121: Chapter 121 The Quartermaster's Difficulties

Su Bai couldn't be bothered to waste another word on him. He walked straight up to Fatty Wang and slammed the warrant, bearing his official seal, heavily onto the desk.

Pointing at the warrant, he questioned Fatty Wang in a deep voice:

"My men came to collect this month's provisions yesterday. Why didn't you approve it?"

Fatty Wang felt somewhat suffocated by Su Bai's Aura.

Subconsciously stepping back half a pace, he picked up the warrant, gave it a superficial glance, then set it down again with a troubled expression.

"General Su, there's something you don't understand. This subordinate official is also acting according to the rules. After all, your Local Braves are not part of the regular establishment of our Yunzhou Army. These provisions are considered an extra allocation."

"According to the newly issued military regulations, any extra allocation of supplies must have the signature and seal of Deputy General Chang, who is in charge of logistics."

"On this warrant, there is only your signature and not Deputy General Chang's. This makes it... very difficult for this subordinate official."

As he spoke, he secretly observed Su Bai's expression, feeling smug in his heart.

Kid, you want to fight me?

I can play you to death using just the rules!

To be honest, Fatty Wang truly didn't believe—

"Rules?"

Su Bai let out a cold laugh that made Fatty Wang feel a chill down the back of his neck. "How is it that I didn't know when the Yunzhou Army added such a bullshit rule?"

"Lord Zhou personally gave the order for me to form the Local Braves, and all provisions and armaments were to be centrally allocated by the Quartermaster's Office. How is it that once it reaches you, a Chang Feng suddenly appears out of thin air?"

"Is Chang Feng's rank higher than Lord Zhou's?!"

"General Su, you mustn't say that! This subordinate official cannot bear such an accusation!"

Terrified by the heavy label Su Bai was pinning on him, Fatty Wang waved his hands in a panic.

"This subordinate official is loyal to the Military Governor and has no ulterior motives. It's just that rules are rules. Deputy General Chang is in charge of logistics, and his signature is an indispensable part of the process. Perhaps you could take the trouble to make a trip and go ask Deputy General Chang?"

"Ask him?"

Hearing this, Su Bai couldn't help but laugh out loud. He looked at Fatty Wang and countered, "Why should my men go ask a waste who sits in a wheelchair and can't even walk?"

"You!"

Fatty Wang was choked by Su Bai's words, his face turning beet red with anger, unable to speak.

"I will ask you one last time."

Su Bai took a sudden step forward, his tall frame completely looming over Fatty Wang.

Killing intent flared in his eyes. "This grain—are you giving it today, or not?"

Stared down by Su Bai's predatory gaze, Fatty Wang felt a chill shoot straight to the top of his head. His legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to his knees.

But when he thought of Chang Feng's prior promise, he gritted his teeth and held his ground.

"With... without Deputy General Chang's signature, this subordinate official... really doesn't dare to approve it. Un... unless you are willing to calculate it based on... on wastage, and... deduct thirty percent from it."

"Thirty percent?"

Su Bai repeated the words, the smile on his face growing even more brilliant.

"Very well. It seems you are determined to set yourself against me, Su Bai."

He suddenly turned around and shouted to the twenty Handao Camp veterans standing motionless like statues behind him, "Ma Lie!"

"This subordinate general is here!"

"Take this fool who doesn't know life from death down right where he stands!"

"Yes!"

Ma Lie had long been impatient. With a roar, he led two veterans and charged directly at Fatty Wang.

"You... what are you doing?!"

Fatty Wang's Soul was Flying Away and his Spirit was Scattering. He let out a pig-like squeal, shouting, "I am a commissioned official of the imperial court! You dare touch me?! This is rebellion! You are revolting!"

However, the Handao Camp didn't care what kind of official he was; they only listened to Su Bai's orders.

Two men stepped forward, one on each side, and pinned Fatty Wang firmly to the ground.

"Su Bai! You dare! Just you wait! General Chang will never let you off!" Fatty Wang was still howling at the top of his lungs.

Su Bai slowly crouched down and looked at Fatty Wang, speaking softly.

"Chang Feng? He can't even save his own legs right now; how can he look after a dog like you?"

Su Bai reached out and lightly patted Fatty Wang's fat face. "Today, I'll teach you a lesson for free. In this Yunzhou City, there are some people you can never afford to provoke in your life."

He slowly stood up and said to Ma Lie, "Since he likes deducting thirty percent so much, then today, let him taste what it feels like to be 'deducted' himself."

"Chop off three fingers from those fat hands he uses to embezzle military pay."

"What?!"

Hearing this, Fatty Wang's entire body instantly froze.

He looked at Su Bai in disbelief.

Chop off three fingers?

Is he joking?

How could he dare?!

How could he dare to lay such a ruthless hand on a court official in the vital grounds of the Quartermaster's Office?!

"General Su! General Su, have mercy! This lowly one had eyes but failed to recognize Mt. Tai! This lowly one deserves to die!"

Fatty Wang finally reacted, realizing that Su Bai was likely truly going to maim him.

Immediately, he forgot all about Chang Feng's instructions and his own dignity. Like a lapdog, he frantically kowtowed and begged for mercy.

"I was wrong! I was truly wrong! The grain, I'll approve the provisions for you immediately, not a single grain will be missing! I'll add another twenty percent—no! Thirty percent! I beg you, stay your hand, don't chop my fingers! I... I still need these hands to eat and write!"

He cried until snot and tears smeared his face; at this moment, he looked incredibly pathetic.

The other Clerks and laborers in the Quartermaster's Office were also scared out of their wits.

When had they ever seen such a bloody scene?

This newly appointed General Su was simply a Living Yama.

Su Bai turned a deaf ear to Fatty Wang's cries for mercy. He looked at Fatty Wang indifferently and said:

"Now you know you were wrong? It's too late."

He repeated to Ma Lie once more: "Do it."

"Yes, General!"

A sharp glint flashed in Ma Lie's eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, with a 'shua' sound, he drew the Centurion's Saber from his waist.

"No! No! Help!"

Seeing the long blade in Ma Lie's hand, Fatty Wang was utterly despondent. His stout body struggled desperately on the ground, trying to escape.

The other two Handao Camp veterans pinned him down firmly.

One of them even gave a cruel laugh, grabbed his right hand, and slammed it hard onto the nearby mahogany desk.

Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!

A flash of blade light passed by.

Three soft thuds.

Accompanied by a heart-wrenching howl from Fatty Wang, three bloody fingers were severed and fell onto the cold floor.

Blood instantly stained the entire desk red, then dripped down the corners of the table onto the floor.

"Ah—!"

Fatty Wang looked at his right hand, now missing three fingers, let out a wretched scream, and then his eyes rolled back as he fainted directly from the pain.

The entire Quartermaster's Office fell silent.