Chapter 1044: Taking Command of the Defenses
The Spirit Guards stationed at Thanglong Prefecture were not fools. With the Second Deputy Mansion Master himself leading the advance, who would dare raise a hand without orders from above?
If they did act rashly, who would bear the responsibility if the higher-ups were looking to place blame afterward—the one who struck first, or the higher-ups?
It was a simple truth that everyone understood.
At such a time, even if an order truly existed, it would have to be a written decree, not just a verbal command passed down the line.
When the time came for accountability, a written decree would mean that they merely obeyed orders. Without it, they risked becoming the scapegoats.
Since no written order existed, only a fool would block the Second Deputy Mansion Master. Thus, for every step Qi Xuansu advanced, the opposing Spirit Guards retreated a step in turn.
Those with authority dared not issue commands, while those under authority dared not act. Thus, no order equaled no movement.
Qi Xuansu did not need to give a written order because his presence was all the authority needed. That was why he led the Spirit Guards into Thanglong Prefecture with such fanfare.
Had Wang Jiaohe or Chen Shuhua appeared at that moment and personally given the command to stop Qi Xuansu, then these Spirit Guards would not have yielded so easily.
But Qi Xuansu came too swiftly and caught the two completely unprepared. While they were still weighing their options, Qi Xuansu had already closed upon the inner city.
There was another reason—the Yinglong Warship suspended above the city. After all, no one could bear the pressure of going against their own people with the colossal storm cloud hovering right above them.
By the time Qi Xuansu reached the inner city, the situation was beyond reversal.