Chapter 448 Sir Zhang, it’s late at night, why don’t you go back to your room and sleep!
late at night.

In Jizhou city, a large number of soldiers suddenly appeared outside Luo’s mansion and surrounded the mansion.

dong dong dong~~
The sound of violent banging on the door echoed throughout the night.

"Who!" The servant inside was awakened by the sound of knocking on the door and asked impatiently.

"Open the door!"

With a creak, the door opened a crack, and before the servants inside could see the situation outside clearly, the soldiers rushed in.

"The government is investigating a case! A thief has sneaked into the city and is causing chaos. I am under the order of the magistrate to search for the thief!"

"Someone, search!"

A middle-aged man wearing a green official robe took the lead and rushed into the Luo family, and then the whole Luo family was in chaos.

"Who are you?"

Luo Jiangqiu walked out of the bedroom with his clothes on, looked at a group of ferocious-looking soldiers, and asked angrily.

"The government is investigating a case! You must be Luo Jiangqiu!" asked the middle-aged official.

"The government office is handling the case? Which government office are you from?" Luo Jiangqiu asked loudly.

The middle-aged official sneered, "Jizhou Guard Office! I am Li Guangyao, the deputy commander of Jizhou Guard!"

Luo Jiangqiu was completely stunned!
The soldiers of Jizhou Guard came to catch the thieves!

Who arranged this?
The Jizhou Guard was responsible for the defense of Jizhou City and the patrol of the Jizhou Canal, but was not responsible for catching thieves in the city.

Catching thieves is the job of the prefect's office. Unless there is a big trouble, the prefect's office usually won't ask soldiers from the garrison to get involved in such matters.

Because this would make the officials in the prefectural yamen appear incompetent.

"You!" Luo Jiangqiu wanted to say something, but Li Guangyao slapped him in the face. "Shut up, old man! You have no right to question me!"

"Take them all!"

……

Early in the morning, on the streets of Jizhou City.

A large number of yamen runners from the prefectural government went out into the streets in groups. When they saw any shop with the Luo family sign hanging on it, they broke into the shop, arrested people and sealed up the shop.

"The government is arresting thieves, and all idlers should stay away!"

Bang bang bang~~
"Open the door! If you don't open it, it will be broken!"

"Damn it! How dare you resist? Kill me!"

For a moment, all kinds of noisy sounds rang out, completely awakening the sleeping city.

Inside Zhizhou Yamen.

Zhang Mo, the governor of Jizhou, was awakened by the noisy noise.

"What happened!" Zhang Mo put on his clothes, walked out of the bedroom, and asked his staff outside the door.

"Boss, something big happened in the city!" the aide said anxiously.

"What's the big deal?" Zhang Mo asked with a frown.

Although the population of Jizhou City was complex and there were often thieves causing chaos, the chaos caused by some scoundrels was not a big deal.

Neither the runners of the prefectural office nor the soldiers of Jizhou Guard were there to do nothing, not to mention that Jizhou was also guarded by the Hengdao Gate.

There are really not many people who can cause big trouble in Jizhou City.

"For some reason, the constables in the government office and the soldiers of Jizhou Guard are hunting down bandits in the city!" said the aide.

Zhang Mo looked at him in astonishment, "A constable in the government office?"

"That's right, Captain Han didn't just go crazy and took away all the detectives!"

There are many kinds of runners in government offices, including strong militiamen who are responsible for guarding city gates, government offices, prisons, patrolling outside the city, etc.

There are guards on duty who are responsible for following the chief officer around as guard and obeying the orders of the chief officer. For example, the officers who shout "mighty" when the yamen is in session are the guards on duty.

There are fast detectives in the police squad, also known as detectives, who are responsible for catching criminals, searching for evidence, etc.

There were also people like night watchmen, grooms, cooks, and clerks who did odd jobs in the yamen who were also servants.

The most powerful among them is the constable. After all, the constable is responsible for catching thieves and often has to deal with some martial artists. Without some strength, he can't do this.

But here comes the problem!
The detectives in the government office were hunting down thieves in the city, but he, the prefect, was totally unaware of it!
Who gave the order to the constable?
Other Tongzhi and Tongpan?

impossible!
Things like this should at least be told to him.

And what about the soldiers from Jizhou Guard?

