Chapter 695: The Sons of the Zhao Clan

He had only spoken half a sentence when he saw Zhao Shiyi raise a hand and slap at him. Chu San, a former personal guard himself, reacted quickly, blocking and retreating—but the moment he moved, a fierce gust of wind hit his face. Zhao Shiyi's left fist slammed heavily into his chest, instantly knocking the breath out of him and slowing his movements. Zhao Shiyi followed up immediately with a kick, landing squarely between his legs.

Chu San's mouth gaped open but no sound came out. Clutching his vitals, he knelt down. Seeing things go badly, the other four personal guards shouted and leaped up to fight, but the constables who had come with Zhao Shiyi were just as quick—only their martial skills were not necessarily as good, so they made liberal use of implements like iron rulers and chains, lashing heavily at the men and beating them straight to the ground.

"Assaulting government troops in broad daylight—are you trying to rebel?" Chu San forced out with difficulty.

Zhao Shiyi merely gave a cold snort and said, "Assaulting law-abiding citizens, robbing property—I am handling this case according to the law!"

With that, he directly took the ghost-head blade from his back and asked, "Which arm did you hit the man with?"

Chu San's body trembled. Two constables behind him had already pinned him firmly in place. Zhao Shiyi did not press the question, only said flatly, "If you won't say, then both arms get broken!"

Without waiting for any defense from below, he nodded. One man held him down while another yanked Chu San's right arm out onto a small cart. Zhao Shiyi did not hesitate in the slightest. Gripping the hilt with both hands, he slammed it down fiercely—with the scabbard on, it was practically an iron rod. How could an arm withstand such a blow? It broke instantly.

Chu San immediately let out an earth-shattering howl of agony. The constables' faces showed no trace of surprise; instead, they took the opportunity to forcibly pull his other arm straight as well.

"It was this arm that hit the man, just this arm!" Chu San's voice was distorted with pain.

Zhao Shiyi just stood there, face dark, and said coldly, "Didn't you also kick him? Which leg was it? Or should both legs be broken for you?"

The pain had twisted Chu San's features beyond recognition, but upon hearing this, his mind went blank for a moment. He could only stammer, "My uncle serves under Vice General Zhou…"

As he stammered out his words, Zhao Shiyi paid no attention whatsoever. He simply lifted his chin, and someone immediately hoisted Chu San onto the small cart. This time Zhao Shiyi did not use the blade's scabbard; he merely raised his leg and stomped down viciously.

Crack! Another sound rang out. This time Chu San did not scream in pain—he passed out directly from the agony. Zhao Shiyi turned to the other four, who were trembling with fear, and asked in the same flat tone, "Which hand smashed the wine jar and slapped the waiter?"

They had all witnessed Chu San's punishment with their own eyes. By now, no one harbored any thoughts of luck. The man singled out raised his arm, his face a mask of misery.

This time Zhao Shiyi did not act personally. A constable standing behind the Vice General's personal guard simply seized the guard's arm and twisted it.

A single "Ah!"—a heart-rending, lung-tearing scream. Zhao Shiyi fixed his gaze on this guard and spoke again, "It's been quiet for so long, yet you had to stir up trouble. Was someone behind this? Did someone put you up to it?"

He asked calmly, but the constable who had twisted the guard's arm silently drew a dagger and laid it directly across the troublemaking guard's throat.

A rank, fishy stench filled the air on the spot. The guard being questioned had been so terrified he had lost control of his bowels. As for talk of besieging government troops in the street and whether that constituted rebellion—right now, the Zhao Character Camp had both ends of the street blocked, every household had shut its doors and windows, and if they really killed him, they killed him.

The dagger pressed tighter. The Vice General's retainer shouted out, "No one put me up to it! It was this lowly one craving wine but never getting more than a sip. I figured since you lot were about to be investigated by the Brocade Guard, what did you have to be so cocky about? I lost my head, I just lost my head."

