Dong Chenglang increasingly felt that poisoning his cousin would be more effective.

The poison would surely be the last straw that breaks his uncle.

Xie Jingchen felt he was beyond saving.

Pressing forward courageously, completely ignoring the flooding behind him.

If he paused for even a moment, he would drown.

However, from Zhao Xu’s perspective, what Dong Chenglang was doing was ideal.

A nephew feels it’s no problem to harm his uncle and cousin; does he, an outsider, have any reason to stop him?

Dong Chenglang patted Xie Jingchen’s shoulder, entrusting the poisoning task to him.

Xie Jingchen was pondering that he could take this opportunity to return to the Daqi Camp.

However, having just set up General Shi twice in a row, the poisoning matter couldn’t be rushed; General Shi had to be given some breathing space so that his conflict with Duke Huguo could accumulate, ensuring the expected outcome upon its eruption.

After spending so much time with Dong Chenglang, Xie Jingchen understood him somewhat; impulsive by nature, once he obtained the poison, he likely wouldn’t wait long before administering it to Young Master Shi.

So Xie Jingchen planned to return after five or six days.

Inside the tent, Duke Huguo sat on the Arhat Couch, with the military doctor applying medicine.

General Shi had put considerable force behind his punch, leaving Duke Huguo’s eye bruised and swollen.

The pain was secondary; the main issue was the disgrace of getting beaten and the lack of an outlet for his anger upon finding the letter from the Military Governor praising him while belittling General Shi.

Furthermore, even if he claimed he had nothing to do with it, no one would believe him.

The military doctor worked gently, yet Duke Huguo still grimaced in pain, seething with anger, cursing the Military Governor as dull as a pig.

He had reminded him long ago that the Emperor knew he was his man.

Sent to the camp to supervise General Shi, he and the Emperor were at ease.

Reporting General Shi’s mistakes or even praising him was acceptable, but not excessively lauding him.

The Emperor is inherently suspicious, and even as his cousin, Duke Huguo couldn’t escape his suspicion.

Was this because his life was too happy, and he needed something unpleasant?

The military doctor carefully finished the medicine application; the tent flap opened, two soldiers carried the Military Governor inside.

General Shi’s men personally supervised, ensuring the Military Governor received a solid thirty lashes, his backside fresh with blood, a shocking sight.

The Military Governor was drenched in sweat, breathing faintly, raising his hand laboriously to protest, "Duke, calm down, I really didn’t write that letter...."

"You didn’t write it?" Duke Huguo said through clenched teeth.

The letter was right by him, which he threw to the ground, "This is your handwriting, would I not recognize it?!"

The Military Governor was at a loss for explanation.

This letter truly wasn’t written by him.

The first half praising Duke Huguo was indeed his writing, but he hadn’t written the latter half slamming General Shi.

Duke Huguo had instructed him to more frequently praise General Shi’s military prestige in the letters.

The Emperor was wary of General Shi; the higher General Shi’s prestige among the soldiers, the more displeased the Emperor, making it easier for Duke Huguo to eliminate him.

This reasoning he understood; how could he defy Duke Huguo’s wishes?

But his tent unexpectedly had this incriminating letter, leaving him with no defense.

He looked at Duke Huguo, "It must be General Shi framing me!"

A General pleaded on behalf of the Military Governor, looking at Duke Huguo, "Could it really be General Shi framing you?"

Duke Huguo looked at the General, "Would he frame himself to be demoted two ranks by the Emperor?"

The General was immediately silenced, clearly impossible.

"Perhaps having suffered injustice previously, he’s resentful and is using this as an excuse to stir things up with you?" The General speculated.

Duke Huguo said nothing.

Because this possibility was plausible.

General Shi wasn’t someone who swallowed his anger.

He had to endure before due to the Shi Family’s overall well-being.

But there was no reason for continuous endurance; having tolerated before, this time, an eruption, even if it reached the Emperor, wouldn’t result in severe consequences.

General Shi had the audacity to hit him in front of the soldiers, openly declaring war.

General Shi held significant influence in the army, necessitating caution.

Duke Huguo gathered his trusted allies to discuss eliminating General Shi.

Not far away, in General Shi’s tent, it was also bustling.

No one felt General Shi was wrong in punching Duke Huguo; they were always by General Shi’s side, and if he was being suppressed, their own prospects were diminished.

Last time, General Shi’s demotion was barely tolerated.

Today, General Shi had vented his nephew’s anger by punching Duke Huguo, a hit delivered to their hearts.

Only upon reflection did they feel uneasy.

"Since Duke Huguo’s arrival at the border, General Shi’s battle plans were never adopted, and this punch might lead to more disregard," said one General.

"I think it’s better to divide the camp with Duke Huguo for governance, each handling half?"

General Shi glanced at him, "Ridiculous."

"Between me and Duke Huguo, it’s personal animosity, but how can personal grievances delay military affairs?"

The General couldn’t hold back, "General, though you may separate private interests from public duties, can Duke Huguo do the same?"

"If he could, you wouldn’t have been demoted two ranks!"

General Shi had no reply.

But splitting the camp duties equally with Duke Huguo was certainly not plausible.

Currently, Duke Huguo was his superior.

If he truly incited the soldiers for camp division governance, Duke Huguo would undoubtedly accuse him of rebellion before the Emperor.

Such charges he couldn’t afford to bear.

General Shi reassured the brothers with him, "I hit him once, and he dealt with the Military Governor; he likely won’t target me again."

General Shi asked several Generals to go rest, anticipating enemy attacks.

The Generals withdrew.

Exiting the tent, each was righteously indignant, seeking justice for General Shi. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Inside the tent, Young Master Shi had his confidants guard it, returned to persuade General Shi, "Father, the Emperor suspects you, trusting Duke Huguo deeply. Today you clashed with him, tearing down facades, it won’t be long before you lose standing in the court...."

Inside the tent, now only General Shi and his son remained; General Shi raised his hand to rub his temples.

Young Master Shi, growing more agitated, said, "We, the Shi Family, are loyal to the court, yet Duke Huguo aggressively aims to eliminate you, father. Though cousin is bold, perhaps this offers a way out."

Young Master Shi’s voice weakened as he spoke, and General Shi retorted angrily, "Your cousin is ignorant; are you equally lacking sense?"

"My entire Shi Family is honorable and loyal; how can we commit such treachery?!"

Young Master Shi looked at General Shi, "Father, it’s not the Shi Family abandoning the sovereign; it’s the sovereign abandoning the Shi Family."

"What’s the worth of being honorable and loyal if the Donglin Prince Mansion wasn’t the same?"

"And the outcome?"

General Shi fell silent.

The Donglin Prince Mansion was eradicated due to its military power, and for years he remained cautious to avoid repeating its fate.

"Father...."

General Shi interrupted Young Master Shi’s call, "Do not mention this matter again!"