Chu Zhiyuan asked, "General Ding, what is the situation in Jihai Garrison now?"
Ding Shaoqiang's face became even more unsightly, and he shook his head and sighed.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Has it become so corrupt that it is beyond redemption, and everyone is mixed up together?"
Ding Shaoqiang smiled bitterly: "Your Highness is wise."
Chu Zhiyuan nodded: "There is even the matter of illegal mining of iron ore, which has been concealed from the imperial court. It is truly神通广大."
Ding Shaoqiang was stunned.
Chu Zhiyuan chuckled: "It seems that you, the general, have also been kept in the dark."
Ding Shaoqiang's face flushed red, and his anger surged.
Illegally mining iron ore is a crime akin to treason.
This is a crime that leads to the confiscation of property and the extermination of the family. These guys are truly insane and extremely arrogant!
At the same time, this is also his own incompetence.
As the general, he didn't even notice the illegal mining of iron ore within his jurisdiction.
He was both ashamed and angry, wishing he could immediately lead his troops to seal off the mine and eradicate all the miners and even those behind them.
Chu Zhiyuan said: "General Ding, this matter should not be publicized."
Ding Shaoqiang looked at him blankly.
Chu Zhiyuan said: "It is not appropriate to stir up more trouble for the time being. Let's deal with the Flying Bird Camp first, step by step."
"Yes."
"General Ding, do you think the Flying Bird Camp will obey the orders?"
"... If they don't obey the orders now, we can directly remove them from their positions."
"We must guard against it."
Chu Zhiyuan nodded secretly.
This Ding Shaoqiang is indeed not a straw bag, but he was born at the wrong time and unfortunately ended up in this Eastern Territory.
To want to be promising in the Eastern Territory is to be an outlier, to be expelled by all.
Ding Shaoqiang said helplessly: "These military camps seem to have lax military discipline, but they are extremely focused on territory, and it is difficult to insert people into them as they are all connected."
Chu Zhiyuan nodded.
Ding Shaoqiang is obviously too compliant with the rules of the officialdom, which is how he has restrained himself.
As a general, it is extremely easy to mix sand into the various camps.
As long as you find an excuse to install a few confidants to take office, as for the original officials, it's a matter of demotion if you are polite, and direct dismissal if you are not.
Ding Shaoqiang was unable to install his confidants.
This is probably his way of protecting himself, right?
Of course, it may also be that the forces of the various camps are too strong, forcing him not to act rashly.
Chu Zhiyuan said: "Then offer a heavy reward, and mobilize all the camps, not just the Flying Bird Camp."
"I understand!" Ding Shaoqiang said quickly.
Chu Zhiyuan said: "General Ding, after you return to the capital, the imperial court will handle it according to its own laws. Now is your chance to redeem yourself."
"I understand!" Ding Shaoqiang said solemnly: "I have failed the Emperor's grace, but I will never allow the Flying Bird Camp to rebel again."
"Don't stare at the Flying Bird Camp, lest you arouse their vigilance and they take action directly." Chu Zhiyuan said: "It is better to mobilize several camps to confuse the public... As for when to take down the Flying Bird Camp, it is still up to you to judge when to act. I will not interfere forcibly."
"Yes."
"Then I will await General Ding's good news."
Ding Shaoqiang showed a look of shame: "If it weren't for this general's incompetence, His Highness would not have to work so hard."
Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand: "It's all for the imperial court and the peace of the people."
He then asked about the situation in Jihai Garrison, especially the situation in the officialdom.
The Supervisory Division also had records, but after all, the Supervisory Division's secret agents were only watching from the outside, not as deeply informed as Ding Shaoqiang, who was in the midst of it.
After Chu Zhiyuan left, Ding Shaoqiang sat in the room, frowning in thought.
A middle-aged guard approached and whispered, "Master."
"Hmm?" Ding Shaoqiang didn't look at him, continuing to stare at the pattern on the table.
"Should we...?"
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Ding Shaoqiang glared at him unhappily: "Your idea is truly rebellious!"
"But Master—"
"These bastards, this time His Highness is here, we will clean them up!"
"Master, they are deeply rooted, and there are supporting pillars and protective umbrellas above them. I'm afraid even His Highness can't do anything about it."
