Chapter 77

The next day.

Ten miles outside Linwei.

"Lord, the news you wanted has been found out!"

You Xian had just received the news passed back by his subordinates and rushed to Chen Yan's side without stopping for a moment to report.

"How is it?"

Chen Yan slowed down his horse, looked into the distance at the city whose outline had already appeared, and asked.

The hundred cavalrymen following behind also slowed down accordingly.

"There are Qinzhou soldiers in Linwei City, totaling more than eight thousand if you count the old, weak, sick, and disabled..."

You Xian pulled the horse reins and said.

After a pause, he continued: "The soldiers capable of fighting should be around two thousand!"

"Two thousand, huh?"

Hearing this, Chen Yan murmured calmly: "That is enough..."

This was the important news he had ordered You Xian to send Embroidered Attire Envoys to secretly infiltrate Linwei to spy on a few days ago.

The number obtained was also within Chen Yan's psychological expectations.

Troops are not about quantity but quality.

Two thousand local infantry capable of fighting can be considered to have enough strength.

How does A Xiong plan to use these Qinzhou soldiers... Yuwen Ze, who was beside him, listened to the conversation between the two, and various guesses arose in his heart.

Yuwen Ze had seen Chen Yan's various means and abilities, but he had never really seen his way of using troops...

He couldn't help but feel a little curious and expectant.

Two sticks of incense later.

Outside Linwei City.

Officials of all sizes in Qinzhou were lined up neatly, their sleeves fluttering gently in the breeze.

"They're here!"

"They're here!"

"Old Cheng, look quickly!"

Inspector Mo Zhengxi stood at the very front of the team, wearing a black gauze hat, which was shiny and bright, with a towering shape. The hat ears on both sides were close to his cheeks, and the hat beam spanned across it, fixed with exquisite hairpins, fully displaying his official prestige.

When he saw the dust flying in the distance, he shouted excitedly to the Qinzhou Military Governor Cheng Yinan beside him.

The reason for this welcome outside the city was that Chen Yan had already notified them through Embroidered Attire Envoys.

At the same time, he had secretly spread the news of his arrival with troops to Shanggui...

"Yuwen Hu really sent a young brat to command the army..."

"He is really too confident!"

Cheng Yinan watched Chen Yan, whose face was gradually becoming clear, and smiled contemptuously.

Between the lines was indescribable disdain.

Cheng Yinan certainly knew Chen Yan's name; he was the grandson of the Old Pillar of State Chen Hu and the son of the Duke of Wei.

He didn't know why he was appreciated by Yuwen Hu and appointed as the Zhuque Mirror Keeper of the Mingjing Si.

He had never been on the battlefield, let alone led troops to fight...

"Presumably this imposing general is Lord Chen Yan, right?"

Mo Zhengxi stepped forward quickly, full of smiles, and cupped his hands to the young man on horseback.

In that amiable expression, one could not see the slightest bit of airs.

"It is indeed Chen!"

Chen Yan flipped off his horse, Sa Lu Zi, returned the salute, and smiled.

Before coming, he had already memorized the portraits of all the major officials in Qinzhou, and their faces were carved in his mind...

"As expected of the youngest Mirror Keeper of the Mingjing Si, he is indeed extraordinary, outstanding, and as handsome as jade!"

Mo Zhengxi looked Chen Yan up and down, as if he were a god, his expression extremely exaggerated, and he said it as soon as he opened his mouth.

After a pause, he continued: "This official has heard your great name like thunder!"

"This Mo Zhengxi is really a glib-tongued person..."

"To be able to sit in this position, I'm afraid he hasn't flattered Dugu Zhao less, right?"

Yuwen Ze, who got off his horse and stood on the side, witnessed all this and thought to himself.

Is this the start of tactical flattery?... Chen Yan blinked, muttered, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and also praised with great emotion: "Inspector Mo is also graceful, mature, and steady, worthy of being a frontier official, truly a pillar of the country!"

When it comes to this kind of flattery, Chen Yan is also very good at it...

It is no exaggeration to say that he is proficient.

Everyone lifts the flowery sedan chair...

"Hahahaha!"

Mo Zhengxi laughed, grabbed Chen Yan's hand without any formality, and said: "This address is too distant..."

"We hit it off at first sight, how about we call each other brothers?"

In his eyes, there was full expectation, sincere and earnest.

It's just that I don't know how much is true and how much is false...

"Excellent!"

