The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

Because of his familiarity with Sun Kai, Gan Jiu did not suspect anything, so he had the basket put down again and put Yu Sheng and the others on it.

Seeing that Yu Sheng and the others had all come up safely, Sun Kai breathed a sigh of relief without noticing.

"Brother, these are A Yu's brothers in the Xishan camp." Sun Kai looked at Yu Sheng and the others and introduced them to Gan Jiu.

"Oh, my name is Gan Jiu, nice to meet you." Before Gan Jiu became the gatekeeper of Pingzhou, he was also considered half a man of the world.

Therefore, he has a carefree and very tolerant personality. He will not look down on anyone, unlike those old-timers in officialdom who are arrogant despite being in a small position.

When they see people who are not as good as themselves, they act arrogant and speak in an official tone. When they meet people who are higher in rank, richer and more powerful than themselves, they become humble and fawning, doing their utmost to curry favor with them.

"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you." Yu Sheng and the others were originally from military backgrounds, so they were no different from what Sun Kai had just introduced, and would not arouse anyone's suspicion at all.

Among these people, except for Yu Sheng whose temperament is too outstanding and does not look like a soldier, there is nothing wrong with the rest.

Gan Jiu took a look at Yu Sheng and knew that this man was no ordinary soldier.

However, Gan Jiu did not take this matter to heart. There are many capable people in the world, and the military camp is a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers are everywhere.

It's not surprising to have someone like Yu Sheng, but I don't know what this person is doing bringing soldiers from Shangjing to such a remote Pingzhou?

"Thank you for your trouble today, Brother Gan. It's still early for my shift, so why don't I treat you all to a drink and welcome you all?"

Sun Kai saw that Gan Jiu had doubts about Yu Sheng, so he quickly came out to smooth things over. Actually, it was no wonder that Gan Jiu was suspicious.

With Yu Sheng's temperament, anyone who is not blind can see that he stands out from the crowd and is worthy of being the Second Young Master's subordinate.

"Okay, let's have a drink today, I'll treat you." Gan Jiu is a generous person, and he has a good personal relationship with Sun Kai.

No matter what the origins of these people Sun Kai brought, it is a happy thing that everyone can get together for a drink.

"Well, it's settled. It's my treat." Sun Kai went up and put his arm around Gan Jiu's shoulder, and the two of them left together.

"It's just a drink, what's there to argue about?" Gan Jiu waved his hand, "Don't argue with me, I'll buy you the drink."

A group of people came down the city wall in a noisy manner and walked into the small house where Gan Jiu usually lived when he was on duty.

Soon the food and wine were placed on the table, and a group of people started drinking happily.

After three rounds of drinks, Yu Sheng used the excuse of wanting to go to Pingzhou's night market and left with a few people.

Although the city gates of Pingzhou are locked on time, there is no curfew. There are a lot of people doing business at night, and it is very lively.

Seeing Yu Sheng and the others leave, Gan Jiu put down his glass and stopped drinking. He looked up at Sun Kai and said with a smile: "We have been brothers for so many years. Can I hear you speak the truth today?"

"What on earth are those people doing? The leader doesn't look like an ordinary person."

"For someone like that to come to a place like Pingzhou, I don't think he's just here to bring something back for our brothers, right?"

Sun Kai smiled when he heard this, put down the cup in his hand, and said, "Brother, you really have a pair of discerning eyes. Nothing can be hidden from you."

"In that case, I'll tell the truth."

"I didn't tell you the truth just now, not because I meant to hide it, but because there are so many people out there and it's really inconvenient."

"Old Nine, you are right. The leader is indeed not an ordinary person."

"He is the second son of the Zhenbei Marquisate and the personal bodyguard of Lord Shen, the governor of Ganzhou."

"The second son of the Zhenbei Marquisate, Lord Shen of the Shen Tingzhi, the governor of Ganzhou?"

As he repeated this information, Gan Jiu's eyes widened into copper bells. He thought that Gan Jiu was a man who had seen the world, but why did he feel his legs going weak at this moment?

That's the Zhenbei Marquis's Mansion! What kind of person is Zhenbei Marquis? He's the world's number one hero!

The people of Yunli may not know who the current emperor is, but it is impossible for them not to know who the Marquis of Zhenbei is. In the hearts of the people of Yunli, the Marquis of Zhenbei is a god-like figure.

