Rebel Army Enters the City

Hearing this news, the people of Pingyin County were completely at a loss. The imperial court's army had actually run away straightaway. They had spoken quite well earlier, claiming that if the rebel army arrived, they would charge forward and fight.

Because of this, the lineages of Pingyin County had contributed so many resources, purely out of fear that the rebel army would arrive and pillage them directly. After all, sometimes the imperial court's army still cared somewhat about appearances, whereas the rebel army would not care about such things at all.

As a result, it was quite nice now—the imperial court's army had slipped away.

The people of Pingyin County were somewhat at a loss as to what to do. As for resistance, shutting the city gates could indeed hold out for a period of time. But just how long that time could last was somewhat unclear.

After all, there were no regular troops within Pingyin County, only the yamen's runners and constables, and the city-defense equipment was also extremely crude. Wanting to hold off the surging rebel army posed an extremely great difficulty.

And there was another problem: if they stubbornly resisted to the very end and the city eventually fell, then the entire Pingyin County would inevitably be plundered clean.

Judging from the news transmitted from other towns and cities, as long as there was resistance, the fate facing the entire town or city was being burned, killed, and plundered. So many refugees were produced in precisely this manner.

If they did not resist and directly opened the city to surrender, the outcome might be a bit better. But it would merely be a bit better; those rebel armies conquering territory never thought about governance or the like, and their most crucial goal remained various resources.

Pingyin County was somewhat at a loss as to what to do. Both choices were extremely difficult, and either one seemed to spell death. It was simply that one meant dying on one's feet, while the other meant kneeling.

Ten miles away.

"The imperial court's army has retreated?" Tan Zhen'an sat upon his horse, looking at the scout below as he asked.

"Yes, they have completely retreated, and these past few days they have taken away many of Pingyin County's supplies," the scout reported with a lowered head.

"Truly a bunch of cowards! With just this sort of guts, they even dare to lead troops in battle!" Hua Shizhong sneered.

"If not for this group of people, how could we have gained momentum? Furthermore, had they relied on Pingyin County to battle against us, even if we could ultimately win, we would have suffered heavy losses."

Looking at the faint outline of the city in the distance, Tan Zhen'an waved a hand, and the entire army began to accelerate its advance.

Since the imperial court's army was not here, Pingyin County was already safely in their grasp. As for whether Pingyin County resisted or not, in his eyes it made no difference.

Since he intended to pillage Pingyin County, Tan Zhen'an had long since made thorough preparations.

The people of Pingyin County were still wavering when the South City's gates were already pushed open; after seven or eight defending yamen runners were slain, the rest surrendered entirely.

Surrendering was also a necessity; a Marrow Refinement Realm expert was truly an overwhelming, crushing existence to these yamen runners who were at most in the Muscle Tempering Realm. I do not know when, but members of the rebel army had already lurked within Pingyin County, and at this moment they burst out directly.

If the county yamen's resolve to defend the city had been sufficiently firm, they naturally would have dispatched heavy forces to guard each city gate. But with this hesitant mindset of looking before and behind, the defense of the city gates naturally also became a laughingstock.

Chen Fei stayed within his own courtyard, listening to the waves of commotion outside, his heart somewhat irritated.

The previous few days he had still been thinking that the rebel army would not come, but as a result they now appeared directly before him.

Upon obtaining the news of the rebel army's arrival, the medical hall had already closed down. Chen Fei had originally pondered whether or not to go over to the Zhang Family's side to hide, but after thinking it over, he decided against it.

When the rebel army entered the city, their biggest target would instead be these lineages. Hiding within them, Chen Fei would easily be a fish dragged into dry water by association. Moreover, the Zhang Family had not let Chen Fei come to their estate either, evidently not thinking of sheltering him.

As for whether the rebel army would pillage commoners, that depended on how low those people's bottom lines were. If all else failed, Chen Fei could only hit and run elsewhere.

