197: Chapter 197: Someone from the Central Plains Court is coming (asking for monthly votes)

"Chen Yuan, what do you think?"

Gou Zhi asked tentatively, with a hint of caution.

Chen Yuan saw the cautious expression on the Local General of the Guard's face, lowered his brows, and said lightly:

"We are colleagues; Chen is not a fierce tiger, so there's no need for this. Sit."

Gou Zhi felt bitter, thinking, 'You make me even more nervous,' but he still found a seat closer to the bottom and sat down.

"Chen has already heard the details from his subordinates. Commander Gou, how do you think these people should be dealt with?"

Chen Yuan slowly shifted his gaze to the side, throwing the question back to the other party.

Ah?

Gou Zhi's expression changed several times; he truly couldn't fathom Chen Yuan's thoughts. After a long struggle,

"Sir, are you thinking..."

As he spoke, Gou Zhi raised his hand like a blade.

"This is Gou's decision; Chen will not interfere," Chen Yuan said coldly, with an indifferent expression. "These people are not worth Chen's effort. Gou was not here just now, so Chen has some matters to explain to Gou."

"First, dispatch some of the Prefectural Army out of the city to clear out some scattered minor demons in the west. The commotion we caused this time was quite large. The nine counties east and north of Weiyuan Prefecture have basically been swept clean, and many fleeing minor demons are scattered in the nearby mountains and forests."

"Second, there will be a large number of refugees entering the city. This will require Gou to work hard to arrange these people. This task is quite heavy."

"Third, continuously send out scouts or Contracted Demons to monitor the vicinity of Weiyuan Prefecture and gather as much information as possible. Our Ninth Mountain Army is understaffed, so this also requires Gou's side to bear more."

"..."

As the Local General of the Guard, Gou Zhi was tasked with personnel deployment, refugee arrangements, and nearby reconnaissance—all these complex matters were thrown at him by Chen Yuan.

Gou Zhi was startled when he heard that Chen Yuan had already cleared out the nine counties with his men.

Listening to Chen Yuan's subsequent detailed instructions, he straightened his posture slightly. Far from finding it troublesome, he nodded repeatedly.

At that moment, he wished for even more tasks to do, so that his heart could be at ease.

This Ninth Zhonglang, along with several Heavenly Gate experts from Sects, had been clearing out demons outside, conquering nine county towns. Yet, he himself, in Guangan Prefecture, his own territory, not only failed to subdue the demons but also allowed several Families under his jurisdiction to almost cause trouble. Compared to that, he felt ashamed and guilty.

"Good!"

"I will arrange for people to handle this immediately."

"I will personally oversee it."

Gou Zhi agreed repeatedly.

Seeing this, Chen Yuan had no other instructions and began to dismiss him, "Chen has just returned from outside and is a bit tired, so I won't say more to Gou."

Gou Zhi understood the implication, but his expression flickered a few times, and he still hesitated to speak, "Deputy General Chen..."

Chen Yuan's gaze slanted, "Hmm?"

Gou Zhi's heart tightened. He quickly stood up, "Deputy General Chen has indeed worked hard these past few days. Please rest well."

After speaking, he bid farewell and quickly exited the door. Once he was out of the villa, he looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh.

The Xiao Family and the Zhang and San Families seem to be in grave danger this time.

This Ninth Zhonglang said he didn't want to interfere, but his attitude was already very clear.

He wanted to use Gou's blade and not dirty his own hands.

As he thought, anger couldn't help but surface on his face. 'Those damned idiots, how many people will they harm?'

Gou Zhi returned to the Zhonglang Hall in a fit of rage, only to hear a subordinate military officer report,

"Sir, the youngest daughter of the Xiao Family is here to see you!"

Upon hearing this, Gou Zhi flicked his sleeve, "I'm not seeing her."

The military officer saw his This General's furious expression and hesitated slightly,

"Sir, you ordered the three families to be thrown into the Heavenly Prison, but the Xiao Family's grandfather was the previous Zhonglang General, and many in the Prefectural Army owe them some favor. Can you make an exception..."

He saw Gou Zhi suddenly turn his head and angrily rebuke: "Shut up!"

"They brought this upon themselves by offending Ninth Zhonglang. Now, unless Ninth Zhonglang himself speaks up, no one in the entire Guangan Prefecture can protect them, including me. Do you understand?"

