391: Arriving at Ling'an County, Liu Wuqing's deception

Liangan County City.

On the city wall, Commander Zheng was leading several General Flag Officers under him, as well as a few disgruntled seventh-rank petty officials from the State Secretary Office, to welcome Chu Jiang's arrival.

"My Lord, this Liu, Commander clearly intends to push you out as a scapegoat, while he himself hides behind the scenes, living a carefree life. This is too unfair!"

A General Flag Officer said indignantly.

The Demon Suppression Division in Liangan County was almost in chaos, with demons running rampant, no one daring to intervene, and some even brazenly living within the county city.

In the past, many righteous Demon Suppression Guards had killed overly aggressive demons, but the next day they were either transferred or mysteriously died during a mission.

This made all the Demon Suppression Guards fear for their lives, each minding their own business and no longer meddling in others' affairs.

Now, in Liangan County, only Commander Zheng remained as a righteous Centurion. The others either openly sided with Liu, Commander or remained neutral, not caring about anything.

Commander Zheng was able to stay in Liangan County without being removed entirely because of the powerful figures in the Wu Prefecture Army behind him, which is why Liu Wuqing didn't push him to the brink.

Commander Zheng became the last glimmer of light in Liangan County.

However, if they completely broke ties, Liu Wuqing would not be afraid.

After all, he had a brother who was the Yue Province Pacification Commissioner.

It was said that Chu Jiang was notoriously a Butcher, and if things didn't go his way, he would slaughter entire families.

The chaos in the Three Prefectures was not caused by Commander Zheng, but by scoundrels like Liu Wuqing, yet Commander Zheng was expected to take the blame.

Liu Wuqing sending him to welcome Chu Jiang was hoping that Chu Jiang would kill him, removing this troublesome thorn.

"No need to worry, Lord Marquis Chu would not indiscriminately kill the innocent. We just need to do a good job of receiving him!"

Another General Flag Officer said.

Bang!

Commander Zheng clenched his fist and said in a deep voice, "The Three Prefectures desperately needs a fearless Killing God like Lord Marquis Chu to possibly quell the chaos... As long as the people of the Three Prefectures are safe, even if I use my broken body to open up the situation, I will die a worthy death."

If the chaos in the Three Prefectures continued like this, it would be completely over within five years. It wouldn't be an exaggeration for demons to establish a demon kingdom here.

As for the other officials from the State Secretary Office, their eyes showed some fear. The name of Chu Jiang, the Killing God, was already circulating in the State Secretary Office. It was rumored that if he was unhappy, he would even hack at passing pigs and dogs a few times.

If he came to their Liangan County, and they had bad luck, it wasn't impossible for him to chop them down with a single blade.

There had been such examples in the past; those Inspectors dared not vent their anger on important figures, so they would take it out on small fries like them, using them for human sacrifice to awe the people.

At this moment.

The heavens and earth rumbled, and the ground trembled, as if thousands of troops and horses were galloping.

A cry of alarm spread across the city wall.

"Lord Marquis Chu is here!"

Everyone immediately looked towards the horizon.

They saw.

Thousands of cavalry galloped in the distance, moving like lightning, with Killing Intent soaring into the sky, and a dense Evil Qi rushing towards them.

The leader, handsome and elegant, with eyes like fire yet extremely cold, rode a Fire Kirin, exuding an imposing aura.

He looked like a Butcher who had just emerged from a Corpse Mountain of blood.

The one who came was, of course, the Three Provinces Inspectorial Envoy, the Three Prefectures Dismissal Envoy, the Grand Marshal of the Three Prefectures Army, and the Imperial Commissioner sent by the Chu Emperor: Chu Jiang!

Everyone hadn't expected Chu Jiang's first stop to be Liangan County.

"As expected of a Killing God!"

When it came to showing off, who could surpass him?

Which of the previous Inspectors had the same grand presence as Chu Jiang?

Thousands of extraordinary soldiers were just ridiculously excessive.

Except for Wu Prefecture, the combined forces of Yue and Lan Prefectures didn't even have as many extraordinary soldiers as Chu Jiang's subordinates.

"Follow me down to welcome Lord Marquis Chu!"

Commander Zheng on the city wall said, leading several General Flag Officers and some seventh-rank officials from the State Secretary Office down to greet him.

Liangan County City, as the largest city in Yue Province after Yue Province City, had many major factions with strongholds here.

Hearing the thundering sound of thousands of troops and horses outside the city, everyone looked out curiously.

They discussed among themselves:

"It's the Three Provinces Inspectorial Envoy, Chu Jiang, Lord Marquis Chu, who has arrived!"

"This Lord has a whole host of titles: Yun Province Pacification Commissioner, Deputy Commander of the Demon Suppression Division, Marquis Wuan, Marquis Who Pacifies Demons, Three Provinces Inspectorial Envoy, Three Prefectures Dismissal Envoy, Grand Marshal of the Three Prefectures Army..."

"He's definitely the most prestigious, highest-ranking, and most powerful figure in the past decade. It seems the higher-ups are extremely displeased and have dispatched such a heavyweight. Is he going to unleash a massacre in the Three Prefectures?"

"Why haven't we seen Liu, Commander come to greet him? He only sent a Centurion and a few seventh-rank minor officials. Isn't this just trying to fool Chu Jiang and slap him in the Face?"

The head of a prominent Family stroked his beard and said in a deep voice.

Everyone discussed animatedly.

"He's probably trying to give Chu Jiang a taste of his own medicine!"

"This Liu, Commander is quite bold. Isn't he afraid of Chu Jiang punishing him?"

"Judging by this Lord's past experiences, he's not someone to be easily fooled..."

Although Liu Wuqing could casually make up an excuse to avoid coming.

For example, slaying demons, or going to disaster relief efforts due to a calamity.

He could even stand on the moral high ground, saying that even if he was an Imperial Commissioner, he, Liu Wuqing, would still personally go to the front lines and contribute to the safety of the people of Liangan County.

Chu Jiang would still punish him to some extent, but not excessively.

After all, his brother was the Yue Province Pacification Commissioner and had married the niece of Wu Ling King's younger brother-in-law, making him a relative of the imperial Family.

He wouldn't go so far as to completely disregard his Face over such a minor matter.

...

"Stop!"

Wang Chao waved his hand.

With a clatter of hooves, thousands of cavalry slowed their pace a few hundred meters from the county city.

Chu Jiang, dressed in a Four Symbols robe, sat majestically upon the Fire Kirin.

Bang!

Commander Zheng stepped forward first and said:

"Commander Zheng, Centurion of Liangan County, leads the officials of Liangan County in respectfully awaiting Lord Marquis Chu's arrival!"

He had intended to say 'high-ranking officials,' but after thinking about it, he didn't. A group of seventh-rank petty officials, plus a few General Flag Officers, would be laughed at if called 'high-ranking officials.'

Behind him.

The other officials also began to bow, trembling with fear.