In the autumn of the fifth year of the Tianbao era, the young emperor promised Shang Shanhu, who was far away in the icy, snowy north, in a secret letter: "I will exchange Xiao En back to your country." Therefore, the famous general Shang Shanhu gave up the northern fortress he had managed for over a decade and returned to the capital only with his personal guard and Tan Wu, because he believed that the emperor would not go back on his word.

As a result, Xiao En was returned to the country, but the emperor refused to release him because he wanted to know Xiao En's secret.

At the same time, the Empress Dowager wanted Xiao En to die because Ku He did not want anyone to know Xiao En's secret.

Because the Jinyi Guard was watching too closely, Shang Shanhu did not have strong support in the capital. However, merely relying on his reputation in the army, both the Empress Dowager and the emperor had to show him some respect and dared not push him too hard. This situation was something the Northern Qi imperial palace did not want to see. Therefore, they had to seize any opportunity to weaken Shang Shanhu's power or reputation.

Like today.

Shen Zhong looked at Tan Wu beside the carriage, knowing that even if he couldn't convict Shang Shanhu through this incident, as long as he captured Shang Shanhu's former personal guard, Shang Shanhu's reputation in the army would suffer a fatal blow. Colluding with Southern Qing was a crime that no soldier could bear.

Just then, Tan Wu tilted his head and cursed, "Damn Southern Qing people."

Shen Zhong smiled slightly and said, "I'm very clear about that loud noise earlier. Who else could come up with these fancy tricks besides the Third Bureau of the Southern Qing Supervisory Council? The Southern Qing people are helping General Tan Wu to rob the prisoner. This matter is settled."

Unexpectedly, Tan Wu ignored him and instead looked back at his nine subordinates. The Grand General's personal guard was trained by him personally. Many had died tonight. If it hadn't been for the Southern Qing people's betrayal, he would have been able to lead everyone to escape.

He turned to look at Shen Zhong and suddenly bowed deeply, saying, "Please convey a message, Lord Shen Zhong."

"What message?" Shen Zhong did not press him, because he still held the slight hope of capturing someone alive.

"The one who killed me… is Fan Xian!"

As the Grand General's confidant, Tan Wu naturally knew the various parties involved in this plan. Fan Xian, as the Supervisor of the Southern Qing Supervisory Council, was also in the capital. His role in it was obvious. The name Fan Xian, shouted from his mouth with a hoarse voice, was full of indignation and resentment, and clearly entered the ears of hundreds of people present!

Fan Xian, high in the tree, remained calm, as if he hadn't heard anything. However, he knew in his heart that Shang Shanhu would understand his unsavory role in this matter afterward, especially since Tan Wu had roared so loudly before his death.

As the words fell, Tan Wu flipped his wrist, and the light of the blade flashed like snow, shaving off his own cheek from bottom to top! The blade turned again, wiping across his neck, and his head fell to the ground!

Immediately following, there were nine swishing sounds, as if they occurred at the same time. Nine heads, washed by blood, left the black-clothed men's bodies and rolled onto the ground, rolling together with Tan Wu's wide-eyed, bloody, and miserably faceless head.

Strangely, Shen Zhong did not stop their suicidal acts. He merely watched all this coldly. After a long while, he said softly, "These are all brave warriors of the country, but unfortunately, they perished in the Southern Qing people's conspiracy. Everyone, give them a proper burial."

When Tan Wu destroyed his face and committed suicide, Fan Xian's heart trembled slightly, and relying on his exceptional hearing, he heard Shen Zhong's words. Only then did he realize that Shen Zhong was indeed not simple.

…

…

Everyone who robbed the prisoner was dead. Only the lonely carriage remained surrounded by the Jinyi Guard. Everyone knew that Xiao En, the ancestor of the Jinyi Guard, the old man who was no longer as capable as he once was, was in the carriage.

Without any warning, the carriage, covered by an unknown substance, burst into flames!

The fire was extremely fierce, engulfing the entire carriage in a moment. The horses in front were startled, but their mouths, which held muzzles, could not make a hissing sound. They were about to charge forward with the carriage! The light of a blade flashed, and the limbs of the two steeds twitched, falling to the ground with two loud thuds, blood flowing from their heads.

Shen Zhong watched the burning carriage coldly, not knowing what he was thinking. Vice Commander Xiao glanced at the adult and said anxiously, "Sir, quickly put out the fire. His Majesty wants Xiao En alive."

Shen Zhong smiled slightly, waved his hand, stopped his subordinates from putting out the fire, motioned for Vice Commander Xiao to come closer, and said softly, "But the Empress Dowager wants Xiao En to die." Vice Commander Xiao's expression stiffened, knowing that his previous statement had been somewhat impulsive. He then noticed a strange feeling in the corners of Shen Zhong's eyes and eyebrows, listening to the adult muttering to himself, "After being imprisoned for so many years, since he can't escape, death… might be a good choice."

