After successfully transporting the grain from "Mu's Grain Store" to a safe location, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er remained vigilant. They knew that Murong Xuan would not let the matter rest, and although the acquisition was temporarily concluded, many matters still needed to be addressed. The most crucial of these was negotiating with the grain store manager and related personnel to completely resolve issues such as the ownership of the grain store and the stability of the city's grain supply system.

Inside the temporary council hall in the city, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy. Xiao Yichen sat at the head of the table, his gaze firm and profound. Lin Wan'er stood beside him, her eyes revealing intelligence and composure. The generals and strategists sat on either side, all awaiting Xiao Yichen's decisions and plans.

Xiao Yichen spoke slowly, his voice steady and powerful: "Gentlemen, although the grain store acquisition has been fraught with twists and turns, we have finally achieved some results. However, Murong Xuan will not give up so easily. What we will face next is negotiation and bargaining with all parties involved in the grain store. This is not only about controlling the grain, but also about the stability of the city and the will of the people."

Lin Wan'er nodded slightly and continued, "The general is absolutely right. Although the grain shop manager hesitated, he is probably still worried under Murong Xuan's threat. We need to show enough sincerity and wisdom in the negotiations, both to appease the manager and to ensure that the grain shop can be brought under our control smoothly and play a positive role in the city's grain supply."

An advisor stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and then said, “General, Miss Lin, in my opinion, this negotiation should begin with several key aspects. First, naturally, is the price and payment method of the grain. Although we have already transported the grain away, we still need to negotiate a reasonable price that is acceptable to both parties with the shopkeeper, and clarify the time and method of payment to put his mind at ease. Second, there is the issue of the shopkeeper and his employees' resettlement. We previously promised to provide them with security and new opportunities, and this needs to be implemented in detail during the negotiations so that they have no worries. Third, the future operating model and supervision mechanism of the grain store. We must ensure that the grain store, under our control, can serve the people of the city fairly and justly, rather than becoming a tool for certain forces to seek private gain.”

Xiao Yichen frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "What you say is very comprehensive, sir. Let's start by discussing the price of grain. I think we can add a portion of compensation to the previously agreed price to show our sincerity. After all, this operation has caused some disturbance to the grain store, and the manager has held firm under pressure from Murong Xuan. As for the payment method, we can pay half of the deposit first, and then pay the remaining amount after all matters related to the grain store have been properly handled."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Afterwards, Xiao Yichen sent someone to invite the grain store manager to the council hall for negotiations. A short while later, the grain store manager, escorted by several soldiers, entered the council hall, looking somewhat nervous. Seeing Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er seated at the head of the table, he quickly bowed and said, "General Xiao, Miss Lin, may I ask why you have summoned me here?"

Xiao Yichen raised his hand slightly, gesturing for him to stand up, and said in a calm tone, "Manager, there's no need to be nervous. I've called you here today to discuss the follow-up arrangements for the grain store's acquisition. As you know, this matter has become quite complicated due to Murong Xuan's interference. But our original intention has always been to ensure that the people in the city have a sufficient supply of grain and to stabilize prices."

The grain shop owner nodded slightly and said, "I understand the general's good intentions. However, this grain shop represents many years of my hard work, and now..."

Lin Wan'er picked up the conversation, smiling as she said, "Manager, we understand how important the grain store is to you. That's why we want to have a proper discussion with you today. Regarding the price of grain, we've decided to add another five thousand taels of silver as compensation, on top of the previous amount. What do you think?"

The grain shopkeeper was startled; the price far exceeded his expectations. He had originally thought Xiao Yichen would lower the price because of the previous conflict, but instead, he had raised it. Still somewhat hesitant, he said, "Miss Lin, this price is indeed generous. But regarding Young Master Murong, I..."

Xiao Yichen said, “Manager, you no longer need to worry about Murong Xuan. His conspiracy has been exposed by us, and his power in the city is gradually being weakened. If you still insist on your loyalty to him at this time, you will only put yourself in a more dangerous situation. As for us, we will not only give you generous rewards, but also do our best to protect your safety, arrange new properties and residences for you in the city, so that you can enjoy the rest of your life in peace.”

