Chapter 92

"Understood!"

"Our loyalty is witnessed by heaven and earth, and can be verified by the sun and moon!"

Lv Rui and the others, stared at by that gaze, felt their scalps go numb and bowed in unison to continue expressing their loyalty.

They felt an unprecedented sense of pressure from this superior, who appeared to be quite young.

"That is good!"

Chen Yan smiled indifferently, waved his hand to signal Lv Rui and the others to retreat to the sides, and signaled You Xian to remove the rags blocking the mouths of the "meeting gifts."

Unexpectedly, after Xin Zhenghui's mouth was unbound, he didn't even look at Chen Yan, but instead stared at the newly organized generals in the tent and cursed: "Yu Xingqing, Duan Hu, you traitors!"

"You faithless beasts!"

"To think you have not a shred of integrity and have defected to this brat Chen Yan!"

Xin Zhenghui had originally thought that in the battle at Longji Mountain, these people had all died in battle...

But he never expected that after arriving at this central military tent, he would see so many familiar faces!

They were all his former subordinates...

And they had defected to the enemy, wearing the Court's military uniforms.

You spineless things!

"Hmph!"

Yu Xingqing, who was named, gave a light snort, stepped forward, and said righteously: "We are abandoning darkness for light!"

A good bird chooses its tree to nest in.

They were not slaves, not vassals; they had the right to choose a better future.

"Bang!"

Yu Xingqing raised his hand, swung his arm in a full circle, and slapped him across the face.

"Ah!"

Caught off guard, Xin Zhenghui let out a miserable scream, and several of his molars were slapped out.

"Keep your mouth clean!"

"How dare you be disrespectful to Lord Chen Yan!"

Yu Xingqing immediately grabbed Xin Zhenghui and said sternly.

"Do you really think Chen Yan will let you off?"

Seeing this, Niu Shounian sneered and mocked: "When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked!"

"When the birds are gone, the good bow is hidden!"

"You are still alive now only because you still have utility!"

"Once a rebel, always a rebel!"

Niu Shounian became more and more agitated as he spoke.

He looked completely insane.

But his words were all meant to strike at the heart.

He kept trying to stir the nerves of the surrendered generals.

"Hahahaha!"

Seeing this, Chen Yan clapped his hands, laughed heartily, and said loudly: "Who hasn't made mistakes or taken the wrong path when they were young?"

"These people now all have military merits and are heroes of our Great Zhou!"

"Not only will they live very well, but they will also be given important responsibilities!"

"They will be promoted, and their descendants will be honored!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed at Yu Xingqing, Duan Hu, and the others one by one.

"Glib-tongued!"

"You speak better than you sing!"

"Who can't say high-sounding, pretty words?"

Niu Shounian didn't hesitate at all, immediately retorted, and then looked hysterically at Yu Xingqing and the others, roaring: "Wait for the regret when you are reckoned with!"

In Niu Shounian's view, this was just a blank check.

Chen Yan could speak so nicely only because these traitors still had utility at this stage...

Once they were squeezed dry, they would be cleared away without hesitation!

This guy acts like he's eaten something crazy... Chen Yan muttered in his heart, and asked calmly: "Niu Shounian, guess who helped me win the battle at Yingsun Valley?"

"It... it was..."

Niu Shounian was stunned. A bold and crazy thought appeared in his mind. He looked at Chen Yan in disbelief, "You actually dare to use surrendered generals and soldiers?!"

He almost roared the last half of the sentence.

Having fought many times, Niu Shounian knew that Chen Yan didn't play by the rules, but he never expected that he would dare to use surrendered generals and soldiers to besiege a point and strike reinforcements?!

Wasn't he afraid that these people would turn against him in the middle of the battle?

What kind of courage and self-confidence was this!

"My subordinates have genuinely defected, so I naturally trust and reuse them, entrusting them with important positions!"

Chen Yan casually placed his hand on Duan Hu's shoulder and smiled.

Every word revealed his confidence.

Did you really think that the weapon of ideology was a useless ornament?

Moreover, following him meant a bright future, glory, wealth, and honors for their wives and children; no one could resist this temptation!

"Son of a bitch, still trying to sow discord!"

"I'll beat you to death!"

Yu Xingqing rushed out and punched Niu Shounian in the face.

It looked like an angry strike, but in reality, it was a secret expression of loyalty, representing the newly organized generals drawing a line with him.

Not long after, he was pulled back by the people around him.

"Chen Yan, I really underestimated your methods!"

