Imperial Cultivation-Chapter 419 - 416: Capture

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Chu Zhiyuan asked, "General Ding, what’s the current situation in Jihai Town?"

Ding Shaoqiang’s face grew increasingly unsightly, and he shook his head with a sigh.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Is it so rotten that everyone is beyond saving, all tangled up together?"

Ding Shaoqiang gave a bitter smile, "Your insight is unmatched, Princely Heir."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "There’s even the matter of illegal iron mining, which managed to deceive the court. Truly, their skills are extraordinary."

Ding Shaoqiang was taken aback.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled softly, "It seems even you, as General, were kept in the dark."

Ding Shaoqiang’s face flushed red, anger surging within him.

Illegal iron mining is tantamount to high treason.

This is a crime of confiscation and extermination, these people are truly mad, outrageously audacious!

At the same time, it also reflected his own incompetence.

As a General, he hadn’t discovered the illegal mining of iron within his jurisdiction.

He felt both ashamed and angry, wishing he could immediately lead troops to seal off the mines, eradicating all those involved, including their backers.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "General Ding, this matter should not be publicized."

Ding Shaoqiang looked at him in a daze.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "For now, it’s inadvisable to stir up waves again. Let’s first handle the matter of the Hawk-shooting Camp, step by step."

"Understood."

"Do you think the Hawk-shooting Camp will follow orders, General Ding?"

"... If they do not comply now, they could be directly stripped of their positions."

"We must guard against it."

"... First, promise them generous rewards, then demand they annihilate the White Crane Camp within ten days."

"Very good, ... are there any loyal men of yours within the Hawk-shooting Camp?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded silently.

This Ding Shaoqiang is not a fool, just unlucky to be in the Eastern Territory.

He wanted to accomplish something in the Eastern Territory, but was seen as an outcast, jointly ostracized.

Ding Shaoqiang helplessly said, "These military camps seem to lack discipline, yet they fiercely guard their territories, united, making it difficult to insert people inside."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Ding Shaoqiang was evidently too bound by officialdom rules, restricting himself.

As a General, inserting loyalists into various camps was extremely easy.

Just needed to find an excuse to place a few confidants as officers, demote the current officers formally or dismiss them directly if not.

Yet, Ding Shaoqiang failed to plant his confidants inside.

This might also be his way of self-preservation?

Of course, it could also be that the camps’ forces were too strong, compelling him to not act recklessly.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Then promise high rewards, and mobilize all camps, not just the Hawk-shooting Camp."

"I understand, Your Highness!" Ding Shaoqiang replied hastily.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "General Ding, after you return to Yujing, the Court will handle you according to its laws. For now, it’s your chance to redeem yourself with merit."

"Understood, Your Highness!" Ding Shaoqiang said solemnly, "I have failed the Emperor, but I will not allow the Hawk-shooting Camp to betray again!"

"Do not focus solely on the Hawk-shooting Camp, lest you alert them into taking direct action," Chu Zhiyuan said. "Mobilize several camps to confuse the situation... as for when to take the Hawk-shooting Camp, remain flexible, and allow you to judge, I will not forcibly interfere."

"Understood."

"Then I await your good news, General Ding."

Ding Shaoqiang showed a guilty expression, "If not for my ineptitude, the Princely Heir wouldn’t have to toil like this."

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand, "It’s all for the Court, for the peace of the people."

He then inquired about various situations in Jihai Town, especially the official situation.

The Inspection Department also had records, but after all, their spies only watched from outside, not as deeply understood as Ding Shaoqiang, who was in the situation.

——

After Chu Zhiyuan departed, Ding Shaoqiang sat inside the room, frowning in deep thought.

A middle-aged guard approached, whispering, "Master."

"Hmm—?" Ding Shaoqiang didn’t look at him, continuing to stare at the patterns on the table.

"Should we...?"

"What nonsense are you talking!" Ding Shaoqiang glared at him angrily, "Your thoughts are truly treacherous!"

"But, Master..."

"These bastards, the Princely Heir’s visit this time is to deal with them!"

"Master, they are deeply entrenched, supported by the Sky Pillar and the Parasol Umbrella above. The Princely Heir might also find it difficult to handle them."

