Chapter 111: Heaven connecting tower

At the time of the hearing, there were over a hundred officers in the Ze Tian Palace main halls.  The sovereign Qin Jin was sitting atop the imperial throne with a very distinct face.  His hand was on his sword and he had an ugly look on his face.

Lin Mu Yu had both hands bound and was escorted into the Ze Tian Palace's main hall personally by Feng Ji Xing.  His temple dress was covered in blood stains, some were from him and some were from Xiang Yu.  Behind him, Qin Lei and Xiang Yu walked in together, causing the ministers to be shocked.

"Well let's hear it."

The sovereign Qin Lei had a cold look as he stared at Lin Mu Yu and said, "I gave you permission to join the Imperial Guards and you cause this kind of trouble on the first day?  You've destroyed the orphanage and released two hundred camp women.  Do you know what kind of large crime this is?  Lin Mu Yu, do you know your wrongs?"

"I know my wrongs."  Lin Mu Yu readily confessed.

"What did you do wrong?"  The sovereign asked.

Lin Mu Yu lightly said, "I've broken the military law."

"Since you understand the military law, why did you still release those two hundred camp women?"  Qin Jin asked.

Lin Mu Yu raised his head, with crystal clear eyes he said, "Your highness, the camp women are also people, they are also daughters of normal families.  They don't deserve that kind of treatment.  I know I've broken the military law, but I don't feel like I was wrong, rather I feel like the military law is what is wrong.  Can raising these camp women truly increase the battle strength of the empire's military?"

"What did you say?"

Qin Jin's slanted eyebrows rose and he began to show a trace of anger.

Out of all the ministers, the one standing in front was Zeng Yi Fan.  He said, "Your highness, Lin Mu Yu has no regard for military law, he deserves to be immediately executed.  The camp women is a tradition that War G.o.d Wen Tian personally created, it has existed in the army for all these years.  This little brat is not only daring to question the insight of War G.o.d Wen Tian, but he also dares to contradict your highness.  This is simply treason!"

Qin Jin lightly said, "Minister Zeng's words are correct.  Lin Mu Yu, do you have anything else to say?"

Lin Mu Yu's heart sank, he wondered, was this emperor really going to kill him?

"I have nothing to say."

He spoke lightly, he couldn't contradict him again.  A smart person should act in an intelligent manner, he couldn't be killed here for contradicting the sovereign.  It was better to endure for now and wait for his strength to increase before solving this injustice.

"Command Minister, how should we punish Lin Mu Yu for his crimes?"  The sovereign asked.

The Command Minister slowly walked out with a sinister smile on his face as he said, "Your highness, the crime for this punishment should be immediate execution by beheading in front of the Ze Tian Palace, which also serves as an example for the public."

"Oh?"  Qin Jin pondered, but didn't say anything.

Feng Ji Xing quickly cupped his hands and said, "Your higness, Lin Mu Yu just didn't understand the military law and it is his first crime.  His loyalty to the Qin Clan still has not changed.  This subordinate does not think he deserves the capital punishment."

Qin Lei also cupped his hands and said, "Your highness, this subordinate also thinks that Lin Mu Yu's crime doesn't deserve execution, I also ask your highness to reconsider.  The empire is in need of men and Lin Mu Yu is skilled in intellect and war, we can't kill him!"

Zeng Yi Fan coldly laughed, "Does my Great Qin Empire really need this wild little brat that can't even tell between right or wrong?  Your highness, this official feels that we should immediately execute Lin Mu Yu, otherwise everyone will begin daring to break military law.  Then the empire's army might collapse upon itself."

Command Minister Luo Xing cupped his hands and said, "This lowly minister thinks it's necessary to kill him!"

Luo Xing's son Luo Bin was a deacon for the Spirit Medicine Department and had been injured by Lin Mu Yu.  The stone he had thrown out a long time ago had finally landed on his head.

Qin Jin had an uncertain look on his eyes because he did not want to kill a talented person like Lin Mu Yu.  But with Zeng Yi Fan and Luo Xing exerting pressure, he would cause a stir with the ministers if he didn't kill him.  He wasn't sure what to do now.

At this time, a loud sound was broadcasted from outside, "The temple's great deacon Lei Hong has come!"

Before the voice finished, Lei Hong had already rushed into the hall.  He raised his robe sleeves as he cupped his hands and said, "Old minister Lei Hong is here to see your highness!"

"Old Lei, please rise!"

Qin Jin stood up and was respectful as he spoke.  It seemed like he had a very high opinion of Lei Hong.  He said, "Has Old Lei also come to the Ze Tian Palace because of Lin Mu Yu?"

Lei Hong nodded his head and said, "Yes, this old man is here to ask for mercy for Lin Mu Yu."

Qin Jin said, "The entire cabinet of ministers wishes to kill Lin Mu Yu and Old Lei wants me to spare Lin Mu Yu, what should I do?"

Lei Hong's eyes s.h.i.+ned as he said, "Your highness, Lin Mu Yu's crime is only releasing two hundred camp women.  This is only saving two hundred women, is that considered a crime?  Your highness, throughout the thousand year history of the Qin Empire, how many women have died in the orphanage?  They were born just like us, they are all people like us.  This old man wants to ask what is right about Tian Street and the camp women?  Your highness is known as a kind person, your fame spreads across the four seas.  Has your highness never questioned whether it is reasonable for camp women to exist?"

"Old Lei, you……"

Qin Jin was startled, the power in Lei Hong's words were not something Lin Mu Yu could compare to.  If Lei Hong also questioned the camp women, then Qin Jin had no choice but to think it over.

