Three days later, in front of the Zhenbei General's Mansion.
Drums and gongs were blaring, and red flags were waving.
Looking around, it was a dense sea of banners plastered with slogans like "Withholding Wages is Illegal, Violators Will Be Prosecuted."
In addition to these, there were also hand-held signs with messages like "Down with the Traitorous Dogs, Execute the Rebel Huang."
Two thousand hand-picked soldiers of the Zhenbei Army, along with their superiors, were collectively standing up for their rights and demanding an explanation from Huang Tianhu.
"The great wind rises, the clouds fly, where can we find brave warriors to defend the four directions!"
Ding Buer stood at the front of the crowd, grasping a sound amplification stone, and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Villagers, neighbors, everyone, don't panic. We, the Zhenbei Army, are here at the Zhenbei General's Mansion today, only to demand an explanation!
We also want everyone to judge for our border soldiers! I just want to ask, can the soldiers' military pay be withheld?
Huang Tianhu, as the Zhenbei General, has withheld how much of our military pay over the years, and even intends to force us into rebellion and send us to our deaths. Just how black is his conscience!"
"Give us back our hard-earned money!"
"Huang Tianhu, I curse your ancestors!"
"Damn your mother, you even withhold our military pay, are you even human!"
The soldiers behind him shouted in unison, and for a moment, the national essence soared to the heavens, and the bird language was fragrant.
Finally, a thousand words were condensed into one sentence.
"Damn it, pay up!"
The shouts were unanimous, astonishingly synchronized.
Shen Zhao, mingling in the crowd, raised his wine gourd and echoed the calls a couple of times before returning to his leisurely observation of the spectacle.
After a long pause, the gates of the Zhenbei General's Mansion finally opened, unleashing hundreds of fully armed guards who lined up, swords drawn, to block the excited crowd and prevent any incidents.
However, upon seeing the scene outside, these guards were also flustered, glancing at each other, unsure of what to do.
Soon, Huang Tianhu, his face a mask of thick flesh and flaunting his round general's belly, strode forward with imposing authority.
The moment Huang Tianhu appeared, the boisterous clamor immediately subsided. After all, they held some fear in their hearts for this powerful Zhenbei General.
"What's going on? What do you, you bunch of trash, want? Making a ruckus in front of my mansion so early in the morning? Are you trying to rebel?"
The entire scene was intimidated by Huang Tianhu's imposing presence, and no one dared to speak, falling into a moment of complete silence.
Huang Tianhu contemptuously surveyed the scene, his face filled with disdain.
He had just been about to engage in morning exercises with his fifteenth concubine when the commotion outside the door interrupted him, and he was already seething with anger.
Although he didn't know why this group of ants dared to clamor in front of his mansion, it was a challenge to his authority. He would have to kill a few people afterward to celebrate and relieve his anger.
Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Ding Buer spoke loudly, breaking the "silence" first: "Huang Tianhu, you son of a bitch! You hide at home all day, eating and drinking and enjoying yourself with women,
but the brothers can't even get a full meal. How are you worthy of being the Zhenbei General? I'm asking you, is there any law? Is there any justice?"
Huang Tianhu had never been cursed like this before and was instantly furious: "What kind of dog are you, eating the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard, to dare speak to this general like that! Come, tear out his tongue!"
Seeing two guards approaching him, Ding Buer hastily shouted: "Huang Tianhu! Do you dare to commit violence in public? You collude with barbarians to rebel, embezzle military pay and line your own pockets, you're a complete traitor,
"Dong Xue Liulu is practically a paragon of loyalty compared to you. It's such a waste of the court's trust and cultivation. If I were you, I'd just hang myself on a crooked old tree!"
Huang Tianhu's pupils constricted. Just as he was about to speak, the soldiers demanding their pay became agitated again: "Huang Tianhu! Where did you embezzle the military funds that should have been ours!"
One sentence ignited a thousand waves.
"Huang Tianhu! You dog!"
"Give us back our hard-earned money!"
"If you don't settle the debts you owe us, I hope your whole family becomes turtles in the next life!"
Huang Tianhu's face was ashen, and he gradually lost his confidence as he looked at the surging crowd.
Ding Buer fanned the flames again: "Brothers, your money has been taken by this dog to eat, drink, and be merry. Think about it, while you're eating steamed buns and drinking plain water, he's feasting on delicacies in high-class restaurants."
"While you're shivering in your cold bed at night, taking care of your needs with your hands, he's cuddling with the top courtesan in the brothel and having an in-depth exchange. Think about it, is this fair? Where's the justice? Where's the righteousness?"
Alright, the provocation worked well, and the anger of the debt-collecting army reached a new high.
"Damn you, Huang Tianhu! Are you even a person? You're violating your mother's grave!"
"Huang the dog, may you not die a good death!"
"If you don't explain things clearly today, I, Liu Shuangxi, swear to wash Zhenbei General's Mansion in blood!"
"Owing someone money is like killing their parents. Huang Tianhu, I greet your eighteen generations of ancestors."
The surging crowd and the agitated emotions caused cold sweat to drip from Huang Tianhu's forehead.
After a long while, he roared, "Enough! Stop arguing!"
Then he shouted, "In the end, it's just that you're owed military pay! But it's not me who owes you, it's the court that's abandoned you and refuses to pay. I've made it so clear, so what are you still arguing about!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a lieutenant general immediately stepped forward: "Huang Tianhu, you little brat, stop pretending to be a white lotus. When I came here, Lord Shen already told me everything."
