The rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, grew increasingly intense, as if to herald the impending, somber order. The wicked man and Wang Jian returned to the general's mansion hall, and before they could even stand still, they saw Erniu and Chun Ning already waiting at the door.
Erniu, soaked to the bone, wiped the rain from his face and shouted, "Grand Commandant, General, I have already sent the order to Xiangping immediately, and dispatched more than ten scouts to spread the message along the streets and alleys of the city. I have ordered them to repeatedly proclaim: within three months, clear out the turmoil, or you will be slaughtered."
Chun Ning added, "At the same time, I also had notices posted throughout the city, explaining the Grand Commandant's intentions—anyone who harbors an assassin or conspires with him is guilty of a serious crime; anyone who reports such an assassin will be rewarded with three thousand coins. I guarantee that the message will be spread throughout the city in the shortest possible time."
The wicked man nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the two men: "You've worked hard. From now on, you must carefully patrol the streets and alleys to prevent any more thieves from assassinating military officers at night."
Wang Jian chimed in, "If Yang Duanhe arrives before the end of the month, the search area can be expanded, not just within the city, but also in the countryside, and even the mountains and forests. Only by eradicating the assassins' roots completely can Yan truly submit."
Upon hearing this, Erniu immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute: "General, rest assured! Your subordinate will immediately arrange for men to search for the lurking individuals. Catching just one will be enough to deter the rest of the villains."
Wang Jian nodded: "However, the matter of assassins is no small matter. You should all pay more attention to your safety in the next few days and try not to go out alone."
"Don't worry, even if some dare to come, I'd love to see if our blades can cut off their dog heads." Erniu's smile was chilling.
......
Over the next six days, more than a hundred people in Xiangping City alone were killed by the Qin army. The cruel and ruthless killings filled the people of Yan in the city with fear and trepidation, yet they kept cheering.
If it weren't for these troublesome assassins, why would the wicked man issue a decree that would implicate their lives?
Early in the morning, Yang Duanhe arrived in Xiangping with several hundred men from the Black Ice Guard.
As Yang Duanhe dismounted, his scouts from the Black Ice Guard quickly lined up at the street corner, their clothes stained with blood and their expressions grim. Zhang Erhe, standing nearby, hurriedly led his men forward to greet him. Seeing this display, he knew that Yang Duanhe's journey had not been peaceful.
"General," Zhang Erhe bowed respectfully, "did you encounter any assassins on the road?"
“More than just assassins.” Yang Duanhe snorted, took off his rain hat and threw it aside, revealing his dusty face. “These past few days, I’ve been leading my men on a journey through the night, and along the way we’ve encountered all sorts of people claiming to be knights or swordsmen of the ink. We’ve fought off three or five waves of them, and they’re as annoying as flies.”
As he spoke, he waved his hand behind him. A scout from the Black Ice Guard immediately presented a package, threw it to the ground, and the package scattered, revealing more than ten still-wet heads, dripping with blood. The onlookers, seeing this, were terrified and covered their mouths, retreating in fear.
"These heads are all those self-proclaimed heroes, cowards." Yang Duanhe glanced at the pile of heads, his face showing disdain. "Unfortunately, they are all half-baked. If they encountered my Black Ice Platform in real combat, they would all be dead in a few thuds."
When the evil man and Wang Jian arrived, they saw the scene and the evil man nodded slightly: "Old Yang, you've had a hard time."
Yang Duanhe clasped his hands in a salute, his voice slightly weary: "Grand Commandant, General Wang, these wandering knights are scattered and secretly connected. To completely eliminate them, we need to lay a tight net, and it will take quite some time."
Wang Jian asked with concern, "Grand Commandant, you've only given me three months. Can you fulfill that requirement?"
Yang Duanhe pondered for a moment: "To achieve absolute cleanliness would be difficult. However, if we adopt swift and decisive measures, killing one group and suppressing another, and given that the Black Ice Guard has always been adept at disguise and reconnaissance, we have a 70-80% chance of clearing it out within three months."
"That's good." The wicked man glanced indifferently at the pile of bloody heads on the ground, then turned to Yang Duanhe. "General Wang Jian and Erniu will assist you in preparing the military here. Make sure that Yan is clear and peaceful before I return to Xianyang."
Yang Duanhe's expression hardened, and he said loudly, "This humble general will certainly not fail in his mission."
......
After Yang Duanhe and Zhang Erhe went to settle in, the wicked man said to Wang Jian, "General Duanhe has a quick temper and acts even more hastily. There will definitely be bloodshed and chaos within the next three months, with no room for maneuver. General, you should be prepared."
Wang Jian nodded slightly, gathered his sleeves, and sighed softly: "I have served in the army for many years and have witnessed a lot of bloodshed. If the remaining poison in Yan is not cleansed, how can there be peace?" He had figured it out in the past few days. This was the best way to prevent future troubles.
"Go ahead and do it!" the wicked man said, then slowly looked up at the gloomy sky. "The remnants of the six kingdoms are far more harmful than foreign tribes."
Wang Jian took a deep breath and put away his hesitation: "Alright, I understand. Since it's decided, let's get it over with."
"Well, now that Old Yang has arrived, I should go back and report to the King!" The wicked man revealed a smile.
Upon hearing this, a hint of envy and a trace of anger flashed across Wang Jian's face. If it weren't for these damned wandering knights and assassins, they could have returned with the wicked husband.
Wang Jian suppressed his resentment and said in a low voice, "Although the situation in Xiangping is temporarily stable, as far as the Yan region is concerned, wandering knights and assassins may cause trouble again at any time. You need to be more careful on your journey."
"Don't worry!" The wicked man patted Wang Jian on the shoulder, his smile brimming with confidence. "Now that I've issued the order for a three-month massacre, I'm not afraid of these small fry. If they still dare to assassinate me, let them try."
Wang Jian sighed softly, "Indeed, to assassinate you would be tantamount to suicide."
"Hahaha, if the assassins really come, we'll use them as practice." The wicked man's tone was casual, yet it was filled with a chilling murderous intent.
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