The annihilation of Xue Zhongze's entire army at Hanjia City sent shockwaves, and the news reached Xue Zhongyi in Tuxian, terrifying him.
This sudden appearance of a Innate expert in Hanjia was undeniably a death scythe hanging over his neck.
Tuxian was shrouded in gloom day after day. Scouts constantly circled three miles outside Hanjia City, observing every move.
The Tuxian army operated at high intensity, with sentries at every second step and patrols every third. Xue Zhongyi repeatedly pleaded with the Li family in the prefectural city.
Receiving no response for days, Xue Zhongyi grew increasingly unsettled. Tuxian alone was no match for an Innate expert.
Unable to wait any longer, Xue Zhongyi rushed to the Li family in the prefectural city.
At that moment, the Li family was holding a clan meeting, preparing for the Prefect election two months later.
"Patriarch, news from the provincial capital states that the Twelve Guards of the Provincial Capital will be sent to inspect the Prefect election of Shu Commandery this time!"
"The Twelve Guards?"
As Li Hui, the Second Elder of the Li family, finished speaking, the entire hall erupted in astonishment!
How many years had it been? The Prefect election of Shu Commandery occurred every thirty years.
For three hundred years, the provincial capital had rarely interfered with the Shu Commandery Prefect election, merely reporting the chosen prefect to the provincial authorities for record. This sudden inspection was unexpected.
The Li family members were astonished as to why the Governor would dispatch the Twelve Guards.
The Twelve Guards, as the name suggested, were a bodyguard unit composed of twelve individuals, all possessing cultivation levels of Innate fifth-tier or above. They typically remained by the Governor's side and rarely left him.
The personal presence of the Twelve Guards in a region granted them the authority over life and death, and supreme command over all local affairs!
For a thousand years, the Twelve Guards had been a formidable force in Yizhou, repeatedly quelling rebellions and banditry with their fearsome reputation.
A millennium ago, the Governor of Yizhou, leading the Twelve Guards, thirteen individuals in total, had breached the border of the Jin Kingdom and rescued the reigning Martial King from the midst of a vast army, achieving unparalleled merit.
However, as the saying goes, "When the good bow is put away, the cunning rabbit is killed, and the running dog is cooked." The reigning Martial King, sensing the terrifying power of the Twelve Guards, falsely accused them and the Governor of Yizhou, leading to their execution.
From then on, Yizhou's strength significantly diminished, and the Twelve Guards were severely weakened!
Why were the Twelve Guards being dispatched to oversee the Prefect election this time?
Everyone was perplexed.
"Do we know which esteemed individual is coming for the inspection?"
Li Si looked at Li Hui.
"Reporting to the Patriarch, there is no such information, but our informants have gathered some unofficial news at a wine house!"
"Oh! Tell us."
Although the rumors from the martial world lacked accuracy, it wouldn't hurt to listen, Li Si instructed.
"The news came from a disciple of the Sword Gate. This individual was drunk and boasted, and unable to withstand the taunts of others, he revealed this in anger."
Li Hui scanned the crowd: "The arrival of the Twelve Guards in Shu Commandery likely means the Governor feels pressure from the Sword Gate. In recent years, the Sword Gate's sect leader, Yuan Li, has achieved mastery of his inner energy and, ahead of the Governor, has entered the Grandmaster realm."
Achieving the Grandmaster realm was incredibly difficult. In the entire Wu Kingdom, there were only a handful of Grandmasters. Grandmasters were the heavens of the Wu Kingdom.
With the Sword Gate sect leader breaking through to Grandmaster, they began to encroach upon the major prefectural cities of Yizhou. The Wang family of Shu Commandery was backed by the Sword Gate. The provincial government feared that Shu Commandery would fall into the hands of the Sword Gate, hence the dispatch of the Twelve Guards to oversee the Prefect election.
"That makes perfect sense now."
Li Yuan, the First Elder, stroked his beard.
"Patriarch, this Prefect election, while seemingly a struggle between three major families, is in reality a confrontation between the imperial court and the sects."
