Chapter 389 Xie Family Elders
A group of people walked to the front of the government office, only to find that the gate was tightly closed, but there seemed to be light coming from inside, presumably the officials of the prefecture were guarding it.
Lin Changning waved to the people beside him, and Wei Shao took the order and walked directly to the gate of the government office. He led several people, carrying wooden hammers for chiseling the gate, and smashed them hard against the vermilion gate of the government office.
Several exclamations suddenly came from inside. Judging from the sound, there seemed to be female relatives inside. Lin Changning paused for a moment and shouted loudly into the room.
"Commander Yan has been defeated. Pingding City is now in our hands. Those inside should not put up any futile resistance. The city is now full of our soldiers. Those who surrender will not be killed!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Wei Shao and his men smashed through the vermilion gate.
Lin Changning rode his horse forward a few steps, dismounted, and walked towards the main gate. He glanced at the dozens of government officials inside, his phoenix eyes sweeping over them roughly.
He stood in front of Li Mingxiu and Li Mingde, stepped inside, and looked at the man sitting in the center.
The man in the middle, dressed in a red official robe with embroidered clouds and wild geese on his chest and a gauze hat, sighed as he watched Lin Changning and the two people behind him walk in.
"I never expected that even Commander Yan would be defeated by you. You are truly young talents."
Lin Changning watched as the man gripped the hilt of his sword, and a large number of soldiers surged out from behind him, surrounding the courtyard. Lin Changning squinted at the man sitting upright in the chair and asked him a question.
"To surrender or to die?"
The man stood up from his chair and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Lin Changning: "My surname is Yang, and my given name is Huan. I am the prefect of Pingning Prefecture. Thanks to His Majesty's favor, I have served as the prefect of Pingning Prefecture for four years. As a scholar, I value integrity and will not surrender. Whether you kill me or torture me, please do so. However, the common people are innocent, so please do not harm them in the slightest. Yang Huan thanks you!"
After speaking, the man bowed deeply to Lin Changning and Li Mingxiu behind him.
After bowing, he drew the long sword from the waist of the constable beside him and was about to slash his neck with it.
Lin Changning hated stubborn people like this the most. He drew his sword, swung it from its sheath, and aimed straight at Yang Huan's wrist.
The prefect's speed in slitting his throat was not as fast as Lin Changning's speed in throwing the scabbard. With a thud, Lin Changning's scabbard and the prefect's sword fell to the ground together.
The two loud clanging sounds momentarily stunned Prefect Yang.
Touching his wrist, which was still sore from Lin Changning's blow, he frowned and looked over.
I don't quite understand what this means?
Lin Changning disliked idle chatter and waved to the people beside him: "Arrest them all and take them away."
As soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers beside him arrested a group of people. Prefect Yang frowned as he looked at Lin Changning.
"Why won't you allow me to die? Does the King of Chu not even permit me to die for my country?"
Lin Changning ignored everyone and looked at the soldiers who were holding down Prefect Yang: "Keep an eye on him, don't let him die."
After saying that, he led Li Mingxiu and Li Mingde straight inside. After finding out where the Xie family was being held, Lin Changning was led by two constables who had just fallen from power to the prison of the government office.
As the two constables walked, they recounted the events of the past two days. The Xie family had been ambushed by Prefect Yang and his men on the second day after their arrival. Strangely enough, the Xie family, despite having brought their own soldiers, surrendered and allowed the Prefect to arrest them.
Apart from a few elderly members of the Xie family who were locked up in the side rooms, the younger ones, or the Xie family's guards, were all locked up in the dungeon.
Lin Changning glanced silently at Li Mingxiu after hearing what the two constables were saying. Li Mingxiu also frowned. From what the two constables were saying, it seemed as if the Xie family had walked right into a trap.
Thinking of this, Li Mingxiu frowned again: "You mean the Xie family, with their private soldiers, didn't resist at all and let you arrest them?"
Seeing that Li Mingxiu looked a little unwell, the two constables nodded: "Yes, sir, the Xie family elders surrendered immediately and let us arrest them and put them in jail. Except for a few important elders who are locked in the side rooms, everyone else is inside."
Lin Changning and Li Mingde exchanged a glance. Lin Changning sneered inwardly and cursed Li Mingde as an old fox.
Judging from this, it seems like it was all planned. They were caught not early, not late, but in a small town near Taiyuan. They probably wanted to see if the King of Chu would send someone to rescue them.
If they come to the rescue, it proves that King Chu is a wise ruler; if they don't, they'll stay here, and those who haven't yet chosen King Chu's side will have to think it over.
Given their proximity to Taiyuan, it would be difficult for the imperial court to take action against the Xie family, especially considering their renowned reputation; local officials would certainly not dare to carry out such an execution on their own.
Having figured things out, Li Mingxiu and Lin Changning walked with cold faces to the place where the Xie family members were being held.
Li Mingxiu originally intended to pick them up personally, but thinking of this, he felt somewhat indignant and pulled Lin Changning away, turning his head directly.
"Go back and release them."
After saying that, he flicked his sleeve and led Lin Changning back. The two had not gone a few steps when they suddenly heard a clear voice calling out from behind them.
"Your Highness, please wait!"
Li Mingxiu subconsciously stopped and turned to look inside. He saw a young scholar in blue robes standing in front of the prison gate with a smile on his face, bowing to the three of them.
"Your Highness, may I have a word with my third uncle?"
Li Mingxiu glanced at Lin Changning, then looked at the scholar opposite him: "Who are you?"
The young scholar stood in the shadows and bowed to Li Mingxiu once more: "My name is Xie Yongchang. I pay my respects to the Crown Prince and the two gentlemen."
Li Mingxiu turned his head and looked at the man with an uncertain expression: "Where is your third uncle?"
The scholar glanced at the constable and said, "I will take the young master there now. Please forgive me, young master."
After saying this, the constable unlocked the door and released the Xie family members one by one. After Xie Yongchang followed the constable out, he glanced at another constable and ordered, "Release everyone in the family."
After saying that, he led a constable toward the three of them.
He walked straight up to the three people and gestured forward, saying, "Please come in, gentlemen."
Li Mingxiu was so angry he laughed. So these two were also from the Xie family. No wonder they betrayed them as soon as they came in and even offered to lead them to the Xie family.
It turns out this was someone's pawn from the very beginning. What a Xie family! Very well, very well.
Seeing that the three of them didn't look too good, Xie Yongchang forced an apologetic smile onto his face.
"I apologize, gentlemen. The Xie family has been passed down for centuries, so we are naturally more cautious in our actions. I hope you will forgive us."
As he spoke, he walked forward. Lin Changning rolled his eyes and followed Li Mingxiu and Li Mingde as they walked outside again.
What I find most annoying are these cunning people.
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