Chapter 155: Life and Death Are as Grass

Although Zhang Kangnian realized he had spoken carelessly, his words stirred greedy thoughts in Cui Cui Boliang and others; the several Company Commanders present to celebrate the birthday had all been promoted by Zou Zou Huaiyi.

These men had long been in league with Zou Zou Huaiyi; otherwise, Zou Zou Huaiyi alone could never have accomplished such major deeds.

They routinely turned a blind eye to critical duties like patrolling waterways and inspecting merchant ships, allowing ronin to disguise themselves as members of the Uraga clan and move freely in and out of Jin Ling's port to sell stolen goods and amass wealth.

If Zou Zou Huaiyi fell, none of these Company Commanders would escape a bad end—they were all grasshoppers tied to the same string as Zou Zou Huaiyi.

Cui Cui Boliang shouted: "Battalion Commander, the Emperor's edict grants Prince Ning the authority to make decisions as circumstances demand, but it does not permit the arbitrary arrest of fourth-rank officials."

It is this Jia Cong who falsely interprets the imperial will and forcibly frames you for crimes; this villain disrespects state law and frames loyal subjects—everyone has the right to execute him!"

Jia Cong saw him turn the tables, yet speak with such convincing logic; this man should have taken the civil service exams instead of joining the military.

Zou Zou Huaiyi's expression flickered—he was not moved by Cui Cui Boliang's words, but knew that if convicted and imprisoned, he had no chance of survival.

Even his wife and children would be seized and sent to the Entertainment Bureau, becoming others' playthings.

He had not expected this half-grown boy to draw his curved sword with lightning speed, effortlessly parrying his strike—he was clearly a martial expert.

With the hidden assets he had amassed, he could still live a life of wealth and comfort elsewhere.

Jia Cong's face was icy as he watched Cui Cui Boliang's face twist with malice, charging forward without restraint to slash at him—not to arrest him, but to kill him.

They each seized weapons from their retainers, ready to join Cui Cui Boliang in a fight.

Cui Cui Boliang saw Jia Cong as merely a half-grown boy, refined and delicate, seemingly powerless—though he wore a curved sword at his waist, what good was a mere decoration?

If he cut down Jia Cong in one stroke, his gunners, leaderless, would dare not move an inch.

He had cultivated his influence in the Water Surveillance Office for years, commanding many loyal men who knew the waterways well and controlled dozens of large vessels under the office's command.

This was something he could never accept; his only option now was to survive this crisis.

Cui Cui Boliang, upon hearing this, rejoiced, snatched a long knife from a retainer, and bared a ferocious expression.

Once he killed Jia Cong and intimidated the crowd, everyone could retreat calmly with the Battalion Commander, then plan their next move.

Having made his decision, he barked at his men: "This brat, still smelling of milk, dares to frame a court official without evidence—seize him! I will explain myself to Prince Ning!"

The other Water Surveillance Office Company Commanders, who had thought themselves doomed, now felt half their hope return at Zou Zou Huaiyi's words; their thoughts mirrored Cui Cui Boliang's exactly.

Cui Cui Boliang possessed some martial skill, agile and swift; his slash came with such speed he believed he would end Jia Cong instantly.

If he could kill or drive off Jia Cong's group and slip away in the chaos, he might yet find a way out.

With just half a day, he could absolutely flee Jin Ling with his wife and daughter.

We can escort the Battalion Commander back to the Water Surveillance Office camp; once inside the thousand-man stronghold, who in all of Jin Ling could easily touch us? We would then have many escape routes.

Muskets fire slowly; despite the boy bringing so many gunners, once they fire once, in close combat those muskets are nothing but firesticks.

Besides, this boy is still a child, only swaggering here under the title of Prince Ning's advisor—I refuse to believe he truly dares to shoot and kill.

We have seven trusted Company Commanders here, plus dozens of long-term retainers and guards, all skilled fighters—our numbers match Jia Cong's gunners exactly.

But after blocking the slash, the boy did not press the attack; instead, he swiftly retreated into the musket line behind him.