At a time like this, the utility of the Disguise Technique manifested itself, as at the very least he would not be recognized by people.

This Disguise Technique probably still has a few flaws in the eyes of experts. If I have the opportunity in the future, I still need to find a stronger disguise technique to learn.

Thoughts churned in Chen Fei's mind as he returned to the pill chamber, walked over to a washbasin, and submerged his entire face into cold water.

Serene Heart Incantation proficiency +1... proficiency +1...

Washing one's head with cold water was not troublesome, but washing one's head constantly was somewhat tedious. In the end, Chen Fei had found such a method: holding his breath, he submerged his entire head into the cold water, and after a period of time, his proficiency would increase once.

By now, Chen Fei had already cultivated the Serene Heart Incantation to Proficient Level, approaching the realm of Great Accomplishment.

Under the effect of the Serene Heart Incantation, Chen Fei's state of mind grew increasingly calm and poised, allowing him to make choices faster when encountering matters.

Of course, Chen Fei's greatest goal in cultivating so diligently nowadays was still the thought that if Pingyin County became unbearable to stay in, he would make a long journey toward the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.

Leaving aside whether he could pay his respects and enter the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, at the very least that stable environment could allow Chen Fei to continue cultivating and growing. Furthermore, in such a large city, he imagined the tier of medicinal pills and secret manuals would definitely surpass Pingyin County by a great deal.

While Chen Fei was forcing himself to calmly cultivate, the yamen and lineages of Pingyin County were currently gathered together, looking at Tan Zhen'an ahead.

Unlike the harmonious camaraderie when getting along with the imperial court's army, at this moment the people of Pingyin County all appeared quite nervous and constrained when facing Tan Zhen'an.

"It seems everyone has arrived, so I shall say a few words."

Looking at the crowd, a trace of a smile appeared on Tan Zhen'an's face as he said, "Coming here, what my goal is, I imagine you all understand very clearly as well."

"General Tan's demands—we will do our utmost to satisfy them," the magistrate looked at Tan Zhen'an, a trace of a fawning smile appearing on his face.

"With your words, then I can rest easy. Otherwise, when the time comes, whoever fails to accomplish it will say we did not make things clear beforehand."

Tan Zhen'an's gaze swept past the magistrate and landed on the people of the various lineages, stating, "The Zhang Family: one hundred thousand taels of silver, one thousand pieces of fine iron blades. The Li Family: eighty thousand taels of silver, one thousand pieces of half-length vine armor. The Zhou Family..."

Following Tan Zhen'an's recitation of one number after another, the faces of the people from the various lineages turned a shade of white.

This was simply scooping out their bottom nests entirely, leaving not a single trace of leeway.

"My Zhou Family has managed things improperly in recent years and is unable to produce this much money and grain. I only hope General Tan can grant us some leeway."

"Indeed, my Zheng Family is merely a humble household, where would we have..."

"Slash!"

A blade's light flashed within the grand hall. Before everyone could even understand what had happened, they were drenched from head to toe in fresh blood. The two people who had been speaking just moments ago were already separated in head and torso.

"This is not a negotiation; it is an order. Are there any other lineages that cannot accomplish this? You may speak out now!"

Hua Shizhong unhurriedly placed his blade back into its scabbard, his eyes scanning the people of the various lineages while a bantering smile carried on his face.

"Deliver the money in two days, and the supplies in ten days. Disperse." Tan Zhen_an waved his hand and left the grand hall. This conversation truly had been nothing more than a process of issuing orders.

The people of the various lineages exchanged glances with one another, particularly sparing a sideways glance at the corpse on the ground, unable to help shuddering involuntarily.

A single disagreement meant drawing swords and killing people, not even bothering to speak superfluous words.

Everyone returned to their respective lineages and passed the matter down. Right now, it was a matter of using money to buy their lives. If they were unwilling to cough up the money, their fate had already appeared right inside the county yamen.