Li Yuan stood up, bowed his head, and said: "Patriarch, the nation is in decline, and the power of the sects is rising. The Wu Kingdom is in a time of crisis, and the situation is irreversible. I implore the Patriarch to lead our clan to a suitable place to protect the bloodline of the Li family!"
After Li Yuan finished speaking, everyone bowed their heads: "We implore the Patriarch to lead our clan to a suitable place to protect the bloodline of the Li family!"
Just as Li Si was about to speak, cries of "Save me, sir! Save me, sir!" echoed from outside the hall.
Everyone saw Xue Zhongyi scrambling into the hall, "Save me, sir! Save me, sir!"
"What is the matter?" Li Si looked at Xue Zhongyi, who was kneeling before him.
"Sir, my younger brother previously led troops to attack Hanjia, but they were annihilated. Hanjia is certain to destroy Tuxian, and sir, I am powerless to resist!"
Sounds of weeping followed.
"Patriarch, there is no need to worry about Hanjia. With Second Elder Li Hui stationed in Tuxian, the city will be safe. The most important matter is the Prefect election in two months!"
Li Yuan cupped his hands: "Second Elder Li Hui is at the Innate first-tier, and has trained for another decade. His foundation is deep. It is anticipated that Liao Hua will not be able to advance an inch!"
"Agreed!"
That evening, Xue Zhongyi returned to Tuxian with Second Elder Li Hui.
Time passed swiftly. In just over a month, Hanjia City, under Zhu Sheng's governance, gradually regained its former prosperity.
In the main hall of the City Lord's mansion.
Yang Hao sat in the center, with Zhou Yuji, Zhu Sheng, Liao Hua, and Yao Wen seated on either side.
"Everyone, Tuxian's strength is greatly diminished. With only Xue Zhongyi remaining, he is likely isolated and helpless!"
Yang Hao said softly, his eyes filled with killing intent.
"The Lord is correct. Tuxian is now like fish on a chopping board, waiting to be slaughtered! Taking Tuxian will be effortless."
Zhou Yuji pondered for a moment.
"My Lord, Liao Hua requests to lead the vanguard. Within half a day, Tuxian will be captured!"
Liao Hua clasped his hands.
"My Lord, Yuji requests to lead the vanguard."
"Very well, General Liao Hua, you have been training the Vanguard for over a month. How are the results?"
Yang Hao turned to Liao Hua.
"Reporting to the Lord, the Vanguard is based on sixty Shu Han soldiers, with a starting point of Bone Forging fourth-tier. A total of four hundred and forty individuals have been recruited. Since its establishment, high-intensity training has been maintained. It only awaits a bloody battle to become a true army."
"Zhu Sheng, facing the current situation, what are your thoughts and strategies?"
Yang Hao looked at Zhu Sheng.
Zhu Sheng fanned himself with a feather fan, perusing the collected intelligence on the table. After long deliberation: "My Lord, the three major families vying for the Prefect position are likely too preoccupied to deal with us."
"Regarding Tuxian, General Liao Hua only needs to lead the Vanguard, and Tuxian will be captured within half a day. As for General Zhou Yuji."
Zhu Sheng turned to Zhou Yuji, bowed, and said: "I request General Yuji to individually visit the Lin Hu tribe to completely resolve the border issues."
The Lin Hu tribe were nomads. Two thousand years ago, they had pledged allegiance to the Yang family. As the Yang family declined, the Lin Hu tribe broke away and had been harassing the region for a hundred years, causing immense suffering to the populace.
"With this arrangement, we can eliminate the threat from our rear in one fell swoop and occupy Tuxian. We only need to develop in secret. When the time comes to contend for Shu Commandery, we can then eliminate the three major families in one decisive strike!"
After Zhu Sheng finished speaking, he bowed to Yang Hao.
"Excellent, Liao Hua, heed my command! I order Liao Hua to lead the Vanguard on an expedition to Tuxian!"
"General Zhou Yuji, heed my command! I order General Zhou Yuji to lead an expedition to the Lin Hu tribe!"
"Zhu Sheng, heed my command! You are ordered to oversee all administrative affairs of Hanjia and ensure its safety!"
"Your subordinate obeys."