bayedsolid Chapter 786 A Sudden Turmoil Erupts: Loyalty and Treachery Discerned Within the Central Military Ten
Chapter 786 A Sudden Turmoil Erupts: Loyalty and Treachery Discerned Within the Central Military Ten
Inside the central command tent, the candlelight flickered, casting long and short shadows on everyone, and an invisible pressure hung in the air. Zhao Yong knelt on one knee, his voice steady and calm, showing no sign of panic: "This humble general Zhao Yong greets the general!"
Lin Ping sat upright in the main seat, her military uniform making her appear even more heroic. Her gaze was sharp as it fell on Zhao Yong, her calm face revealing neither joy nor anger. "Zhao Yong," she began slowly, her voice cold, "Li Mo reported that your unit lost three bows and ten arrows during a routine inventory of weapons. Is this true?"
"General, I have only just learned of this matter, and the specific circumstances still need to be verified. However, the weapons were indeed under the care of my unit, and I cannot shirk my responsibility for their loss. I am willing to accept the punishment." Zhao Yong was neither humble nor arrogant, neither shirking responsibility nor rushing to defend himself.
Standing to the side, Zhang Hao's eyes flashed with surprise upon seeing this, which quickly turned into a deeper sneer. He had expected Zhao Yong to panic and rush to clear his name, but he hadn't expected him to be so "open-minded." Well, admitting responsibility would make it easier to solidify the charges.
Li Mo immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said, “General, you are wise! Squad Leader Zhao is mistaken! The armory is heavily guarded, and the key is kept by a special person. It is locked every day. If it is not an inside job or a case of dereliction of duty that led to the theft, how could the weapons have been lost? When I checked, the armory door was intact and there were no signs of forced entry. The prime suspect is naturally Squad Leader Zhao, who is in charge of daily management!”
As he spoke, a pained expression appeared on his face: "General, the northern barbarians are eyeing us covetously, and our army is currently in the process of preparing for battle. Weapons are the second life of our soldiers! If Sergeant Zhao's actions are not severely punished, how can we set an example for others? How can we maintain morale in the army?"
Zhang Hao chimed in at the opportune moment, "Li Mo is absolutely right. General Lin, military law is as solid as a mountain. The loss of military equipment is no small matter. Especially during this sensitive period, this matter must be thoroughly investigated to give the entire army a proper explanation! As a platoon leader, Zhao Yong's dereliction of duty is a minor matter, but if he is truly suspected of embezzlement and treason, the consequences would be unimaginable!" He deliberately emphasized the words "treason," his intentions sinister, aiming to push Zhao Yong into an abyss of no return.
Hearing the conversation inside the tent, Wang Meng trembled with rage. He tried several times to rush in, but his personal guards held him back tightly. He knew Zhao Yong's character; he would never embezzle a single morsel of military rations, let alone steal from his own commissar. How could he possibly do such a thing! This was clearly a vicious scheme devised by those two treacherous villains, Zhang Hao and Li Mo!
Inside the tent, upon hearing the words "treason and collusion with the enemy," Zhao Yong abruptly raised his head, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes, which he quickly suppressed. He looked directly at Lin Ping and said in a deep voice, "General! This humble general admits there may have been oversights in management and is willing to bear the corresponding responsibility. However, I absolutely cannot admit to the crimes of 'embezzlement' and 'treason and collusion with the enemy'! This is a frame-up! This humble general is utterly loyal to the Great Jing, as heaven and earth can attest! Please, General, investigate thoroughly!"
Lin Ping silently observed Zhao Yong, as well as Zhang Hao and Li Mo's performance. She knew Zhao Yong; though young, he was calm, capable, and brave in battle, and an upright man—a trusted lieutenant she had personally promoted. She had also heard about the long-standing feud between Zhang Hao and Zhao Yong. The fact that this incident occurred so strangely, and that it was Zhang Hao's confidant, Li Mo, who discovered and reported it, raised many suspicions.
Her fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a rhythmic tapping sound, each tap seeming to strike Zhang Hao and Li Mo's hearts.
After a long silence, Lin Ping spoke, her tone still calm, yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Zhang Hao, Li Mo."
"Your subordinate is here!" the two replied simultaneously.
