Chapter 96: Troops Arrive at Kezhou

Qingyang Shuo.

He sat steadily in the Yinzhou Prefecture.

Yet, one military order after another was issued, leaving people unable to keep up with the pace.

First, he sent a letter to Liangzhou, stating: "The County Marquis of Kezhou Prefecture, Mou Chengxiang, suffered massive losses in trade and, in a fit of rage, disregarded the laws of the King and the welfare of the people, dispatching troops to Yinzhou. State Marquis Liu Dahao, mindful of the camaraderie between colleagues, has retreated thirty miles. We hope the Inspector will soon uphold justice."

To show his seriousness, he ordered a messenger to ride at full speed, expecting to reach Liangzhou in four days.

Then, Qingyang Shuo ordered Jiang Xuan to transport the grain and fodder to Yinzhou in batches, leaving a small amount to lure the enemy, and strategically abandoning Zhangzhuang Village, Wang Family Village, and Qiaoba Village, leaving grain in each of the three villages before setting up heavy ambushes—this was sent via carrier pigeon.

He ordered the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce in Kezhou City to sell grain at high prices and had scouts incite the populace to create chaos in Kezhou—this was inflation, meant to unsettle the hearts of the people.

After annihilating Mou Chengxiang, the Yinzhou Army would enter Kezhou to stabilize the situation and seize power—referencing the Yangzhou incident.

By then, the Liangzhou Prefecture would likely have only just received the "plea for help," too far away to intervene, and could only sigh in frustration.

Everything was so methodical.

It must be said that Qingyang Shuo's grasp of the overall situation was simply perfect, down to the smallest detail, reflecting the world at large. To him, all of this was a chess game; he placed his pieces with ease, and the Great Trend was already set. After Mou Chengxiang lost the treasury silver, he was furious and, no longer caring about any laws, lost his head immediately, raising his five thousand Garrison troops to set out on a personal campaign.

Although the advisors around him kept urging him that this did not conform to the Longyan laws, Mou Chengxiang had already lost his reason by this time—the treasury silver and grain were all gone, so what laws did he care about? When the father and son of the Liu Family in Yinzhou played their tricks, did they care about any laws?

Little did he know, in this era, there were no legal regulations for economic market crimes. Although Yinzhou's actions this time were a bit toxic, they did not trigger the Longyan laws; on this point alone, Kezhou had already fallen behind.

But at this moment, how could Mou Chengxiang care about so much?

Wearing heavy armor, he set out on the campaign himself.

"Hahaha, look at those cowards from Yinzhou, what are they afraid of? Hurry up and move it, transport the grain!"

At the first stop, Zhangzhuang Village, seeing Jiang Xuan's army "fleeing in panic," Mou Chengxiang laughed heartily, sweeping away the gloom of the past few days of losses, and shouted: "Chase them for me, keep chasing!"

"My Lord, you absolutely must not!"

"This is already within the borders of Yinzhou; it is not permitted by reason or law!"

"My Lord, beware that the enemy is luring us deep!"

Who would have thought that Mou Chengxiang, already having lost his head, would coldly snort: "Luring me deep? You don't know that Liu Dahao is just a wine-bag and rice-sack, what is there to fear? His son, Liu Zheng, is not in Yinzhou recently; there is no one in the army, and a mere boy is in charge. Look at that general, he is just a sixteen-year-old yellow-mouthed child, what is there to fear?"

The others continued to advise him.

Only then did Mou Chengxiang angrily say: "We are not attacking cities or seizing land, just let me plunder a bit before returning! Everyone, rest assured, I know the Yinzhou army is strong, so I will definitely return to Kezhou before their main force arrives!"

With bitter persuasion yielding no results, the Kezhou officials cried out in their hearts; some fled on the spot, while others, for the sake of their futures, had no choice but to follow. To recover his losses and reputation, Mou Chengxiang pressed his troops forward again, taking three more villages and seizing back two hundred thousand piculs of grain!

At this, the advisors tried to persuade him again.

But Mou Chengxiang saw Jiang Xuan's fleeing figure and, with the grain as bait, how could he care about these things?

