Chenliu County City,
The Prefectural Governor's Mansion,
Zhang Miao, the Prefectural Governor of Chenliu, was currently hosting guests in the front hall.
However, just as the wine was poured,
A hurried personal guard rushed towards him.
"What's going on?"
Zhang Miao, feeling displeased, glared at the guard.
"Can't you see I'm entertaining guests?"
"My Lord Prefect~!"
Despite being reprimanded, the guard persisted. Upon reaching Zhang Miao, he whispered his report:
"The soldiers guarding the city report that a considerable cavalry force has been spotted outside the city!"
"Cavalry?"
Zhang Miao was taken aback. After pondering for a moment, he asked, confused:
"I haven't heard of any army passing through here recently."
"Could it be someone from the Allied Army of Imperial Reinforcement?"
"Right!"
Saying this, Zhang Miao finally reacted, frowning with displeasure.
"Didn't you try to find out which army it is?"
"This..."
The guard touched his nose, his expression somewhat sheepish.
"My Lord Prefect, the moment the cavalry was spotted, the guards sounded the alarm for enemy attack."
"Hiss~!"
Hearing this, Zhang Miao realized something was amiss. He swallowed hard and asked:
"Are there many of them?"
"Many!"
The guard nodded affirmatively, also swallowing hard before saying,
"According to the report from the defending troops, the cavalry stretches as far as the eye can see, possibly tens of thousands strong!"
"This..."
Zhang Miao's face changed. He could no longer maintain his usual composure.
Tens of thousands of cavalry?
What does that even mean?
Even the Bing Province Wolf Riders, who were gathered for the reinforcement, only numbered three to four thousand!
In this era, who could afford tens of thousands of cavalry, other than those foreign tribes in Liang Province?
It seemed, it seemed... only that rebel leader in You Province!
But wasn't he pardoned by the court?
What was he doing here?
As Zhang Miao was filled with doubt, the guests in the hall also sensed something was wrong.
After all,
While things were lively, they might not have heard the war drums, but once things quieted down, the war drums outside were clearly audible.
"My Lord Prefect~!"
A burly man, around forty years old, stood up and cupped his hands.
"May I ask what has happened outside the city? If needed, the Wei family's retainers can still fight!"
"That's right!"
Hearing the burly man's words, others also reacted and voiced their support.
"My Bian family also has many retainers. If needed, they can also be deployed!"
"My Ren family..."
"..."
Startled by the clamor of people volunteering, Zhang Miao sighed deeply.
"If that fellow decides to make a move, then perhaps even more people will be useless!"
"Huh?!"
Hearing Zhang Miao's words, the guests exchanged glances, their eyes filled with confusion.
Who was it?
So formidable?
That even Zhang Miao, a Prefectural Governor of a prefecture, gave such an answer?
Perhaps seeing the confusion in their eyes, Zhang Miao uttered a few words.
"The Governor of You Province, Ye Feng!"
"Hiss~!"
As Zhang Miao's voice fell, a series of gasps echoed through the banquet hall.
"My goodness?"
"It's that rebel... Governor of You Province?!"
"What is he doing here?"
"Who knows?"
"Didn't he go to join the Allied Army of Imperial Reinforcement? Perhaps he's just passing through?"
"???"
Listening to the hypothesis from an unknown source, question marks appeared above everyone's heads.
Who was it?
So naive?
The enemy attack drums have already sounded, and you're telling me he's just passing through?
Should we open the city gates to welcome him?
"Let's go!"
Perhaps sensing everyone's thoughts, Zhang Miao waved his wide sleeves.
"Let's go and see what this Governor of You Province intends to do!"
"Ah?"
The guests, who had been so spirited moments ago, now began to hesitate.
"Uh, well, My Lord Prefect, I suddenly remembered I have something urgent at home!"
"Yes!"
"My Lord Prefect, you go ahead. I'll just go home to get something and be right back!"
"..."
Seeing the banquet hall suddenly depleted by more than half, Zhang Miao's face turned somewhat dark.
Even though he knew these were just fair-weather friends, couldn't they be a little less pragmatic?
Damn it!
Just you wait!
If I, Zhang, can get through this safely, we'll settle accounts later!
With this thought,
Zhang Miao glanced at the remaining people and asked with a light smile:
"It seems only you gentlemen have nothing pressing at home?"
"My Lord Prefect, you jest!"
The one who spoke was the burly man from before. He cupped his hands towards Zhang Miao.
"Although my Wei family doesn't have many retainers, they are always at your command, My Lord Prefect!"
"Very good!"
Zhang Miao nodded with satisfaction and led the few people towards the city gate.
...
A quarter of an hour later,
Outside the East Gate,
By the time Zhang Miao and his entourage reached the city wall, Ye Feng had grown impatient.
Therefore,
Seeing that someone finally appeared on the city wall, Ye Feng immediately shouted:
"Who are you people?"
"Seeing that I, the Governor, have arrived in person, yet you refuse to open the gates, are you trying to rebel?"
"???"
Zhang Miao, who was about to speak, was choked. The words that were about to leave his mouth suddenly became unutterable.
What was there to say?
The man had already revealed his identity, the rebel leader Ye Feng!
The problem was,
What should he do now?
Setting aside the fact that he was the Governor of a province, a high-ranking official of the court, even an ordinary citizen could enter the city.
