CHAPTER 739: CHAPTER 739: SCHEMES

"Let him go. Being killed by stray arrows would be a consequence of his own actions," Qin San Lang rode up on his horse and said coldly from behind Section Leader Lin.

"Company Commander Qin." Section Leader Lin was startled, hastily turned around to look at Qin San Lang, and the aggressive demeanor he had previously shown toward Zhang Zhong was gone, replaced by a flattering smile.

Qin San Lang sat on his horse, looking down at Section Leader Lin with a cold gaze, and pointed with his horse whip towards the camp’s gate: "Go in. If you die, I’ll collect your corpse."

Section Leader Lin was terrified and quickly knelt down, saying, "Company Commander Qin, I know I am wrong, but can you please tell me, exactly where did I go wrong?"

Although his tone was respectful, his face showed defiance, determined to get an explanation.

Qin San Lang replied, "Disobeying military orders, leaving the Military Office without permission. Isn’t that reason enough?"

Zhang Zhong added from the side, "Leaving the Military Office without permission is a serious offense. The light punishment is thirty strikes with the rod; the severe one being expelled from the Military Office. If any crimes are committed while absent from the Military Office, no matter how big or small, the penalty is death."

How could soldiers just leave at will? They all knew this rule, but Section Leader Lin brazenly broke it and even dared to sneak to the Prefecture Garrison camp, intending to break in.

If he truly broke in, the entire Tianfu County would be in trouble!

Section Leader Lin hastily said, "Leaving the Military Office on my own is my fault, but I came for winter training. Please do not place the blame on me, Company Commander Qin."

Qin San Lang laughed, looked at Section Leader Lin and said, "Making you a Section Leader was my mistake."

Upon hearing this ominous remark, Section Leader Lin’s face greatly changed and he asked in a hurry, "What do you mean, Company Commander Qin? Once a Section Leader? Are you going to strip me of my position as Section Leader?!"

Section Leader Lin was anxious. He had been at the Military Office for several years to become a Section Leader, and because of the position, he had some status in his village. Even Manager Fang, who originally did not want to marry his daughter to him, was considering it.

He had seen Miss Fang, and she was truly very beautiful, just one glance would set him on fire, causing him to change his pants countless times at night. If he lost his position as Section Leader, how could Miss Fang marry him?

"You are no longer fit to be a Section Leader, nor are you worthy of serving in the Military Office," Qin San Lang said without the effort to argue further and signaled with his horse whip in flag language.

A series of soft footsteps sounded, You An, leading You Erxi, rushed out silently. Before Section Leader Lin could react, they had dragged him away.

Zhang Zhong and the other soldiers from the Military Office were shocked. Where did those two men come from? How were they so swift in action? In the blink of an eye, they had captured Section Leader Lin.

After overcoming his shock, Zhang Zhong quickly regained his composure and busily said, "Alright, Section Leader Lin has been taken back to the Military Office. Everyone can focus on winter training without worry."

Everybody, upon hearing this, came to their senses and nodded... Those two men were Company Commander Qin’s men. Company Commander Qin would not do something like secretly assassinating someone; they need not worry about Section Leader Lin’s safety.

As for whether Section Leader Lin could still serve in the Military Office in the future, the answer was definitely no—he had made a mistake, after all.

Zhang Zhong apologized to Qin San Lang, "It is my ineptitude that allowed him to cause trouble at the Prefecture Garrison."

"It doesn’t matter. He is courting death himself. Go on in," Qin San Lang said.

Qin San Lang, riding his horse and showing the Token and the Tianfu County Soldier Station’s winter training documents, led the men from the Military Office into the large camp.

...

After being captured by You An and the others, Section Leader Lin was thoroughly frightened and said while staring at them, "Who are you? I am the Military Office’s small Section Leader. Quickly let me go, or else..."

Slap! You An mercilessly slapped him across the face.

The force behind the slap was substantial, causing Section Leader Lin’s ear to bleed.

You An said, "Make another peep, and I’ll chop off your ears to eat with my vegetables."

He continued, "Still don’t realize where you went wrong? Truly thinking you’re the smartest in the world? It was your bright idea for your sister to go pick a fight with Miss Gu when she was collecting Mingya Grass, wasn’t it?"

Section Leader Lin was shocked to hear this. Who was this person? How did he know about this?

You An was right; it was Section Leader Lin’s idea to have Lin Leniang go provoke Gu Jinli.

Section Leader Lin thought that as long as his sister could marry Qin San Lang, he would ride on his coattails to great success. He had heard Vice General Lan and others say that once Qin San Lang got a bit older, he would be transferred to the Prefecture garrison.

They also said he was a promising young man, very capable for his age, and could even draw Defense Maps. They felt that such talent was wasted at the Military Office; he ought to be at the government army camp, and in the future, become a General.

Who was Vice General Lan? He was General Guo’s confidant, treating Qin San Lang as if he were his own child. If he said so, Qin San Lang’s rise to glory was just a matter of time.

After hearing this, Section Leader Lin couldn’t stay still, trying his best to have his mother bring his sister to the Military Office to see him, hoping that Qin San Lang would encounter his sister and something would spark between them, ultimately leading to a marriage.

But despite calling out to Qin San Lang specifically, Qin San Lang only nodded in their direction, not bothering to speak to his mother and sister. Lin suspected he hadn’t even taken a good look at what his sister looked like.

Section Leader Lin was anxious, and Lin Leniang was even more so. After seeing Qin San Lang, she became infatuated, desperate to marry him. Upon hearing that Qin San Lang often mentioned Gu Jinli, her rage was ignited.

Section Leader Lin thought that women get jealous, and he heard that Gu Jinli was a fiery and haughty lady. Such a girl surely wouldn’t tolerate Lin Leniang’s provocation, which would surely lead to a quarrel with Qin San Lang.

Men care about their reputation; too much trouble from a woman, and their affection cools. Once Qin San Lang couldn’t stand Gu Jinli anymore, his sister would have her chance to take her place.

Section Leader Lin had his plans well thought out, but he hadn’t realized that Qin San Lang had seen through his scheme a long time ago and hadn’t paid him any mind, waiting for him to slip up and kick him out of the Military Office with a single blow.

And the reason You An knew about this was that Qin San Lang had sent him to investigate.

After listening to Gu Jinli, Qin San Lang also remembered the day Section Leader Lin’s mother and Lin Leniang came to visit him at the Military Office... Despite the distance, and Section Leader Lin being in the presence of an unmarried young woman, they should have maintained propriety. But Section Leader Lin deliberately called out to him loudly, which raised Qin San Lang’s suspicions.

Upon investigation, indeed, it was a scheme hatched by Section Leader Lin.

Qin San Lang didn’t mind others plotting against him, but he would never allow anyone to plot against Xiao Yu.

"No, it’s not like that at all, I had no idea Leniang went to trouble Miss Gu," Section Leader Lin argued in defense, "I’m a man who spends his days at the Military Office, how could I possibly be involved in such a thing? You’re framing me!"

Slap!

The response was another slap from You An, even heavier this time, making Section Leader Lin’s head buzz and his mouth bleed.

You An grabbed his collar and said, "Get out of the Military Office honestly, take care of your sister and yourself. If you dare to trouble the Gu Family People again, or let out even a single word about today’s events, none of your family members will end well."

After warning Section Leader Lin, You An’s hand turned and squeezed, with a crack, a sharp and excruciating pain shot through Section Leader Lin’s neck, as if his bones were being crushed.