"My Kezhou Cavalry is as swift as the wind; we will attack one more city and then return!"

He had already said these words several times, yet this time, his five thousand cavalry were destined never to return.

There was a distance between Qiaoba Village and Luozhuang Village, and the road was not easy to travel; not only did they have to pass through a canyon, but there was also a large river nearby, which was the reason everyone had urged him to retreat. But Mou Chengxiang felt that the Yinzhou main army had not yet arrived, and he could still snatch some more back.

The five thousand cavalry galloped through in succession.

Mou Chengxiang felt it was a smooth path with nothing to worry about, but just as they reached the canyon, sounds of killing suddenly erupted from all directions, deafening and ear-splitting, startling many of the War Horses. The sounds of killing and the echoes of the canyon were like the Ten Ambush, as if divine soldiers had descended from heaven.

Jiang Xuan had long been lying in ambush here. Seeing that Mou Chengxiang had finally entered the trap, he could not help but ride forward and laugh loudly: "County Marquis Mou, do you insult my Yinzhou by saying we have no men?"

Seeing the canyon filled with a dark mass of people, Mou Chengxiang realized he had fallen into an ambush and his face changed instantly: "There is an ambush, retreat!"

Jiang Xuan sneered: "Retreat to where? Charge for me!"

At the order, the cavalry went first, followed by the infantry, crossbowmen, Mo Dao Soldiers, and Spearmen—a full ten thousand elite troops surged forward.

Mou Chengxiang was so frightened his face turned pale, and he issued orders to flee. However, Jiang Xuan had long been counting on this battle to make a name for himself; how could he give such a wine-bag and rice-sack a chance to turn the tables? With ten thousand elite troops charging, the panicked Kezhou soldiers had no chance to resist. In Jiang Xuan's battle formation, they became lambs waiting to be slaughtered.

For a time, sounds of killing, screams, and wails rose one after another.

"My life is over!"

Only now did Mou Chengxiang realize that all of this was a trap set for him by Kezhou, and despair began to spread.

In this battle, Jiang Xuan's ten thousand elite troops annihilated all five thousand of Kezhou's cavalry with a loss of only eight hundred. Of course, the "annihilation" here did not mean total destruction. Jiang Xuan still held back, only beheading Mou Chengxiang and some officials. As for the other cavalry, he merely disarmed them and took them prisoner; after all, facing Jiang Xuan's battle formation, these people had long lost their fighting spirit, and seeing Mou Chengxiang killed immediately, they all raised their hands in surrender.

At this time, news of riots in Kezhou City caused by inflation and the decline in the purchasing power of silver also arrived.

Jiang Xuan wore a look of concern for the country and the people, sighing: "Kezhou must not fall into chaos! This is truly my fault!"

Immediately, the captured Kezhou officials understood: "My Lord, Kezhou needs peace; please, My Lord, save us!"

"Please, My Lord, save Kezhou!"

Everyone knelt.

Jiang Xuan held his forehead and sighed: "Absolutely not, soldiers are weapons of death; how can I lightly enter Kezhou? The people hate me!"

The crowd wept and urged him again.

"The people need you, My Lord!"

Jiang Xuan declined several times before reluctantly agreeing, saying firmly: "Since the people need me, I will not refuse even if it means death!"

He immediately led his army and arrived at Kezhou.

……

Qin Zhangfeng had prepared for this arrow for a full three hours!

So, he would not release it unless he was sure, but once released, it was shocking! The arrow flew in a straight line toward the Wolf Driver.

Before the Wolf Driver could react, he was struck in the back. He immediately let out a cry of pain, his face turning pale as he turned around, holding a long staff in one hand and a Curved Saber in the other. By this time, Qin Zhangfeng had also rushed over; the distance of one mile was not difficult for him. When the Wolf Driver reacted, Qin Zhangfeng had already leaped high and arrived above his head!

"Who is it?"

