Seeing their general killed on the spot and this person's unfathomable skills, the generals of the Feng Lin prefectural army were all shocked. They retreated several large steps as if they had seen a ghost. Commandant Guo Yi, Chen Chongyun, shouted, "The general has been assassinated! Capture them! Quick, light the fire and summon the troops! "
"Hua!"
Following Gu Zhuting's order, the two black-robed guards standing behind her suddenly moved. One of them quickly opened a long purple silk bundle and revealed a purple bamboo with a red oxtail hanging from it. The other opened a similar long bundle and revealed a scarlet banner with a red tiger and a golden dragon.
Gu Zhuting's clear eyes swept over the generals in the tent. In a clear voice, she said, "The imperial banner is here. Whoever dares to disobey will be killed without mercy!"
The banner was used for rewards and the banner was used for killing. It was the same as the Han dynasty's "Shang Fang Precious Sword", the Three Kingdoms, Two Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties' "Imperial Axe", and the Ming and Qing dynasties' "Imperial Banner". It had the power to kill first and report later. It would not be easily given to an imperial envoy. Before the Tang dynasty implemented the system of regional commanders, it had only been given a few times.
If it weren't for the empress's most beloved little darling, Zhang Changzong, coming over, this banner of life and death would definitely not have been given. The camp where Gu Zhuting was coming was the most dangerous. How could Yang Fan not be worried? Thus, this banner with the power of life and death had been given to Yang Fan and handed over to Gu Zhuting.
When the generals in the commander's tent saw Gu Zhuting reveal the banner, they couldn't help but look at each other in dismay. This was the first time they had seen a banner, but they were clear about its use. What should they do? Should they close their eyes and pretend they didn't know what a banner was and order the soldiers to chop this imperial envoy into meat paste, or should they disarm and obey orders?
They had followed Commandant Lin and done all kinds of bad things. Now that Commandant Lin was dead and Governor Xie was about to be arrested, they would not be able to escape the net of the law. They were truly unwilling. But … they were only accomplices. Even though they were guilty, their crimes did not warrant death. Even if they deserved death, it was only one person's crime. Now that the banner had been raised, it was as if the Emperor himself had arrived, if they continued to resist, their entire family would not be able to escape punishment.
Just as he was struggling and hesitating, a black-robed guard accompanied by an old general who was fully armored and had a grizzled beard hurriedly burst into the commander's tent. There were guards at the gate and guards outside the tent. How could these two people barge in? Could it be...
This thought had just surfaced in the minds of all the generals when the armored old general who had charged into the tent with large strides cupped his hands and performed a military salute to Gu Zhuting. With a voice like a great bell, he said, "Sui Province Prefectural Army Commandant of Zhe Chong, Shi Lie, has received an imperial edict to lead his troops into Yanzhou and await the imperial envoy's orders!"
When Chen Chongyun heard this, he knew that the situation was hopeless. He couldn't help but let out a long sigh and threw the saber in his hand to the ground. He knelt down on one knee and said with his head lowered, "Feng Lin Prefecture's Commandant Guo Yi, Chen Chongyun, awaits the Imperial Envoy's judgement!"
Behind him, there was a series of clattering noises. The generals threw away their weapons and knelt on the ground. Gu Zhuting stood up and raised her eyebrows. She cupped her hands to return the salute to General Shi and said in a clear voice, "Thank you for your trouble, General Shi. Please divide some troops to take over the barracks here and then follow me to the Jin Ming Prefectural Army to provide support!"
…
Before the banquet began, all the elders gathered at the Provincial Governor's Manor to listen to the Emperor's holy teachings and concern conveyed to them by the angel.
When Yang Fan left, he arranged for First Gu and Second Gu to stay by Zhang Changzong's side. This was the Empress's darling. If anything happened to him, no amount of meritorious service would be able to make up for this mistake. Yang Fan had to protect him well.
However, Zhang Changzong didn't feel that he was in the midst of a pack of wolves. He promised to wait for Yang Fan to return before making trouble, but in his heart, he planned to make a move without waiting for Yang Fan's return. With Yang Fan around, he always felt that it wasn't straightforward enough. If he directly gave the order to take down all the officials of the prefecture, how delightful would that be?
When he stood at the corner of the temporarily built high platform, he saw the Provincial Governor, other officials, the Chief of Censorate, and other major officials of the prefecture already standing solemnly on the platform. He also saw the elders below the platform slowly gathering in front of the platform. He couldn't help but fantasize that if he suddenly took down these people and listed the crimes of these corrupt officials in front of the stunned elders …
Thinking of such a scene, Zhang Changzong felt a little smug. He called for First Gu in a low voice and whispered, "Get ready to move!"
First Gu cried out, "Zhang Fengchen, General Yang hasn't arrived yet."
Zhang Changzong said eagerly, "Why do we need to wait for him? These are all civil officials, who would dare to rebel against the heavens?"
First Gu frowned and whispered into his ear, "Zhang Fengchen, look over there!"
Zhang Changzong looked in the direction that First Gu was pointing and saw a few officials wearing sabers at their waists leading a group of bailiffs wielding chains and batons in their hands patrolling the area. First Gu whispered, "These corrupt officials are all guilty of the death penalty. We have to be careful of cornered dogs doing something desperate. If they kidnap their families and property and flee to other tribes … Zhang Fengchen, this place isn't far from the Turks. "
Second Gu also came to his side and whispered, "Who knows how many benefits the officials and bailiffs here have received from them. It's inevitable that some of them will be willing to advance and retreat with them. Zhang Fengchen, we mustn't be too hasty. It won't be too late to make trouble after General Yang has taken control of the three prefectures and returned with his troops."
