Chapter 34: What Strategy to Adopt

Qingyang County, Garrison Mansion.

Bailong knelt on the ground, trembling, his heart in turmoil.

Disaster has struck!

Looking at the dozens of treasure ships in the sky and the mighty Imperial Guard troops, Bailong wailed in his heart.

Imperial Guard Commander Tong Linghu led the team personally, and two of the four Commanders of the Xuan Yi Wei had come. It was said that the major families in the Capital, in order to curry favor with the Nine Thousand Years Old, had even stuffed their own direct descendants and their forces into this anti-bandit team.

"Bailong, do you know your crime!"

The voice arrived before the person. Tong Linghu's voice was like a thunderclap, striking directly at the bottom of Bailong's heart.

"This subordinate is guilty; I ask the Great General to punish me." Bailong dared not refute, trembling as he prostrated himself on the ground.

"Hmph, punishment!"

Several long rainbows flashed, and more than a dozen people landed in front of Bailong, with Tong Linghu at the lead.

Now that the Nine Thousand Years Old was in charge of the government, Tong Linghu naturally took over this errand. There were two reasons: first, Tong Linghu was loyal to the Great Chu center, and second, Tong Linghu had profound cultivation.

Li Xianzhi had entrusted that this time, ten True Gods must come out, and there must be a Half-step Supreme powerhouse to hold the line.

With Li Xianzhi giving such instructions, the Nine Thousand Years Old naturally had to take it seriously. Even Xiao Xuan, the thousand-year-old little turtle, was dispatched by the Nine Thousand Years Old to follow the anti-bandit team in secret.

"Come, tie up the criminal general Bailong for me. Wait for this commander to handle the trivial matters, and then I will come to question his crimes."

As soon as Tong Linghu's voice fell, several Imperial Guard soldiers in golden armor pressed Bailong firmly to the ground.

"My Lord, you cannot do this."

Bailong was anxious. He had thought Tong Linghu would only reprimand him a few times, but he did not expect that he would really be punished, without giving him any chance to defend himself.

Bailong struggled desperately, his eyes constantly glancing at the military officers of the Garrison Mansion. The military officers present understood Bailong's meaning, but Tong Linghu was too terrifying, making them struggle internally.

However, the Garrison Mansion shared the same fate; they were all involved in this incident to some extent.

Dozens of military officers, after some struggle, knelt together and cupped their hands.

"I ask the Great Commander to think twice."

"Great Commander, this incident happened suddenly, and now the bandits are powerful. It is a time when people are needed. I ask the Commander to forgive General Bailong's crime of negligence and let him make amends for his crimes—wouldn't that be better!"

A military officer stared fixedly at Tong Linghu, his heart trembling. This person was none other than Bailong's deputy general. He knew well the mistake Bailong had made this time; if Bailong really fell, and some things were uncovered, he would not be able to escape either.

Tong Linghu did not speak, his tiger eyes scanning the surroundings. Everyone trembled, fearing that if this person was unhappy, he would kill them all.

Tong Linghu was famous for his reputation; he commanded the army with ruthless means. For Tong Linghu, there was no need for evidence to kill someone.

"Lord Tong, why not deal with this Bailong after the matter is over? Beheading a general before a battle might shake the morale of the army. Father has strict requirements for this matter, and I am afraid there will be mistakes." Li Hongyu was seeing such a big scene for the first time, and she could not help but feel a little nervous.

Tong Linghu frowned slightly. If someone else had said such words at this moment, Tong Linghu would probably have beheaded that person as well, but with Li Hongyu saying this, Tong Linghu could only feel helpless.

This young lady was too young and had shallow experience.

"Commander Hongyu, you don't understand this matter. The Garrison Mansion governs the military and political affairs of a region. If it weren't for this dog thing indulging or colluding with those bandits, it would never have been defeated again and again." Tong Linghu whispered to explain to Li Hongyu slowly.

"Is that so?"

Li Hongyu's face was flushed red; she had thought too simply. "Commander Tong, it was my words."

