Besides lying down, I also know a little about power struggles

Chapter 125 Kill without mercy
On the top of Luozhou City, the prefect was looking at the people coming in and out of the city gate with a worried look on his face.

Seeing this, his subordinate Tongpan whispered to comfort him: "Don't worry, sir. If there really is someone coming from the capital, we will receive them as we should and send them to the Beihe Army camp."

It would have been fine if he didn't say anything, but as soon as he started talking, the prefect's brows furrowed even tighter.

"It's easy for you to say that. If we really send people to the camp, what will happen next? Can you and I explain it clearly?"

"This..." The judge hesitated for a moment, "But there are spies of General Sui everywhere in Luozhou City. Even if we don't send him, General Sui will take him away himself."

The prefect stared at him coldly: "Then tell me, why did someone come from the capital? Why did General Sui know about it in advance?"

The judge forced a smile and said, "General Sui has great connections. Of course, he will be the first to know about any movement in the capital."

"Then why is he so cautious?" The prefect leaned against the city wall and looked down. "No matter what happened in the past, it was not like this. Even the guards of the city have been replaced by soldiers."

The judge leaned over and asked: "Since you have doubts, why don't you ask General Sui for clarification?"

The prefect glared at him and said, "I asked, and he's willing to answer? To be frank, ever since the last letter from Linshui County, I've felt that something is not right."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing is right." The prefect muttered, "The man that County Magistrate Gao was asking about was from Luozhou. There is nothing false about his past. The only difference is that he was from the Beihe Army. I heard that the twelfth prince was in Linshui County at the time. County Magistrate Gao probably got his permission before he dared to send the letter to me."

"But you also handed the letter to General Sui," the judge said, "you and General Sui are on the same side."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" the prefect said, brushing his sleeves. "General Sui is in charge of Luozhou. It's true that I respect him in every way, but I'm also an official appointed by the court. How can I be inconsistent with him?"

The judge laughed dryly, "Yes, General Sui is the commander of the army, and you are also the governor of Luozhou. You and he have always been courteous to each other, and have never formed a clique for personal gain."

The prefect snorted, "Although General Sui holds military power, Dazhao's troops belong to the imperial court. Don't forget this."

The judge hesitated for a moment: "Your Excellency means——"

The prefect patted the wall tiles and looked up at the dark clouds gathering overhead: "In my opinion, Luozhou is about to change."

"What is the prefect lamenting about?" A laugh was heard.

The prefect turned around in surprise and asked, "Deputy General Guo?"

Guo Yin, dressed in armor and military uniform, came over with a smile and looked up at the sky: "What rare thing are you looking at, sir? Point it out to me, too?"

The prefect and the judge looked at each other and chuckled, "Nothing, is Vice Admiral Guo here to talk to me about something?"

Guo Yin nodded: "I am following the order of General Sui, please go to the military camp."

The prefect groaned, "What do you want to discuss with General Sui?"

Guo Yin smiled and said, "I can't explain it clearly in a short time, so please come with me."

The prefect frowned and said, "I still have official business to attend to. I would like to trouble Deputy General Guo to go back and report to the general and tell him that I will go to the military camp to pay my respects after I finish my official business."

Guo Yin laughed: "General Sui is in Luozhou, so there is no need for the prefect to worry about it. You should just come with me."

The prefect's face froze, and he said coldly: "What does Deputy General Guo mean? This prefecture is in charge of the affairs of the state, so it is General Sui who does not have to worry about it."

Guo Yin nodded slowly: "Indeed, the position of prefect is used to manage affairs."

He took a step forward and put his right hand on the hilt of the knife at his waist: "But what if Luozhou doesn't need a prefect anymore?"

The prefect's pupils shrank suddenly: "Deputy General Guo, what do you mean?" "Nothing." Guo Yin smiled slightly, "Since you don't want to go with me, then you can stay here."

The prefect took half a step back and his back hit the bricks of the battlement.

"Guo Yin! How dare you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure suddenly rushed out and slapped him in the chest.

The prefect only felt his upper body tilted back, his legs being lifted up by someone, and he fell down involuntarily.

The sound of wind whistled past his ears. He stared wide-eyed in the air and saw a head popping out from the parapet. It was none other than the judge under his command.

This was the last sight of the prefect in the world.

The judge on the top of the city wall looked down expressionlessly until the prefect fell below the city wall. Then he turned to look at Guo Yin as if nothing had happened and bowed, "Deputy General Guo, there is no prefect in Luozhou anymore. General Sui, please rest assured."

Guo Yin laughed: "I knew you were the one I could trust."

He walked to the city wall and looked down: "Let those watching the excitement below disperse. From now on, no one is allowed to enter or leave Luozhou."

"What if someone comes from the capital?" asked the judge.

Guo Yin smiled and waved his hand, and a team of archers with feather arrows on their waists ran to the top of the city wall.

"Anyone who dares to approach Luozhou City will be killed without mercy."

A rumble of thunder rolled across the sky and a strong wind blew up, causing the flags of the Beihe Army camp to flutter.

Sui Yongdao sat in the tent, leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed. On the table in front of him was an incense burner. Smoke rose up, blurring his face.

Guo Yin strode into the tent: "General, everything has been arranged."

Sui Yongdao didn't open his eyes: "Where's Zhang Wenzhi?"

"Prefect Zhang was patrolling on the city tower when he accidentally fell to his death. Now all affairs of the Luozhou government office are in charge of his subordinate Tongpan." Guo Yin replied.

Sui Yongdao smiled and opened his eyes: "Yesterday, Zhang sent someone to the capital to inquire about the news. I knew that this old man had changed his mind. It's a pity that he has worked with me in Luozhou for many years, and in the end I have to send him off in person."

He picked up the teacup on the table and poured a cup of tea onto the floor: "He loved tea all his life, and this cup of tea is a token of my friendship with him."

Guo Yin walked forward, picked up the bamboo fan beside the tea stove, and gently fanned the fire.

"General, the entire city of Luozhou is under our control. If Feng Twelve and his men dare to come, they will never return."

Sui Yongdao put down the teacup and grabbed the two ivory balls at hand: "I don't want to seal the twelve deaths."

Guo Yin was surprised: "So what are you going to do..."

"The emperor is a face-conscious person. He always insists on having a legitimate reason for everything. He sent Feng Twelve here just to accuse me of killing the prince and use it to raise an army against me." Sui Yongdao smiled, "But I won't let him have his way."

Guo Yin thought for a moment and said, "But Feng Twelve has been ordered to question you. Even if you are kind enough to let him go, he will not let you go."

Sui Yongdao looked at the smoke drifting on the table with a deep gaze: "Wu Qian acted rashly and got himself into trouble in the palace. In terms of intelligence, Feng Twelve is much better than him."

Guo Yin heard his strange tone and paused for a moment: "Could it be that the general wants to win over Feng Twelve?"

Sui Yongdao gently turned the ball in his hand: "Feng Twelve is Lin Yang's last disciple. Before Lin Yang died, he risked his life to send Feng Twelve to the army for training. Feng Twelve is also lucky. He earned a lot of military merits during the Dongyi Rebellion and became familiar with the generals of various armies. If the emperor hadn't deliberately stopped him, Feng Twelve's reputation in the court would probably be higher than that of the prince."