kvmb Chapter 864, Case 1
Chapter 864, Case 1
Why?
Yes, why?
Luo Jing led his brothers across the flames of war, risking their lives to deliver a blood-written letter seeking aid. Their purpose was not for their own safety, nor even for the soldiers who fought to the death to defend against the enemy, but for the civilians trapped in Chenzhou with nowhere to escape.
Since the Northern Yan launched a major southward invasion, life has become increasingly difficult for the people living on the border.
Chenzhou was occupied by the Northern Yan in earlier years, and the people were taken prisoner. Regardless of gender, they were treated like livestock and were not even as precious as the sheep in the Northern Yan's pen.
After General Rong led his army to reclaim Chenzhou and several cities in the north, they were finally freed from their lives as slaves.
But the war raged on for years without ever ceasing.
The people of Chenzhou longed for General Rong to win a decisive victory so that Chenzhou would never again suffer the ravages of war.
However, their fervent hopes were met with no mercy from the imperial court.
Just like today, when Luo Jing brought this blood-written letter that he had kept close to his body for many years to question the emperor and all the officials, why?
Luo Jing, his eyes bloodshot, questioned Duke Xiao once more.
"Lord Xiao refuses to see us commoners, but the Jinzhou army has witnessed the blood-written letter. Whether we consult the lord or report this matter, we can still fight for a chance for Chenzhou. It takes less than three days to travel from Jinzhou to Chenzhou by fast horse. At that time, we dared not stop for a moment to save time and arrived in Jinzhou in just one and a half days. After Chenzhou ran out of food, General Rong and his soldiers were trapped for ten days and ten nights. For the sake of the people behind them, they struggled until they died of exhaustion. If Jinzhou were willing to send troops, wouldn't they be able to reach Chenzhou in eight days?"
This heartbreaking question had been bottled up in his heart for almost eighteen years.
Today, finally able to ask the question, Luo Jing found himself with tears welling up in his eyes first.
Those were his brothers who had gone through thick and thin with him. During those ten days and ten nights, they had hoped and despaired countless times.
Faced with the blood-written letter and such questioning, even Duke Xiao was at a loss for words.
Seeing that he remained silent, Zong Que questioned him.
"Duke Xiao, Jinzhou has a garrison of 30,000 troops, stationed there to defend against foreign enemies. General Rong, as the commander-in-chief of the Northern Expedition, has the authority to command the troops stationed in the northern prefectures. Chenzhou sent a blood letter requesting aid. In times of emergency, General Rong's seal can serve as a military order. Tell me, why did not a single soldier in your Jinzhou army move? As the governor of Jinzhou, you should have understood that the laws of our Great Zhao stipulate that the generals of the border prefectures are not allowed to leave their posts without orders. How come you were not commanded by military orders, yet you disobeyed orders and went to Suzhou?"
Duke Xiao was already drenched in cold sweat.
He had no choice but to admit it.
In normal times, even if he left the post without permission, it wouldn't be considered a serious crime. However, during wartime, leaving the post without permission would be a serious offense, and he wouldn't be able to explain himself even if he had ten mouths.
He could argue that he hadn't seen the blood-written letter, but he couldn't accuse the soldiers stationed in Jinzhou of not seeing it. Luo Jing had been to both the garrison and the governor's mansion, so he couldn't deny it even if he wanted to.
He did know about this back then, but he never expected that Luo Jing would survive, let alone that he would be able to keep such a blood-written letter.
The authenticity of Rong Che's handprint on the blood letter can be determined by comparison. As the commander-in-chief of the Northern Expedition, Rong Che has the authority to mobilize troops stationed in the surrounding areas. Seeing the blood letter is equivalent to seeing a military order.
After a moment's deliberation, Duke Xiao had no choice but to admit, "Your subject confesses his guilt. I became fast friends with Lord Liu, the governor of Suzhou, and was invited by him to attend his mother's birthday banquet. It happened to be the first birthday of his youngest daughter, who was clever and adorable. So I arranged a marriage between her and my son. I neglected my post and failed to receive the message from Chenzhou requesting assistance in time. This is my fault."
Looking over, Lu Yangyang saw that this Duke Xiao was truly someone who wouldn't shed tears until he saw the coffin. He admitted to the crime of dereliction of duty under the pretext of personal matters and deliberately obscured the fact that he refused to provide assistance despite the blood-written letter.
However, this is only the first charge.
"There is still one thing I do not understand," Zong Que said, looking at Duke Xiao. "Duke Xiao said he went to Suzhou to attend a banquet. Did your 30,000 troops stationed in Jinzhou go with you to the banquet? Just now, General Luo asked why not a single soldier from your Jinzhou army went to Chenzhou to provide support for eight days. Duke Xiao, please explain where these 30,000 soldiers from Jinzhou went. In eight days, not a single one of them notified you, and they all ignored General Rong's blood-written letter. Are they planning a rebellion?"
Duke Xiao's face turned pale, and he hurriedly explained, "I am not in the army, and my subordinates dare not act on their own initiative. They have absolutely no intention of disobeying orders."
"Is that so?" Zong Que asked coldly, "Then whose orders did they take, that they didn't inform you, the commander, about this matter, and instead acted on their own?"
Duke Xiao had no choice but to continue, "After I returned to Jinzhou, I received news from Chenzhou that the deputy general had been severely punished."
Zong Que: "Which deputy general?"
Before Duke Xiao could speak, Zong Que raised his finger, and Pei Ji presented a booklet: "This is the list of all the garrison soldiers recorded by the Jinzhou Army back then. So much time has passed, it's understandable that Duke Xiao has a bad memory. Come, look at the list and identify who it is?"
Pei Ji opened the booklet and walked to Duke Xiao. "Duke Xiao, please."
Zong Que reminded him, "Duke Xiao, you should read this carefully before you speak. If you remember it wrong, you will be deceiving the emperor."
Duke Xiao was not unaware of Zong Que's methods, but only now, when it came to his own, did he clearly feel the feeling of being surrounded by a dense net with no way out.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty. I allowed my deputy to conceal the information and only reprimanded him. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."