Martial generals had clashed, and a victor had emerged.
When An Jing decapitated Protector-General Song, a portion of Da Chen’s Martial Army, which had been currying favor with the opposition, shifted uneasily, as if they intended to do something. However, Hang Mofeng raised his hand, stifling the untimely unrest.
After all, he was the commander-in-chief. The death of Protector-General Song was sufficient to suppress the Martial Army, especially after he issued a soft rebuke, and all the officers startled to the realization that this was a struggle between the "Shenjing Military Supervisor and the Northern Border King" ——
—— We must be mad, why would we get involved in this sort of affair?
Harboring such thoughts, when Hang Mofeng ordered a full retreat and reorganization of the army, the two Martial Guard divisions withdrew along their original route.
"I am Hang Mofeng, a deputy general from the Military Department of Qinghai State. Next, I will report through the proper channels."
After sending all the attendants away, Hang Mofeng spoke with An Jing, who was holding Protector-General Song’s head. He looked at the bloody head and his expression relaxed a bit: "Please forgive me, I didn’t want to make things so awkward... However, it seems that some people above have exactly this intention."
"I am An Jing, City Lord of Linjiang City..."
Following Da Chen’s procedure of mutual declaration of offices, only then could their ’official meeting’ be considered to have taken place. An Jing nodded slightly: "It looks like you are the real person in charge."
From Gu Yunzhi’s words, he knew that the leader of the Martial Army reinforcements this time was a promising young general officer, and now it seemed that it was the man before him.
"I’m well aware that this man came here to ruin our rapport."
An Jing spoke calmly, nothing like someone who had just engaged in intense politicking with others in the Da Chen officialdom: "If one suggests that there are traitors within the central government, they definitely wouldn’t want the imperial court to successfully purchase my loyalty, a ’steed for the Divine Mandate,’ at such a high price."
"They will surely do everything possible to weaken Da Chen and lose its credibility, so that in the murky waters they can fish for benefits, claiming them under the names of their personal and prominent families, like parasites that suck blood from a great fish."
Had it been Xu Tai, he would surely be saying ’I don’t dare to hear more,’ and had it been Bai Qinghan, he would be muttering to himself ’Why does it sound like you’re trying to exonerate the Da Chen royal family?’
But Hang Mofeng nodded in strong agreement, even with some enlightenment: "So that’s how it is, and here I was wondering, why, when any normal person would try to have a regular conversation with you or woo you like the Virtuous King does, would they send someone like Protector-General Song... who seems a bit off in the head, to deliberately be your enemy?"
"But if they are traitors lurking within the court, eager to bleed Da Chen for their own enrichment, then it makes sense, it all makes sense..."
"You’re quite easy to talk to."
An Jing appraised Hang Mofeng, lifting an eyebrow: "I thought you might at least be constrained by protocol and join Protector-General Song in attacking me... but that didn’t happen."
"How could I possibly."
Hang Mofeng shook his head: "If it hadn’t been for the Virtuous King’s message, after you killed Protector-General Song, I indeed would have challenged you, then have been defeated by you — not that I’d lose on purpose, I believe I might not be able to win."
"That way, at least Protector-General Song’s death would have been justifiable, and I could claim it was a sparring match that we didn’t hold back on."
"But since the Virtuous King has already messaged me, I naturally have to keep my role in check and follow the king’s law."
—— Turns out he values protocol, an Orderly Person... that’s good, this world lacks those who follow rules.
An Jing nodded to himself mentally, although Hang Mofeng had done nothing just now, being able to remain steadfast to his own ideas, doing nothing and not getting swept up by circumstances, was actually the hardest.
Moreover, he also had some flexibility and knew to find a rationale for Protector-General Song’s death.
"With that in mind." An Jing smiled as he lifted Protector-General Song’s head and shook it: "What do you think, how should he have died? Did he die in a spar with me, or was it his zeal for protecting the country that led him to join the fray, only to fall into a trap and battle to the death with Iron Li’s Vanguard Camp?"
"Just go with the longer one with more words."
Hang Mofeng did not particularly care about such matters: "If it comes down to it, I’ll just report according to what you said earlier: Protector-General Song did not follow regulations, rashly marched his troops, moved the Earth Vein without authorization, approached the military city, and was shot dead by the defenders as an enemy while attempting to force his way into the city."
"Oh right, he hasn’t reported his position to you, has he? Hence in the process, [Song Chengzhi, Military Guard Commander of Da Chen’s Qinghai State] actually hasn’t yet met with you, the one you beheaded is nameless and without a title, just a reckless trespasser of unknown origins."
Though he looked forthright and uncomplicated, a staunch martial leader, Hang Mofeng was also quite adept at playing procedural games: "Not only me, but the whole army can testify — there should be Talismans that recorded the sound in the army, I will report that way when the time comes."
—— Heh, this guy isn’t dumb or silly; he knows how to use the rules while following them!
An Jing looked at Hang Mofeng with sudden admiration — one did not need to lie or break the rules to deal with things openly and legitimately; just emphasizing different parts of the story could instantly turn a tense and thrilling central-local conflict into a caprice of a few who do not understand the regulations.
"You handle it, General Hang."
Once the reporting approach was agreed upon, An Jing turned away and called out to Tengshuang White, ready to leave: "We shall meet formally later."
Hang Mofeng watched as An Jing departed on his ’small flying shuttle,’ but his immediate thought was not of Protector-General Song’s death, but admiration: "Is there really such a convenient and simple flying shuttle? I wonder about the cost, if this type of shuttle could be popularized among the border troops, what of the Dust Li tribes, what of the Monsters and Demons, it would make extermination efforts so much easier."
"I heard that An Jing has already utilized brand new Heavenly Secret technology in war... When will Da Chen also welcome a new revolution?"