Chapter 8, the end will bring forth everything

"Enough of the nonsense, go quickly and do what you are supposed to do." He Kang's thoughts were accurately captured by Han Zhen, causing his old face to flush with embarrassment. He exclaimed, "I just heard that there are soldiers fighting in the barracks, hurry and handle it, do not let the soldiers escalate the situation and cause a rebellion"

"Your Excellency, I am truly incompetent and have yet to uncover any results in the investigation. " Chen Yizhong said dejectedly as he recounted the situation regarding Yuan Jie. He concluded by saying, "Your Excellency, it is not that I am timid or afraid of trouble, but Yuan Jie is related to the current Grand Commandant Ma Tianji as his maternal uncle. Grand Commandant Ma wields significant power in the court, and if I were to apply torture to Yuan Jie without yielding any results, it would lead to Ma Tianji pursuing the matter and bringing it to the court. This would put Your Excellency in a difficult position before the Emperor."

"Oh no! Princess Chabi has exposed me!" Upon hearing this, Yuan Jie in the tent felt as if the world was spinning, nearly fainting on the spot. Outside the tent, Chen Yizhong was overjoyed, saying: "The Prime Minister has indeed acted decisively; with this signed testimony from the Mongolian princess, even if I were to torture Yuan Jie to death, Commander Ma would not dare to overturn the case! I will return to continue the investigation and let Yuan Jie experience the taste of torture." Outside the tent, Chen Yizhong was overjoyed, saying: "The Prime Minister has indeed acted decisively; with this signed testimony from the Mongolian princess, even if I were to torture Yuan Jie to death, Commander Ma would not dare to overturn the case! I will return to continue the investigation and let Yuan Jie experience the taste of torture."

"That wretched girl has confessed," Jia Sidao said with great satisfaction. "I personally interrogated that wretched girl whom Yuan Jie presented to me. This wretched girl is soft-hearted and knows how to recognize the situation; she told me everything in detail. It turns out that this wretched girl is the daughter of a Mongolian prince, considered a princess among the Mongolian Tatars, and her name is Chabi. She also provided a statement regarding the events leading up to and following Yuan Jie's betrayal, along with her fingerprints. I promised her that as long as she helps me expose Yuan Jie and the other spies within the army, I would allow her to return to Mongolia and resume her status as a princess." I promised her that as long as she helps me expose Yuan Jie and the other spies within the army, I would allow her to return to Mongolia and resume her status as a princess

"Regrettably, I, a mere official, lack the ability to act, as I do not possess any concrete evidence, and thus I dare not impose punishment on General Yuan Jie, resulting in no gains whatsoever," Chen Yizhong replied loudly. He Kang laughed heartily and said, "I already knew that you could not interrogate Yuan Jie, but it does not matter; I have already obtained evidence of Yuan Jie colluding with the enemy and betraying the country. This time, you can confidently impose punishment on him."

"Shut up!" Chen Yizhong slammed the table again, but this only made Yuan Jie shout even louder, "Chen Yizhong, if you are smart, you will let me go immediately. Otherwise, my subordinates will definitely not spare you. I am the nephew of the Grand Commandant Ma Tianji, and my uncle can crush you with just a finger. Even Jia Sidao cannot protect you!"

No. The two bodyguards shook their heads in unison and replied, "Those Mongolian Tartars mentioned her name, it is Chabi."

Upon arriving in the Southern Song Dynasty, He Kang was unfamiliar with the situation, inevitably leading to some unclear judgments in personnel matters. If Ling Zhen and Wu Longqi, among other straightforward and passionate men, had been the ones to interrogate Yuan Jie, Yuan Jie's arrogant provocations would surely have provoked the fists and whips of Wu Longqi and others. However, Chen Yizhong was different. Chen Yizhong, having collaborated with students such as Huang Yong and Lin Zezhu to petition against the Chancellor Ding Daquan, was demoted to the military and assigned as a low-ranking officer. Years of experience had dulled his sharpness and edges. Now, having finally gained the recognition of the newly appointed Right Chancellor Jia Sidao and regained his position, the prospects of his career were once again brightening. Naturally, Chen Yizhong dared not gamble with his future. It would be easy to resort to torture against Yuan Jie, but Chen Yizhong was different. Given his past experiences, if he were to use torture and still fail to obtain solid evidence of Yuan Jie’s collusion with the enemy, the matter could escalate to the court, and the door to Chen Yizhong's advancement would close once more.