The grain shop owner fell into deep thought, weighing the pros and cons. He knew that Xiao Yichen's words were true; Murong Xuan was now in dire straits, and Xiao Yichen's offer was indeed extremely attractive.

“General, Miss Lin, I am willing to believe you. But my men, who have followed me for many years, I hope they can also find a good home.” The grain shop manager looked up at Xiao Yichen and said.

Lin Wan'er said, "Don't worry, shopkeeper, we've already considered this. If your employees are willing, they can continue to work at the grain store. We will pay them their wages according to the original standards and give them certain bonuses. If any of them are unwilling, we will arrange other suitable jobs for them and will never let them become homeless."

The grain shop manager felt a warmth in his heart, quite satisfied with Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er's arrangements. "So, General, what are your plans for the future operation of the grain shop?"

Xiao Yichen said, "The grain store will be supervised by the government from now on, but you will still be responsible for its daily operations. We will formulate a series of rules and regulations to ensure that the grain store serves the people of the city fairly and justly. For example, the price of grain will be set reasonably according to market conditions, and price gouging will not be allowed; the distribution of grain will prioritize the basic needs of the people of the city, especially those poor families. Do you have any objections to this?"

The grain store manager quickly shook his head: "General, your considerations are thorough, and I have no objections. But how exactly will this oversight mechanism be implemented?"

Xiao Yichen said, "We will set up special supervisors in the grain store. They will regularly check the grain store's accounts, inventory, and grain quality. At the same time, you will also need to report the grain store's operation to the government regularly. If any violations are found, they will be severely punished according to law. But as long as you abide by the rules, we will also give you corresponding support and rewards."

After a moment's thought, the grain store manager said, "General, I understand. I will abide by the rules, run the grain store well, and serve the people of the city."

Xiao Yichen nodded slightly and said, "Very good. Then let's sign a preliminary agreement first, and sign a formal contract after the details are agreed upon."

At that moment, Xiao Yichen ordered someone to bring pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, and drafted a preliminary grain store purchase agreement. The agreement detailed the grain price, payment method, resettlement of the grain store manager and employees, and the grain store's operating model and supervision mechanism. After carefully reading it and confirming that everything was correct, the grain store manager signed his name.

Just then, a soldier hurriedly entered the council hall, saluted Xiao Yichen, and said, "General, Murong Xuan has sent someone to request a meeting with you."

Xiao Yichen frowned slightly, wondering about Murong Xuan's purpose. But he still said, "Let him in."

A moment later, Murong Xuan's messenger entered the council hall. He glanced at the grain shop manager and then said to Xiao Yichen, "General Xiao, my young master heard that you were discussing the acquisition with the grain shop manager, and he specifically sent me to convey his message. My young master said that this grain shop is an important property of his in the city, and he will not give it up easily. If you are willing to give up the acquisition, General, he is willing to turn hostility into friendship and share the profits in the city with you."

Xiao Yichen sneered, "I appreciate your young master's kindness. But this grain shop is now under my control, and I will not give it up. Murong Xuan is trying to disrupt the city's order and seek personal gain; how could I possibly collude with him?"

The messenger's expression changed, and he said, "General, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. My young master's influence in the city is still not to be underestimated. If you insist on doing this, it will only lead to a greater conflict."

Lin Wan'er stood up and said, "Envoy, please stop threatening us. We now have a lot of evidence of Murong Xuan's conspiracies. If he dares to make any rash moves, he will only suffer the consequences. You should go back and tell Murong Xuan to surrender obediently. Perhaps then he can be treated leniently."

Seeing that things were not going well, the envoy snorted coldly and turned to leave.

Watching the envoy's departing figure, Xiao Yichen said to everyone, "Murong Xuan's actions are an attempt to salvage the situation. But we must not back down. We must expedite the follow-up matters of the grain store and strengthen the city's defenses to prevent Murong Xuan from resorting to desperate measures."

Everyone accepted the orders and left. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er continued discussing the operational details of the grain store and strategies for dealing with Murong Xuan. They knew that the battle against Murong Xuan had entered its most crucial stage, and any small mistake could lead to total defeat. But they were fearless, for they bore the heavy responsibility of protecting the city and its people. For this responsibility, they would go all out and fight Murong Xuan to the very end.

