"But I changed my mind."
He swept his gaze across the crowd." Just like you said, we can't defend it. We have to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys.”
"Hehe, Sir, pick two chickens.”
Tian Hu grinned.
"I've already chosen it."
Lin Xuan's finger landed on the map, 300 miles east of Changshui,"The He Lan tribe here has about twenty thousand people and four thousand cavalry. It is the largest tribe in the area.
Let's use him to shock the tiger."
"Who's coming?"
"It's me."
Meng Jiao was excited.”
"I don't care who you're angry with. I should be the one to make the first cut.”
Tian Hu refused to be outdone.
"You guys have more battle credits than me, so you should give it to me this time.”
Huyan Lie hurriedly said.
"Go play somewhere else."
Tian Hu did not refuse.
"I only need 4,000 people."
Huyan Lie looked at Lin Xuan.
"I only need 3,000 people."
Meng Jiao immediately said.
"I only need two thousand people."
Tian Hu pushed the two of them away.
"It's so boring to fight."
"This is our first battle in Yan County. We have to fight beautifully, so the three of you will go together.
Tian Hu will be the main general, and the two of you will be the deputy generals.”
"Ahem."
"Milord, isn't it too early to discuss who will lead the troops?”
"We haven't gotten the military power of Yan County yet," Wang Qing interrupted.”
"Military power?"
Lin Xuan rubbed his chin and chuckled,"I'll make Zhang Song take the initiative to hand over the military power."”
"Wang Qing, send someone to inform Zhang Song and Wen Cheng that I will be hosting a banquet at the prefect's manor tonight to invite them to drink.”
"Alright."
Wang Qing nodded. He roughly understood what his lord wanted to do.
"Oh right, you will be the Prefect's Deputy in the future.”
Lin Xuan added.
"Thank you, sir."
Wang Qing clasped his hands and smiled.
"Don't be anxious."
Lin Xuan looked at the few valiant generals under him,"I won't give you any less.”
"Thank you, sir."
Tian Hu and the others cupped their fists in unison, their eyes burning with passion.
night
In the prefect's manor, singing and dancing were in peace. Sima Zhangsong and the main registrar Wen Cheng were a little uneasy because Lin Xuan had not arrived yet.
Outside the courtyard, seven or eight graceful young ladies wearing long gauze dresses were dancing. Such a beautiful scene, but the two of them could not bring themselves to admire it.
It was as if the stool under his butt had steel needles.
"Sima Zhang, Official Wen, Daren still has some urgent matters to deal with. He asked me to inform the two of you.”
As Wang Qing spoke, he poured wine for the two of them.
"It's fine."
Zhang Song was flattered and quickly shook his head.
Wang Qing sat down beside Wen Cheng and sighed."I don't know why these people from the county government have so many things to say.”
Wen Cheng's heart skipped a beat." Are you meeting the officials from the various yamens?" he asked.”
"Yes."
Wang Qing nodded." This one wants food, that one wants soldiers, and another one wants money. All of them are asking for an exorbitant price. Take the Dongyuan County Magistrate for example. He wants you to send troops to assist in the autumn harvest.”
"This war is nothing more than a few things. Troops, horses, money, and food. Now that Sir has just arrived and taken office today, you don't have any troops, you don't have any food, and you don't even have money.”
"It seems that Yan County is indeed suffering." Wang Qing sighed.”
"That's right."
Wen Cheng and Zhang Song nodded." The Hu Qiang have invaded again and again. The people are in dire straits and the treasury is empty. We are also worried."”
"I don't think so."
Wang Qing suddenly sneered." Although the County of Yan is bitter and cold, it's still a county. How can the treasury be so barren?"”
Wen Cheng's body trembled unconsciously, and Zhang Song quickly gave him a look.
"There must be a parasite in the prefecture.”
Wang Qing slammed the table and said sternly,"Daren hates this kind of vermin the most. In the past, he had chopped off countless heads in Northern Liang.”
Zhang Song and Wen Cheng's expressions changed slightly, but they still pretended to be calm.
"Today, I suddenly felt something. The two sirs must not spread what I have heard.”
" As the saying goes, a new official has three fires when he takes office," Wang Qing said." Since these people are looking down on you, it's only natural that we have to make an example out of them."”
"Yes."
Zhang Song smiled awkwardly.
"These people are simply lawless.”
Wen Cheng echoed.
"Milord, you mean that he has just arrived in Yan County and is unfamiliar with the place and people. He still needs to rely on the two Milords.”
"If the two sirs can replenish the treasury and retrieve the money, grain, and weapons, it will be a great merit."”
"I will do my best and not let you down.”
Zhang Song stood up and promised righteously.
"Me too."
Wen Cheng followed closely behind.
"Good, good, good."
Wang Qing nodded." No wonder Milord praised the two of you. You are loyal and brave people. You will definitely not collude with those vermin."”
"Let me go."
"What do you want to do?"
At this moment, a group of soldiers suddenly came out of the hall with two people tied up.
"What are you doing?"
Wang Qing frowned and reprimanded sternly.
"Under Milord's orders, send the corrupt officials we captured to the prefect's manor and hand them over to Milord for interrogation.”
The centurion cupped his fists.
"Sir is working in the backyard."
"Bring him here," Wang Qing said.
"This…"
The centurion hesitated. Seeing Wang Qing's gloomy expression, he did as he was told and brought the two officials from the prefecture to Wang Qing.
"What is your official position?"
"I'm the little secretary of the treasury."
"I'm a small armory guard."
"Sir, we are innocent."
The two minor officials knelt down.
"The evidence is conclusive, yet you still dare to deny it."
The centurion took out two accounts and a stack of letters and handed them over."Deputy Wang, these are the account books and letters from the Huqiang tribe that were found in their homes.”
The faces of the two minor officials were ashen.
"Tell me, who is the mastermind behind all of you?”
Wang Qing's expression was cold.
Zhang Song and Wen Cheng's faces turned pale.
Zhang Song came from the army and kept using his eyes to signal the two small officials.
"Tell me quickly."
The centurion pulled out his long blade and placed it on the neck of the armory guard. The latter's scalp went numb, and his entire body emitted a cold aura.
"When my lord came, the Prince of Beiliang instructed that any transfer of officials within the County of Yan, whether they were killed or taken, could be decided by themselves without any need to report.”
"If the two of you don't confess honestly, you won't live past tomorrow." Wang Qing sneered.”
"Lord Zhang, Lord Wen, save me.”
The small official was so scared that he collapsed to the ground and begged Zhang Song and Wen Qing.
"You colluded with the Hu Qiang and stole the treasury. Your crimes are unforgivable. How can I save you?”
Zhang Song's face was stern and his heart was full of stubble.
"Zhang Sima, you can't just leave me in the lurch.”
The minor official guarding the armory cried bitterly.
"Tell me quickly."
"Who is the mastermind behind the scenes and who is the accomplice?”
Wang Qing shouted.
"Deputy Wang, such a crafty person should be executed on the spot.”
Zhang Song quickly said.
"Zhang Sima, if you don't care about your feelings, then don't blame me for not having any feelings.”
"I confess."
The small official pointed at Zhang Song and said hatefully,"The masterminds behind the scenes are the two of them."”
"Yes."
The treasurer also pointed out Zhang Song and Wen Cheng.
"You're slandering me."
Wen Cheng's face turned red, and his eyes were filled with panic.
Zhang Song slumped on the chair, his eyes empty.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]