Chapter 175: Borrowing Lord Zhang's Head

Chen Wuji waited outside the city, and from afar saw a fire dragon quickly approaching.

He shrank into the nearby shadows, hiding himself, lest he be mistaken for an insider and cut down in one stroke.

The fire dragon, accompanied by the warhorses' neighing, quickly arrived nearby.

Nearly a hundred knights guarded a palanquin in the center, while dozens of knife-wielding men in tight gray uniforms with cold swords formed a menacing perimeter.

The troop halted, the palanquin tilted forward, and a figure stepped out from within.

Zhang Mingyuan!

Chen Wuji's eyes flashed with a sharp light, his heart strings tightened suddenly.

He hoped Chen Xingyuan had already left and had basically said what needed to be said.

Ordinary words might fool the provincial troops on the wall, but they could never deceive that old fox Zhang Mingyuan; once he got on the wall, he would surely spot the problem in Chen Xingyuan's words.

Zhang Mingyuan adjusted his clothes and, surrounded by dozens of gray-clad warriors, climbed onto the wall.

An imperial censor actually kept so many warriors.

The Zhang family truly treated Yunan as their own domain to manage, showing how terrifying their influence is.

In the court, only high-ranking generals had the right to raise private troops, but with set limits—no more than two or three hundred at most.

Yet Zhang Mingyuan is merely an imperial censor, and casually he brought out nearly two hundred private troops—just that alone constitutes rebellion.

Chen Wuji hid in the corner's shadow, anxiously waiting.

The commotion outside the city had already diminished.

But he wanted to hear something else, yet couldn't hear a thing.

The high walls and heavy city gate blocked most sound; aside from hearing a faint commotion, he couldn't make out any distinct words.

After an unknown time, the city gate suddenly burst open with a boom; in the bright torchlight, Chen Xingyuan limped in, dozens of men shouldered logs, the provincial troops guarding the inner gate dropped their wood and swarmed to surround Chen Xingyuan, amid a chaotic chorus of praise.

Chen Wuji, somewhat far away, couldn't see clearly, but it seemed Chen Xingyuan had succeeded.

Chen Wuji's heart eased slightly.

He hoped that old thing Zhang Mingyuan hadn't noticed anything.

But…

Now it seemed like a good opportunity to capture that old thing.

Because Yunan was plagued by bandits and barbarians, the provincial troops were all under the county office's dispatch; if the Imperial City Department openly arrested Zhang Mingyuan here, aside from the Zhang family's private troops, the provincial troops would not aid them.

No matter how dirty their secret work for the Zhang family and the county office, openly they would not dare rebel; openly opposing the Imperial City Department would be wielding a knife for the Zhang clan.

Chen Wuji glanced, then, keeping his body in the shadow, slowly left the area and headed straight for the county office.

Qin Zhanhong was still interrogating Wang Zhubu and others.

Chen Wuji asked an Imperial City Department investigator, and finally found Qin Zhanhong in the county office prison.

Entering the cell, he glanced at the corner where Wang Zhubu had been beaten almost beyond recognition, then leaned close to Qin Zhanhong's ear and whispered: "Don't interrogate anymore; Zhang Mingyuan has gone onto the wall—now is the last chance to seize him, quickly rally your men."

"What is he doing on the wall at this late hour?" Qin Zhanhong asked in surprise.

"You don't know?" Chen Wuji blinked.

"I… should I know?"

"Bandits are attacking the city; Zhang Mingyuan personally went up the wall, presumably to oversee and command."

Qin Zhanhong's expression instantly turned grim: "Why wasn't I told about such a major matter?"

Chen Wuji roughly guessed the reason.

Chen Xingyuan must have deliberately not notified Qin Zhanhong.

Only because the bandits outside were members of the Chen clan.

"Old Chen probably thinks your current matter is more important, so he didn't send word." Chen Wuji said, "There are provincial troops on the wall and county office assistants helping; you really don't need to go. The urgent task is to settle Zhang Mingyuan and wrap this up. After tonight passes, everything might change."

Qin Zhanhong nodded heavily: "Indeed, tonight's developments are so many I can barely keep up—how did so many things suddenly arise?"

She had a slight headache.

She felt the day she had chosen was not good.

But after glancing at Chen Wuji, she dispelled that thought.

Being able to rescue that damned man so timely, this day should be considered fated.

"Come on, act quickly!" Qin Zhanhong said decisively.

She assigned two trusted aides to guard the county office prison, gathered all the remaining personnel, and rushed toward the city gate.

Although Chen Xingyuan brought some men onto the wall, he still left most of his personnel with Qin Zhanhong to cooperate in controlling the county office.

Chen Wuji mingled with the investigator squad, his right hand gripping a freshly picked-up puke knife.

The two groups collided on that chaotic street inside the city gate.

In a dark-red uniform, Qin Zhanhong, dressed as a man, strode forward, blocking the saber-wielding, horse-mounted private troops of Zhang Mingyuan, and shouted loudly: "Imperial City Department conducting business—unrelated personnel retreat; violators will be cut!"

This voice, though carrying a somewhat feminine clear tone, was full of vigor.

The Zhang residence's private troops not only did not dodge, but quickly formed a defensive formation.

Chen Wuji went past the warhorses and the layers of figures, looking toward the middle of the troop.

Zhang Mingyuan was talking with Chen Xingyuan, their distance so close they were nearly standing shoulder to shoulder.

Hmm?

Chen Wuji saw an opportunity that required no soldiers.

But seeing it was useless.

This required Chen Xingyuan to have that courage.

He also couldn't possibly remind Chen Xingyuan from such a distance.

"Imperial City Department conducting business—are you rebelling?" Qin Zhanhong shouted sternly.

Zhang Residence's private soldiers did not budge.

Zhang Mingyuan walked over with steady, measured steps.

Zhang Residence's private soldiers opened a path, changing the formation that was laid out in a straight line into an eight-shaped formation.

"Miss Qin truly lives up to being a heroine among women; no wonder the Virtuous Consort keeps mentioning you—you are indeed a sharp knife." Zhang Mingyuan gave a light laugh, "I just don't know what crime this official has committed."

"Colluding with barbarians, smuggling salt and iron, seizing farmland, harming the loyal and good—do you, Lord Zhang, think your crimes are still minor?" Qin Zhanhong said coldly.

Zhang Mingyuan shook his head, "All nonsense; when did this official commit these many great crimes? Miss Qin, don't falsely pin charges on this official. The Imperial City Department has become utterly unreasonable lately—no wonder officials at court have repeatedly urged its abolition, calling it a useless office."

"A knife that amounts to nothing, knowing only how to abuse power, truly ought not to continue existing. Once this official returns to court, I will certainly join my colleagues to submit a memorial to His Majesty—this is utterly absurd!"

Qin Zhanhong, furious to the point of shouting, bellowed, "Zhang Mingyuan, now that the matter has come to a head, you still dare to quibble? We come by imperial decree—do you think a few nonsensical words of yours can settle everything? Hurry up and surrender!"

Zhang Mingyuan waved his hand dismissively, "Kill him, kill him!"

He was extremely arrogant, completely disregarding the Imperial City Department.

"Subordinate Chen Xingyuan, may I borrow Lord Zhang's head trophy for a moment!"

A voice suddenly rang out.