Chapter 280: Three Sticks Shatter Brotherhood, All Testimony Names Brothers

"You continue?" the Armed Forces Department Head looked at Lu Yang.

"Then I argued with him. I said that in a civilized society, insulting people is wrong. He was unreasonable; even though he knew I was a soldier, he still drew a knife and stabbed me."

"He still dared to brandish a knife against an active-duty soldier; you guys are literally courting death!"

Lu Yang, fearing his leg wound would heal too quickly, deliberately pinched it during the demonstration.

He also pointed at Ding Tengfei, who was still playing dead, at the knife wound on his arm, and at the weapon on the ground.

He said that those weapons must bear their fingerprints; both eyewitness and physical evidence are present, and these thugs couldn't make sense of it even with a hundred mouths.

Because everyone on the scene saw with their own eyes that he swung the knife at Lu Yang, and they saw the person draw a knife, rush forward, and act.

The burly man, startled and fearful, turned his head and looked at the aggrieved Lu Yang, as if staring at a devil.

Filthy, damn filthy, not even human, even more beastly than me!

The other few underlings gradually realized the seriousness, turned to run, but were instantly held down by police, soldiers, and enthusiastic civilians.

Lu Yang said with anguish, "I truly didn't expect that after just earning a merit in the troops, taking a home‑visit leave, I'd encounter something like this?"

"The old wound hasn't healed, and a new one is added; for us, a famed cultural‑tourism city, how could public security be this bad?"

"In broad daylight, under a clear sky, they dare to draw knives at active soldiers; where does that leave the safety of ordinary civilians?"

At those words, the two civilian police felt an instant chill on their scalp, as a cold wave rose from the ground.

"Damn, this one's aimed at us!"

"Well said, well said!"

"We soldiers are just different!"

"Comrades in the army, good example, rooting out evil, defending the people; these bastards should be dragged to the square and executed!"

The onlookers all clapped delightedly, shouting praises.

What it means for the people's army to serve the people—this is the trust the populace can rely on.

Lu Yang tightly grasped the Armed Forces Department Head's hand: "Chief, we don't want to trouble the troops, nor did we intend to alarm you. I have only one request: don't let us quiet, hardworking little soldiers in the forces bleed and weep!"

The Armed Forces Department Head placed his other hand on Lu Yang's back of the hand, shaking it vigorously: "Rest assured, this matter the troops will see through to the end, and must see through to the end!"

He turned his head, scanning the thugs, his voice and tone fierce, saying: "Violent debt collection, inciting trouble, threatening civilians; verbal insults to soldiers, public attacks on active officers, second‑class meritorious heroes, get ready to sit until the prison floor wears through!"

"Liu Dazhuang, previously sentenced to three years and six months for intentional injury, released in 2003;... I can't believe he's still an online fugitive, charged with theft, how did he even run to the neighboring city to steal batteries?"

"I wondered why he looked familiar; turns out he's a repeat offender, also an online fugitive."

"But this guy's mouth is too hard; he refuses to admit the crimes, even flips the blame, claiming others framed him? Apart from stealing batteries, he denies everything else."

"Heh, this old slick knows the consequences of multiple crimes combined, loves to exploit legal loopholes."

"Then what to do? Should we contact the Criminal Investigation Brigade and have them send someone to help?"

"No need, if he can exploit loopholes, why can't we?"

The senior officer waved his hand, then walked into the interrogation room for a glance.

The burly man shackled to the iron stool rolled his eyes with a scornful expression, clearly overly familiar with this procedure.

As long as he bites the bullet and refuses to confess, at most it's a theft charge plus inciting trouble, which won't keep him long; if he behaves well inside, he can even be released early.

The senior officer sneered and left, then on the corridor deliberately said to the young officer: "It's getting late, time for lunch; after eating, we'll resume the interrogation."

"Alas, truly at a loss, didn't expect this guy's mouth to be so hard, what should we do?"

The young officer glanced at Lu Yang standing in the corridor, as well as several other accompanying Armed Forces officers, instantly understanding the squad leader's hint.

He patted his head, speaking in an overly dramatic, exaggerated manner, lamenting:

"Indeed, we have no clue at all; clearly he's an online fugitive with a criminal record, yet now we can't even charge him."

"To eliminate evil for the people, to pacify, to serve the people—why is it so hard?"

"Suan Niao, Suan Niao, let's go eat first; maybe after a full stomach the suspect will see sense and confess."

The two left in this back‑and‑forth, calling away a few colleagues from nearby offices.

The corridor, previously bustling with people walking back and forth, fell silent instantly.

Only Lu Yang, the Armed Forces Department Head, and two other soldiers remained.

Everyone exchanged glances, then looked at the door, sharing a knowing smile.

Twenty minutes later, Lu Yang and the others, like NPCs, still stood in the corridor watching the scenery.

The Armed Forces Department Head and his two subordinates smoked, faces showing lingering satisfaction.

The senior officer came up: "Sorry, sorry, we forgot you earlier; hurry and have lunch, it's been a hassle for you to run this round."

Lu Yang and the others said nothing more, turned and went to the Cafeteria.

The senior officer, with the young officer, pushed the door and entered the interrogation room.

Just inside, the iron stool and handcuffs rattled violently.

The burly man looked unchanged from before, but his emotions were especially intense, almost crying and shouting his confession.

"I confess, I confess everything, I beg you to sentence me quickly, please!"

"Our boss is Zhao Xiong, outwardly dealing in plumbing equipment, but secretly, together with several other bosses, runs usurious lending!"

"He often under the pretense of introducing business opportunities lures wealthy local bosses to the table; Ding Yongxin fell for it that way!"

"Zhao Xiong also knows the boss of the recently scandal‑hit Yuanbao Liquor; the exact relationship is unclear, but there must be profit transfer. Last New Year I delivered money and brought back two cases of premium baijiu..."

No need to ask, this guy, to protect himself and lessen his penalty, sold his old employer clean.

When Lu Yang learned the guy confessed everything, he couldn't help recalling the two characters "Loyalty and Righteousness" on the burly man's neck.

What truly is the jianghu, what truly is brotherly loyalty?

Truly, three sticks shattered brotherhood, and the testimony is all brother names!