Chapter 171

"Chen Yan has finally arrived..."

"This guy has truly been reborn since coming out of the Heavenly Prison!"

"Even his temperament has become completely different..."

Standing on the right, Wang Xiong, in a dark-colored, gold-woven cloud-pattern martial outfit that outlined his tall and straight figure, had the hidden gilded dragon patterns on the hem of his clothes appearing and disappearing, and the shark-silk silver edges on his cuffs and collar shone with a cold luster under the candlelight.

Ever since Chen Yan appeared, he had been staring intently, evaluating him secretly in his heart.

This direct grandson of Old Pillar of State Chen, just in his gestures and movements, revealed a temperament that was like a different person from his past self.

His gaze was sharp yet restrained, no longer the cowardly and mediocre person of the past, but showing competence and sharpness...

It was a earth-shaking change!

It was as if he had been replaced by someone else.

Wang Xiong, the eldest son of one of the Twelve Great Generals under the Old Master.

"Father said Chen Yan was no longer what he used to be, and seeing him now, those words are not false!"

Dou Lu Ling stood with one hand behind his back, turning the sandalwood beads, watching the old acquaintance bowing not far away, and thought to himself.

After a long time, seeing Chen Yan again in this study of the Jin Wang Mansion, the first thing Dou Lu Ling thought of was that conversation back then...

Father said this direct grandson of Old Pillar of State Chen might really be hiding his talents.

Dou Lu Ling was skeptical at first, but now he was more than half convinced!

And their Dou Lu clan had long been labeled and branded with Old Pillar of State Chen, and they had to choose one of those two father and son, who were at odds with each other, to stand with...

Dou Lu Ling, the eldest son of Dou Lu Chang, one of the Twelve Great Generals supervised by the Old Master.

"This Great Zhou Poetry Immortal, who is proficient in both literature and martial arts, truly has an extraordinary bearing!"

Standing on the left, Liu Yuanjing looked at Chen Yan with great interest, couldn't help but nod, and thought to himself.

Ever since the Deposed Emperor's rebellion case, the name of this Old Pillar of State's direct grandson and Duke of Wei's heir had been ringing in his ears continuously...

Literarily, he could compose poems and manage government affairs; martially, he could lead troops to suppress rebellions and win against the odds. Plus, after joining the Mingjing Si, the series of unbelievable methods he used—who could refuse to befriend such a person?

Even his father, Liu Chaoming, spoke highly of him.

Liu Yuanjing, direct descendant of the Hedong Liu clan.

"If there's a chance, I must test whether this guy is really as different as the outside world says..."

Unlike the others present, Xue Ji had developed a competitive spirit.

They were all proud sons of heaven, and no one was willing to submit to anyone else.

Xue Ji, direct descendant of the Hedong Xue clan.

"Brother!"

Yuwen Ze, who was standing beside the main seat of Yuwen Hu, bowed and saluted with cupped hands the moment he saw Chen Yan, right in front of everyone.

"A Ze!" Chen Yan nodded in greeting.

"The Jin Wang Heir actually calls Chen Yan brother?!"

"It's really not a rumor?!"

After the clan descendants present witnessed this scene, they all looked at each other in dismay, shocked, and muttered the same shock.

The Jin Wang Heir and the Zhuque Mirror Master calling each other brothers—they had thought it was just street gossip, but they didn't expect it to be true!

This simple form of address represented the Grand Chancellor's attitude...

The gazes of Wang Xiong and the others toward Chen Yan became increasingly respectful.

"A Yan, you shouldn't be unfamiliar with these young people on the left and right, right?" Yuwen Hu chuckled, pointed his finger to the left and right, and asked.

Why did Grand Chancellor Dad call them all over together?... Chen Yan's brain worked at high speed, thinking about the reason, while respectfully replying: "They are all old acquaintances!"

Although he wasn't very familiar with them in his memory, he still knew them, or at the very least, had met them once.

"That's good!"

Yuwen Hu nodded, his stern gaze sweeping over the young people present, and said in a low voice: "Everyone, have you heard of the banditry in Jingzhou?"

"We have heard a little!"

Xue Ji stood out, answered first, and said in a clear voice: "Bandits are rampant in the Jingzhou region, and they have been suppressed repeatedly but never extinguished..."

"Often, after the government troops withdraw, it doesn't take long for the bandits to make a comeback!"

"It is truly a heart-worrying disaster for Jingzhou!"

