The scribe was literate too. Jiang Zicheng believed this was a civilized era. Under the reigning emperor’s leadership, the Great Ming had entered the Prosperous Reign of Hongzhi, praised by common folk. As an official of the Son of Heaven, he naturally promoted governance policies. Thus, everyone in the Jiang Mansion learned to read and write.

Servants who could read received monthly bonuses. Those with higher literacy got even more.

The scribe saw that waist token. Already badly frightened, his body trembled uncontrollably.

“Shangfeng, is it really that bad…?”

“B-but… Y-young M-master… H-he… h-he…”

“Even if he’s an Imperial Guard Commander, he’s half-dead now. In this state, what can he do?” Jiang Huoer kicked the body. “Look, even I, who can’t activate the War God Mark, can trample him like this. What are you scared of?”

“M-m-master… H-he’s… s-staring at you…” The scribe’s face turned ashen. His finger pointed at the body, trembling wildly.

“Staring at me?” Jiang Huoer looked down. Sure enough, beneath the grime-covered face, a pair of bloodshot eyes were fixed on him.

His mouth kept moving, as if trying to say something.

“Hmm?” Huoer crouched down. “Do you want… to tell me something?”

The head nodded slightly a few times.

But the man was too injured to make a sound. All Jiang Huoer could do was guess from his lip movements.

But Jiang Huoer didn’t know lip-reading…

He could only guess subjectively what the man wanted to say.

Could there really be saltpeter on this mountain? Did heroes and warriors gather here to fight for the mining rights?

“Shangfeng, Shangfeng! We’re going to make a fortune! This commander must have been injured in the bloodbath over saltpeter here!” Jiang Huoer’s face was full of anticipation.

“Young master…” The scribe thought only Jiang Huoer would think that way. His obsession with saltpeter was beyond normal comprehension.

“Huh? Don’t you think so? If we follow this clue, we’ll definitely make a big haul!”

“Young master, calm down…” The scribe crouched down. The Imperial Guard Commander’s lips kept repeating one phrase. Though unclear, it surely concerned Tahang Mountain. “Young master, the mistress packed wound medicine in your bamboo basket. I’ve applied some. And, could you fetch water?”

“Okay.”

At critical moments, the scribe was reliable. Though still timid, his hands trembled while applying medicine to the commander. But he managed to get it done.

The external medicine was potent. A half-dead person might not withstand it. But the scribe thought, as an Imperial Guard, he must have a strong constitution. So he applied it. The result? The man passed out immediately…

The scribe thought he was dead and wailed loudly. When Jiang Huoer returned with water, he told the scribe the commander wasn’t dead, just unconscious. Only then did the scribe stop crying.

The brown horse returned. It seemed it never left. The horse was quite intelligent, sensing no danger here, so it came back.

Luckily, the horse returned. Otherwise, moving this man to the stream would have been tough.

As punishment, the beloved horse would get no dinner today.

“If you’re hungry, go drink water.”

Jiang Huoer said this to the big horse.

“Young master, I recall the Imperial Guard Commander is a fourth-rank official, right?”

“Mm, three ranks higher than Xiu Ran’s father.” Jiang Huoer nodded.

“Then what he wants to tell us must be extraordinary. It has nothing to do with your saltpeter.”

“Are you saying my saltpeter isn’t important?” Jiang Huoer’s face darkened.

“No, no, no!” The scribe waved his hands frantically. “Just now, when he spoke, I heard ‘Tahang’. The Capital Commander must be on a mission here. Let’s question him carefully after he wakes.”

“Tsk. Nothing to do with my saltpeter.” Jiang Huoer glanced at the man on the ground. “What a burden.”

“Young master…”

“Alright, alright. I’ll listen to you.” Jiang Huoer nodded. “We’ll stay here for a few days until he wakes up.”

“Mm-hmm!”

“Water… water…” A groan sounded.

“I’ll feed him.” The scribe stood up, took a bamboo tube, and walked to the commander. He aimed it at Xiao Hao’s mouth and poured water in little by little.

“Tahang… Tahang…” After drinking, the commander muttered. “Tahang… treachery… treachery…”

“Young master!” The scribe called out. “He spoke!”

Jiang Huoer stood up and walked to the scribe. But at that moment, the commander fainted again.

“Didn’t you say he spoke…?”

“He really did speak just now! He said ‘Tahang treachery’!”

“Tahang treachery?” Jiang Huoer crouched down, examining the Imperial Guard Commander closely.

“Young master?”

“He must have been ambushed.” Jiang Huoer stood up. “But with only ‘Tahang treachery’, we can infer ulterior motives on the mountain. Nothing more. We must wait until he can speak fully before acting.”

North Slope of Tahang Mountain

“Leader, the team heading to Spirit Martial Town will soon reach Tahang. But that man escaped. I fear the secret report may leak.”

“With his injuries, rolling down the west slope, at best he’s half-dead. No threat. Proceed as planned. Arslan’s group, disguised as bandits, must lure them into the valley. Then we’ll charge with our cavalry.”

“What about the princess?”

“Reports say the princess will disguise herself. But the Despised Emperor’s daughter will still stand out. Be sharp and find her. If you can’t, kill her. Then we’ll lie that we captured her and demand ransom.”

“The watcher on the west slope reported someone from Spirit Martial Town’s direction entered Tahang today. Leader, should we investigate?”

“From Spirit Martial Town’s direction?” The leader shook his head. “The Imperial Capital group’s next stop is Spirit Martial Town. Next week is the Capital Interview. All capable people there will stay for it. No one leaves at this critical time. Don’t investigate. It’s a waste. Better to focus on our mission. This time, we’ll crush the Despised Emperor’s interview team and his princess. Let’s shatter his arrogance!”

“Your subordinate obeys!”