Chapter 189: Because Ming Shaoxia Didn't Die!

"Brother Chen, what happened?"

"Only a few hours have passed, how has the situation become so severe?"

Wang Xiong, upon hearing this, exchanged a silent glance with Dou Luling, and then was the first to voice his doubt.

Whether it was Wang Xiong, Dou Luling, or anyone else present, none could understand how, in such a short time, it had escalated to a matter of life and death.

Is it really that exaggerated?

Chen Yan remained expressionless, showing no emotional fluctuation, and in a deep voice retorted, "Brother Wang, do you think I'm joking?"

"Are you being alarmist?"

A rare seriousness appeared in his expression.

"Not like…"

Wang Xiong stared straight at Chen Yan, slowly shook his head, and uttered two words.

After a pause, he continued, "But that mere Jinghong Society bandit trouble shouldn't suddenly become this critical, right?"

Dou Luling also nodded, silently indicating agreement.

They regarded Chen Yan's words with half belief, half doubt…

Because they truly could not imagine under what circumstances the situation could deteriorate to a threat to safety…

The Jinghong Society's bandit trouble is a ragtag crowd, not worth worrying about, and the death of the Jingzhou Inspector does not involve them.

Then what could it be?

Chen Yan smiled calmly, tapped the table lightly with his finger, and said meaningfully, "What if the Jinghong Society bandit trouble is combined with those noble families of Jingzhou, and the Jingzhou troops?"

His speaking speed was not fast, allowing everyone present to hear clearly…

"What?!"

Dou Luling was startled, eyes widening, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Brother Chen, what do you mean by that?!" Wang Xiong clenched his fist, staring at Chen Yan in astonishment, exclaiming.

At that moment, the previously skeptical crowd suddenly sensed a whiff of danger…

A mere Jinghong Society bandit trouble, a scabies‑like ailment, truly is not worrisome.

But once the Jingzhou noble families and Jingzhou troops are added, it becomes a major internal and external trouble!

If this hypothesis is true, then they have entered a wolf's den; the few men and horses they brought into Anding City aren't even enough for the people to eat…

"Literal meaning." Chen Yan observed the emotional shifts of those before him, then slowly uttered four words again.

"If the Jingzhou noble families, Jingzhou troops, and the Jinghong Society collude inside and out…"

He Ruo Dun muttered to himself, mentally simulating the situation, but suddenly stopped, unable to continue.

Because he was already drenched in cold sweat…

The result of the three joining together, upon close thought, is terrifying: troops, supplies, internal agents, and external aid…

A nailed‑down death with no place for burial!

"Brother Chen, the rest needs no further words; I trust the Mingjing Office's information channels…"

Wang Xiong took a deep breath, forced himself to stay calm, looked at Chen Yan, and in a deep voice said, "Just tell us directly what you want us to do!"

Wang Xiong knew well that Chen Yan might exaggerate, but there was no reason to deceive them in this matter…

Moreover, Chen Yan still held the Vermilion Bird Guard, capable of probing information they could not obtain.

"Hmm."

Dou Luling furrowed his brows, made a swift decision in his mind, then clasped his fist to Chen Yan and loudly declared, "I, Dou Luling, will act according to Brother Chen's command!"

Without any hesitation, he chose to trust decisively.

He does not believe that the Jinghong Society can be repeatedly eradicated yet remain unconnected to the Jingzhou noble families…

With the two taking the lead, the others promptly followed suit.

Chen Yan was not surprised by this smooth progress; these carefully cultivated scions of noble families are all clever, see the situation clearly, and with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, he said, "All of you come from military general families, and your fathers are also generals of Great Zhou who excel in campaigns…"

"I suppose, having been immersed since childhood, your family teachings are not lacking, right?"

His words were full of deep implication.

"Brother Chen, rest assured…"

Dou Luling keenly caught the subtext, raised his head and said, "We are well‑versed in military texts, and our archery and horsemanship are proficient!"

Wang Xiong and the others nodded repeatedly, looking decidedly confident.

What is the family teaching of a military general lineage?

Naturally, it can only be the skill of marching and fighting…

And as legitimate sons, they were trained from childhood; their fathers were extremely strict in this regard!

"To control Jingzhou, one must first control Jingzhou's military authority…"

"And it should be done sooner rather than later!"

Chen Yan smiled calmly, rested his left hand on the table, and got straight to the point.

