Chapter 91

"A letter of allegiance to Chen Yan?"

Hearing this, Niu Shounian's body trembled. He retreated several steps and said in astonishment: "Lv Rui, you are rebelling!"

He finally knew where that bad premonition had come from...

Following behind Lv Rui were Tu Hanzhang, Peng Chong, Liang Xuran, and others...

Almost all the clans in Shanggui City that hadn't taken a side had come!

And the fact that these people could appear here so smoothly and unimpeded was enough to show that his control over this city had completely collapsed...

The backlash from them forcing those clan private soldiers to serve as troops had arrived!

"Get it straight, it's you who are rebelling!"

Lv Rui held his head high, pointed his sword at Niu and Xin, and retorted sternly.

After a pause, he raised his voice and continued: "I—we are heroes assisting the Court in pacifying the rebellion and protecting the borders and the people!"

"That's right!"

Peng Chong sneered and echoed: "From beginning to end, we are not the same kind of people as you rebellious scoundrels!"

Rebelling?

These clans of theirs were, without exception, people of the Court. Their actions today were aimed at complying with the mandate of heaven, correcting the chaos, and cooperating with the King's Army to suppress the rebels and pacify the chaos!

They were models of loyalty and patriotism!

"Scoundrels!"

"Two-faced fence-sitters!"

Hearing this, Xin Zhenghui was furious. He looked around at the fence-sitters in front of him and cursed sternly.

After a pause, a chill rose in his eyes, and he said in a deep voice: "Aren't you afraid of the future reckoning from those people?"

"Aren't you afraid that today's decision will lead to the destruction of your families?"

He emphasized the words "those people" heavily.

The threat was self-evident.

"Those people" referred to the forces behind the scenes that had instigated this Qinzhou rebellion.

"Old Xin is right; I advise you to weigh this clearly!"

Niu Shounian stared straight at Lv Rui and said: "Don't regret it when it's too late!"

"Hahahaha!"

Lv Rui exchanged glances with Tu Hanzhang, Peng Chong, and the others, and they burst into laughter that echoed through the room, full of joy.

"What are you laughing at?"

Xin Zhenghui was confused by this sudden laughter and asked in bewilderment.

For a moment, neither he nor Niu Shounian could understand why these people were laughing.

Was there something wrong with what they had just said?

Peng Chong laughed until he was doubled over, shook his head, and mocked: "Niu Shounian, Xin Zhenghui, why didn't I realize before that you two were so stupid?"

"Indeed, stupid to the point of absurdity!" Liang Xuran took over the conversation, patting his chest to catch his breath.

"You..." The two, mocked repeatedly, were speechless for a moment.

"If the Tongtian Society wants to settle accounts, they must first survive and have sufficient ability..."

Lv Rui smiled enigmatically and said playfully: "The Court has already wiped out the vast majority of the strength of you rebellious scoundrels. With Lord Chen Yan's brilliance and martial prowess, do you think he will give you a chance?"

"Stop daydreaming!"

Who could have thought that these two idiots, even at this point, still hadn't recognized reality?

The Tongtian Society, which had once hidden beneath the surface and bided its time, was indeed powerful, and their families would more or less be wary and compromise...

But times were different now; under the Court's repeated strikes, they had already been severely damaged.

Do you know what it means to strike while the iron is hot?

Do you think that lord outside the city, who came from the Mingjing Si, would be soft-hearted and not kill them all?

"Hmph!"

Niu Shounian snorted coldly, his eyes full of resentment. "Wanting to use me to trade for a bright future? Wishful thinking!"

He looked ferocious.

Rather than die in humiliation, he would rather end it himself.

He immediately steeled his heart and bit down on his tongue with his upper and lower teeth.

"Bang!"

Liang Xuran keenly captured Niu Shounian's intention and was the first to kick him in the chest.

His whole body flew backward, and the action of preparing to end his own life was forced to an abrupt halt.

Peng Chong followed closely behind, knocking the stunned Xin Zhenghui to the ground with a punch...

The clan soldiers behind them didn't know where they got two rags, but they stuffed them into the mouths of the two.

"Still want to learn how to bite your tongue to commit suicide like in the plays?"

"Don't you know that this won't kill you?"

Liang Xuran stepped forward, placed a foot on Niu Shounian's potbelly, leaned over, and smiled.

"Mmph, mmph, mmph..."

Niu Shounian, his mouth blocked by the rag, lost the ability to speak and could only make sounds of unwillingness.

"Niu Shounian, oh Niu Shounian, when you were squeezing out our families before, did you ever think of today?"

Liang Xuran withdrew his foot, grabbed Niu Shounian by the neck, hooked a fierce look, leaned close to his ear, and said playfully.

Their Liang clan, Lv clan, and the other clans present had all been harassed and robbed by Niu's clan and others who had defected to the Tongtian Society.

Now the tables had turned, and it was time for revenge!

"Bang!"

