Chapter 320: Confrontation

The scene was in chaos, with all kinds of shouting.

Those two officials, Wang Qiang and Li Cheng, were Ying Rong's subordinates; they had been following the "main force" these past few days and had also gained quite a bit. Seeing that the Liangzhou Prefecture's "Anti-Corruption Law" was essentially a dead letter, the two had just sold off a batch of military supplies today, and the silver notes on them had not yet been hidden.

But now, they were caught red-handed.

As Shen Xing let out a loud shout, two members of the Dark Night Group in plain clothes appeared behind Wang Qiang and Li Cheng, and they searched the silver notes out of their pockets.

"This..."

"You..."

Ironclad evidence—who dares to deny it?

Shen Xing shouted angrily: "Corrupt officials, embezzlement, perverting the law, selling military supplies—immediately imprison them!"

Both were terrified out of their wits.

According to the "Anti-Corruption Law," they faced the punishment of extermination of their entire clan. Thus, one of them, fierce on the outside but weak within, shouted: "How dare you, how dare you... we are people of Lord Ying!"

"Lord Liu, are you not afraid of plunging Liangzhou into chaos?"

"You won't get away with this!"m.

However, no matter how they screamed, they were soon punched and kicked, escorted away toward the prison.

The onlookers were all stunned.

Liu Zheng stepped forward with a smile: "Elders and folks, these days you have suffered injustice! It's not that I, Liu Zheng, refuse to punish corruption—I was merely playing a long game to catch a big fish. Today is the day to cast the net!"

"Supervision Department!"

"Present!"

The newly appointed Counselor of the Supervision Department, Chen Mingze, led a thousand garrison troops out to stand by.

Liu Zheng coldly smiled: "Arrest people according to the list—let none escape!"

"Yes!"

When the people saw Shen Xing holding up a notice with a long list of names, posting it on the wall, the crowd erupted instantly, clapping and cheering.

"Good!"

"Now I understand!"

"Lord Liu, your grand strategy will benefit generations!"

As Liu Zheng gave the order.

All of Liangzhou began to stir like chickens flying and dogs jumping. Since it was a sweep, Liu Zheng and Shen Xing had long been prepared. Besides numbing these people these past few days, to prevent them from fleeing, they had already arranged for the Dark Night Group to monitor closely. Hearing Liu Zheng suddenly begin arrests, these people hesitated not, had no time to pack their belongings, only took their ill-gotten wealth and tried to flee the city—little did they know, they were caught red-handed by the Dark Night Group and the Supervision Department's bailiffs.

"Still trying to run? Seize them!"

Shen Xing exerted himself greatly.

These officials had swollen with arrogance these past few days, naturally not expecting that, just as the Liangzhou army had marched out to Chuan Shu, Liu Zheng struck—according to convention, how could they dare! The army was empty, this Lord Liu should rely more on these officials!

Thus, these people initially resisted, speaking rudely.

"We are Ying Rong's people—your actions will only plunge Liangzhou into chaos, harming the people! The frontline army's military supplies still need them to manage; doing this is like pulling the fire from under the pot, cutting off one's own arm!"

Who would have thought.

Liu Zheng's resolve this time was great; in just half a day, the garrison troops and bailiffs had arrested three hundred implicated individuals, and for a time, Liangzhou prison was overcrowded.

In the city, some panicked, some clapped and cheered, some kicked others when they were down, some ran to spread the news—it was truly lively.

"What are you saying?"

Ying Rong.

Also received the news immediately; he was utterly dazed—why would Lord Liu choose to act when the army was empty? Does he not want to live!

You must know.

Once true anti-corruption begins, this involves many local powerful clans in Liangzhou; these clans, who doesn't have some private soldiers? Even without private soldiers, who doesn't have some "armed household servants"? Their strength is truly not to be underestimated—at least they can match the remaining twenty thousand Liangzhou troops.

When life is threatened, who still cares about your laws, your court?

"My lord, my lord, we've already had three hundred people arrested!"