Chen Yan smiled indifferently, agreed fully, and said: "Brother Mo."

Mo Zhengxi: "Brother Chen."

In an instant, the two seemed to have become brothers of different parents...

Chen Yan then cast his gaze toward the man beside Mo Zhengxi and smiled: "This general is presumably the Qinzhou Military Governor Cheng Yinan, Governor Cheng, right?"

"It is indeed me!"

Compared with the Qinzhou Inspector, this Qinzhou Military Governor seemed much colder, only nodding slightly to indicate.

Seeing this, Mo Zhengxi asked hurriedly so as not to let the atmosphere cool down: "Who are these...?"

"Mingjing Si Zhuque Guard Commanding Emissary, You Xian!"

Chen Yan raised his hand, pointed to You Xian behind him, and introduced.

"Inspector Mo, Governor Cheng!" You Xian immediately stood out and saluted the two.

"Commandant of the army, Gu Yuci!"

"I have met Inspector Mo and Governor Cheng!"

"The rest of these people are all Chen's followers..." Chen Yan's fingertips brushed over Yuwen Ze and Zhu Yi, and he introduced them lightly.

"They are all elite soldiers and strong generals!"

Mo Zhengxi nodded and praised loudly.

After a pause, he continued: "Brother Chen, you have been through a lot of hardships along the way. Your elder brother has prepared some thin wine in the city for you to wash away the dust!"

"Since it is the elder brother's good intention, how can the younger brother fail to live up to it?"

"Then I will respectfully obey!"

Chen Yan smiled indifferently and made no refusal.

"Please!"

Mo Zhengxi turned sideways and made a gesture of invitation.

Chen Yan and his group of more than a hundred people entered the city in a grand manner.

Inside Linwei City.

Temporary residence of the Inspector.

Hall.

Officials of all sizes in Qinzhou were all present.

"Play music!"

"Dance!"

As the voice of an official in the hall sounded, singing and dancing started suddenly.

Dancers in revealing clothes walked with charming steps and entered the sight of everyone one after another.

"Brother, your elder brother will toast you first!"

Mo Zhengxi sat at the same table with Chen Yan, raised his wine glass, and smiled.

"How can that be?"

"Younger brother will drink it all!"

Chen Yan also raised his glass, clinked it with him, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Brother, are these songs and dances okay?"

"Is there any dancer you like?"

Mo Zhengxi filled the wine, put his hand on Chen Yan's shoulder, pursed his lips at those women with graceful figures, and asked.

"There really is..."

Hearing this, Chen Yan pursed his lips and said: "That second one in the front row is not bad!"

"Brother has a good eye. Later, brother will order someone to send her to your room..." Mo Zhengxi clinked glasses again and smiled.

"Then thank you very much, elder brother!"

For the next half hour, cup after cup of wine was drunk.

Everyone hugged a singer or dancer.

"Brother, your elder brother is bitter in his heart!" Mo Zhengxi drank until his face was flushed, exuding drunkenness, and said.

After three rounds of wine, the complaining session started?... Chen Yan was not surprised, sneered in his heart, and also pretended to be drunk, asking: "Is elder brother willing to tell younger brother?"

"Sigh~~~"

Mo Zhengxi sighed long and was very sad, "This time, riots have arisen everywhere in Qinzhou, and we have lost land and people one after another. As the Inspector, your elder brother bears great responsibility..."

"I'm afraid I can't escape punishment, and perhaps my life will not last long!"

Having said that, he also raised his hand to touch the tears in the corners of his eyes.

"Don't say such discouraging words!"

Chen Yan swayed and comforted.

After a pause, he took the opportunity to ask: "I wonder if younger brother can solve the problems for elder brother?"

Hearing this, Mo Zhengxi's drunkenness woke up a lot, but he still pretended to be drunk and said: "Brother, you are a favorite in front of the Grand Chancellor. If you are willing to say a few more good words for your elder brother, I will be very grateful!"

Saying that, he raised his wine glass.

"What is difficult about that?"

Chen Yan pressed his hand and agreed without any hesitation: "Easy to say, easy to say!"

Mo Zhengxi was overjoyed, and there was another round of drinking, drinking until they were all confused.

The night was deep.

The sky was pitch black.

Linwei Military Camp.

You Xian led ten Embroidered Attire Envoys, expressionless, carrying lanterns, and said loudly: "By the order of Lord Chen Yan, I am here to mobilize troops!"