Chapter 153

The twelfth year of Emperor Jia Zhao, the third day of the tenth month, the moon is north, the south sits on three evils, the day of the ambush.

Zou Mansion in Yongning Fang, Jin Ling, is decorated with lights and colorful, full of guests, and endless.

Today is the fortieth birthday of Zou Huaiyi, the battalion commander of the Water Supervision Department of the Jin Ling garrison.

Many prominent figures in the Jin Ling officialdom came to congratulate him in person. Even if they didn't come, they all sent birthday gifts.

Since the court established the Shipping Department in Jin Ling to communicate foreign trade, the power of the Water Supervision Department of the Jin Ling garrison has also risen.

It is responsible for patrolling various foreign-oriented waterways in Jin Ling, guarding commercial wharves, inspecting incoming and outgoing merchant ships, and clearing out Japanese pirates and water thieves, shouldering the important task of protecting Jin Ling's sea trade and commerce.

At the same time, the silver flow and keys of various links of foreign trade are under its control due to its power and responsibilities, which is self-evident.

Seven or eight out of ten people in the Jin Ling officialdom are involved in the business of sea trade. Therefore, everyone will borrow the connections of the Water Supervision Department.

As the chief official of the Water Supervision Department, Zou Huaiyi's popularity in the Jin Ling officialdom can be imagined.

The maids and servants in the Zou Mansion came out one after another, serving dishes and wine. Before long, the birthday banquet was full of cups and cups, and the atmosphere became intense and joyful.

The main hall and front hall of the Zou Mansion were full of birthday tables, and eight or nine out of ten people who came to congratulate were there. Familiar colleagues and old friends greeted each other, chatted and laughed, and the popularity was noisy.

Cui Boliang replied: "The guests are all here, only Ying Tian Prefect Jia Yuancun is missing, and even the birthday gift hasn't arrived. I personally sent the birthday invitation when I sent the pair of mutton-fat jade ruyi to him that day."

He asked Cui Boliang, who was acting as a guest host beside him: "Are the guests all here?"

Zou Huaiyi frowned. He didn't care about Jia Yuancun's birthday gift.

Behind him, a large number of soldiers quickly poured in, but they were not dressed as Jin Ling garrison soldiers, and everyone held a fire gun six or seven feet long.

Zou Huaiyi shuttled through the birthday tables, dealing with superiors and colleagues. Today he wore a new birthday robe, and tied a jade-plate leather belt of double blessings and double wealth around his waist, which was a birthday gift from his daughter.

The new couplet hanging on the pillars on both sides of the main hall: "Glory and nobility are full of joy, blessings and longevity are full of spring." The luxury and noise of the Zou Mansion were set off vividly.

Just at this time, a loud noise suddenly came from outside the door, as if the door had been forcibly broken open, accompanied by a few exclamations, and soon submerged.

Zou Huaiyi felt a bit uneasy in his heart, but he couldn't say why for a while. At this time, an old friend came up to greet him, so he put it down for the time being and let Cui Boliang go to order the banquet to start.

It's just that since the invitation was sent, the social interaction in the officialdom, if the person didn't come, no matter whether it was thin or thick, he should follow a gift. Jia Yuancun is also an old glutton in the officialdom, and he can't even take care of this social interaction?

The side hall was full of birthday gifts like a mountain. In addition to ordinary gold and jade, because Jin Ling is a sea trade port, there were many foreign treasures such as coral, pearls, agate, and ivory.

He celebrated his fortieth birthday. Those who had close relationships with him in the officialdom didn't need to say, and those with ordinary relationships would also follow a birthday gift to get familiar. In the future, if they had sea trade matters, they could ask for help.

The guest host of the birthday banquet was Cui Boliang, a confidant battalion commander of Zou Huaiyi, who was busy entertaining guests.

There were ten battalion commanders under the Water Supervision Department camp. Except for three who were on duty at the camp, the other seven were all present. These people were basically the capable generals promoted by Zou Huaiyi.

Only to see a youth walking out from behind the shadow wall at the outer door, handsome in appearance, with an extraordinary demeanor, wearing a moon-white robe, with a curved knife hanging from his waist, and walking slowly into the front hall.

Many people stood up in surprise, looking at the outside of the hall in unison.

Even Zou Huaiyi's immediate superior, Jin Ling Regional Military Commissioner Du Hengxin, although he claimed to be ill for the past two days, still asked the Guard Commander Zhang Kangyan to bring a gift, which was considered to give enough face.

These people arranged themselves in three rows behind the youth very skillfully, their movements were neat and swift, and at a glance, they knew they had undergone strict training. After the formation was completed, a fierce murderous aura emerged.

Many guests present were military officers of the Jin Ling garrison, but since they came to congratulate, they naturally would not carry swords or weapons, so as not to rush the master's birthday joy.

