Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 139 The Night of the Demise at Jingling City, Yishan Yingzhongkun Ascends to the Seven Views

General Qian and Vanguard Ban are dead!

The two heads, their mouths agape in shock and rage, seemed to be issuing orders as usual, commanding them to rush in and capture the murderer.

But unexpected troubles can arise out of nowhere; who could have predicted this?

Several quick-thinking guards, upon hearing the sounds coming from inside the teahouse, immediately tried to flee towards the Duba Manor.

However, several figures leaped out from both sides of the teahouse, blocking their retreat. Some people hurriedly stopped and dared not escape any further, but a few reckless youths drew their swords and charged into the fray.

Suddenly, more than a dozen weapons were thrust out from all directions, and those who tried to break through the formation were immediately killed and fell to the ground.

The elite troops from the ranch, carrying blood-dripping weapons, pressed forward, causing the guards to retreat in fear to the entrance of the teahouse.

A refined-looking young man appeared and gave them a cold shout:
"Don't just stand there, come in and clean up."

"Yes Yes!"

The guards of the manor who were closest to Xu Shiji were completely flustered and rushed into the teahouse. The others followed suit and rushed to collect the bodies of Qian Ban and his companion.

They washed away the bloodstains and noticed that there were only a handful of people in the teahouse.

One man in blue was sitting and drinking tea, while most of the others were standing, indicating that he was in charge.

He had just instructed them to clean up the man, and then he kept glancing towards the door.

First, their commander was killed, then they were forced into this dangerous situation, and after cleaning up the traces and removing the bloodstains, everyone lost their will to fight.

After busying himself for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Xu Shiji observed their reactions and asked:
Do you know where Xiao Xian's men are?

“I know.”

Those who could be secretly brought out by Qian Yun were naturally people he trusted and knew about his shady dealings.

Before one person could answer, the person next to them, hoping to save their life, blurted out the answer:
“A few days ago, Feng Ge arrested the thieves who were spreading rumors and surrounded a brothel belonging to the Baling Gang. The leader that Xiao Xian sent to the city was very cautious. He noticed something was wrong and moved to a secluded residence about ten miles away from here.”

"Can you find it?"

"Yes." The seven or eight people nodded in unison.

Xu Shiji didn't ask any more questions, while Qian Yun's men continued cleaning nervously.

A short while later, a "yu" sound came from the door.

A general clad in armor threw down his reins and strode into the teahouse. Qian Yun's men, upon seeing his face, immediately sensed something was wrong.

The visitor was Feng Ge's nephew, Feng Han.

He was also one of the most core deputy generals in Feng Jun's camp, and the west gate facing the Nanjun Ranch was guarded by him.

General Qian tried to seize it several times, but all his attempts failed.

With his own abilities and Feng Ge's connections, Feng Han was quite famous in Jingling City.

He was basically on General Qian's kill list.

To their surprise, Feng Han was incredibly humble as soon as he entered the teahouse, kneeling on one knee with the highest military salute: "Young master, Feng Han is late."

Feng Han, however, paid no attention to the gazes of Qian Yun's men.

Even after being reminded by Fu Hong and his uncle, he knew what kind of person was in front of him.

"It's not too late. Even if you have military intelligence, I won't keep you for tea. Just take Qian Yun back to General Feng."

"Yes!"

Military affairs could not be delayed, so Feng Han agreed and withdrew.

Carrying the heads of Qian Yun and Ban Shanhe, he spurred his horse and galloped away.
……

The setting sun, like blood, shone on the forest of spears and halberds outside the Duba Manor, adding to the grim atmosphere.

Gong Jifan, the left vanguard of the mountain villa, was riding his horse at the front of the formation, coldly staring at the large group of people not far away.

The Duba Manor has a larger manpower, with 20,000 people gathered there immediately.

The number of people Feng Ge brought barely exceeded ten thousand.

However, judging from the morale of the troops, Feng Ge's side actually had the upper hand.

The people of Jingling City were used to a peaceful life, and because Feng Ge upheld the alliance with the Pegasus Ranch, he gained even more support from the city's residents.

On the contrary, Qian Yun's various actions have drawn criticism.

