Chapter 96: Setting Out for Chang'an, the Assassin Who Followed on the Return Journey

"Good!"

Wang Kang replied repeatedly, knowing why Chen Yan wanted to brandish the butcher's knife himself....

It was not only to establish authority and reputation for taking over Qinzhou, but also to set an example for the other provinces of Great Zhou.

To make it clear what fate awaits those who dare to rebel.....

"Come, the two of us will toast you!" Pei Yanshao lifted his cup proactively, smiling.

"Cheers!"

The three clinked cups and each drank the Qinzhou Strong Liquor.

Chen Yan exhaled a puff of foul breath, as if recalling something, and said, "Brother Wang, in the previous battle at Longjishan, I deliberately wore down the original Qinzhou Soldiers, then rebuilt the Qinzhou Soldiers with elite conscripts....."

"Essentially we have eliminated Dugu Zhao's influence!"

"You can use them with confidence....."

On the night of entering Linwei, Chen Yan ordered You Xian to select battle‑ready troops, and deliberately assigned the commanders personally promoted by Dugu Zhao, Mo Zhengxi, and Cheng Yinan into the five thousand old, weak, and infirm soldiers treated as cannon fodder.

Borrowing the rebels' blades, the battle consumed roughly seventy to eighty soldiers.

"No wonder Grand Treasurer Da Zhongzai favors you; that's a clever tactic!" Wang Kang heard this, clenched his cup, widened his eyes, and exclaimed.

At that moment, even Wang Kang, who had served in the ranks for years, was greatly enlightened!

"This is the current roster of Qinzhou Soldiers' commanders, indicating their family members and relatives....."

Chen Yan again took two booklets from his chest, handed the upper one to Wang Kang, and said with a teasing tone, "How to master control; with Brother Wang's ability, I suppose no further words are needed, right?"

The four characters "family members and relatives" were enunciated with great emphasis.

The implication was self‑evident.

Those people are the most fatal weak points!

It was something Chen Yan specifically ordered the embroidered‑clad messenger to collect urgently....

With this in hand, there is no need to worry about the Qinzhou Soldiers' loyalty.

"Thank you!"

Wang Kang filled his cup, lifted it solemnly, and said seriously, "Your humble brother toasts you!"

Obviously, Wang Kang understood what this meant, and also how many matters could be saved....

This brother is worth befriending!

After Chen Yan and Wang Kang clinked cups, Chen Yan pushed the lower booklet to Pei Yanshao, laughing, "Brother Pei, this is the roster of newly supported noble families...."

"A Yan, you have thought of this!"

Pei Yanshao nodded, reached out to take it, and also raised his cup.

Governing a region requires reliance on the local noble families.

With this roster, one can more quickly begin to win over, pressure, and divide or unite.

Make those local tyrants submit, forced to cling to imperial authority.....

After three rounds of drinking.

Chen Yan did not immediately return to his quarters to rest, but instead went to find the Divine Doctor Disciple he had rescued halfway.

She had just returned from treating wounded soldiers.

"Miss Yun Xi, we need to prepare to leave....."

"Where are we going?"

"Are we to break camp and attack Jixian?"

Yun Xi blinked, still thinking, as before, that we were heading to the next station to quell rebellion.

"No!"

"We are returning to Chang'an...."

Chen Yan shook his head and said, "The war in Qinzhou has been fully taken over by the newly appointed Military Governor of Qin Prefecture!"

"Are you willing...."

But before the rest of the sentence could be spoken, Yun Xi jumped ahead, her big watery eyes asking, "Brother A Yan, can you take me with you?"

That conflicted expression seemed as if she had mustered great courage.

In her beautiful eyes was full of expectation.

"Ah?!"

Chen Yan was startled, his whole body frozen.

Caught completely off guard.

He had come not to say goodbye, but to persuade her to take the Mobile Blood Bag with him.

But before he could utter his full scheme, he already received the answer he wanted....

Before Chen Yan could react, Yun Xi began to explain her "value", hurriedly saying, "You... you will surely need a Physician during future campaigns, right?"