Li Qingxian and Lin Lan Yu saw Li Hongyu's embarrassment and looked at each other.

They absolutely could not let the young lady be unable to step down. They had already received a scolding from the Ancestor, and the future of the Xuan Yi Wei depended on the young lady in front of them.

Li Qingxian's brain worked at high speed. Having been in charge of the Great Chu's intelligence agency for many years, he knew what kind of thing this Bailong was; Li Qingxian did not even need to interrogate him to know that there must be a problem with the person in front of him.

"Lord Tong, let's speak a step away."

Li Qingxian pulled Tong Linghu.

"Commander Lin, have I caused trouble?" Seeing Li Qingxian and Tong Linghu behind the crowd, Li Hongyu hung her head, like a child who had made a mistake.

"Silly child, not at all. You said it very well; I think what you said is very good." Lin Lan Yu pulled Li Hongyu over with a smile and held her in her arms, avoiding Li Hongyu's continued embarrassment. "If you don't believe me, you can ask General Bai. Is what our Commander Hongyu said very reasonable?" Lin Lan Yu teased, looking at Bailong, who was kneeling on the ground as if waiting to die.

Lin Lan Yu knew exactly what Li Qingxian was planning. Old Li was best at fishing; Bailong was probably Old Li's hook. They had hundreds of years of experience in handling cases, and many things did not even need evidence; they could guess seven or eight out of ten just by looking at them.

"Yes, yes, this Commander's words are reasonable, reasonable." It was not easy for someone to speak for him, and it seemed to have caused Commander Tong's concerns. How could Bailong give up this opportunity? He kowtowed to Li Hongyu repeatedly to thank her.

I don't know what Li Qingxian said, but Tong Linghu, who turned back, seemed to be a different person, completely without the seriousness he had just now.

"Hongyu, no matter what happens later, don't speak." Lin Lan Yu whispered a warning to Li Hongyu.

Tong Linghu had such cultivation that he heard all of Lin Lan Yu's words. He was really afraid that Li Hongyu would say something else later, making it difficult for him, so he looked gratefully at Lin Lan Yu, who was smiling like a flower.

Lin Lan Yu nodded at Tong Linghu, accepting his gratitude.

Bailong was a bit confused; he could not understand the situation on the field at all.

Just as Bailong was stunned, Tong Linghu suddenly laughed loudly.

"General Bailong, were you scared? It is this commander's fault. Commander Hongyu just said it very well; beheading a general before a battle is inauspicious, and with Commander Li's advice, our dynasty has always had strict laws. It is indeed my fault to punish General Bailong for no reason. General Bailong will not blame me, will you?"

Tong Linghu pinched Bailong's shoulder and lifted him up directly.

The kind where his feet were off the ground.

Bailong was about to cry. Did he dare to blame him? Bailong looked at Tong Linghu's smiling-but-hiding-a-knife expression and almost peed his pants. As long as he dared to say a word of "no," Bailong was convinced that this guy in front of him would tear him into pieces in an instant.

"Great Commander Tong is overthinking. This criminal general is too grateful to have any blame. This subordinate guarantees that I will make amends for my crimes and will not hesitate to offer this lowly life for the Commander's great cause of suppressing bandits."

"Good man!"

Tong Linghu seemed very satisfied with Bailong's answer. Li Qingxian squinted at the two of them performing seriously.

When it comes to fighting, he, Old Li, is not good, but when it comes to investigating cases and intelligence, it still has to be him, Old Li.

There were people from the Xuan Yi Wei in the Garrison Mansion, and Li Qingxian knew very well that Bailong had been colluding with a group of strangers recently. Releasing Bailong now, Bailong would be afraid and would definitely look for help, and then they could dig out all those people behind the scenes to satisfy the Ancestor. Most importantly, releasing Bailong would also save the young lady's face.

Li Qingxian looked intoxicated; he was simply too witty!

The only person on the scene who was a bit confused was probably Li Hongyu. However, Lin Lan Yu kept pressing Li Hongyu's hand, so Li Hongyu could not ask anything on the spot. ===== CHAPTER 35 =====