Translator: Myuu Editor: Myuu
The other Barrack Generals exchanged glances as they witnessed Liu Quanzhong and Tu Chunyun be apprehended through such means by Huangfu Qianqi. At that moment, they weren’t sure why Military Governor Huangfu Qianqi would even use this method to deal with Liu Quanzhong and Tu Chunyun.
“Huangfu Qianqi, just you wait. Let’s see how you explain yourself when you meet the Prefectural Governor later…”
“Huangfu Qianqi, you old croon. This is an abuse of your power for your own revenge. I am going to report you and make you bear all the consequences…”
Liu Qianzhong and Tu Chunyun, who were immobilized as a result of being bound by shackles, continued to curse incessantly inside White Tiger Hall.
“Guards, shut their mouths…”
Huangfu Qianqi’s trusted soldiers, who were detaining both Liu Quanzhong and Tu Chunyun, immediately socked the prisoners a few dozen times across the face upon receiving the orders, causing those two to bleed mouthfuls of blood. As a result, most of their teeth were knocked loose and their faces were swollen like pig heads. After that ordeal, the guards found two tattered rags and shoved them into their mouths. Both Liu Quanzhong and Tu Chunyun could only make whining noises inside the hall as they shot hostile gazes at Huangfu Qianqi.
Huangfu Qianqi sneered when he saw their hostile gazes. He gave a cursory gaze at the other Barrack Generals and said, “Just a moment ago, the Prefectural Governor of Pingxi Prefecture Ye Tiancheng was detained by Patrol Inspector Sun due to his treason to the country and withholding truth from the emperor by colluding with the Shatu people. By the orders of the Patrol Inspector, I am to arrest Liu Quanzhong and Tu Chunyun as well…”
Some of the Barrack Generals were shocked listening to his words, while some were excited by the news. Liu Quanzhong and Tu Chunyun, who couldn’t speak anymore, began to grow pale as they listened to Huangfu Qianqi’s words. Their bodies were trembling as well…
“Blast it. It should have been like this from the start. We have been treating those Shatu people like our grandfathers under Ye Tiancheng’s control during these few years. The Shatu people are nothing but wicked, brutal, and unreasonable, yet Ye Tiancheng cared about none of that. He plays dumb and allows them to have their way all the time. If we treat the Shatu people a little bit harshly, he will jump out and use the Writ of Grace to suppress us. He treats Shatu people like his father, itching for us soldiers to kneel to them. Our brothers have voiced their complaints since the beginning and couldn’t understand why the Shatu people were allowed to do as they please. It turns out that Ye Tiancheng is indeed in collusion with them. Lord Sun has caught him well…” One of the Barrack Generals slammed the table and cursed aloud.
“Sir, we as brothers will unquestionably heed to your commands on whatever you do…” The other Barrack Generals began to express their loyalty as well. Usually, they wouldn’t dare to say such things like this, but since the Patrol Inspector had already caught Ye Tiancheng, then they had nothing else to fear. Basically, they would heed to the Patrol Inspector and the Military Governor’s commands from now on.
“Lord Sun already has plans for that…” Huangfu Qianqi then turned toward the screen behind him and said, “Guard Yan, please come out…”
Yan Liqiang had been inside White Tiger Hall this entire time. However, since he wasn’t a militant of Pingxi City, he had to hide behind the screen under Huangfu Qianqi’s request, allowing him to witness the moment where Huangfu Qianqi was able to successfully detain both Liu Quanzhong and Tu Chunyun.
The Barrack Generals inside White Tiger Hall were more or less shocked when they saw Yan Liqiang walking out from the screen behind Huangfu Qianqi. Even so, some of them already knew who Yan Liqiang really was.
“Greetings, everyone!” Yan Liqiang smiled and cupped his fists in respect to everyone present at White Tiger Hall as soon as he stepped out from the screen. His friendly smile had given most of them a favorable impression of himself in an instant.
“Let me introduce you all to someone. This is Guard Yan, Sun Bingchen’s attendant and bodyguard. Guard Yan came to the Military Governor’s Office this time under the orders of Lord Sun to apprehend Liu Quanzhong and Tu Chunyun!” After giving a simple introduction about Yan Liqiang, Huangfu Qianqi politely inquired, “Is Guard Yan going to take away both Liu Quanzhong and Tu Chunyun now?”
