Chapter 156

The leader wore full armor and held a long saber, his bearing sharp and formidable—it was Zheng Yong, Commandant of the Yangzhou Salt Transport Office.

"Young Master Jia, our men took some time to hand over duties with the city gate guards upon entering, but thanks to the gold seal letter you left from Prince Ning, we still lost some time."

Jia Cong smiled: "Commandant Zheng arrived just in time—no time was wasted. The timing is perfect."

Zheng Yong waved his hand; the salt troops surged into the mansion, seizing every exit to the main hall and outer reception room, sending all guests into panic.

Zheng Yong added: "Young Master Jia, we've sealed off the Zou residence—archers are posted at every front and rear gate; not a single soul will escape!"

Jia Cong saw the faint spark of excitement in Zou Zou Huaiyi's eyes quickly fade, and sneered: "It's a disappointment to you, Commander Zou—the troops here aren't from your Water Surveillance Office."

"The Nanjing Water Surveillance Office has conspired with Japanese pirates, causing great havoc. His Majesty has granted Prince Ning discretionary authority to act as needed. Yesterday, I received the Prince's decree to mobilize two thousand Yangzhou salt troops into Nanjing to prevent unforeseen trouble!"

"Two thousand salt troops entering the city!" Zhang Kangnian gasped. According to his knowledge, the total number of troops from the Two Huai Salt Offices was barely three thousand—Prince Ning had instantly deployed two thousand into the city. Such a massive move.

Zou Zou Huaiyi's crimes had been exposed; not only had the Water Surveillance Office become the target of public outrage, but His Majesty must now suspect and guard against the entire Nanjing Garrison—otherwise, why would Prince Ning be allowed to bring in outside troops?

Guests like Zhang Kangnian were chilled to the bone. Jia Cong's tactics were ruthless—he had already arranged for the gunshot to serve as a signal, preemptively issuing this decree to all Nanjing military units, seizing moral high ground before anyone could react!

Inside the main hall, Zou Zou Huaiyi, still surrounded by his hundred-commanders and household guards, now wore a deathly pallor, utterly trapped in despair.

Commandant Zheng Yong, hearing Jia Cong say two thousand salt troops had been mobilized, felt puzzled—wasn't it only eight hundred? Why did Young Master Jia say two thousand?

Zou Zou Huaiyi had committed countless crimes by colluding with Japanese pirates; just now, his hundred-commanders fought desperately to protect him—there must be many others in the Water Surveillance Office camp who shared his corruption.

Thinking of this, Zhang Kangnian, Deputy Commander of the Nanjing Garrison, felt a chill run through him. His Majesty was always calculating and suspicious—even if Zou Zou Huaiyi was punished, the Nanjing Garrison would surely face imperial retribution afterward.

Jia Cong exaggerated the number of mobilized salt troops by double because this was a critical moment—many of those attending Zou's banquet were Nanjing Garrison officers like Zhang Kangnian.

"Yang Yang Pingshi has personally delivered Prince Ning's decree to the Nanjing Garrison Command and the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Battalion Headquarters—every subordinate unit must lock down and remain in place; any unauthorized movement will be treated as treason!"

A Prince Ning's personal guard hurried into the hall, panting, and bowed to Jia Cong:

"Assistant Secretary Jia, Secretary Yang sent me to report—he heard the gunshot from Zou's residence and, per your prior arrangement, dispatched messengers to all official offices in Nanjing to expose the Water Surveillance Office's crimes."

At that moment, urgent hoofbeats sounded outside the main gate, sending another wave of panic through the restless guests.

All those who attended Zou Zou Huaiyi's birthday banquet were military officers of the Nanjing Garrison—yet who among them were complicit remained unknown.

The Water Surveillance Office camp commanded only a thousand troops, yet the entire Nanjing Garrison oversaw over ten thousand—should this matter truly spiral out of control, with loyalties uncertain, the consequences were unimaginable.

