Yang Fan and Xun Er walked side by side up the mountain path. The path was narrow and there were lush shrubs on both sides. Some vines and unknown wild fruits dotted the path. Of course, from time to time, there would be a chubby long worm. Just now, when Yang Fan parted a branch, a four foot long snake hung down from the tree. It flicked its tongue in an attempt to scare away this intruding creature.
Yang Fan had lived in Southeast Asia for many years. Snakes were creatures that had grown up, so he was not afraid of them. Xun Er seemed to be more daring than him. She stretched out her hand and grabbed the snake's vital point. After playing with it for a while, she threw the snake far away into the grass.
This used to be the battlefield between the Earth Barbarians and the Wen and Yun Tribes. Every step was filled with traps and danger, but now, it was a smooth road. As far as the eye could see, it was full of vitality. Even the bloodstains on the gravel path had been washed away by yesterday's heavy rain.
As the two walked side by side, Xun Er asked curiously, "Brother Yang, why don't you go to Yaozhou? I heard that enlistment is a great merit. Before that Imperial Censor Pei arrived, you had already mediated the peace talks. Why give this great merit to him? "
"I can't take this merit!"
Yang Fan smiled and played with the scabbard that Xun Qi had gifted him. With a light wave, a branch in front of him fell to the ground. It was indeed extremely sharp.
Yang Fan explained, "Sometimes, more merit isn't always better, especially this kind of merit. If you take it, there will be endless troubles in the future. Although all the tribes had a part in Huang Jingrong's death and I'm not afraid of people spreading it, there are too many flaws in it. That Imperial Censor Pei is an extremely shrewd and capable person. If I give him some merit, he will help me clean up my mess. "
"What?"
Xun Er's face turned red and she felt somewhat embarrassed. She didn't quite understand what Yang Fan meant and didn't know what he meant by 'clean up his mess'. Yang Fan explained, "In other words, I want him to benefit from this matter. If I have any flaws, he will help me cover them."
"Oh …"
Xun Er pondered for a moment before she shook her head and sighed, "The thoughts of you officials are harder to fathom than the fish swimming in muddy water. I can't understand it at all."
Yang Fan smiled and said, "Why do I have to figure it out? You're not in the officialdom. It's your fortune to be able to live a simple life. However, I can only live such a simple life in a place like yours. If I lived like you in the officialdom, I would have died a long time ago. "
"Then … why don't you come live with us?"
Xun Er plucked up her courage and asked. As soon as the words left her mouth, her face blushed like a peach blossom. Her big bright eyes glanced hopefully at Yang Fan, and then immediately moved away. But as soon as she moved away, she couldn't help but sneak another glance at him. That kind of shyness of a young girl was indescribably moving.
Yang Fan didn't know how to answer her question and could only pretend to smile profoundly. He stopped walking and turned his head to look at the valley at the foot of the mountain.
A trace of disappointment flashed across Xun Er's eyes. She gently sighed and faintly said, "To you, this is a barren land. Of course, you won't come here. Your wife … must be a young lady from a noble family. How could she endure the life here? "
Yang Fan coughed and pointed to the valley. "Is that … Gao Qingshan?"
Xun Er bitterly glanced at him and followed his gaze to the valley.
There was an open field in the valley, and five horses were standing in five different directions. In the center of the five horses was a group of people. When the two of them looked up, they saw that the group of people were dispersing in all directions. Looking down from the mountain, they could vaguely see that there was still one person left. That person was sprawled on the ground with his arms and legs wide open.
Someone jumped onto a horse and whipped the horse forward. The person in the "big" shape was suddenly pulled into the air. It only stopped for a moment before there was an explosion of blood. The person in the "big" shape was torn into pieces. The five horses each dragged a body and charged forward.
Yang Fan and Xun Er were standing halfway up the mountain. They couldn't hear the screams at the foot of the mountain, but they could clearly feel the mournful scream. Xun Er shivered and unconsciously moved closer to Yang Fan.
Yang Fan said in a low voice, "That person should be Xie Chuanfeng. He has been executed."
Xun Er softly grunted. After a moment of silence, she hatefully said, "He is an animal. He not only harmed Miss Lianxin, but he also cut off one of her arms. He should be punished!"
Yang Fan narrowed his eyes and looked down the mountain. He saw that the five horses each dragged a body forward and didn't return. He couldn't help but be puzzled. "The people have been executed. Where are they going?"
Xun Er said, "Dismembered by five horses. Then they threw his body far away so that he can never be reunited. His soul is incomplete. Even if he reincarnates, he can't be a human."
Yang Fan was silent for a moment. He slowly raised his head and looked at a white cloud in the sky. The cloud was dazzlingly white under the sunlight. Looking at its shape, it looked like a Barbarian girl wearing white clothes and a water basket. There was a sweet smile on her face and she was happily walking on the mountain path …
…
The roar of drums cut through the silence of the sky.
The reinforcements from Rongzhou, Yao Prefecture and Lingnan Path had already taken over Yao Prefecture.
Because of the defeat of Wenhao and Yun Xuan, their actions were boycotted by the tribes in Yao Prefecture. They could no longer carry out their duties as governor and provincial governor. Although the imperial court hadn't issued an edict to dismiss them, their soldiers had already retreated to their own tribes and handed over Yao Prefecture to the imperial court's reinforcements from the other three prefectures.