But the prerequisite was that you couldn't bring troops!
Bringing troops into the city?
Except for the Emperor's tour, no minister was known to bring a large army into the city.
Glancing at the endless cavalry behind Ye Feng, Zhang Miao forced a smile.
"Is the person below the city wall, Ye Feng, the Governor Ye?"
"Oh?"
Ye Feng, who had only made a casual remark, suddenly became interested.
He urged his horse forward,
Placing his Overlord Halberd vertically on the ground, Ye Feng looked up at the city wall.
"Since you know it's me, the Governor, how dare you speak to me like this?"
"This..."
Once again blocked, Zhang Miao's face showed a hint of helplessness.
If he wanted to get angry?
Putting aside the question of fear, the key was that he was in the wrong.
Although the Governor of You Province, Ye Feng, had no jurisdiction over him, and a Governor wasn't that much higher than a Prefect, you couldn't deny that he had real power!
If he didn't get angry?
As a renowned scholar, he was being repeatedly rebuffed by a rebel leader?
This was simply outrageous, outrageous...
Forget it!
I'll endure it!
Glancing again at the cavalry behind Ye Feng, Zhang Miao waved his hand to the personal guard beside him.
"Have someone prepare a basket, I need to go down to verify his identity!"
"Ah?"
The guard was stunned for a moment and hesitantly suggested:
"My Lord Prefect, wouldn't that be inappropriate? Perhaps I should go?"
"That's enough!"
Zhang Miao waved his hand helplessly, his face filled with a bitter smile.
"Even I, the Prefect, dare not refute him. Wouldn't you be courting death if you went?"
"Hurry up and prepare the basket!"
"If we delay any longer, I'm afraid this fellow will find an excuse to cause trouble again!"
Saying this, Zhang Miao motioned for the guard to prepare the basket, while he himself turned to look at the few people who had followed him.
"Brother Wei, Brother Mao, if Ye Feng makes any untoward moves..."
"Don't mind me!"
"If you can leave, leave quickly. Chenliu might be difficult to defend!"
"This..."
The few people who had initially felt nothing changed their expressions.
"Is it that serious?"
The burly man at the head peered down at the city, his tone filled with confusion.
"He hasn't brought any siege equipment, nor any infantry. He doesn't look like he's here to attack the city!"
"And besides..."
"Even if he takes Chenliu, what use would it be to him?"
"This place isn't close to Qing Province, nor is it close to Ji Province. It's not contiguous with his territory!"
"Could it be..."
"He wants to attack Yan Province before even taking Qing Province?"
"Uh..."
The burly man's question left Zhang Miao stunned, his expression even more puzzled.
Indeed!
Chenliu was quite a distance from both Ji Province and Qing Province.
Even if he took Chenliu, what benefit would it bring him?
Was he really not here to attack?
Then why was he here in Chenliu?
Passing by on his way home?
Impossible!
If he remembered correctly, the camp of the Allied Army of Imperial Reinforcement was in Suanzao!
Whether he was returning to Qing Province or Ji Province, he shouldn't be passing through Chenliu like this.
Was he heading to Xu Province?
But Xu Province, unlike You Province and Ji Province, had a lot of waterways that could be troublesome.
With so many cavalry, crossing rivers would be a problem.
"My Lord, my Lord..."
While Zhang Miao's mind was racing, the personal guard had already prepared the basket.
"My Lord, please sit in this. I'll go with you in the one beside it!"
"No need!"
Zhang Miao, snapping back to reality, waved his hand again, his tone full of dejection.
"With so many cavalry, adding you would only add another soul to be lost!"
"That's enough!"
"Say no more. You all wait here for my return!"
"Remember!"
"Unless I give the order to open the city gates, do not obey anyone else's orders!"
"Understood?"
"Yes!"
Startled by Zhang Miao's stern tone, everyone quickly nodded in agreement.
Seeing this,
Zhang Miao was finally relieved and descended the city wall in the basket.
"Oh?"
"He actually dares to come?"
Ye Feng had expected the person on the wall to ignore him or engage in a shouting match.
But he hadn't expected this fellow to be so brave!
Under the intimidation of his cavalry, he dared to face him like Guan Erye's single-bladed duel?
Bah!
What single-bladed duel!
Guan Erye had killed several people back then, how could he describe it like that?
While his mind was filled with various chaotic thoughts, Ye Feng's actions were not slow.
He urged his horse forward,
Just as he was about to reach Zhang Miao, Ye Feng suddenly reined in his horse.
"Hee-haw~!"
With a neigh from his Cloud-Treading Dark Steed, Ye Feng dismounted and stood before Zhang Miao.
"Who goes there?"
"..."
Hearing Ye Feng's incongruous question, Zhang Miao cupped his hands in resignation.
"Your subordinate is Zhang Miao, the Prefectural Governor of Chenliu. Greetings, Governor Ye!"
"Zhang Miao?!"
Hearing the thunderous name, Ye Feng couldn't help but size him up.
He was the Prefectural Governor of Chenliu now?
He seemed too young.
Was he even thirty?
Indeed!
In this late Han Dynasty, official positions weren't based on age, but on one's reputation and background.
With this thought,
Ye Feng retracted the surprise on his face and asked with a smile:
"You are Zhang Miao, Zhang Mengzhuo, one of the Eight Chefs?"