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墨書 Inktalez
When Zhao Kuo said these words, he did so in front of everyone. Upon hearing this, Zhao Weicheng was immediately drenched in sweat. There has always been a saying that trouble comes from the mouth; could it be that Zhao Kuo had been drinking? Worried that he might say something foolish, he hurriedly signaled for all the guards to disperse.
The heavy snow from a few days ago showed no signs of melting, and the low temperature outside was evident. In such cold weather, even a gust of wind could make someone shiver. Zhao Weicheng intended to invite Zhao Kuo inside to talk, reasoning that once the door was closed, even if they spoke harshly, it wouldn't be spread outside. "Uncle! It's too cold outside; let's go inside and warm up first."
However, Zhao Kuo was ungrateful and had no intention of closing the door to talk. He expressed his discontent, questioning why they should waste time warming up in the middle of winter. There were more important matters to attend to! Once those were taken care of, they could return and rest peacefully.
Zhao Weicheng felt that something was off about Zhao Kuo today, but he couldn't pinpoint what the issue was. Seeing that Zhao Kuo wasn't moving, he adjusted his thick scarf and said, "Since Uncle has come to Prison City Camp for important business, I dare not..."
Zhao Kuo had no intention of listening to any explanations. He turned around and ordered the Captain of the Guard to stay in the courtyard on standby. Looking up at the sky, he gestured for Tang Si to lead the way.
It was clear that the general wanted to see Li Mu above all else; it was best not to mention anything else. This put Zhao Weicheng in a difficult position; it wasn't that he didn't want Zhao Kuo to go in and see someone, but rather that he didn't dare to allow it. No matter how high Zhao Kuo's rank was, he still belonged to the military. As a minor official in Prison City, he had to heed the orders of those in charge within the court. Without orders from above, how could he dare open this door? Just as he hesitated, he noticed Zhao Kuo was about to step into the cell, so he knelt down again to block him.
Zhao Weicheng didn't care that others were already showing displeasure; he reached out and clung to Zhao Kuo's leg, pleading, "Uncle! While Li Mu is indeed your subordinate, he is currently a prisoner awaiting trial. I understand the importance of respecting elders, but I cannot disregard the law for personal feelings."
Zhao Kuo clearly had plans already; he turned to look at Sima Shang behind him holding a food box. He pointed toward the main gate and asked, "Sima General, if you have any reservations, it's best for you to leave now!"
What did reservations mean? It naturally referred to what was about to happen! If things escalated further, everyone present would be in trouble!
Sima Shang understood immediately what Zhao Kuo intended. Wiping the sweat from his forehead and glancing at the food box in his hand, he thought: if death is coming, then so be it! What is there to fear? He squatted down with the food box and straightened his back, indicating that he would not leave!
Seeing that this Centurion had made up his mind, Zhao Kuo smiled and nodded. "Don't regret it! With friends like you, Li Mu is fortunate!" After saying this, he looked down at the minor official from Prison City who was practically begging at his feet and exchanged glances with the Captain of the Guard. "Take them all down! Anyone who resists will be killed!"
He said this for everyone’s benefit. The meaning was clear: as long as you don't attempt to obstruct us, you will be fine. As for actually killing someone, that was merely a scare tactic. The Captain of the Guard immediately understood and signaled behind him for everyone to draw their weapons and step forward. They pulled out ropes that had been prepared beforehand and securely bound both the Prison City official and the head jailer before pointing at their weapons towards the other guards.
The prison guards had no idea about the truth; seeing the gleaming Bronze Sword made their legs turn to jelly. The spears and halberds they held were merely for show, and those who could actually put up a fight were nothing more than flashy decorations. When it came to facing seasoned soldiers who had seen real battle, even surviving three moves would depend on luck. At that moment, seeing the two leaders of the Prison City Camp captured like little chicks, they quickly understood the wisdom of not underestimating their opponents. They hurriedly dropped their weapons on the ground, signaling that they would not join in the fray.
What Zhao Kuo wanted was precisely this outcome; even if the guards rose up in rebellion, it was part of their duty. Seeing that the situation was now completely under control, he squatted down and quietly apologized to Zhao Weicheng and Tang Si, assuring them that he would take full responsibility for this incident. Since they had been captured by him, they would naturally not face any repercussions.
It was only at this point that the two realized that everything had been planned from the start; whether they resisted or not made no difference. However, they also understood that the General was intentionally protecting them, and they quickly nodded in gratitude.
Tang Si, being a seasoned player, would not let go of the opportunity to befriend the General so easily. Taking advantage of the moment, he subtly indicated with his eyes that the key to the cell door was at his waist. When Sima Shang came over to retrieve the key, he quietly informed Zhao Kuo of the cell number where Li Mu was being held.
The preliminary work had been completed; it was time to get down to business!
Zhao Kuo stood up and nodded to the Captain of the Guard to pay attention to perimeter security before walking with Sima Shang to the prison door. As the wooden door creaked open, a pungent moldy smell rushed out. Both men involuntarily frowned; it was their first time in such a dreadful place. If it weren't for rescuing their brother, even staying inside for another moment would be unbearable!
Inside the cells, there were guards on duty who worked in shifts. After completing their handover when unlocking the door, those being replaced would lock it again upon exiting. Unless there were special prisoners being held, it was usually two guards per shift.
At this moment, the two guards on duty had just gotten used to the moldy smell and were about to take out some wine for a sip when they heard the sound of chains from the main door. It wasn't time for a shift change yet; who could be coming in!?
The two guards carefully observed by firelight and realized they did not recognize the newcomers. When they saw a general dressed as a warrior and a nobleman dressed as an officer, they froze for a moment. They quickly dropped their Ceramic Bowl and grabbed a Sword from the table, watching the two outsiders warily.
"Stop! Who dares to trespass into this forbidden area!?"
Normally, if high-ranking officials came to inspect prisoners in Prison City, officials would decide whether to accompany them personally or send a head guard based on their rank. Sima Shang was unaware of these protocols; using dim firelight, he noticed there were still two guards inside. After looking back at the General and receiving his approval, he loudly declared, "Calm down! I am Sima Shang from Charioteer Camp, here by order of General Zhao to retrieve prisoner Li Mu. You two! Come forward and lead the way!"
With the guards leading them, Zhao Kuo and Sima Shang smoothly found Li Mu's cell. They initially thought he must have suffered greatly inside since he bore such a heavy burden. However, as they approached, they discovered he was unharmed and even sitting under a lamp reading a book.
Seeing this scene, the two immediately understood what was going on. A huge black pot had been placed on the person without any interrogation or verification. If they hadn't arrived in time to rescue the individual, those people would likely have staged a scene of Li Mu committing suicide out of guilt to eliminate unfavorable evidence.
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