Xun Qi, Zhe Zhu, Wenhao, Yun Xuan and the other chieftains of Yao Prefecture were dressed in their tribal costumes. They stood at the gates of Yao Prefecture, waiting for the arrival of the imperial envoy.
Pei Huaigu had only brought eight hundred horsemen from Jiannan Path. In a place like Yao Prefecture with many mountains and rivers, the roads were rugged. Once a battle broke out, it would be a guerrilla warfare. Pei Huaigu had arranged such a formation to inform the various chieftains of Yao Prefecture that he was here to appease them and not to fight.
The eight hundred cavalrymen with helmets and armors reined in their horses. The eight hundred cavalrymen stood silently, their banners fluttering in the wind. The Jiannan Observer, Imperial Commissioner Pei Huaigu's carriage slowly moved out from the middle of the cavalrymen. The generals of the three divisions of Rong Province, Feng Province, and Ling Nan Province, Xun Qi, Zhe Zhu, and the others rushed forward to welcome them.
Pei Huaigu was in his forties and was at the prime of his life. He had a good reputation as an official. He was upright and incorruptible. He was a daring and resourceful man who enjoyed great prestige in the Right Censorate.
He had been appointed as an observer of Jiannan Path at the beginning of last year. Although the power of an observer was great, it was not a permanent position. Usually, he would only be appointed for two years before being transferred back to the capital. Pei Huaigu would be returning to the capital in half a year's time. He did not expect that a rebellion would occur in his administration. He wanted to resolve this matter during his term of office so that there would not be a stain on his career.
When Pei Huaigu set off, he did not know that the civil war in Yao Prefecture had ended. Unexpectedly, when he arrived at Yao Prefecture, he found out that the warring barbarians had stopped fighting and swore an oath of blood. Pei Huaigu was naturally happy to hear this.
However, this matter was not over yet. The ceasefire was only a ceasefire between the warring tribes. Wen Hao and Wen Xuan were officials of the imperial court. If Xun Qi and Zhe Zhu fought with them, it would be considered a rebellion. Regardless of whether this matter was pacified or annihilated, there had to be a clear explanation. Only then could this chaotic war end with dignity.
Pei Huaigu had some plans in mind. However, he soon received news that the imperial envoy, Huang Jingrong, had died in the chaos. Pei Huaigu felt that this was a thorny problem. He could ignore the reaction of the Censorate but the imperial envoy was an envoy of the Emperor. If there was no reasonable explanation that could be accepted by the imperial court, the Emperor's reputation would be in tatters.
Also, he had already sensed that Huang Jingrong's death seemed to have the shadow of another imperial envoy, Yang Fan, working in the dark. Although he belonged to the Right Censorate, he had always been patrolling the area. He did not want to interfere with the struggle between the Censorate and the Left Censorate. He did not want to interfere with the struggle between the Left Censorate and the Ministry of Justice.
Yang Fan and Huang Jingrong were both involved with one or even multiple powers. How to handle this well was a thorny problem!
The carriage had already stopped. Pei Huaigu thought about these thorny problems and sighed softly. He hid away the worry between his brows and bent down to get out of the carriage.
The chieftains stood in front of the city gate and saw the curtain of the sedan lift. An official with hair as black as ink, handsome and dignified, walked out from within. Everyone knew that it was imperial envoy Pei. The generals and chieftains of Yaozhou all came forward to pay their respects.
Pei Huaigu looked at everyone solemnly and slowly got out of the carriage. He first cupped his hands to the crowd and then asked a general beside him, "Where is Imperial Envoy Yang from the Ministry of Justice?"
The general cupped his hands and said, "Yang Langzhong has duties and is worried about the case of Zhu Daoliu's rebellion. However, the situation in Yao Prefecture is complicated and he could not get away. Later, when he heard that Imperial Censor Pei had come to Yao Prefecture to pacify the situation, he was very happy and said to me, 'Imperial Censor Pei is talented and dares to do anything. He is a loyal official of the country. Since His Majesty has appointed Imperial Censor Pei to settle the matter in Yao Prefecture, Yao Prefecture can be farmed and the rivers will be peaceful.' After that, he went to Qianzhong Path to patrol the people. "
"Oh?"
Pei Huaigu was slightly surprised. Pacifying the rebellion in Yao Prefecture was a great merit. This was not only a meritorious service, but also a great virtue, something that could be recorded in the annals of history. Ever since the founding of the Tang dynasty, there had been many imperial censors and many officials of the Ministry of Justice. But which one of them would leave a mark in the history books?
As time passed, no matter how glorious they were in the beginning, they would be buried in the long river of history. But the rebellion in Yao Prefecture would definitely be recorded in the history books. The name of the person who pacified the rebellion in Yao Prefecture would also be recorded in the history books. This was a great opportunity to be recorded in history! With such a temptation, Yang Fan actually retreated?
Pei Huaigu's deep gaze swept across everyone's faces and took in their different expressions. He stroked his beard and smiled. He thought to himself, "This Yang Fan really knows how to conduct himself. Since he gave me the merit, if I don't help him hide it, it would be unreasonable …"
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