Chapter 8: Border Town (9)

Qian Guinan said "hmm", supported his forehead with his hands, and looked like he was struggling and unable to support him, and whispered: "Person Wu, what you said yesterday about Shatuo bandits made me very anxious. I couldn't sleep all night last night. I thought repeatedly and felt that this matter not only involved the stability of the business road, but also affected the majesty of the Great Zhou Dynasty. It is really a heavy responsibility... I think that our Tingzhou government was deeply instructed by the emperor and the court, and maintained the business order and public security in the Beiting area as its priority. However, I thought that such a thing happened under my rule. I... How could I still have the face to meet the emperor, and how could I face the people of Tingzhou and the merchant groups of various countries traveling to and from the Western Regions..." Wu Xun tried his best to stand by, so he could sit upright and listen to Qian Guinan's insincere nonsense.

Di Jinghui was originally only concerned about food and drink, but he swept his ears to the "bandits" and asked curiously: "Shatuo bandits? What's going on? Isn't there a Han Navy in Tingzhou? Why don't you go to fight the bandits?" Qian Guinan's face suddenly looked embarrassed and hesitated for a few words. Li Yuanfang kept staring at him, and found a vicious cold light flashing in his eyes, which was fleeting. Wu Xun then asked: "Mr. Qian, what do you want to do?"

Qian Guinan seemed to have a split headache, and he pressed his temple desperately and said, "Person Wu, I am not in good health, please speak softly." Wu Xun lowered his head reluctantly, immediately raised it, and still looked at Qian Guinan. Qian Guinan sighed and pointed at Li Yuanfang: "It's a good thing that God has come to this Person Li, and I have an idea." Li Yuanfang was stunned: "I?" Wu Xun was more anxious than him and shouted: "I have something to do with him."

What's the relationship?!" Qian Guinan shook his head helplessly: "Oh, the daily military affairs of the Han Navy are very busy and cannot free up additional personnel to deal with the bandits. If I want to ask for troops to support from the court, I will not be able to open the door, and the other is afraid that it will last for a long time, which will delay the suppression of bandits. I thought about it and couldn't find a complete solution. Unexpectedly, today I welcomed Li Zhengwei to guard the border. This is really a long drought and a sweet rain. My Sha Tuohe bandits are about to be eliminated!"

Li Yuanfang clasped his fists at Qian Guinan and said seriously: "Mr. Qian, are you going to assign a low-ranking position to pacify the bandits in Shatuochi?" Qian Guinan nodded: "That's right. I want to ask Captain Li to assist Captain Wuxun to go to Yibotai County together, and form a bandit suppression group there to pacify the bandits in Shatuochi, and to make the business safe." "Yes!" Li Yuanfang responded, but Wuxun jumped up and shouted: "Mr. Qian, what do you mean? Let me and him, uh, it's fine to suppress the bandits together, why go to Yibotai? Why do you need to re-establish the bandit suppression group? Where is my Shatuochi?"

Qian Guinan waved his hand weakly: "Wu Xun, please be at ease and sit down and talk. I have introduced the origin of this Captain Li Yuanfang just now. I believe he will definitely help you. Yibotai County is located in the hinterland of Shatuochi. Using it as a stronghold, it is the best choice to explore the activity of bandits in Shatuochi. It can be both attacked and defended. As for your Shatuo regiment, you must maintain the public security of the entire area around Shatuochi and cannot be used only to suppress bandits. Yibotai originally had a non-staff corps recruited by the Han Navy. After you and Li Jie went over, you will manage the non-staff corps. This official authorized you to re-establish the bandit suppression group."

Wu Xun's forehead bulged with blue veins, staring at his eyes without saying a word. Qian Guinan turned to Li Yuanfang: "Person Li, because you just came, you felt wronged and acted as a deputy to Captain Wu. The bandit suppression group's main force would ask Captain Wu to take charge. What do you think?" Li Yuanfang replied with a smile: "Master Qian is a good arrangement, so I am taking the order." Qian Guinan looked at Di Jinghui again and said with a smile: "Your Madam Di, you are going to Yibotai too, so go with Captain Li to take care of each other. Captain Li just arranges a casual job for Master Di, even if he is serving his sentence. Captain Wu, you have to take care of Captain Li and Master Di for this officer."

Li Yuanfang and Di Jinghui nodded to each other, and thanked Qian Guinan with a smile. Wu Xun, who was silent for a while, suddenly asked hoarsely: "Master Qian, what if Wu Xun did not go to Yibotai, would he not let go of the Shatu regiment?" Qian Guinan replied in a relaxed tone: "If the Wu School Captain Wu does not want to suppress the bandits, please stay in the Shatu regiment. I don't care." Wu Xun's eyes were red, and his teeth were chewing, and he squeezed out a sentence after a while: "Wu Xun received the order! But... the non-staff corps in Yibotai do not have regular weapons, so I want to take some here." Qian Guinan said coldly: "Don't you need a lot of regular weapons to suppress bandits, right? Let's do this, I'll ask Wang Qian to prepare some weapons for you, and you'll take them."

Wu Xun nodded, stood up suddenly, hugged Qian Guinan and said, "Mr. Qian, Wu Xun is going to prepare now." Li Yuanfang also hurriedly stood up and said, "Person Wu, I'll go with you." Wu Xun squinted his eyes and said contemptuously: "No need to work for Li Zhengwei's master. Li Zhengwei has just come from the capital and has a hard time traveling, so I'd better have more rest. Lord Qian invites this table to eat delicious food that is rare in the frontier. Don't let Money down.

My dear, Wu Xun said hello to you. Yibotai is a barren land, far worse than Tingzhou. Please be more careful. Tomorrow morning, I will go to the inn to take you on the road together." He sneered again, saying, "If you have any other thoughts, please tell Lord Qian as soon as possible. After you set out tomorrow, you will have no chance to turn around!" After saying this, Wu Xun walked with big strides like when he came.

In the evening of that day, Qian Guinan finished his official duties early and took a carriage out of the governor's mansion. Like usual, the carriage wandered around the streets of Tingzhou for a long time and was sure that no one was following. Then he drove past a tall shamanic temple and stopped in the secluded alley next to him. There was only a local house with a plastered courtyard wall in the whole alley, and the gate opened to the alley. Wang Qianxian checked that there was no abnormality in the surroundings. Qian Guinan hurriedly got out of the car and flashed into the yard.

The not-so-large courtyard was covered with long grape trellis, and along the walls of the Korla pear trees and Ayi fruit trees were covered with white snow. Qian Guinan hurriedly walked towards the backyard along the gravel corridor. As soon as he arrived at the door of the back house, he heard a "meow" scream, and a black cat with green eyes leaped towards his feet. Qian Guinan was so scared that he took a big step back and cursed angrily: "Unfortunate!" He raised his hand and pushed the door open.
Chapter completed!