Chapter 293 - Autumn Kill Extra 23 for Alliance Hierarch Chen Zeqing

“Guard Chen!”Seeing Chen Yong approaching from a distance, Deacon Qian’s spirits immediately lifted.

But, due to the crossbow bolts aimed directly at him, he still dared not stand up, only kneeling there, trying to show the most amiable expression possible, “Please tell these military lords that I am truly an executive of the Commerce Alliance, a third-level executive!

My surname is Qian!”

Executives of the entire Commerce Alliance are divided into three levels.

The third level is the lowest, the first level is the highest, responsible for the Alliance’s specific affairs.

Above these, there are honorary executives, nine in total, who hold titles but do not handle secular matters.

It only requires their appearance when dealing with other dignitaries and nobles of Qi Country.

Although Deacon Qian was only a third-level executive, on a normal day, he would also seem quite imposing.

The reason for his current plight was truly a long story.

He hadn’t been in Jia City for long, but had already amassed a significant fortune.

Taking advantage of controlling a large number of life-saving supplies, he sold them at high prices, leaving the families, big and small, in Jia City in a state of misery.

Not to mention that the Xi Family had already withdrawn, leaving Jia City without a leader.

Even if the Xi Family were still present, facing the Commerce Alliance, what could they do?

Wouldn’t they still be at the mercy of being fleeced?

The Yang Court relied on the Commerce Alliance for disaster relief, not daring to offend them, so what could the county cities below do?

To Deacon Qian, this was a small matter, and it was, after all, tacitly approved by the Commerce Alliance.

It was just that, due to the current leaderless situation in Jia City, he had acted “slightly more excessively.”

However, the problem was that a large part of the wealth he had plundered was being tucked away into his own pocket, separate from what was given to the Commerce Alliance.

It couldn’t see the light of day.

Upon learning of the plague mutation, his first reaction was to sweep up all the valuables he could carry and leave.

Just in terms of gold and silver, he had filled more than a dozen boxes!

To hide his wealth, he concealed his identity, purposely taking a longer detour through Pingxi County.

(Also one of the border counties of Qi Country.)

He understood the terror of the plague mutation but failed to grasp the severity of the Qi Army’s border blockade.

At first, he stubbornly refused to reveal his identity, fearing his embezzled assets would become known to the Commerce Alliance.

Then, in negotiations with the soldiers guarding the pass, he attempted bribery.

As a result, he came close to being killed on the spot.

Later, out of necessity, he disclosed his identity, but because of his previous insincerity, he was expelled.

Of course, most of the wealth he carried with him was confiscated—supposedly, this was out of respect for his position as a Commerce Alliance executive.

With no other choice, Deacon Qian had to turn back, retracing the Commerce Alliance’s trading routes, returning to the country via Dingyao County.

But the border blockade grew stricter by the day, and in his prior bitter experience, he had lost his waist token and couldn’t prove his identity…

Poor Deacon Qian came close to being killed on the spot.

Luckily, the soldiers guarding the checkpoint remembered that they had detained a group of people from the Commerce Alliance the other day, so they called Chen Yong over to identify him.

How much loyalty can one have for a superior who reaps all the benefits for himself and shows cowardice in the face of danger?

If possible, Chen Yong really wanted to say he didn’t recognize this man, to let the soldiers put Deacon Qian out of his misery!

But his good friend was also behind Deacon Qian, kneeling with him, looking very miserable.

The two pretended not to know each other, not even exchanging glances.

“Ah!” Chen Yong said, “Executive sir, how did you end up here?”

“It’s a long story,” replied Deacon Qian.

Glancing at the soldiers at the checkpoint, he asked politely, “May I stand up now, military lords?”

In his heart, he planned to find someone with connections to severely discipline these soldiers once he returned to the country, but now, under the threat of swords and crossbows, he had no choice but to be meek.

Since his identity had been verified and he was confirmed to be from Qi, the soldiers at the checkpoint didn’t make it too hard.