"The loss of weaponry is a major and bad thing. But before the truth is revealed, no speculation or accusation can be used as a basis for conviction." Lin Ping's gaze swept over the two men. "Li Mo, you said the armory door was intact, with no signs of forced entry?"
"Yes, General! I have personally checked it, and it is absolutely true!" Li Mo replied affirmatively.
"Who else, besides you, holds the key to the armory?" Lin Ping pressed.
Li Mo was taken aback, then said, "General, there are two keys. I carry one with me, and the other... according to regulations, is kept by the Vice General for emergencies." As he spoke, he subconsciously glanced at Zhang Hao. Zhang Hao's expression changed almost imperceptibly.
Lin Ping nodded, seemingly unsurprised: "Yes. Zhao Yong, you said there might be oversights in your management, what exactly are you referring to?"
Zhao Yong said, "General, my unit is responsible for the daily cleaning, maintenance, and registration of military equipment. There are records of every item taken and returned each day. However, I recently left the camp for two days to assist you with some defense reconnaissance matters, during which time the deputy platoon leader took over. Perhaps during this time, management became lax, giving thieves an opportunity. But this is absolutely not embezzlement!"
"Oh? You left the camp for two days?" Lin Ping frowned slightly. "Is there any witness to this?"
"Reporting to the General, this humble general was ordered by you to lead two personal guards to the western pass to survey the terrain and draw a simple defensive map. The guards can attest to this, and they have already submitted the survey report to you upon their return."
Lin Ping thought about it and realized it was true. In this way, Zhao Yong would have an alibi, and at least the possibility of him committing the crime directly during the two days he was away would be reduced.
Zhang Hao cursed inwardly, never expecting Zhao Yong to have such a hidden side. He immediately said, "General, even if Zhao Yong isn't here, as a platoon leader, he can't escape blame! Besides, who can guarantee that he didn't arrange it beforehand, or instigate someone else to do it?"
Lin Ping ignored Zhang Hao and instead asked Zhao Yong, "Zhao Yong, do you have any evidence to prove your innocence?"
Zhao Yong said, "General, I do not have direct evidence at the moment. But I beg you to give me a chance to investigate this matter personally! Within three days, I will surely find out the truth, recover the lost weapons, and bring the real culprit to justice!" His eyes were incredibly firm and full of confidence.
"Nonsense!" Zhang Hao immediately rebuked, "Zhao Yong, you are a suspect now, how can you investigate the case yourself? You are clearly trying to use this opportunity to destroy evidence and escape punishment! General Lin, you must not agree to this!"
Li Mo hurriedly replied, "General, General Zhang is absolutely right! Zhao Yong is highly suspicious and should be detained and kept under guard. General Zhang and I will jointly be responsible for thoroughly investigating this matter!"
Lin Ping looked at Zhao Yong, who met her gaze without flinching. Their eyes met, and Lin Ping saw in Zhao Yong's eyes honesty, loyalty, and a barely perceptible hint of expectation. She had made her decision.
"Enough." Lin Ping raised her hand to stop Zhang Hao and Li Mo's clamor. "This general has made her own decision."
She stood up, walked to Zhao Yong, and slowly said, "Zhao Yong, you say you have nothing to hide. Fine, this general will believe you this once."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Hao and Li Mo's expressions changed drastically, and they could hardly believe their ears.
"General! You mustn't!" Zhang Hao said urgently.
Lin Ping glanced at him coldly: "Deputy General Zhang, when did it become your place to interfere when I, the general, am speaking?"
Zhang Hao shuddered at the coldness in her eyes and dared not utter another word.
Lin Ping continued to Zhao Yong: "I'm giving you three days. During these three days, you will be temporarily suspended from your position as squad leader and hand over your military seal. However, you may mobilize two of your former squad's personal guards to assist in the investigation. You have the right to question and inspect the armory and related personnel. No one in the entire army is allowed to obstruct you without cause!"
She paused, then her voice suddenly turned stern: "If you can uncover the truth, recover the weapons, and clear your name in three days, this matter may be dealt with leniently. If you fail to uncover the truth, or attempt to resist or escape during this period..."
Lin Ping's gaze was like a knife: "Don't blame this general for being ruthless in the face of military law!"
