Chapter 176

"This Sect Master Lü is quite a ruthless person. Before Cao Wei's troops entered the city, he held the head of Vice Minister Liu's nephew and knelt on the official road to welcome them, willing to stretch his neck to be slaughtered. The men of the Mingguang Sect were sent to the border, and the women were filled into the Music Bureau."

"Admirable!"

In a valley with green mountains and clear waters.

Ning Zhongtian leaned comfortably under a big locust tree, telling Li Rui and the others about the end of the Mingguang Sect.

Everyone looked at each other.

Originally thought it would be a battle of heaven's thunder against earth's fire, didn't expect... just this?

Especially Tan Hu, his blade was almost worn away, but the fight didn't happen.

Cao Wei took down the Mingguang Sect without spending a single soldier or a single soldier.

Was it really the Anning Guard that the Mingguang Sect feared?

Not so.

It was the imperial court.

As the saying goes, "Under the whole heaven, is there any land that is not the king's," which refers not only to the territory of the Yu Kingdom, but also that as long as you dare to disobey the Yu Kingdom's court, you will die even if they chase you to the ends of the earth.

This is the will of the empire.

Even if the Mingguang Sect could escape the encirclement of the Anning Guard, they would definitely not be able to escape the subsequent wanted notice from the government.

They could only hide in the mountain forest and live a miserable life.

Before long, the inheritance would be completely broken.

This Sect Master Lü was also a ruthless person, actually choosing to kneel and surrender directly.

You have to know that even if you surrender, the outcome is just as miserable.

It was precisely because he knew it was miserable that he still made such a choice, which is why he was called a ruthless person by Ning.

This was no longer a strong man breaking his wrist, but cutting off his own hands and feet just to live.

Ning Zhongtian stood up slowly and patted the dust off his body:

"Let's go, we can't delay too long, otherwise it won't be good if we are missed by Magistrate Cao."

The reason he didn't make a move immediately.

That was because the Mingguang Sect surrendered, which was the Sect Master's decision.

But it was different when it came to individuals.

There must be many people who were unwilling, conflicts were inevitable, and using blades and guns was also certain.

He wouldn't use the lives of his own soldiers to accumulate military merit for Cao Wei.

Going now is just right.

Ning Zhongtian stretched while walking toward the Mingguang Sect.

The time of a cup of tea.

The Galloping Tiger Cavalry arrived outside the city of the Mingguang Sect.

At the entrance.

An army of over two hundred people had long been waiting.

Ge Hong, Wei Ming, and the other two platoon leaders saw Ning Zhongtian appear and greeted him.

Ning Zhongtian looked at the bloodiness on the street that hadn't been cleaned up yet, and then looked at his own soldiers who didn't even have a torn corner of their clothes.

He nodded with satisfaction: "Well done."

He had long told Ge Hong and the four of them.

Things like surrounding a city, just work without putting in effort, no need to fight hard.

If there's something, let Cao Wei's people rush up.

The four also perfectly executed Ning Zhongtian's policy, which was "the enemy advances, I retreat," and those who didn't know would think they were the supervision battalion.

Wei Ming grinned: "It's all taught well by Chief Ning."

Ning Zhongtian kicked him and laughed and scolded: "Isn't it you dog-day taught me."

When he first joined the Anning Guard after being valued by Lei Yong, he was also a good young man who loved his job and worked hard; falling to today was all taught by Wei Ming, this old soldier.

"Let's go, let's go see, we can't give everything to the Music Bureau."

He chuckled.

Quickened his pace.

The Music Bureau is managed by the Ministry of Rites, so the Anning Guard also has to pay money when they go, otherwise there is no door.

But before handing it over to the Music Bureau, one can intercept it.

Many beautiful and sensible maids of official masters came from here, because they were all noble young ladies before.

Here you can grab first-hand goods.

The attraction to veterans of the wind and moon is undoubtedly huge.

A moment later.

Ning Zhongtian was walking on the road with people, and saw the elders and disciples of the Mingguang Sect, arranged in two rows with shackles on their hands and feet, walking slowly toward them.

He secretly called out "bad."

"Beaten to the punch."

Couldn't help but feel annoyed; if he had known, he should have been a stick of incense earlier.

Now that they are all escorted out of the city, it proves that the top-grade goods have already been picked away.

Ning Zhongtian suddenly lost interest.

He has never been weaker than others in his life, including picking women; they are all ordinary goods picked by others, and he really can't raise interest.

"You guys take a look, if you see any you like, tell me."

He was bored and simply found a stone step by the side of the road and sat down, just as if watching a play.

Wei Ming and the others were really not polite.

They picked two at once.

Ning Zhongtian was also not polite, directly calling people to drag the women out of the crowd.

Causing a commotion.

However, when the guarding soldiers saw it was Ning Zhongtian, they all tacitly chose to turn a blind eye.

Yes.

Very inhumane.

But war is like this; for the defeated side to survive is already a great grace.

Although this war didn't have many deaths and no large-scale blade-to-blade encounters, it was still a war.

As long as it is a war, it is destined to be cruel.

Li Rui had heard Tan Hu say it.

When in the Northwest Border Army, most of the women were sallow and thin, and some even deliberately applied charcoal, and some were directly tattooed on their faces.

It was because the barbarians in the north liked to grab beautiful women the most.

Once grabbed, it was basically the end of being broken and losing one's life.

The Anning Guard is not a border army, but since it is a war today, there is no benevolence or morality to speak of, it's just not as cruel as the war of the border army.

But the essence is the same.

There is almost no army in the Yu Kingdom that does not divide the spoils after a great victory. The reason is very simple: the brothers have followed them to fight for their lives, hanging their heads on their waistbands, and they have won; do they still have to care about the enemy, not let the brothers enjoy themselves, who will sell their lives in the future?

