Liubai Camp: Remnants of the army attack northward

Chapter 18 Zhang Jiankang

In the morning, Shen Bai was about to leave.

Iron Shield rushed out of the tent and blocked his way.

"I agree."

"The camp is unattended."

"So you're going alone?"

"Um."

Iron Shield tried to stop him, but couldn't. He knew Shen Bai's temperament; if he said not to follow, he meant it.

"how long?"

Shen Bai mounted his horse without looking back.

"I'll be right back."

Iron Shield was stunned: "What if you don't come back?"

Shen Bai didn't answer, but spurred his horse and rode away.

The horses kicked up dust and disappeared at the camp gate.

Chen Qingzhi stood at the entrance of the camp, holding a bowl of porridge, watching that figure walk away into the distance.

Zhao Si walked over and stood next to him.

"Worry?"

Chen Qingzhi didn't speak, and lowered his head to drink his porridge.

The porridge was so thin that you could see your reflection in it.

---

Jiankang, Ministry of War.

When Shen Bai arrived, it was already past noon.

He dismounted, straightened his collar, and walked inside.

Someone was waiting for him at the door.

It was the clerk who came to deliver the message that day; he was in his thirties and wore a badge from the Ministry of War on his waist.

"Captain Shen, this way please."

The clerk led him across the courtyard and into the courtyard.

The corridor was long, with low-ceilinged side rooms on both sides. Every now and then, servants carrying things would pass by, bow their heads, and hurry away. Some people were sweeping the floor in the corner, while others were repairing door frames; no one looked up at them.

The document was stopped at the door of the signing room.

"arrive."

Shen Bai glanced at the door.

The door was open, and there were people inside.

The clerk stepped aside.

"please."

Shen Bai stepped inside.

Wang Dechang stood at the door, saw Shen Bai, and a smile spread across his face.

"Captain Shen, you must be tired from your journey."

Shen Bai looked at him.

"It's not hard work."

Wang Dechang's smile froze for a moment, then returned. He stepped aside and pointed inside.

"Lord Chen is waiting inside. Please go in."

Shen Bai went inside.

---

Chen Tingyu sat behind his desk, holding a pen in his hand, reading some documents.

He looked up when he heard footsteps.

Shen Bai stopped and bowed.

He knelt on one knee, but his head was raised.

Chen Tingyu did not make him kneel down.

"Chen Bai."

"exist."

"Write down what happened at Nanshan Village."

"yes."

Shen Bai took the pen, spread out the paper on the table next to him, and began to write.

Where did they start? How many people were there? How did they get there? How did they fight their way there? How many people died? What did they capture?

He wrote quickly, and his handwriting was messy, but it had everything he needed.

Chen Tingyu waited, without urging him.

Wang Dechang stood to one side, his eyes fixed on Shen Bai's hand.

Fifteen minutes later, Shen Bai finished writing.

He presented the paper.

Chen Tingyu took it and read it once.

He frowned slightly.

"You didn't report it."

"without."

"Do you know this is a sin?"

"Know."

Chen Tingyu looked at him.

"You knew it, yet you still did it?"

Shen Bai remained silent for a while.

"The supply route to the garrison was cut off by bandits. Within three months, three shipments of grain destined for Jiankang were robbed. The garrison of fifty men is now without food or pay."

His voice was flat, as if he were reading an official document.

"If I don't suppress the bandits, they'll all be gone in half a month, not even three months."

Wang Dechang chimed in from the side, his voice shrill.

"Then why didn't you report it first? Wait for the Ministry of War to discuss it, and wait for their approval before taking action."

Shen Bai turned his head and looked at him.

"Report it up, wait for the Ministry of War to discuss it, wait for approval, it will take at least half a month. In half a month, the bandits can raid the grain three more times."

He paused.

"This humble servant can wait, but the grain supplies in Jiankang cannot."

Wang Dechang's face twitched.

Chen Tingyu didn't speak, but tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

---

The signing room was quiet for a while.

Then Shen Bai spoke.

"My lord, I have discovered something in Nanshan Village."

Chen Tingyu's eyebrows twitched.

"What is that?"

"Wu Er's account book."

When Shen Bai spoke, his eyes were on Chen Tingyu, but his peripheral vision kept falling on Wang Dechang.

"There's a monthly expenditure of ten taels of silver. It's called 'filial piety money.' The recipient doesn't know who it is. But Wu Er delivers it personally, very carefully."

Chen Tingyu frowned slightly.

"What does this have to do with your case?"

"What do you think, sir?"

Chen Tingyu remained silent.

Shen Bai continued, his voice still flat.

"Ten taels a month is no small sum. Those who can afford to collect this amount are not ordinary people."

As he said this, he glanced at Wang Dechang out of the corner of his eye.

Wang Dechang's expression changed.

He clenched his fist inside his sleeve until his knuckles turned white.

Shen Bai saw it.

Wang Dechang tried to remain calm, but his voice was a little strained.

