FENG YU JIU TIAN [VOLUME TWO]

Chapter Seventeen

Within six hours General Tong returned unscathed to update his Masters.

"Reporting to Prince and King Rong once we reached Endless Red Valley our men scoured the surrounding forests. We indeed discovered a sizable army of a thousand scattered in position for an ambush. Our army of three thousand annihilated the enemy. Three hundred were captured. The enemy's death toll is high, we estimate only one hundred escapees. Their General was defeated by my sword and his head was collected as a token."

Tong waved at a subordinate whom walked forth to present a blood drenched severed head.

Rong Wang was accustomed to the sight of blood and did not flinch or batter an eyelid upon the presentation of his men's trophy. On the other hand, it was Feng Ming's first time to see a detached human head still dripping with fresh blood. He couldn't help but squirm uncomfortably.

Official Zhang eyed the scene before him and thought inwardly: Although the Prince is quite talented he is too timid. It is apparent that the Regent King is in charge of the final decisions.

Under the table, the King could feel Feng Ming's hands ice over. He nodded to the foot soldier to dispose the offending gore.

Although General Tong was sent out in the deep of a cold winter's night for a fierce battle he was still excited as if the adrenaline of the battlefield had not left him.
As he discussed their skirmish Tong's expression changed. He started to analyze the opposition.

"Strangely enough the men did not appear to be robbers as our intelligence reported. Rather they all adorned and spoke with accents from the country of Li. Furthermore, the Prince's original route of return does not pass through the Endless Red Valley. Why were they there? If they wanted to target the Prince, did they think one thousand men could come close to defeating our army of five thousand?"

The King glanced over to the Prince and chuckled. "As for these questions, perhaps Official Xia will be kind as to indulge us."

Rong Tian's voice boomed as he ordered, "Bring Official Xia."

Rong Hu had efficiently manhandled the court advisor in the courtyard. He had captured and bound the target with no complications. The old man was left gagged and helpless in a wooden shed and only Lie Er was informed of the location.

General Tong was completely in the dark about the cloud of suspicion around Official Xia's identity. However, he was an observant man so he did wonder where the old fool had disappeared to during the night. Now before him, one of the most trusted men of Xi Rei's court was escorted into the banquet room by Lie Er. The old man's hands were secured tightly like a prisoner.

The General stiffened and his expression waned. "Official Xia, why did you suddenly become a prisoner?"

Rong Wang toyed with the small wine cup in his hand, rolling it several times between his long fingers. He looked at the old man and smiled.

Although captured Official Xia had kept his ears alert, he heard thundering footsteps It wasn't difficult to deduce that soldiers led by General Tong were off to fight.

To see the King's face before him dread washed over him, Xia knew his scheme was discovered. His unrelenting eyes stared coldly at the King and a smile stretched across his lips.

"What an ill-conceived plan, if I had known the Regent King would grace our journey Xia would have heightened his caution by a hundred fold."

"You have been a trusted member of the Royal court for countless years, yet you dared to conspire and bring harm to the Crowned Prince, are you aware of the consequences of your crime?"