“Get up.”

Deacon Qian was surprised to see Chen Yong, but being a cunning man, he obviously did not ask questions like “What are you also doing here?”

To leave his duties and return to Qi Country at a time like this, he must have learned about the plague mutation!

And he had not informed this subordinate at all…

But, of course, a person like Deacon Qian wouldn’t feel the slightest bit ashamed, instead feigning concern with a question, “You haven’t suffered, have you?”

“Hey, the military lords are all strictly disciplined, what suffering could there be?” said Chen Yong.

“Executive sir, what exactly is the situation now?

The brothers are very anxious.”

“Enough!

Is this a place for idle chatter?” the soldier at the checkpoint scolded, cutting them off, “Disperse!”

“Hey!” Deacon Qian, upon hearing the call, gestured for everyone to follow and took the lead towards Baichuan City.

“I said disperse!

Go back!” The guard soldier suddenly raised his crossbow and aimed it at them.

“What do you mean, haven’t I already proved that I am from Qi?” Deacon Qian was bewildered, “I am a Deacon of the Commerce Alliance!”

“No matter who you are, the orders we received are to forbid anyone from the direction of Yang Country from entering!” the soldier said, “If you want to enter the city, bring a military order!”

As for the General who was in charge the other day, he was not present at this time.

Deacon Qian was filled with righteous indignation, but he knew better than to vent it on these soldiers.

They were executing military orders; even if they killed him on the spot, no one would stand up for him!

With the knife at my heart, I endure!

“What about him?” Deacon Qian pointed at Chen Yong and asked.

“He can’t enter the city either!

He’s now being held in the military camp.”

“Then detain us as well.

I can wait!” No matter what, Deacon Qian could not possibly turn back to Yang Country now; that would be terrifying.

But all he received was the soldier’s icy reply: “No way!”

“Why not?

I am also a person from Qi!” Deacon Qian suppressed his anger and said.

“Yesterday was yesterday, today is today.

With each passing day, the situation becomes more severe.

Now you can still go back, but if you come again tomorrow, it will be an immediate execution!”

“Don’t you know the current situation in Yang Country?

Are you asking me to go back to my death?” Deacon Qian felt a surge of hot blood rushing to his forehead; he couldn’t care about enduring humiliation or looking to the future anymore!

Yet the Anti-Magic Crossbow raised by the soldier was like a bucket of ice water, dousing him thoroughly: “Or you can choose to die now!”

Deacon Qian: …

In the end, Chen Yong could only watch as Deacon Qian left with his people, faces covered in dust and dirt, among them his good friends.

But he dared not say anything more.

Whatever he said would be useless.

In the face of the brutal reality where life and death decisions were made.

The connections and relationships he had once been proud of now seemed so frail and powerless!

Deacon Qian, with only a portion of his possessions left, took a detour, willing to pay extra fees to pass through other countries to return to Qi.

But at that moment, he discovered with horror: it was not just the route from Yang Country to Qi Country that was blocked.

The entire Yang Country had been locked down by a great army!

It was well-known that Qi Country boasted nine elite armies, hailed as the Nine Troops.

Named Spring Death, Summer Corpse, Autumn Killing, and Winter Silence.

Named Chasing Wind, Slicing Rain, Annihilating Thunder, and Imprisoning Lightning.

The foremost of the Nine Troops, called Heaven Cover, was historically commanded by the Qi King himself, the Son of Heaven’s Army, and was now led by Daqi’s God of War, Jiang Mengxiong.

Through his connections, Deacon Qian inquired in every possible way and finally gathered some information.

The army that sealed off the whole territory of Yang Country was called Autumn Killing, one of the Nine Troops of Qi, an unparalleled force skilled in slaughter—among the strongest in the world!

What did Qi Ting plan to do?

Why hadn’t the Business Alliance received any forewarning?

It was the end of July, already autumn.

Autumn comes, and with it, the Autumn Killing Army.