"Yes, what are we to do?"

"My lord, quickly think of a solution!"

Those followers of Ying Rong, each one anxious to the point of shouting.

Ying Rong's eyes flashed with cold light: "Don't panic—you should know, the law does not punish the many. To arrest this many, I fear the entire powerful clans of Liangzhou will suffer! Hehe, whose turn is it now?"

"The Wang family has already surrendered their weapons..."

Ying Rong said coldly: "A bunch of useless fellows—hurry, summon all the powerful clans, gather to discuss countermeasures against the Liangzhou Prefecture! This concerns Liangzhou's hundred-year pattern—let them consider carefully!"

"Yes!"

Ying Rong took a sip of tea, shook his head: "No, that's not right—if Lord Liu had ignored things these past few days, truly fishing, then at least he should have waited until he was sure he could take the Ying family before..."

Suddenly, he trembled all over: "Someone!"

"Master?"

Ying Rong's eyes flashed with sharp light: "Where is the Third Young Master?"

A group of household servants looked at each other.

"Bang!"

Ying Rong, furious and flustered: "Didn't I say to confine him for a month? Could he have gone out again to cause trouble?"

"Search, quickly search for me! Gather the household servants—it seems Lord Liu truly intends to move against us!"

"Yes!"

The entire Ying household fell into chaos at once.

Ying Rong's third son, Ying Shizhen, considered his most disappointing son, had a reputation in Liangzhou just like Liu Zheng's former self—truly a spoiled, prodigal son of Liangzhou. But although this boy was prodigal, given to wine and women, he was skilled at making money; though he held no post in the Liangzhou Prefecture, he had taken in several collateral branches of the Ying family as his followers, letting them make money for him, and his methods were quite clever.

At this time.

Ying Shizhen sat in a brothel with a face flushed red, laughing loudly and patting the shoulder of the underling beside him: "Er Dan, don't worry, with this young master protecting you, this bit of silver is just a drizzle! Hahaha, these days. Others have started making money hand over fist, how come you're not jealous?"

The three underlings accompanied him with laughter, various flattery and fawning.

One of them said worriedly: "Third Young Master, with the city in such an uproar today, shouldn't we also restrain ourselves..."

Ying Shizhen laughed coldly: "An uproar? That's for others! Don't forget, what does my old man do for a living! As long as he remains in office, who dares to touch the Ying family's tiger's whiskers?"

Saying this with extreme arrogance, even the prostitutes accompanying drinks beside him all grinned from ear to ear.

Just then.

A group of constables burst in.

In broad daylight, the brothel normally wouldn't be open, but for the Ying family's third young master it was an exception, so seeing someone break in, many people angrily cursed.

"What are you doing?"

"Do you know whose property this is? The Ying family, can you afford to provoke them?"

"Get out!"

A bunch of scoundrels putting on airs by borrowing the tiger's might.

The leader, Chen Mingze, gave a cold smile: "Ying family's third young master, Ying Shizhen, suspected of embezzlement and selling military supplies at a loss, the amount is staggering, the crimes heinous, you can be arrested immediately and taken to death row!"

At the scene, everyone was suddenly startled.

Ying Shizhen's face showed utter disbelief: "You dare, you dare to arrest me? Do you know what my father's name is?"

Chen Mingze roared: "Seize him!"

"I'd like to see who dares!"

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded from behind, Chen Mingze's eyes turned cold, hearing this voice, the incoming force numbered several thousand!

And this voice naturally came from that old fox Ying Rong.

【Author's note】

Thanks to Mu Qiuhan Shan for the reward again, thanks to Xiao Xin brother for the energy drink and urging payment. Thanks to 9710 for the urging payment. Thanks to Jian Jian Chi Qiang for the reward. Thanks to Momo for the reward, thanks to Da Hui Lang for the reward. I will speed up as soon as possible... mainly the territory is getting bigger and bigger, the plot is getting wider and wider. I need to get a good grasp on it.