"Feng Ge, are you trying to start a war?!"

Gong Jifan loudly questioned, "You keep saying you want to avenge the manor lord, but this is the manor lord's territory. You led your men to raid the manor. Did you intend to destroy the manor lord's foundation?"

Feng Ge snorted and shouted:
"Bow Vanguard, you are also a veteran of the Manor Lord's personal guard. That Qian Yun seized the Manor Lord's property and humiliated his widow. Did he have the slightest respect for the Manor Lord? You were in the personal guard, and the Manor Lord was kind to you. Is this how you repay him?!"

Gong Jifan was struck on a sore spot and was speechless for a moment, unable to refute.

Feng Ge mustered all his strength and shouted towards the enemy formation:
"Brothers, many of our relatives and friends are in Jingling. Qian Yun is colluding with Xiao Xian for his own selfish reasons, trying to break the alliance of Jingling Nanjun. If chaos breaks out, the whole prefecture will be slaughtered. This is against the will of the manor lord. Brothers, please do not be deceived."

Please follow me, Feng, to slay the traitors who have wreaked havoc in the prefecture, to eliminate this ungrateful wretch, and to seek justice for the master!

Gong Jifan felt a chill run down his spine when he heard the unusual movements of the army behind him.

He was promoted to the position of Left Vanguard later, and his prestige in the army was far less than that of Qian Yun himself.

Knowing that General Qian was not at the manor, they were both anxious and afraid.

His eyes widened like copper bells, and he roared at Feng Ge:

"Feng Ge, stop talking nonsense! It was clearly you who led the attack on the manor, yet you still utter these high-sounding words."

"Loose the arrows!"

He roared, and before the archers could hesitate, General Feng cut Gong Jifan off:
"Where's Qian Yun?!"

Upon hearing the name Qian Yun, the archers immediately released their bowstrings and looked around.

"Where is Qian Yun? Is he lying? Let him confront Feng!"

At this critical moment, Gong Jifan was worried about the stability of the army formation, so how could he say that Qian Yun was not present?
"General Qian is at his manor; he has no desire to see you, you old scoundrel!"

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves rang out in the distance.

A sound came from afar. At first, only smoke and dust could be seen, and the sound was not clear. As the horse approached, the sound penetrated straight into the ear.

"Qian Yun is here! Qian Yun is here!"

Gong Jifan was greatly alarmed.

Feng Han carried a head in each hand, running and shouting:

"Qian Yun colluded with Prince Liang, Xiao Xian, and violated the alliance. According to the rules set by Master Fang, he has been beheaded!"

"Accomplice Ban Shanhe shall be beheaded along with him!"

After he finished speaking, he threw Ban Shanhe's head into the right flank of the army of Duba Mountain Villa.

The man surnamed Ban was originally the Right Vanguard.

His soldiers were very familiar with him, and as soon as they saw his head, one of them shouted, "It's Ban Xianfeng!"

The archers simultaneously lowered their arrows, and a cacophony of noise erupted as the army's formation fell into disarray.

Everyone hurriedly looked into Feng Han's hand, and there was another head, which belonged to Qian Yun.

With the commander-in-chief dead, where is the morale?

Gong Jifan's face turned ashen, and he cried out in panic, "You first harmed the manor lord, and now you've harmed General Qian! Brothers, come to my aid at once!"

He couldn't continue, when a hail of arrows shot swiftly from beside Feng Ge!
These hundred arrows were all fired by elite soldiers who knew martial arts.

Gong Jifan drew his halberd in a circle, blocking about ten arrows, but was then pierced by seven or eight arrows and fell off his horse.

Feng Ge rode forward, picked up Gong Jifan's corpse, and then beheaded him.

Feng Han threw out Qian Yun's head, and Feng Ge threw out Gong Jifan's head.

The commander of the mountain villa and his left and right vanguards stood in neat formation.

Upon seeing this, the soldiers in Qian Yun's army dropped their weapons. Feng Ge's prestige was already higher than Qian Yun's, so naturally no one wanted to fight anymore in this situation.

However, trouble broke out inside the Duba Manor.

Some of those who remained at the villa and were closely associated with Qian Yun packed up their valuables and fled in haste.