"Yes, that's right. It was Lord Shen Tingzhi who came to Pingzhou." Sun Kai looked up at Gan Jiu and repeated what he had just said.

"What are you here for?" Gan Jiu suddenly felt his heart beating faster, and a long-lost sense of excitement filled his whole body.

"What else could Lord Shen do in Pingzhou? Of course it's for..." Sun Kai didn't elaborate, he just pointed upwards with his hand.

Gan Jiu immediately understood. He swallowed nervously and asked, "Are you serious this time?"

"Lord Shen is the current Empress's brother. He came here on the Empress's orders. Do you think this is true or false?"

Seeing Gan Jiu's nervous expression, Sun Kai couldn't help but lower his voice, "Ayu has also returned this time. I heard him say that the Emperor is not feeling well now, and the Empress is in charge of all the affairs of the court."

"Ever since the Empress took over as regent, she has quelled the rebellion of Prince Jin and eradicated Prince Qing's faction. Such courage and drastic measures have never been seen since the founding of Yunli."

"How could the Empress tolerate the man who wields all power and influence in Pingzhou, bringing misery to the people of Pingzhou and committing so many evil deeds?"

"Old Nine, to be honest, I just came from Lord Shen's place. Hundreds of thousands of troops are ready to go and will surround Pingzhou City at any time."

"It's just that Lord Shen is kind-hearted and worried that a forced attack on the city would harm innocent people and bring disaster to the people. That's why he asked me to bring those people here to persuade you to open the city gates and let the army in."

"In this way, the lives of the brothers guarding the city gate will be saved, and no innocent people will be harmed."

"Old Nine, you must not be confused at this time. The Western Rong people are no match for the cavalry of the Marquis of Zhenbei, let alone those people supported by the Qian family."

"This Pingzhou belongs to the imperial court, not to the Qian family. No matter how powerful the Qian family is, can they still compete with the imperial court?"

"It's time to change the weather in Pingzhou. Otherwise, the people of this entire city, or even the entire state, will be dragged down to death by the Qian family."

Gan Jiu fell silent. What Sun Kai said was true. The Qian family really did not have the ability to compete with the imperial court. Moreover, the troops raised by the Qian family could not defeat the cavalry of the Marquis of Zhenbei.

Moreover, what the Qian family has done over the years cannot be described as excessive. Pingzhou is already under the control of the Qian family. Various heavy taxes, building houses for the Qian family, being driven by the Qian family in various ways... and many other heavy burdens are placed on the people.

To say that the people of Pingzhou are now living in dire straits is an understatement; it can be said that they are suffering devastatingly.

"Old Nine, don't hesitate any longer. I know you're struggling. It's because the Qian family saved your life back then."

"But you've done so much for the Qian family over the years, and you've already repaid the debt of gratitude with your life."

"As human beings, we must not only be grateful and repay kindness, but we must also abide by our conscience."

"The Qian family is rich but unkind. They use their power to oppress the people and do all kinds of evil. We cannot help them do evil."

Gan Jiu was indeed moved by Sun Kai's words. He had been watching everything the Qian family had done over the years, and he was not without anger.

It was just because the old man of the Qian family saved his life when he was alive, and in order to repay the favor, he had done a lot of shameful things for the Qian family over the years.

"Come on, Laojiu, stop hesitating like a woman."

"Lord Shen said that as long as you are willing to open the city gates this time and let the army enter the city without disturbing the people, the previous things will be written off."

"You can't be stupid at such a critical moment. You can't sacrifice the lives of your family for the sake of Qian's family."

Sun Kai’s last words directly touched Gan Jiu’s heart. He could ignore himself, but he could not ignore his family.

Gan Jiu looked up at Sun Kai and said, "Okay, I'm willing to cooperate, but this is not easy to do."

"Besides my people, there are also the Qian family's guards at the city gate. I can listen to you, but they won't listen."

"Once fighting breaks out, whether the city gates are open or not, everyone in the city will be alerted, and chaos will break out."

"Don't worry about this. We'll handle it. Just tell me where they are and that they're guarding the city gate. When Lord Shen arrives with his troops, we'll open the gate."

