Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 823: Chapter 615: Do You Dare Rebel?

The King of Da Liang has already decided to retreat and develop at Han Zhong Prefecture, while the governor sent by the court, Du Hesheng, has arrived at Yijun Prefecture.

Within the city of Yijun Prefecture, Du Hesheng’s governor procession grandly arrived at the government office.

Zhou Lan led her subordinate generals to stand at the main entrance of the government office to welcome them.

The procession halted, and Du Hesheng stepped down from the palanquin carried by eight bearers.

Zhou Lan frowned at what she saw.

At such a time, this Du Hesheng actually still goes through such formalities.

Travelling so ostentatiously like this, Du Hesheng isn’t afraid of encountering bandits halfway.

The most infuriating thing is that such travels require the use of large amounts of civilians and constables, the palanquin, and the entourage, all of which cost a lot in money and grain.

Just at the first meeting, Zhou Lan already had a very poor impression of this governor she had yet to meet.

“Greetings, Governor!”

But after all, he was the governor, and Zhou Lan and the others naturally had to show some respect upon seeing him.

Du Hesheng was tall and had a somewhat mighty presence, seemingly in his fifties, with some graying hair meticulously combed.

He wore a black cap and a crimson official robe, exuding an extraordinary aura.

Behind him were two followers holding command flags, bearing the Emperor’s orders, further highlighting his Majesty.

“General Zhou, the Cabinet has sent me to inquire, why do you fear the enemy and remain inactive?”

Du Hesheng came up to Zhou Lan and, without preamble, questioned her.

Zhou Lan straightened up and looked at Du Hesheng, “When did I ever fear the enemy and not advance?”

“It’s been over four months, and General Zhou has only eradicated bandits in two prefectures, merely small bandits at that. Is this not fearing the enemy and remaining inactive?”

“Heh, does General Zhou take me for a fool? With Beiyuan Town’s military strength, if attacking with full force, you should have reached Longnan Province long ago. Your constant presence here isn’t fearing the enemy and remaining inactive?”

Du Hesheng sneered, incessantly repeating “fearing the enemy and remaining inactive” in his mouth.

He intended to pin the crime of fearing the enemy and remaining inactive on Zhou Lan, only then could he suppress Zhou Lan and seize control of Beiyuan Town’s military authority.

Before coming, he had already planned the next steps: to first seize control of Beiyuan Town’s military authority, then quickly lead Beiyuan Town’s army southward to eradicate the Longyuan bandits, and proceed to Longnan to besiege King Da Liang.

Honestly, he didn’t want to take on this task, because this task was already at the center of a storm, one misstep and his reputation as governor would be ruined.

To protect himself, and to account to the Emperor and the court, he had to swiftly eradicate the bandit group of King Da Liang.

Therefore, before coming, he had planned everything, first ordering Suzhou Town and Longbei Town to proceed to Longnan as soon as possible, then coming to Yijun Prefecture to take command of Beiyuan Town’s military authority himself.

As for whether doing so would offend Zhou Lan and the Duke Ning Mansion, he didn’t care at all.

The Duke Ning Mansion was no longer the Duke Ning Mansion of the past. Zhou Mao had long stepped away from court matters over ten years ago, and Princely Heir Zhou Xu cared even less about mundane affairs; the entire Duke Ning Mansion was supported only by Zhou Lan.

He simply wasn’t afraid of offending the Duke Ning Mansion, and anyway, he couldn’t bother with such matters now.

“Without money and grain, how to advance?” Zhou Lan frowned and asked.

“Longbei Town and Suzhou Town can, why can’t you, General Zhou?” Du Hesheng replied coldly.

Zhou Lan’s eyes fixed firmly on Du Hesheng, her eyes were sharp.

Zhou Lan was now over sixty, looking much older than before, now just an old lady.

But who was Zhou Lan?

A female general who has led troops for over thirty years!

Her posture was still upright, her gaze still sharp, her aura still able to send chills down one’s spine.

Being stared at by her, Du Hesheng felt a bit horrified.

“Xu Yuan and Zhao Fu aren’t using their brains, are you also not using yours?” Zhou Lan said coldly.

Du Hesheng questioned whether his ears deceived him, looking at Zhou Lan in astonishment.

Was she scolding me?

Was she really scolding me?

He couldn’t react, not understanding why Zhou Lan dared to speak offensively!

Marquis Yongkang Xu Yuan was the General of Suzhou Town, and Marquis Wujing Zhao Fu was the General of Longbei Town.

Zhou Lan even scolded these two Marquises together!

“You, General Zhou, do you know what you’re doing? You’re behaving insubordinately!” Du Hesheng yelled angrily.

Zhou Lan felt incredibly indignant in her heart.

She really couldn’t suppress the fury inside.

What was the court doing?

Doing nothing of worth, just shouting nonsense all day.

Not providing money or grain, just ordering her to eradicate bandits.

Is this not absurd?

As for why Longbei Town and Suzhou Town could continue besieging bandits, well, it’s because they’re robbing money and grain.

Thieves passed as a comb, soldiers passed as a rake.

At this moment, the officers and soldiers of Longbei Town and Suzhou Town were likely more hateful than the bandits.

Zhou Lan’s explosive temper really couldn’t hold it in anymore.

The court not helping is one thing, but they even sent such an idiot to cause trouble.

Do they really think I’m just a pushover!

“Shut up, if you dare to clamor again, do you really think I wouldn’t dare to act?” Zhou Lan said coldly.

Du Hesheng, even angrier, said, “The command flag of the King is here; do you really dare defy the Emperor’s orders?”

The king’s command flag is divided into flag and牌. It’s a significant power given by the Emperor to governors, generals, etc., acting with this flag牌, is like implementing the Emperor’s orders by consent.

A bit similar to the Shangfang sword, but not as domineering as the Shangfang sword, basically each town governor and general would have a set of king’s command flag牌 to mobilize troops, this is also why border town governors and generals have temporary troop mobilization rights.