I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 203: Surrender into a move
The Zhao family of Guyuan falsely accused the Zhong family of selling plum blossom wine that was poisonous, causing the sudden death of the Zhao family's son. The magistrate of Jingyuan County, without offering any explanation, imprisoned the Zhong family and subjected them to severe torture in an attempt to extract a confession from them.

The Zhong family had been tortured for a long time, and some members had died in prison from the torture. In order to save the lives of the remaining members of the family, the patriarch Zhong Kang had no choice but to confess to the crime.

The letter stated: "This humble subject is powerless, but begs Your Highness to save the lives of the entire Zhong family. The Zhong family will serve you like cattle and horses to repay your great kindness."

Seeing Tang Zhao's increasingly cold expression, Doctor Zhong and Doctor Pei exchanged a glance and cautiously asked, "Princess, what does this letter say?"

"Someone's asking for death," Tang Zhao sneered, crumpled the letter into a ball, threw it on the ground, and left aggressively after saying "Take good care of Young Master Zhong."

Shen Jiawen stepped forward, picked up the crumpled paper, unfolded it, and after reading it, quickly led his men back to the government office.

Inside the Protector General's mansion, Tang Zhao gave the order, "Gather three hundred cavalrymen and march to Jingyuan County, Ningzhou in half an hour."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Wu Yi'er immediately went to make the arrangements.

In the main courtyard, Gu Ci, who had heard that Tang Zhao was going to send troops to Ningzhou, entered the inner room and saw that Tang Zhao had already changed into riding clothes, with a sword at his waist and a golden whip wrapped around his arm. It was clear that he was going to do something big.

Completely unaware of the situation, Gu Ci volunteered, "I'll go with you."

Tang Zhao chuckled, "You know what I'm going to do, so you have to go."

Gu Ci said with a serious expression, "No matter what you do, I will be by your side to protect you."

Tang Zhao asked, "Even if it means murder and arson?"

Gu Ci said firmly, "Even if it means murder and arson."

"My lord, your love is too blind," Tang Zhao said indifferently. "Fine, if you want to come, then come."

"But let me make this clear: if you dare to disagree with me, I'll take care of you too."

"Alright," Gu Ci said without making any preparations. He picked up his spear and followed Tang Zhao out the door, mounted his horse, and hurried eastward.

Upon receiving the news, Lu Ying rushed to the East Gate, only to find billowing dust and smoke. He was so anxious that he slapped his thigh repeatedly.

The guard kindly reassured her, "Sir, there's no need to worry about the princess's safety. I personally saw the General of the Cavalry protecting the princess."

"Are you sure you saw it clearly? It really is the General of the Flying Cavalry?"

The guard affirmed, "I saw it clearly! Even if the General of the Flying Cavalry were reduced to ashes, I would recognize him at a glance."

Although the analogy wasn't quite right, Lu Ying didn't care. Instantly, her headache and blurred vision disappeared, and she calmly boarded the carriage and went to the Northwest military camp herself.

Upon receiving the message, King Xuan waved his hand to indicate that he understood, and then silently inspected the border in place of his son.

Tang Zhao traveled at a fast pace and arrived in Jingyuan County on the morning of the fifth day, heading straight for the county government office.

The yamen runners standing guard in front of the county government office saw the large cavalry force galloping in and rushed into the office with trembling legs to report.

"My lord, my lord, something terrible has happened! Cavalry are charging towards the county government office!"

Lin Ping, the magistrate of Jingyuan County, who was enjoying the cool air and drinking wine in the backyard, was so startled that his hand trembled and his wine cup fell to the ground. "Cavalry? What cavalry? Have the Turks attacked?"

"I don't know the humble position."

"Useless! All of you are useless!" Lin Ping stood up, leaning on the table. "Quick! Help me out of the mansion to hide!"

The advisor who was attending him spoke up to reassure him, "My lord, please do not panic. The northwest is guarded by Prince Xuan. The Turks will not be able to attack so easily. In my opinion, these cavalrymen are very likely soldiers under Prince Xuan."