Liang Xuran threw Niu Shounian heavily to the ground and kicked him fiercely, venting the resentment in his heart. "I'm telling you, you son of a bitch, I've decided to use you to trade for glory and wealth!"

"Hahahaha!"

Peng Chong was not to be outdone; he called over a few people behind him and did the same to Xin Zhenghui.

Seeing this, Lv Rui frowned slightly and reminded them at the right time: "Liang Xuran, Peng Chong, venting is one thing, but don't beat them to death!"

"That person outside the city specifically asked for them alive..."

Liang Xuran's movements paused and gradually slowed down. He looked at the bruised and swollen Niu Shounian on the ground and replied: "I have a sense of proportion..."

Night.

Outside Shanggui City.

Lv Rui led Liang Xuran, Peng Chong, and the others, guided by the Embroidered Attire Envoys, to the central military tent.

Chen Yan sat upright in the main seat, with high-ranking generals of the Qinzhou troops and cavalry lined up on his left and right.

Having just experienced two major battles and consecutive great victories, every gesture they made was filled with an unstoppable murderous intent.

Lv Rui stopped, observed the generals around him, looked cautiously at the person in the main seat who commanded these tiger-like warriors, and said respectfully: "Lord Chen Yan, we have kept you waiting..."

"Please forgive us!"

"Please forgive us!"

Liang Xuran and the others also bowed and apologized.

"No matter!"

Chen Yan waved his hand, smiled indifferently, and said slowly: "Good things take time, and good food is not afraid of being late..."

"We have known each other in spirit for a long time, and we have finally met!"

Regarding these Shanggui clans who had come to surrender, Chen Yan had already sent Embroidered Attire Envoys to contact them while on the warship to Qinzhou.

It wasn't until the corpses of Ba Guwu and other rebel generals were displayed at the city gate that these clans, who had been sitting on the fence and waiting to see how things would turn out, made their final decision...

To offer the city and surrender.

This seventeen-year-old young general truly had an extraordinary bearing; whether in speech or means, he was impeccable... Lv Rui muttered in his heart as he listened to the flawless and yet slightly intimidating words, immediately put on a flattering smile, and said sycophantically: "Lord Chen Yan, I have long admired your name!"

"We have long wanted to come and pay our respects, but we have always been troubled by the lack of opportunity..."

After saying this, he gave Liang Xuran a wink.

"My Lord, this is the meeting gift we have brought for you!"

Liang Xuran understood immediately, dragged the few people who were tied up in sacks behind him, and said respectfully: "Please accept it with a smile!"

"Niu Shounian?"

"Xin Zhenghui?"

"Pan Run?"

Name after name was called out by Yu Xingqing and the others; they were all rebel leaders in Shanggui City and heads of great clans.

"Not bad!"

Chen Yan stood up, walked forward, looked down at them one by one, patted Lv Rui on the shoulder, and smiled: "This was handled very beautifully..."

"My Lord, you flatter me!"

"Working for the Court is our duty..."

After Lv Rui said a few humble words, he studied Chen Yan's expression and asked tentatively: "I just don't know if Lord You's previous promise still holds...?"

At these words, his voice came to an abrupt halt.

But the content could not have been clearer.

These clans of theirs were most concerned about their own family interests...

"That is only natural."

Chen Yan smiled indifferently and said: "The Niu, Xin, Pan, Deng, and other great clans of Shanggui have enjoyed imperial grace for generations, yet they do not think of serving the country, but instead submit to the rebels and participate in the rebellion..."

After a pause, he continued: "In the future, the governance of Shanggui will still require the assistance and support of your clans!"

In just a few sentences, he defined the nature of the event and fulfilled his previous promise.

Chen Yan understood a principle deeply: to govern a place, one must cooperate with the local clans and support obedient new clans to replace the old ones...

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Hearing this, Lv Rui and the others were overjoyed and expressed their loyalty: "We will certainly follow the Court's orders, and we will serve with all our might until our dying day!"

"Whatever Lord Chen Yan commands, we will follow without hesitation!"

On everyone's face was undisguised excitement.

They had bet correctly.

The carp had leaped over the dragon gate; they had finally crossed that threshold and would completely replace the power of the Niu clan and others!

They would change from second-rate clans in Shanggui to first-rate ones and further their relationship with the Court.

Chen Yan paused, smiled enigmatically, and said meaningfully: "However, I must still remind you all: be loyal to Great Zhou, be loyal to the Court, and be loyal to the Grand Chancellor, and you shall have all the glory and wealth you could desire..."

"But do not follow in their footsteps!"

——

PS: Experts who often bite their tongues to commit suicide know that this is a misconception.

Although the tongue is rich in blood vessels, under normal circumstances, biting the tongue does not lead to massive blood loss.

Even if the blood vessels rupture, the amount of bleeding will not be very large because the human body has its own blood-clotting mechanism, which can stop the bleeding in a short time.