He didn't go far at all. He was standing outside and eavesdropping openly. When Yu Sheng saw that Gan Jiu had given in, she came in directly.

Looking at Yu Sheng coming in from outside, Gan Jiu was a little dazed for a moment.

"What are you standing there for? Come on, tell me where those people are." Seeing Gan Jiu was stunned, Sun Kai quickly stepped forward and tugged at his sleeve to remind him.

"Oh." Gan Jiu came back to his senses, shook his head to sober himself up, and said, "Those people are at the Fulai Restaurant not far from here. It's ostensibly a restaurant, but it's actually occupied by the Qian family's guards."

"Those people have all been specially trained. They are all very capable and will not be easy to deal with. If they start fighting, it will alert the patrol officers in the city, and they will immediately report to the Qian family."

"It's okay, I know what I'm doing." Yu Sheng didn't take those people seriously at all. It was a joke. He had been with Shen Tingzhi and had gone through all kinds of troubles. How could he be afraid of a guard team?

"Those people in Fulai Restaurant are now left to you to deal with. Don't let any of them go." Yu Sheng gave orders to the people he brought with him.

"Yes, I guarantee that no one can escape." The people who followed Yu Sheng out were all selected by Tong Tai himself. Their fighting ability was absolutely unquestionable and they were terribly strong.

As soon as the words fell, a chaotic noise suddenly came from outside. Before anyone could react, Yu Sheng rushed out.

Then the sound of fighting was heard outside, and everyone in the house rushed out at once.

I saw Yu Sheng fighting with someone, but in just a moment, the man was subdued by Yu Sheng.

Sun Kai looked up and saw a dark shadow running away at an extremely fast speed not far ahead.

"There, there's another one over there." Sun Kai pointed in the direction where the black shadow escaped and shouted anxiously.

As Yu Sheng looked up and determined his target, he shot out the short arrow hidden in his sleeve, hitting the target right away, and the man fell to the ground instantly.

Without waiting for Yu Sheng's order, someone nearby ran over to confirm whether the person who was shot was dead or alive.

A moment later, the man who went to check came back dragging a body. "It's dead."

The man who was shot died from a short arrow piercing his throat.

Now everyone's impression of Yu Sheng changed again. The chief guard beside the second young master was indeed very capable and beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Not only is he more alert than others, but his skills are also amazing. In such dim light at night, he can actually shoot an arrow through the opponent's throat. Even those of them who are good at martial arts cannot match this skill.

"Hurry up and make it a quick decision." Since our whereabouts have been discovered, in order to avoid further accidents, the best way is to make it a quick decision and reduce the danger to the lowest point.

Gan Jiu was shocked. He realized that the two people were sent by the Qian family to monitor him.

It turns out that what he thought was trust was just his one-sided self-righteousness!

Gan Jiu smiled bitterly and shook his head. If that was the case, then he really had nothing to worry about.

At this moment, he was very grateful and fortunate that his old friend Sun Kai was willing to persuade him, help him get to know the Qian family again, and give him a chance to reform.

Yu Sheng turned around and looked at Gan Jiu and asked, "Are all these people guarding the city gate your men?"

Gan Jiu hesitated. He didn't know how to answer Yu Sheng's question. Before what happened just now, he was very confident and dared to say that these brothers who had followed him for many years were all his own people.

But after what happened just now, he no longer has the confidence to say that these people are his own people.

When Yu Sheng saw Gan Jiu hesitate, she realized that what had just happened had hit him hard.

In this kind of relationship where there has always been mutual trust, once betrayal occurs, the damage it causes can be fatal.

"Gather all the people and have them stay where they are. If you find anyone leaving without permission, take them into custody."

Yu Sheng did not say that if anyone was found leaving without permission, they would be killed without mercy, because he could now understand Gan Jiu's feelings.

Being betrayed by others is okay, but being betrayed by a brother you spend every day with is an extremely painful feeling.

Gan Jiu looked up at Yu Sheng and smiled, then turned around and ordered, "Everyone, gather immediately."

Soon, all the people guarding the city gate gathered together. There were exactly two people missing from the duty staff tonight.

Gan Jiu looked at the brothers who had followed him for many years, gathered his emotions, and said, "Everyone, gather together tonight. No one is allowed to leave without permission."