Lin Ping paused, "Why?"

"My lord, think about it. All the city gates of Ningzhou are guarded. If it weren't for the Xuan King's token, how could we have heard a single word about such a big event as cavalry entering the city?"

“What the advisor says makes a lot of sense,” Lin Ping’an said, straightening his official robes and regaining his usual demeanor. “Let’s go, come with me to meet this uninvited guest.”

Inside the main hall, the personal guards of the Protector General's Mansion had already taken over the government office. Tang Zhao stood under the plaque of "Upright and Honest" and looked around at the understated yet luxurious main hall of the county government office.

“Look, this county government office is even more impressive than the Wuwei prefectural government office,” Tang Zhao said, picking up a gavel made of top-quality pear wood. “Lord Lu’s gavel got soaked and rotted during the rain a while ago, and he still hasn’t been willing to replace it.” Gu Ci pursed his lips and said, “Father needs to make time to clean up Ningzhou.”

Tang Zhao casually tossed the gavel back onto the table.

The loud noise startled the county magistrate who rushed over.

"Who are you two? How dare you trespass into the county government hall?" Lin Ping said, displaying the authority of a local official. "If you are deliberately trying to cause trouble, be careful, I will punish you severely."

"Ha," Tang Zhao laughed, "Lord Lin, you have quite the airs of an official. Do I, the princess, and the General of the Cavalry, need to announce our arrival to you at the county office?"

Wu Yi stepped forward and shouted, "Princess Zhaoshan and General of the Cavalry have arrived! Why don't you pay your respects!"

Lin Ping was startled, lifted his official robe and knelt down, "This humble official was blind to your greatness, please forgive me, General and Princess."

"Alright, I know Lord Lin is a busy man," Tang Zhao said, sitting in the chair that Wu Yi'er had brought over. "Get up."

Lin Ping secretly glanced at Gu Ci and saw that Gu Ci walked straight behind Tang Zhao as if he were an ordinary guard. He then realized who the real master was.

"Thank you, Princess!"

Lin Ping stood up, slouching and smiling, "May I ask what brings Your Highness here?"

Tang Zhao raised his eyes. "Lord Lin, are you asking a question you already know the answer to?"

Lin Ping smiled apologetically, "Please speak frankly, Your Highness."

"Lord Lin, this is not very interesting," Tang Zhao sneered. "I've heard that Lord Lin doesn't hold court for a year, but when he does, he eats his fill. What good deeds has Lord Lin done this year that I need to spell it out for him?"

Lin Ping's smile froze on his face. "What Your Highness says is true..."

"Were the people from the Zhong family's winery arrested by Lord Lin himself?"

Lin Ping swallowed hard. "Yes, yes, it was me. But I was just following the law. Someone accused the Zhong family's winery of poisoning people."

"The Zhao family needs evidence to arrest someone for accusing them of poisoning!" Tang Zhao questioned. "Does Lord Lin have witnesses, physical evidence, or other evidence to prove that the Zhong family winery poisoned the Zhao family?"

Lin Ping was startled. "Your Highness is wise. Poison was indeed detected in that wine jar."

Was the test conducted immediately after the wine jar was opened?

"This, I do not know."

"Did anyone witness the Zhong family poisoning the food?"

"No, not at all."

"What did the coroner's report say?"

"The victim has been buried, but the coroner has not yet performed an autopsy."

"Ha!" Tang Zhao leaned forward slightly. "Then tell me, Lord Lin, how did you determine that the Zhao family must have died at the hands of the Zhong family?"

"Don't tell me that the Zhao family members who were poisoned appeared to you in a dream."

Lin Ping was sweating profusely from the questioning and looked intently at the advisor.

The clerk stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, please allow me to report that the head of the Zhong family has already signed and affixed his fingerprint to the confession."

Yes, yes! The Zhong family has already confessed!

Lin Ping felt like a drowning man grasping at a straw.

"If Lord Lin hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. What is the punishment for a confession obtained under torture?"