Then Cui Cui Boliang heard the last words he would ever hear.

"Fire!" The boy's voice was clear and bright, almost pleasant, yet utterly decisive, carrying a bone-chilling chill—and even a trace of regret—that sent shivers down the spine.

Zou Zou Huaiyi was stunned to see that as soon as Jia Cong uttered those two words, the gunners raised their muskets and pulled the triggers without the slightest hesitation.

He did not know these gunners had once fought alongside him in the Mount Qixia Mountains against Japanese ronin, precisely under Jia Cong's repeated "fire" commands, learning to seize the optimal firing moments.

They had used their muskets to maximum effect, effortlessly slaughtering the once arrogant and ferocious ronin—a scene deeply etched into every gunner's heart.

This forged in them an unusual trust in Jia Cong, leading them to obey his orders without doubt—a silent, unspoken bond born of shared life-and-death battles, impossible to explain in words.

All the guests in the hall saw the ten front-line gunners fire nearly simultaneously; the gunshots were deafening.

Because Cui Cui Boliang had rushed forward to kill Jia Cong as quickly as possible, he was the first to be hit.

He took four bullets at once, his body torn into bloody pulp; one struck his face, shattering it entirely—he died in a horrific state.

The three other Water Surveillance Office Company Commanders directly behind him also fell, struck by bullets; at such close range, survival was impossible.

Just moments ago, Cui Cui Boliang and his men had been brazenly demanding to arrest Jia Cong; now, four of the seven Company Commanders lay dead from musket fire, freezing everyone in place.

Zou Zou Huaiyi was stunned by the scene—he had expected Cui Cui Boliang to kill Jia Cong and seize control, but never imagined the boy would dare to shoot and kill in broad daylight.

And these gunners treated him as a god; at his command, they fired without blinking.

How young was this boy? How had he achieved such absolute obedience, such fearless advance, treating human lives as mere grass?

Many guests, seeing Cui Cui Boliang's horrific corpse, vomited uncontrollably.

After firing, the ten gunners stepped back as if by habit; the second row stepped forward, muskets leveled and aimed at Zou Zou Huaiyi and his men.

If Jia Cong shouted "fire" again, they would meet the same fate as Cui Cui Boliang in an instant.

The remaining three Company Commanders and the twenty-odd guards froze, daring not to move, terrified of the muskets' next volley.

No matter how high one's martial skill or how swift one's blade, they were nothing but jokes against point-blank gunfire.

"Zou Zou Huaiyi, do you still speak such hollow words? Don't you find it ridiculous? I advise you to surrender now, stop your futile resistance, and spare your men from needless death."

"I can fire another twenty shots—unless you can throw twenty lives at me!"

"Four days ago, the confessions of Huang Huang Youliang and others were sent by express courier to the Five Armies' Command and the Emperor's own desk; by now, the Emperor must already know of all your crimes."

"You are already doomed. The imperial edict and the Five Armies' order you seek will arrive any moment—surrender now!"

Zou Zou Huaiyi's face turned ashen; Jia Cong's musket line had completely intimidated his followers—no one dared defy him.

Hearing that Huang Huang Youliang's confessions had been sent to the capital four days ago, he realized his escape routes had been cut long ago—no wonder Jia Cong had dared to come and arrest him so brazenly.

Yet he still clung to a sliver of hope—he believed someone in Jin Ling could still save him.

At that moment, thunderous footsteps began echoing outside the gate, as if countless people were gathering toward this place.

A retainer rushed in, panicked: "Master, many soldiers have arrived outside—they've surrounded the place!"

Zou Zou Huaiyi's eyes lit with hope; he hurriedly asked: "Which troops are these?"

Before he finished speaking, a flood of disciplined soldiers surged through the door—armor gleaming, weapons bright, spirits high—the leather breastplates bore the stamped characters "Two Huai Salt Transport."

Guests who knew the truth cried out in alarm: "Salt Troops of the Two Huai Salt Transport Office!"

(End of Chapter)