"You make a valid point; we must consider the feelings of the Grand Commandant." He Kang was unaware of the rank of the Grand Commandant, nor did he know whether Jia Sidao's influence could manage Ma Tianji. He only remembered that there was a Grand Commandant Gao in the Song Dynasty who wielded immense power and was a formidable figure—perhaps Ma Tianji was of the same ilk as Grand Commandant Gao, which easily led Chen Yizhong to evade the issue. However, the fact that Chen Yizhong could do nothing about Yuan Jie did not mean that He Kang was powerless. After a few moments of contemplation, He Kang devised a plan and leaned close to Chen Yizhong's ear to whisper... He only remembered that there was a Grand Commandant Gao in the Song Dynasty who wielded immense power and was a formidable figure—perhaps Ma Tianji was of the same ilk as Grand Commandant Gao, which easily led Chen Yizhong to evade the issue. However, the fact that Chen Yizhong could do nothing about Yuan Jie did not mean that He Kang was powerless. After a few moments of contemplation, He Kang devised a plan and leaned close to Chen Yizhong's ear to whisper...

"Your Excellency, this subordinate (the student) has returned." At this moment, Han Zhen and Chen Yizhong, who had been sent by He Kang on an errand, returned to the main tent of the Song army. When He Kang inquired about the results of their task, Chen Yizhong, who was ordered to detain Yuan Jie, appeared relaxed and first clasped his fists, saying: "In response to Your Excellency, Yuan Jie and several of his personal guards have been secretly detained, and all information regarding his detention has been sealed. I have announced to the outside that he was summoned by Your Excellency to the central army to discuss military affairs and will only return to command the troops in the evening. The first commander under Yuan Jie has temporarily taken over his duties. That commander is a garrison general brought by Your Excellency from Lin'an and is relatively reliable."

"Well done," He Kang praised Chen Yizhong, then turned his attention to Han Zhen, who was monitoring Yuan Jie’s mistakes. Han Zhen's expression was not as relaxed as Chen Yizhong's; he awkwardly said, "Your Excellency, I have personally investigated this matter. This morning, at the hour of Chen, I sent someone to monitor Yuan Jie and arranged for a shift change. Shortly after the hour of Chen, Yuan Jie left the military camp with eight personal guards. The two individuals I sent also quietly followed him, but they have not returned yet. I have dispatched others to search for them, but there has been no news so far... If I am not mistaken, those two individuals are likely in grave danger." Shortly after the hour of Chen, Yuan Jie left the military camp with eight personal guards. The two individuals I sent also quietly followed him, but they have not returned yet. I have dispatched others to search for them, but there has been no news so far... If I am not mistaken, those two individuals are likely in grave danger.

Hehe... Hahahaha... Yuan Jie burst into laughter, "Hahahaha... Chen Yizhong, you say that this official colludes with the enemy and betrays the country, conspiring with the Mongolian Tartars, and that the evidence is conclusive. Where is your evidence? Show it to this official!" Chen Yizhong was left speechless. The accusations against Yuan Jie for colluding with the Mongols were merely conjectures made by He Kang and others based on various signs, without any solid proof. When Yuan Jie demanded evidence from Chen Yizhong, he truly could not produce any. Yuan Jie was also aware that he operated discreetly, and there were absolutely no incriminating materials in the hands of others. With this confidence, his attitude became even more arrogant. The accusations against Yuan Jie for colluding with the Mongols were merely conjectures made by He Kang and others based on various signs, without any solid proof. When Yuan Jie demanded evidence from Chen Yizhong, he truly could not produce any. Yuan Jie was also aware that he operated discreetly, and there were absolutely no incriminating materials in the hands of others. With this confidence, his attitude became even more arrogant. "Didn’t you say your evidence is conclusive? Where is the evidence? If you cannot produce evidence, this official will report to the Emperor that you have slandered the court officials, and I will have your entire family executed!"

