Chapter 185: Departure and Arrival
The Northern Army generals were notoriously unruly. Among them, rank, status, and camaraderie were more important than military law. Chai Zhi, as the Provost Marshal, was well-liked and used his power to win the favor and allegiance of many officers.
While these connections were insufficient to rally support for seizing the seal of command, they were enough to evoke sympathy and indignation.
Now, he lay fallen before the central command tent, his blood stark against the drifting snowflakes. Nearby stood Prince Donghai, holding the Grand Marshal’s seal, confused yet still bearing traces of excitement and joy from seizing the seal.
“Provost Marshal Chai is dead!” someone shouted, and the call echoed. The chaotic battle in front of the command tent halted as people slowly gathered around the corpse.
Prince Donghai suddenly realized he had brought trouble upon himself. He quickly lowered his arm and stepped back, “I didn’t kill him; I don’t even have a knife.”
Then he remembered that the killer must be in the tent, right behind him, and stepped back again, “Who is the murderer? Step forward now…”
“Prince Donghai killed Provost Marshal Chai!” an officer shouted. Everything he saw confirmed this fact, and he neither listened to nor believed Prince Donghai’s denial.
“It’s Prince Donghai!” More voices joined in, the crowd slowly advancing. After all, he was a prince of the Han imperial clan, and the mob hadn’t decided what to do, merely influencing each other as they moved forward.
“I killed him; it has nothing to do with Prince Donghai!” A man emerged from the tent holding a blood-stained dagger.