After successfully signing a preliminary agreement with the grain store manager, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er thought they could proceed with the subsequent matters of the grain store in an orderly manner. However, beneath the calm surface, undercurrents were surging. Not long after Murong Xuan's envoy left, trouble followed one after another, as if an invisible hand was stirring up trouble in the city, attempting to ruin their plans.

Xiao Yichen was inspecting the soldiers' training in the military camp in the city when a soldier rushed up to him, reporting in a panic, "General, something terrible has happened! A shipment of grain we were transporting to the grain store was attacked en route. The brothers escorting it suffered heavy casualties, and the grain was also stolen!"

Xiao Yichen's face darkened, and a surge of anger rose in his heart: "Do you know who did this?"

The soldier shook his head and said, "The other party was masked, so we couldn't see their faces, but judging from their style of operation and their weapons and equipment, they seemed to be well-trained assassins from the martial arts world."

Xiao Yichen immediately realized that these were no ordinary robbers; they must have been secretly ordered by Murong Xuan. He made a decisive move and said to the soldier, "Go and inform Miss Lin immediately, and tell her to strengthen the defenses of the grain stores and other supply depots in the city. I will personally lead a team to track down the whereabouts of the grain."

After saying this, Xiao Yichen mustered a squad of elite cavalry and galloped off in the direction where the grain had been robbed. They followed the route of the escorting convoy and saw bloodstains along the way, with grain sacks and soldiers' belongings scattered everywhere, indicating that the battle had been extremely fierce.

Upon reaching the entrance of a valley, Xiao Yichen reined in his horse and keenly observed his surroundings. The haphazard hoofprints and footprints on the ground led into the depths of the valley, and he realized that the thieves must have hidden in this valley.

"Enter the valley!" Xiao Yichen waved his hand, leading the cavalry slowly into the valley. The valley was gloomy and quiet, with steep and precipitous peaks on both sides. There was only one narrow path for passage, making it a place that was easy to defend and difficult to attack.

The group proceeded cautiously when suddenly, the sound of bowstrings twanged through the valley. Countless arrows rained down from the mountain peaks on both sides, and the cavalrymen quickly raised their shields to defend themselves. Xiao Yichen shouted, "Don't panic! Find cover and counterattack!"

The soldiers reacted swiftly; some hid behind boulders, others dismounted and used their horses as cover, while simultaneously drawing their bows and firing arrows at the enemy on the mountain. In an instant, shouts of battle filled the valley, and arrows rained down.

Xiao Yichen observed the enemy's arrow positions and discovered that their attacks mainly came from the mountain peaks on the left side of the valley. He made a plan and said to the soldiers around him, "You follow me to flank them from the right mountain peak, the rest of you stay here and hold the enemy back."

After speaking, Xiao Yichen led several soldiers off their horses and began climbing the mountain to the right on foot. Using vines and rocks for cover, they struggled upwards. The enemy on the mountain seemed unaware of their movements, still focused on attacking the soldiers in the valley.

After some effort, Xiao Yichen and his group finally reached the right-hand peak. Crouching low, they stealthily approached the enemy's rear. Meanwhile, the battle in the valley intensified, with casualties on both sides.

Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Yichen roared, "Kill!" and led his soldiers like tigers charging towards the enemy's rear. The enemy on the mountain was caught off guard by this sudden attack, and their formation crumbled. Xiao Yichen brandished his longsword, and wherever it struck, enemies fell.

Under the combined attack of Xiao Yichen and his men, the enemy gradually succumbed and began to scatter and flee. Xiao Yichen ordered a halt to the pursuit and instructed his soldiers to clean up the battlefield and check for any traces of food.

However, after searching, they found no trace of the grain. Xiao Yichen was puzzled. If these people had robbed the grain, why didn't they hide it here? Were there other hiding places?

Just then, Lin Wan'er arrived in the valley with a troop of soldiers. Upon seeing Xiao Yichen, she quickly asked, "General, how is the situation?"

Xiao Yichen frowned and said, "The enemy has been repelled, but the grain has disappeared. I suspect this is a diversionary tactic by Murong Xuan. He deliberately lured us here while transporting the grain elsewhere."

