"Supervisor Fang, still up so late — are you waiting to welcome the Nanyue army into the pass?"

Tong Yuanzhou's eyes were all but shooting fire.

There was nothing in the world he hated more than a dog of this kind, that ate at its own table and worked for outsiders.

Fang Zhengqing's heart gave a lurch and his face went a dreadful white, but he still braced himself, put on a front and shouted back, his voice trying to be fierce with nothing at all behind it:

"General Tong, what do you mean by that?"

Tong Yuanzhou did not trouble to waste words with him. He brought out the slip of paper directly and said sharply, "You dog that eats at its own table and works for outsiders — your secret letters to Nanyue have already been taken by this general. What have you to say?"

Fang Zhengqing's head gave a buzz, his body swayed, and his face went the color of dead ash.

Tong Yuanzhou said in a rage, "Thanks to my lord marquis's clear eye. Otherwise I would truly never have imagined that you, you dog, would eat at your own table and work for outsiders and league with the enemy."

"Somebody take him for me, and search his tent from end to end."

Fang Zhengqing shouted out in alarm, "You dare? I am an officer appointed by the court. Let us see who dares lay a hand on me!"

Tong Yuanzhou laughed coldly. "My lord marquis left a secret order when he went. Any who resist are to be cut down where they stand!"

"Fang Zhengqing, my advice to you is to put up your hands and be taken. Your people have all been taken already. Resisting is the one road to death."

Fang Zhengqing's legs went from under him and he collapsed straight to the ground.

"General Tong, we have served together. Let me off this once... A hundred thousand taels. Only let me go and I will give you a hundred thousand taels."

Tong Yuanzhou gave a cold snort. "Lord Fang does things on…