My older brother said I'm invincible.

Chapter 111 We're going to do something big!

The carriage that had been rushing along finally slowed down.

The knights following behind the carriage also dismounted one after another, and everyone busied themselves with the task.

A moment later, a young man stepped down from the carriage, and several attendants quickly surrounded him. The man slapped his thigh, grimacing in pain.

"No wonder I was so unwilling to be appointed as an official in a remote area! Now I understand!"

Did the sage actually know the distances between different places?

Hearing the man's complaint, several old attendants around him quickly spoke up, "Master, the Sage is also worried about local affairs; you mustn't say that."

The man had bright eyes and looked very clever. He looked up and gazed at the farmland and roads in the distance.

"They all say that Xingyang is a strategic location in the Central Plains, with vast farmlands to the east, Hulao Pass to the west, and Luokou Granary to the west. They also say that the people here are wealthy, with endless farmlands and a bustling and prosperous atmosphere. How come it looks so desolate now?"

This man's name is Yang Qing.

He was born into the imperial family and was the son of Yang Hong, the Prince of Hejian.

His father passed away last year, and he first observed mourning for his father for a long period of time before being reinstated this year to serve as the Prefect of Xingyang.

The old attendants around Yang Qing were all left to him by his father.

Yang Qing himself did not have a good reputation; he was known for his cunning and deceit. However, his father, Yang Hong, the Prince of Hejian, had a very good reputation. He was Emperor Wen's cousin and was skilled in both literature and martial arts. He had defeated the Turks and later served as a prefect in a local area, where he performed exceptionally well and was loved by the local people.

These old followers were all veterans who had followed Yang Hong for many years. They knew how to govern a region, how to deal with people, and they could even offer advice on commanding troops.

Now, when Yang Qing asked them a question, none of them answered.

Yang Qing actually knew the answer in his heart. He was just deliberately making things difficult for the people around him. He smiled and looked at the villages and cities that were faintly visible in the distance.

This time, the Duke of Chu had put in a lot of effort to help him take office in Xingyang. Back when his father was still alive, Yang Xuangan often sent people to contact Yang Qing and send gifts. This time, Yang Xuangan also went to great lengths to help him seize the position. There are quite a few people eyeing Xingyang.

The elderly people around Yang Qing all opposed his association with Yang Xuangan.

Yang Qing probably had some guesses in his mind. Yang Xuangan's behavior had been quite abnormal recently, especially this time. When Yang Qing took office, Yang Xuangan said some inexplicable things.

However, Yang Qing didn't care; he knew how to please people.

Putting aside everything else, even the sages, the sages summoned him several times, wanting to give him a warning, but he always flattered them, making the sages smile and let him go.

Let alone Yang Xuangan?

By leveraging his influence to become an official in the imperial court, one can decide one's own future. All agreements and promises are just empty words!
Yang Qing squinted and took another deep breath.

He said, "This is my first time in such an important position, so I must accomplish something significant to show the government my abilities!"

"We'll go into the city tomorrow!"

"I've heard that there's a group of rebels hiding deep in the mountains of Xingyang. They've attacked officials before, and even the Duke of Tang couldn't capture them. If I can capture them, His Majesty will surely reward me!"

Seeing Yang Qing's enthusiasm, several old officials beside him advised, "Master, that Duke Tang is quite capable and not an ordinary person. Therefore, when you were still alive, you mentioned him many times, always praising his abilities. If even he couldn't be subdued, there must be a reason."

"We have just arrived in the county and it is time to establish our authority. If we are unsuccessful in the first battle, it will affect our subsequent actions. It would be better to first rectify the administration in the city, eliminate the rampant local tyrants, appease the people, promote education, and encourage agriculture. If we can do these things, the bandits will be eliminated without us having to attack!"

Yang Qing disliked his old followers very much.

From childhood to adulthood, his father was exceptionally strict with him, controlling everything and wanting to keep him firmly in his grasp. Now that he can finally do some things on his own, the people his father left behind have started nagging endlessly, interfering in his affairs all day long, saying he can do this and he can't do that.

Am I really incapable of doing these things on my own?
Yang Qing was quite confident in himself.

He said sternly, "When my father was the governor of a region, he once defeated a band of several hundred bandits and became famous throughout the land!" "I heard that the Duke of Tang has a young son who has not yet come of age, but he has also received a reward for killing rebels."

Am I not even as good as a doll?

“I intend to follow in my father’s footsteps, so how can you dissuade me?”

When Yang Qing brought up his father, the old officials were immediately speechless.

One of them could only continue to persuade, "If the patriarch insists on attacking the bandits first, then we cannot rush things. We must be well-prepared and act decisively."

Yang Qing hung his head and ignored them.

Meanwhile, Li Xuanba and his entourage were also slowly traveling on the official road.

The caravan was a grand procession, guarded by knights at both ends. They were carrying not only families, but also a great deal of money, food, and other valuables, all of which required guarding. The caravan practically occupied the entire road. Li Shimin led the knights to constantly scout the road ahead to ensure there were no thieves.

However, judging from his expression, it seemed that he actually wanted to encounter the thief.

The men under Li Xuanba's command were also helping to supervise the transport of supplies from the rear.

Li Xuanba sat in the carriage, looking helpless. The carriage was shaking violently. He had wanted to read a book, but with all the shaking, it was impossible to concentrate. Traveling was truly a hardship, and they would have to endure this for quite some time.

The most critical issue was the roads. The fastest official road had been damaged during the previous forced labor, so they had to take a long detour, first going to Hebei, and then from Hebei to Taiyuan.

As the group slowly moved forward, several people lay prone in the woods on the left, staring intently at the passing carriage below, motionless.

The leader was quite tall, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a messy beard; he was deep in thought at the moment.

Beside him were several thin young men.

Unlike their leader, they looked at the group below with a hint of fear in their eyes.

"Brother, let's forget about it."

"We have only just escaped and have not yet found a place to live. It is not appropriate for us to provoke the government again."

"These people are clearly not to be trifled with. There are so many knights in front and behind, and those burly men, all carrying weapons. There are only a few of us. If we fight them, it's no different from suicide!"

The people around them were all trying to persuade them.

The leader, however, disagreed. He said, "The government's wanted notices should have spread to all over the country. We can no longer flee to other places at will. What we can do is find a suitable place, gather manpower, accumulate strength, and wait for the world to change before we come out and do something big!"

"There are only a few of us, we have nothing to eat, and we have no reputation. Who would come to us for help?"

"Besides, look at this group of people. Isn't it because there are too many people like them that we've fallen to this state? They have to travel so extravagantly. Look at their carriages, how long can their grain feed an ordinary family?!"

Hearing their leader's words, the others advised again, "Brother is right, but we are no match for them!"

"If we fight head-on, we naturally can't win. However, if we wait until night, things might change! These people come from elsewhere and are certainly not familiar with the area. They're not moving very fast, so they won't reach the inn. As long as we're in the wilderness, we'll have a chance!"

"However, you all must obey my orders!"

"You must do as I tell you to do!"

"If we can succeed in this, we will have the capital to undertake great things in the future!"

"Will you do it or not?!"

The group exchanged glances, and one of them said, "Brother, you are a capable official. If it weren't for standing up for us, you wouldn't have ended up in this state. Even if you asked us to die, we wouldn't hesitate. We are all willing to follow you and do great things!"

(End of this chapter)