BSI Chapter 190 Deploying Troops
Chapter 190 Deploying Troops
It was three quarters past the hour of Wei (1-3 PM).
The front courtyard of the Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion.
Liu Zhenshan led twenty-eight centurions and three chiliarchs from the Imperial City Guard, standing neatly in the courtyard.
They all stood up straight, even swallowing their saliva with great care.
These people, who usually act like they own the place in Beijing, are now behaving like quails.
Why?
Before them, Lin Chen sat in a grand chair, legs crossed, one hand supporting his chin, the other hand playing with a mutton-fat jade thumb ring.
The ring spun between his fingers but wouldn't fall off.
His eyelids were drooping, as if he could fall asleep at any moment.
The courtyard was so quiet that you could hear the vendors calling out their wares on the street in the distance.
Sweat beaded on Liu Zhenshan's forehead and slid down his temples, but he dared not wipe it away.
This commander of the Imperial City Guard was in his early thirties, with the cultivation level of a Grandmaster in the early stage. He wore a black robe embroidered with dark gold patterns and a long sword named "Zhanqiu" bestowed by the emperor at his waist.
Even a high-ranking official of the second rank in the imperial court would address him as "Lord Liu"?
But here, he didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
Because the man on the chair is the Prince of Zhenbei, the consort of the eldest princess.
Moreover, he also heard that even the Empress...
"Is everyone here?"
Lin Chen finally spoke, his voice lazy, as if he had just woken up.
Liu Zhenshan clasped his hands in a "whoosh" sound, his voice booming:
"Your Highness! All the officers of the Imperial City Guard above the rank of centurion, except for two who are away on official business, are present, totaling thirty-two. Please give your instructions, Your Highness!"
Lin Chen raised his eyelids and glanced at Liu Zhenshan and the others.
Liu Zhenshan and the others suddenly felt as if they had been pricked all over their backs with needles.
Thirty-two people.
The one with the highest cultivation level is Liu Zhenshan, who is at the early stage of Grandmaster.
The remaining three commanders were all in the late stage of the Grandmaster level.
Of the twenty-eight centurions, twelve were mid-stage Grandmasters and sixteen were early-stage Grandmasters.
With this lineup...
No wonder the Empress summoned him to the palace in such a hurry.
The Imperial City Guard could still wield considerable power if it were located in the capital city of Dayan.
But when they encounter the demons of Zhongzhou, they are no match for them.
"Do you know why I called you here?" Lin Chen asked slowly, his ring still spinning.
Liu Zhenshan's Adam's apple bobbed: "This subordinate...does not know."
He genuinely didn't know.
Logically speaking, the Imperial City Guard is directly under His Majesty's command, and even if Lin Chen wields immense power, he has no jurisdiction over this area.
But at noon today, an imperial edict arrived directly from the palace:
Effective immediately, all affairs of the Imperial City Guard shall be temporarily under the control of the Prince of Zhenbei.
Temporarily?
Liu Zhenshan isn't stupid; this "temporary" could very well mean a lifetime.
"Things haven't been peaceful in the capital lately," Lin Chen said, standing up with a creaking sound from his armchair.
He walked up to the crowd, put his hands behind his back, and strolled slowly.
The sound of boots stepping on the bluestone slabs, one after another, made one's heart tremble with unease.
"Quite a few people have come from Zhongzhou." Lin Chen stopped and looked at Liu Zhenshan.
"The Netherworld Sect, the Undying Demon Sect, the Corpse Refining Sect, the Blood Demon Path, the Joyful Union Sect... all sorts of miscellaneous sects are jumping around right under our noses..."
"Lord Liu, are you aware of this matter?"
The temperature in the courtyard dropped sharply as soon as he said that.
The faces of several centurions turned pale instantly.
Liu Zhenshan forced himself to say:
"Your Highness, regarding this matter... I have already sent people to keep watch, but those people come and go without a trace, their movements are elusive, it's truly..."
"Really can't catch it?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow.
Liu Zhenshan lowered his head even further: "This subordinate... is incompetent."
"Do you know why we can't catch it?" Lin Chen laughed.
His smile was quite kind, but Liu Zhenshan felt a chill run down his spine.
"Because... you are too weak," Lin Chen said.
Five words.
Five light words, like five slaps to the faces of thirty-two people.