Zhang Mo's face turned extremely gloomy.

"Go, call back all the detectives for me. What are they going to do?" Zhang Mo said angrily.

The staff member next to him was about to agree, but at this moment, a voice suddenly came from above.

"Master Zhang, it's late at night, why don't you go back to your room and sleep!"

"who?"

Everyone in the yard was startled by the sudden sound.

"Ji Hai from Hengdao Sect!"

The night wind blew by, and a figure appeared on the big tree in the yard. Under the cold moonlight, a face with mixed light and darkness appeared in everyone's eyes.

"Hengdao Sect!" Zhang Mo narrowed his eyes slightly.

Yes!

In the entire Jizhou city, apart from the Hengdao Gate, who else could cause such a big commotion?

Few disciples of the Hengdao Sect become officials, and even if they do, they are mostly small officials.

However, the Hengdao Sect is deeply rooted in Jizhou and has close ties with many officials in Jizhou.

Take the constables in the prefectural yamen for example, half of them came from the Hengdao Sect.

It can be said that it is more convenient and faster for the Hengdao Sect to mobilize the constables than for him as the prefect.

"What are you going to do?" Zhang Mo asked.

"My master has ordered that Jizhou cannot accommodate the Luo family!" Ji Hai said.

Zhang Mo frowned, "Luo family!"

He didn't know why the Hengdao Sect wanted to target the Luo family, but the Luo family was just a wealthy family, so he didn't care too much.

"Just because of the Luo family?"

"It's just because of the Luo family!" Ji Hai said affirmatively.

"After daybreak, I don't want any more trouble in the city!"

It was impossible for him to go against the Hengdao Sect for the Luo family. It was meaningless and unnecessary.

"Don't worry, Master Zhang. My Hengdao Sect will have a foothold in Jizhou in the future and will definitely not cause any chaos in Jizhou!"

Zhang Mo nodded, "Tomorrow the official will visit Senior Ji, so let's call on him tonight!"

"Thank you, Master Zhang!"

Ji Hai clasped his fists and bowed.

Zhang Mo winked at his staff, who immediately ordered the servants and guards around to retreat.

Ji Hai nodded to Zhang Mo, and with a whoosh, he disappeared into the treetops.

The night was still as quiet as before, and the candle in the bedroom was blown out, as if nothing had happened.

...At the same time, the Lu family of Guang'an Prefecture.

The Lu family was the largest salt merchant in Guang'an Prefecture, but now the Lu family's glory is gone.

When Zheng Xiao impeached the Liaodong Salt Transport Bureau, many salt merchants in Liaodong were implicated, including the Lu family. However, the Lu family was lucky enough that their property was not confiscated, but they were only fined more than 100,000 taels of silver.

Afterwards, Zheng Xiao took charge of the Liaodong Salt Transport Bureau, and Tenglongwei intervened in the salt trade. Although the Lu family could still engage in salt trade, their income was greatly reduced.

More than six years have passed since then, and the Lu family has still not recovered to its previous prosperity. On the contrary, due to severe losses in the salt business, the Lu family is showing signs of decline.

Under the clear night, ghostly figures quietly entered the Lu family.

In the spacious mansion, these figures searched every house silently.

"who!"

Suddenly someone screamed.

But the next moment a sharp white edge pierced into the man's throat.

With a thud, the body fell to the ground.

The two masked men in black took a look at the body, without any communication, and continued searching the room.

As time passed, slight noises could be heard from the house from time to time, but they were soon suppressed.

About half an hour later, the clear sound of birds singing was heard, and a series of masked figures in black left. The originally quiet Lu family mansion was filled with a faint smell of blood.

In the bedroom of the main courtyard, Lu Yan, the head of the Lu family, got up from the bed tremblingly and looked at the darkness outside the window with horror on his face.

"Master!" His concubine called out tremblingly.

"Lie down and don't make any noise!" Lu Yan said in a low voice.

The concubine was also a smart person. Upon hearing this, she quickly covered her mouth and dared not make any sound.

Lu Yan got off the bed, groped his way to the side of the bed, and looked at the bricks and stones that had been dug out from under the bed. His face turned pale.

"It's over, the account book is lost!"

He didn't know who took the account book, and he didn't want to know.

He was awakened by the noise outside just now, but when he was about to get up to check the situation, he found several dark figures standing in his bedroom.

