"You're saying it was the local powers who did this?!"
As He Shen muttered to himself, Niu Gao quickly pressed him from the side,
"Are you sure?"
"Eight or nine times out of ten!"
After running through the entire incident in his mind, He Shen stated with certainty,
"Even if it wasn't the local powers, it must have been those who hold military authority. Cavalry isn't something just anyone can handle!"
"Then it's them!"
Niu Gao, already displeased, grinned ferociously upon hearing this.
"Since they dare to play dirty, then don't blame this old Niu for being impolite!"
"Guards!"
"Give the order for the army to enter the city, seal off the entire county, and search house by house!"
"???"
He Shen was startled by Niu Gao's command and hesitated to object.
He recalled his lord's style of doing things.
Reckless!
Extremely reckless!
No matter how many tricks you have, no matter what schemes you employ, just charge through and it's done.
Although simple, crude, and even unreasonable, it was incredibly effective.
Especially when one had an absolute advantage.
If not for charging, then what?
Were they playing house?
Thinking this,
He Shen retracted the words he was about to utter and let Niu Gao have his way.
Seeing this,
Niu Gao, who had been watching He Shen from the corner of his eye, breathed a sigh of relief.
Before coming, Qin Feng had said that he could make his own decisions on military matters.
But he was still unsure!
Therefore,
Before acting, he habitually wanted to ask someone, to find someone to share the blame, so to speak.
What?
You didn't agree?
Nonsense!
You were right here when I gave the order. Since you didn't stop me, it means you agreed!
What a perfect excuse, right?
Of course,
Niu Gao would never admit this. He could only rely on He Shen to understand.
And the current He Shen clearly hadn't grasped the full implication.
He thought that as long as he didn't voice his opinion, he wouldn't be held responsible for anything that happened.
Heh~!
Too young, aren't you?
...
Following Niu Gao's order, the army that had been stationed outside the city immediately mobilized.
With ten thousand light cavalry as the vanguard, they marched directly to the foot of Wuji City.
The thunderous sound of hooves startled not only the soldiers guarding the city but also the noble families within.
Soon,
Dozens of middle-aged men in brocade robes and luxurious attire ascended the city wall to observe the situation.
If the situation turned unfavorable, they could make a timely escape, couldn't they?
However,
When they reached the city wall, they realized that something seemed amiss.
The cavalry neither attacked the city nor shouted. They simply blocked the city gate.
Even when they shouted to communicate, it was as if they were shouting into the void.
"How can this be?"
The head of the Zhang family, a prominent clan in Wuji like the Zhen family, stared intently at the scene outside the city, his brow furrowed.
"They neither attack nor speak. Are they waiting for reinforcements?"
"Hiss~!"
As the head of the Zhang family spoke, those around him gasped in unison.
More coming?
They didn't know how to resist this ten thousand strong cavalry, so what was the point of more coming?
"Elder Zhang~!"
A portly man beside him, looking as though he were in his tenth month of pregnancy, sweated profusely.
"Do you think we should wait here and see what happens, or should we leave to avoid the storm?"
"Avoid the storm?"
The head of the Zhang family glanced at the portly man and pointed irritably at the scene outside the city.
"Will their four legs be slower than your two legs?"
"Not to mention you'll have to bring your wealth, your wife, and your children along when you run."
"Save your breath!"
"If we truly cannot resist, then we will directly open the city gates and surrender!"
"Anyway..."
"No matter who comes to govern Wuji County, they will still need our assistance, won't they?"
"This..."
As the head of the Zhang family finished speaking, everyone's face revealed a sudden understanding.
Indeed!
They were scared by the Yellow Turbans, thinking everyone was as bloodthirsty as they were.
But these soldiers clearly weren't the Yellow Turbans!
Although they didn't know who this audacious fellow was who had raised the banner of rebellion.
But what did it matter to them?
As long as they weren't troubled, did it really matter who ruled them?
Therefore,
The noble families, their moods greatly relieved, descended from the city wall one by one.
Only the unlucky commander of the guards, hiding behind the battlements, was left trembling.
"Sir~! "
A soldier, who had overheard the conversation of the noble families, hurried to find the city gate commander.
"Sir, those noble families are all gone. They also said, they also said..."
"Said what?!"
The city gate commander, his face full of anxiety, glared at his subordinate impatiently.
"If you have something to say, say it. I don't have time for your beating around the bush right now!"
"..."
Scolded, the soldier's eyes instantly reddened, and he spoke with a tearful voice,
"Those bastards said... they said they would open the city gates and surrender when the time comes!"
"What?!"
The city gate commander was stunned for a moment, then his body seemed to go limp as if his bones had been removed.
Yes!
They were all from noble families. Even if they surrendered, the enemy wouldn't harm them much.
But what about him?
Was he still considered part of a noble family?
Thinking of those who had occupied his family's estate, the city gate commander lost all will to fight.
Forget it!
Let's surrender!
Since surrender was inevitable, it was better to do it sooner rather than later!
Thus,
Niu Gao, who had been planning to intimidate the noble families of Wuji, received news that left him speechless.
"Surrendered?"
"Yes!"
"Why are those fellows so spineless? Couldn't they have let me scare them a little longer?"
"..."
The soldier reporting the news grinned, unsure how to respond.
Fortunately,
Niu Gao was just venting his frustration and didn't expect a subordinate to reply.
"Give the order!"
"Enter the city!"
"Surround all families except the Zhen family!"
"Yes!"
The messenger acknowledged and quickly went to relay the order.
Beside him,
He Shen, who had also been somewhat annoyed, now looked at Niu Gao with curiosity.
"Old Niu, don't you suspect that the Zhen family was behind this?"
"I do!"
"Then why aren't you surrounding the Zhen family?"
"Shouldn't this matter be handled by someone else?"
Niu Gao looked back at He Shen and said righteously,
"The Zhen family is the family of the madam. Of course, I have to lead the men myself!"
"This..."
He Shen, who had thought of several reasons, was completely speechless.
So, remarkably reasonable?
If the madam knew you were so loyal, she'd probably be very happy.
And Niu Gao wasn't just talking.
After the cavalry entered the city,
He arranged for the original city guards to lead the cavalry in several groups to surround the other families.
As for himself,
He led a full thousand cavalry to the Zhen family, completely encircling their estate.
As a result,
The second master of the Zhen family, who hadn't slept well since yesterday, was directly scared unconscious.
"???"
Upon hearing the news from his subordinate, Niu Gao's expression was complex.
Scared unconscious?
Seriously?
You didn't even come out, and just hearing that I was here scared you unconscious?