The revitalization of the Tang Dynasty began with the Ganlu Incident.

Even after the snow, the city of Chang'an was bustling with people, still a scene of prosperity and noise.

However, beneath this calm, a storm was quietly brewing.

At the west gate of the imperial city, hundreds of armored soldiers rode through the city on horseback, their hooves thundering and causing the crowds on the street to scatter in fear.

Before long, the group stopped in front of the Jingzhao Prefecture. Xue Jiling, dressed in a eunuch's brocade robe, dismounted and stood in front of the prefectural office. Behind him, five hundred Shence Army soldiers stood in formation, creating a solemn and murderous atmosphere.

"The lieutenant has come in person; summon your prefect to pay his respects!"

With Xue Jiling backing him up, Zhang Chongwen felt much more confident. He held a riding whip in his hand, and his sharp voice echoed throughout the streets and alleys.

Seeing such a grand display, the gatekeeper dared not be negligent and hurriedly ran into the government office to report.

Meanwhile, the commotion here has clearly attracted the attention of many people.

Although they dared not approach due to the power of the Shence Army, a large number of onlookers quickly gathered, including some officials who had rushed over.

"Lieutenant, there are too many people gathering. Should I drive them all away?"

While Xu Tu went inside to report, Zhang Chongwen glanced at the crowd in the distance and asked hesitantly.

However, Xue Jiling remained calm and said, "Let them see. I brought the Shence Army here today to show them that we are not to be trifled with. Let those who are ignorant of our own mortality know that the Shence Army is not so easy to mess with."

Zhang Chongwen nodded, a fawning smile appearing on his face, and said, "With the Lieutenant personally present, the Prefect of the Capital will naturally be terrified. However, I'm worried that if he just cowers in his office and dares not go out, what should we do then?"

To say that they brought the Shence Army to Jingzhao Prefecture to demand people is somewhat plausible.

After all, the Jingzhao Prefecture had no right to detain the soldiers of the Shence Army without authorization.

However, if they lead troops to forcibly storm the government office, that would be a much more serious matter.

Xue Jiling was clearly prepared for this, and said coldly, "If he doesn't come out, then we'll wait here. I don't believe that the Prefect of the Capital can sit still when his gates are blocked."

"Have someone bring a chair over. We want to see if this Xue Yuanshang really has the guts of a bear and the gall of a leopard."

As if in response to his words, just as Xue Jiling sat down, Xue Yuanshang, dressed in an official robe, strode out from the government office.

However, contrary to what one might expect, Xue Yuanshang stood in front of the mansion gate, several steps away, and instead of being afraid, he shouted sternly.

"Who dares to be so insolent as to blockade the capital's government office? Do they know this is a crime of treason?"

Xue Jiling sat there, his face immediately darkening.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Chongwen quickly stepped forward and said, "Lieutenant Xue of the Shence Army is here. Why don't you come forward and pay your respects?"

Upon hearing this, Xue Yuanshang gave a cold laugh and asked, "And who are you?"

Zhang Chongwen was taken aback and felt a chill for no reason, but when he thought of Xue Jiling beside him, he regained his courage and said.

"I am Zhang Chongwen, the Seventh Commander of the Shence Army. What, does Prefect Xue intend to arrest me as well?"

A single sentence made the atmosphere freeze.

Amidst the distant murmurs, Xue Yuanshang narrowed his eyes and said.

"So it's Zhang Duyu. I have a case here that involves Zhang Duyu. Guards, arrest him and bring him into the manor!"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present was stunned.

No one expected that the newly appointed Prefect of Jingzhao would be so assertive.

Seeing the grim and imposing Shence Army opposite them, the servants below were somewhat timid and dared not make a move.

At that very moment, Xue Jiling's anger reached its peak.

He stood up, looked up at Xue Yuanshang who stood arrogantly on the steps, and rebuked him.

"Prefect Xue, are you treating this Lieutenant as if he doesn't exist?"

However, to his surprise, Xue Yuanshang remained standing in the same spot. Faced with his personal questioning, the other party did not even offer a greeting, but simply sneered and said.

"So it was Lieutenant Xue in person. Just now, I heard that someone had led troops to block the gate of the Jingzhao Prefecture. I thought there were some traitors and rebels. But I don't know if Lieutenant Xue was acting on the Emperor's orders or if he had a letter from the Secretariat-Chancellery?"

Xue Jiling's face flushed slightly, but he was angry at the other party.

Not to mention that he now commands the entire Shence Army, even when he was just a Privy Councilor, few in the court dared to speak to him like that.

At that moment, Xue Jiling clenched his fist and said.

"Xue Yuanshang, don't think that just because you're the Prefect of Jingzhao, we won't dare to touch you. If you don't give me a satisfactory answer today, we might just let you taste the weight of the three words 'Shence Army'."

"An answer?" Xue Yuanshang asked, feigning ignorance. "The lieutenant led the Shence Army to block the gates of my Jingzhao Prefecture without any reason, and I haven't even given an answer yet. What kind of answer does the lieutenant want?"

Seeing that the other party was pretending to be confused, Zhang Chongwen couldn't hold back any longer and immediately jumped up and shouted.

"Stop playing dumb! Today, fifteen soldiers from my Shence Army were transferred to a military town for rotation. You were the one who led the men and arrested them. Release them immediately and apologize to the lieutenant. The lieutenant is merciful; perhaps he will spare your life!"

"Such arrogance." Xue Yuanshang narrowed his eyes and looked past the two of them into the distance.

At this moment, on one side of the streets and alleys stood the grim Shence Army, and on the other side, restless and discussing among the people.

A cold smile flashed across his lips as he continued speaking loudly.

"I am the Prefect of Jingzhao, appointed by the Imperial Court. Even if there were any wrongdoings, they would only be due to orders from the Secretariat and decrees from His Majesty. You, a mere Commander of the Shence Army, what gives you the right to threaten my life so readily?"

"On the contrary, you, as a military officer, have been lending money privately and have instructed your subordinates to abuse the people, even beating someone to death in the street. Such behavior is unacceptable under military discipline and national law, and you cannot continue to act recklessly."

"Guards, seize him!"

Although the servants beside him remained timid and hesitant, Xue Yuanshang's words were delivered with great force.

This is precisely why Xue Jiling became increasingly furious.

"Xue Yuanshang, how dare you!"

"Whether it's presumptuous or not, Lieutenant Xue's word is not enough..." Xue Yuanshang retorted, neither soft nor hard, and then continued to urge the clerk beside him: "Hurry up and do it. Don't worry, if anything happens, I will take responsibility."

So the clerks finally mustered their courage and prepared to go forward and arrest the man.

Seeing this, Zhang Chongwen also became frightened and quickly called out, "Lieutenant..."

However, unexpectedly, Xue Jiling calmed down at this moment.

Something's not right, something's really not right!

He was in a fit of anger and didn't have time to think it through.

However, Xue Yuanshang's overly forceful attitude at this moment actually calmed him down.

Was the other person trying to provoke him?

Yes, that's what I'm doing—provoking him!

But what are the benefits of doing this?

As Xue Jiling's mind raced, he frowned and shouted sternly at the Xu Tu who were cautiously surrounding him.

"stop!"

"Prefect Xue, you just said that officials appointed by the court cannot be detained without His Majesty's personal edict or the decree of the Secretariat."

"Zhang Chongwen is the Commander of the Shence Army, holding an official position. What gives you, a mere prefect, the right to lay a hand on him?"