CHAPTER 177: THE FENG CLAN’S TRAGEDY

The adjutant frowned at his words, and Tuluo Cheng explained, "Not only the soldiers, but even the commoners here eat twice a day. And their staple food is white rice, one that is higher quality than what the emperor usually eats."

"A few years ago, I was lucky enough to accompany General Ji to an imperial banquet and taste white rice there. Even that kind of tribute rice couldn’t compare to the steamed rice eaten by the Feng Army soldiers."

Listening up to this point, the adjutant asked, "Military Advisor, what are you trying to tell me? I’m stupid, so you should stop beating around the bush and tell me directly."

"Since you said so, then I will stop beating around the bush." After he said that, Tuluo Cheng’s expression turned serious.

"Did you know that aside from having supplies clearly better than those available to the Yu Empire’s royal family, the Feng Army also possesses weapons never seen before?"

The adjutant was not surprised by his words. Before coming to Xiqiang City, they had already investigated the Feng Army and knew that the Feng Army’s weapons and armor were much more advanced than those of the Imperial Guards.

Seeing the adjutant’s expression, Tuluo Cheng asked, "Tell me, with this level of power, strength, and influence, why hasn’t Feng Xiyan rebelled? Even Prime Minister Wen is trying to manipulate the imperial court. I bet the Wen Clan’s true ambition is the dragon throne."

The moment he said this, the adjutant’s eyes widened in shock.

He quickly grabbed Tuluo Cheng’s wrist, lowered his voice, and whispered urgently, "Are you courting death?! How dare you speculate about the Wen Clan’s intentions?!"

Pulling his wrist free, Tuluo Cheng straightened his wrinkled sleeve and calmly asked, "Why shouldn’t I dare? Do you think no one sees through the Wen Clan’s wolvish ambitions?"

Faced with the question, the adjutant fell silent.

Glancing at his gloomy expression, Tuluo Cheng snorted and added, "It’s just that no one has enough power and influence to fight against the Wen Clan, so no one dares to talk about it."

After a long silence, the adjutant finally said, "Feng Xiyan hasn’t rebelled because he fears the Wen Clan. No matter how powerful he is, he still fears them. So, Military Advisor, you’d better stop talking about this matter and just focus on completing your task."

Tuluo Cheng chuckled and shook his head. "No. You are wrong."

"What do you mean?" the adjutant asked in confusion.

Tuluo Cheng pointed at Ji Hui, who was lying on the bed, and replied, "I have always felt that something was off ever since we arrived in Xiqiang City. But after what happened today, I finally understand why."

Raising his brows, the adjutant asked, "Understand what?"

Tuluo Cheng slowly replied, "The reason why Feng Xiyan didn’t kill General Ji and why he hasn’t rebelled yet."

Feeling that they were talking about two entirely different things, the adjutant scratched his head in confusion.

Seeing his expression, Tuluo Cheng sighed and thought, ’Talking with someone stupid is so exhausting.’

Taking a deep breath, Tuluo Cheng patiently explained, "The reason Feng Xiyan inflicted military punishment on General Ji was not to show off his authority, but to buy time."

Rubbing his chin, the adjutant asked, "Why do they need to buy time? Xiqiang City is Feng Xiyan’s territory. If he wants to do anything, it won’t be easy for us to fight him."

Tuluo Cheng looked at the long box placed beside Ji Hui’s bed and said, "Because of the imperial decree."

After thinking for a moment, the adjutant suddenly said, "You mean... they want to destroy the imperial decree?"

Tuluo Cheng nodded. "Yes. Without the imperial decree, they can pretend to know nothing. This is also the reason why Feng Xiyan has not sent any supplies to the imperial capital until now."

Getting confirmation from him, the adjutant said, "No wonder they didn’t dare to kill General Ji, but still purposely injured him. Everything they did until now was because they wanted to weaken us and destroy the imperial decree."

Tuluo Cheng nodded at his words.

"Then, should we just bring the imperial decree to Feng Xiyan and demand the supplies and weapons right away? Without supplies or weapons, it would be easy for us to take over Xiqiang City," the adjutant said excitedly.

Tuluo Cheng shook his head this time and said, "We can’t. We only have eleven people, including ourselves, and General Ji is injured. How can we force Feng Xiyan to obey the imperial decree? The moment we take out the imperial decree, we will all be dead."

Hearing this, the adjutant angrily slammed the table. "Hateful! This Feng Xiyan is really cunning!"

After calming down, he asked, "Military Advisor, do you have a plan?"

Tuluo Cheng looked at Ji Hui, then turned to the adjutant and asked, "Would you die to protect General Ji?"

The adjutant nodded. "Of course. If not for General Ji, I would have died a long time ago. My life belongs to him. As long as General Ji wants it, I will give it to him."

Hearing this, Tuluo Cheng smiled and asked, "Then... Would you dare to rebel to save General Ji?"

When the adjutant heard this, his eyes narrowed, and a murderous aura seeped out from his body. Gripping his sword hilt, he coldly asked, "Military Advisor, I advise you to be careful with your words."

Staring back at him, Tuluo Cheng calmly said, "Feng Xiyan didn’t rebel, not because he fears the imperial court or the Wen Clan, but because he loves the common people. Have you heard about the Feng Clan’s tragedy from seven years ago?"

"Yes," the adjutant nodded, recalling the day the Feng Clan was executed.

"People said that the old General Feng learned of the execution order in advance and sent Feng Xiyan away three days before the imperial army raided the Feng Clan and arrested them. The previous emperor ordered more than 200 members of the Feng Clan to be beheaded just one day after the arrest."