Sending Elite Troops to Exterminate the Bandits

The atmosphere in the signing room of the Yuxi Prefecture Prefectural Government was oppressive.

The Third Prince Xiao Mingyuan, sat imposingly in the main seat, his face grim.

Prince Jing's Heir, Xiao Mingxuan, sat down next to him, while Prefect Feng Weiming sat on the other side, his back slightly hunched, his eyelids drooping, not daring to even breathe loudly.

The heads of the four families stood below, each with their heads bowed and lowered, none daring to look up at the two distinguished guests at the head of the table.

Pan Wenbai, the Lineage, stood on the far left, his back soaked with cold sweat.

From the moment he entered, Xiao Mingxuan's gaze hadn't left him. He had been holding back for a while, but finally couldn't suppress his anger any longer. With a "smack," he slammed the teacup heavily onto the table, splashing tea all over it.

"Pan Wenbai!"

He jumped to his feet, pointed at Pan Wenbai's nose, and shouted angrily:

"You're a fucking piece of trash! What did you accomplish of the little task I asked you to do?"

Pan Wenbai trembled with fear, quickly took half a step forward and bowed, his voice trembling:

"Your Highness, please calm down... It's just that Shen Jingchuan was too cunning. Who would have thought he was actually a Celestial Master? Even the three Celestial Masters of the Prince's Mansion fell to him. Our Pan Household is just a mortal family. How could we possibly contend with a cultivator? It's not that I didn't try my best, it's just that... we were simply no match for him."

You dare talk back?

Xiao Mingxuan glared, wanting to curse again, but before he could finish speaking, the image of three golden arrows piercing chests flashed through his mind, and a chill inexplicably ran down his spine.

He knew in his heart that what he said was true.

Even Qi Refining Fourth Layer cultivator from the royal palace was instantly killed in one move. The Pan Household family, a local Lineage from Yuxi Prefecture, would have been nothing more than easy prey if they had gone up against them.

But having already uttered those words, taking them back now would be too embarrassing. He froze on the spot, his face turning pale and then red.

"Alright."

Xiao Mingyuan frowned and spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable air of authority:

"What kind of time is this to be passing the buck? The most urgent thing is to find a way to settle this matter. If this continues, it will only make our royal family lose face."

Xiao Mingxuan seized the opportunity to back down, glared fiercely at Pan Wenbai, and sullenly sat back in his chair, muttering:

"Third Brother, what do you suggest we do? With Xiao Mingshu protecting that kid, we can't even touch a cultivator. Are we supposed to bring a high-level cultivator from the Capital?"

"Nonsense."

Xiao Mingyuan glanced at him, his tone becoming slightly more serious:

"Do you think the rules of the cultivation world are just for show? This time, you've already crossed the line by using offerings to interfere in mortal disputes. Three Qi Refinement Realm offerings have been lost here. I won't be able to explain this to my mother when I get back. If it really alarms the high-level cultivators in the clan and my father finds out, you and I will both be punished."

He paused, his fingertips lightly tapping the table, a calculating glint in his eyes:

"However, now that the Lin Household has fled to Azure Cloud Stronghold, this matter is actually easier to handle."

Xiao Mingxuan was taken aback:

What does Third Brother mean?

"It means that his father-in-law 'Lin Household wanted to hide in the mountains like cowards, so we granted their wish."

Xiao Mingyuan's lips curled into a cold smile:

"Cultivators have their own rules; they cannot interfere in mortal military affairs or dynastic conquests. Let's openly and fairly mobilize a large army to besiege Azure Cloud Stronghold. I want to see if Shen Jingchuan dares to make a move."

"If he dares to openly confront the Government Army, he will be breaking the ironclad rules of the cultivation world. At that time, we will inform the clan and ask a high-level cultivator to kill him. It will be perfectly justified, and even Xiao Mingshu will not be able to protect him."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room's eyes lit up.

Xiao Mingxuan slapped his thigh:

"That's right! How come I didn't think of that! We'll use the army to wipe out Azure Cloud Stronghold. If he doesn't make a move, we'll raze Azure Cloud Stronghold to the ground and arrest the entire Lin Household to settle scores; if he dares to make a move, he's just asking for death! What a brilliant plan!"

Xiao Mingyuan ignored his flattery, turned to look at Feng Weiming to the side, and spoke in a flat but commanding tone:

"Prefect Zhang."

"Your subject is here." Prefect Zhang quickly rose and bowed.