Feng Ge sent men to pursue and kill them, but left behind several capable men to reorganize Qian Yun's army.

Without stopping, he led his men into the city.

Night had fallen.

In the west of the city, near the center of Jingling County, several men in black led seven or eight women of the night through the alley and into a white house with high firewalls on the outside.

These women all came from the Chunman Pavilion brothel in the city.

After entering the house and passing through several guards in black, we were ushered into a banquet behind a magnificent wooden door.

Lewd laughter gradually rose.

The hall was brightly lit, and all the furnishings were exquisite; even the wine glasses for the five people on the table were made of silver.

At the head of the table sat a noble young man, about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with a handsome appearance, but his face was pale and unhealthy. He kept urging the others to drink, acting very boldly, but the cunning and lewdness in his eyes was deeply hidden.

It was Xiang Yushan, the young master of the Xiang family who had spread brothels and human trafficking throughout the Sui Dynasty.

Although his identity is despicable, he is powerful, influential, and extremely cunning.

They also had a bandit nickname, "Mountain of Righteousness".

The other four people sitting down to drink didn't dare to underestimate him at all.

Opposite Xiangyu Mountain, a fat man with big ears was drinking while lewdly laughing. His muscles were as stiff as stone, and he had a voluptuous woman in each arm.

Xiang Yushan asked with a smile, "Brother Bao, are you satisfied now?"

Bao Rang had just complained about having no one to drink with, but little did he know that Xiang Yushan had already made arrangements. He then smiled and said:

"Brother, you are so meticulous; no wonder the King of Liang values ​​you so highly."

"However, these women are rather ordinary in appearance. I've heard that Brother Xiang has many connections and can get any kind of woman he wants. Why don't you let me broaden my horizons?"

This man, nicknamed "Hercules," had cultivated his external qi to an extremely high level, possessing a layer of external qi shield around his body.

He made a great name for himself in Jiangnan by virtue of this achievement.

Seeing his value, Xiang Yushan laughed and said, "How could Yushan ignore my brother's orders?"

"When we have another banquet later, I'll definitely find a few plump beauties from the Central Plains for Brother Bao to try out."

Bao Rang was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Brother Xiang is indeed a man of honor! That Feng Ge is plotting against you. Once I find an opportunity, I will kill that old bastard."

Upon hearing this, the sallow-faced man next to him, with a fierce look on his face and carrying a serrated knife, nodded in agreement.

Su Chuo and Bao Rang were similar; both had offended many people in the martial arts world, which is why they sought refuge with Xiao Xian.

There was a bandit's nickname among the outlaws.

Su Chuo said cautiously, "Niu Lang and Jie Fengge are both dead. We can't follow in their footsteps."

To Bao Rang's left, a tall and burly man chuckled.

His name was Qu Wuju, a vicious dog under the command of the Liang King. He was originally a bandit who ravaged eastern Guangdong. He angered the experts of the Song Clan and was the only one who escaped alone after being chased for thousands of miles.

"The entire Song Clan is chasing me. Even Tian Dao can't catch up with me from behind. How could anyone in Jingling possibly threaten me?"

"These two guys not only failed, but they also died in Fenchuan. It's utterly shameful."

Qu Wuju revealed an expression of disdain for associating with him.

Xiang Yushan and the others took it for granted.

This vicious dog is quite capable, and its tone is even more arrogant.

The Song Clan's experts slaughtered thousands of his bandits, and he narrowly escaped with his life, which became a source of pride for him.

Xiang Yushan paid little attention to the three thugs drinking and laughing, and looked at the middle-aged man with a high nose and handsome appearance beside him.

"General Xu, you've been making trouble lately at the manor, what are your plans?"

General Xu said, "They are waiting for definite news from the Pegasus Ranch. As long as Brother Xiang's news is faster than theirs, we will have the initiative."

"If Li Mi really succeeds, we'll have to find a different approach."

“Jingling County and Nan County, where the Flying Horse Ranch is located, are two pieces of fat meat, and the King of Liang must have a piece of it.”

After hearing this, Xiang Yushan was about to speak again.

