Three days later, the city of Stability.

Seventy thousand soldiers came to the city, and the gates were closed.

Lingjiang has been a rich and peaceful place for hundreds of years, and there have never been so many soldiers and horses before Anding the city. The people were all trembling and panicking, and they hid in their homes and did not dare to go out, and the once prosperous Anding City was empty for a while.

Zhang Lin, the assassin of Lingjiang, personally led the army to the city tower, and looked at the menacing army under the city, and a sense of hopelessness suddenly enveloped his heart.

"Lord Zhang, the ancestral hall of the Xi family is here, I came to worship, and please open the city gate."

Xi Yan didn't want to go to war in his heart, and no matter how solid the fortifications of Lingjiang City were, even if he really captured Anding City, the people in the city would only be very afraid of themselves, and no matter how they looked at it, it would do more harm than good.

"Humph! Are you an ignorant and dumb man? As long as the old man is here, you don't want to set foot in Anding City today! ”

The soldiers are already under the city, but Zhang Lin is not afraid of danger.

But Xi Yan still didn't want to give up, and was still persuading him with good words: "Where is Lord Zhang, Jiajun and you have also intersected, can you open the city gate and let the younger generations come in?" ”

"Rebels and thieves, don't deserve to talk to me!"

Seeing Zhang Lin's attitude, Xi Yan had no choice but to change his tone, "If Lord Zhang wants to delay time and wait for reinforcements, the junior advises you, don't be delusional." ”

Seeing Zhang Lin's expression stagnant, Xi Yan continued: "Lingjiang has a total of 23 soldiers, a total of 110,000 soldiers. Among them, there are 18 soldiers, a total of 90,000 people, who have been obeying my Xi family's orders. If there is reinforcements at this time, it is also mine. Lord Zhang, let's go down. ”

Zhang Lin's face was suddenly like a blank piece of paper, and as soon as the Daqing Pass was broken, he knew that Lingjiang would fall sooner or later.

But he was still unwilling, thinking that as long as he held the city, reinforcements would come no matter what, but the news ...... It was tantamount to adding insult to injury, making his already hopeless heart even more desperate.

However, at this moment, the gates of Anding City opened without warning.

"Who's going to open the door!?"

What happened in the next scene made Zhang Lin tremble with anger.

An official walked out of the city gate with some city defenders, knelt down in front of Xi Yan, and said respectfully: "My subordinates welcome Mr. Xi to Lingjiang!" ”

"You!" Zhang Lin was about to spit out a mouthful of blood, "As a minister of Da Zhao, the old man will never surrender to you, a traitor!" The clouds are shining, and the old man will kill himself today! ”

As soon as the words fell, Zhang Lin jumped down from the city.

A cavity of blood burst out and splashed on the body of Sa Luzi, who was the leader, and Xi Yan's clothes were also stained with a lot of blood.

At this time, Xi Yan somewhat understood that the biggest obstacle to his entry into Lingjiang was not those city fortifications, nor the local army directly under the Great Zhao Imperial Court, but it happened to be the loyalty of these people to the Great Zhao Imperial Court.

Those visible resistances, Xi Yan can get rid of them with the army under his command, but people's hearts can never be seen, Zhang Lin is undoubtedly a pedantic Confucian, but no one dares to degrade his backbone...... If there are many such people, Xi Yan knows that he will face countless difficulties.

Fortunately, there are only a few who dare to kill after all.

Everyone was still stunned by Zhang Lin's decision, and in the end, Xi Yan was the first to come back to his senses.

His voice didn't make any waves, but it made people hear a little regret: "Burying Lord Zhang, such a bloody person is really ......."

After removing Zhang Lin's corpse, Xi Yan took the lead and slowly entered Anding City.

Looking up, the inside of Anding City is still a familiar scene.

A big road leads straight to the north and south, and at the end of this big road, is the Lingjiang Thorn Mansion, but the most majestic and huge in Anding City is still the mansion of the Xi family.

The high walls and tiles in the city seem to tell the story of the ups and downs that this city has experienced for hundreds of years, although it is still a slightly withered scenery, but the weeping willows on both sides of the road have a little tender yellow.

The atmosphere of the New Year has not yet dissipated, and there are still many red lanterns hanging on the streets, but at this time, it seems that the city is more empty.

The streets were empty, and the people in Anding City were afraid of the iron horses under Xi Yan's command, and they hid in their homes and did not dare to go out, only a few bold people dared to peek through the cracks in the doors and windows.

Although the streets are deserted, every brick and tile in the city shows the prosperity of the ancient city.

Xi Yan was familiar with the road and went straight to the Lingjiang Assassin Mansion.

In the main hall of the Assassin's Mansion, Xi Luan's old department had been waiting here for a long time. Some of them were former officials of Dazhao, and some were businessmen from the rich side of Lingjiang; Some are proficient in governing the world, while others are good at business......

Seeing Xi Yan coming, the first person hurriedly went out to greet him, clasped his fists with both hands and said, "Thank God, Gongzi is here!" It's really inconvenient for us to go out of the city to greet us, so I ask my son to forgive me. ”

For this person, Xi Yan is also very familiar. This person is proficient in the way of application in the world, as early as when Xi Yan first arrived in Lingjiang, he had dealt with him many times, and he was harmonious and flexible, but he did not lose his standards.