A warm feeling welled up in Zhao Yong's heart. He knew that Lin Ping was giving him a chance under immense pressure. He kowtowed deeply: "This humble general thanks the general for his trust! If I cannot uncover the truth within three days, I am willing to offer my head in retribution!"
"Get up," Lin Ping said. "Go investigate now."
"Your subordinate obeys!" Zhao Yong stood up, bowed to Lin Ping, then turned and strode out of the central command tent under the resentful gazes of Zhang Hao and Li Mo.
**Unraveling the mystery, searching for clues amidst the fog.**
As soon as they stepped out of the tent, Wang Meng rushed over, his face full of anxiety: "Brother! Are you alright? Those two scoundrels didn't do anything to you, did they?"
Zhao Yong patted him on the shoulder and said in a deep voice, "I'm fine. The general gave me three days to find out the truth. Wang Meng, now is not the time to act rashly. We are pressed for time and must begin the investigation immediately."
"Yes, brother! Just tell us what to do, and we'll do it!" Wang Meng replied immediately, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.
Zhao Yong selected two of his most trusted and clever bodyguards, one named Xiao Qian and the other named Sun Liu, and together with Wang Meng, the four formed a temporary investigation team.
"Brother, where should we start our investigation?" Wang Meng asked.
Zhao Yong pondered for a moment: "The loss of military equipment can only be attributed to a few possibilities. One is that an outsider broke in and stole it, but Li Mo said that the armory door was intact and there were no signs of forced entry, so this possibility is relatively low for now, but it cannot be completely ruled out. The second possibility is that an insider stole it, which can be divided into two types: one is that the person committed the crime themselves, and the other is that they colluded with someone from outside."
"It must be that scoundrel Li Mo who stole from his own post and then framed you, brother!" Wang Meng said through gritted teeth.
“We can’t just rely on guesses.” Zhao Yong shook his head. “Li Mo is the armorer, in charge of the keys. If he wanted to steal, he would have had many opportunities. Why would he choose this time and use such a clumsy method? It seems a bit illogical. Unless… he was instructed by someone to do this on purpose, to frame me, and not because of those bows and arrows.”
"Being instructed by someone? Who else could it be but that old fox Zhang Hao!" Wang Meng said.
“Zhang Hao is the prime suspect, but we need evidence,” Zhao Yong said. “Let’s go check out the armory first.”
The four arrived at the armory. By this time, more guards had been added outside the armory. These were men sent by Zhang Hao, ostensibly to strengthen security, but in reality to monitor Zhao Yong's movements.
Zhao Yong ignored the guards and walked straight to the storeroom door. He carefully inspected the lock and door frame. Just as Li Mo had said, the lock was intact, without any signs of tampering. The lock was a specially made brass lock with a rather complex structure; without a key, it would be difficult to open without leaving any traces.
"Xiao Qian, go and call the two soldiers who are guarding the armory," Zhao Yong instructed.
"Yes!" Xiao Qian replied and left.
Soon, two soldiers responsible for guarding the armory were brought over. They looked terrified and clearly knew something was wrong.
"During the days when the weapons went missing, did you notice anything unusual while on duty? For example, did strangers approach, or did you hear any strange noises?" Zhao Yong asked.
The two soldiers looked at each other, and the older one said, "Reporting to...Squad Leader Zhao, there's nothing...nothing unusual. The armory is always heavily guarded. Apart from Lord Li and you occasionally coming to inspect, no one else gets close. We brothers strictly follow the regulations and dare not slack off in the slightest."
“Yes, yes,” another younger soldier hurriedly added, “We were very alert at night and didn’t hear anything.”
Zhao Yong stared into their eyes, trying to discern something, but the two men looked away, seemingly nervous, though perhaps simply afraid of taking responsibility.
"When was the last time Li Mo took inventory of the military equipment? He said he discovered the missing items, but when exactly did he discover that?" Zhao Yong asked again.
"Reporting to Sergeant Zhao, the routine inventory is conducted every five days, and yesterday was the day of the inventory. Lord Li arrived around 3 PM with two assistants, and the inventory took about an hour. Then he said that he discovered that bows and arrows were missing..."
"Yesterday afternoon, around 3 PM?" Zhao Yong pondered. "Then, before that, when was the last time someone entered the armory? And who was it?"