Guo Jia bowed in greeting. Zhang Chen nodded slightly and then looked at the kneeling people, his gaze full of scrutiny.
In fact, Zhang Chen didn't care who resold the military supplies. What he truly cared about was who bought that batch of military supplies.
What decent person would buy these? It must be someone with ill intentions!
Zhang Chen glanced at the several Soldiers kneeling on the ground, trembling like sieving chaff, and asked coldly, "Who did you sell that batch of military supplies to?"
"Sold to... sold to..."
Seeing the few people stammering and hesitant to speak, Qu Yi on the side said angrily, "Speak quickly!"
"It was... it was... it was the Black Mountain Army..."
"What?!" Zhang Chen was instantly startled upon hearing this, losing color. "Black Mountain Army? Are you sure it was the Black Mountain Army who bought the military supplies?"
"It was... it was... it was Xin Lin. He said it himself. We were only responsible for smuggling the military supplies out of the camp. As for contacting the buyer, Xin Lin handled all of it..."
"Yes... Lord, every time we transported the military supplies to the designated location according to his instructions."
Zhang Chen pondered for a moment and said, "Then have you ever seen the buyer?"
"I have, I have!" one of them said. "Half a month ago, following Xin Lin's instructions, I transported thirty thousand feathered arrows to the mountain path outside Nanpi City. When I arrived, Xin Lin was already waiting there. The people receiving the goods were from the bandit stronghold outside Nanpi City, the 'Green Dragon Stockade'. Traveling with him was also a young man, but the people from the 'Green Dragon Stockade' were very respectful to him, calling him... Zhang Shuai."
"Zhang Shuai?" Zhang Chen couldn't help but ponder inwardly. "Is he a young man who is agile and skilled with dual sabers?"
"That's right, it's him!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen's brows furrowed tightly.
Zhang Yan! It must be him!
Since the battle at Yingtao County, he and the Black Mountain Army had both disappeared without a trace. Unexpectedly, after many days, he actually reappeared.
Moreover, he even got involved with the mountain bandits near Nanpi?
Zhang Chen suddenly had a bad premonition.
The historical Zhang Yan was a capable person, gathering all the bandits and mountain brigands in the Ji Province area and developing the Black Mountain Army to claim a million troops.
The Soldier just said that those mountain bandits were extremely respectful to him. He must have already gathered them and had them join the Black Mountain Army.
If that's the case, could the mountain bandits in other counties also...
What exactly does he intend to do by buying so much military supplies?
Zhang Chen's brows were tightly furrowed, and a wave of unease rose in his heart.
After hearing this, Guo Jia also couldn't help but frown and say, "Lord, in the battle at Yingtao County that day, Zhang Yan holds a deep hatred towards us. We must guard against this matter."
Zhang Chen's expression was stern. He said indifferently, "Qu Yi, issue an order. The matter of recruiting and expanding the army should be brought forward. We can't wait until spring plowing. Within a month, we must expand the army by thirty thousand. The Trapped Camp, and your crossbowmen, must also intensify their training! Ji Province is likely to become unstable."
Seeing Zhang Chen's solemn expression, Qu Yi also understood the seriousness of the matter and immediately replied, "Zhang He obeys your command."
Zhang Chen glanced at those people again and said, "First, imprison these people. After Xin Lin is apprehended, they will be dealt with together."
Zhang Chen left the large camp and went straight back to his residence.
Along the way, Zhang Chen was deep in thought.
The batch of military supplies Zhang Yan purchased was enough to equip over twenty thousand people. This meant that he had at least twenty thousand well-equipped armored Soldiers at his disposal.
But Zhang Chen knew well that Zhang Yan's capabilities were far more than that. He had been in hiding for many days. To what extent had the Black Mountain Army grown under his leadership now?
...
Two days later, Qu Yi sent someone to report that Xin Lin had been apprehended and brought to justice.
Upon receiving the news, Zhang Chen hurried over, intending to interrogate him personally.
Upon entering the tent, Zhang Chen saw a young man tied up there. The man looked to be under thirty, with fair skin, not at all like a defending General, but rather like a pale-faced scholar.
