Chapter 628 - 260: The Choice, Enter Yuanchu Mountain?
Ma Zhong was dumbfounded.
"Did the Court make a mistake?"
Lin Shirong also found it unbelievable. He snatched the transfer order and examined it carefully.
"Chu, what in the world is going on?"
"When those experts from Yuanchu Mountain came looking for you the other day, did something happen?"
Lin Shirong pressed.
He felt the problem must have started that day. Ever since those two experts from Yuanchu Mountain left, he’d felt that Chu Lingguang was like a different person.
"It must be because I failed to bring all our soldiers back. That’s why I’ve been demoted to City Guard Captain at West Warehouse. From now on, I’ll leave Wolf Valley Pass in your hands, Commander Lin."
Chu Lingguang said with a bitter smile.
"The Court’s actions will only dishearten the soldiers."
Lin Shirong seethed with righteous indignation.
He and Chu Lingguang had worked together for some years. They had sparred in private, and although Lin Shirong always won, he knew that Chu Lingguang was hiding his true strength and intentionally letting him win.
Furthermore, when it came to managing Wolf Valley Pass, Chu Lingguang had always listened to his advice.
Lin Shirong had always liked Chu Lingguang as a person. He recognized his talent and knew he had a bright future ahead of him.
He also admitted to himself that if he had been the one to lead ten thousand men on a raid deep behind the Turkic lines, he could never have returned victorious.
But Chu Lingguang had done it.
He, Ma Zhong, and the others had all assumed Chu Lingguang would enter Yuanchu Mountain to train and become an existence beyond the secular world. They never expected the Court’s directive wouldn’t be to send him to Yuanchu Mountain, but to demote him to Captain and transfer him to a post at West Warehouse.
"Some vile person must be scheming behind the scenes to bring you disgrace, sir!"
Ma Zhong declared, filled with indignation.
He was Chu Lingguang’s trusted subordinate. He had charged into battle alongside him and personally witnessed their soldiers destroy all of the Turkic army’s rear supply lines and troops. He had originally thought that with such a great merit, even if Chu Lingguang wasn’t enfeoffed as a marquis or appointed a minister, he would at least be made a Governor.
Most of them had even believed Chu Lingguang would enter Yuanchu Mountain to cultivate and one day become a transcendent being.
But instead, he was being transferred to West Warehouse to serve as a mere City Guard Captain.
"Unfair!"
"Unfair!"
"Unfair!"
...
It was unclear who shouted it first, but the crowd was stirred, and soon everyone was yelling in unison.
"Quiet!"
Chu Lingguang said flatly.
With his current power, a single word could travel throughout all of Wolf Valley Pass.
The soldiers all looked at him.
The more than two thousand surviving soldiers who had charged into the fray with him had tears welling up in their eyes.
"The Court has its reasons for doing this. Don’t make wild guesses. I don’t see any problem with the Court’s decision, so there’s no need for you to cry injustice on my behalf. Everyone, disperse!"
Chu Lingguang forced a smile.
He would forever remember their loyalty, but if he let everyone suffer along with him, it wouldn’t be worth it.
"Commander, the Imperial Eunuch is here with a decree!"
Just then, a Captain ran over excitedly and announced.
An Imperial Eunuch could be seen approaching slowly, flanked by two Attendants.
"The Holy Emperor must have realized the mistake, so he’s sent the eunuch to announce a new directive."
Ma Zhong said excitedly.
Chu Lingguang, however, furrowed his brow.
Wolf Valley Pass was a considerable distance from the Imperial City.
’How could an Imperial Eunuch possibly arrive in just a few days?’
’Unless... this was prepared in advance.’
"An order from the Holy Emperor!"
"Long live His Majesty!"
"The soldiers of Wolf Valley Pass, for delaying a critical military opportunity, are guilty of a crime punishable by ten thousand deaths. However, We, in consideration of your past merits in defending the pass, issue this special decree: all soldiers who returned with Chu Lingguang are to be stripped of their armor and returned to their fields, effective immediately. All stipends are forfeit, and they are forbidden from re-enlisting for life!"
The Imperial Eunuch finished reading the decree.
The entire area fell deathly silent.
After a moment of shock, the Spiritual Power in Chu Lingguang’s Star System began to surge violently. It was one thing for the Court to betray him, but to involve his soldiers as well was too much.
This was a clear attempt to coerce him into betraying Qin Yu.
It didn’t matter if Yuanchu Mountain was behind this or not.
The Court’s act of repaying kindness with enmity deeply stung Chu Lingguang’s heart and filled the soldiers of Wolf Valley Pass with righteous fury.
(First time ever I’ve missed updates for two days in a row. I’m so fucking ashamed of myself. I can’t blame my relatives for complaining, only my own lack of mental fortitude.)
(Wishing everyone the spirit of a dragon and horse, and a Happy New Year!)