"This Fourth Highness is different." Ding Shaoqiang shook his head: "Which of those old guys dares to oppose this Highness?"
"This Fourth Highness is, after all, just a Highness." The middle-aged guard whispered: "If he were a prince, those old guys would be more cautious, right?"
"A prince and a Highness are both members of the royal family. It depends on their respective abilities. A Highness with great ability is far better than a prince without ability!" Ding Shaoqiang cupped his fists in the direction of Yujing: "The Emperor is wise, seeing everything clearly for thousands of miles. Why did he send the Fourth Highness here?"
"Is the Fourth Highness the Emperor's sharpest sword?"
"The Phoenix Camp's matter is not something that was blown out of proportion. We all know the details." Ding Shaoqiang looked to the east,
shaking his head and saying: "In the eyes of the gentlemen in the imperial court, Da Lie is a small place, a remote small dynasty, but we know the power of Da Lie."
The middle-aged guard lowered his head: "Yes, but Master is going to be questioned—"
"It doesn't matter." Ding Shaoqiang said lightly: "This general's fate will serve as a warning to the officials in the imperial court, letting them know the extent of the corruption in the Eastern Territory!... As long as His Highness is satisfied, this general will not always be in decline!"
"Master is wise!" The middle-aged guard said quickly, then snorted hatefully: "The Eastern Territory is so corrupt, with powerful people running rampant and constraints everywhere. The officials in the imperial court only think that Master is foolish. How can they know Master's difficulties!"
Ding Shaoqiang waved his hand: "It's just a small matter, let's go."
His face became a little rosier.
Chu Zhiyuan stood in a small alley, observing Ding Shaoqiang's every move, and shook his head.
As expected, it's not that simple.
Even the most foolish person, after becoming the master of a camp or even the master of a town, will be forced to become smart.
Ding Shaoqiang is not a fool, but rather a smart person.
But that's how things are. Sometimes smart people can't do things well because there are too many uncontrollable factors.
Especially in a place like the Eastern Territory, where monsters and snakes run rampant and various forces are intertwined, it's almost a dead knot.
Even this Highness, I, do not dare to act rashly and must be careful.
He had already sensed the dangers everywhere and dared not approach.
This shows that there are Grandmasters hidden in the Eastern Territory, and at least four Grandmasters, Grandmasters who can kill him.
The Great Jing Dynasty has a total of nineteen Grandmasters, and there are actually four in the Eastern Territory.
He had already asked Chu Qingyan in advance, and there were no Grandmasters stationed in the Eastern Territory.
Then what are the origins of these four Grandmasters?
Are they from the Worry-Free Sect, or from Da Lie or Da Guang, or even from other evil sects?
If Ding Shaoqiang had acted too rashly, he would probably have been assassinated.
As he expected, the Flying Bird Camp finally obeyed the order and left Flying Bird Fort, beginning a forced march.
With heavy rewards, there must be brave men.
The ordinary soldiers of the Flying Bird Camp did not know about the rebellion. They only felt that suppressing the Great Willow Camp was easy and they could get five years' worth of salary, which they could not miss.
In addition to the Flying Bird Camp, the White Crane Camp, the Startling Cloud Camp, and the Eagle Shooting Camp were also dispatched together.
They were excited and nervous, desperately rushing on the road, determined to arrive at the Great Willow Camp ahead of them and seize this first merit.
But when they arrived at the foot of a deep mountain, exhausted, preparing to surround the mountain, several officers in the camp were transferred to the central army tent for a meeting.
Then they never returned.
Then they learned that these officers were involved in corruption and were directly arrested.
The soldiers were exhausted and didn't have the heart to think too much. They felt that these officials must have embezzled money, and it was absolutely right to arrest them, and they were definitely not wronged.
Then the central army tent sent down a new batch of officers, adjusted for a day, and surrounded without attacking.
After this day of adjustment, the Flying Bird Camp had stabilized.
As a result, it was discovered that there was no Great Willow Camp in this mountain, the news was wrong, and they had already escaped from this place, so they had to continue to pursue.
The Flying Bird Camp was responsible for the pursuit. They quickly discovered dense ruts and followed the ruts forward, discovering a mine.
