Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 761: Surprised
Although Ke Baiquan was only the magistrate of a lower state, he had passed the imperial examination and worked for the Ministry of Personnel, and was appointed by the emperor as an official of a state.

Just cut it off!
Ke Baier didn't even have time to panic, beg for mercy, or curse...

One of Yang Yuan's personal soldiers walked over and brandished his knife.

"puff!"

With one blow of the knife, the head fell to the ground.

This knife is very good, very sharp and tough. It will not break even if it is bent into an arc.

This was one of the gifts that Yang Liangao presented to Yang Yuan when he returned to Dali.

He gave Yang Yuan thirty Dali swords, which Yang Yuan used to equip his personal soldiers.

Ke Zhizhou, die!
This is Yang Yuan’s privilege after this place became a war zone.

He has the right to act first and report later.

Even if there were classmates, peers, or old friends of Ke Baiquan's teacher in the court, the most they could do was to impeach him for inappropriate torture afterwards.

However, no one could accuse him of killing the minister without authorization.

This is the privilege enjoyed by Yang Yuan, the commander-in-chief of the war zone, after this place became a military control area.

The head was hung on a high pole, and Yang Yuan didn't even take a second look at it.

He had already entered the city when some people were busy erecting poles to hang human heads.

The civil and military officials of Xuzhou were so frightened that they turned pale.

Fortunately, Yang Yuan also understood the principle of gathering all the bears in one nest.

Some of these assistant officials might be unqualified, but the situation in Xuzhou has developed to this point, and so many people have been brutally killed in this turmoil. Governor Ke is the one who is most responsible.

Yang Yuan did not blame others, nor did he delve into their mistakes.

As soon as Yang Yuan entered the government office and sat on the seat of Governor Ke, he began to inquire about the situation there in a swift and decisive manner.

All the officials waited with their heads bowed in the hall, and went up one by one to meet the emperor and report on their work, trembling with fear and treading on thin ice.

……

On the high hillside, Tae Hee's cheeks were rosy.

The first hint of red is like a bright spot of sunlight shining on the top of a snow-capped mountain.

Li Fengniang, however, felt inexplicably flustered and ashamed.

She felt a little uncomfortable because of a gust of wind.

This was the first time she had such a reaction since she was a child.

This made her feel inexplicably ashamed, and she was afraid that someone would notice something was wrong.

But..., when she and Tae Hee looked at each other, there was a hint of pride in their eyes.

That pride came because of Yang Yuan.

It seemed that they all regarded that majestic and domineering man as their own.

"Let's go down the mountain and enter Xuzhou City."

Li Fengniang found that there was nothing unusual, so she resumed her lively and excited look.

She straightened her back and was the first to ride her horse down the mountain.

……

Yang Yuan was in the government office asking local civil and military officials about the local situation one by one.

He would not listen to anyone but only one person. He would ask everyone, not only comprehensively, but also restore the truth to everyone, even if the reporter had no intention of embellishing or concealing some information, but from his perspective and standpoint, objectively it had such an effect.

It's getting dark, we should turn on the lights outside.

But since Yang Yuan didn't give the order, no one dared to act on their own.

The Three Barbarians of Xuzhou... Now we should say the Two Barbarians of Xuzhou, because the originally most powerful Ma Hu Barbarians are no longer a force to be reckoned with, and the few people who survived can only form a village at most, which cannot be called a tribe at all, let alone the largest tribe in Xuzhou.

And all this was caused by those firearms soldiers and crazy people under Yang Yuan's command.

If this was not enough to scare the civil and military officials of Xuzhou, when Yang Yuan entered the city today, he killed the prefect Ke Baiquan like killing a chicken, which really frightened them.

"It's getting late."

Yang Yuan was also a little tired, and looked outside: "Light the lamp."

Following Yang Yuan's words, the Xuzhou government office, which was immersed in darkness, suddenly became brightly lit.

Many slaves, servants, and police officers had already prepared candles and lamp oil, and set up ladders and long hooks, just waiting for Yang Yuan's words.

"I'll report the rest tomorrow."

Yang Yuan stood up, and the people below immediately knelt down.

Yang Yuan waved his hand lazily: "I'm tired."

"Report~~"

Before Yang Yuan finished speaking, Gan Quan, the commander of the Tongchuan militia who was in charge of guarding the outer perimeter of the government office, walked in quickly.

"General Fu, the three barbarians, Mahu barbarians, Nanguang barbarians, and Shimen barbarians, have sent people to pay their respects to you, General Fu."

"Oh?" Yang Yuan raised his eyebrows, a little surprised.

Of course, the purpose of his coming here was to deal with the three barbarians in Xuzhou first, and then continue to move south.

However, he did not expect that the three barbarians from Xuzhou would take the initiative to contact him so soon.

He originally thought that he would search the mountains and valleys and have some fun with these wild people in the mountains.

Yang Yuan sat down again: "Ask them in!"

The civil and military officials who were kneeling in the hall hurriedly stood up and lined up on both sides to stand solemnly.

After a while, three barbarians dressed in local barbarian costumes, with feather decorations on their heads and silver collars around their necks, came over, each holding a tray in their hands.

The main gate of the government office was open, with the main gate in the middle and corner gates on both sides.

The three barbarians did not dare to go through the main gate. Instead, they came in from the left and right corner doors and then lined up in a row at the bottom of the hall.

Then they knelt down.

They knelt on the ground, holding up the tray, and crawled towards the hall on their knees.

The three of them were two old men with gray hair and wrinkles on their faces, and a woman in her fifties.

The three men each held a tray in their hands, and on each tray was a bloody human head.

The civil and military officials of Xuzhou immediately began to whisper to each other.

