Chapter 42: We Need Your Betrayal

The Great Xia Kingdom had six hundred thousand regular troops, plus the local Tuanjie Militia, totaling nearly a million soldiers. If someone took a little kickback on just one winter cotton-padded coat per soldier, how much money would that be from a million coats? And each soldier got two sets. Not to mention the soldiers’ standard weapons!

It was no wonder Xiao Yan and the other two were shocked.

Xu Xianyang’s audacity was immense.

Xiao Rui was not surprised. He and Jia Xu had guessed some of it. After all, that official workshop specifically produced cotton-padded clothes. And according to Jia Xu’s guess, the reason Xu Xianyang personally went to the workshop was probably to inspect the quality of the shoddily made coats, to see if they could withstand scrutiny. If a regular inspection couldn’t spot the problems, then his shady dealings would remain hidden underwater and pose no threat to him.

The Directorate of Imperial Manufactories had so many official workshops. They didn’t just produce cotton-padded clothes, but also standard weapons—the regular blades, spears, shields, bows, arrows, and other weapons used by soldiers. Xiao Rui and Jia Xu didn’t believe Xu Xianyang only embezzled on the cotton clothes. A greedy rat wouldn’t pass by two oil jars filled to the brim, would he? So, he definitely wouldn’t have spared the other projects under the Directorate either!

And now it was confirmed!

Xiao Rui deliberately asked, “Are you telling the truth?”

“Truth, of course it’s the truth,” Sun Yang said.

“Have the problematic cotton clothes and weapons already been shipped out? His Lordship asks us to inquire in detail which military camps they went to, if there’s a roster. His Lordship can use his personal connections to make further arrangements.” Xiao Rui said. “Also, the Patrol Battalion’s cotton clothes and weapons absolutely must not be the problematic ones! This is the Capital City, a crucial place. There absolutely must not be any slip-ups!”

Sun Yang hurriedly said, “His Lordship had already given instructions beforehand. Please relay to His Lordship, set his mind at ease, they definitely will not appear in the Capital City. The standard weapons and cotton clothes are first sent to the Five Military Commissions, then distributed to the major armies and various military camps. I do not have a roster in my hands.”

Just as Jia Xu had guessed, the problematic cotton clothes and weapons would not appear in the Capital City.

Sun Yang felt a bit suspicious and added, “The armies of the Twelve Marquises of War, except for the Patrol Battalion under the Loyal and Brave Marquis, all the other camps were supplied with substandard cotton clothes and standard weapons. Lord Xu should know this, right?”

Xiao Yan was startled. Tian Boguang’s blade was already lifted, ready to give him a ‘close encounter’ at any moment.

Xiao Rui gave them a look, signaling them to calm down. Then he kicked Sun Yang and scolded, “Nonsense! Important people know many things, but who can guarantee their subordinates are obedient? Some might even do wrong for petty gains! So, are you questioning His Lordship’s inquiry?”

“I wouldn’t dare! I wouldn’t dare!” Sun Yang trembled.

Xiao Rui then asked, “Lord Sun, is there anything else you want to say?”

“Nothing, nothing! My loyalty to His Lordship can be seen by the sun and moon!” Sun Yang swallowed. He had spoken so much his mouth felt dry.

Xiao Rui, however, smiled and changed the subject. “Lord Sun, loyalty is like a wolf’s heart or a dog’s lungs. It can be discarded just like that. So, have you ever considered betraying Lord Xu?”

The shift in topic was too abrupt.

Sun Yang was directly dumbfounded. It took him a long moment to react, then he hastily said in terror, “I wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare! In life I am Lord Xu’s man, in death Lord Xu’s ghost. I will never betray him in life or death. Only when mountains crumble and heaven and earth unite would I dare part with His Lordship.”

He thought Xiao Rui was testing him again.

“But we need your betrayal!” Xiao Rui laid his cards on the table. “Expose Xu Xianyang’s crimes! Rid the Great Xia Kingdom of this tumor! Give justice back to the soldiers fighting on the battlefield.”

Tears streamed down Sun Yang’s old face. “Several good men, you don’t need to keep testing me. I will never betray Lord Xu, never!”

Xiao Rui then reached out and untied the cloth covering Sun Yang’s face.

This scene made Xiao Yan and the other two hurriedly cover their own faces. Weren’t they supposed to interrogate without showing their faces?

Unexpectedly, Sun Yang still kept his eyes shut and cried out, “I know the rules, I know the rules! I definitely will not lay eyes on the good men’s true faces. Rest assured, I’m very savvy. My eyes are shut tight. My heart has needle and thread, ready to sew anything shut anywhere.”

Slap…

Xiao Rui slapped him, making his mouth bleed and stars appear before his eyes. But Sun Yang still kept his eyes shut, not daring to open them.

Seeing this, Xiao Rui was completely reassured.

Just as Jia Xu had said, if this man was a coward who feared death, the deception plan could be changed to a coercion and inducement plan.