After a pause, he continued, "I plan to, tomorrow, select the strongest elite of the Jingzhou troops, divide them into six units, and have each of you six lead a force!"

Obviously, Chen Yan's first move to break the deadlock is to dismantle Jingzhou's violent machine!

Then extract its elite, place them under his own people, eliminating the possibility of soldier‑bandit collusion…

Moreover, he has authority over Jingzhou's military and civil affairs, and under the pretext of dispatching troops to suppress bandits, he can reorganize the army; everything is orderly and legitimate!

"Fine."

"I, Wang Xiong, will never betray Brother Chen's trust!"

Wang Xiong clasped his hands and replied loudly.

"I, Dou Luling, as well!" Dou Luling's eyes lit up as he echoed.

Kou Luo, He Ruodun, Feng Xiao Yan, Liang Shiyan and the other sons of the Opening‑Office Generals were also impatient to declare their stance.

The reason is simple: they finally could command troops alone, gaining a chance to show their abilities!

Chen Yan's gaze swept to He Ba Le on his right, and he ordered, "The remaining old, weak and crippled soldiers will be under your command!"

"Yes, Shuyi obeys the order!"

He Ba Le did not hesitate and accepted the order at once.

He also felt no discontent for not receiving elite troops.

He had followed the campaign to quell the rebellion in Qinzhou as a subordinate commander, and knew better than anyone that under Lord Chen Yan, leading old and weak soldiers could also earn merit.

"Everyone, the first task after taking command is to disrupt the existing structure..."

Chen Yan blinked and reminded, "And make your trusted Private Soldiers the backbone!"

Disrupting the original structure is to ensure the soldiers do not know the commander, and the commander does not know the soldiers...

It may temporarily reduce combat effectiveness.

But it can ensure control, preventing internal traitors from striking back and causing the troops under command to break free and rebel.

Understood. Understood. Understood. Understood. Understood. Understood.

Wang Xiong and the others nodded and replied in unison.

At this moment, each of them already had their own plans in mind...

Chen Yan lightly tapped his forehead, as if realizing late, and said, "I almost forgot, the fathers of you all are great generals who command thousands of troops..."

He paused, then continued, "I, Chen, also take a look at which of the great generals who served under my grandfather in the past had the most distinctive way of commanding troops in war!"

"Then Brother Chen, just wait and see!"

Dou Luling, upon hearing this, glanced at the crowd out of the corner of his eye and spoke.

His demeanor showed a clear desire to compete.

Wang Xiong and the others were no less eager.

"Brother A, your skill is high!"

"Using the leverage of our fathers' and family honor to incite them, we need not fear they won't give their all!"

Yuwen Ze, who witnessed the scene, sighed in admiration and thought to himself.

Did you see? After Brother A's words, Wang Xiong and the others had sparks practically flashing in their eyes.

After all, as second‑generation, especially legitimate sons, they all want to prove themselves and dare not disgrace their fathers' reputation, lest they bring great shame...

But Yuwen Ze only knew part of the story.

Chen Yan's clever maneuver was not only to stir their competitive spirit, prompting mutual rivalry that would give them initiative and boost combat power, avoiding a situation where they do the work but exert no effort.

It was also to sow division and eliminate the possibility of a fire breaking out in the rear.

He did not place complete trust in the six sons of the Old Master's former troops, and took additional precautions in detail.

"Then I'll wait to claim merit for you all!"

Having achieved his goal, Chen Yan rose, clasped his fists, and laughed loudly.

Immediately, the six who had received Chen Yan's Handwritten Letter for troop command hurried out of the room, leaving only Yuwen Ze, who had not yet received an assignment.

He rubbed his fists together, asking, "Brother A, what do you need me to do?"

He looked poised and eager to try.

"A Ze, you haven't forgotten the procedure I arranged for the funeral in Qinzhou last time, have you?" Chen Yan asked with a calm smile.

He paused, then continued, "This time, you will conduct the funeral for Governor Ming of Jingzhou!"

Yuwen Ze was startled, not understanding, and asked in doubt, "Brother A, wasn't the daytime suppression of Governor Ming's death news meant to prevent unrest in Jingzhou?"

"Why, all of a sudden, do we need to hold a funeral?"

A hint of amusement flashed in Chen Yan's eyes, a smile that was not quite a smile, and he replied slowly, "Because Governor Ming has not actually died!"