Frontier Hero: From Receiving a Convicted Woman to Becoming an Emperor for All Time

Day three.

When Shen Chuxiao entered the council hall, he was only holding the autopsy report that Zhao Wu had retrieved from the old doctor in Liuhe Town.

Tie Niu and Sun Er Gou wanted to come along, but he stopped them outside.

"You guys wait outside, don't cause trouble."

Tie Niu panicked: "Captain, what if that guy surnamed Han is unreasonable—"

"Whether he's reasonable or not, I'm going." Shen Chuxiao straightened his collar. "Don't worry, I won't die."

The hall was already full of people.

Lu Chenzhou sat in the main seat, his expression indifferent.

The generals on both sides stood ramrod straight, not daring to utter a sound.

Han Shi'an sat in the guest seat, wearing a dark purple official robe today, with a gleaming jade belt at his waist. Behind him, eight black-armored guards stood in a row, their hands on their sword hilts, exuding a murderous aura.

Shen Chuxiao stepped across the threshold and bowed with clasped hands.

"This humble general, Shen Chuxiao, greets Lord Han."

Han Shi'an didn't tell him to get up. He slowly took a sip of his tea, put it down, and then raised his eyelids.

"Three days have passed. I've given you ample time." He leaned back in his chair, his gaze looking down at him. "Speak. Can your evidence prove that those five border soldiers and Commandant Liu were colluding with the barbarians?"

Shen Chuxiao straightened up: "No."

A commotion broke out inside the hall.

Han Shi'an's lips curled into a smile: "Then what else do you have to say?"

"This humble general cannot prove that they colluded with the barbarians." Shen Chuxiao raised his head, his voice not loud, but as steady as a nail driven into the ground, "but this humble general can prove—they deserve to die."

He took the autopsy report out of his pocket and presented it with both hands.

"This is the autopsy report of Commander Liu after the Battle of the Grain Depot. It was written by the old doctor at the Liuhe Town Clinic, and it bears his signature."

Han Shi'an didn't take it, but gestured to the guard beside him to take it. The guard took it and handed it to Han Shi'an.

Han Shi'an opened the report, glanced at it, and said without changing his expression, "What can an autopsy report prove?"

"This can prove what the junior officer said three days ago."

He paused, then raised his voice: "Lord Han, Article Seven of the Great Jing Military Law states—'To retreat in the face of battle, or to be afraid of the enemy, is to be executed.' Commander Liu isn't even wearing armor; doesn't that count as being afraid of the enemy?"

Han Shi'an tapped his fingers on the report.

"Even if he's afraid of the enemy, it's not your place as a vice-captain to kill him."

"This humble general was the highest-ranking commander of the granary at the time." Shen Chuxiao looked at Lu Chenzhou. "Lieutenant Lin was seriously injured, and there were no officers of higher rank in the granary, so this humble general assumed command. General Lu can testify to this."

Lu Chenzhou nodded: "That's right. The highest commander of the granary at that time was indeed Shen Chuxiao."

Han Shi'an's gaze swept back and forth between the two men.

He gave a cold laugh.

Well, Lu Chenzhou, I've got it.

"Alright. Even if Commandant Liu deserves to die, what about those five border soldiers? They didn't back down in battle."

"Lord Han says the testimony from Qing Shi Village is invalid, and I will not argue with that," Shen Chuxiao said neither humbly nor arrogantly. "But I would like to ask—Lord Han, when you came to Ling Shuang Pass to investigate the case, did you visit Qing Shi Village? Did you personally question those villagers?"

Han Shi'an frowned: "I am very busy with official duties—"

"That means you've never been there."

Shen Chuxiao interrupted him directly, showing no mercy whatsoever, "Lord Han hasn't even been to the scene, nor has he met with any of the witnesses, yet he concludes the testimony is false. This humble general dares to ask—Does Your Excellency investigate cases based on guesswork?"

Someone in the hall gasped.

This is a direct challenge to Han Shi'an's fair handling of the case.

Han Shi'an's face instantly darkened.

