Upon hearing this, Li Kui immediately puffed out his chest with smug satisfaction:
"That's right! Don't you even know who I am!"
"How could someone personally trained by Lord Lu have earned such a reputation?"
"Alright, stop joking around."
Lu Yan glanced at Mu Qing, who was bound hand and foot.
"Take him away and keep a close watch on him."
Li Kui responded and took Mu Qing away.
"Take him away, untie him, and treat him to good food and drink."
The soldiers obeyed and escorted Mu Qing to the backyard of the government office.
Sunlight shone on the walls of Jianmen Pass, reflecting a dazzling light.
Lu Yan turned to Tu Rong and asked, "What are the casualties?"
Tu Rong took a booklet out of her bosom and handed it to Lu Yan with both hands:
"My lord, it's all up here."
He stood up straight, his expression serious.
Lu Yan took the booklet and carefully flipped through it.
The booklet contained a detailed record of the casualties and the list of captured supplies from the battle.
After reading it, Lu Yan nodded:
"The wounded soldiers must be properly cared for, and their compensation must be paid in a timely manner."
"We must not let down the soldiers who fought and bled for Shannan Prefecture."
He closed the booklet and handed it back to Tu Rong.
Tu Rong took the booklet and nodded solemnly:
"Rest assured, sir, I will certainly comply."
Lu Yan nodded in satisfaction:
"Good, very good!"
"You all deserve credit for the swift capture of Beixiang Kingdom this time."
He looked around at everyone, his eyes filled with admiration.
Banners fluttered at Jianmen Pass, and soldiers came and went, creating a busy scene.
"The captured supplies, apart from those used to replenish military supplies, were all registered and put into the government treasury."
Lu Yan paused for a moment, then added.
"Furthermore, issue a notice that a banquet will be held at the drill ground tonight to reward the soldiers and officers."
They then arrived at the place where Mu Qing was imprisoned.
"Lord Lu, I..."
Mu Qing was about to speak when Lu Yan interrupted her.
"No need to say more, I know your concerns."
"How about this, I'll show you around first and let you get to know the situation in Shannan Prefecture."
"You can make a decision later."
As Lu Yan spoke, he led Mu Qing out of the prison cell.
Lu Yan led Mu Qing on a tour of the military camps, workshops, markets, and other places in Shannan Prefecture.
He was given a detailed introduction to the various policies and development plans of Shannan Prefecture.
Mu Qing was shocked by what he saw.
He never expected that this remote Shannan Prefecture would be like this.
It was so prosperous and thriving that the people lived in peace and contentment.
The soldiers were well-trained, which was quite different from what he knew of the Da Tong Dynasty.
"So, General Mu, do you still have any concerns now?"
Lu Yan asked with a smile.
Mu Qing pondered for a moment, then finally shook his head:
"Lord Lu, Shannan Prefecture is indeed very well governed."
"The people live in peace and contentment, and the soldiers are well-trained, which I greatly admire."
"However, I will not betray my country."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yan was not angry; instead, he smiled.
"General Mu, I understand your loyalty."
“I did not ask you to betray Beixiang Kingdom, I just wanted you to see this.”
"The well-being of the people is the most important thing."
"The Northern Xiang Kingdom has been at war for years, and the people are suffering greatly."
"Can you really bear to watch them continue to suffer?"
Mu Qing fell silent; Lu Yan's words had struck a nerve.
Lu Yan paused for a moment, then continued:
“I know it’s hard for you to accept right now. You can stay here and see how the people of Shannan Prefecture live.”
"You can also walk around and see how the army here is trained."
"We'll talk about the future once you've thought it through."
Mu Qing looked into Lu Yan's sincere eyes.
I originally thought Lu Yan would use threats and inducements to make him surrender.
Unexpectedly, Lu Yan gave him full respect and freedom.
Lu Yan then smiled and said to Li Kui beside him:
"Well, just like Tu Rong before."
Then he said to Mu Qing:
"Then you stay here for now, think it over by yourself, and contact me again if you change your mind."
Li Kui followed behind Lu Yan, thinking to himself:
Lord Lu is truly remarkable; with just a few words, he managed to shake the resolve of the enemy general.
It seems that following Lord Lu was truly a wise choice!
This world will probably belong to my family sooner or later!
At Jianmen Pass, Lu Yan hummed a little tune, feeling quite cheerful.
Mu Qing, this tough nut to crack, has finally been cracked.
We're just waiting for him to change his mind and work for us.
At that time, wouldn't Shannan Prefecture be even more impregnable?
"Sir, look at these spoils of war. Would you like to pick out a few that you like?"
Tu Rong rubbed his hands together and leaned closer with a fawning expression.
Ever since witnessing Lu Yan's abilities, Tu Rong has become a complete fan of Lu Yan.
I wish I could rip my heart out and show it to him.
Lu Yan glanced at the mountain of gold and silver jewelry and curled his lip in disdain:
"Why would I care about such mundane things?"
"Take it and confiscate it to enrich the government treasury."
"So that the people of Shannan Prefecture can live a better life."
Upon hearing this, Tu Rong immediately gave a thumbs up:
"Your Excellency's righteousness is admirable! I admire you!"
But he thought to himself:
This adult is really good at putting on airs. He's clearly eyeing it so much, but he insists on pretending not to care.
...
Meanwhile, chaos reigned in the royal palace of the Northern Xiang Kingdom.
"Ah! Ah! Ah!"
The King of Beixiang flew into a rage and slammed the memorial in his hand to the ground.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