The Wolf Driver was only good at hiding in the dark, but he also had to guard against sneak attacks from others, so his saber skills were not weak. Facing Qin Zhangfeng's sudden strike, he still managed to block it with his Curved Saber. But Qin Zhangfeng's strike was immensely powerful, still causing the Wolf Driver to retreat a few steps, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Qin Zhangfeng smiled coldly: "Playing god and acting like a ghost, do you dare to fight me head-on?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he slashed down with several more strikes. The Wolf Driver was terrified and fled in a panic, but as Liu Zheng had expected, even if this person lost his Curved Saber, he refused to let go of the long staff in his hand; that long staff seemed to have some mysterious control over the Wolf King not far away.

Moreover, as Qin Zhangfeng attacked, the Wolf King had long sensed it, howling a few times toward this side, and immediately a few starving wolves ran over from there to protect the Wolf Driver.

Qin Zhangfeng was not afraid at all, laughing: "Don't worry, I won't kill you! I want to see what kind of weird, ghostly, and deceptive tricks you charlatans are playing!"

With one slash, the Wolf Driver let out a wail, muttering something in his mouth, but it was clear it was not the language of the Longyan Dynasty.

Qin Zhangfeng spat and cursed, asking what kind of bird language that was.

With another slash, two wounds appeared on the Wolf Driver's body, blood flowing freely; he tried to struggle several times, but he was no match for Qin Zhangfeng. The few starving wolves lunged fiercely, but they were all finished off by Liu Zheng in a few strikes, and the Wolf King also roared at Liu Zheng, baring its fangs.

Seeing that this person was clutching the long staff in his hand no matter what, Qin Zhangfeng couldn't help but sneer: "Bring it here for me to see!"

The opponent was greatly alarmed, and the long staff was snatched away by Qin Zhangfeng.

Qin Zhangfeng was stunned, only then realizing that there was a strange scent on this long staff, one that even made people feel entranced and faint upon smelling it; he laughed loudly: "So that's how it is!"

After speaking, he threw the long staff onto the ground and stomped on it fiercely.

The long staff shattered and dissipated into the wind.

The Wolf Driver cried out in disbelief, but it was already too late.

Once the long staff was broken, looking at the Wolf King now, its baring-fangs-and-brandishing-claws movements were gone, and even in its cold eyes, a flash of confusion appeared. Afterwards... it stared fixedly at the Wolf Driver on the ground, and the scent of blood on the Wolf Driver's body made its eyes turn brutal once again.

"Ah!"

Knowing what the outcome would be, the Wolf Driver shouted in despair.

At this moment, the Wolf King had already pounced over. Animals in nature always possess some spirituality; having been driven so miserably by this Wolf Driver before, the retaliation now was just as hysterical. Seeing this situation, Qin Zhangfeng sighed endlessly and hurriedly dodged to the side.

The Wolf King roared at the sky, the sound miserable and chilling; at this time, the pack of wolves still besieging the people in the camp heard the Wolf King's roar, scattered one after another, and then let out low growls while rushing toward the blood-covered Wolf Driver.

Pouncing, tearing, and biting.

The people in the camp were all stunned, and they all ran over.

Liu Zheng and Zheng Yueru also ran over at this time, the former saying loudly: "Don't get too close, hurry, lead a few camels over!"

Reheman dared not hesitate, and three camels were pulled over, simultaneously becoming prey for this Wolf Pack.

At this time, the hundred wolves had been killed down to only seventy or eighty, so these three camels were enough to fill their stomachs.

Bloodiness.

The bloody scene lasted for a full half-hour.

Only then did the Wolf King roar at the sky once more, then it took a deep look at Qin Zhangfeng, its gaze slightly kind, and it took the lead in running toward the distance, with the Wolf Pack following behind, soon disappearing into the night.

Leaving only the people in the camp looking at each other in dismay.

Reheman was overjoyed and knelt down with a thud: "Young Master Liu is truly talented!"

"Thank you, Young Master Liu!"

The Third Prince Halike also nearly knelt down.

Liu Zheng was slightly startled and hurriedly stepped forward to help them up.

Suddenly, at this moment, a great wind arose.

Reheman said in terror: "Sandstorm, sandstorm, hurry and take cover!"

Liu Zheng was startled in his heart.

Does the sandstorm in this desert just come whenever it wants, without even a warning?