Those figures stood in front of him, staring at him with dark eyes, without saying a word, like evil spirits.

He lay down again, trembling, then closed his eyes and pretended to sleep while trembling.

The men ignored him and just searched the room.

He heard some noise under the bed, but he didn't dare to open his eyes or look up.

It was not until the noise completely disappeared that he slightly opened his eyes and looked outside. After making sure that there was no one there, he dared to get up.

Thinking of those people just now, he shuddered all over.

Those people sneaked into Lu's house secretly, but they had no intention of concealing it. They knew he was awake but didn't care about him.

This~~
Lu Yan's heart was beating rapidly and his mind was like a mess.

What exactly is going on?

Whose people are these?
Why take the account books?
……

Zhen family of Dongyang Prefecture.

When the night was quiet, a group of black-clothed and masked figures sneaked into the Zhen family's house.

However, this group of people acted more secretly and carefully.

Because this is Dongyang Prefecture City, and Dongyang Prefecture City is the capital of Pingyuan Province.

There are many government offices in the city, as well as many martial arts masters and officials.

Although these people acted more cautiously, something unexpected happened not long after they entered the Zhen family.

"Be careful, there's an expert here!"

An alarm sounded, and the originally quiet night suddenly became noisy.

All the servants and guards of the Zhen family were awakened, and candles were lit.

"Thieves have entered the house, catch them!"

The calls completely broke the tranquility of the night.

In the main courtyard of the Zhen family, two masked men in black had blood on their chests, and standing opposite them was a slightly thinner figure.

"Who are you?"

"go!"

"Want to leave! Where are you going!" The thin man stopped the two men in black without saying a word.

But before he could attack again, a strong wind suddenly hit him.

The sharp sound of breaking through the air carried a cold chill that pierced his heart, causing him to tremble and retreat several steps.

"You go!" Luo Jinsong glanced at the two injured brothers and said in a deep voice.

That’s right, these black-clad and masked men in front of them are the soldiers of the Royal Guard Battalion. Among them are the guards of the Yang family, but the soldiers of the Royal Guard Battalion make up the majority.

The two soldiers didn't say much. They bowed slightly to Luo Jinsong, then supported each other and jumped onto the roof.

At this time, the entire Zhen family was in chaos, and many soldiers who had sneaked in were discovered by the Zhen family's guards and servants.

"Who are you? Why did you come to the Zhen family?" The thin man stared at Luo Jinsong.

Luo Jinsong was wearing black clothes and a mask, revealing only a pair of indifferent eyes.

With a wave of his sleeves, the three-foot-long goose-feather knife came out of its sheath.

The blade slashed diagonally, a figure flashed, and only the sound of weapons clashing could be heard.

The figures of the two were almost at their limit, and the snow-white edges were densely streaking across the dim night.

However, the fight between the two did not last long. After a clear sound of bird singing was heard, Luo Jinsong forced the thin man away with a knife, and then jumped onto the roof like a night owl, disappearing into the dim night in the blink of an eye.

The thinner man did not chase after him, but just looked at the direction where Luo Jinsong disappeared with a frown.

"Master Yan, who was that person just now?"

At this time, an old figure walked out from the main room at the back, trembling, and asked.

This old man was Zhen Shicheng, the head of the Dongyang Zhen family, and the Lord Yan he was talking about was named Yan Huichun.

"I don't know!" Yan Huichun said coldly.

Zhen Shicheng asked nervously, "Why did they come to our Zhen family, and who sent them?"

"I don't know!" Yan Huichun turned his head and looked at him.

I told you I don’t know anymore, can’t you hear me?
Zhen Shicheng was frightened by his gaze and dared not ask any more questions. He could only stand there obediently.

Yan Huichun frowned and thought for a while, "I will report this matter to the master, you don't have to worry about it!"

After saying that, he walked out of the yard.

"Wait, Lord Yan!" Zhen Shicheng was a little scared. He wanted Yan Huichun to stay and protect him.

Mudd!

Can you not be afraid?

A group of people of unknown origin almost reached his bed. If Yan Huichun had not happened to be here with him tonight, he would probably have lost his life.

Unfortunately, Yan Huichun ignored him and disappeared into the dim courtyard in the blink of an eye.

(End of this chapter)