Chapter 106: Settled

Yang Xuan and the other two being found by Wa Hai was not fate, but a deliberate act.

“Who leaked the information?” The old thief’s right hand was temporarily unusable, so he could only rely on his wits.

Nan He had just arrived but still offered his analysis. “Sir, logically, the Waxyie tribe cannot plant spies here unless bribed. But most in the city are prisoners—who among them would do such a thing?”

Cao Ying sneered coldly. “People’s hearts are unpredictable. Sir, why don’t we bring out all those gangs, lash a few first, beat them half to death, and then question them?”

Yang Xuan remained silent.

Nan He looked at him curiously, wondering what decision this young lord would make.

Yang Xuan spoke slowly, “We must win people over with virtue.”

Nan He was speechless.

Yang Xuan stood. “Now is not the time for violence, Nan He.”

Nan He rose and stood at attention.

“Come with me to drill the troops.”

“As you command!”

As they exited the county office, the townsfolk greeted Yang Xuan warmly.

“We pay respects to the county magistrate.”

“The magistrate is out!”

“County magistrate…”

Nan He thought the relationship between the officials and the people was unusually good. When Yang Xuan ruffled the hair of a little girl, pinched her cheek, and just as she pouted, about to cry, handed her a piece of dried meat, Nan He realized it wasn’t just good—it was unbelievably good.

The little girl licked the dried meat and looked up. “Lord Magistrate.”

“Hmm!”

“When will those horse bandits come again?”

Nan He was stunned.

He noticed the surrounding townsfolk looked dissatisfied, almost hoping the horse bandits would come and plunder soon.

Had his eyes deceived him?

Nan He rubbed his eyes.

Then they left the city.

Where was the five hundred-strong death squad?

Nan He followed behind, looking around but saw no trace.

After circling the mountain base several times, the space in front suddenly opened up.

In the middle of this cleared land stood a square formation.

Five hundred men had formed a phalanx.

Silent, they stood there.

The wind blew.

The formation did not move a muscle.

Nan He was astonished. “This is…”

Yang Xuan dismounted and walked forward.

Then stood still.

Nan He was puzzled and stood slightly behind and to the side.

Everything seemed dead silent.

After a stick of incense burned down, Nan He felt dizzy and uncomfortable.

He glanced ahead; the figure remained tall and straight.

“If my lord can stand, so can I!”

Time passed.

Nan He felt his legs about to give out.

He didn’t realize his body was trembling.

Ahead, Yang Xuan still stood perfectly erect.

The formation remained unchanged.

“Rest!”

Zhao Youcai shouted.

The previously silent formation instantly came alive.

“Respect to Lord Magistrate!”

Five hundred voices shouted in unison.

Yang Xuan beckoned with his hand in front of his shoulder; Nan He stepped forward.

“This is Nan He. From now on, he will lead the troops.”

Zhao Youcai maintained a calm expression, but Diaoshe knew this old comrade was inwardly dissatisfied.

Nan He stepped forward and thumped his chest heavily. “Greetings, brothers.”

The crowd was unsure how to address him.

“I’m called Wu at home; outsiders mostly call me Fifth Brother!”

“Greetings, Fifth Brother!”

Yang Xuan found this fitting; otherwise, even if he appointed Nan He as a military overseer, the title would be cumbersome.

“Southern Military Overseer?”

Nan He turned around and knelt on one knee.

Loudly, he said, “Greetings, my lord!”

This declared his identity and loyalty—he served the young lord.

Yang Xuan nodded. “Do well. If you don’t understand something, come ask me.”

Nan He replied loudly and respectfully, then rose to escort Yang Xuan back.

Yang Xuan’s words made him smile slightly.

What could be unclear? He had served in the ranks for many years, later drafted to guard the emperor. In terms of leading troops, he believed at least in Chenzhou, no one could match him.

The young lord still had a youthful mind.

Zhao Youcai came forward to inquire, “Fifth Brother, may we begin training?”

“Start.”

Nan He nodded, hands behind his back.

He wanted to see the quality of the death squad. If not too poor, he was confident he could drill them into a formidable force.

“Form up!”

Zhao Youcai commanded.

Rows of prisoners stood firm, spears resting on their shoulders.

“How neat, as neat as palace guards.”

Palace guards prided themselves on appearances, so neat formations were a must.

Zhao Youcai glanced at Nan He, confirming that the Fifth Brother somewhat underestimated the death squad, which made him secretly gloat.

“Ready…”

Everyone thrust their spears forward in unison.

The sound was unbelievably synchronized.

Still neat!

Nan He shook his head slightly, pondering where to begin improvements.

“Attack!”

“Attack!”

A surge of momentum swept over them with the stabbing motion.

Nan He shuddered.

“Attack!”

The spears stabbed again.

As the saying goes, outsiders watch the spectacle, insiders watch the technique.

Just two thrusts sent a shock through Nan He’s heart.

Those hands gripping the spears were steady beyond belief; the forward thrust showed no distortion in movement—this alone qualified them as elite troops.

The key was the soldiers’ eyes!

Indifferent!

Fierce!

Yet filled with longing.

Like wild beasts just emerging from a putrid pit.

