Chapter 42: The Second Fury That Defies the Crown

Wei Wuji was nearly choked by the news the soldier brought.
“What did you say?” Wei Wuji could scarcely believe it.
The soldier swallowed nervously and declared loudly, “My lord, that Chen Qian deceived us! There’s beef and mutton in the supply depot!”
Wei Wuji felt as though he’d been struck by a heavy club.
“How do you know that?” he asked in a low voice. Although he believed Chen Qian wouldn’t lie to him, he trusted his own men even more.
The soldier hurried to explain, “My lord, the next garrison got their supplies just this morning—everything, not at all as Chen Qian claimed.”
Now, Wei Wuji was convinced. He could see for himself whether the garrison next door received supplies, but Chen Qian had indeed withheld them from him yesterday.
At this, another question nagged at Wei Wuji: why would Chen Qian lie to him?
Could it be that I have a past grudge with him? Wei Wuji wondered.
He quickly dismissed the thought. He hadn’t been in the army long enough to make enemies, and even if he had, how would it have anything to do with the supply depot?
Little did Wei Wuji know, Chen Qian had originally intended to use military law to pressure him, but Wei Wuji drew his sword at once, leaving Chen Qian no choice but to lie.
As for why Chen Qian gave him such a hard time, the blame lay with Wei Wuji himself. It was his own ill fortune for surviving Dashiyi.
Now, having been deceived, Wei Wuji’s anger flared. Being made a fool of, especially in front of his own men, was intolerable.
“And right in front of all my brothers!”
“I’ll beat that bastard to death,” Wei Wuji growled through gritted teeth. He had never been one to suffer losses, not as an orphan in his past life, and not now.
If he didn’t avenge this humiliation, he felt he’d have no face left in camp.
“You—go and gather a company for me. We’ll demand justice!” Wei Wuji ordered the soldier before him.
Still uneasy, he added, “And don’t let Adjutant Wang, the captains, or the quartermasters know!”
“Huh?” The soldier looked troubled; this wouldn’t be easy.
Wei Wuji had to explain further, “We’re going to press charges. If they find out, they’ll only try to stop us.”
Reminded of the severity of Wei army discipline, the soldier nodded repeatedly. “My lord, we really can’t act recklessly.”
Wei Wuji shot him a glare of exasperation. “You’re too thick-headed! Who am I? A prince of Wei! What have I to fear from them?”
With this explanation, the soldier reluctantly went to relay the order.
Wei Wuji shook his head. An eventful day was dawning.
Not long after, a sergeant arrived with over a hundred men, hurrying toward Wei Wuji.
As the sergeant approached, he saluted with a fist to his chest, “My lord, Chen Xiao’er came with orders—are we to carry out your command?”
Chen Xiao’er was, of course, the soldier from earlier, now standing behind the sergeant.
Wei Wuji nodded. Looking closer, he realized these were the same men who’d accompanied him to the supply depot yesterday.

Privately commending Chen Xiao’er’s resourcefulness, Wei Wuji told the sergeant, “Exactly. I have business to attend to!”
When he spoke of “business,” his teeth ground audibly.
Without further words, Wei Wuji led the men quietly out of camp.
Thanks to his previous visit, he found his way to the supply depot with ease.
Soon, the depot’s main gate came into view—closed, just as before.
This time, Wei Wuji had lost all patience and ordered his men to smash it open.
The sergeant stared at him in shock as Wei Wuji’s group surged inside.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
No sooner had they entered than the clerks and soldiers of the supply depot began shouting at the intruders.
Who dared cause trouble at the supply depot?
“Stop! Are you rebelling?”
When their shouts failed to halt Wei Wuji, an officer pointed at his nose and cursed, “Insolent madman! If you keep this up—”
Wei Wuji didn’t wait for him to finish. With a flick of his whip, he lashed out.
There was a scream; the officer clutched his face and dropped to his knees.
Wei Wuji hadn’t expected his aim to be so precise, but since he’d struck him, so be it! He had come today to make a scene.
If I can’t vent my anger today, I’m no true son of Wei! Wei Wuji fumed inwardly.
He had suffered too much injustice and frustration lately; it was time to let it all out.
As for the consequences, he no longer cared—he was, after all, intermittently deranged.
“My lord, isn’t this a bit much?” the sergeant ventured, shaken to the core.
He’d thought Wei Wuji was a mild-mannered gentleman, but now saw the prince could be as ruthless as any.
Wei Wuji ignored his worries. Blood was pounding in his veins; he would consider nothing else.
The depot’s soldiers and clerks, faced with such ferocity, hesitated, caught between retreat and resistance.
When Wei Wuji was about to break through their line, the defenders realized there was no way back. If they withdrew, they’d face a court-martial.
Left with no choice, the pressured soldiers drew their swords to confront him.
Wei Wuji alone would have been no match for so many, but that was why he’d brought reinforcements: for a brawl.
As expected, the depot soldiers didn’t get far before Wei Wuji’s men intercepted them.
With superior numbers, they quickly subdued the outer guards.

After tying up the captives, Wei Wuji pressed deeper inside with his followers.
“Chen Qian, get out here!”
He bellowed as they advanced, cursing Chen Qian at the top of his lungs.
Everyone they encountered along the way was swiftly bound by Wei Wuji’s men.
Finally, as he was about to reach Chen Qian, the man himself appeared, flanked by his subordinates.
“So it’s the prince himself! Forgive me for not greeting you sooner,” Chen Qian said, wearing his most radiant smile.
But Wei Wuji had no patience for pleasantries; he hurled a curse at Chen Qian without preamble.
Chen Qian took it in stride, still smiling obsequiously. “My lord, what brings you here, storming my office in such a fury?”
He was playing the fool to perfection.
Wei Wuji barely restrained himself from slapping him, and barked, “Chen, drop the act! Tell me, why did you deceive me?”
Chen Qian knew perfectly well why Wei Wuji was enraged. He hadn’t expected one garrison to miss their supplies yesterday and show up today.
He’d sensed trouble at once, but faced with the proper paperwork, he couldn’t refuse. Now his little trick had been exposed.
With no way out, Chen Qian dropped all pretense and pleaded submissively, “Heh... My lord, let’s talk this over. Please have your men stand down first.”
He was desperate to calm things down; with fewer witnesses, Wei Wuji would make less of a scene.
But Wei Wuji would not be fooled. He seized Chen Qian by the collar, growling, “I asked why you lied to me!”
Seeing there was no easy resolution, Chen Qian stopped trying to placate him. Though still in Wei Wuji’s grip, he regained his composure.
“My lord, I don’t know what you think I lied about,” he said, his tone stiff.
Wei Wuji shoved him aside and pointed accusingly. “Didn’t you say there was no fresh meat? Why then did others receive it today from the supply depot?”
Chen Qian remained calm. “If you have the central command’s authorization, my lord, you too can take whatever you need.”
Wei Wuji was livid! If Chen Qian had simply refused him yesterday, he wouldn’t have been so furious, but instead, this bastard had both denied him and lied.
Wei Wuji roared, “Our soldiers fought and bled—do you not care for their sacrifice? Do you mean to let their blood be shed in vain?”
Hearing their commander’s rage, Wei Wuji’s troops also wore faces of indignation. Chen Qian was as hateful as Wang Xian.
But Chen Qian merely smiled, utterly unconcerned. “As I said, my lord, if you want anything from the supply depot, bring the proper authorization.”
“You court death!”
Wei Wuji bellowed and lashed out with all his might!