"As you command," Han Zhen and Chen Yizhong clasped their fists in salute. Han Zhen then said with a hint of flirtation, "Your Excellency, you have worked hard these past few months; it is time to relax. I have heard that the Mongolian Tatars are quite lenient when it comes to women. Unmarried women, even if they lose their virtue, can still marry into noble families, and the men will not hold it against them. If Your Excellency is interested, you need not consider the relationship with the Mongols."

"Chabi? I have never heard of her... The only Mongolian princess I know is Zhao Min. But even Zhao Min is of no use, as the Mongols have always regarded women as less than human." He Kang scratched his head, abandoning the idea of using that Mongolian princess as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Mongols—truth be told, He Kang was indeed quite foolish. If He Kang had called Song Jing, who was the most knowledgeable about the Mongolian army in the Song military camp, to ask, he would have been overjoyed to discover that this princess named Chabi actually held a status and position far superior to that fictional Zhao Min princess... He Kang abandoned the idea of using that Mongolian princess as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Mongols—truth be told, He Kang was indeed quite foolish. If He Kang had called Song Jing, who was the most knowledgeable about the Mongolian army in the Song military camp, to ask, he would have been overjoyed to discover that this princess named Chabi actually held a status and position far superior to that fictional Zhao Min princess...

Is there still a need to ask? Of course, it is that barbaric Mongolian girl—when I merely held her hand, she grabbed my face with one swift motion. If I hadn't dodged quickly, she would have scratched my eyes out. Damn it, no wonder they are uncivilized barbarians; our Han girls are so much gentler. He Kang gritted his teeth and complained, saying, 'I have already considered it. It is likely that there will be little gain from interrogating that barbaric girl. It would be better to first find a breakthrough from Yuan Jie, understand the detailed circumstances of the matter, and then think about how to utilize that barbaric girl—by the way, you are responsible for interrogating Yuan Jie. How is the progress of the matter?'

"Yizhong, when dealing with Yuan Jie, do not use those things like whips, sticks, or tiger benches, as they could injure or kill him, which would be a disgrace." Jia Sidao's voice lowered slightly, but Yuan Jie still heard him clearly, "Have the subordinates find a few long iron and copper wires, insert them into the place where Yuan Jie urinates, and stab his bladder fiercely! This way, he will feel as if he is on the verge of death, yet he won't die quickly, so it won't be considered that we killed him without obtaining a confession. The coroner won't be able to detect his injuries, and we can still report to the court that he died of a sudden illness, without any repercussions."

"Isn't Prime Minister Jia supposed to personally handle the case of the Mongolian princess? How could he arrive so quickly?" Chen Yizhong wondered to himself. However, in order to leave a good impression of respect and loyalty in front of Jia Sidao, Chen Yizhong set aside Yuan Jie and stepped out of the tent to prepare for the arrival of Jia Sidao. But when Chen Yizhong saw the Grand Prime Minister Jia Sidao at the gate of the camp, he was taken aback—at that moment, the Right Prime Minister of the Southern Song, the Duke of Linhai, and the Chief Minister of the Privy Council, Grand Prime Minister Jia Sidao, had five bloody scratch marks on his face, which made him grimace in pain as he walked. After the shock, Chen Yizhong quickly asked, "My lord, what happened to your face? Who hurt you?"

Before long, Chen Yizhong, who had thoroughly understood the instructions of Prime Minister Jia, walked back to the tent door and loudly said in front of the door where Yuan Jie was detained: "I have seen the benevolent Prime Minister." He Kang also loudly said in front of the tent door: "No need for formalities, Yizhong. I have instructed you to investigate the traitor Yuan Jie who colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country. What is the outcome?"