"I can contribute, and won't become a burden to you....."

"I have never been to Chang'an either....."

One reason after another was fabricated.

Yun Xi truly did not want to part.

The more she spoke, the more pitiful she seemed.

"How could I think you are a burden?"

Chen Yan came to his senses, chose his words carefully, and soothed,

paused briefly, then continued, "These past days your skill has revived the wounded, saving so many patients; everyone is grateful to you!"

This was not a fabrication by Chen Yan to comfort the girl, but a sincere truth.

Her medical skill is evident to all, having saved an unknown number of wounded soldiers.

"Could you take me with you to Chang'an?" Yun Xi clenched her satchel with both hands, stared straight at Chen Yan, and asked cautiously.

"Of course."

Chen Yan's mouth twitched upward slightly, and he said resolutely, "Miss Yun, your wish to go to Chang'an is something I could not ask for enough!"

"Really?!"

Yun Xi rejoiced, her eyes shining, but then seemed to recall something, pretended to be shy and said, "But if I go to Chang'an, I have nowhere to settle…"

"My residence in Chang'an is still sizable, my family wealth is solid; as long as Miss Yun does not mind…" Chen Yan said.

"I don't mind!"

"I don't mind!"

Yun Xi blurted it out, unable to hide her excitement.

At that moment, Yun Xi felt grateful that she had a clever little brain…

She actually thought of using retreat as advance!

Chen Yan, witnessing this scene, felt bewildered, thinking to himself, "Um…"

"Who is trafficking whom here?"

In the shadowy forest completely engulfed by night.

They, like a shadow hidden in darkness, stood silently.

Moonlight struggled to pierce the heavy clouds, scattering a few mottled beams on the ground.

They wore tight black garments of a special fabric that fit their bodies perfectly and made no sound when they moved.

Their faces were covered with equally pitch‑black masks, revealing only a pair of eyes that were like deep pools on a cold night, unfathomably deep and seemingly filled with endless murderous chill.

"Sir, that Court Vermilion Bird Mirror Officer is traveling by water…"

Following all the way, Zhu Yinshan finally lowered his voice and asked, "Why are we pursuing that group traveling by land?"

"According to the information from the Dark Agent in Shanggui, the boat traveling by water is a feint…"

Sheng Chaowen stared intently at the distant prey ahead and replied softly, "But that Chen Yan fellow is truly traveling by land!"

They had already learned of Chen Yan's return to the Capital and received orders to assassinate him.

Their tailing all the way was merely waiting for the chance…

"Could that Chen Yan be foreseeing the future?!"

"We had already calculated it, and we still have to chase and kill?!"

Zhu Yinshan was stunned, full of doubt, covering his mouth and exclaiming in surprise.

Using a feint indicates that the news of the pursuit has already leaked…

"Foreseeing the future, what a joke!"

Sheng Chaowen let out a cold snort, gritted his teeth and said, "It's Niu Shounian and Xin Zhenghui, those two idiots!"

Thinking of this, Sheng Chaowen became incensed beyond measure.

If those two hadn't threatened him before death, that damned Chen Yan wouldn't have become wary.

Utterly foolish!

"But what does Chen Yan's caution matter?"

Zhu Yinshan raised an eyebrow, indifferent, and said, "In the end, the Dao rises a foot while the demon rises a yard!"

"When will we strike to execute?"

The weapons at his waist were already famished with thirst.

"Ten li ahead!"

Sheng Chaowen sneered, "The host has chosen a burial place for him…"

He did not finish his sentence.

Yet a sudden anomaly erupted around them.

Leaves on all sides rustled violently, and causing this.

"Where did those massive nets come from?"

Sheng Chaowen sensed the oddity and quickly judged, "Bad!"

"We've been trapped!"

"Quick, disperse and retreat!"

Even a fool can see that this is an ambush…

The group of black‑clad figures instantly scattered like startled birds.

"Retreat?"

"Rebel of the Tongtian Society, can you still escape?"

A pair of sharp eyes fixed on them.

In the forest, white plumes rose at an unknown moment.

In the moonlight they appeared even more translucent…