Suddenly, a subordinate rushed into the hall: "Young master, Military Advisor Xu from the Duke of Pushan has arrived."

Upon hearing this, all five people at the table stopped eating.

They had met this Xu before; he was a difficult character.

How did he find this place?

"Hehehe, something must have happened at the ranch, otherwise why would they come looking for us?"

Xiang Yushan waved his hand: "Please let him in."

"Yes."

The people in the hall were all from the Liang King's faction, so naturally not all of them would go up to greet him, otherwise wouldn't that make the Liang King lose face?

Shortly after, three footsteps were heard outside.

The person at the very front was the one who had just come to deliver the message.

The person following behind was Xu Shiji, whom they had met before.

There's one more person behind that.

Bao Rang, Su Chuo, and Qu Wuji were wondering who that person was.

Suddenly I realized,

General Xu and Xiang Yushan stood up at the same time.

General Xu pushed the woman he was holding aside, and the atmosphere in the entire hall seemed to become strange.

Bao Rang and the other two were all experts; how could they not have noticed?
The young man in blue robes walked slowly with a calm expression, glancing around but not looking directly at them.

Xiang Yushan's heart suddenly raced, and a feeling of suffocation kept coming over him.

He stared at Xu Shiji, his disbelief impossible to conceal.

"Military Advisor Xu, what is the purpose of Duke Pushan's actions?"

Xiang Yushan emphasized the three characters "Pushan Gong" very much.

Xu Shiji did not respond to this question, but only said coldly:

"The Celestial Master has arrived. You should end your own lives and at least have some dignity."

Xu Shiji felt a little uncomfortable when he said those words.

After all, he had never uttered such arrogant words in front of a group of experts during his years in Wagangzhai.

Bao Rang was the most notorious villain here, and he couldn't help but wonder if he had misheard.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Yushan felt a chill run down his spine.

He put on a friendly smile and hurriedly said, "Master, is there some misunderstanding between us?"

"No misunderstanding."

Zhou Yi stared at this 'righteous mountain' man: "The Baling Gang and your Xiang family owe too much debt. I'm here to collect the debt. What misunderstanding is there?"

Xiang Yushan quickly replied, "My Xiang family's business spans the world, and we have countless riches. I am willing to repay my debts. If the Celestial Master is willing, my Xiang family is willing to submit to the Celestial Master's command."

Xu Shiji couldn't help but glance at Zhou Yi.

This is a huge temptation for those with ambitions to dominate.

If it were Master Mi, he would have already smiled and invited Brother Xiang to sit down.

"Some debts can be repaid with money, while others require risking one's life. What use is all the gold and silver you accumulate through despicable means?"

Looking at this indifferent young man, Xiang Yushan felt that all the cunning tricks in his mind were useless.

"Kill him! Men, kill him!"

He retreated three steps, shouting as he went, which caused footsteps to echo all around.

The Baling gang members are gathering!

Several women from the brothel ran in fright, and a loud shout rang out amidst the chaos:
"court death--!"

Bao Rang had never suffered such humiliation before. Enraged, he overturned the dining table and smashed it at Zhou Yi.

He leaped into the air and hid behind the table, his entire body now enveloped in a protective aura. Qu Wuju and Su Chuo followed suit, for the newcomer's martial arts were extremely high, and they could not miss the opportunity to attack.

Zhou Yi threw a punch, and the tabletop shattered into fragments like a spiderweb around the center of his punch. The wood chips and the force of the punch rushed towards the Hercules Bao Rang.

That protective aura shield was incredibly strong, actually blocking the wood chips.

Bao Rang's momentum grew stronger, but Zhou Yi's punches remained undiminished. The two exchanged blows, creating a powerful gust of wind and a deafening roar!
In an instant, Bao Rang's renowned external qi shield shattered like glass. His right fist, which he had thrown out, was frozen solid, his entire arm was covered in ice, and his clothes were penetrated by the force and melted away along with the broken qi shield.

The blood he spat out was carried by the strong wind and splattered back onto his face.

"Boom~!"

Bao Rang smashed two tall chairs, causing Xiang Yushan, who was about to escape, to pause in his tracks.