Lin Wan'er pondered for a moment and said, "General, what should we do now?"

Xiao Yichen gazed out of the valley, his eyes resolute, and said, "Let's return to the city first and redeploy our forces. Since Murong Xuan dared to provoke us like this, we must make him pay the price."

Upon returning to the city, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er immediately summoned their generals and strategists to discuss countermeasures. Everyone agreed that Murong Xuan's actions were intended to disrupt their food supply plan, thereby inciting panic among the city's residents.

An advisor said, “General, although we currently have grain reserves at ‘Mu’s Grain Store,’ this grain robbery has already affected our plans. If we do not recover the grain as soon as possible and stabilize public morale, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Xiao Yichen nodded slightly and said, "I know. But we can't act blindly. We need to find out where Murong Xuan hid the grain first. I will send out more spies to investigate in the city and surrounding areas, and at the same time strengthen the surveillance of Murong Xuan and his men."

Lin Wan'er said, "General, I think we can also start with some of the Jianghu (martial arts world) forces in the city. They are well-informed and may know the whereabouts of the grain."

Xiao Yichen's eyes lit up: "Wan'er, this plan is excellent. You can contact some Jianghu gangs that have good relations with us and ask them to keep an eye out for us."

Just as everyone was discussing the matter, another soldier came to report that several wells in the city had been poisoned, and many civilians had already died from the poison. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yichen's expression turned extremely grim.

"Murong Xuan is trying to destroy my foundation and plunge the city into a desperate situation!" Xiao Yichen said angrily.

Lin Wan'er quickly said, "General, don't panic. We need to quickly organize people to treat the poisoned people and at the same time seal off the well to prevent more people from being poisoned."

Suppressing his anger, Xiao Yichen calmed down and began arranging rescue and containment measures. He personally went to the city's clinics to direct the doctors in treating the poisoned people. At the same time, he ordered his soldiers to search for clean water sources throughout the city to alleviate the people's urgent needs.

After much effort, the situation of the poisoned people was gradually brought under control, but the panic in the city worsened. The people were filled with anxiety for their safety and fear for the future.

Xiao Yichen knew that if these problems were not resolved quickly, the situation in the city would completely spiral out of control. He discussed the matter again with Lin Wan'er and decided to intensify the counterattack against Murong Xuan while actively appeasing the people and stabilizing public sentiment.

Lin Wan'er went to the streets and announced the government's response to the people: "Fellow villagers, please do not panic. General Xiao is doing his utmost to track down the poisoner and will bring him to justice. We are also looking for new water sources to ensure everyone's drinking water safety. At the same time, 'Mu Ji Grain Store' has plenty of food, so no one will go hungry. Please trust the government and trust General Xiao!"

Under Lin Wan'er's reassurance, the people's emotions gradually stabilized. Meanwhile, Xiao Yichen's scouts also brought back some news. They discovered that Murong Xuan's men were frequently entering and leaving an abandoned manor in the south of the city, and the manor was heavily guarded, suggesting that important supplies might be hidden there.

After receiving the news, Xiao Yichen decided to personally lead a team of soldiers to launch a night raid on the manor in the south of the city, to reclaim the grain, and at the same time deal a heavy blow to Murong Xuan.

As night fell, Xiao Yichen led his soldiers stealthily toward the manor in the south of the city. They evaded the patrols around the manor and reached its walls. Xiao Yichen leaped over the wall with ease and entered the manor. The soldiers followed suit, sneaking into the manor like ghosts.

The manor was silent, with only a few houses emitting faint lights. Xiao Yichen led his soldiers cautiously towards the lights when suddenly a guard emerged from around the corner. Xiao Yichen reacted swiftly, stepping forward and covering the guard's mouth, subduing him.

They learned from the guards that the grain was hidden in the warehouse in the backyard of the manor. Xiao Yichen left a few soldiers to guard the prisoners, and then led the rest of his men toward the warehouse.

When they arrived at the warehouse door, they found it tightly shut and equipped with a mechanism. Xiao Yichen carefully observed the situation and, relying on his wisdom and experience, successfully deciphered the mechanism and opened the warehouse door.

