For the next few days, Mu Zian only did three things.
Brewing wine, practicing martial arts, and organizing intelligence.
It was fine if he hadn't looked at it, but once he did, it really gave Mu Zian a headache.
The waters of Luzhou are truly deep.
The Han and Qiang peoples lived together, and there was constant warfare. The government was corrupt, and the people suffered greatly.
Places like this are practically natural breeding grounds for rebels.
On the seventh day after Pei Jianzhi led his army on the expedition, Eunuch Cao, looking anxious, appeared at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Upon seeing that Mu Zi'an was still brewing wine, Eunuch Cao immediately stepped forward and said.
"Oh my, my Duke Zhenguo, what time is it and you're still brewing wine? His Majesty has summoned you to the palace immediately."
Upon hearing this, Mu Zian thought to himself that what was bound to happen had finally arrived.
After changing into his court robes, Mu Zian followed Eunuch Cao to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
As soon as I arrived at the entrance, I heard a series of crashing and smashing sounds coming from inside the hall.
Then came the emperor's roar!
"Useless! All of you are useless!"
Seeing this, Mu Zian asked.
What happened?
"I said with a face full of resentment."
"It's all because of that good-for-nothing Pei Jianzhi. His Majesty just received an urgent military report from Luzhou. Pei Jianzhi was ambushed by bandits as soon as he arrived in Luzhou. Only the Heroine Marquis escaped the battlefield with dozens of her personal guards!"
"Three thousand elite soldiers were wiped out in one battle, and Pei Jianzhi was even captured by bandits. The Marquis of Jin Guo urgently requested reinforcements. The court has utterly lost face this time."
Mu Zian was also surprised that Pei Jianzhi had lost so cleanly.
They were wiped out as soon as they arrived in Luzhou; no wonder the emperor was so angry.
The current turmoil in Luzhou is becoming increasingly complicated.
Led by Eunuch Cao, Mu Zian entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The hall was in complete disarray. Several eunuchs and ministers who had come to discuss matters knelt on the ground, trembling, and dared not utter a word.
Xiao Xiuning stood aside, constantly comforting her father.
Upon seeing Mu Zian's appearance, Xiao Xiuning's eyes lit up, and she immediately spoke.
"Father, the Duke of Zhenguo has arrived. He had a keen understanding of the situation in Luzhou. If we appoint him as general, we will surely be able to avenge our previous defeat."
The Emperor of Dali looked at Mu Zian and asked.
You know everything?
Mu Zian nodded.
The Emperor of Dali said angrily.
"This Pei Jianzhi is utterly useless! His 3,000 elite soldiers were almost completely wiped out by a bunch of bandits! Even if I sent 3,000 pigs, they still wouldn't be able to kill them all in one go!"
The emperor's anger was easy to understand; at that moment, the atmosphere in the hall was almost solidified.
No one dared to speak, fearing that if they said the wrong thing, they would be implicated.
After a short while, the emperor caught his breath and looked at Mu Zian, who was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, and asked.
"I intend to appoint you as general to lead the elite elite troops and quell the rebellion. What do you think?"
"Ding! Congratulations, host, you have triggered a choice!"
"Option 1: Refuse to take command and only care about yourself. Reward: A set of Tai Chi Chuan."
"Option 2: Agree to lead the troops into battle. Reward: One Mysterious Strategist Summoning Card."
"Please make a decision, host!"
All eyes were on Mu Zi'an, who stepped forward to the center of the hall and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.
"Your subject is willing to lead troops to quell the rebellion in Luzhou!"
"Ding-dong! Congratulations on making your decision, host! The reward has been issued, please check it."
Upon hearing this, the emperor's expression softened considerably.
"This battle is no child's play. If we lose again, the prestige of my Great Li Dynasty will be completely lost."
Mu Zian said solemnly.
"Please issue a decree, Your Majesty!"
Seeing Mu Zian so readily accepted the defeat, the gloom that had been hanging over him vanished.
"Very well! In that case, I grant you permission to lead 10,000 elite troops of the Trapped Camp and 20,000 soldiers of the Five Armies Camp to quell the rebellion."
"Of the six ministries, this suppression of the rebellion is the top priority. Weapons, provisions, and pay must be prepared immediately. Anyone who delays will be severely punished!"
The officials from the six ministries inside the main hall spoke in unison.
"I will obey Your Majesty's command!"
"Where is Mu Zian?!"
"Your subject is here!"
"I hereby appoint you as General Who Conquers the Barbarians. This battle must demonstrate our national power and awe the world!"
"I obey the decree!"
As soon as the emperor issued his decree, the entire capital city was in an uproar.
When Mu Zian passed by the Lu family, the Lu family's gate was tightly closed.
Countless people gathered outside the door, and all kinds of garbage, excrement and urine were thrown on the wall.
The Lu family was so frightened that they dared not go out, fearing they would be beaten to death by the angry crowd at the door.
Mu Zian simply walked past the door without giving it a second glance.
In just one day, all the food, supplies and weapons needed for the 30,000-strong army were prepared.
After five days and nights of continuous distillation, the amount of alcohol brewed within the Zhenguo Duke's mansion was several thousand jars.
Mu Zian waved his hand and took them all away.
The following morning, a thin mist hung in the air.
Thirty thousand elite soldiers gathered on the training ground.
However, morale was low at the moment, and the news that three thousand elite soldiers had been wiped out in one battle had already spread like wildfire.
At this moment, Luzhou is nothing short of a hellish place for them.
Just then, the sound of armor rubbing and clashing came from within the mist.
The next moment, atop a chestnut-red steed sat a figure clad in lion-shaped armor, wielding a halberd and with a thunderous bow at his waist.
Snap! Snap!
The sound of horses' hooves was crisp and clear! Each hooves seemed to pound on everyone's hearts.
The veteran soldiers of the Trapped Camp at the very front of the column, clad in armor, stared wide-eyed.
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