The main army not entering Shazhou was a precedent. The Zhang, Suo, Cao, Yin, Linghu families—the great clans of Longyou and Hexi—had already used military merit at the founding of the nation, when the Li imperial dynasty eliminated Xue Ju and his son, to exchange for the condition that the court’s main army would not enter Shazhou. And Shazhou also continuously paid tribute to Chang’an every year. In fact, not only was Shazhou under the control of these people, but the forces in Suzhou and Liangzhou also all listened to these great families. This was a serious internal threat.

The Hexi Corridor was the vital route into Anxi and the Northern Court. With Li Er’s domineering nature, how could he allow such a serious internal threat to remain here? One of Yun Ye’s most important tasks in entering the Northern Court this time was to conveniently eliminate these scourges.

Now Yun Ye’s main army had already reached Shazhou. Su Dingfang’s relief army was also slowly closing in on Shazhou. The forces in the Hexi region loyal to the court totaled a massive seventy thousand in a short period of time. This was a force sufficient to destroy a nation. Yun Ye couldn’t see what room for resistance the great families led by Shazhou Governor Linghu Zhou had.

The official replacing Linghu Zhou was in the rear camp where the Five Barbarians Commander was stationed. As soon as the main army exterminated these five surnames, they would immediately take over local government affairs.

Li Er now felt uncomfortable even seeing a stumbling stone on the ground—how could he allow these several families to form de facto separatism on his own territory? Where in the world was there such a strange matter? Li Er never believed that the document signed back then had any binding force. He was only annoyed by these families’ failure to recognize when to advance or retreat.

Through Great Tang’s commercial exchanges with the Western Regions, Shazhou had developed in a very short time into a great metropolitan city. Merchants traveled endlessly on the roads, and wealth accordingly poured into the pockets of these five families.

When leaving Chang’an, Yun Ye had brought only a little money, and it had all been robbed by Bianji. Now he was poor as could be. Li Er had personally told Yun Ye that the military pay for his western expedition would come from these five families. The Registrar of Military Affairs had already emptied many large chests, preparing to fill them with money. He had nearly been bothered to death by those debt-collecting merchants. Now having reached Shazhou, he could finally settle the accounts for the meat, vegetables, and such that the brothers had consumed on the road.

Guan Tinglong’s family was in Shazhou. Yun Ye dispatched a squad of soldiers to enter Shazhou and bring out all of Old Guan’s wife, children, and elderly mother. When Old Guan’s wife asked why this was happening, the squad leader receiving them smiled and said, “The main army is about to attack the city. My Great Commander and Governor Guan are the closest of friends—how could we watch the old madam be implicated by the fires of war?”

The old and young of the Guan family immediately left the city in a panic, even bringing their family’s yellow dog. No one knew how these words spread, but the entire Shazhou immediately fell into boundless panic. The common people didn’t understand why their own country’s army would attack their own city. Some busybodies ran to the city walls and had already seen the boundless army slowly encircling Shazhou, looking like they didn’t intend to spare a single person, because they weren’t even following the siege principle of surrounding three sides while leaving one open.

Killing people was Su Dingfang’s business. Yun Ye now only wanted to obtain his military pay, then send the court-appointed Shazhou Governor into position to complete his task. As for the pacification tasks in places like Suzhou and Liangzhou, those were Su Dingfang’s and had nothing to do with him. He needed to fill the military vacuum in the Northern Court with the fastest speed and monitor those barbarian tribes’ western expedition.

Yun Ye actually didn’t understand these people very well. Great Tang had been peaceful for so long—what exactly did they rely on to hold Shazhou and not return it to the court? At the founding of the nation, everything was difficult, and the Li family would naturally make promises. At that time, as long as they eliminated Xue Ju and his son, it would be a great victory. Other matters could be pursued gradually. After all, Xue Ju had the title of Tyrant Xue, and his martial prowess was unmatched.

The Li dynasty’s most battle-hardened fierce general, Yuchi Gong, was struck by Xue Ju with a horse lance until he vomited three sheng of blood, and he took a year to recuperate and recover. Even now when speaking with Yun Ye about Xue Ju’s terrifying nature, his face was entirely serious. Crown Prince Li Jiancheng was greatly defeated by Xue Ju. Li Yuanji, who prided himself on his bravery, was nearly captured alive by Xue Ju. Li Anyuan and Liu Hongji were both captured alive by Xue Ju. The great general Murong Luo even had his head cut off by Xue Ju and hung on a flagpole. After his great victory, when Xue Ju was preparing to ride and attack Chang’an, he was desperately blocked by Li Er in Qinzhou and couldn’t advance an inch. At that time, the Hexi and Longyou regions had already suffered complete losses.

Just when Li Er was at his wit’s end, Xue Ju died of illness. Otherwise, Xue Ju would certainly have broken through Li Er’s defensive line and invaded Guanzhong on a large scale. At that time, who would sit on the throne would still be uncertain. Therefore, at that time, as long as there were reinforcements, Li Er would agree to any conditions.

Moreover, Xue Ju’s home base was in Jincheng. If these great clans of Shazhou could suddenly raid Xue Ju’s home base, it would naturally be a great merit. The agreement was reached, the great clans prepared to send troops, Xue Ju died. They obtained a tremendous merit without shedding blood. Li Er, who was guarding Qinzhou in constant alarm three times a day, was nearly angered to death. If only he had known Xue Ju would die of illness, why sign that agreement and leave troubles for posterity?

