Chapter 871: Chapter 519: Three Days Later, Burning City in Flames (Happy Lantern Festival)
What? Nothing happened?
Upon hearing this, Xue Shence and Sun Xiaozhun showed astonished expressions, filled with thick confusion: "What does Mo Zhaorong mean by this?"
Behind them, the local generals and officials, who either proactively or passively confessed their guilt because the two "chiefs" had taken responsibility, also looked bewildered.
Mo Chou glanced around at the faces and smiled, teasingly saying, "Don’t the two of you want to ask why we knew the Prefecture was being attacked?"
After a brief pause, she answered:
"On the way, we unexpectedly rescued a Shadow Guard and learned of the rebel army’s main force attacking the city and sending additional cavalry to break through the defense line.
Commander Zhao made a judgment, guessing the thieves were heading towards the Taicang Silver Mine, so he hastily led a group of light cavalry there ahead of time to quell the rebellion."
Is this true? Zhao Douan has already gone to assist?
Xue Shence and Sun Xiaozhun were taken aback at first, then felt a surge of joy in their hearts:
With Zhao Douan’s capability and an early start, it was indeed likely that he could stop the bandits from destroying the mine.
Others also showed uncontrollable expressions of "surviving a disaster" relief and surprise on their faces.
If the silver mine met with trouble, someone would have to take the blame, and at this critical time, if notified to the court, Xue Shence and Sun Xiaozhun might not be affected, whereas those working below might get dragged out for a conviction.
That King Yan of the Zhao family, without even arriving in person, was like a giant umbrella shielding them from the calamity.
Certainly, all of this right now was just speculation, yet to be confirmed. However, even if the silver mine were destroyed, Zhao Douan going there proactively meant that the "Military Governor" had taken on a major share of the responsibility.
By sheer chance, they all silently felt gratitude toward Zhao Douan.
"Governor Sun, please arrange for two battalions of reinforcements to enter the city to rest; I will go to the West Gate to await Commander Zhao’s triumphant return," Xue Shence said.
Sun Xiaozhun responded and gestured "please" to Shi Meng, Yuan Feng, and others.
Mo Chou said, "Since it’s like this, I will go with Minister Xue."
The Taicang Silver Mine is in the west, and if Zhao Douan returns, he will surely come back through the West City Gate.
When Zhao Douan rode up to the city gate, he saw from afar that the gate was wide open, with a group of figures waiting. Getting closer, seeing the faces, the taut nerves suddenly relaxed, and he breathed a sigh of relief, revealing a smile:
"Minister Xue, it’s been a long time since I last saw you in the Capital!"
Xue Shence was dressed in battle armor, different from the martial officer robe embroidered with a lion on the chest he wore in the Capital, with the Heart Protecting Mirror position on the chest sculpted into the head of an Exotic Beast.
Appearance of a man in his forties or fifties, fair-skinned, with a short beard under his chin, although a bit more haggard compared to before, the haughty stance of "Great Yu’s Military God" was still faintly discernible.
"I haven’t seen the governor for several months, and he’s even more impressive than before!" Xue Shence wasn’t skilled at flattery; this compliment was his limit as he carefully observed Zhao Douan, feeling emotional:
"I heard the governor escorted Your Majesty back to the Capital, and also defeated Prince Heng. Such achievements, I am not as capable."
If anyone says you, Old Xue, can’t flatter, I will have a word with them... Zhao Douan smiled and tossed the reins to a subordinate, came over, nodded to Mo Chou as well, then restrained his smile and got straight to the point:
"It seems there is no worry for the Prefecture City, and I am relieved. The rebels intent on destroying the silver mine have been wiped out by me, and now I have left Tang Ping and others over there to guard against further incidents.
Additionally, those rebels destroyed Song Family Manor and attempted to burn the farmland. I arrived a step too late but managed to annihilate them. Where is Sun Xiaozhun? He needs to take care of the aftermath as Governor."
Massacring tenants, burning farmland?
Xue Shence, Mo Chou, and others frowned; however, during wartime, such incidents were inevitable. They were more concerned about the safety of the silver mine.
"Governor Sun is in the city settling the reinforcements, and the commanders previously sent to the surrounding granaries are also gradually returning," Xue Shence said:
"Please join me, Commander, in the government office to discuss the next plan to defeat the bandits."
Zhao Douan nodded:
"Just call me Lord Xue; you and I are officials of the same court, so there’s no need to be distant."
Xue Shence shook his head, earnestly saying:
"In the military, there’s no room for jokes. Since you are the Military Governor, you should be addressed as such."
This fellow was openly expressing his allegiance, demonstrating loyalty to the court... Zhao Douan’s eyes shifted, nodded:
"Call me whatever feels comfortable, Mr. Xue."
...
...
Huai River, Baihua Village.
Wearing a monk’s robe, hair bundled with a wooden hairpin, carrying a wooden sword, and holding a horsetail whisk, Master Gu Huo wandered through the sea of flowers.
His steps quickened.
Looking up, the once lush sea of flowers was much more disorderly due to the villagers fleeing and leaving it unattended recently.
He ignored the empty houses of Baihua Village and did not visit the residence where the Empress and Zhao Douan practiced Dual Cultivation, but rather repeatedly confirmed he wasn’t being watched before hastily climbing the back mountain.
Along the mountain path, he reached the dilapidated temple hidden in the barren mountain.
"Fortunately, the array is still intact."
Master Gu Huo pulled up a stone pillar from the corner of the courtyard, seeing the blind eye technique gradually dissipating, his tense nerves relaxed, and an icy smile appeared on his face:
"Scaring myself. Even if it’s a Heavenly Human, without deliberately searching, it’s impossible to find the special nature here. Surely, it’s just coincidence."
The old Taoist flicked the horsetail whisk, stepping over the dust-covered, decrepit Taoist temple toward the depths, activating the switch.
Amid the heavy "grinding" sounds, the stone wall slowly opened a secret passage, leading to one of the vaults he had painstakingly created over the years.
"Hmm?" Master Gu Huo sensed something was wrong as he descended the stairs; the ground was too clean, and the dust was not as thick as it should be.
And as he entered the secret chamber, his pupils constricted abruptly, the horsetail whisk in his hand fell to the ground with a "plop," the old Taoist staggered backward a few steps, clutching his chest, rubbing his eyes with disbelief!