I have been with him many times before, and Xi Yan also appreciates him very much, so he smiled and replied: "Lord Yang is too serious, but I really didn't expect to be able to meet Lord Yang, Lord Peng and all the gentlemen here." ”

Yang Shiyuan saw that although Xi Yan was now a prince, he had no arrogant look, and he couldn't help but feel a little more good in his heart, so he said: "In the past, most of the dealings with Gongzi were just for the business of the Xi family. But in the future, I will be Childe's pawn, and I will be deployed by Childe. ”

Xi Yan bowed slightly, and looked at the person beside Yang Shiyuan, "Master Peng, don't come to harm?" ”

Peng Ming replied with a smile: "It was fine, but now it will be better for you to come." ”

Xi Yan also looked at him with a smile, "Brother Peng can say this, it's really an honor to be here." ”

Peng Ming was only four years older than Xi Yan, but he was already the governor of Lingjiang's military palace, and he was in charge of nearly 100,000 horses. is not only loyal to Xi Luan, but also has been friends with Xi Yan for many years.

After Peng Ming and Xi Yan just exchanged pleasantries, he touched the ground on one knee without warning, and in front of everyone, he took out a talisman from his arms, and held it in front of Xi Yan with both hands: "This is the tiger talisman mobilized by the soldiers and horses of Lingjiang, and now it belongs to Gongzi!" ”

Xi Yan also accepted it unceremoniously, this was the Xi family's soldiers and horses, and now it belongs to him, which is very suitable. Peng Ming's attitude made some people in the hall who originally had reservations about Huan Guohou and Xi Yan have to start re-examining the current situation.

After everyone saw Xi Yan one by one, they sat down. Xi Yan sat at the top, looking at the familiar or unfamiliar faces below, and his heart couldn't help but feel like a world away.

"Although I entered Lingjiang without blood this time, everything is still unknown in the future. Most of you here are my seniors, and most of you are my brother's old subordinates......"

Speaking of this, Xi Yan glanced at Yi Jin without a trace, "Although it is not my brother Huan Guohou who came, I still hope that you will understand that I am not much different from Huan Guohou." How you were loyal to Huan Guohou in the past, how you will be loyal to me in the future. If anyone thinks that I am different from Huan Guohou, then I can leave now, and I will not stop me. ”

Xi Yan looked around the next week, and saw that no one made the slightest movement, so he continued: "Since you ...... are willing to be loyal to me, then I will also say ugly things in front, Lingjiang is now surrounded by strong enemies outside, and there are some big families with ill intentions. If at this moment, there are still people among you harboring evil intentions, then Lingjiang will be in danger. ”

At this time, Xi Yan glanced at Yang Shiyuan and nodded slightly, knowing that Fang Cai's words had already had an effect, so he said again: "Since everyone is already in the same boat, it is a glory and a loss." Having said this, if there are still people who have different intentions in the future, then I can't care about his relationship with his brother in the past. The matter has come to this point, and only with one heart and one mind in Lingjiang can we win a little vitality under the suppression of many parties. ”

Xi Yan's words are very serious, but everyone understands that if you don't say it more seriously, Xi Yan will inevitably be unconvinced when he first arrives, so he will wait for the opportunity to make trouble secretly. At this time, Lingjiang could not withstand such a toss.

Yang Shiyuan saw that Xi Yan's words had been finished, so he got up and arched his hand and said: "What Gongzi said is extremely true, as the old department of Huan Guohou, we will inevitably abide by Huan Guohou's entrustment. Since the Hou Ye has asked us to serve the son, then we will definitely saddle the horse for the son. At this point, Childe can rest assured. ”

"Very good," Xi Yan said with a smile in his eyes, bowing slightly, "With Lord Yang's words, I couldn't be more relieved." I remember when I was still in Lingjiang, there were several big families who were very rampant, I don't know what their attitude is now when I am in charge of Lingjiang? ”

For a while, a few people below began to look at each other.

In the end, it was still Yang Shiyuan who opened his mouth first: "As early as a few days ago, when Gongzi entered Daqing Pass, I went to visit Master Peng and Master Zhang. Several of them are now under the roof, and they also have to bow their heads. The stable Ji family expressed their willingness to provide manpower and material resources for the son, but as for the other two, they were somewhat vague. Although he is also willing to submit to his son, it is unknown how much sincerity he has. ”

This result was unexpected by Xi Yan, he thought that these big families in Lingjiang would rise up to resist, and no matter how bad it was, they would make a posture of struggle.

Anyway, he couldn't move them for a while, if Da Zhao sent troops in, these families could also fight for some bargaining chips for themselves...... But it would be better if they were willing to submit.

"In this way, it saves us a lot of trouble." Xi Yan's words changed, "But we also need to guard against their inconsistencies, and they are connected to Da Zhao." ”

After some discussion of the arrangement, the sun has gradually sunk in the west.

Yang Shiyuan and the others have left, and Xi Yan has also returned to the Xi family's mansion in Lingjiang. This place is still the same as when he left, Xi Yan climbed the corner tower and stood facing the north.

"I wonder if you're okay at this moment? Father and mother, are you all right? ”

His thoughts gradually flew back to Chongdu, and the past events of the past could still be vaguely sketched, but unfortunately, he could never go back. There are also some people who are destined not to be seen in this life.