With the rise of my family, I can summon the Daoist Soldiers' Nest.

The next morning, as if they had agreed beforehand, no one mentioned the events at the lair the previous night. They continued their discussions and troop preparations as usual, as if nothing had happened.

Just by occasionally catching a glimpse of Lin Ping and Liu Yun's uncontrollable silly grins, or the meaningful glances Chen Cheng, Chen Hai, and others gave Lin Ye, others knew that something must have happened last night, but no one said a word about it.

Under Lin Ye's orders, the entire army quickened its pace.

The soldiers were already eager to go home and didn't realize that there was anything unusual behind the increased speed.

During their journey, Chen Cheng found a moment to quietly ask Lin Ye if they should report the matter of the contracted nest to the government through the communication soldiers. Liu Zhenghua also chimed in, suggesting that they first inform the Sword Sect.

Lin Ye smiled and shook his head, rejecting both of their suggestions.

After all, we'll be in Qingyang Prefecture in just three to five days. It wouldn't be good if too many people in the prefecture knew, as that could easily cause complications.

As for the Sword Sect, since the government hasn't notified them yet, it's even more inappropriate for the Sword Sect to notify them in advance, otherwise others will think they are vassals of the Sword Sect and resist them.

Ever since Chen Cheng spoke to him about the Qingyang Prefecture Lord's attitude toward the Sword Sect, Lin Ye had secretly instructed Sun Qian to inquire about it from various sources.

This investigation revealed that not only Qingyang Prefecture, but also the lords of several surrounding prefectures kept their distance from the Sword Sect.

Although the Qingyuan Sword Sect is powerful, with numerous martial artists and Dao soldiers and abundant resources, very few lords truly cooperate with it deeply.

On the return journey, the army passed through Cheng County, which was under the control of the Wang family, and Zhang County, which was under the control of the Wei family. The scene was very different from when they came, and it was clear that the suppression had been effective and the bandits had been almost wiped out.

These two families were already quite powerful, and the Wang family even possessed the second-rate Taoist soldier "Mountain-Splitting Demon Bull". Once they launched a large-scale attack, ordinary bandits would have no chance to resist.

In addition, their territory is vast, encompassing three counties, and they have numerous martial artists, making it easy for them to wipe out small groups of bandits.

Of course, some bandit leaders might escape, as they are mostly skilled martial artists and it is not difficult for them to desert in the face of battle.

After the main army withdrew, they spent some time rallying the destitute and outlaws who could not survive, and were able to gather another force.

After all, without a lair to suppress them, monsters roam freely, the people struggle to make a living, and there is no shortage of audacious and reckless individuals. This is the root cause of why bandits are so difficult to eradicate.

However, it will take time for the leaders to regroup, and this is precisely the time the court needs. With unobstructed supply lines and ample resources, it can focus all its efforts on dealing with the threat from the Northern Xiongnu.

After five days of rapid marching, the majestic outline of the prefectural city finally came into view in the distance.

The army set up camp outside the city at the place where they had previously camped.

Lin Ye led Lin Ping, Liu Yun, Sun Qian, Liu Zhenghua and others into the prefectural city.

Since arriving in this world, he had never visited a large city like the prefectural city, and he felt a sense of novelty in his heart.

Yang County, under the jurisdiction of Qingyang Prefecture, had not experienced a major war for over a hundred years, and its prosperity was like oil being poured on a raging fire.

The city gate alone was three zhang wide, allowing five carriages to pass side by side without obstruction. When the group arrived, the flow of people entering the city was bustling, with long queues forming, and the process of entering and exiting was orderly.

Upon entering the city gate, one is greeted by a smooth road, also three zhang wide, lined with shops on both sides, their signs fluttering in the breeze. The pedestrians are well-dressed, and their brows exude an air of affluence.

Sun Qian accompanied them throughout, occasionally whispering that Qingyang County had a population of nearly 800,000, with 400,000 residing in the prefectural city and its surrounding areas alone. The food, clothing, housing, and transportation of these 400,000 people together supported the prosperity of this place.

The city is filled with tall buildings, most of which are wooden structures, but four- or five-story buildings with upturned eaves are everywhere, giving them a grand appearance.

Martial artists were frequently seen on the streets, many of them carrying swords and knives, demonstrating the strong martial spirit in the area.

The group strolled around the city, taking in the bustling streets, the layout of the buildings, and the expressions of the pedestrians.

Lin Ye had gained a genuine understanding of the appearance and heritage of this prefecture.

On the third day, Lin Ye and Chen Cheng received a notice from the government office and went to the government office together.

Halfway there, they happened to meet the heads of the Su and Gao families who were also heading towards the government office, so the four of them traveled together.

When they met, they all had smiles on their faces and chatted in a relaxed and warm manner, as if they were old friends reuniting.

However, everyone tacitly agreed not to mention that when the bandit suppression areas were divided, the two sides stood by and did not offer any assistance, simply letting that awkward period pass by.