“Open your dog eyes and see clearly who we are!” Xiao Rui shouted.

Only then did Sun Yang dare to open his eyes. The moment he did, he was dumbfounded for several moments, his eyes immediately widening.

“The Seventh Highness? The Ninth Highness? And the two Young Marquises? Damn! How is it you?”

Shocked out of his wits, he actually cursed out loud. Then he instantly slumped to the ground. A chill shot up from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, making his whole body feel freezing cold and his heart flutter with panic.

What had he just said?

Couldn’t blame himself for being too stupid. All blame lay with the enemies being too cunning.

Xiao Rui bent down, looking down at him face-to-face, slightly narrowing his eyes with a murderous aura. From Sun Yang’s eyes, Xiao Rui saw fear, horror, and confusion.

“Lord Sun, do you want to live, or do you want to die?” Xiao Rui asked with a smile.

Sun Yang shivered and immediately replied, “Please, Your Highness, make it clear for me.”

“Do you want to follow Xu Xianyang down a dark dead-end road to the very end? Or do you want to abandon the darkness for the light, let His Majesty see that even caught in the whirlpool you didn’t forget an official’s duty, that you dared to stand against evil forces?” Xiao Rui asked.

“His… His Majesty?” Sun Yang’s lips trembled.

Xiao Yan barked, “Naturally, it was our royal father who ordered my brother and me to investigate this case, to familiarize ourselves with court affairs and laws before establishing our own households. Did you think Xu Xianyang’s dealings were a leak-proof wall?”

Tian Boguang also mocked, “Xu Xianyang’s mansion is about to collapse, and the first to be crushed to death will be people like you. Still thinking of sweet moments with your concubine? Let me tell you, your steward is already on his way to climb into her bed.”

“Right, depends on whether you have the foresight. Otherwise, even your child might change their surname,” Zhang Lianchuan said.

Xiao Rui squatted down and spoke earnestly, “Lord Sun, I am only giving you one chance. You have already revealed Xu Xianyang’s corruption and law-breaking. If you still insist on being stubborn, I will turn around and leave. Right outside the door are people from the Eastern Depot and the Brocade Guard. Although these two departments were just established, surely you’ve heard about their methods these past few days. They are straining every nerve to achieve merit. Once you go in with them, I can’t guarantee you’ll come out a whole person. Can you expect a group of men who are not even whole men to do anything kind to you? Ah, just thinking about it is so thrilling.”

“I am willing to expose and report, but…” Sun Yang wiped his cold sweat, his face looking miserable as he said, “Your Highness, although Xu Xianyang is the mastermind, he assigned the Ministry of Works Secretary Gong Peng to handle all of it. The only accounting ledgers are in Xu Xianyang’s hands. Even if I point the finger, it can’t be linked to Xu Xianyang himself. Gong Peng is his trusted aide and would definitely take all the blame himself. Moreover, above him is the Left Vice Minister, also Xu Xianyang’s trusted man…”

Xiao Rui nodded. Indeed, as the Minister of Works, Xu Xianyang naturally wouldn’t personally engage in corruption and law-breaking. The Left Vice Minister and the Ministry of Works Secretary were his capable lieutenants. Even if something finally happened, with those two taking the fall, at most he’d be reprimanded and punished with a few years’ salary deduction. It wouldn’t hurt him seriously, especially since Xu Xianyang’s main duties were in the Grand Secretariat.

“Seventh Brother, what should we do?” Xiao Yan asked.

Xiao Rui stroked his chin and asked Sun Yang, “What are the backgrounds of Ministry of Works Secretary Gong Peng and Left Vice Minister Yao Haiyang?”

“Your Highness, Yao Haiyang is from Bozhou. He came from a poor family and was personally promoted by Xu Xianyang to his current position, so he is fiercely loyal. Gong Peng was in turn promoted by Yao Haiyang and also comes from an ordinary family,” Sun Yang replied.

Xiao Rui brought over brush and ink. “First, abandon the darkness for the light. Write out the exposure letter accusing Gong Peng and Yao Haiyang. Don’t mention anything about Xu Xianyang. Can we topple these two?”

“Yes, yes, yes. I have a hidden account book in my possession. Using it to topple Gong Peng and Yao Haiyang is no problem at all,” Sun Yang readily agreed.

“Damn!”

“Didn’t you say there was no account book?” Xiao Rui and the other two glared at him.

Sun Yang pleaded, “Seventh Highness, there’s only this one. It can be used to topple Gong Peng and Yao Haiyang. Xu Xianyang operates at too high a level. I never had the chance to get close to him. I couldn’t get my hands on the master ledger.”

Xiao Rui smiled, knowing Sun Yang’s words weren’t wrong. Xu Xianyang was too high-ranking; he definitely wouldn’t give instructions directly to Sun Yang. He said, “Then write properly. Make the accusation vivid and full of emotion.”

Without another word, Sun Yang wrote several pages, his brush flowing freely.