Lei Hong lightly said, "Your highness, let this old man be frank.  The camp women is mostly made up of young girls, there are even some at the same age as her royal highness.  If her royal highness was turned into a camp woman, what would your highness as a father think about that.  Would you not rescue the camp women like Lin Mu Yu did?  In this old minister's opinion, Lin Mu Yu just did what other people haven't dared to do.  It is not a matter of challenging imperial authority or military law.

Qin Jin hesitated as he quietly sat down.

Zeng Yi Fan gave a cold laugh and said, "Great deacon sure has a large tone.  The camp women are a tradition created by the Qin Empire's founding sovereign Qin Yi's commander War G.o.d Wen Tian.  Our officers go to the north and south, they depend on keeping their vitality up.  After being outside for years, they've never come in contact with women.  As soldiers that give up their lives for the empire, shouldn't we do our best to reward them with what they require?  Since they need to fill their desires, if we don't give them camp women, would we have to allow our soldiers to a.s.sault respectable women?"

Lei Hong lightly said, "The camp women are existences distort human nature.  There is not a single woman that is willing to become a camp woman.  The empire army's camp women are all women that were taken in forcefully.  Since the emperor is known for being merciful, why would he not show grace to these women?"

Command Minister Luo Xing coldly smiled and said, "Great deacon makes it sound easy, but if we remove the camp women, then perhaps it would cause turmoil with the soldiers.  If the soldiers begin mutinies one after the other, would great deacon be take responsibility for this?"

Lei Hong snorted and fiercely said, "Would there really be a mutiny without camp women?  If that is so, then the collapse of the Qin Empire is already close to happening!"

"Lei Hong, you should pay attention to what you say!"  The Command Minister fiercely said, "Don't think that you can act like this because you are a veteran of three generations.  With the sovereign here, the sovereign has the final say, not you!"

Lei Hong gave a faint smile, "Command Minister, your tone is quite big….."

At this time, the Qin Jin's voice rang out, "Now everyone please stop arguing."

Everyone stared at the sovereign.  The Command Minster Luo Xing respectfully said, "Has your highness made a decision?"

Qin Jin nodded his head and said, "Since this is Lin Mu Yu's first offence and since he has saved Xiao Yin's life in the Dragon Seeking Forest, so he has been exempted from death.  While the death penalty can be exempted, he still needs to serve a life sentence.  Minister Zeng, what do you think we should discipline Lin Mu Yu with?"

Zeng Yi Fan hesitated for a bit and then said, "How about…..we send him to the Heaven Connecting Tower?"  

"Heaven Connecting Tower?"

Lei Hong's body trembled as his eyes turned fierce, he angrily said, "Zeng Yi Fan, why don't you enter the Heaven Connecting Tower?  His highness has already exempted Lin Mu Yu of the death penalty and you still want to send him to the Heaven Connecting Tower.  Isn't that the same as sending him to die!"

Zeng Yi Fan said, "Then consider it his good luck.  Moreover no one has been sent to the Heaven Connecting Tower in seven years, who knows what happened there.  As long as Lin Mu Yu stays in the Heaven Connecting Tower for a month, then his crime will be pardoned.  What does your highness think of this?"

Qin Jin nodded his head and said, "Alright, we'll do what Minister Zeng says and send Lin Mu Yu to the Heaven Connecting Tower.  If he can stay there for a month, we'll reinstate him and he can hold the position of an Imperial Guard again."

Feng Ji Xing quickly cupped his hands and said, "Your highness, please reconsider.  The Heaven Connecting Tower has demons running around, mortals can't survive in the Heaven Connecting Tower for a month.  Your majesty……could you let Ah Yu off?!"

Qin Jin lightly said, "I have already decided, Commander Feng, no need for to say anything else.  Come, send Lin Mu Yu to the Heaven Connecting Tower.  Deliver food and water to the tower every three days.  Moreover, the imperial guards army, the Imperial Guards, and the military police will all send a unit of one hundred people to guard the tower.  Lin Mu Yu, if you have good luck, then you'll be able to come back."

Lin Mu Yu raised his head and looked at this old, aging ruler as he said, "Your highness, although I don't know what kind of place this Heaven Connecting Tower is like, but if I come back alive, would you be willing to consider getting rid of the camp women?"

Qin Jin was a little startled as he said in a small voice, "Wait until you can come back alive to talk about this!  Come, send him to the Heaven Connecting Tower."

Several Ze Tian Palace guards came forward and held Lin Mu Yu's arms as they led him out.  Feng Ji Xing, Qin Lei, and Lei Hong followed them out.  Feng Ji Xing had a pale face as he said, "This is really bad……This is really bad……"

"Big Brother Feng, what kind of place is the Heaven Connecting Tower?"  Lin Mu Yu asked.

Feng Ji Xing clenched his teeth and said, "The Heaven Connecting Tower is a tower where the peak cannot be seen.  It is located in a ruin to the north of the Imperial City.  Legends say that there are ghosts that exist there and that living people that enter have no way of returning.  Many soldiers that have committed a crime have been sent to the Heaven Connecting Tower for punishment, but no one has ever come back alive.  It is said that people have entered to see the countless bones of others."

Lin Mu Yu pondered for a few seconds and then said, "Perhaps I'll be lucky?"

Lei Hong said, "Silly little brat, no matter how good your luck is, you still can't walk out alive from the Heaven Connecting Tower.  There were two Saint Realm experts that went into the Heaven Connecting Tower and in the end their corpses were found.  You think your luck can be that good?"

Qin Lei gave the prairie sword to Lin Mu Yu and said, "Brother, you have to live through this!"

Lin Mu Yu looked at Feng Ji Xing and Qin Lei, he couldn't help feeling a little touched as he said, "If I can't make it out of this alive, I hope we can be brothers in the next life."

Feng Ji Xing's eyes turned red as he turned around, "No, you will be able to live through this."