The Prince of Yan moved directly into the Commandant's mansion for ease of control over Yangguan. Although Commandant Zhao was a disgrace, he was still the commander of Yangguan, and the soldiers there recognized him.
The Commandant's mansion was usually occupied only by Commandant Zhao; his wife and children were not present. This caught the Prince of Yan's attention. For someone who had guarded the border for so long, it was highly unusual for his family to be neither in the imperial capital nor with him.
"Fan Sheng, has Zhao Xu made any moves?"
"No, he eats and sleeps all day, like a pig."
"He's this obedient?" The Prince of Yan was very suspicious.
"This man has always been a coward. During battles, he always hides in the rear and avoids going to the battlefield if possible. In Yangguan, Zhao Xu also has a nickname: Zhao Turtle."
"Cowardly is good." The Prince of Yan showed Fan Sheng the four characters he had written, "Great Roc Spreading Its Wings," and asked, "Fan Sheng, what do you think of my calligraphy?"
"Your Highness's calligraphy is vigorous and powerful, naturally it is excellent."
"I have always disliked meddling in court affairs, wishing only to be a carefree prince. I never expected that my lack of interest in power would lead to my lineage being cut off." The Prince of Yan showed pain on his face. "If I held great power, who would dare treat me like this? Xiao Zhen, that old bastard, would only be able to kneel at my feet and weep."
"Your Highness speaks the truth."
"I want to chop Xiao Luo into pieces and make meat patties to give to Xiao Zhen and his daughter!" The Prince of Yan's face contorted. "They murdered my son, I want them to pay with blood for blood!"
"This subordinate will certainly help Your Highness achieve your wish."
"You are a good man, one who knows gratitude." The Prince of Yan tore up the characters "Great Roc Spreading Its Wings" and rewrote a character filled with murderous intent: "Kill." In order to avenge his son's death, he would not hesitate to sacrifice the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers in Yangguan, all for the sole purpose of putting Xiao Luo to death!
When Zhao Ge quietly returned to the Commandant's mansion, Commandant Zhao was startled. He grabbed Zhao Ge and dragged him into the room, "You turtle son, why are you back?"
Zhao Ge pulled his collar free from Commandant Zhao's grasp, "You old turtle are still here, how could I, your turtle son, not come back?"
"Didn't I tell you to go with him..."
"He's enough. I need to come back to guard you."
"What is there to guard?" Commandant Zhao paced anxiously in the room. He had finally managed to get this turtle son out, only for the little scoundrel to sneak back. This was going to kill him!
"Get out quickly!"
"I'm not going anywhere!" Zhao Ge sat down on a nearby chair, crossed his legs, picked up a pear from the table, and took a bite. "If you make any more trouble, it will alert others, and that won't be good!"
"Are you trying to make me die of anger?" Commandant Zhao beat his chest and stamped his feet. "You are the only seedling of my old Zhao family. If anything happens to you, your mother will flay me alive!"
"You know to fear my mother." Zhao Ge said indistinctly while biting the pear. "If you fear her, why do you still dare to anger her? After this is over, go and apologize to my mother properly, or else she might dig up the ancestral graves of the old Zhao family."
Commandant Zhao shivered, "Is my wife still angry with me?"
"Very angry. She said she wants to divorce you!"
"That won't do. She married me. She is mine in life and mine in death. Divorce? No way!" Commandant Zhao said with his head held high, then immediately asked with a lack of confidence, "Has she been eating well? Is she short of money? I've saved quite a bit of old-age money for her at the bank. Keep an eye on her and don't let her spend it all at once."
Zhao Ge glanced at him with disdain, "She's your wife, talk to her yourself. What use is it telling me!"
"Hey, you turtle son..."
"Commandant Zhao." At this moment, there was a knock on the door. Commandant Zhao quickly pulled Zhao Ge up and told him to hide in the inner room before going to open the door.
"General Fan, it's so late, what business do you have?"
"The Prince of Yan wishes to see you."
Commandant Zhao put on a fawning smile and adjusted his clothes. "The Prince of Yan wants to see me, I cannot delay. Let's go."
Fan Sheng glanced into the room, saw no one else, suppressed his doubts, and led Commandant Zhao to the Prince of Yan's room.
"This subordinate greets Your Highness the Prince of Yan. It's so late, Your Highness is not resting yet?"
The Prince of Yan invited Commandant Zhao to sit down, "I suddenly remembered something and wanted to confirm it with Commandant Zhao."
"What is it, Your Highness, please tell me." Commandant Zhao smiled broadly, as if the Prince of Yan were his own ancestor.
"I heard Commandant Zhao possesses a military tally?"
Commandant Zhao's heart skipped a beat. Not many people knew he had a military tally. To be precise, only four people knew: himself, Zhao Ge, Young General Xiao Luo, and Young General'så¯å° Lu Wei!
Bad! Lu Wei has defected! The Young General is in danger!
Commandant Zhao was worried, but his face was as if he were acting. "Your Highness, I did have a military tally in the past, but... after Xiao Luo went to war with Yun Qi, he took the military tally from me."
The Prince of Yan narrowed his eyes, "Xiao Luo took the military tally you were given?"
"Yes, that was the military tally to mobilize the guards of Yangguan. After he personally took charge of Yangguan, he snatched away my military tally." Commandant Zhao said vividly, "Your Highness, isn't this brat Xiao Luo detestable? He took my position as commander of Yangguan, and now he even stole my military tally. He's not human!"
Doubt flickered in the Prince of Yan's eyes. However, seeing Commandant Zhao's demeanor, he didn't seem like he was lying. Yet, Lu Wei wouldn't lie to him either. Did Zhao Xu, that old fox, truly have the military tally?
"Xiao Luo is already a general of Yunzhong City. With the military tally in his possession, he can mobilize troops from ten cities around Yunzhong City. Why would he still take yours?" The Prince of Yan suspected that Commandant Zhao had the military tally but was unwilling to hand it over.
"This is rather embarrassing to say." Commandant Zhao blushed. "I, your subordinate, generally dislike going to battle. The Xiao family all like to fight on the battlefield, so naturally, he doesn't favor someone like me who always stays in the rear. Even that traitor from Yun Qi is more valuable in Xiao Luo's eyes than I, an old general!"
The Prince of Yan immediately appeared to be very understanding. The Xiao family had always been arrogant and looked down on civil officials. Xiao Zhen was imperious, and Xiao Man followed his temperament. Xiao Luo's behavior was likely no different.
"Commandant Zhao must have suffered many grievances under Xiao Luo over the years, haven't you?"
"Now that Your Highness has arrived, my good days are not far off." Commandant Zhao said obsequiously, "If Your Highness has any commands, please give them. This subordinate would not hesitate even if it meant dying a thousand deaths."
The Prince of Yan smiled, "With Commandant Zhao's words, I am at ease. It's so late, disturbing Commandant Zhao's rest is my fault. Commandant Zhao, you may return and rest."
"Yes, this subordinate takes his leave."