Upon arriving at the main hall of the government office, the four of them sat down as host and guest. Before long, Wei Hao of the Wei family and the head of the Wang family also arrived.

Wei Hao smiled broadly, his brows furrowed with pride, suggesting that the bandit suppression operation had progressed quite smoothly, giving him a great sense of pride.

Before long, Prefect Zhu, dressed in his official robes, walked steadily to the front of the hall and bowed to the six people.

"Greetings, esteemed lords. I have summoned you all here today to hear in detail about your bandit suppression efforts. Although I have already sent reports of your victories through the communications corps, they were brief and cannot be fully recounted."

This matter concerns the transportation of supplies for the army and subsequent deployments. The county requires everyone to provide a detailed account of the process for verification. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Prefect Zhu paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and continued, "Head of the Wang family, you shall begin. Your Wang family was the first to complete the purge and return to the prefectural city, so you shall speak first."

So, the head of the Wang family spoke first, detailing his family's experience in suppressing the bandits.

The Wang family was in charge of Cheng County, which was closest to Yang County. Relying on their own intelligence network, they dispatched two thousand cavalrymen, who split into two groups and marched swiftly. Before the bandits could notice, they cornered them in the village.

As soon as the battle began, a dozen or so second-rate Daoist soldiers, the "Mountain-Splitting Demon Bulls," charged forward with unstoppable momentum, scattering the bandit camp in one fell swoop. Apart from a few martial arts leaders who fought their way out, the rest were either killed or captured, a clean and efficient operation.

Next was Wei Hao of the Wei family. The Zhang County under his jurisdiction only had a single band of bandits, and instead of hiding, they chose to confront the Wei family head-on.

Wei Hao spoke with great pride, claiming that he had personally led the battle to a great victory over the bandits, and that he had personally killed two second-rate martial artists.

Then it was the Su family's and the Gao family's turn.

The battles between the two sides were unremarkable, both adopting a steady and methodical approach, similar to the strategies of Lin and Chen's armies. They relied on the county garrison and militia to carry out a sweeping operation, which, while unoriginal, effectively accomplished their mission.

The only thing worth mentioning is that the bandit leader the Gao family faced was unable to escape.

The Gao family's "Cracked Claw Wolf King" cavalry, consisting of more than thirty men, pursued relentlessly and eventually succeeded in killing the second-rate bandit leader, which was quite a significant achievement.

After the four families finished speaking, when it was the Lin and Chen families' turn, Chen Cheng's gaze shifted slightly as he looked at Lin Ye.

Since the two parties were originally acting in concert, Chen Cheng had anticipated this process on the way here. He had already discussed it with Lin Ye beforehand, and Lin Ye would give an overview of the bandit suppression operation.

Lin Ye calmly stood up and bowed to the people in the hall: "Prefect, lords, the Lin and Chen families are fighting together this time, so I will give a report on the situation of the bandit suppression."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall was stunned, their eyes unconsciously scanning back and forth between Lin Ye and Chen Cheng, each of them muttering to themselves.

Logically, it should be Chen Cheng who speaks, since the Lin family is a newly established lord and their strength and foundation are still shallow.

Previously, when the bandit suppression area was divided in the government office, Chen Cheng was the one who spoke as the leader. How come the Lin family took the main position after this bandit suppression?

Could it be that the Lin family performed exceptionally well during the bandit suppression?

Lin Ye ignored everyone's doubts and went straight to the point, recounting what had happened.

From the bandits' surprise attack on the county town and the destruction of their boats, to the Lin and Chen families sending warriors to raid Bawangtan, where they unexpectedly discovered the bandits of Xuehu Bay and subsequently annihilated them all.

They then set up an ambush at Blackwater Village, but were intercepted by Northern Xiongnu warriors, resulting in a fierce battle between the two sides.

The campaign to eliminate the river bandits was far more arduous and dangerous than the campaigns against the other bandits, but the rewards were also greater. Almost all the bandit leaders in Qinghe County were captured.

When the topic of the destroyed boats came up, everyone frowned and looked grave. But when they heard that the two families had decisively sent martial artists to raid Bawangtan, they all nodded in approval, praising the two men for their courage and meticulousness.

When the conversation turned to the direct confrontation with the Northern Xiongnu warriors, in which they gained a slight advantage, and even had two lords personally participate in the battle, a low murmur of praise rang out in the hall, commending the two men for their bravery and sense of responsibility.

However, after Lin Ye finished speaking, the doubts in everyone's hearts had not yet dissipated.

Thinking it over carefully from beginning to end, the planning and on-site command of the bandit suppression were clearly still led by Chen Cheng. How come it seems that Lin Ye has become the one in charge now?

At this moment, the clerks on the side had compiled the accounts of each bandit suppression into written form and presented them to everyone for review.

After everyone glanced through the document and confirmed that it was correct, they signed and affixed their fingerprints. This document would be submitted to the county as proof, and then the clerk bowed and withdrew.