But Zou Huaiyi's mansion naturally had some house guards who knew martial arts.

Cui Boliang looked surprised and said in Zou Huaiyi's ear: "Master, the attire of these fire gunners is Prince Ning's personal guards!"

Zou Huaiyi's face changed drastically when he heard this, and he hurriedly steadied his mind and asked: "Who are you? Bringing soldiers to break into an official mansion, what is the crime!"

At this time, servants had already passed the news to the backyard, and more than a dozen guards holding weapons rushed out from the corridors on both sides, with bright swords and guns, protecting Zou Huaiyi together.

Many guests participating in the birthday banquet today were military officers of the Jin Ling garrison, but since they came to congratulate, they naturally would not carry swords or weapons.

But Zou Huaiyi's mansion naturally had some house guards who knew martial arts.

"I am Jia Cong, Advisor to Prince Ning's temporary residence in Jin Ling!"

"It's you!" Zou Huaiyi's eyes flashed. Obviously, he knew about this person, Jia Cong.

"You brought soldiers here today, what do you want to do!"

"Zou Huaiyi, you recruited and raised Eastern Japanese ronin, killed people and robbed goods on the high seas, and committed dozens of major cases. Now the matter has been exposed!

The Eastern Japanese ronin under your command caused trouble in Longtan Port, killed government soldiers, slaughtered civilians, and caused a great disaster.

In order to cover up these Eastern Japanese ronin, you instructed them to kill 61 yamen runners and prisoners of Ying Tian Prefecture, and mixed into the Great Mercy Temple construction site to hide.

Every one of these evil deeds is unforgivable. Today I am here to arrest you under the order of Prince Ning. Surrender immediately!"

Jia Cong's words made many people present shocked. This Jia Cong actually said that Zou Huaiyi was the culprit of the Longtan Port case in Jin Ling, and also listed his various crimes. What is going on!

But there were also some people who stared at Jia Cong with gloomy eyes and looked at Zou Huaiyi's reaction from time to time.

Jia Cong's words made Zou Huaiyi's face gloomy. He naturally knew what he had done. He thought he had been cautious and had no flaws, but he didn't know why it was exposed.

It's just that he had done such a big thing, his heart was ruthless, not like ordinary people, so he wouldn't surrender easily.

"You are a yellow-mouthed child who hasn't grown up. Just by your empty words, without evidence, you want to arrest a Grade 4 military officer of the court. Do you think the national law is a play!"

"Without evidence? A few days ago, His Highness's personal guards encircled and suppressed a group of Eastern Japanese ronin in Qixia Mountain and captured five alive, one of whom is named Huang You'an. Is Battalion Commander Zou unfamiliar with this name!"

Jia Cong saw that Zou Huaiyi's face changed drastically when he heard the name Huang You'an, and he knew that Huang You'an and those ronin were indeed this person's fatal weakness. Otherwise, he wouldn't have this expression.

At this time, an official at the banquet stood up and said: "Advisor Jia, I am Zhang Kangyan, the Guard Commander of the Jin Ling garrison. Even if Battalion Commander Zou has some guilt.

To arrest a Grade 4 high-ranking military officer, you also need the order of the Five Armies Metropolitan Command. Does Advisor Jia have it?"

Jia Cong smiled coldly, took out an imperial edict from his arms, held it in his hand, and said: "This is the imperial edict issued by the Emperor to Prince Ning, ordering him to handle the Longtan Port case in Jin Ling with full authority.

During the investigation, various government offices and garrisons are under his control, and he is granted the power of emergency decision-making. Now that the evidence is complete, is it impossible to arrest him, Zou Huaiyi?"

"Does the Commander suspect that Prince Ning faked the imperial edict, and wants to see the content of the imperial edict, or does he want to incite Zou Huaiyi to rebel against the edict!"

Zhang Kangyan's face changed when he heard this. This kid has such a sharp mouth.

If he really took the imperial edict to check, it would be equivalent to confirming that he suspected Prince Ning, and he would be suspected of hiding from the court and Prince Ning. With so many Jin Ling officials here, the consequences would be endless.

Zhang Kangyan's face was embarrassed, but he had to lower his head: "His Highness Prince Ning is a noble of the sky, naturally there is no fear of faking the edict. The subordinate spoke wrongly."

Although Jia Cong knew that his side had made full preparations and was not afraid of Zou Huaiyi jumping over the wall, he didn't want to take down Zou Huaiyi only by shedding blood.

This Zhang Kangyan saw that he was young and thought he was easy to fool, so he found some words to hold him down and delay the situation, so that he couldn't easily take down Zou Huaiyi.

But now the two sides are already at daggers drawn, and delay will lead to changes, so he said such words to block Zhang Kangyan's mouth. It's just that I don't know if this Zhang Kangyan is also involved.