The attack happened in the blink of an eye. Su Chuo and Qu Wuju were shocked, but they were too late to stop. They had to take advantage of the opening to force their powerful enemy back and then find a way to escape.

Qu Wuju wielded a pair of "Mysterious Thunder Strike" iron hammers, smashing down with unparalleled power and might.

Su Chuo's serrated blade was also aimed straight for the heart meridian. Just as the two were about to kill each other, they suddenly felt a strange tightening of space, and their strength was immediately hindered. At this moment, Zhou Yi placed his left and right hands on the surface of Qu Wuju's Xuan Lei Bang Hammer and pushed it to the sides.

Qu Wuju was hit by an immense force, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't resist it!

The two large hammers swung uncontrollably to both sides.

The hammer in his right hand spun, smashing a large crater into Su Chuo's chest, while the hammer in his left hand lost its power and flew far away.

He spread his arms wide, leaving the door wide open.

Zhou Yi kicked him in the chin with a swift movement, and Qu Wuju could not even scream. He was sent flying through the air and crashed into the roof, his head stuck in the roof tiles. His body swayed uncontrollably, like a hanged ghost on the roof.

The three masters died too quickly, in the blink of an eye, and then Xu Shiji blocked their way.

General Xu and Xiang Yushan had no chance of escaping.

The group of Baling gang members dressed in black outside, upon hearing Xiang Yushan's shout, had charged forward menacingly with their knives drawn.

Those who gathered at the doorway witnessed the miserable state of Bao Rang, Qu Wuji, and Su Chuo.

Everyone knew the three men's names, and they were all so frightened that they retreated repeatedly.

The timid ones screamed and ran away in a panic.

But once outside, another battle ensued.

After eliminating the three scourges, Zhou Yi picked up the large iron hammer that Qu Wuju had dropped, holding it in his hand as lightly as if it were a feather.

Xiang Yushan's face turned pale, and he knelt down with a thud.

"Master, spare my life! My Xiang family will serve you like slaves for generations!"

He crawled two steps on his knees, kowtowing repeatedly as he pleaded, as if trying to evoke sympathy for the weak in people's hearts. If he could arouse even a shred of pity in his enemy, he would have a better chance of surviving.

"You beast who only knows how to bully the weak and sell women, what face do you have to beg for mercy?"

Xiang Yushan kept his head down, as if he didn't see the hammer in Zhou Yi's hand that could kill him at any moment.

Zhou Yi didn't waste any time and brought his hammer down on him.

The hammer blows were fierce, but he deliberately controlled the speed.

Upon hearing the sound of the wind, Xiang Yushan immediately kicked his legs back to dodge, his eyes filled with ruthlessness, and threw out a barrage of dark-glowing hidden weapons with both hands!
When Zhou Yi slammed down with his hammer, the force of the blow alone deflected the hidden weapon.

He suddenly accelerated, making it impossible for Xiang Yushan to dodge completely.

The sledgehammer came crashing down, striking him squarely in the groin.

"Uhh—!!"

The ensuing hysterical screams made Xu Shiji's scalp tingle.

This blow didn't just cripple his martial arts; it reduced the young master of the Xiang family brothel to dust.

"it is good!"

General Xu exclaimed in delight: "This woman surnamed Xiang has ruined countless innocent women. The Celestial Master's move is truly satisfying and gratifying!"

Zhou Yi glanced at him, then swung the hammer again.

The hammer struck Xiang Yushan, who had fainted from the pain, in the chest, leaving a large crater and finally settling accounts with this most disgusting person.

“Cut off his head and have someone send it to the Xiang family.”

Zhou Yichong said to Xu Shiji indifferently:
“Other people’s daughters get lost and can never be found again, but I’m sending his head back to the Xiang family so they can have some comfort.”

"Yes."

Xu Shiji responded, then looked at the young master of the Xiang family on the ground, and then at Zhou Yi.

He discovered more differences between him and Master Mi.

It could even be described as worlds apart.

Deep down, I suddenly felt a strong sense of instinctive identification.

At this moment, General Xu said again:
"The Xiang family will surely be grateful; the Celestial Master is kind and benevolent, a rare sight in the world."