The warehouse was piled high with sacks of grain—the very same batch that had been stolen. Xiao Yichen was overjoyed and immediately ordered his soldiers to move the grain.

Just as the grain was about to be unloaded, an alarm suddenly sounded in the manor. It turned out that Murong Xuan had also set up hidden sentries in the warehouse, and the alarm was triggered after someone broke in.

Instantly, the manor was brightly lit, and Murong Xuan's men surged in from all directions, surrounding Xiao Yichen and the others inside the warehouse.

Murong Xuan stepped out from the crowd, a smug smile on his face: "Xiao Yichen, do you think you can take my grain so easily? Today is your death day!"

Xiao Yichen looked at Murong Xuan and sneered, "Murong Xuan, your scheme will not succeed. Today I will expose your evil deeds to the public and make you receive the punishment you deserve!"

After saying this, Xiao Yichen led his soldiers into a fierce battle with Murong Xuan's men. The warehouse was cramped, so the two sides could only fight hand-to-hand, their swords clashing and sparks flying.

Xiao Yichen darted through the enemy ranks, his swordsmanship incredibly sharp, each strike repelling the enemy. The soldiers, too, fought bravely and fearlessly, battling the enemy to the death.

However, Murong Xuan's men were numerous and highly skilled in martial arts, and Xiao Yichen and his companions gradually found themselves in a difficult situation. At the critical moment, Lin Wan'er led a group of reinforcements to the manor.

It turned out that Lin Wan'er was worried about Xiao Yichen's safety, so she brought reinforcements to help him. When she saw Xiao Yichen surrounded, she joined the battle without hesitation.

Lin Wan'er's swordsmanship was light and graceful, like a butterfly fluttering in the air, moving freely among the enemy ranks. She and Xiao Yichen cooperated well, gradually turning the tide of the battle.

Under the combined attack of Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, Murong Xuan's men began to retreat steadily. Seeing the situation was dire, Murong Xuan tried to escape the manor. How could Xiao Yichen let him succeed? He rushed forward and blocked Murong Xuan's path.

"Murong Xuan, where do you think you're going!" Xiao Yichen shouted, pointing his long sword at Murong Xuan's throat.

Murong Xuan's face was pale, his heart filled with fear. He knew he could not escape his fate today, but he still tried to make a last-ditch effort: "Xiao Yichen, if you kill me, you will never know my other plans in the city."

Xiao Yichen said coldly, "Do you think I would believe you? Your crimes have been exposed. No matter what your schemes are, I will expose them one by one."

Having said that, Xiao Yichen raised his sword and brought it down, killing Murong Xuan instantly. Seeing their master dead, Murong Xuan's men all laid down their weapons and surrendered.

Xiao Yichen gazed at Murong Xuan's corpse, his heart filled with mixed emotions. This contest with Murong Xuan had finally ended with his death. But he knew that the reconstruction and restoration of the city would still require tremendous effort.

He turned to Lin Wan'er and said, "Wan'er, Murong Xuan is dead, and the crisis in the city has been temporarily resolved. But we still have a lot to do. We need to restore order to the city as soon as possible so that the people can live a peaceful life."

Lin Wan'er nodded slightly, her eyes revealing a hint of weariness, but even more so, a firm resolve: "General, Wan'er is willing to work with you to rebuild our homeland."

Under the leadership of Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, the city embarked on a difficult reconstruction effort. They cleaned the streets, repaired houses, restored commercial order, and strengthened the reassurance and relief efforts for the people. After a period of hard work, the city gradually regained its former vitality and prosperity, and the people lived peaceful and happy lives. The names of Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er became heroes in the hearts of the city's residents, their heroic deeds and great achievements in protecting their homeland being widely praised.

With a swift movement, Xiao Yichen's sword fell, and Murong Xuan's body crashed to the ground, blood spreading across the surface, reflecting the tense expressions on the faces of those around him. His death temporarily brought the fierce battle to a close, but Xiao Yichen knew in his heart that the current predicament had only been slightly alleviated; many thorny issues still entangled them like a tangled mess, urgently needing to be resolved.