“Since both of them are caught, I will have to trouble the Military Governor and the other Barrack Generals to handle the rest of the matters. I will take them away and report to Lord Sun now!” Yan Liqiang said with a sense of discretion.
“Good!” Huangfu Qianqi nodded his head. He then turned toward the soldiers inside White Tiger Hall and called out, “Xiang Zhong!”
“Your subordinate is present!” A stumpy but strong commander at the door stepped forward and cupped his fists at Huangfu Qianqi after directing soldiers to round up both Liu Quanzhong and Tu Chunyun.
“Take your own troops and send these two back to the Chu Manor with Guard Yan. Once there, keep an eye on them and listen to Patrol Inspector’s every command. If you encounter mobs coming in to attack the Chu Manor, kill them all without mercy, regardless of who they are!”
The commander named Xiang Zhong lifted up his head to look at Huangfu Qianqi and replied with a brilliant shine in his eyes, “Understood!”
……
Beside the Military Governor’s Office was a campsite populated by the soldiers of two barracks. Xiang Zhong’s subordinates were inside that very campsite.
In just ten minutes, Xiang Zhong managed to lead his own battalion as he escorted Yan Liqiang and the captured Liu Quanzhong and Tu Chunyun back to the Chu Manor.
According to the military system of the Great Han Empire, the battalion described in this context consisted of six companies with a hundred people in each unit. Therefore, one battalion would have six hundred people in it. The highest-ranked official of the battalion would be the Battalion General, and their military rank would be the lowest one amongst the commandants. The commandant of these battalions was none other than Xiang Zhong, Huangfu Qianqi’s trusted subordinate.
The battalion led by Xiang Zhong were not ordinary foot soldiers but Huangfu Qianqi’s elite soldiers. They were already heavily armed once they left the barracks, exuding an air of murderous intent.
Yan Liqiang was among the six hundred convoys who were tasked to escort the two prisoners who were currently like a fish in a barrel. He then returned to the Chu Manor without much effort.
During this journey, Yan Liqiang couldn’t help think that this success was too easy to achieve.
The movement of six hundred people walking together on the streets was considered loud, especially during the night. The orderly yet harsh footsteps completely shattered the silence lingering on the streets.
When Yan Liqiang left the Military Governor’s Office, Huangfu Qianqi also led his own army while mounting on a rhinodrake as he rushed out from the same place. The other Barrack Generals, on the other hand, hurriedly returned to their respective barracks.
Theoretically speaking, the current atmosphere in Pingxi City was already quite tense. But because it was too tense during the past few days, the problems caused by King Cobra and the son of the Prefectural Governor were considered severe. By night time, the law enforcers and soldiers were everywhere on the streets in the city. Because of that, everyone disapproved of the soldiers in the streets and the movements inside the Military Governor’s Office. Some were already numb to the entire situation. Most of them didn’t expect that Pingxi City was already quietly undergoing a huge change under their noses.
……
Yan Liqiang returned to the Chu Manor without any problems. However, when he entered the manor, he discovered that there were a bunch of Wanderers inside.
When he saw Sun Bingchen inside the main hall of the manor, there were two men in the Wanderer attire standing in the middle and an officer from Pingxi City who was currently kneeling on the floor as he kept knocking his head on the ground for Sun Bingchen. He was tied up all the while bowing to the ground, causing his forehead to bleed. This officer was stained in his own mucus and tears as he begged, “My lord… I was told to do all these things by Ye Tiancheng. I couldn’t defy his orders… I ask that you examine this matter… Whatever you want to ask… I will confess to it all…”
Yan Liqiang recognized the officer tied on the ground. He was a judge of the Law Enforcement Office in Pingxi City…
Sun Bingchen only took his attention away from the item akin to a written complaint on his hands when he noticed that Yan Liqiang had come back to make his report. He smiled at Yan Liqiang and said, “Thank you for your hard work, Liqiang. Step down and have a rest!”
In Sun Bingchen’s opinion, there was indeed nothing else he needed Yan Liqiang to do after that…