"Shen Bai, why are you checking this? What could a bandit's ledger possibly contain?"

Shen Bai turned his head and looked at him.

"Lord Wang is right. There's no need to be so careful with a bandit leader."

He paused.

"The person who can make him so cautious is no ordinary person."

Wang Dechang remained silent.

His lips moved slightly, as if he was holding back something. His eyes flickered, and he didn't dare to look at Shen Bai.

Chen Tingyu closed the document.

"That's enough."

---

The signing room fell silent.

Chen Tingyu glanced at Wang Dechang, then at Shen Bai.

"Chen Bai."

"exist."

"Unauthorized absence from duty will result in a three-month salary deduction and a demerit."

Shen Bai: "Thank you, Your Excellency."

Chen Tingyu looked at him.

"Next time you're suppressing bandits, report it first and come directly to me. Continue investigating the account books."

Shen Bai was taken aback.

He looked up at Chen Tingyu.

Chen Tingyu didn't look at him, but lowered his head and picked up another document.

"I'll be waiting for your results in three months."

Shen Bai remained silent for a while.

"yes."

Wang Dechang, standing to the side, was already ashen-faced. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but was silenced by a look from Chen Tingyu.

"Go."

"yes."

Shen Bai stood up, turned around and walked out.

---

He left the Ministry of War.

Wang Dechang followed behind, his steps heavy.

Shen Bai stopped at the door.

He turned around.

Wang Dechang also stopped and looked at him.

Shen Bai looked at him.

The street was bustling with people—some carrying loads on shoulder poles, some pushing carts, and children running around. Nobody paid any attention to this side.

Shen Bai spoke.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was clear.

"Lord Wang."

Wang Dechang didn't respond, he just stared at him with eyes like those of a dead fish.

Shen Bai said:

"Guess whose name is written on that ledger?"

Wang Dechang's face turned pale instantly.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but nothing came out.

His hand instinctively shrank into his sleeve, as if trying to grasp something.

Shen Bai looked at him.

Wang Dechang stood there, his face ashen, motionless.

People continued walking on the street, those carrying loads continued carrying loads, and those pushing carts continued pushing carts.

Nobody knows what just happened.

Shen Bai didn't wait for his reply.

He turned and left.

Wang Dechang stood at the entrance of the military department, watching that figure disappear around the street corner.

---

It was already dark when Shen Bai left Jiankang City.

He rode his horse slowly.

Behind us was the city wall, in front of us was the official road, and on both sides were dark farmlands.

He glanced back at Jiankang.

The lanterns on the city wall lit up, looking like a row of sparks from afar.

He recalled what Chen Tingyu had said in the signing room earlier that day.

"I'll be waiting for your results in three months."

Chen Tingyu did not ask him where the account book was.

I didn't even ask him who he was investigating.

He simply said, "Wait for the results."

Shen Bai spurred the horse and continued walking.

---

Camp.

Shen Bai returned in the evening.

Iron Shield was the first to charge out.

"You're back!"

"Um."

"How is it?"

Shen Bai dismounted and handed the reins to Tie Dun.

"A three-month salary deduction and a demerit."

Iron Shield paused for a moment.

"That's it?"

"That's it."

Iron Shield wanted to ask more questions, but Shen Bai had already walked into the tent.

---

Just then, a commotion came from the camp gate.

There was the sound of horses' hooves.

More than one.

Shen Bai came out of the tent and looked towards the entrance.

A white horse came along the official road, the rider sitting on it, wearing a white robe and carrying a silver spear, his body clean and tidy.

It's Lin Yu.

Ten people followed behind him, men and women, dressed in mottled clothes; some carried knives, some carried bows, and some pushed carts.

Two cars.

The iron shield was raised to meet the attack.

"Why are you back?"

Lin Yu dismounted and threw down the reins.

"Now that the business is done, what else would you be doing but coming back? This godforsaken place is really hard to find."

His eyes swept across the camp and finally landed on Shen Bai.

Shen Bai walked over.

"You're back?"

Lin Yu pointed behind him.

"There's cargo on the truck. See for yourself."

Lin Yu looked at him.

"This batch of Xuan Stones was originally intended for the Ministry of War. Your father hid it."

Shen Bai clenched his fists tightly inside his sleeves.

Lin Yu looked at him.

"The shopkeeper also said that someone from the Ministry of War is investigating the whereabouts of this shipment. But they don't know where it is."

He paused for a moment.

"We don't know yet, at least not at the moment."

A gust of wind blew in from outside the camp gate, causing the torch to flicker.

Lin Yu didn't say anything more. He patted Shen Bai on the shoulder and walked into the tent. "I'm hungry. Is there anything to eat?"

Iron Shield followed.

Shen Bai stood there, looking at the two cars. Under the moonlight, the pile of stones gleamed faintly with a silvery light.

He didn't know when they would find out about this place.

But he still has time before that.

---

(End of Chapter 18)