"You shall immediately draft an urgent memorial and send it to the Ministry of War in the Capital."

Xiao Mingyuan said slowly:

"It is said that the bandits in Azure Cloud Stronghold of Yuxi Prefecture are rampant. The bandits are armed with fierce firearms, plundering the villages and attacking and destroying local gentry and powerful families. The three thousand Government Army sent by the court have repeatedly failed to conquer the village and suffered heavy casualties. We earnestly request the court to send more elite border troops to suppress the bandits. We must wipe out the mountain stronghold in one fell swoop to bring peace to the region."

He paused, then added:

"Use strong language. Determine how many people will die and how many villages will be destroyed. The key is to make the imperial court feel that this is no ordinary bandit, but a major threat capable of destabilizing the region."

"Your Majesty, I understand. I will take care of it immediately!"

Prefect Zhang quickly agreed, a fine layer of sweat beading on his forehead.

The four Lineage heads below the hall —Wang Bingqian, Li Cheng'an, Huang Jingzhi, and Pan Wenbai —also bowed and echoed, finally relieved—as long as their Lineage didn't have to confront that evil god head-on, everything would be fine.

He paused, his tone laced with a hint of ruthlessness:

"The Crown Prince and I will return to the Capital immediately and bring as many elite troops as possible. I refuse to believe we can't wipe out this small Azure Cloud Stronghold. All of you, leave."

Pan Wenbai, Wang Bingqian, and the others felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They bowed respectfully and carefully withdrew. Prefect Zhang also bowed to see them off, not daring to even breathe loudly.

The next day, just as dawn broke, the city gates of Yuxi Prefecture slowly opened. Xiao Mingyuan and Xiao Mingxuan, accompanied by a group of guards, rode out of the city gates in a carriage and headed straight for Chang'an.

When the carriage reached the official road at the foot of Azure Cloud Stronghold, Xiao Mingyuan lifted the curtain, glanced up at the village wall hidden in the forest, his eyes were sinister, and he gritted his teeth as he squeezed out a few words:

"You just wait."

Having said that, he lowered the carriage curtain and coldly ordered, "Go." The convoy kicked up a cloud of dust and headed south without looking back.

They traveled quickly and entered Chang'an City in just a few days.

After resting for half a day, Xiao Mingyuan suddenly remembered that the Lin Household's four-wheeled carriages were able to be sold in Chang'an entirely thanks to the Zhou Household of Chang'an, as the two families had always been staunch business partners.

He immediately sneered and ordered someone to summon the officials of Chang'an Prefecture to order the confiscation of the Zhou Household family's property, with the charge being "colluding with bandits and aiding the enemy."

The authorities acted swiftly, sealing off the Zhou Household's residence and shops that very day. Zhou Tong's father and his entire family were arrested on the spot and thrown into prison.

Xiao Mingyuan only stayed in Chang'an for one day.

The next day, before leaving, he instructed Xiao Mingxuan:

"You stay in Chang'an and wait. I'll go to the Capital to gather the troops and will be back soon. Go back and tell your father to also prepare some men and troops. Then the two armies will join forces and crush Azure Cloud Stronghold together."

"Don't worry, Third Brother," Xiao Mingxuan quickly replied. "Since you've personally intervened, I'm sure I can persuade my father to send troops to assist us when he returns from the border. Then, as soon as the army from the Capital arrives, we'll take action immediately."

Xiao Mingyuan nodded without saying anything more, and set off for the Capital with his personal guards. The Prince Jing sent a hundred guards to accompany and protect him.

Meanwhile, in the Capital, Zhou Tong was checking the accounts in his shop, waiting for Shen Jingchuan's next delivery. His shop specialized in selling novelties such as four-wheeled carriages and watches supplied by Shen Jingchuan, but he was desperately short of stock.

As I was flipping through the ledgers, the shop assistant rushed in, looking flustered.

"Young Master! Steward Zhou from Chang'an requests an audience. He looks extremely unwell, as if it's urgent."

Zhou Tong frowned upon hearing this. Zhou Qian was the head steward of the Zhou Household's Chang'an headquarters; he would never come to the Capital without a reason. His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately stood up.

"Please come in quickly."

The waiter responded and went out, returning shortly with the man. Zhou Qian's clothes were dusty, his hair disheveled, and his face filled with panic. Upon seeing Zhou Tong, his legs went weak and he nearly collapsed, his voice trembling:

"Young Master! Something terrible has happened! Our family... our home in Chang'an has been ransacked by the authorities!"