Huang Tianhu narrowed his eyes: "What do you know? And what Lord Shen?"
The lieutenant general said, "Lord Shen said that the court pays our military salaries on time every year, but you, you've been taking kickbacks... no, what kickbacks, you've kept it all for yourself. You still want to deny it?"
Huang Tianhu was furious: "You fools, I already told you that the court wants to train a new army and disband all of you. Are you still listening to him? Where is this so-called Lord Shen? Take me to see him!"
The lieutenant general was full of arrogance: "Lord Shen is so ethereal and transcendent, how could a mere mortal like you just see him whenever you want? Besides, is the court as stupid as you say?
The new army hasn't even finished training, and they've already stopped paying the border army? Huang Tianhu, do you think we are three-year-olds?"
Huang Tianhu was startled when he heard this: When did this group of fools suddenly become enlightened? Could it be that mysterious Lord Shen is the one behind all this?
He tried to remain calm, saying, "Stop your nonsense! Even if the court has abandoned you, if you want military pay, you should follow me and charge into Chang'an!"
As soon as he said this, the surrounding onlookers were stunned.
Was the Zhenbei General really going to rebel? Were those soldiers telling the truth?
Huang Tianhu realized he'd made a mistake and was about to explain himself, but Ding Buer shouted first, "Brothers, you all heard it, right? This Huang Tianhu is a complete traitor!
A traitor! He wants to use your lives as stepping stones so he can become emperor!"
At this moment, everyone present was completely enraged.
"Brothers, this bastard isn't human! Charge in and kill him!"
"Alright, kill!"
The next moment, the argument escalated from words to physical contact.
The guards at the door desperately tried to stop them, but they were outnumbered. In just a few moments, the several hundred guards were overwhelmed by the crowd.
"Looking for death!"
Seeing the crowd closing in on him, Huang Tianhu roared, immediately unleashing his Na Yuan realm, eighth grade cultivation.
"A bunch of ants dare to defy this General! I don't even take that girl Yu Xiyan seriously, let alone… uh…"
However, before he could finish his harsh words, he suddenly felt as if something had poked his qi sea. The momentum he had just unleashed instantly vanished.
Shen Zhao, not far away, retracted his finger, then continued to watch the farce with amusement.
Before Huang Tianhu could figure out what had happened, a chair came flying towards him and slammed into his face.
Caught off guard, Huang Tianhu stumbled and fell to the ground. Countless large feet loomed ever larger in front of his eyes.
"Don't hit my face!"
Huang Tianhu yelled, then curled up to protect his head.
Soon, countless feet kicked him.
"Get out of the way!"
A loud shout rang out. It was Lü Yue, wielding an iron rod, charging into the crowd like a madman and aiming a blow at his calf.
"Crack~"
"Argh~~"
A crisp crack echoed, accompanied by a bloodcurdling scream. Huang Tianhu's leg was completely broken.
But as he opened his mouth to shout, he was kicked in the face, left and right. Then, the crowd swarmed him again, delivering a beating.
Two hours later, the Zhenbei General's Mansion was thoroughly ransacked, completely looted.
This group of sneaky bastards not only stole all the money and valuables from Huang Tianhu's treasury, but they didn't even spare the toilet paper in the outhouses.
Huang Tianhu himself was taken to a small, dark room to be interrogated.
"Are you going to talk, are you going to talk!"
Lü Yue personally administered the torture. Without waiting for Huang Tianhu to speak, he immediately resorted to chili water, the tiger bench, and a small whip. He used every available torture method, mercilessly attacking Huang Tianhu.
This scene left Ding Buer exhausted, several times he'd wanted to step in and stop it.
Finally, when Huang Tianhu was on his last breath, with only a wisp of life left, Lü Yue was satisfied and put him down, bringing him before the judgement table.
"Speak, do you admit your guilt?"
Shen Zhao watched Huang Tianhu with a calm expression.
Huang Tianhu sat in the chair, looking dejected, and didn't reply immediately.
"General Lü, it seems your old superior is pretty tough, how about we repeat those methods from earlier?"
"Rest assured, Lord Shen, I'll..."
"No, I'll talk, I just need a moment to catch my breath..."
Recalling the torture he'd just endured, Huang Tianhu's body trembled uncontrollably. He immediately confessed everything, detailing it all.
When the interrogation ended, Lü Yue was practically beside himself with glee, looking at the mountain of evidence against Huang Tianhu.
"Sir Shen, these are the charges against that Huang dog, please take a look."
"Excellent, General Lü, you've done well. When I report back to the Empress Dowager, you and the others will be rewarded for your merits."
"Thank you for your promotion, sir. By the way, what about that Huang dog's family?"
"All of them are to be imprisoned in the dungeon, awaiting the Empress Dowager's decision."
After dealing with Huang Tianhu, Shen Zhao turned to Lü Yue and said, "Now, you will temporarily take on the position of Zhenbei General. First, distribute the back pay to every soldier, and give each of them an additional month's pay.
Then, immediately have each camp of the Zhenbei Army fortify their respective positions. Also, General Lü, you personally select 30,000 soldiers skilled in riding and archery to leave Hanyuan Pass and await my orders at White Wolf Mountain."
"Why is that?"
"To recommend you as the Zhenbei General, these merits alone aren't enough to convince everyone. You need to prove to the court that you have sufficient ability. Do you understand what I mean?"
"This subordinate understands. Thank you for your guidance, Lord Shen!"
Shen Zhao sighed, recalling what he'd been through these past few days, and couldn't help but smile wryly and shake his head.
-----------------------
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