"Who's there?!"
"How dare you!"
"You, you what do you want? This, this is the Prefect's mansion!"
"Ah!!"
"..."
Hearing the screams from outside, everyone in the banquet hall froze.
Their heads no longer spun, their vision cleared, and even the drunkards became sober.
Then,
Gongsun Zan, clad in full armor and carrying a dripping saber, walked in.
"You, you..."
Prefect Tian, his face ashen, stood up, his voice trembling slightly, and said:
"Changshi Gongsun, I, I don't know why you've come..."
"Pfft!"
Before Prefect Tian could finish his sentence, Gongsun Zan, who had grown impatient, threw his saber, piercing him through.
"Prefect Tian colluded with barbarians and trafficked salt and iron. By law... his entire clan is to be executed!"
With that, Gongsun Zan scanned the room and pointed at several individuals.
"And you few, all of you, be arrested and executed at a later date!"
"Yes!"
The soldiers, receiving the order, immediately lunged at the men, dragging them out like dead dogs.
Seeing this,
The clan leaders who were not affected trembled all over.
Ruthless!
So ruthless!
Those were figures rarely seen in normal times, yet they were treated like this?
One could imagine,
Their families behind them would not be spared, or perhaps had already been annihilated?
The facts were just as they had guessed!
As Gongsun Zan led his soldiers to the Prefect's mansion, the other troops had also set out.
The Tian family, the Wang family, the Zhang family...
These powerful families that had operated in Liaodong for years became the souls of the departed in an instant.
It wasn't that no one resisted.
Unfortunately,
Whether it was their private soldiers or their household guards, none were a match for the heavily armored infantry.
One strike!
While blocking the guards' attacks, they needed only one blow to fell an entire group.
On this day,
The air in Xiangping City was thick with the pungent smell of blood, and corpses were strewn everywhere.
The only difference from usual was... the opulent attire of these corpses!
"Report!"
As Gongsun Zan patiently waited, the commander of his personal guards strode in.
"Reporting to Changshi, the wealthy families in the city, the Tian and Zhang families, have been plundered by barbarians and suffered heavy losses!"
"Oh?"
Gongsun Zan, who already knew the outcome, raised an eyebrow and feigned regret.
"I've long advised them not to collude with the barbarians. See what's happened now?"
"Right!"
"These barbarians are so brutal, did they leave no survivors?"
"Changshi is wise!"
The commander of the guards showed a hint of a smile and cupped his fists in understanding.
"The entire Tian family, over a hundred people, were all killed. The Zhang and Wang families suffered the same fate!"
"That's good... No, that's truly tragic!"
Gongsun Zan, upon hearing this, almost blurted out his true feelings in his excitement. He quickly changed the subject.
"These Liaodong bandits are so rampant, even the Prefect has been killed?"
"Since that is the case, I, as the Changshi of the Prefect's office, will temporarily take charge."
"Do any of you have any objections?"
"..."
Glancing at Prefect Tian, who lay dead with his eyes wide open, the assembled clan leaders dared not say a word.
They all meekly agreed, not daring to utter an extra syllable.
Seeing this,
Gongsun Zan sneered and paid no further attention to these opportunists.
Killing them all was impossible!
Both now and in the future, dealing with such people meant focusing on the major issues and letting the minor ones slide.
Of course!
While he spared them this time, if they misbehaved, he could certainly deal with them later.
This was a universal rule!
Therefore,
Gongsun Zan acted with a clear conscience, without a trace of worry.
He believed that these people would handle the remaining matters.
Moreover,
Under military control, they wouldn't be able to cause any trouble even if they wanted to.
Yes!
According to the initial plan, Xiangping City was now under military rule.
Without a certificate from the Prefect's office, let alone freely entering or leaving the city,
Even strolling on the road would result in being thrown into prison awaiting interrogation.
Meanwhile,
Having dealt with the disobedient families, Gongsun Zan arrived at the home of his fellow townsman, Gongsun Zhao.
"Changshi!"
Gongsun Zhao, with a hint of excitement, quickly bowed to Gongsun Zan.
"Enough!"
Gongsun Zan, not in the best mood, waved his hand. After taking a seat, he stated directly,
"The internal strife in Liaodong Commandery has been quelled. You can handle the rest as you see fit."
"But there is one point!"
"Youzhou now belongs to the Prefect's office, not to Han. You must remember this!"
"I understand!"
Gongsun Zhao, also dropping his smile, earnestly cupped his fists.
"Even though the Prefect is not here, I still recognize him as my lord!"
With that, Gongsun Zhao, without hesitation, prostrated himself in the direction of Zhuo County, performing three kowtows.
"Well..."
Gongsun Zan, who had prepared a whole speech, was completely taken aback, unsure of what to say.
This old man was also a formidable individual!
Fine!
Since he had declared his loyalty, the rest would be a headache for the lord.
Sighing,
Gongsun Zan did not linger at Gongsun Zhao's house, ate a simple meal, and left.
He had more important matters to attend to!
Such as?
Going to war!!
Gongsun Zan had not forgotten his purpose here!
Managing the three Liaodong commanderies?
No!
In his opinion, these were secondary matters, not his primary objective.
After all,
The three Liaodong commanderies already had their own Prefects. Why would he need to take charge?
Therefore,
In his view,
Qin Feng had transferred him to Liaodong because he valued one of his strengths!
Killing barbarians!
Yes!
Based on his lord's recent actions, Gongsun Zan had reached this conclusion.
His lord detested barbarians immensely! (Of course, with multi-fold rewards!)
As the saying goes: what the superior desires, the subordinate will follow!
Since his lord hated barbarians so much, and had even deployed thirty thousand troops here.
Was it for him to manage the people's livelihood?
Clearly not!
His only advantage was his ability to kill barbarians, and his willingness to do so!
Even when he was a mere county Changshi in Liaodong Sub-commandery, he dared to personally go to the battlefield. How much more so now that he commanded nearly thirty thousand troops?
"Since that is the case... then let's have a bloody good time!"
A bloodthirsty smile flashed across Gongsun Zan's face, and he directly ordered,
"The infantry will remain behind, under the command of the Prefect. The cavalry will assemble!"
"Yes!"
With Gongsun Zan's command, the recently quiet Xiangping City descended into chaos once more.
Witnessing batches of warhorses galloping through the streets, the families were terrified.
They feared that the next moment someone would break down their doors and take their heads.
In contrast to these terrified families, the acting Prefect Gongsun Zhao was trembling with excitement.
"My, my lord, these, these infantry are all staying in Liaodong?"
"That's right!"
Gongsun Zan nodded without hesitation, but then added a warning.
"These soldiers are loyal to the Prefect's office. Do not harbor any ill intentions."
"Also..."
"Have someone prepare half a month's rations for the cavalry, and it must be delivered to the camp outside the city by tomorrow morning."
"We... will depart for the expedition at once!"