"How I investigate cases is none of your business."

"This humble general dares not instruct Lord Han to investigate the case," Shen Chuxiao said. "This humble general simply feels that since Lord Han intends to convict me, he should at least provide solid evidence. If he is unwilling to even make a trip to Qing Shi Village, then this humble general can only conclude that Lord Han is not here to investigate the case."

He didn't explicitly say he was there to cause trouble, but everyone could understand the meaning behind his words.

Lu Chenzhou's lips curled up almost imperceptibly, and his eyes showed even more appreciation.

Han Shi'an slammed his hand on the table: "Insolence!"

The black-armored guards behind him drew their swords half an inch in unison, their blades gleaming coldly.

The atmosphere inside the hall instantly became tense.

Lu Chenzhou slowly spoke: "Han Shi'an, this is the council hall of Ling Shuang Pass, not your Shuofang Jiedushi's residence. You'd better think carefully before drawing your sword."

Han Shi'an stared at her for a couple of moments, then raised his hand to signal his personal guards to sheathe their swords.

"Fine, I won't argue with you about these things." He took a deep breath. "Shen Chuxiao, you say Commandant Liu is cowardly, I accept that. I'll leave aside the matter of the five border soldiers for now. But do you admit to burning three thousand shi of military rations?"

"This humble general admits it." Shen Chuxiao did not deny it.

"Good, then." Han Shi'an sneered. "Burning military rations—what's the punishment under military law?"

"According to military law, anyone who burns military rations will be punished with caning at the very least, and beheaded at worst," Shen Chuxiao said calmly.

"Then what else do you have to say?"

"This humble general would like to ask Lord Han a question."

Han Shi'an was getting annoyed by his questions, feeling like he was being led by the nose.

He suppressed his anger: "Ask."

"At that time, three hundred barbarians had already stormed the granary, the defending troops were routed, and only twelve men from the scout battalion were left capable of fighting. Without fire, the granary would surely fall. Once the granary fell, the three thousand defenders would be cut off from supplies, and Ling Shuang Pass would collapse without a fight." Shen Chuxiao looked directly at Han Shi'an, "May I ask, Lord Han—if you were in his shoes, would you burn it or not?"

Han Shi'an remained silent.

"I burned 30% of it, but saved 70%."

Shen Chuxiao's voice was firm and resolute: "The granary was saved, Ling Shuang Pass was saved, the barbarians retreated. The three thousand garrison soldiers did not starve to death, and the border was not lost. If Lord Han feels that I should be executed, then I have nothing to say. But I urge Lord Han to think carefully—if you execute me, who will dare to make decisive decisions when facing the enemy again on the border?"

Everyone looked at each other.

Han Shi'an stared at Shen Chuxiao, his eyes filled with a desire that he wanted to gouge two holes in his face.

Shen Chuxiao didn't dodge; he just stood there, his back ramrod straight.

Finally, Han Shi'an spoke.

"Shen Chuxiao, you're very good with words."

"I am simply telling the truth."

"The truth?" Han Shi'an sneered, then suddenly changed the subject, "I ask you—what was the meaning of you sending Sun Ergou to investigate my personal guards?"

Shen Chuxiao's heart skipped a beat—Han Shi'an knew.

It seems that Sun Ergou left clues during his investigation.

"This humble general did not investigate Lord Han's personal guards," Shen Chuxiao said calmly. "This humble general simply found it strange—why did Lord Han bring Zhou Henian's former subordinates when he came to investigate Zhou Henian's case? This humble general was curious, so I had someone inquire about it. What, Lord Han won't even allow me to inquire?"

Han Shi'an's expression darkened further.

"I don't need to tell you who I bring with me."

"Of course." Shen Chuxiao nodded, then changed the subject, a slight smile playing on his lips, "But this humble general is a little curious—Lord Han has brought a group of his former subordinates who have been colluding with the barbarians all the way to Ling Shuang Pass, is it because he intends to…?"

He paused deliberately, his gaze slowly sweeping over the eight black-armored guards behind Han Shi'an.

"A prison break?"