"This Fourth Prince is different," Ding Shaoqiang shook his head, "Which of those old-timers dare go against this Princely Heir?"

"But the Fourth Prince is still a Princely Heir," the middle-aged guard whispered, "If he were a Prince, those old-timers might hesitate a bit, perhaps?"

"Princes and Princely Heirs are both royals, judged by their abilities. An able Princely Heir far surpasses a useless Prince!" Ding Shaoqiang bowed in the direction of Yujing, "The Emperor is wise, overseeing everything, why did he specifically send the Fourth Prince?"

"Is the Fourth Prince the Emperor’s sharpest sword?"

"The matter of the Phoenix Camp is not exaggerated. We all know the details." Ding Shaoqiang looked eastward, shaking his head, "In the eyes of the Da Jing courtiers, Da Lie is a small, remote dynasty. We, however, know Da Lie’s formidability."

The middle-aged guard bowed his head, "Yes, but Master will still be held accountable..."

"It’s fine," Ding Shaoqiang said lightly, "My fate serves to warn the courtiers in the end, letting them know how rotten the Eastern Territory has become!... As long as I satisfy the Princely Heir, I will not remain in decline!"

"Master, you’re wise!" the middle-aged guard exclaimed, then spitefully grumbled, "The Eastern Territory is so rotten, power and influence everywhere hinder, yet the courtiers in Yujing only see Master as foolish, not knowing Master’s plight!"

Ding Shaoqiang waved his hand, "Just minor matters, let’s go."

His complexion regained some color.

Chu Zhiyuan stood in a small alley, observing Ding Shaoqiang’s every move with insight, shaking his head.

It was indeed not so simple.

No matter how dull one is, once they become a camp leader or town leader, they’re forced to become smart.

Ding Shaoqiang is no fool; on the contrary, he is a smart man.

Yet the world works in strange ways, where sometimes smart people don’t do things well because of too many uncontrollable factors.

Especially in a place like the Eastern Territory, teeming with monsters and demons, forces interlinked and tangled together, forming almost a dead knot.

Even he, a Princely Heir, would not act rashly, having to be equally cautious.

He had already sensed danger all around, not daring to get too close.

This indicated that the Eastern Territory harbored Great Grandmasters, and at least four of them, capable of killing him.

The Da Jing Dynasty had a total of nineteen Great Grandmasters, and four were in the Eastern Territory.

He had previously asked Chu Qingyan, and there were no Great Grandmasters stationed in the Eastern Territory.

So, where did these four Great Grandmasters come from?

Are they from the Wuyou Sect, Da Lie, or Da Guang, or even other Evil Sects?

If Ding Shaoqiang acted too rashly, he might have been eliminated already.

——

As expected, the Hawk-shooting Camp eventually obeyed orders and left the Hawk-shooting Fortress, commencing a rapid march.

Under generous rewards, there will always be brave men.

Ordinary Hawk-shooting Camp soldiers were unaware of the rebellion, only feeling that wiping out the White Crane Camp could earn five years of salary, definitely not to be missed.

Besides the Hawk-shooting Camp, there were also the White Crane Camp, Jingyun Camp, and Phoenix Camp, all mobilizing together.

They were excited yet nervous, rushing to arrive at the White Crane Camp first to claim the credit.

However, when they reached the foot of a deep mountain, exhausted and preparing to encircle the mountain, several camp officers were called to the central military tent for discussions.

And they never returned.

Soon they learned, those officers were involved in corruption and were directly apprehended.

The soldiers, being worn out, didn’t ponder too much, thinking those officers must have embezzled silver; being caught wasn’t wrong, and they couldn’t be falsely accused.

Soon after, a batch of new officers was sent from the central military tent, rearranging for a day, surrounding without attacking.

After this day of adjustment, the Hawk-shooting Camp stabilized.

They realized this mountain didn’t house the White Crane Camp; the intelligence was wrong; they had already escaped, needing continued pursuit.

The Hawk-shooting Camp was tasked with the pursuit, soon discovering dense wheel tracks, following them forward, they found a mine.

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