He had been waiting for these great clans to automatically invite the court to send officials to be stationed in Shazhou. In that case, giving those great clans some nominal honors would also be proper. As a result, from the second year of Zhenguan, he waited until the fourteenth year without any news. Li Er, unable to endure any longer, decided to send Yun Ye over to ask whether these people wanted their lives or wanted to continue upholding that agreement.

Sending the main army over meant coming to conquer—there would absolutely be no such empty-headed matter as sending the main army to frighten you, then continuing negotiations. Once the steel blade is drawn from its sheath, it won’t be sheathed again without seeing blood.

The military never reasons with you—their reasoning is the blade. Now they also had gunpowder. Yun Ye was leading over thirty thousand subordinates on an expedition to the Western Regions. How could he dare to allow a knife to be planted on his homeward route and supply route? Regardless of whether Yun Ye was willing or not, for the safety of himself and tens of thousands of officers and soldiers, he would not permit himself to have the slightest compassionate heart.

Yun Ye rode on Wang Cai’s back, standing beneath the large banner with the character “Yun.” Not far away, drummers were beating drums. After three drum rolls, the main army would begin attacking the city. Even though the city gates were already wide open, Yun Ye would still send soldiers to climb the city walls to attack. Flaunting military might must be carried out thoroughly, making everyone terrified. Armored soldiers scaling walls—that was a scene that only appeared in nightmares.

Linghu Zhou led a group of people with ashen faces out from inside the city, carrying infinite vicissitudes, continuously muttering in his mouth, “I knew this day would come. I knew this day would come.”

Before he could speak upon reaching Yun Ye’s horse, Yun Ye’s hand dropped. A cavalry squad immediately swept over in a semicircle. The screams had just started when they disappeared. When the dust settled, those people had all become corpses.

The Five Barbarians Commander expressionlessly turned his head and gave an order. Two lower-ranking commanders went to the pile of corpses, continuously using red pens to cross out names on the ledger. After completing the tally, the Five Barbarians Commander discovered there were still names on it that hadn’t been crossed out, so he once again ordered the drums to be beaten. Such a list had already been delivered to Linghu Zhou yesterday afternoon. This was a kill list.

“Great General, there are still omissions on the list—seven people are missing. These people, in order to cherish their own lives, disregarded even the lives of their entire families, old and young. I request the Great General give the order, permitting this humble officer to enter the city to search and capture.”

“Old Fan, this is His Majesty’s decree. We cannot violate it. We should kill fewer people if we can. Achieving the objective is the first priority. Don’t forget that after thunder always comes gentle wind and fine rain.”

Fan Hongyi bowed his hands in acknowledgment, gave a shout, and large numbers of armored soldiers began entering the city from all directions. Yun Ye dismounted and sat in a chair waiting for Fan Hongyi’s news.

The wilderness in early spring was very dry. The blood flowing from those corpses quickly seeped into the sandy ground, and no heavy bloody smell drifted over. Every time he killed his own people, Yun Ye felt uncomfortable. Liu Jinbao knew the Marquis’s thoughts and didn’t bring the teapot to the Marquis. At this moment, the Marquis wouldn’t have the mood for drinking tea.

Before noon, Fan Hongyi returned, bringing out seven corpses. He handed the ledger to Yun Ye for review. Yun Ye patiently finished inspecting it, raised his head, and asked Fan Hongyi, “How many were killed?”

“According to the Great General’s meaning, there was no excessive implication. Thirty-seven heads were severed.” Fan Hongyi stood ramrod straight as he answered.

“Report it. Request that the Shazhou Governor begin pacifying the people. Three days hence, the main army will exit west through Yangguan Pass.”

“Yes, sir!”

Originally this was something that a few jailers could complete, but Li Er insisted on having the main army do it. In reality, he was venting anger. Military execution and jailer execution were two different concepts. Every year at the vegetable market execution ground, heads rolled, and all of Chang’an applauded and cheered. Many concubines of wealthy families seemed to enjoy this. As long as someone was being beheaded, they would always rent the nearest wine house and secretly watch from the windows, obtaining great satisfaction from the gushing fresh blood.

Absolutely no one would enjoy watching military men kill people. From ancient times to the present, there had never been a single person who enjoyed watching military men kill. Because when military men kill, they don’t distinguish between good and evil—they pose a threat to the entire group.

Chang’an had changed so much it was unrecognizable. People from all over the world flooded into Chang’an, all wanting to gain a foothold. They brought prosperity and also brought various customs. Men desperately grew beards like the barbarians. Women desperately learned barbarian women’s hairstyles and clothing. Hair became increasingly strange, clothing became increasingly thin, and necklines opened lower and lower.

Yun Ye suddenly thought of that handsome Bianji. This was indeed a good opportunity for alms-seeking, but men were always very busy and wouldn’t give him many opportunities. And Chang’an’s huge group of noble ladies would become his important source of funding. A handsome, learned man full of benevolence would attract those noble ladies’ fanatical pursuit. Moreover, he was also Master Xuanzang’s disciple, trained by a famous master. Such a man, regardless of whether he was a monk or not, would become women’s fatal weakness.

And the fanatical Bianji, for his own ideals, could arbitrarily burn precept scars on his own head, and could also do anything for his own ideals. In his view, flesh was merely a stinking skin bag. As long as the goal was correct, he would consider the process a minor detail.

Thinking of the words he and Yuan Shoucheng had written on the note, Yun Ye shook his head and sighed at the impermanence of worldly affairs. Chang’an was too far away. Better to think more about his Northern Court. By candlelight, Yun Ye spread out the huge map of the Northern Court.