. Yi," Huang Chaoyang, not daring to be negligent, bowed and raised his glass.