Chapter Ninety-Nine: A Deadly Aura Unleashed!

After the first grain convoy was seized, no more convoys emerged from Xuanzhou City for several days.

Occasionally, government troops would patrol outside the city, but their range was limited, usually turning back after traveling only ten or twenty miles. After waiting for several days, Li Yun began to lose patience. He called out to Li Zheng and said, "Let’s go, Skinny. You and I are going to take a look at Xuanzhou."

Li Zheng, having participated in the raid on the grain convoy just days prior, hadn't yet shed his mindset as a mountain bandit. He looked stunned at the suggestion. "Second Brother, is it… really appropriate for us to enter the city? If we’re going to enter, shouldn't we go with the rest of the brothers?"

The Great Chieftain Li glared at him and laughed, scolding, "What are you thinking? Do you think I’m going to drag you along to conquer Xuanzhou?" He patted Li Zheng on the shoulder and said calmly, "I am Li Zhao, the Commander of Qingyang, and you are Li Zheng of the Anti-Bandit Squad. We are legitimate officials; what is wrong with us strolling into Xuanzhou City openly?"

Li Zheng finally clicked. He slapped his forehead and laughed, "I’ve been so focused on preparing to fight those government troops these past few days that, damn it, I almost forgot I’m a government soldier myself! Let’s go, Second Brother. Let’s head into Xuanzhou. I’ve grown this old and have never set foot in a prefecture capital."

The two changed their clothes, bid farewell to Liu Bo and the others, and walked along the main road toward Xuanzhou. Since the site of the previous raid was dozens of miles away, Xuanzhou was not under high alert. The city gates remained open as usual, and the two walked in with swagger. The guards at the gate didn't even glance at them, let alone check their identification passes.

In truth, these minor clerks and gate guards could not possibly check the identity of every passerby. They relied on spot checks, only stopping those who appeared suspicious. A person harboring guilt often betrayed themselves through their demeanor or gait, and some veteran gatekeepers could identify a person's profession at a single glance. Having spent so much time in Qingyang, Li Yun and Li Zheng possessed enough confidence that no guard thought to intercept them.

Once inside, Li Zheng couldn't help but look around, occasionally tugging at Li Yun’s sleeve in awe. "Look, Second Brother, such massive lanterns! I’ve never seen lanterns this big! And those stone lions—they’re enormous. The ones at the Qingyang County Office aren't half that size."

Commander Li glanced back at him, muttering, "Keep your voice down. You look like such a country bumpkin."

Li Yun, meanwhile, was quietly observing the city. As a prefecture capital governing over a dozen counties, Xuanzhou was significantly larger than Qingyang, not only in size but in population. More importantly, the city walls were well-maintained, meaning it could serve as a proper defensive stronghold. Unlike the county seats of Qingyang or Shidai, where the walls were largely ceremonial and could barely stop a band of outlaws, let alone a formal army, this was a real fortress.

"Xuanzhou is truly impressive," Commander Li said, buying some snacks from a street vendor and sharing them with Li Zheng. "With a bit more fortification, it would be an impenetrable stronghold."

Li Zheng, mouth full of food, looked up and laughed. "Do you have your eye on it, Second Brother? We can discuss it with Old Nine and the others when we get back. They can attack from the outside while we act as internal moles. With a pincer attack, we could take the city! Given the quality of the Xuanzhou garrison, they might not even be a match for us."

Li Yun shot him a look. "Taking it might not be difficult, but holding it would be."

Li Zheng coughed violently, nearly spitting out his food. He looked around cautiously and whispered, "Second Brother, you… you’re actually thinking of attacking it?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Li Yun replied calmly. "The fighting in Yuezhou is so intense; there’s no telling when it might spill over into Xuanzhou. If the rebels throw this place into chaos, we will need a larger city to serve as our foundation. This Xuanzhou would serve quite well. The only problem is the surrounding terrain; it would be easy to siege."

Li Zheng peeked at Li Yun, assuming he was merely boasting, and went back to his food. The two spent the day touring the city and stayed at an inn. The next morning, as they resumed their exploration, they spotted a carriage, exceptionally tall and wide, passing through the main thoroughfare.

The carriage was crafted from purple wood, exuding an air of nobility, and adorned with intricate cloud carvings that looked truly extraordinary. Li Yun curiously studied the carriage and asked a nearby passerby, "Whose carriage is this? It looks quite opulent."

"Who else could it be?" replied the middle-aged scholar he had addressed, his face full of excitement. "It’s the carriage of our new Prefect of Xuanzhou, Lord Cui. He hails from a prestigious lineage, which is why he can afford such a carriage. Unlike the former Prefect Tian, who came from a poor background; his carriage was plain, and he had no skills other than squeezing the common people."

Li Yun smiled dryly. "If his carriage was plain, how does that prove he squeezed the people?"

"Only those of humble origin squeeze the people that hard. Hasn't that man surnamed Tian already been arrested by the Imperial Court?" The scholar looked at the passing carriage with envy. "These noble sons from wealthy clans have no interest in the meager wealth of us common folk."

Li Yun frowned slightly. In this era, people still seemed to revere the aristocratic clans as if they were high-born nobility—a concept so deeply ingrained over centuries that it had become second nature.