Niu Shounian laughed crazily, his eyes bloodshot, staring straight at Chen Yan.

After a pause, he changed the subject and continued: "But don't think that just because you won two battles and took in these traitors, you can have the last laugh!"

"The Tongtian Society will not let you walk out of Qinzhou alive!"

He, Niu Shounian, had lost, but they hadn't lost yet!

"The Tongtian Society, eh?" Chen Yan was calm, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, but his smile was a bit chilling.

"My Lord, how should these rebel leaders be dealt with?" You Xian stepped forward and asked.

"Imprison them first, and when the funerals for Inspector Mo and Governor Cheng are held, execute them by waist-chopping as a blood sacrifice!" Chen Yan smiled lightly, his gaze sweeping over Niu Shounian and the others, and said indifferently.

If you're going to put on a show, you have to do it right; the face-saving project must be fully executed.

This was an excellent opportunity for political posturing, so naturally, he had to seize it well!

He had to make those people die for a cause...

"Yes." You Xian noted it down and replied.

Chen Yan pursed his lips, thought for a moment, and said calmly: "As for the Niu, Xin, Pan, Deng, and other clans that defected to the rebels, exterminate their three clans!"

After a pause, he added: "Outside of the three clans, castrate all the males!"

According to the Great Zhou law, exterminating the three clans was true, but Chen Yan's methods were quite flexible; naturally, he had ways to cut off the bloodlines of these clans...

"Chen Yan, you will die a horrible death!"

"A horrible death!"

Niu Shounian and Xin Zhenghui never expected Chen Yan to be so sinister and ruthless. They struggled like madmen and cursed.

"You won't be able to see my end..." Chen Yan shrugged and said, striking at their hearts.

"Why haven't you taken them away to be imprisoned yet!" Seeing this, You Xian said loudly.

The soldiers guarding outside the tent entered upon hearing the order, blocked the mouths of Niu Shounian and the others again, and dragged them away.

Chen Yan walked to the main seat, turned around, and said loudly and sternly: "Everyone, does anyone still remember what I said to you when I left Chang'an?"

"My Lord, you said you would make our trip worthwhile!"

"To loot to our heart's content, and return with full pockets!"

He Ba Le, who had been at the scene, answered quickly.

"That's right!"

"Not a word off!"

Chen Yan snapped his fingers and confirmed.

After a pause, he continued: "Now it is time for me to fulfill my promise!"

"It is also time for you, who have fought bloody battles and paid so much, to reap the rewards!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the generals in the central military tent all looked sideways and fell silent, holding their breath.

Undisguised excitement could be seen in their eyes.

"The people in Shanggui City cannot be touched!"

Chen Yan smiled indifferently and said: "But the gold, silver, jewelry, silk, fields, women, industries, and slaves of the Niu, Xin, and other clans—you may take them as you please!"

"For things you cannot carry away, you may find the merchants accompanying the army to exchange them for ready silver!"

Chen Yan had not forgotten that gentleman's principle of governing the army: do not take a single needle or thread from the people.

Besides, the common people didn't have much wealth anyway...

It was far better to strike the rich and distribute the land, directly slaughtering the ready-made fat sheep that had gathered together!

The voice fell.

It immediately caused the central military tent to boil over.

The effort finally had a reward!

Those clans that had entrenched themselves in Qinzhou for over a hundred years were all dripping with wealth...

"My Lord, do we have a share too?" Duan Hu stepped forward and asked tentatively.

"Duan Hu, aren't you my subordinates?"

Chen Yan glanced sideways and asked in return: "Aren't you meritorious officials?"

Duan Hu and the other generals understood the implication and said in unison: "Thank you, My Lord!"

Chen Yan held his head high, waved his hand, and ordered: "Go!"

"Enter the city!"

"Let go and loot!"

"Whoever loots the least, don't say they are soldiers brought out by me, Chen Yan!"

Inside Shanggui City.

Inspector's Office.

Chen Yan was studying the next deployment when You Xian walked in quickly with something in his hand, stopped, bowed, and said: "My Lord, we have searched out some letters from the rebel leaders..."

"Your subordinate thinks that you will definitely be interested in the objects of this correspondence!"

——

PS: How did ancient soldiers bring back the things they looted after winning a battle?

Currently, no domestic TV series, movies, or documentaries have restored this.

In fact, real ancient battlefields were not just armies; there were also merchants, slave traders, and other auxiliary personnel accompanying the army.

By the way, please give a five-star book review to raise the pitiful rating, mwah (づ￣3￣)づ