My heavens!

Who trained such elite soldiers?

“Attack!”

When the prisoners practiced suspending stones on their spears, Nan He remained expressionless.

When they aimed precisely at the straw rings, Nan He could no longer contain himself and asked, “Who trained you?”

His gaze swept over Zhao Youcai, wondering if it was him.

“It was Lord Magistrate!”

“My lord?”

Nan He barely watched the cavalry drill before seeking an opportunity to return to the county office.

Yang Xuan was smiling, speaking with Jiang Zhen. Seeing Nan He arrive, he patted Jiang Zhen’s shoulder. “You were wrong about this matter, but everyone makes mistakes. Just be careful next time.”

Jiang Zhen lowered his head, hiding a complex expression.

“Yes, I take my leave.”

“Go on.”

Yang Xuan watched him leave with a smile.

Nan He entered.

“I just observed the death squad’s training. They are fierce. May I ask, my lord, whose military strategy is this?”

Nan He was experienced, having seen training methods from both the Tang and Southern Zhou dynasties, but never such a strict and imposing method.

“I entered the mountains at ten years old and observed many beasts. I once saw a herd of wild boars fiercely counterattack a few wolves. Those usually ferocious wolves were completely powerless.”

“Later, I entered the Imperial Academy, which held many books, including military texts. I combined what I learned with my own observations and devised this training method. I didn’t expect it to turn out quite well!”

“With your lordship’s intelligence, how could you fail in quelling the rebellion?”

Nan He knelt down joyfully.

Yang Xuan stood calmly, a book in his left hand, right hand behind his back.

His expression serene.

“Believe me, this is only the beginning.”

Nan He lowered his head, nearly reverently. “Yes.”

He had only heard of Yang Xuan’s hardships from Yang Lue, saying the Yang Ding family had bullied him severely. One might expect such a youth to be mild-natured.

But now he realized he was wrong.

No, they all were!

...

North of the city.

Excluding three merchant families, the entire Peaceful City belonged to the poor—a slum in every sense. The northern district was the poorest of these slums.

On a street flooded with sewage, a man hurried along.

He arrived at a dilapidated house and lightly knocked.

A voice from within asked, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Wang Zhangyi.”

The door opened slightly, revealing a man wearing a sword at his waist, who glanced outside warily.

Wang Zhangyi had a fierce face and asked, “Is Master Sun home?”

The man quietly closed the door as he replied, “He is.”

Wang Zhangyi went around to the back.

The two houses had been connected, but to the unaware, it still seemed like two separate homes.

In the backyard stood a burly man who nodded to Wang Zhangyi. “Master Sun, Wang Zhangyi has arrived.”

“Come in,” came a clear, serene voice.

Wang Zhangyi entered, clasped hands in salute, then said, “Master Sun, someone has arrived at Yang Xuan’s place, apparently to take command.”

Inside the side room were a table, an incense burner, and a chest Wang Zhangyi had seen since following Sun Yu but never knew the contents of.

Sun Yu sat behind the table—thin, composed, with a refined aura.

Though over fifty, his skin remained fair, and most of his hair was still black.

“Someone arrived?”

“Yes.”

Sun Yu looked up; his sharp black-and-white eyes held a hint of amusement.

“It is said this Lord Magistrate is connected to a certain noble in the palace. Is this visitor a helper sent by that noble, or someone else?”

Wang Zhangyi’s fierceness softened. He bowed slightly. “Master Sun, that’s unimportant. We’ve been here many years; he’s just a passerby.”

“A passerby?” Sun Yu smiled elegantly. “From the moment he entered the city, this place has been quieter than Chang’an, orderly in every way. I gave him these parting gifts—I’m waiting for him to realize Peaceful City is a place that’ll bury him and leave on his own. But he hasn’t.”

“I thought he’d first win over the two junior clerks, or at least the death squad, just to save his own skin. But unexpectedly, he won the hearts of both.”

Sun Yu sighed. “What surprises me more is that by merely handing out some horse meat, he won the people’s loyalty. I’ve lived here over fifty years and seen countless officials, but I’ve never seen a magistrate like him.”

“Master Sun,” someone entered.

“Come in.”

Sun Yu nodded.

A man entered, bowed, and said, “Master Sun, Yang Xuan seems ready to leave the city.”

“Where to?” Sun Yu asked calmly.

“That wise scholar Zhen is complaining that the prefecture is stingy and the grain insufficient. Yang Xuan plans to go to Huilong County to... extort some grain.”

“Master Sun, this is our chance!” Wang Zhangyi excitedly said. “The Waxyie tribe has left; our men can send word and ambush Yang Xuan on his return.”

Sun Yu pondered.

Wang Zhangyi urged, “Master Sun, this youth is clearly hot-blooded and eager to make a big move here. With him around, how can our business survive?”

Sun Yu nodded slightly.

As Wang Zhangyi turned to leave,

“Send someone reliable.”

He emphasized the word ‘reliable.’

Wang Zhangyi said, “That would be Zhang San; his sister is in our hands. He treasures her and wouldn’t dare betray us even if captured.”

From behind came the serene voice.

“Agreed.”