The group of bandits entrenched in Jingzhou was extremely cunning and insidious...

As soon as the government sent troops, they would break into small groups and flee into the mountains, making the troops miss their target and labor in vain.

Once the main army withdrew, they would immediately spring up like weeds, making a comeback and raging across Jingzhou again.

"Exactly."

Yuwen Hu turned his jade thumb ring and said lightly: "You are all young talents of Chang'an, born into famous and noble families; are you willing to go to Jingzhou to suppress the bandits and share the worries of the imperial court?"

"We are willing!"

Xue Ji heard this and blurted it out almost immediately.

He paused, then continued: "It is my honor to be able to share the worries of the imperial court and the Grand Chancellor!"

As he spoke, he hurriedly bowed and saluted with cupped hands.

He wore an extremely proactive look.

Was that suppressing bandits?

It was a heaven-sent opportunity to make a name for himself!

Who wouldn't envy the opportunity someone else had to pacify the chaos in Qinzhou?

"We are willing to give our all for the imperial court and die for it!"

Wang Xiong, Liu Yuanjing, and others were a step slower, but their eyes also lit up, and they swore their loyalty with conviction.

Their eyes were filled with a desire to build a career!

Finally, there was an opportunity to display their talents...

"Does suppressing the banditry in Jingzhou require such a massive mobilization?"

Seeing this, Chen Yan's eyebrows moved slightly, and as he stared at these clan descendants who were more excited than the last, he began to mutter to himself.

A moment later, Chen Yan understood Grand Chancellor Dad's painstaking efforts...

First, he was sending these clan descendants to be tempered, to cultivate talents for the future.

Second, he wanted him to make contact and befriend them; the people present were not just grabbed at random, but carefully selected, especially the sons of Old Master Chen's former subordinates—it was clearly paving the way for him...

"A Yan, do you have any objections?" Yuwen Hu's gaze shifted slightly, landing on Chen Yan, who had not yet expressed his stance, and asked.

Grand Chancellor Dad, my good dad!... Chen Yan tried his best to suppress the excitement and emotion in his heart, managed his expressions, and said in a clear voice: "Your subordinate has no objections and will only follow the Grand Chancellor's orders!"

How could Chen Yan have any objections?

He was just a brick; he would go wherever he was needed!

Whatever good daddy said was right, and whatever he arranged, he could do!

"Good."

Yuwen Hu was expressionless and said: "Then you will lead them, and I will give you another hundred cavalrymen!"

"You must root out the bandits, kill them all, and leave none behind!"

His words were full of killing intent.

"Understood!" Chen Yan replied.

"Understood!" Wang Xiong, Liu Yuanjing, and the others also replied.

Although suppressing bandits couldn't compare to pacifying chaos, it could still earn merit, gild their resumes...

And with Chen Yan, this military genius, present, their safety could be guaranteed, and along the way, there would be opportunities to make friends.

Only Xue Ji, upon hearing that Chen Yan would be in command, had a slightly displeased look on his face, but he didn't show it.

"You will go with them as well!"

Yuwen Hu turned his head to look at Yuwen Ze beside him and said: "Depart tomorrow!"

While paving the way for A Yan, he was also tempering his son together.

"Yes."

Yuwen Ze nodded, unable to hide his excitement.

He could learn things by his brother's side again...

"All of you, withdraw and go back to prepare..." After giving the instructions, Yuwen Hu waved his hand.

"Your subordinate takes his leave!" Chen Yan heard this and bowed to salute.

The other clan descendants present also bowed to salute and prepared to leave.

Just as everyone turned around, Yuwen Hu spoke up and called Chen Yan back: "A Yan, you stay!"

"Understood." Chen Yan stopped his steps and walked back.

"The Grand Chancellor kept Chen Yan alone—does he have any special instructions?" Wang Xiong and the others witnessed this scene while walking out, but guesses began to stir in their hearts.

Knowing that even the Heir wasn't kept behind, the attitude was too different...

What kind of instructions could it be?

A moment later.

In the large study, only the two of them remained.

Yuwen Hu raised his eyes, stared at Chen Yan, and said in a low voice: "A Yan, they are going to suppress bandits..."

"You have one more thing to do!"

There's a hidden mission?!... Chen Yan was stunned for a moment, feeling inexplicably excited, but on the surface, he remained calm and said: "Please speak, Grand Chancellor!"

Yuwen Hu said word by word: "Investigate the Jingzhou Prefect!"