Chapter 95: Handing Over Qinzhou's Military and Civil Administration—Better to Mistakenly Kill Than to Let Them Go Free

Evening.

Inspector's Office.

"Pei brother, Wang brother, today's funeral matters are numerous and complicated; please be patient with us!"

"Please forgive us!"

Chen Yan bowed his hands toward Pei Yanshao and Wang Kang, expressing his apology.

"No problem, the deceased is paramount, the main matter is urgent!"

Pei Yanshao smiled lightly, understood without words, looked at Chen Yan with interest, and said meaningfully.

He is not a narrow‑minded person; he can discern weight and urgency clearly...

Compared with political posturing, receiving them is of no significance!

After all, once this "funeral" is handled, it brings unspeakable benefits to everyone...

"We're all brothers, no need to be so formal..." Wang Kang, unbothered, said in a hearty, straightforward manner.

"Elder brothers, you've traveled hard; I've ordered a modest wine prepared to welcome you..."

Chen Yan nodded and bowed, making a gesture of invitation.

"Then it's better to obey than to be merely respectful!" Pei Yanshao and Wang Kang exchanged a glance and said in unison.

Inside the house.

The three sat down, while each of their guards waited outside the door.

On the table were dishes that were colorful, fragrant, and flavorful, extremely sumptuous.

"These are local Qinzhou dishes; though they can't compare to Chang'an, they have their own distinct flavor..."

Chen Yan gave a brief introduction, then lifted the wine jar, filled the cups before the three, raised his glass and laughed, "I, the younger brother, toast the two elder brothers!"

"Cheers!"

Pei Yanshao and Wang Kang were also straightforward; after clinking glasses, each drank in one gulp.

"Enjoyable!"

"Enjoyable!"

Wang Kang drank three more cups of Qinzhou Strong Liquor with Chen Yan, continuously gulping, feeling completely refreshed, praising, "I, old Wang, just love drinking with someone like you, A Yan..."

He is a martial person, without so many twists and turns.

One's drinking character reflects one's character; Wang Kang now finds Chen Yan increasingly pleasing to the eye.

He inexplicably feels a sense of having met too late.

But Pei Yanshao sensed an unusual hint, kept appraising Chen Yan, and calmly asked, "A Yan, you only left the two of us to host this banquet; it shouldn't be just for a welcome, right?"

If it were purely a welcome, why did the party, which came with so many people, only invite the two of them?

No matter how Pei Yanshao looked at it, he felt it was like the old drunk's intention not being the wine...

Probably there is an important matter to discuss!

"Nothing can be hidden from Brother Pei!"

Hearing that, Chen Yan's mouth corner lifted slightly, he calmly admitted and said straight, "We all serve the Grand Tomb Steward; I won't beat around the bush..."

Originally, Chen Yan planned to discuss the next matters after three rounds of wine.

But since Pei Yanshao pointed it out, he'll just be open about it...

Anyway, the two being sent out by the Grand Tomb Steward are trustworthy.

"Let's get straight to the point!"

"Let's talk while we drink..."

Wang Kang raised his cup, clinked it with Chen Yan, and laughed.

As for what to discuss, Wang Kang wasn't very interested; he just wanted to drink heartily now.

"You drunkard, all you see is drinking..."

Pei Yanshao, seeing this, cast a sidelong glance and scolded.

He paused briefly, then continued, "Don't let the main matter be delayed!"

After Wang Kang drank in one gulp, he restrained his casual demeanor, waved his hand, indicating for them to continue.

Though he likes drinking, he can control it, never letting drinking cause mistakes...

Otherwise, the Grand Tomb Steward wouldn't trust him to command Qinzhou military affairs.

"Brother Pei, Brother Wang, please have a look!"

Chen Yan took out a pre‑prepared scroll from his chest and spread it out.

Mountains, rivers, and cities immediately came into view.

"Is this a map of Qinzhou?"

Pei Yanshao stared closely, recognized what it was, noticed the red markings, thought briefly, and asked, "Could this red circle be the reclaimed territory...?"

On the way here, Pei Yanshao had already studied the Qinzhou map.

The annotations on this one before him were far more detailed than his own, showing how much effort had been put in.

"Exactly."

Chen Yan nodded, raised his hand to point at the map, and began speaking steadily, "We set an ambush in Eagle Hawk Valley, retook Shanggui City, leveraged the might of the Great Victory troops, and issued proclamations to reclaim the surrounding lost lands..."

As he spoke, his fingertips continuously traced and moved over the red circle centered on Shanggui.