As Li Yun contemplated this, the scholar patted his shoulder. "Brother, judging by your accent, you’re from Qingyang, right? I heard that Lord Cui is heading to Qingyang this time."

Li Yun returned to his senses, thanked the man, and signaled to Li Zheng. "Let’s go."

Once away from the crowd, Li Yun watched the direction of the carriage. "This man named Cui is likely headed to Qingyang."

Li Zheng chuckled. "Our men are all there. Second Brother, why don't we kidnap this Cui fellow? I’d like to see if these 'noble sons' bleed red, and how they compare to those two from the Gu family."

Li Yun shook his head. "The timing isn't right. This is the nephew of the Chancellor. Kidnapping him isn't difficult, but if we anger the Chancellor in the capital, the Imperial Guard might be sent to suppress us. We wouldn't be able to stay in Xuanzhou anymore; we’d have to flee to a distant land." He narrowed his eyes and added softly, "Let Old Nine keep watch outside Xuanzhou for a few more days. We’ll head back to Qingyang first to see what the situation is. If this man truly insists on courting death, then we shall show these aristocratic nobles the might of our mountain bandits!"

***

After leaving Xuanzhou, Li Yun and Li Zheng quickly found Liu Bo, gave him instructions, and rode back to Qingyang. Although they departed after Cui Shao, their speed on horseback far exceeded that of a carriage, and they returned to Qingyang the evening before the Prefect's arrival.

Since it was late, they didn't return to the County Office, opting instead to wash up and rest at their quarters. By the next morning, shortly after arriving at the office and greeting their brothers, a guard who had been stationed at the gate hurried in. When he saw Li Yun, his eyes lit up. "Commander Li, someone came by earlier saying the Prefect is arriving and instructed me to inform the Magistrate to go out and welcome him."

The guard wasn't part of the Anti-Bandit Squad, but because Li Yun was generous, he was well-liked in the office, and the guards were happy to address him as "Commander."

Li Yun nodded and said with a smile, "I understand. I’ll go see the Magistrate; don't you worry about it."

He left Li Zheng behind and walked to the inner office, knocking on the door of Magistrate Xue’s study. "Magistrate, the Prefect is arriving in Qingyang. Do you intend to go out and welcome him?"

Magistrate Xue opened the door and looked Li Yun up and down. "When did you return?"

"Last night," Li Yun replied. "I just came to report in."

"I thought you’d gone and never looked back," the Magistrate grumbled. "Yun'er even asked about you twice."

"I was just out on business," Li Yun said with a laugh. "So, are you going to meet the Prefect?"

Magistrate Xue curled his lip in disdain. "He has quite the ego. He isn't coming to Qingyang at my invitation. If he wants to enter the city, he can; if he doesn't, that's up to him."

Li Yun gave a thumbs up. "The Magistrate is a man of principle!"

Magistrate Xue turned and walked back into his study, leaving Li Yun with his back and a resolute voice. "I have no desires, so I have no demands!"

Li Yun followed him inside, chatting with the grumpy Magistrate for a while. As they spoke, Chen Da rushed in. "Magistrate, Commander, the Prefect has entered Qingyang and is nearly at the office gates."

Magistrate Xue finally stood up. "Let’s go, then. Let’s go have a look."

Li Yun followed the Magistrate to the gate. The Prefect's carriage was already stopped, but no one had yet emerged. Seeing the scene, Magistrate Xue understood the new Prefect's intent. Though he despised Cui Shao, he suppressed his temper, stepped forward, and bowed. "Your subordinate, Xue Song, pays his respects to the Prefect."

The County Assistant, the Registrar, and the Chief Clerk of Qingyang had also rushed out, kneeling in a row to welcome the Prefect.

After Magistrate Xue bowed, a considerable amount of time passed before a maidservant finally lifted the curtain. Prefect Cui leaned halfway out and said slowly, "Magistrate Xue certainly has a high opinion of himself."

Magistrate Xue looked up, neither servile nor overbearing. "The laws of the Great Zhou do not explicitly state that a Magistrate must leave the city to welcome a superior."

Cui Shao let out a cold laugh. "I truly wonder if you are just old and senile, or if you have some grudge against me. I really don't know how someone with your temperament has managed to survive in officialdom."

Magistrate Xue replied calmly, "That is why I have been an official for twenty years and am still only a seventh-rank magistrate."

"I cannot be bothered to argue with you." Prefect Cui finally stepped out of the carriage. He looked toward the tall figure of Li Yun behind Xue Song and asked, "Is this the Qingyang Commander, Li Zhao?"

Li Yun glanced at Magistrate Xue, and only after the latter nodded did he step forward and salute. "I am he."

Prefect Cui looked Li Yun up and down with deep interest. He glanced back at two of his attendants and gave them a subtle look. The attendants understood instantly; without a word, they lunged at Li Yun from both sides, fists flying toward his face.

Li Yun was stunned for a moment before realizing what the Prefect was up to. He was testing his skill! But this kind of test, conducted without a word of warning, was profoundly disrespectful.

The Great Chieftain could not abide such treatment. He took a half-step back with his left foot, crouched slightly, clenched his fists, and looked up at the two men charging toward him. His gaze was already brimming with killing intent.