"Vice Commander Cheng."

"At your command!"

Cheng Yanhua, who was secretly pondering Chen Sheng’s intentions, jolted and quickly bowed.

"I have already sought approval from County Captain Wu. Effective immediately, I will be assuming the role of acting Grand Commander of the Military Preparation Camp."

Chen Sheng watched him with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, his gaze as sharp as a blade.

Cheng Yanhua’s heart pounded, but he quickly forced a smile. "My congratulations on your promotion, sir!"

"Don’t be so quick with your congratulations. For now, it’s only an ’acting’ role."

"With your achievements in this campaign against the bandits, dropping the ’acting’ from your title is just a matter of time."

Cheng Yanhua’s face was a mask of smiles, but his back was already slick with cold sweat.

"Is that so?"

Chen Sheng’s tone turned cold. "But I worry that someday, someone will use Commander Chu’s death to make an issue of it and slander my name."

Thanks to a warning from the Celestial Book’s Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil, Chen Sheng already knew that when he killed Chuyue Mountain, several people had witnessed the truth amidst the chaos, Cheng Yanhua among them.

Although the man harbored no ill will, Chen Sheng still needed to put him in his place.

The words struck like a thunderclap. Cold sweat instantly rolled down Cheng Yanhua’s forehead, and he dropped to his knees with a THUD.

"I... I can testify! Commander Chu truly died at the hands of the bandit leader, Xu Meng. It was entirely thanks to you, sir, turning the tide that we were able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat! If anyone dares to slander you, I’ll be the first to come after them!"

"I don’t like to beat around the bush." Chen Sheng tossed a list in front of him. "Follow this list. After the commendation ceremony at the training grounds tomorrow, you will serve as the acting commander of North City."

Cheng Yanhua took the list with trembling hands. He knew this was his Pledge of Loyalty. He actually wanted to recommend Chen Sheng’s confidant, Yan Ming, for the position, as he was frankly terrified of Chen Sheng. But seeing that smile that wasn’t a smile, he didn’t dare raise any objections. He could only kowtow deeply.

"I understand!"

"Go. Don’t disappoint me."

"I will take my leave."

Cheng Yanhua bowed and backed out of the tent. Li Huai Sheng, standing to one side, glanced at Chen Sheng. When Chen Sheng gave a slight nod, Li Huai Sheng understood immediately and followed soundlessly.

Li Huai Sheng wasn’t being sent to silence Cheng Yanhua, but to ensure he carried out his orders obediently.

If Cheng Yanhua made a single move out of line, Li Huai Sheng’s orders were to kill him without hesitation.

After they left, the command tent fell silent. Chen Sheng closed his eyes, regulated his breathing, and calmed his mind.

Dawn was less than four hours away. He needed to rest and gather his strength, preparing for the battle that tomorrow would bring.

...

「The next morning, at the Military Preparation Camp.」

Before dawn, soldiers were already assembled in neat formations on the training grounds. Troops from the East City and South City Military Camps were also arriving in succession.

For the earlier mission to suppress the bandits, only a detachment of soldiers skilled in water combat had been drawn from these two camps. The majority of the forces had remained to guard the county seat, which was why only they were rushing to assemble now.

The other soldiers had already been quartered for the night within the Military Preparation Camp.

The moment East City Commander Zhang Yue and South City Commander Li Cong saw the soldiers on the training grounds—fully armored, armed to the teeth, and arranged in perfect formation—their faces filled with shock and suspicion.

’Didn’t they just leave yesterday to suppress the bandits? How could they be back so quickly?’

’Did they return victorious, or...?’

The two men dared not dwell on the thought, but they could already sense that something was amiss.

That morning, they had received a strict order from County Captain Wu, commanding them to lead their troops to the Military Preparation Camp at once. They were told not to wear armor, the reason being that new sets were to be issued to the Military Preparation Camp soldiers.

The order had already felt strange, but seeing this scene, their shock and suspicion intensified.

’What in the world was going on?’

After getting their soldiers into formation, the two commanders, their minds filled with doubt, found West City Commander Wang Yue nearby.

"Wang, what’s going on here? You’re already back from fighting the bandits? What happened to Black Snake Stronghold?"