"From now on, no matter who comes to plead for the three families, they are not allowed in."

As he spoke, Gou Zhi calmed himself and ordered: "Call all the other military officers here. This General has something to discuss."

The military officer's heart tightened when he saw his This General get so angry.

He also sighed inwardly, thinking, 'These three families must have a death wish, to offend the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General.'

"Yes!"

He quickly went out, walked a few steps, called his subordinates to notify the other military officers, and then walked through the Sky Patrol Division corridor to the entrance of the heavily guarded Xuntian Hall.

Beside the main gate, in the rain, under a green oiled paper umbrella, stood two figures, a master and a servant.

Xiao Qingzhi, the youngest daughter of the Xiao Family, still in her green clothes, and Xiao Jiu, the maid holding the oiled paper umbrella.

The bearded military officer braved the heavy rain and quickly went forward. The rainwater was blocked by an invisible Qi barrier three feet above his head, turning into a misty vapor.

"Officer Zhao!" The Xiao Family's youngest daughter couldn't help but step forward, her eyes, like a clear pool, filled with hope.

However, this bearded military officer, who had some ties to the Xiao Family, sighed and shook his head, "Young Miss Xiao, my This General refuses to see you. Go back; it's no use no matter who comes."

"Alas, your Xiao Family has caused a great disaster this time. The This General can't even protect your father and your elder brother."

Xiao Qingzhi's body trembled, and her voice was hoarse,

"Officer Zhao, please show Qingzhi a clear path. Qingzhi will be eternally grateful!"

The maid Xiao Jiu's anxious voice sounded beside her, as she used her body to support her Young Miss's weak form,

"Young Miss, you are still injured."

The bearded military officer heard that today was the birthday banquet of this youngest daughter of the Xiao Family and sighed.

"It's useless. Your three families have offended the Ninth Mountain. Unless that Ninth Zhonglang personally speaks up, but him, alas, forget it, go back!"

"But Master did that to save Young Miss!" The maid Xiao Jiu didn't understand how things could suddenly turn out this way.

The bearded military officer, however, shook his head,

"You can go to West City and see for yourselves why."

As he spoke, he turned and quickly left.

And on this day, two more waves of ragged refugees poured into the west side of the city.

It was said that many people, although given hope of life by the Heavenly Gate experts led by the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General, could not bear the pain of surviving alone and chose to commit suicide.

The next day, at noon, more than six thousand li away, in Jinguancheng.

This city, now the center of Jiannan Road, had seen an influx of tens of thousands of people in just seven days, mostly powerful and influential Families.

They had all fled here.

Especially many from the south.

As these people migrated, news from the southern battlefield spread to this large city.

But those messages plunged the entire Jinguancheng into panic.

"News from the south: on the main battlefield, Heavenly Gate Pass, guarded by Deputy Commander Xun, has lost eleven counties outside the pass. The Vanguard Army's Eleventh Mountain has almost entirely perished."

"What? Another Mountain completely wiped out? How could it be so fast? The day before yesterday, the Sixth Mountain was destroyed at Liaoyuan Pass."

"What can we do? The Yao Race is coming fiercely. If this continues, the Fa Shan Army will soon be exhausted. Who will take their place then?"

"..."

Inside the city, as these messages gradually spread, Jinguancheng was far from peaceful.

And on this very day at noon, the sky above the north of Jinguancheng suddenly rumbled loudly.

Soon, a cloud was seen drifting from afar. Above the cloud, ancient chariots, exuding an archaic aura of solemnity and vicissitude, seemed to have come from a distant ancient battlefield. Pulling the chariots were ferocious demons.

Above the chariots, banners fluttered, clearly golden flags with dragon patterns, and in the very center, a large character " 乾" (Qian) was embroidered!

The chariots stretched for several li, rumbling through the sky, directly ignoring Jinguancheng's aerial Restriction, and roared towards the tall mountain in the center of the city!

At this time, on Yunding Mountain, in the square in front of the Xuntian Hall, Deputy Commander Pei Yanhu, who was stationed in Jinguancheng, stood neatly in armor, leading officials and armored soldiers of all ranks, all lined up with solemn expressions.

Because the Central Court had arrived!