Chapter 321: Liu Zheng's Stubbornness

Hahaha!

The Ying family's private soldiers in black clothes instantly surrounded this brothel, immediately encircling the five hundred yamen runners brought by Chen Mingze.

The two sides instantly faced off.

Ying Rong slowly walked over.

Chen Mingze coldly stared at him: "Ying Sir, what is the meaning of this? Are you obstructing the official duties of my Supervision Department?"

Ying Rong clasped his hands and smiled: "Chen Sir, what are you saying? We are all colleagues in Liangzhou, why resort to arms? This Zuixianlou is the property of my Ying family; Chen Sir, you have barged in today without permission..."

Ying Shizhen had just been so frightened she almost wet her pants; seeing her old master arrive, she regained her composure and coldly laughed: "I've heard Chen Sir most enjoys other men's wives and concubines—how so, are you now eyeing the singing girls of my brothel, coming to loot amid the chaos?"

"Shut up!"

Chen Mingze's several brothers immediately shouted loudly.

Everyone in Liangzhou knows Chen Mingze's affairs, yet Ying Shizhen deliberately stabs at people's pain points—utterly hateful.

"What has Young Master Ying done—don't you know it yourself?"

Chen Mingze remained expressionless, coldly laughing: "Corrupt and lawless, with huge sums involved—he shall be taken away for clear investigation by the Inspection Department!"

"Wait!"

How could Ying Rong allow him to take his son away? If taken, the charges would stick, and even he might be powerless to reverse it. He coldly stared at Chen Mingze and asked: "Chen Sir, my dog-son is not an official, nor does he hold any office—how can he be charged with such a great crime of corruption? Or is guilt or innocence merely whatever you, the Supervision Department, say it is?"

Upon hearing this, many people chimed in agreement.

The charge of corruption applies only to officials; this Third Young Master Ying Shizhen is merely a white-clothed commoner—what corruption could there be? Upon hearing this, Ying Shizhen became even more arrogant.

Indeed, it was his own old father—one sentence pulled the entire situation back.

Chen Mingze also chuckled: "Indeed, Liangzhou's famous old fox! Trying to escape blame by claiming non-official status—but it's not that easy!"

He angrily pointed at the three people beside Ying Shizhen and shouted: "Third Young Master Ying Shizhen instigated these three to embezzle and sell military supplies—evidence is conclusive; they deserve equal punishment!"

Ying Rong retorted: "Nonsense—who in this world has ever heard of a white-clothed commoner instigating an official? Chen Sir, if you insist on this argument, then I will absolutely not let you take away my unworthy dog-son!"

"Exactly!"

"Cannot take him away!"

"Your Supervision Department are experts in torture-extracted confessions—if taken, the young master might be tortured into a false confession—what then?"

Those Ying family private soldiers, each a fierce demon, waved their weapons in hand.

"You……you……are you planning to rebel?"

Chen Mingze's face changed drastically.

The Ying family private soldiers numbered a full thousand; his five hundred yamen runners were instantly overwhelmed by their momentum. And that wasn't all—soon, more private soldiers in various clothes ran to outside Zuixianlou; looking around, these were all the renowned powerful clan private soldiers of Liangzhou City.

"Who dares to move against Young Master Ying?"

"I dare anyone to try!"

"Has the heavens been overturned?"

"Do you truly not put these powerful clans in your eyes?"

These powerful clans, upon receiving Ying Rong's summons, immediately rushed over. Because his words carried a strong warning.

Do not wait for Governor Liu to come arrest them!

They must first gather strength to oppose Governor Liu!

Better to strike first than wait to be beaten! Upon hearing this, the powerful clans found it reasonable and instantly mobilized their household private soldiers, rushing toward Zuixianlou; their household officials, under the protection of these soldiers, were temporarily safe.

"You……you……"

Chen Mingze's face instantly turned deathly pale.

A full eight thousand!

These powerful clan private soldiers numbered a full eight thousand!

At this moment, those who had gotten wind of it—the Dark Night Squad, garrison troops, and yamen runners—also quickly arrived. But at a glance, they numbered only three or four thousand……

For a time.

Outside Zuixianlou, heads surged, the atmosphere tense.

Ying Rong led a group of powerful clan magnates, facing Chen Mingze's side with cold stares.

Because everyone knows.

Today, this Ying family Third Young Master cannot be taken away by Chen Mingze no matter what. Once taken, this breach opened, Liangzhou's powerful clans would be in peril!

So.

Today, even if fierce conflict erupts, they will fight for their century-old standing in Liangzhou—give it their all!

"Pap-pap……"

At this moment, Liu Zheng, riding a precious horse, slowly came from afar, smiling: "Hey, today's really lively! Is everyone here? Ying Sir's summoning power is truly extraordinary."

Upon Liu Zheng's appearance, pairs of angry eyes all turned toward him.

Many even felt murderous intent, but seeing Pei Qianyun beside Liu Zheng, none dared to move.

Ying Rong chuckled: "Governor Liu, with the Liangzhou army marching out, internal stability must be prioritized; the anti-corruption plan, we willingly follow—but fear that some with ulterior motives, using public office for private grudges, looting amid chaos, aiding tyrants, fabricating false charges, have chilled the hearts of families like ours!"

The powerful clan magnates all nodded in agreement.

Liu Zheng coldly smiled: "False charges? With these people here, just one brick thrown down could smash out at least three corrupt officials! To speak of false charges to brush me off? The Liangzhou army marching out must prioritize stability? This is likewise a threat to me!"

At this moment, the eight thousand powerful clan private soldiers, formidable in scale, radiated killing intent.

Meanwhile, the Liangzhou army, aside from regular garrison troops and after patrols from various regions, could muster only about ten thousand usable troops—and these powerful clan private soldiers before us are not even all of theirs!

Liu Zheng knew.

The total number of private soldiers from Liangzhou's powerful clans and magnates is currently between twenty thousand!

So……

Today, Ying Rong is baring his thighs before me! First, let Governor Liu see the strength and attitude of these powerful clans! If Governor Liu still doesn't know his place, then don't blame us for being impolite!

They were relying on the fact that the Liangzhou army had already rushed to aid Chuan Shu at this time, and thus thought they could rest easy!

A group of Powerful Clan elders coldly stared at Liu Zheng.

A merchant's son, once notorious in Liangzhou as a prodigal wastrel, had just entered the hall and taken his seat—did he really think he could now dominate them? They would not agree, and the forces behind them would not agree either!

Not a few people.

Were in different places, watching this intense conflict and confrontation in Liangzhou City—likely the first such fierce clash in many years.

Governor Liu.

What would he do?

How would he decide?

Would he bow to these Powerful Clans, or persist in his own way, even if it provoked civil war?

The scene.

Was filled with a solemn and deadly aura.

It was obvious that these Powerful Clans had already seized the advantage.

No one thought Governor Liu would be foolish enough to continue opposing them.

Only saw Liu Zheng smile slightly, then take a file from Shen Xing's hand beside him.

He lowered his head to read, his tone calm and unhurried: "Ying Shizhen of the Ying family, instigated the Ying family's cadet branch to embezzle and sell military supplies for profit, gaining five thousand taels of patterned silver—punishable by execution of the entire clan!"

"Wang Deshen of the Wang family, embezzled and sold military supplies—deserving death!"

"Su Shiwen of the Su family, negligent and lazy, formed factions for private gain, embezzled..."

Listening to these charges one after another.

Everyone present had their faces drastically change.