During these days, Chen Yan hadn't been idle for a moment.

Besides preparing the funeral, he also used the Great Victory troops' power, supplemented by generous pacification policies, and almost single‑handedly captured the vast majority of the surrounding lost territories.

Chen Yan's military prowess was indeed impressive... Pei Yanshao listened quietly, also examined the map, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Pei Yanshao is a civil official, but has also read military texts; he is knowledgeable about warfare.

Able to devise countless clever strategies for war, able to combine reward and punishment after battle, keeping war costs at the lowest and maximizing profit....

These things are easy to talk about, yet few can accomplish them!

Moreover, a judgment has taken root in his mind: given time, this child will become a renowned general of the age.

Combining ingenuity and force, attacking on many fronts, this ability must have left Chen Tongyuan far behind, countless streets away... Wang Kang's eyes gleamed, a slight curve rose at the corner of his mouth, and he hummed to himself.

As the saying goes, outsiders watch the spectacle, insiders see the fundamentals.

Wang Kang has studied the two battles Chen Yan fought, and now hears this seasoned man's follow‑up plans in person; he can be certain that the great victory was no accident!

Wang Kang also knows Chen Tongyuan, whose ability is mediocre, a hopeless A‑dou; the skills of this father‑son pair are worlds apart, a vast chasm.

No matter how you look at it, it seems like Chen Lao Zhuguo—his big title is useless, he deliberately trained a small one.

Chen Yan spoke methodically, then raised his voice, "So, now within the entire Qinzhou, only this place remains....."

"Still holding a desperate resistance, making a final struggle!"

Speaking, his fingertip landed on the location of Tianshui Commandery, Jixian.

That is, the birthplace of the riot, the rebel army's main base.

Wang Kang refocused his thoughts and asked earnestly, "A Yan, how do you plan to fight this battle?"

"How should the two of us cooperate with you?"

Obviously, Wang Kang was already rubbing his fists in anticipation.

To be able to cooperate fully with such a young general, how could one not be excited?

"No!"

Chen Yan shook his head, his gaze sharp, and said gravely, "This final battle to quell the rebellion requires you, Brother Wang, to fight!"

"A Yan, what do you mean by that?"

Wang Kang, full of anticipation, was left bewildered by the sudden words and immediately exclaimed excitedly, "How could I unjustly seize your merit?"

"What kind of person have you taken old Wang for?"

His expression contained a hint of anger.

It is true that Wang Kang is a military man who has not read much, but he acts with integrity, so how could he commit a petty act of stealing credit?

"Brother Wang, you have misunderstood...."

Chen Yan saw this, both amused and exasperated, and explained, "The Grand Treasury Minister has already sent a Secret Letter, ordering me, after you two arrive, to immediately hand over military and civil affairs and return to Chang'an!"

That Secret Letter was delivered by the Mingjing Office, so it arrived far earlier than they did.

"How can this be?"

Wang Kang twisted his brows into a knot, protesting, "How could the Grand Treasury Minister treat you so....."

But before he could finish, Pei Yanshao cut in, "You drunkard, can't you see the Grand Treasury Minister's sincere intentions toward A Yan?"

Saying that, he shook his head helplessly.

"What?" Wang Kang was stunned, his mind clouded.

"They have let you command; this final battle to quell the rebellion is meant for us to smoothly take over Qinzhou!" Pei Yanshao sighed, his gaze deep as he looked at Chen Yan, and said.

An outsider official must secure his footing; to win the local forces' trust, he needs to earn merit and establish authority.

"You are even willing to do this?"

Wang Kang was startled, suddenly enlightened, and asked, "To hand over this final merit...."

He never imagined that Chen Yan, with such outstanding military ability, could also be so upright and noble.

To pave the way for them, he was willing to sacrifice his own merit....

Know that the rebel elite are all annihilated; Jixian is the final decisive blow!

Chen Yan was unperturbed, smiled lightly, waved his hand and said, "Just a trivial merit; compared with the bigger picture, it is hardly worth mentioning!"

What Pei and Wang did not know is that this Secret Letter was actually sent by Chen Yan himself, at his own request.

He knew clearly that steadfastly protecting the Grand Treasury Minister's interests would inevitably bring benefits.

"A Yan, do you have any instructions for the battle of Jixian?" Wang Kang nodded heavily, full of admiration, and asked.

"Kill!"

Chen Yan did not hesitate, shouting sharply, "Better to kill the wrong one than let anyone go free!"

"The clan register names them!"

"Those with double hearts shall be slain, heads rolling, bloodlines cut off, as a warning to others!"