Fan Jiang and Wang Dashao, who followed Yang Yuan south, unexpectedly moved closer to Yang Yuan's desk so that they could block Yang Yuan at any time.

Although, Yang Yuan didn't need their protection at all. "Mahu Man Jiuxi, (Nanguang Man Buding, Shimen Man Muchuanlai), kowtow to the Marshal."

The three of them put the tray on the ground, put their hands on the ground, and buried their heads deep in the dust.

That posture...

Yang Yuan suddenly thought of Song Jiang's enchanting kneeling posture in "Water Margin".

"Did your big devil send you here to beg for surrender?"

Yang Yuan sneered: "This head... is the scapegoat you pushed out?"

They probably don't understand where the word scapegoat comes from, but they can understand Yang Yuan's meaning by considering the context.

The three men knelt on the ground, not daring to raise their heads, their foreheads pressed against the cool, dusty ground.

"General Fu, these three heads are the sinners who offended the majesty of heaven. They are the three barbarians of Ma Hu, Nan Guang and Shi Men, the current big ghost leaders."

Yang Yuan was stunned. This... he really didn't expect it.

The big ghost has absolute power and prestige in the tribe.

In this kind of tribal local government, the big ghost is also the patriarch of the largest tribe in the tribe.

So, either they knew they could not escape punishment and committed suicide to protect their people.

Or, he was killed by his own people.

If it was the latter, it would mean that not only his clansmen, but also his relatives and confidants had all abandoned him.

Otherwise, no one can kill them.

Thinking of this, Yang Yuan's eyes became fierce: "How did they die?"

Jiuxi kowtowed heavily and said in a deep voice: "They offended the majesty of heaven and brought heavenly soldiers to their people. They deserve to die. So, we killed the three great evil leaders."

Yang Yuan fixed his eyes on Jiuqi's face: "Who are you in Mahuman?"

"I am the father of the current big ghost of Ma Hu Man."

The old man with white beard raised his head, looked at Yang Yuan, and said calmly.

Yang Yuan frowned slightly: "You have to fall down."

Jiuxi's eyes twitched painfully for a few times, but he still said calmly: "Ma Human is finished, Master Fu Shuai, he is a big devil, he deserves to die."

Only then did Yang Yuan realize that Jiuxi was not calm, but numb.

The largest Rongmin tribe in Xuzhou has now been gathered together, and the remaining people cannot even form a village. They have already felt the pain and regret.

He now has only a numb heart, and only in this way can he have the courage to continue living.

Yang Yuan stared at him for a long while, then slowly withdrew his gaze: "What do you want?"

Jiuxi bowed his head again and turned his head towards Yang Yuan: "Please, Marshal Fu, have mercy on us and leave us a way to live."

There was silence in the hall.

The brains of the civil and military officials of Xuzhou on both sides are now in a state of shutdown.

The barbarians who had trapped them in Xuzhou City for more than a month killed their own leader and came to beg for surrender on the first day when General Yang Fu arrived?
This... Such a big turmoil, is it over now?
However, Yang Yuan's long silence made the three people kneeling in the hall tremble uncontrollably.

Could it be that Marshal Yang is still unwilling to give up?

If he refuses to give up, the three barbarians of Xuzhou will really be doomed.

Finally, Yang Yuan spoke: "Where is the Tongpan?"

Xuzhou Tongpan Shi Wei stumbled out of the class and stammered, "I'm here."

Yang Yuan said, "Hang the heads of the three great ghosts together with Ke Zhizhou's head. You take care of the three of them."

After saying that, Yang Yuan turned to the three people from Jiuxi and said, "Tomorrow, I will talk to you in detail. I promise you that I will give your people a way out, and I will also show you a smooth road."

……

Outside the Xuzhou government office is the Wuweixuan Restaurant.

Although the city had been besieged for more than a month, it had not run out of food.

After all, this season is the time to collect taxes and grain.

However, the common people who worked hard on the land in the countryside and supported the officials and gentry did not receive the protection they deserved.

Therefore, only the poor are in financial difficulty in the city.

Li Fengniang is rich and Tae Hee is not short of money either. Although the food here is not quite to their taste, the table already contains the most sumptuous local dishes.

The window was open and one could see the main gate of the government office from it.

"It's so late."

"Hey, the lights are on in the mansion."

Tae Hee sat facing the government gate. She looked at the gate absent-mindedly and said something from time to time.

"Don't be impatient. Let's wait until those officials come out, and then we'll give him a surprise." Li Fengniang was calm, and she just concentrated on finding something delicious among the unpalatable food.

Tae Hee's eyes lit up, and he leaned over the table and asked, "Will Fu Shuai be surprised to see me?"

"How should I know?"

Li Fengniang rolled her eyes at her and said smugly, "Anyway, he will definitely be surprised when he sees me."

After hearing this, Tae Hee looked at Li Fengniang with scrutiny.

"What a strong enemy!" Tae Hee thought secretly, and felt a little hostile towards this ally.

……

At this time, in Dali City, Yang Liangao was overwhelmed with emotion.

After years of hard work, he is going to start tonight.

He first rushed to Tianlong Temple.

Tianlong Temple is a common name among the people because many emperors and royal family members became monks here. It is a royal temple.

Yang Liangao worshipped Buddha, burned incense, and prayed silently for success tonight.

When he left the mountain gate, only the tips of the three pagodas in the temple were still bathed in sunlight, shining with golden and white light.

Yang Liangao mounted the horse and glanced at Gao Shuyao.

She was wearing a hooded robe. Except for her palm-sized face, her entire body was covered by the kudzu-yellow robe, hiding her infinite spring scenery.

Gao Shuyao nodded to Yang Liangao and galloped away with the guards.

Gao Shuyao raised his hand and gestured, then shouted in a deep voice: "Seal off Tianlong Temple!"

(End of this chapter)