At this moment, the southern manor was silent after the chaos, the air thick with the stench of blood and gunpowder. Xiao Yichen stared at Murong Xuan's corpse, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew that although their greatest enemy had been eliminated, there was still a long way to go to completely eradicate the negative influence of Murong Xuan and restore peace and prosperity to the city.

Lin Wan'er walked to Xiao Yichen's side and said softly, "General, the most urgent task is to safely transport the grain back to the city and properly settle these surrendered soldiers."

Xiao Yichen nodded slightly, took a deep breath, suppressed his thoughts, and began to calmly direct the group's actions. "You take a team to load the grain onto the carts, making sure not a single grain is lost. I'll deal with these prisoners and see if we can get any more useful information from them."

Lin Wan'er accepted the order and quickly organized the soldiers to move the grain. Xiao Yichen, on the other hand, walked coldly toward the group of surrendered soldiers, scrutinizing them with piercing eyes. The soldiers wore expressions of fear and unease, their heads bowed, not daring to meet Xiao Yichen's gaze.

"Listen carefully, Murong Xuan is dead. The severity of your crimes depends on your performance from now on. If you can truthfully confess Murong Xuan's other schemes and accomplices in the city, I may consider leniency. But if you utter even the slightest lie, you will not be spared!" Xiao Yichen's voice was deep and authoritative, echoing throughout the manor, causing every prisoner to tremble.

A prisoner who appeared to be a minor leader raised his head, a hint of hesitation in his eyes, but under Xiao Yichen's intense gaze, he finally spoke: "General, I know I was wrong. Young Master Murong has secretly colluded with some officials in the city. They are tipping him off from within the government and hindering your actions, General. Also, there are some weapons and supplies hidden in that abandoned warehouse in the north of the city, which are intended to be used to launch a rebellion at a crucial moment."

Xiao Yichen felt a chill run down his spine. He had long suspected that Murong Xuan had planted spies in the city, but he hadn't expected them to have infiltrated the government. This was undoubtedly a deeply hidden cancer that had to be eradicated as soon as possible.

"Anything else? How much do you know about Murong Xuan's influence outside the city?" Xiao Yichen continued to press.

The prisoner shook his head. "I only know that Young Master Murong has dealings with some bandits outside the city, but I don't know the specific details."

After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Yichen ordered his men to temporarily detain the prisoners and conduct further interrogations upon their return to the city.

Just then, Lin Wan'er came to report: "General, all the grain has been loaded onto the carts and we are ready to depart at any time."

"Alright, let's return to the city!" Xiao Yichen waved his hand and led the group back to the city in a grand procession, carrying food and prisoners.

On the way back to the city, Xiao Yichen discussed the next plan with Lin Wan'er. "Wan'er, we must find Murong Xuan's spies within the government as soon as possible, otherwise our every move will be exposed to the enemy. I think we should start with those officials who have had close contact with Murong Xuan and secretly investigate their whereabouts and correspondence."

Lin Wan'er nodded in agreement, "General's plan is excellent. However, the investigation process must be extremely secretive to avoid alerting the enemy. I can arrange for some trustworthy people to carry it out. At the same time, we must strengthen the defense of important locations in the city to prevent Murong Xuan's remaining forces from taking the opportunity to cause trouble."

Xiao Yichen looked at Lin Wan'er, his eyes filled with trust and gratitude. "With you by my side, I feel much more at ease. This time, we were able to recapture the grain thanks to your timely arrival with reinforcements; otherwise, I'm afraid I would have had a hard time escaping."

Lin Wan'er smiled slightly, "General, you're too kind. We've always shared joys and sorrows, and protecting the people in the city is our common responsibility."

Upon returning to the city, Xiao Yichen immediately began arranging a purge of Murong Xuan's remaining followers. He personally selected a group of loyal and reliable soldiers and shrewd and capable spies, dividing them into several teams to secretly monitor the suspicious officials.

Lin Wan'er was responsible for strengthening security patrols in the city and calming the public. She posted notices throughout the city, announcing that Murong Xuan was dead and the crisis in the city was about to be resolved. At the same time, she encouraged the people to actively report any remaining followers of Murong Xuan and suspicious individuals, so as to jointly maintain the peace and tranquility of the city.