Flames soared into the sky. Before long, the carriage was burned down, falling onto the street. Black ash rose, and the heat was scorching.

At the first moment the fire stopped, the Jinyi Guard's specialized coroner stepped forward and began to carefully examine the body in the carriage. After a while, he reported, "It is indeed Xiao En."

Shen Zhong nodded and asked, "Is the leg injury recent?"

"Yes, the injury is no more than two months old."

"The teeth?"

"Consistent with the records when he was taken over at Wudu River, three missing."

Shen Zhong's expression was somewhat strange. It seemed that he couldn't believe that Xiao En had died just like that. It seemed that he didn't know what expression to use to express his mood at this time. In short, that smile was somewhat strange, somewhat indifferent.

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In the city's southern district, in the residence of the great general Shang Shanhu, the famous general Shang Shanhu was talking to his wife. On the tea table beside them was a gift list, and some chaotic sounds could be faintly heard in the courtyard. The madam said with a slight worry in her eyes, "My lord, the Empress Dowager's birthday is coming up, and you can't leave the capital these days. What should we do?" In the past, the residence would be quiet at this time. She wondered why even the madam couldn't sleep today.

Shang Shanhu's expression remained unchanged, and he said in a deep voice, "Of course, I won't leave."

"Then, the birthday gifts…" The madam asked with her head lowered.

"Of course, we won't prepare any. Madam, you should prepare your luggage."

As he spoke, a burly warrior suddenly strode into the back hall. The madam recognized this person as the Grand General's personal follower. However, it was already the early hours of the morning, and the other party had entered uninvited. She guessed that her unlucky premonition had become a reality. She looked at Shang Shanhu with some panic and said in a trembling voice, "Did you really do it?"

Shang Shanhu was imposing without being angry. His black silkworm eyebrows gradually became like the edge of a sword, and he said in a deep voice, "This general is loyal to the imperial court, but if there are disagreements, you must allow me to be a little presumptuous."

The madam said nothing more, but silently retreated to the back room, no longer in the mood to manage the gifts for the Empress Dowager's birthday.

"Grand General, there are more spies outside the residence."

Only those closest to Shang Shanhu would stubbornly call him Grand General instead of Great General. The personal follower who spoke at this time originally had no surname. He was just an orphan who was picked up by Shang Shanhu from the snow forest and raised to adulthood. He was given the surname Shang Shan and the given name Po (破). His relationship with Shang Shanhu was somewhat similar to the relationship between Shang Shanhu and Xiao En, except that he had more awe than intimacy towards Shang Shanhu.

"Wait for news." Shang Shanhu sat on the chair as steady as Mount Tai, his face calm, and it was impossible to see a trace of tension.

Shang Shan Po (上杉破) accepted the order and went out to monitor the movements outside the courtyard while preparing subsequent measures.

…

…

After a long time, Shang Shan Po (上杉破) returned to the back room again, kneeling on one knee and saying in a deep voice, "The matter has failed." There was no tremor in his voice, but somehow, he still couldn't hide a sense of sadness.

Shang Shanhu's right hand, which was resting on the armrest of the chair, paused, and he closed his eyes. He used great force to close his eyes, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes bloomed like chrysanthemums. Only at this time could one discover the true age of this famous general.

He walked back to the back room, looked at his wife who was sitting on the edge of the bed with some unease, smiled, and said, "It's already very late. Why aren't you asleep yet?"

The General's madam smiled uneasily: "I can't sleep."

Shang Shanhu said with a smile, "We're not leaving the capital. Let's discuss the gift list for the Empress Dowager in the palace in the next few days."

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At this time, the sky was in the darkest hour before dawn. The messy courtyard below began to be cleaned up, and the Jinyi Guard, who had surrounded the area from all directions, also began to silently disperse according to their respective duties. The carriage that had been burned to ashes and the corpses on the ground had also been taken over by professionals from the Zhenfu Division. Before long, the place returned to calm. In front of the powerful machine of an empire, it was not impossible to cover up such a loud noise, a shocking event.

The injured Jinyi Guard was still lying on the ground at the back wall, occasionally letting out a few low moans. The damage caused by that explosion was very severe. Most people had died, and even those who had managed to escape by chance were covered in dirt and blood.

At this time, people were carrying the injured Jinyi Guard to the yamen in the northern part of the city, and the doctors were also nervously following them. A long string of stretchers looked like a thin centipede, twisting its waist forward.

Fan Xian carefully lay on the tree branch, tightening all the muscles of his body, and then relaxing all the muscles of his body, repeating this constantly, to prevent his reaction from slowing down due to standing still for too long. He looked at the injured people on the stretchers in the alley under the tree, thinking that if he hadn't liked watching *The Silence of the Lambs* and *Léon: The Professional* so much back then, he might have really let that old man escape.