The imperial court is ceding territory from our northern border? Then we'll rebel!

Yunzhou, the city of Chengdu.

As one of the wealthiest cities in Yunzhou, Jin Guan City was not greatly affected by the previous wars. The city remained prosperous, and the mansions of the major families were filled with singing and dancing.

In the east of the city, at the Wang family mansion.

The heads of several prominent families in Yunzhou are gathered together at this moment.

Leading the group was Wang Chonggu, the head of the Wang family. He was over sixty years old, dressed in a brocade robe, with a ruddy complexion and a shrewd glint in his small eyes.

When Tian Kui's army passed through the area, he was the first to step forward, offering a large amount of grain and supplies, and cheering for Tian Kui.

When news of Tian Kui's defeat and suicide arrived, it was he who first organized the powerful families and prefects of various places in Yunzhou to write letters of surrender, expressing their "loyalty" to Xiao Jingchen.

In his view, this was just a change of master.

Whether it's the emperor or Xiao Jingchen, whoever rules the world cannot do without these powerful clans with deep roots in the local areas. They are responsible for governing the local areas and collecting taxes. As long as they pay tribute on time, the new master will always preserve their original dignity and interests.

"Everyone, let's hear your thoughts on this newly arrived 'Northern Protectorate'?" Wang Chonggu picked up his teacup and slowly blew on it.

Seated to his left was Li Changqing, the head of the Li family, a middle-aged man with a sinister face. He sneered and said, "What else can you say? A peasant from the north got lucky and won a battle, and he really thinks he can rule Yunzhou?"

"Brother Li, you are mistaken," another family head surnamed Zhang said with a smile. "He is now the 'King of Wuwei,' personally appointed by His Majesty, and the Grand Protector of the Northern Border. We all have to listen to the King."

He said he would listen to the prince, but his expression showed no respect whatsoever.

"Hmph, a prince?" Li Changqing curled his lip. "I think 'King Yama' is more like it. I heard that the strategist he sent, named Su Mou, is already leading 10,000 Zhenbei troops and is almost at Chengdu. They're up to no good."

"We'll meet force with force, and water with earth," Wang Chonggu said calmly, putting down his teacup. "Xiao Jingchen has just swallowed up millions of surrendered soldiers and is short of money and food. He wants us for nothing more than that."

"What does Brother Wang mean?"

"Here you go." Wang Chonggu held up a finger and tapped it on the table. "If he wants grain, we'll give him grain. If he wants money, we'll give him money. If we feed him well, he won't have time to bother us, right?"

"Is it really that simple?" Li Changqing was somewhat skeptical.

"Otherwise what?" Wang Chonggu laughed. "Xiao Jingchen may be good at fighting, but does he understand how to govern a region? Which official in Yunzhou isn't one of our people? Which land tax isn't collected by us? Without us, his 'Protectorate' is just an empty shell, unable to move an inch!"

"His millions of surrendered soldiers are millions of mouths to feed every day. He's even more anxious than we are now. If we can stall for time and carefully gauge the situation, the initiative will be in our hands."

"Then, we can squeeze ten or a hundred times more money and grain back from those peasants!"

These words made all the family heads present laugh and nod in agreement.

"Brother Wang's insight is brilliant!"

"That's right, he's just a martial artist, trying to outsmart us? He's too naive!"

"Let's give him 100,000 shi of grain first to see what he's looking for. If he thinks it's not enough, we can gradually increase it."

Just as they were discussing how to "deal with" their new master, the butler suddenly tumbled in.

"Master...Master! Something terrible has happened!"

"What kind of behavior is this, all flustered and disrespectful!" Wang Chonggu scolded.

"The strategist Su Mou of the Northern Protectorate, with his army, has...has entered the city!" the steward said, panting. "They're already outside the manor!"

"What?"

The expressions of the family heads present all changed.

So fast?

They thought Su Mou would at least station his troops outside the city and then send someone to inform them, giving them a few days to prepare. Unexpectedly, he led his troops directly into the city and besieged their residence!

"How many men did he bring?" Wang Chonggu asked hurriedly.

"A dense, dark mass of people completely blocked the street in front of our Prince's Mansion!"

Wang Chonggu's expression also turned somewhat unpleasant.

He and the other family heads exchanged glances, and they all saw a hint of unease in each other's eyes.

This doesn't look like they're here to receive money and grain; it looks more like they're here to confiscate property.