He was not wearing armor but a brocade robe. His body was tightly bound with ropes, but he remained standing in place, his head turned to the side.
Even when Zhang Chen walked past him, he didn't spare a glance.
"Are you Xin Lin?" Zhang Chen walked up to him and asked coldly, "Someone in the army resold military supplies and stated they were acting under your instruction. What do you have to say?"
Xin Lin slightly raised his eyes, let out a cold snort, and said with some disdain, "It's just a trivial matter of military supplies. Surely Lord won't convict me for this?"
"Impudent!" Zhang Chen roared angrily. "A trivial matter of military supplies? The military supplies and provisions in the army are for supplying the Generals and Soldiers, for protecting the borders and bringing peace to the people. Yet you used them to resell for profit and line your own pockets. Now, not only do you not think of repenting, but you speak so brazenly. You are utterly detestable!"
Upon hearing this, Xin Lin smiled slightly and remained silent.
Zhang Chen continued, "Xin Lin, I know the buyer of this batch of military supplies is Zhang Yan of the Black Mountain Army. Don't say I'm not giving you a chance to redeem yourself by rendering meritorious service. I'll only ask you three things: Where are the lairs of Zhang Yan and the Black Mountain Army? How many troops does the Black Mountain Army currently have? And what is their intention in purchasing military supplies? If you confess truthfully, I will spare your life. How about it?"
Upon hearing this, Xin Lin couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. "Hmph, Lord, am I, Xin Lin, someone who would betray a friend? I cannot tell you what Lord is asking."
Zhang Chen looked at him, a hint of coldness passing through his eyes.
"Heh..." After a long while, Zhang Chen forced a smile onto his face. "Good words are hard to persuade a damned ghost. Since you are determined to seek death, I will grant your wish. Men, take him down and behead him."
Several Soldiers immediately rushed into the military tent.
Xin Lin was startled, a trace of panic appearing on his face. He looked at Zhang Chen and said, "Lord, are you really going to kill a son of an aristocratic family over such a trivial matter? I hope you will give my Xin clan some face."
"Face? Your Xin clan's face isn't that great yet." Zhang Chen sneered and ordered, "I gave you a chance, but you didn't cherish it. Take him out through the camp gate and behead him for public display!"
The Soldiers received the order and immediately came forward to restrain Xin Lin.
Xin Lin was greatly alarmed and said, "Zhang Chen, if you kill me, none of the great aristocratic families in Ji Province will be willing to obey you!"
"Then you don't need to trouble yourself. Take him out and behead him!" Zhang Chen roared angrily, ordering the Soldiers to immediately take him out and behead him.
"Zhang Chen! I am an aristocratic noble! You cannot kill me! Zhang Chen! You are wantonly committing murder, you will face retribution! Zhang Shuai and the Holy Maiden will definitely avenge me! Zhang Chen, may you not die a good death!..."
The Soldiers dragged Xin Lin out of the tent, and Xin Lin's curses gradually faded into the distance.
With the sound of the blade falling, the cursing immediately stopped. Before long, a Soldier carried a bloody head into the tent and presented it to Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen glanced at it indifferently and said, "Hang Xin Lin's head on the gate of Nanpi City for three days. After three days, let his family come to collect the body."
"Yes."
The Soldier took the order and left. At the same time, Guo Jia happened to walk in from outside the tent.
As the two passed each other, Guo Jia glanced at Xin Lin's head in the Soldier's hand, his brows couldn't help but furrow slightly. He said to Zhang Chen, "Lord, having killed Xin Lin, the great aristocratic families will likely feel insecure..."
"Fengxiao, we wish to achieve great things. Although we must rely on the aristocratic families, we must not be controlled by them. I want them to know who truly rules this Ji Province!" Zhang Chen said indifferently, "Issue an edict, widely proclaim Xin Lin's crimes to all counties."
"I want the world to know that Xin Lin violated the national law and deserved this extreme punishment. From now on, within the borders of my Ji Province, anyone who dares to violate the national law, whether they are aristocratic nobles or common people, will be treated equally!"