Relying on the court's rewards is completely a drop in the bucket.

When the soldiers under their command mutiny, that will be a big joke.

This situation has happened many times to those officials who were parachuted from civil officials to become military generals.

The court also knows that it is too expensive to rely solely on tax silver to raise soldiers, so they also turn a blind eye.

"Brother Li, don't you want to pick one to warm the bed?"

Ning Zhongtian looked at Li Rui.

Li Rui is now a seventh-rank martial artist, with a full 150 years of life, so there is no such trouble as being old and powerless.

Li Rui chuckled: "All picked over, no good goods."

Ning Zhongtian's eyes lit up:

"Soulmate!"

Li Rui sat beside Ning Zhongtian, and the two chatted.

=9+Shu_ba

As Ning spoke, a flash of worry crossed his eyes: "Brother Li, you must be more careful in the future; although our Anning Guard doesn't have to get involved, it's not guaranteed that we won't be implicated."

He didn't say it explicitly, but Li Rui understood.

Factional strife.

With the addition of the new Director, the Lin faction has regained the confidence to fight against the Xuan faction.

Under the Emperor's control, it definitely won't be too big.

But the "too big" in the eyes of that Lord of the Dragon Court is very different from what Li Rui and these people think; a word from a big figure is an insurmountable mountain for them.

Wrongfully killing a few fifth-rank officials is not a matter at all in the eyes of the Emperor.

Li Rui's heart also sank.

"Hard to be peaceful."

The Ghost Ming Sect is not a matter at all in the eyes of the imperial court; those big figures care more about their own power.

From the Emperor to the Imperial Preceptor and the Grand Secretary, it is all like this.

Not to mention anything else, just look at the one in front, Cao Wei; why can he become an Assistant Regional Commander, it is because of the Fifth Prince.

The relationship between the Duke of Dingyuan and the Fifth Prince is unusual; Cao Wei is likely a member of the Xuan faction.

Factional strife will surely affect the military, it's just not as obvious as the Imperial City and the government office.

But not obvious doesn't mean it won't appear.

A little bit of dregs from the two factions falling on an individual is a big mountain.

Think about it.

Just like the Mingguang Sect today, the wife and daughter became playthings selling smiles in the Music Bureau; the outcome is how miserable.

Stay out of it?

Even harder.

At this time.

A commotion arose on the street not far away.

Ning Zhongtian and Li Rui turned their heads.

They saw a spirited white horse walking on the street with its head held high, spitting white nasal breath.

The surrounding soldiers cast envious eyes one after another.

They saw a young man in silver armor riding on the horse, but what made the soldiers envious was the woman held in the young man's arms on the horse.

The legitimate daughter of the Mingguang Sect Sect Master.

"Gao Zhen."

A flash of disgust crossed Ning Zhongtian's eyes.

Li Rui didn't make a sound.

After this Garrison Commander Gao came to the Anning Guard, one sentence summarizes it: he doesn't do human things.

His temperament is eccentric, and his actions are cruel.

The Chunyan Tower was played by him to the point that they almost didn't dare to open the door, and several women died, including the madam.

Later, he was personally scolded by Jiang Linxian, and only then did he restrain himself.

The only advantage, perhaps, is that he doesn't mean to interfere with the affairs of the Anning Guard, otherwise it would definitely be turned upside down.

Ning Zhongtian curled his lips, stood up, and patted the dust off his robe.

"Let's go."

"It's dirty here, bad luck."

Li Rui naturally understood that Ning Zhongtian was pointing at the mulberry and scolding the locust.

Both are Garrison Commanders, and Gao Zhen is from the Gao clan of Lu Yang; after a few years, he will probably be promoted like Duan Yu.

There is no need to offend such a well-connected person.

So even if Ning Zhongtian is unhappy, he won't be stupid enough to teach Gao Zhen a lesson and uphold justice.

Half a day.

The Mingguang Sect completely became an empty city, and the officials of the Anning Prefecture brought officials from the Ministry of Rites to take over.

Everything was handled properly.

Only then did Cao Wei lead the army back to the camp.

The corners of his mouth raised, high-spirited.

Although he is a person of the Fifth Prince, he also has to use merit to prove that he is capable.

This time, taking down a great sect like the Mingguang Sect without any effort will definitely be a merit for him with the Fifth Prince and Regional Commander Xue.

A glance from the corner of his eye, seeing Gao Zhen beside him.

His brow furrowed slightly.

It's fine for Gao Zhen to ride a horse, but he also brought a woman, and the key is that the woman is the legitimate daughter of the Mingguang Sect Sect Master, who is biting her red lips and trying to survive.

"Playboy."

Even though Gao Zhen has already defected to his faction, it cannot change Gao Zhen's image as a playboy in his heart.

According to the law, the elders and disciples of the Mingguang Sect must be handed over to the Ministry of Rites.

The reputation of the Mingguang Sect Sect Master's legitimate daughter is too big; if seen by officials of the Ministry of Rites, it might cause trouble.

People from different systems may not necessarily give face.

He had to come to Gao Zhen's side:

"Brother Gao, beauties are only interesting when enjoyed alone; let someone take the small road and send her back to Qinghe first."

Gao Zhen nodded with a grin when he heard this.

Then he called a subordinate to take the woman in his arms away.

Seeing this, Cao Wei's face looked better, and finally he advised: "Brother Gao, men of our generation have high ambitions, don't be too addicted to beauty."

"Brother Cao is right."

Gao Zhen's face didn't change.

After Cao Wei left, a curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Addicted to beauty?

(End of chapter)