"Let's go and meet him!" Wang Chonggu forced himself to remain calm, straightened his robes, and stood up first.

When the group arrived at the gate of the mansion, they saw that the main street outside was filled with soldiers of the Zhenbei Army dressed in black iron armor.

These soldiers were all burly and imposing, with cold, stern faces, exuding a murderous aura forged in mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Their mere presence created an immense sense of oppression, making the surrounding air seem to freeze.

Leading the group was a young man who looked refined and cultured; it was Su Mou.

When he saw Wang Chonggu and the others come out, he smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

"This must be the head of the Wang family, right? I am Su Mou, here to take over the defense of Yunzhou on the orders of my lord. Greetings."

His attitude was very polite, but the tens of thousands of troops behind him made his politeness seem particularly weighty.

"So it's Military Advisor Su. I've long admired your name." Wang Chonggu quickly forced a smile, cupped his hands in return, and said, "Military Advisor, you've come from afar and must be tired from your journey. I've prepared a small feast to welcome you and your soldiers."

"There's no need for a welcoming feast." Su Mou waved his hand and got straight to the point. "Your Highness is busy with military affairs, and I am also eager to report back to Your Highness. I would like to request that the Wang family head, as well as the heads of the families present, hand over the maps, land registers, and accounts of the armory and arsenal throughout Yunzhou."

Everyone's heart skipped a beat.

They want the ledgers right away? And all of them?

This is completely different from the script they had envisioned!

Wang Chonggu's eyes darted around, and he quickly said, "Military Advisor Su, this...this is natural. It's just that Yunzhou is vast, and there are many accounts, making it difficult to organize them all in a short time. Please grant us a few more days, Military Advisor, we will certainly..."

"No need," Su Mou interrupted him directly, his smile unchanged. "I've already taken care of everything for you."

As he spoke, he took a thick stack of documents from the guards behind him and threw them in front of Wang Chonggu.

"These are some things I found in General Tian Kui's camp. They clearly record how much grain and silver each of you 'donated' during the 'suppression of the rebels'."

"For example, you, Patriarch Wang, once provided 300,000 shi of grain and 500,000 taels of silver. Your loyalty is truly commendable."

Wang Chonggu's pupils suddenly contracted as he looked at the document.

It not only showed the amount they donated, but also where they sourced the grain from and which bank held the silver—all of it was written down clearly!

This is Tian Kui's account book!

Didn't he commit suicide? How did his account book end up in Xiao Jingchen's hands?

The faces of the other family heads also turned deathly pale instantly.

They all thought Tian Kui was dead, and that there was no way to verify the story. Who would have thought that he actually had such a deadly list in his hands!

"Patriarch Wang, I'm very curious," Su Mou's voice turned somewhat cold, "Since you can provide Tian Kui with so much money and grain for 'rebellion,' why do you say that the accounts are too numerous and difficult to organize when I'm here on the Prince's orders to collect grain for the country?"

"Or is it that, in the eyes of you clan heads, the 'royal decree' of my Northern Protectorate is less effective than the decree of a traitorous general like Tian Kui?"

"This...this..." Cold sweat began to bead on Wang Chonggu's forehead. He stammered, unable to utter a single word.

Su Mou took a step forward, leaned close to his ear, and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear:

"The prince said he has neither the time nor the interest to play these hypocritical tricks with you."

"What he wants is the entire Yunzhou. Every inch of Yunzhou's land, every grain of rice, and every copper coin."

You now have two choices.

"First, hand over everything voluntarily. Your land, shops, treasury, private soldiers... everything. The prince may grant you a fortune enough to live comfortably for a lifetime, and spare your entire family's lives, in recognition of your voluntary surrender."

"Secondly, keep playing tricks on me."

Su Mou straightened up, the smile on his face vanished, replaced by a chilling killing intent.

"Then I'll just have to get it myself."

"By then, all you'll have left is probably your head."

"Patriarch Wang, esteemed patriarchs, you are all intelligent people."

Su Mou looked around at everyone and said, word by word.

"Choose one."

As soon as he finished speaking, the ten thousand Zhenbei soldiers behind him drew their swords with a clang.

The gleaming blade, in the sunlight, was so bright it was blinding.

Wang Chonggu and the others felt a chill run from the soles of their feet straight to the top of their heads, their legs went weak, and they almost lost their footing.

They then realized that they were not dealing with a brute who could be bargained with.

Instead, it was a ferocious tiger that had already opened its blood-red maw, ready to devour anyone it could!