Zhou Yi looked at him with some doubt: "You have more courage than them."

"You flatter me, Celestial Master. I am also very afraid of dying, but fear is useless in front of someone like you. I might as well be honest."

"Xiao Xian can't protect you."

Upon hearing this, General Xu cupped his hands and said, "Although I am Xiao Xian's subordinate, I have another identity."

"Oh?"

General Xu said frankly, "I come from the northern desert. I not only serve the Great Khan Jieli, but I also have a great connection with the Great Ming Zunjiao. The Celestial Master may find it useful to keep me here."

Zhou Yi's gaze swept over him.

That guy is right, he is indeed somewhat useful.

but
Zhou Yi suddenly remembered something: "What's your name?"

"My name is Xu Xuanche, formerly a military commander in Yuezhou, currently leading 5,000 troops under Xiao Xian, and a Celestial Master."

As Xu Xuanche finished speaking, he felt a violent tremor throughout his body. Before he could react in time, a heavy kick sent him flying, crashing into the wooden wall of the hall!
"you you."

He uttered "you" a few times, dying with his eyes wide open.

Xu Shiji, who was fiddling with Xiang Yushan's corpse, showed a look of surprise.

Why did the Celestial Master kill him?

He stood up and asked, puzzled, "This man controls Xiao Xian's army and can also learn about news from the grasslands. Wouldn't that be very useful?"

"You're right, he was useful, but he deserves to die even more."

Zhou Yi gazed at Qu Wuju, who was swaying on the roof, and a look of reminiscence appeared on his face:

“In my early years, when I was still on Mount Yongqiu, a man named Kuang Hui came up the mountain and killed the people in my temple. He was a subordinate of the King of Liang and a disciple of Xu Xuanche. This man owed me a huge debt, so I had to kill him.”

Xu Shiji's pupils dilated, and he inwardly cried out that he would hold a grudge.

I felt a little fortunate, it seems that I made a great deal by being able to pay off my debts.

I've already encountered two people tonight who have debts they can't repay.

He also reminded himself to earn more merit so that he and Luo Yan could find a way to survive.

'Oh, my beloved wild goose, do you know that I, Xu, have been working tirelessly for you from a thousand miles away?'

For a moment, I felt a deep sense of sympathy.

He looked towards Xingyang, then suddenly asked, "Why did the King of Liang come to Mount Fuzi at that time?"

"Xiao Xian had his eye on Taiping Daocheng, but Kuang Hui's methods at the time didn't seem like he was coming up the mountain to discuss business; rather, it seemed like he was seeking revenge. I was puzzled at the time, but now I finally understand."

Zhou Yi's eyes were clear:

“Kuang Hui is a disciple of Xu Xuanche, and Xu Xuanche is related to the Great Ming Zunjiao. If the Taiping Dao enters Xiao Xian’s territory, once it develops, it will inevitably become an enemy of the Great Ming Zunjiao’s backup plan. Rather than having a struggle for lineage in the future, it is better to destroy it as soon as possible.”

Xu Shiji suddenly realized what was happening and was filled with emotion.

If we're talking about debts owed to the Celestial Master, Xiao Xian is still ahead of him.

King Liang, you really know how to pick the right person; your judgment is no less than that of Lord Mi.

After quickly dealing with the head of Xiang Yushan, Xu Shiji apologized and went out to kill the Baling gang bandits.

Zhou Yi didn't need to worry about anything that night.

Xu Shiji led his men straight to Xu Xuanche's garrison, and together with Feng Ge's men, wiped out the group, eliminating the last threat to Jingling County.

The county town, which had been in chaos for so long, finally came to peace.

The next day, afternoon.

Zhou Yi was once again invited into Feng Jun's camp.

General Feng stepped out of his command tent and was greeted by his deputy Pu Qin, staff officer Fu Hong, Feng Han, and others.

Feng Ge made no attempt to hide it; this scene was witnessed by a large number of soldiers around them.

Furthermore, he also changed his title.

"Grand Governor!"

"General Feng."

Feng Ge clasped his hands in a fist salute, about to pay his respects, when Zhou Yi grabbed him and pulled him toward the commander's tent with a smile.

All the important members of the military followed.

