Zhang Yang was also quite surprised, "Could something have gone wrong? With your current reputation, Governor Chen should be eagerly awaiting your arrival!"
Liang Xiao's expression turned grim, and he immediately urged the convoy to hurry towards the city gate.
Finally, a group of civil officials accompanied by a few guards trotted out to greet them.
The elder at the forefront quickly knelt with the others, kowtowing, "The Marquis of Anguo has arrived. We have failed to welcome you properly, please forgive us, please forgive us! This humble official is Huang Long, the Gong Cao of Donghai Commandery!"
Liang Xiao ordered everyone to rise and asked, "Gong Cao Huang, where is your governor?"
Huang Long's face was immediately streaked with tears, "Governor Chen, he, he was angered by General Dugu to the point of falling ill and is recuperating at the governor's mansion! The Imperial Guards you sent are protecting the governor!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Tianshan swordsmen and Imperial Guards beside Liang Xiao tensed, their hands gripping the weapons at their waists.
Liang Xiao frowned and urged, "Take me to see Governor Chen immediately, and explain the situation on the way!"
He had entrusted Yang Huan to protect Nan Jiyun, yet they were protecting the governor.
Could it be that Nan Jiyun had already met his end?
Liang Xiao was filled with anxiety.
Donghai Commandery, Governor's Mansion.
The white-haired Governor of Donghai, Chen Ziliang, was pale and had no appetite for his medicine, even with his wife's attentive care.
"This old man is ashamed! Ashamed!" Chen Ziliang wept tears of regret, sighing repeatedly.
Just then, Yang Huan's voice was heard from outside, "Governor Chen, the Marquis of Anguo has arrived!"
"The Marquis of Anguo?" Chen Ziliang's cloudy old eyes finally showed a glimmer of light.
After Liang Xiao entered, looking at Chen Ziliang and his wife, he couldn't help but sigh.
He had heard the situation explained by Huang Long on the way.
As Liang Xiao had expected, Nan Jiyun had indeed been in grave danger!
Yesterday, the Donghai garrison commander, Dugu Ling, had fabricated a crime against Nan Jiyun and intended to execute him.
Governor Chen Ziliang had strongly vouched for him, and the situation had become a stalemate.
Later, Chancellor Wang Canghai sent word: no soldier or official was to be executed before Liang Xiao's arrival.
Even so, Dugu Ling refused to let Nan Jiyun go, meticulously trying to find a charge against him, and even had Nan Jiyun's brother, Qin Lao San, come forward to falsely accuse Nan Jiyun of rebellion.
Fortunately, Yang Huan arrived in time, proved his identity as a Zhong Lang General of the Imperial Guards, and promptly relayed Liang Xiao's orders. Only then did Dugu Ling have to back down.
As a result, Nan Jiyun was then dispatched by Dugu Ling to Donghai to suppress pirates!
At this moment, Liang Xiao's killing intent towards Dugu Ling was even greater than towards Dugu Qun!
But even as the Son of Heaven's envoy, he and Wang Canghai could not completely control all of Donghai from hundreds of miles away. Suppressing pirates was a legitimate task, so it could only be said that Dugu Ling was cunning and treacherous.
If it were merely a matter of Nan Jiyun suppressing pirates, it would not have been so bad!
Luo Qingxue and Jian Qinwan, who wore veils, were also filled with anger at this time.
Chen Ziliang, agitated, wanted to get out of bed, but Liang Xiao stopped him, "Governor Chen has poured his heart and soul into serving the people of Donghai and has fallen ill from overwork. There is no need for such formalities!"
Chen Ziliang wiped away his tears and pleaded continuously, "The Marquis of Anguo is indeed a rare genius! Ji Yun is truly a resolute and brave general, but he has always been suppressed by General Dugu! Military power is in General Dugu's hands, and this humble official is powerless... Now that Ji Yun has been sent to suppress pirates, it is no different from sending him to his death!"
Yang Huan gestured for Chen Ziliang to rest quietly and added to Liang Xiao, "There are only three warships sent for pirate suppression, while the pirates of Donghai have accumulated dozens of warships. It is called pirate suppression, but in reality, Dugu Ling intends to use a borrowed knife to kill!"
At this point, Zhang Yang's face was also ashen, and he angrily exclaimed, "This is a disaster for the country and the people! This is a disaster for the country and the people! When I return to the capital, I will definitely impeach Dugu Ling to His Majesty!"
"Impeach him?" Liang Xiao chuckled, "Zhang Yang, you stay here and talk with Governor Chen and Gong Cao Huang. The rest of the party will accompany me to the military camp to see Dugu Ling! There is no time to lose!"