Zhang Changzong looked at the crowd below the platform and couldn't suppress his desire to show off. First Gu said, "General Yang said that it isn't difficult to capture these corrupt officials. The difficult part is how to capture them all in one fell swoop without letting a single one escape. The difficult part is how to capture all the officials in the Yanzhou prefecture and how to ensure the prefecture's stability. Zhang Fengchen, why don't you calm them down first and wait for General Yang to return with his troops? At that time, Zhang Fengchen will be able to capture them all in one fell swoop with a single command! "
Zhang Changzong hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding his head. First Gu and Second Gu secretly heaved a sigh of relief and quietly retreated to the side. Zhang Changzong coughed and gestured to Governor Xie who was standing solemnly on the platform. Governor Xie hurriedly walked to his side. Zhang Changzong said, "Everyone is here. Let's begin!"
Xie Yubin nodded his head and walked to the center of the platform. Pressing his hands down, he raised his voice and said, "Silence! Silence! Dear elders, in order to educate the world and promote the virtues of respecting the elderly, we have specially sent out envoys to patrol the world and convey the Son of Heaven's benevolence and concern to all the elders. Today, Imperial Envoy Zhang Fengchen has received the imperial edict and spared no effort to travel a long and arduous journey to my Yanzhou. Convey the concern of the Holy Son of Heaven to the elders in all directions, and set up a banquet to entertain all the elders. Next, I invite Zhang Fengchen to announce the imperial edict. My Yanzhou's officials and people, from top to bottom, will respectfully listen to the imperial edict! "
After Governor Xie finished speaking, he took two steps back and cupped his hands toward Zhang Changzong. Zhang Changzong pinched the imperial edict hidden in his sleeve and walked to the front of the platform. On this trip, the Emperor had granted him the authority to take advantage of the situation. As long as they could confirm the facts, they could arrest the culprit. For such a big case, once it happened, there would be no way to cover it up. The evidence could be slowly gathered and there was no need to follow normal procedures like in Yanzhou.
"Elders of Yanzhou, this Changzong pays his respects."
Zhang Changzong cleared his throat and put on a smile. He bowed to the elders below the platform in a cultured, refined, and elegant manner. The elders below the platform cupped their hands in greeting one after another.
Zhang Changzong slowly straightened his back and said in a clear voice, "Sixty is old, seventy is old, sixty is obedient, seventy is to follow one's heart's desires, and seventy is to follow the rules. Therefore, my court has appointed the elders who are old and virtuous and are respected by the people to preside over the region, persuade the people to do good, settle disputes, and take care of the affairs of the people. Now that the world is at peace, the contributions of the elders cannot go unnoticed … "
…
While Zhang Changzong was talking nonstop and displaying his eloquence, Yang Fan had already left the Fushi Official Army. He didn't transfer troops from the Fushi Official Army. He only took their tokens and arrows and left behind a few people to watch over Ye Yu and the other generals. He took only two soldiers with him and galloped out of the gate, heading straight for the official road that led to the Yanzhou Prefecture's south gate.
At this time, Gu Zhuting and General Shi Lie from Suizhou were leading 600 guards from east to west. They crossed the official road north of Yanzhou and hurried towards the Golden Official Army's encampment.
From the information they had gathered, the Golden Official Army didn't have a close relationship with Governor Xie and the others. However, they didn't dare to completely believe the information they had gathered, in case something unexpected happened.
Anything could happen on the border. Although the border generals of these places were not like the Turkic and Khitan chieftains who would surrender to the Tang one day and then betray the Tang the next, defecting back and forth as if it were a common occurrence, it was not unheard of for defections to occur.
Because these areas were close to the border, since ancient times, the Central Plains Empire and the nomadic tribes on the border had always fought over these areas. Lao Ai, Guifang, Rong, Di, Lou Fan, Yue Shi, Qiang, Di, Xianbei, Ji Hu, Xiongnu, Uighur, Turkic, Dangxiang, as well as the Kucha and Sogdians from the Western Regions …
Dozens of tribes had used this area as the frontline of the tug-of-war for thousands of years. When the foreign tribes were powerful, they had ruled this area for at least a few decades or even a hundred years. As a result, the people in this area had very limited loyalty to the imperial court. Although there weren't tyrants like in the Southern Border who could contend with the imperial power, the imperial court's control was also limited, so they had to be extra cautious.
Gu Zhuting stalled for time in the Fenglin Official Army just to wait for Shi Lie to arrive with his army. Once his troops arrived, Gu Zhuting would immediately take control of the most dangerous Fenglin Guards and then go to the Golden Official Army with General Shi Lie. Gu Zhuting's third brother had already gone to the Golden Official Army with the Turtle Talisman of Imperial Order. If Gu Zhuting led her troops there, she would definitely be able to smoothly take control of the Golden Official Army.
Yang Fan galloped all the way to the official road and reined in his horse. There were only two or three groups of people walking slowly on the main road. Yang Fan looked up at the position of the sun, then turned his horse to the shade of the trees, dismounted, and rested. He sat on a big rock by the road and quietly waited.
He was waiting for reinforcements from the Lu Prefecture of Feng Province. If this group of people came too early, they would alert the enemy. If they came too late, they would be of no use. Therefore, from the beginning, Yang Fan set a strict time limit for them to arrive.
The time was almost up.
…
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