"Fortunately, with the help of the Grand Commander, we were able to defeat Qian Yun and repel Xiao Xian, allowing the chaos in Jingling County to end and regain the peace of the past."

Feng Ge added, "I have already ordered people to spread the word in the city so that the people of Jingling may know about the Grand Commander's benevolence."

"It was mainly the soldiers who were fighting; I didn't do much."

“Hey, Grand Commander, don’t be modest. I already know about your great deeds in the two prefectures.”

"good."

At this moment, Liang Zhi, the chief deacon standing beside Zhou Yi, stepped forward and said loudly:
"My ranch was also in great crisis this time. It was the Grand Commander who helped us wipe out the four major bandits, eighty-one chief bandits, and tens of thousands of bandits who were causing trouble everywhere!"

Even the powerful sand bandits who invaded the Central Plains from the northern deserts were completely wiped out.

Some people around were hearing the news for the first time and were both shocked and overjoyed.

As Liang Zhi spoke, he would glance at Feng Ge from time to time.

How could Feng Ge not understand that meaning?
If Chen Ruiyang's attitude was unclear last time, Liang Zhi could express much more.

He was the ranch's head steward, reporting directly to the ranch owner.

To Zhou Yi's surprise, Liang Zhi pulled out another letter from his pocket.

"General Feng, this letter is written by my farm owner. It concerns the stability of the two prefectures. Please take a look."

Feng Ge picked up the letter that Zhou Yi was also curious about; he didn't know that Liang Zhi was also carrying the book of the venue owner.

General Feng opened it and took a look.

The letter wasn't long; I finished reading it in a few seconds.

His gaze didn't change much, clearly indicating that he had already seen through it.

Feng Ge is a straightforward person. After experiencing all these things, he has figured out where Jingling is headed.

Thinking of the late Fang Zetao, he said:

"Grand Commander, do you know what Master Fang left behind when he passed away?"

Zhou Yi shook his head: "Although I sent people to communicate with Master Fang, I have no chance to meet him."

Feng Ge said, "The lord of the manor gathered soldiers and generals, but did not commit any offenses to the surrounding area. He simply kept the bandits out and maintained peace in the region. He hoped that Jingling could remain peaceful forever."

“That’s right,” Fu Hong, the advisor of Master Fang, stroked his beard. “So the Master also left a message that whoever has the ability to quell the Jingling Rebellion will take over this prefecture and become the new sole ruler of the prefecture.”

Feng Ge glanced at Fu Hong, then nodded.

Then, he took the small gray package from the table, knelt on one knee, and presented it with both hands:
"The seal of Jingling is contained within. From this day forward, the Grand Commander is the master of Jingling!"

Fu Hong, Feng Han, and others followed suit.

The other generals, of course, understood and immediately followed suit, bowing in obeisance.

"Please, Grand Commander, take the seal!"

Everyone shouted in unison!

Zhou Yi didn't need to refuse. Xu Shiji considerately stepped forward, handed the package containing the seal to Zhou Yi, and then withdrew to pay homage together.

Zhou Yi, holding the seal, helped several generals to their feet.

In Jingling City, the transfer of power had already been completed.
The news from inside the tent quickly spread throughout the military camp, and discussions arose everywhere.

Ever since Feng Ge shouted "Grand Commander," the discussions have never stopped.

At this moment, the identity of this Grand Commander was confirmed; he was indeed the one who had dominated the Jianghuai region!
At present, the soldiers in the army are more excited than anything else.

Everyone was filled with unease after Master Fang's death, but now they can finally rest easy.

When it comes to the most powerful rulers of our time, who can surpass this Grand Commander?
With the details of the suppression of the rebellion in Jingling and Nanjun spreading, Feng Ge's decision undoubtedly gained the approval of the vast majority of people.

Zhou Yi stayed in Jingling City for another three days.

During this period, he made several appearances in the military camp and the city.

Led by Feng Ge, they went to the Duba Manor. The concubine of the manor lord was initially worried when she saw another 'manor lord', but when she saw Zhou Yi, she was secretly delighted.

However, Zhou Yi lacked the spirit of Cao Cao.