Liu Zhenshan clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh.
The three commanders' faces turned ashen.
Some of the villagers blushed, some lowered their heads, but no one dared to utter a sound.
You disagree?
Even if you're not happy, you have to keep it to yourself.
The man before me has a terrestrial immortal under his command.
Moreover, not long ago, they wiped out the army of over 100,000 from the Northern Shuo, and even Wanyan Honglie and Ba Tuolie had their heads removed!
The Imperial City Guard's numbers are probably not even enough to fill his teeth.
"Starting today, I will be in charge of the Imperial City Guard." Lin Chen's voice deepened, the previous languidness completely gone.
"Everyone, listen up—"
"exist!"
The thirty-two people responded in unison.
"First," Lin Chen held up one finger, "At each of the four gates of the capital, four centurions will be assigned to lead a team, taking turns on duty day and night, without interruption for twelve hours."
Strictly check all people entering the city; detain anyone suspicious; if anyone resists—
Lin Chen paused for a moment: "Kill them on the spot."
"yes!"
"Second," Lin Chen continued.
"All inns, restaurants, brothels, gambling dens, theaters, teahouses, and other places where people can stay within the city shall be registered within three days."
The innkeeper, the waiters, the guests—every single one of them—was investigated. Anyone who concealed or omitted information…
Lin Chen smiled and said, "The shop was smashed, and the people were taken to the imperial prison for rigorous interrogation."
The officers exchanged glances, all seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.
This is going to turn the world upside down.
How many shops are there in Beijing? How many connections are behind them?
This investigation revealed that a huge number of people had been offended.
"Third—" Lin Chen held up his third finger, looking at Liu Zhenshan.
"A curfew is in effect in the capital tonight."
At 15:00 PM, the evening drum will sound. When the drum stops, no more pedestrians are allowed on the streets. Those who disobey will be…
He uttered two words: "Execute immediately."
Liu Zhenshan finally couldn't hold back any longer:
"Your Highness! The curfew... may cause discontent among the people, and the court officials may also..."
"Dissatisfied?" Lin Chen turned to look at Liu Zhenshan and snorted softly.
"Then let them be dissatisfied. Are you the commander of the Imperial City Guard or a neighborhood committee auntie?"
"Being dissatisfied is better than being dragged into an alley in the middle of the night by a demonic sorcerer, having your lifeblood drained and turned into a dried-up human corpse, right?"
Liu Zhenshan was choked and speechless.
"Or perhaps..." Lin Chen took two steps closer, staring into Liu Zhenshan's eyes.
"Does Lord Liu think that the words of those ministers are more terrifying than the blades of demonic sorcerers?"
Liu Zhenshan trembled: "This subordinate wouldn't dare!"
"If you're afraid, then do as I say." Lin Chen patted his shoulder, the pressure neither too light nor too heavy.
"in addition--"
He clapped his hands.
With a "whoosh," a figure appeared out of thin air beside Lin Chen.
Yuan Tiangang handed a stack of papers to Lin Chen.
Lin Chen took it, didn't even look at it, and threw it directly to Liu Zhenshan:
"There are a total of twenty-seven settlements of various factions in the capital."
The address, number of people, and cultivation level are all written on it.
Liu Zhenshan hurriedly caught it and looked down.
His hands started trembling after just one glance.
First page, first line: No. 7, Qingshui Lane, East of the city, the stronghold of the Corpse Refining Sect, with eight permanent residents.
Cultivation levels: three at the peak of Grandmaster, three at the late stage of Great Grandmaster, one at the mid-stage of Celestial Being, and the leader... a half-step terrestrial immortal.
A near-immortal on earth!
Liu Zhenshan felt his throat was dry and his voice was distorted:
"Your Highness... these people are too powerful, we, the Imperial City Guard, are afraid... afraid we can't handle them..."
"Who said you were going to your deaths?" Lin Chen rolled his eyes.
"You're responsible for sealing off the outer perimeter and preventing anyone from escaping. The tough nuts to crack inside—"
He turned to look at Yuan Tiangang: "Thirty-six Heavenly Guards and Thirteen Protectors are on standby at any time."
"Take down one of the strongholds on the list every hour. Remember, be quick, be ruthless, and leave no survivors."
"Yes." Yuan Tiangang accepted the order, his voice calm and composed.