Now, if Liang Xiao wanted to save Nan Jiyun, he could only get the Donghai garrison to send more men to sea for support.
Everyone was stunned. Zhang Yang understood and immediately agreed.
Liang Xiao left only the guards of the Liang Mansion and a hundred Imperial Guards to protect the governor's mansion. The remaining nine hundred men, along with the Tianshan swordsmen, followed Liang Xiao at full speed to the military camp by the Donghai coast.
In the central tent of the military camp, the corpulent General Zhen Dong, Dugu Ling, was enjoying music and dancing with his concubines and generals, having a grand time.
"That kid actually went to suppress pirates without a word. What kind of dullard is he? I should have thought of such a brilliant idea long ago, but it's a pity for those three warships and a pile of arrows!" Dugu Ling laughed more and more happily.
His actions did not violate the court's regulations. He had not executed Nan Jiyun privately but had used a borrowed knife to kill, letting Nan Jiyun die at the hands of the pirates!
This time, he had sent all the soldiers and generals who were dissatisfied with him onto the warships. This was a perfect opportunity to eliminate dissent and, at the same time, to make an example of everyone, so that no one would dare to disobey him in the future!
"General! The Son of Heaven's envoy, the Marquis of Anguo, has arrived!"
Dugu Ling was startled, then let out a cold laugh, "My Dugu family holds great power in the court, what can he do to this old man?"
Liang Xiao and the others, with grim expressions, waited outside the tent for a full quarter of an hour before Dugu Ling emerged, stretching lazily, followed by his generals.
"General Zhen Dong, Dugu Ling, has met the Marquis of Anguo." Dugu Ling remained arrogant, merely cupping his hands at Liang Xiao as a courtesy.
Liang Xiao winked at the eunuch beside him. The eunuch, understanding, announced in a loud voice, "Hear the imperial decree!"
Dugu Ling and the others looked at Liang Xiao in surprise, only to see Liang Xiao staring at him coldly.
"General Dugu, has His Majesty not taught you how to receive an imperial decree?" Liang Xiao said sternly.
Dugu Ling frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Kneel!" Liang Xiao roared, his authority and killing intent unprecedented.
Jian Qinwan and Luo Qingxue, who were filled with righteous indignation, stood behind Liang Xiao, gazing at him with misty eyes.
So manly...
Dugu Ling's face turned ashen, he glanced at Liang Xiao, and then knelt down.
All the generals noticed the Imperial Guard uniforms behind Liang Xiao, which were genuine!
"By order of Heaven, Emperor's Edict: All in Donghai obey! Liang Xiao, Grand Master of Glorious Light, Vice Minister of Works, and Marquis of Anguo, is hereby appointed as the Son of Heaven's Envoy. He shall carry the Son of Heaven's Command Sword to inspect Donghai, and shall have overall command of Donghai's military and political power. All military and political matters in Donghai shall be decided by Minister Liang, and Minister Liang is permitted to execute first and then report!"
Dugu Ling and the others listened, their hearts growing more fearful.
"This subject wishes to confirm the authenticity of the edict!" Dugu Ling stood up and said with a smile.
The eunuch looked at Liang Xiao. Seeing Liang Xiao nod, he confidently presented the imperial edict.
Dugu Ling carefully examined the Son of Heaven's seal and handwriting, as well as the material of the edict. Only then did he look at Liang Xiao unwillingly, "Then I shall trouble the Marquis of Anguo to instruct me!"
Liang Xiao said sternly, "Dugu Ling, I order you to immediately dispatch the Donghai warships to sea to suppress pirates and support Nan Jiyun and the others!"
Dugu Ling shook his head, "Marquis of Anguo, this is all the warships we can send out. The remaining garrisons must also defend against the pirates landing ashore!"
"Nonsense!" Liang Xiao said sternly, "The coastal defense alone has fifty thousand troops, yet you insist on sending a few hundred men to suppress pirates? I ask you again: will you obey or not!"
Dugu Ling stared at Liang Xiao and sneered, "I am the General Zhen Dong, and my Dugu family members are not someone the Marquis of Anguo can casually manipulate, are they?"
Liang Xiao's face darkened, "So, you refuse to obey?"
Dugu Ling burst into laughter and surveyed the generals, "What if the military power is given to you? I have been operating here for over a decade. Without my approval, see who would be willing to exert themselves for you!"
The generals all remained silent.
Liang Xiao's eyes sharpened, and he drew the Son of Heaven's Command Sword from his waist—
"CRACK!"
Under the shocked gaze of everyone, Dugu Qun's head was severed from his body, and a few drops of blood splattered onto Liang Xiao's arm!