But in this uncertain situation, it would deter those hidden in the shadows, harboring ill intent, and prevent them from acting rashly.

Yet he had risen to lead all salt troops in the Two Huai region—he was no fool. Jia Cong's words must have purpose; he would not expose the lie.

And news of his salt troops surrounding Zou's residence would spread rapidly through Nanjing anyway—better to employ deception, exaggerate the number of troops entering the city, and confuse perceptions.

He had secretly hoped that when word spread of Zou's mansion being besieged by outside troops, his years of accumulated connections and bribes might prompt someone to intervene and mediate.

But Jia Cong had already made his arrangements, preemptively sending Prince Ning's decree to every corner of Nanjing—now, even if someone wished to intervene, they dared not move, or risk being branded as traitors.

Arresting the man on the spot, displaying firearms to intimidate, bringing troops into the city, surrounding the residence, spreading word to control the situation—each step was flawlessly timed, leaving no gap.

Was it Prince Ning's masterful strategy, or this young man's flawless planning? Either way, Zou Zou Huaiyi knew—he was already doomed. Once captured and imprisoned, there would be no chance of survival.

Jia Cong said: "Zou Zou Huaiyi, your crimes are too grave for anyone to save you now. Resistance is futile. Order your men to stand down and surrender."

Beside him, Deputy Commander Zhang Kangnian suddenly spoke: "Commander Zou, if you truly committed such acts, the law is severe and escape impossible—confess while you still can!"

"You've served in the Nanjing Garrison for twenty years—you're a veteran. Myself and Commander Du will plead with our superiors, invoking our years of comradeship, and beg that your family be spared—think carefully!"

Zhang Kangnian's words were sincere and heartfelt—even Jia Cong was moved.

Zou Zou Huaiyi, hearing this, suddenly lit up with hope: "Commander Zhang, is this truly your promise?"

Zhang Kangnian replied solemnly: "The law is merciless, but His Majesty is wise. Our plea—that your family be spared—is genuine."

Zou Zou Huaiyi suddenly slumped into a bitter laugh: "One moment, guests filled the hall—the next, every escape route is cut off. I, Zou Zou Huaiyi, have fallen to this? Retribution—retribution!"

At the moon gate leading into the hall, a woman and a girl struggled to enter, held back by salt troops; the girl cried out, "Father!"

Zou Zou Huaiyi glanced back once, then turned away and barked: "Jia Cong, if you mean to arrest me, why make it so complicated!"

Jia Cong suddenly felt a terrible unease—he instinctively glanced at Zhang Kangnian, who stared calmly at Zou Zou Huaiyi.

At that moment, Zou Zou Huaiyi told the hundred-commanders and household guards surrounding him: "Stand down."

Seeing them hesitate, he roared again—only then did they reluctantly step back.

In that instant, Zou Zou Huaiyi snatched a long saber from one of the guards, stepped back two paces—he had risen to the rank of commander through merit; his skill was no mere formality.

This took everyone by surprise—they had assumed Zou Zou Huaiyi, cornered and defeated, was about to surrender after dismissing his men. Was he now going to draw his blade and attack?

Jia Cong's face darkened: "Stop him!"

But Zou Zou Huaiyi slashed the blade fiercely across his throat—blood sprayed, drenching the golden and silver-decorated birthday banquet table, then he collapsed heavily.

Everyone in the hall was stunned into horror.

The men who had guarded Zou Zou Huaiyi were immediately overpowered and disarmed by the musket troops.

Outside the moon gate, the girl broke free of the salt troops' grip and rushed into the hall, collapsing over the corpse, wailing in grief.

She lifted her head toward Jia Cong, her face streaked with tears, pitiful and beautiful—yet her eyes burned with boundless hatred, twisting her lovely features.

"It was you! You drove my father to death—I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"

Jia Cong's face turned grim—what in the world was this? Zou Zou Huaiyi was a vile criminal, deserving death—and yet now it looked as if he, Jia Cong, had murdered an innocent man…

(End of Chapter)