Under Xiao Yichen's meticulous planning, the investigation progressed rapidly. Within a few days, some clues were discovered. An official was frequently exchanging letters with a mysterious person outside the city, and his behavior was suspicious. Xiao Yichen decided to close the net and personally led soldiers to surround the official's residence.

"My lord, you have been arrested for allegedly colluding with Murong Xuan to murder the people of the city. Do you have anything to say?" Xiao Yichen stood in front of the official and said coldly.

The official turned pale and tried to argue, "General, this is a misunderstanding! Murong Xuan and I are just ordinary friends, and there is no collusion between us."

Xiao Yichen snorted coldly, "Is that so? Then how do you explain these letters?" With that, he took out a stack of letters and threw them in front of the official.

Upon seeing the letter, the official collapsed to the ground, realizing his situation was hopeless. He had no choice but to confess his crimes. It turned out that he had accepted large bribes from Murong Xuan to relay messages within the city, sabotage Xiao Yichen's plans, and secretly assist Murong Xuan in hoarding supplies, preparing to launch a coup at the opportune moment.

With the arrest of this official, Xiao Yichen followed the clues and uncovered several more officials who had colluded with Murong Xuan. A major purge occurred within the city's government, and Murong Xuan's influence was completely eradicated.

After resolving the internal problems of the government, Xiao Yichen turned his attention to the abandoned warehouse in the north of the city. He led his soldiers to the warehouse and, as expected, discovered a large quantity of weapons and supplies. These weapons were of high quality, and the supplies were plentiful; if they fell into the hands of Murong Xuan's remaining followers, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Xiao Yichen ordered his men to seize all the weapons and supplies and transport them back to the city for safekeeping. At the same time, he strengthened patrols and defenses in the northern part of the city to prevent any further enemy activity in the area.

However, just as the situation in the city was gradually stabilizing, a new problem arose. Due to Murong Xuan's previous conspiracy, the city's commerce had suffered a severe blow, many shops had closed down, people had lost their livelihoods, and the unemployment rate had skyrocketed. The city's economy was in dire straits, and if not addressed promptly, it would trigger even greater social unrest.

Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er fell into deep thought again, discussing countermeasures. Lin Wan'er suggested, "General, we can encourage the people to start their own businesses, with the government providing certain support and preferential policies. For example, reducing or exempting taxes, providing low-interest loans, and opening new commercial districts. This can stimulate the enthusiasm of the people and promote the recovery of commerce in the city."

After pondering for a moment, Xiao Yichen said, "This plan is good, but it requires a lot of funds and manpower to implement. We have just gone through a major battle, and the city's finances are quite tight. However, for the long term, we must overcome the difficulties. I can transfer some soldiers from the army to help the people rebuild their shops, and at the same time, use some of the government's reserve funds to support the entrepreneurship support program."

Therefore, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er began to actively promote an entrepreneurship support program. They established a special agency in the city to review people's business applications, issue loans, and provide policy consultation. At the same time, they organized soldiers and civilians to clear the ruins and rebuild shops and streets.

Thanks to their efforts, the people of the city gradually saw hope and responded to the call to join the entrepreneurial wave. Some skilled people opened blacksmith shops, tailor shops, restaurants, and so on; some people with business acumen started trading goods, and the commercial atmosphere in the city gradually became more active.

As commerce recovered, the city's economy gradually improved. Unemployment dropped, people's livelihoods were secured, and public morale stabilized. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er watched the city gradually regain its vitality, their hearts filled with relief.

However, they did not lower their guard, knowing that in this chaotic world, only by continuously strengthening the city's power could they truly protect this land and its people. Therefore, Xiao Yichen began to strengthen the army's training and improve the soldiers' combat effectiveness; Lin Wan'er, on the other hand, set about reforming the city's education and culture, cultivating more talent, and laying the foundation for the city's long-term development.

Thanks to the joint efforts of Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, this city, which had once been plagued by Murong Xuan's conspiracies, gradually emerged from its predicament and steadily moved towards prosperity and peace. Their names were deeply engraved in the hearts of every citizen in the city, becoming a legendary tale of heroism that has been passed down through generations, inspiring people to strive to protect their homeland.