He only instructed General Feng to properly settle Fang Zetao's widow and descendants, and then offered incense to Old Fang.

I thank him for building this business.
"Military Advisor Fu, have we met before?"

"No."

Qu Wuju hung his head from the roof for the fifth day.

Zhou Yi rode his horse toward the west of the city.

Fu Hong stood to the side with a smile: "I had only heard of the Celestial Master's name before and had done some research on him."

Zhou Yi glanced at the old man.

He added, “I have another friend, Xu Xingzhi. I received a letter from Xu Xingzhi before the Celestial Master came to Jingling.”

"However, at that time, Master Fang was still alive, so I did not respond."

At this point, Zhou Yi already understood.

"I may be away from Jingling for a long time, so I will have to trouble you two to take care of things here."

Feng Ge and Fu Hong clasped their hands in a fist salute: "We accept your orders!"

Zhou Yi smiled and said goodbye to them, then spurred his horse toward the Pegasus Ranch.

At the city gate, Feng Ge watched the figure disappear before turning to Fu Hong and saying:

"Brother Fu, how many things are you still hiding from me? And why is Xu Xingzhi suddenly appearing?"

A smile forced a smile onto Fu Hong's gaunt old face:
"That's not a lie; I haven't done anything ungrateful or disloyal."

"Besides, look at the new lord I chose for Jingling, isn't there anything wrong with him?"

Feng Ge shook his head: "I can't find any fault with it."

He posted a notice, seemingly bringing the policies of the "pure stream" to Jingling, urging us to think more about the people. Even Master Fang is not as kind and benevolent as him.

Fu Hong's smile widened: "Now that you have a benevolent ruler, what else do you, old Feng, have to complain to me about?"

"Alright, alright," Feng Ge waved his hands repeatedly, "Just don't hide it from me anymore in the future."

"Alright, then I'll tell you another piece of news."

"Oh?"

Fu Hong said in a low voice, "This person really likes the chicken soup you make. Old Feng, you should pass on this skill. Feng Han is a good kid. You can make him your successor and teach him the essentials of making chicken soup."

Feng Ge was startled and stroked his chin, saying, "Is that so?!"

……

The Annals of Taiping:
In the late summer of the twelfth year of the Daye era, Zhou Tianshi quelled the bandits in Jingling.

I had the pleasure of meeting General Feng Ge and tasting his cooked pheasant. I was amazed by its freshness and flavor, which penetrated to the bone. I will never forget it.

Later, Feng Ge taught his cooking skills to his nephew Han, but unfortunately Han was not very bright and did not master the technique.

However, Han's son, Kun, inherited the wisdom of his great-uncle and surpassed him.

The soup boiled and its aroma filled the alleys, making the diners feel refreshed and happy, as if they could hear the lingering charm of Ying, and wanted to sing a Chu song in response.

Kun then inherited his exceptional skills, greatly enhancing his family's reputation, and his fame spread throughout the land. The Celestial Master praised him, calling him "Kun Tang of Ying," one of the seven most renowned cooks.

……

"The Celestial Master has captured Jingling. What are your plans for me now?"

"East of Pegasus Ranch," Xu Shiji asked.

Zhou Yi glanced at him: "You don't need to go back to the ranch. I'll give you two choices."

"Please speak, Celestial Master."

"First, if you still care about Wagang Village, please return to Li Mi's side."

"Second, if you are sincere in serving me, go to Jianghuai and seek out Xu Xingzhi."

Xu Shiji was filled with fear and doubt: "Why has the Celestial Master given me another chance to choose?"

Zhou Yidao:
"Thanks to your help, the matter in Jingling City went very smoothly this time. You initially followed Zhai Rang and had no connection with my Taiping Dao. This time, your disturbance at the ranch helped quell the unrest in Jingling, which relieved the ranch of some trouble. Originally, your merits and demerits couldn't be offset, but..."

"Maogong, it's because you're a talented person."

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "I always cherish talent, so I'll consider your debt forgiven."

"You are a free person now, make a new choice."

Xu Shiji sighed, a bitter smile appearing on his stiff face:
"Celestial Master, I'm heading towards the Jianghuai region!"

……

(End of this chapter)