Wang Yue glanced at them and managed a strained smile.

"It’s been wiped out."

"What?" The two commanders exchanged a look, each seeing the shock and unease in the other’s eyes.

’The Black Snake Water Stronghold, which has plagued the Changshan County Region for years, wiped out in a single night?’

For them, this was anything but good news.

They worked closely with the three great families and knew their secrets—the families had long been in collusion with the water bandits outside the city. They had assumed this bandit suppression campaign was just another scheme set up by the three families. They never expected such a drastic turn of events.

A sense of foreboding washed over them. They were about to secretly send someone to inform the three great families, but when they turned, they saw that the camp gates had been shut. A squad of imposing soldiers in black stood guard with drawn swords, blocking all exits.

The situation made a deep sense of unease well up inside them.

"Don’t waste your energy, you two," 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Wang Yue said suddenly. "If you have any questions, you can ask the Grand Commander directly in a moment."

"Where is Grand Commander Chu? And for that matter, what about Commander Chen from North City?"

Before the words were even out of their mouths, they felt the surrounding atmosphere freeze.

Following the gazes of the crowd, they saw the flap of the command tent being lifted, and a familiar figure stepped out.

They knew the man all too well—it was none other than the North City Commander, Chen Sheng.

But the official robes he was wearing made the two commanders stare as if they were seeing a ghost. Those were clearly the robes of the Grand Commander of the Military Preparation Camp—they should have been on Chuyue Mountain. How could they be...

They widened their eyes, trying to see if they were real, but they couldn’t find anything out of place. If anything, the robes seemed to suit him perfectly.

Alarm bells screamed in their minds. They quickly looked toward Wang Yue, only to see him already bowing respectfully.

"Greetings, Grand Commander!"

Chen Sheng nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Zhang and Li.

The two commanders were so stunned they forgot to salute, but Chen Sheng paid them no mind. He walked straight to the Commanding Platform and looked down upon the hundreds of soldiers assembled on the training grounds.

This was the entire military might of Changshan County.

’Whoever can command their absolute loyalty will hold the ultimate authority in Changshan County.’

’Previously, various factions had their hands in the Military Preparation Camp, its power divided. But that all changes today.’

As Chen Sheng took the platform, the clamor on the training grounds gradually died down.

Hundreds of pairs of eyes focused on him, their expressions a mixture of confusion, surprise, and awe.

"During yesterday’s campaign against the bandits, Grand Commander Chu was unfortunately killed in the line of duty." Chen Sheng’s voice was not loud, but it carried clearly across the training grounds. "By order of the County Captain, as of today, I will be assuming the post of Grand Commander of the Military Preparation Camp."

"Greetings, Grand Commander!"

Cheng Yanhua, Wang Yue, and the two hundred-odd men who had fought the day before were the first to salute.

Seeing this, the others dared not hesitate, and they all bowed in unison.

Although Zhang Yue and Li Cong were filled with suspicion, they didn’t dare to question him publicly and had no choice but to salute with the crowd.

"I have summoned you all today for two reasons: first, to recognize meritorious service and bestow rewards, and second, to promote and appoint those who are deserving."

Chen Sheng’s voice turned cold. "When your name is called, step forward to receive your orders!"

Cheng Yanhua stepped forward on cue, produced a list from his robes, and began to read from it in a stern voice:

"Zhao Yuan, Chen Ji, Ma Yu..."

Among those named, besides the men who had earned merits suppressing the bandits yesterday, the majority were Centurions and Squad Leaders from the East and South camps.

A wave of whispers immediately spread through the ranks below.

"Why are they calling names from our camp?"

"Can you get commended without even fighting the bandits?"

The men were all lost in their own thoughts. Most were secretly pleased, assuming the new Grand Commander was simply trying to win favor. But the faces of Zhang Yue and Li Cong paled—every single person who had just been named had close ties to the three great families!

’What in the world is Chen Sheng planning?’

Just as the two were reeling with shock and suspicion, Cheng Yanhua’s voice rang out again:

"Zhang Yue, Li Cong..."

Zhang and Li jolted, their faces turning ashen as they exchanged a look.

For the two names he had just called were their own.

---