Chapter 322: Removing the Malignant Tumor

The entire venue erupted in chaos.

No matter who it was, upon hearing Liu Zheng utter this solemn, icy voice, everyone's faces changed.

"The Zhang family, involved in corruption, shall be punished with the ultimate penalty!"

"Ma Chengyun of the Ma family, suspected of major embezzlement, is to be imprisoned for investigation!"

Ying Rong trembled all over upon hearing this, his eyes flashing with intense killing intent.

What does this mean?

Public sentencing?

Public interrogation?

How dare he! Now the private troops of these powerful clans already number ten thousand, each acting for self-preservation—who knows what they might do? People thought Liu Zhou should retreat for the sake of peace, but who would have thought he remains so unyielding!

Is he courting death?

Is he disregarding Liangzhou's stability?

These charges are all true, beyond doubt. But bringing them up now is clearly meant to further inflame the current confrontation!

Inflame the conflict!

This is utterly denying them any face!

Each of these powerful clans is now enraged.

The common people, however, began cheering one by one. Public fervor ran high, they lost all restraint. It turns out that during this recent period, Liu Zhou's Anti-Corruption Law was not mere pretense—he had been waiting, waiting to harvest these charges!

The entire venue fell silent as tombs.

Only the resonant sound of Liu Zheng reading out the charges remained.

However...

It is obvious that different people are now suppressing different emotions at this moment—the common folk are suppressing their excitement, their fervor, their support and admiration for Liu Zheng; while these powerful clans are suppressing their anger, their killing intent, but undeniably, they are also suppressing their own inner fear!

If today's conflict is unavoidable,

what will the outcome be?

But there is no doubt that these powerful clans, who have dominated Liangzhou for hundreds of years, have all now sided with Ying Rong. They will not allow their interests and status to be infringed upon.

As Liu Zheng reads out each charge, sufficient to condemn these powerful clans to death,

the suppressed killing intent at the scene has already nearly reached its peak.

Pei Qianyun, too, has drawn his weapon, tightly guarding Liu Zheng's side, eyes wide with fury. For he clearly feels that some of the powerful clans' elite guards are already stirring, ready to move. It is very likely that in the next moment they will launch an attack on Liu Zheng.

Finally.

Liu Zheng has finished reading out all the charges on the long scroll.

The venue remains silent as tombs.

Ying Rong suddenly gave a cold smile: "Liu Zhou, if one wishes to accuse another, what lack is there of excuses? You Liu father and son, having just taken charge of Liangzhou, cannot wait to eliminate dissenters—Liangzhou will surely incur heaven's wrath and public resentment. Liu Zhou, you ought to be cautious!"

Upon these words, those powerful clans also roared in response.

For a moment, the venue erupted in clamor, private soldiers' weapons clashing, a massive killing intent surging forward—so much so that even the war horses ridden by Liu Zheng and Shen Xing became restless and uneasy.

"How dare you!"

Shen Xing and Pei Qianyun both shouted loudly at once.

Shen Xing even roared: "The evidence is solid, yet you dare to deny it—seize them all for me!"

With this command, the conflict in the venue erupted completely.

The clerks of the Supervision Department and the garrison troops have already begun to act. But how could these powerful clans easily submit to the law? Now that it has come to this, what more can we wait for—could it be to sit and await death? Ying Rong let out a great shout, and the ten thousand private soldiers of these powerful clans immediately began pushing and shoving with these clerks and garrison troops.

Ying Rong coldly stared at Liu Zheng: "Liu Zhou, indulging in military aggression, disregarding Liangzhou's situation—your heart deserves death! Today, old man I defy the law, yet I must plead for the common people!"

These words were spoken with righteous grandeur, meant to justify his cause. His two highly skilled bodyguards naturally obeyed his order, taking the lead in lunging toward Liu Zheng's side.

"Young master, be careful!"

Pei Qianyun, standing beside, Liu Zheng's safety naturally required no worry—two massive hammers swung, and those two approaching bodyguards were instantly smashed into pulp.

"Advance!"

Upon seeing Pei Qianyun's divine strength, Ying Rong's face changed drastically.

But he firmly believed that two fists cannot match four hands; today's situation, Liu Zheng's side is bound to lose! These powerful clans' private soldiers, when they fight, truly possess some combat strength—though the street is narrow, it is actually suitable for the martial artists hired at great expense by these powerful clans to display their prowess. For a moment, the Liangzhou troops, accustomed to open battlefield maneuvers, unskilled in street fighting, were beaten back step by step by these powerful clans' private soldiers.

"Young master..."

Shen Xing, upon seeing this, his face changed slightly.

Liu Zheng, however, remained unhurried.

He also held a long sword in his hand, advancing and retreating in combat.

The entire street was filled with fighting people; soon, the smell of blood began to spread. In the first clash, many were seriously injured, some died on the spot.

The battle situation, for a moment, was horrifically brutal.

Those who had just been watching the spectacle also scattered and fled; the intense conflict caused many nearby shops and residences to suffer as well.

Liu Zheng continued to stare coldly.

Today's conflict is destined to be recorded in Liangzhou's annals. The larger the scene, the easier it is to deal with these powerful clans. These intertwined powerful clans are, to Liangzhou, like a malignant tumor. To eradicate it completely, one must pull it out by the roots, allowing no hesitation! If such a tumor is left to develop, it will surely make all of Liangzhou terminally ill, beyond recovery.

Such historical legacy problems must be eradicated with iron and blood, with thunderous force.

"Liu Zhou, do you still intend to let the conflict continue?"

Ying Rong, seeing the situation favor him, laughed coldly.

In truth, he does not truly wish to fight Liu Zheng's side to the death; today's best outcome would be to make this newborn calf Liu Zheng understand that these powerful clans are not to be provoked. At this moment, the situation can still be controlled, and if he can stop the fight now, he could still gain considerable benefits—this is what he considers the best ending.

However...

Liu Zheng did not speak, merely gave a cold smile.

Ying Rong immediately flew into a rage, shouting: "Liu family brat, you have gone too far! Kill, kill them for me!"

He couldn't figure it out—this Liu Zhouzhi, where did he get such ample confidence?

However...

At this very moment.

Suddenly, from all directions on this street, shouts rose up—these cries of slaughter seemed to instantly cover the entire sky over Liangzhou City, and even the surrounding buildings began to vibrate and resonate.

"Kill!"

"By order of the Viscount, kill without mercy!"

"Ying Rong, you old traitor, openly rebelling—kill!"

Pure Liangzhou Army troops surged in from all directions.

Leading them was none other than General Jiang Xuan!

Everyone was instantly stunned.

How many people is this?

Dense as far as the eye could see, and these people all held the finest weaponry and equipment from Yinzhou in their hands.

Liangzhou Army!

At least fifty thousand!

Ying Rong's face changed drastically, and he nearly fell from his horse.

Then he suddenly turned his head, looking fearfully at Liu Zheng: "You you you..."

Only now did he understand.

It turned out that all of this had long been a trap set by Liu Zheng.

However...

Now that he understood, it was already too late.