Yuan Jie, stop your nonsense. You have colluded with the Tartars to betray the country, and the evidence is conclusive. The governor has ordered me to come and investigate you, so be honest with me!" Chen Yizhong slammed the table in front of him and shouted, "How did you collude with the enemy and betray the country? What is your connection with the Tartars? Who else in the army is your accomplice? Speak honestly to avoid physical punishment!"

Two flowers bloom, each representing a branch. To begin with, Chen Yizhong was sent by He Kang to interrogate the traitor Yuan Jie. Initially, Chen Yizhong believed that Yuan Jie, being a cowardly and timid person, could be easily intimidated and coerced into confessing everything with just a little threat and torture, making the interrogation straightforward. However, when the formal interrogation of Yuan Jie commenced, Chen Yizhong realized that he had underestimated Yuan Jie. As soon as Chen Yizhong ordered the soldiers to bring Yuan Jie before him, Yuan Jie struggled and shouted, "Why am I being arrested? Where is Prime Minister Jia? I want to see Prime Minister Jia! Chen Yizhong, who do you think you are? A mere seventh-rank Yunqiwei, and you dare to set up a court on your own and kidnap me, a scholar from the Fuwen Pavilion? You have quite the audacity!"

Jia Sidao obtained the evidence? Due to the loud voices of He Kang and Chen Yizhong, Yuan Jie, who was detained in the tent, could hear their conversation clearly. When he heard that Jia Sidao had already obtained the evidence, Yuan Jie couldn't help but feel a great shock in his heart and quickly perked up his ears to listen to the exchange outside. He heard Chen Yizhong ask with great surprise: "The methods of En Xiang are indeed formidable. I wonder what evidence En Xiang has obtained?"

"Your Excellency, your wisdom is profound. I shall make the arrangements immediately," Chen Yizhong replied joyfully. Upon hearing this, Yuan Jie, who was already pale as a ghost, no longer dared to be obstinate. He cried out in a voice as loud as a pig being slaughtered: "Prime Minister! Prime Minister! Lord Chen! Do not use torture! I will confess! I will confess everything!"

... ...

"Did you really hear it clearly? That woman is truly a Mongolian princess?" He Kang widened his eyes and asked the two personal guards he had stationed in the woods to monitor the situation at the fire. The two guards, who looked remarkably like Xu Jinjian and Cheng Kui'an, nodded vigorously like chickens pecking at rice, swearing that if they had misheard, they would remain bachelors for life and sever their ties to the world by serving under the Grand Eunuch Dong Songchen in the imperial court. With such a heavy oath from the two guards, He Kang had no choice but to believe them, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Since that woman is a princess, is her name Zhao Min?"

In that case, those two individuals must have discovered Yuan Jie contacting the Mongols after leaving the camp, but they were also detected by either Yuan Jie or the Mongolian Tatars, which led to their demise. He Kang analyzed the situation briefly and commanded: "From now on, we will act separately. Chen Yizhong, you are responsible for interrogating Yuan Jie. You must uncover the details of his treasonous surrender, his accomplices in the military camp, and the methods he used to communicate with Mongolian spies. You may use torture on him, but do not kill him—he is still of use to me. Han Zhen, you will temporarily manage the affairs in the military camp, strictly controlling the entry and exit of soldiers, while also organizing personnel to train a bombing squad. As for that Mongolian princess named Chabi, I will personally interrogate her."

"Chen Yizhong, if you know what is wise, let me go quickly so that I can meet Prime Minister Jia; otherwise, I will definitely not let you off!" Yuan Jie was also a clever person. Seeing Chen Yizhong's hesitant expression, he guessed that Chen Yizhong did not dare to punish him, and he shouted even louder, which made Chen Yizhong even more indecisive. At that moment, a soldier from Song entered the tent and whispered in Chen Yizhong's ear: "Lord Chen, Prime Minister Jia is coming this way with a group of personal guards; it seems he wants to see you."