Zhao Qian dared not refuse Yan Xiao's order, especially since Yan Xiao's words were reasonable and well-founded, and he also had Shen Muzhi's waist token.
Even if he's just a guard leader, as long as it's not something outrageous, the Shen family army has to follow her orders.
He thought for a moment and decided to introduce it to Yanxiao in advance:
"Madam, the former city garrison general has been demoted to a patrol soldier by our General Shen because of the previous incident with the Miao people."
The current garrison general is named Zhang Kangnian; he was personally promoted by the general for his military achievements.
He paused here, observing Yan Xiao's expression, before cautiously continuing:
"Zhang Kangnian was seriously injured once when he was in the army. He was pulled back from the brink of death by Jiang Xinrui and has always been grateful to her."
"Heh~"
Yan Xiao burst out laughing upon hearing this, her tone full of sarcasm:
"It seems that I, this old lady, can set up a table on the street to tell fortunes and tell people's stories someday. This might be a good way to make a fortune."
Zhao Qian didn't dare to utter a sound after hearing this, and just stood aside with his head down, waiting for Yan Xiao's next instructions.
Yanxiao is not the type to take her anger out on others; if she has a grudge, she will naturally seek revenge on the person who made her unhappy.
"Take it."
Yan Xiao handed Shen Muzhi's waist token directly to Zhao Qian and said coldly:
"Judging from this, there's no need to invite him. Whether Zhang Kangnian was incompetent or did it intentionally, he doesn't deserve any respect. Just bring him here."
"Also, take stock of how many of the Shen family army and the city guards have received favors from Jiang Xinrui and have an unusual relationship with her. Gather them all before nightfall and have them assemble at the city gate."
"Yes, I will take care of it right away."
Zhao Qian responded and hurried off to get things done without delay.
He didn't know what Yan Xiao was planning to do, and he didn't dare to ask too many questions. He just instinctively felt that this matter probably couldn't be resolved peacefully, and he was also a little unsure of himself.
However, when Shen Muzhi left Jiangbei, he gave him the order to obey his wife in everything and not to anger her.
With his wife and the general's token, he didn't care what he thought in his heart, as long as he obeyed orders in action. Anyway, if the sky fell, there would be tall people to hold it up.
Not long after Zhao Qian left, Mu Yunniang woke up. Yan Xiao suppressed her displeasure, chatted with Mu Yunniang for a few words about soap, and then saw her off.
After Mu Yunniang left, Yan Xiao calculated the time and realized that General Zhang should be arriving soon, so she went directly to the main hall.
Just as Qianqiu Wandai had finished serving tea and snacks to Yanxiao, a servant came to report that Guard Zhao had arrived.
When Yan Xiao signaled to let the man in, Zhao Qian was seen walking in front, followed by two guards who were holding down a man who was tied up.
The man, dressed in armor, appeared to be in his twenties. He was muscular and of average appearance, but his eyes were exceptionally bright. As he looked at Yan Xiao, who was sitting behind the screen, his eyes were filled with resentment and anger.
Before Yan Xiao could speak, he started complaining:
"Madam, I wonder what crime I have committed that has caused you to go to such lengths to have me bound and brought here?"
Before he could finish speaking and before Yan Xiao could say anything, Zhao Qian angrily kicked him in the knee.
He used all his strength, and the pain made him immediately kneel down. Then he heard Zhao Qian sneer:
"You don't even bow to the lady first, and you're so rude. How many lives do you have?"
Zhang Kangnian gasped in pain, his face contorted with humiliation. He turned and glared at Zhao Qian, cursing:
"I am the city's garrison general personally appointed by General Shen, and I only obey General Shen's orders. What is the reason for you to bind me today without any cause?"
At this point, he turned directly to Yan Xiao and said, almost in a questioning tone:
"Now that the general is not in Jiangbei, is it inappropriate for the lady to act so arrogantly? Will it damage the general's reputation? I am the general guarding the city, and I bear heavy responsibilities. I cannot leave my post without cause."
If the lady's willful and reckless actions give thieves an opportunity, and something goes wrong, the entire city will have to pay the price for her whims. Can the lady bear such a responsibility?
Yan Xiao watched the series of performances by the people on the ground, her eyes growing colder and colder.
She really didn't know if Zhang Kangnian was fearless or if he thought she wouldn't dare to touch him. Before she could even do anything, he had already threatened her with words.
But the more he acts like this, the more it shows that he has a guilty conscience.
If an ordinary person has done nothing wrong, they would first question the purpose of seeking his help in this situation and try to understand the situation before speaking, rather than immediately confronting this powerful general's wife in such a forceful manner.
His actions only reminded Yan Xiao of one phrase: "a cornered dog will jump over the wall."
Yan Xiao thought to herself and couldn't help but laugh out loud. She had originally wanted to interrogate him, but this time there was really nothing to ask.
If this guy said there was no problem, she'd be willing to take her head off and let him kick it around like a ball. She had no interest in arguing with Zhang Kangnian at all, and instead looked at Qianqiu Wandai and the other two beside her and asked:
"Look at that thing barking wildly on the ground outside, doesn't it look like a treacherous dog that eats its own flesh?"
Qianqiu Wandai was angry because of Zhang Kangnian's disrespectful attitude towards Yanxiao when he suddenly heard Yanxiao's question.
The two exchanged a glance, and without hesitation, replied in unison:
"Yes, madam, it does look quite similar."
"What do you mean by 'quite similar'? I see, he is clearly him."
Such obvious sarcasm is obvious enough to be understood by anyone who isn't an idiot.
Zhang Kangnian looked embarrassed and was about to speak when Yan Xiao changed his teasing tone and coldly ordered:
"Zhao Qian, take this traitorous dog who dares to disrespect me and drag him to the city gate to be hung up and beaten."
"Madam, is the fight about to begin?"
"Otherwise what? Do we need to pick a day to beat up that traitorous bastard?"
Upon hearing this answer, Zhao Qian looked pale and wanted to say: "You're really willful, but my heart can't take it!"
He had initially thought that Yan Xiao would at least interrogate the person before summoning them.
When the person arrived, Yan Xiao didn't even ask them a single question before they started the torture.
If they were to secretly lock someone up and beat them, that would be one thing; even if they were beaten to death, it could be covered up.
But to hang the execution at the city gate would be to show it to the whole city. In addition, Yan Xiao had previously ordered that everyone who had some connection with Jiang Xinrui should gather at the city gate. Isn't this just making an example of her?
But this is, after all, a city-defending general who has been formally appointed and has military merits. Shouldn't there at least be a charge against him? Otherwise, how can he convince the people?
If she cannot win over the public, and if the charge that the general's wife is arrogant and domineering and beats her general without cause is proven true, it will not be a good thing.
When the general returns, he might not say anything to the lady, assuming she doesn't understand, but his skin will be in danger.
Zhang Kangnian was dumbfounded.
He had long heard that this general's wife from the countryside always acted on a whim, completely according to her mood. But he never expected her to be so audacious, attacking him, a third-rank city garrison general, without warning.
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