"Fuck your mother, you worthless wretch! You were in a foul mood yourself, and you dragged us into disaster!" Before Zhao Shiyi or the others could speak, the three soul-scattered guards beside him cursed out first. They had all been brazen together when causing trouble, but now, with blood everywhere and death looming close, and thinking of the Zhao Character Camp's ever-decisive ruthlessness—who among them was not trembling with terror!

Hearing this reason, even the utterly impassive Zhao Shiyi was briefly stunned, then couldn't help letting out a laugh. Shaking his head, he said, "Muddled and worthless. Do you know how great a calamity you've stirred up? Break one more hand. Take them all back to the main jail. Whatever they stole, whatever they smashed—redeem the men at ten times the price. Just send word to the Vice General's gate."

The one who had both hands broken had also passed out. One constable went on his own to notify the Vice General's side. Zhao Shiyi called over several militia men to escort the prisoners. The militia who had come split into two groups—one returning, the other following to the yamen.

The wine was still on the small cart. The two who had passed out from pain were tossed onto it, while the remaining few followed along, heads hanging dejectedly.

They did not move quickly. Along the way, many people boldly craned their necks to look. Xuzhou had been at peace for too long. With the Zhao Character Camp around, everyone obediently followed the rules, and no one dared to act out of line. Even when the Brocade Guard agents arrived, few dared to stir up trouble or make reckless moves. For something like this to happen today, everyone wanted to draw close and see something novel.

The militia men were all outsiders, so people did not dare approach them, but the constables walked the streets and alleys every day and were quite familiar. Naturally, people asked them what had happened.

Once one person knew, they would immediately tell those around them, and the news spread swiftly throughout the entire city of Xuzhou. This incident had occurred in broad daylight. Over on the other side, the Brocade Guard agents were still putting on a pretense of investigating a case. The two groups were about to meet head-on, but somehow someone tipped off the agents, and they actually took the initiative to detour, drawing endless jeers and laughter from the crowd.

The place was not far from the district magistrate's yamen. By the time the men were brought back and thrown into the main jail, the well-informed local boss types in the yamen had long since learned of it. No one had much to say, but when Zhao Shiyi went to the criminal law office to handle the paperwork and file a report, Clerk Li personally arranged for someone to process it and even said simply, "A little action is good too."

Zhao Shiyi had been brought into the yamen by Zhao Zhentang. Everyone knew he was a clan relative once removed, and some also knew that this Zhao Shiyi had never served under Zhao Jin's direct command, which made him a very distant relation.

No one knew why Zhao Zhentang valued him. Zhao Shiyi's work was not bad—young as he was, his temperament was as steady as an old man's. He had been unfamiliar with the yamen's dealings at first, but he picked things up quickly, and he was ruthless and merciless.

Over time, a rumor gradually surfaced: in Zhao Shiyi's hundred-household unit, someone had raped a woman from a respectable family. Because the man had some backing, no one had been able to touch him—until one night, someone slipped into his home and killed him. Everyone suspected it might have something to do with this Zhao Shiyi.

Now, the constables and runners in the yamen's arrest office were either trusted core members of the Zhao Character Camp or figures closely aligned with it, and these people knew every rustle and stir in the entire prefectural city like the back of their hands. After Zhao Shiyi arrested the Vice General's personal guards and retainers, they immediately went everywhere to gather information.

"Vice General Zhou Baolu's compound is already in an uproar. His household troops and officers are all clamoring to come and snatch the men back. Some have already mounted their horses."

The news came quickly. Zhao Shiyi, still in the arrest office, merely nodded in thanks. The messenger soon learned that this young master had already sent someone to summon the Zhao Character Camp's company commander currently in the city.

Ever since Zhao Zhentang had obtained the official post of Xiao County Garrison Commander, the Zhao Character Camp had only three men rotating as company commander in Xuzhou: Li Can, Zhao Wan, and Zhao Song. The three company commanders took turns in the city, while matters involving the city's underworld and the yamen were left to Zhao Shiyi. Chen Sheng's father, Chen Wu, would also help out.

The one on duty in the city this time was Zhao Wan. By seniority, he was a few months younger than Zhao Shiyi and had to call him Eleventh Brother.

Zhao Wan now had a burly, broad-shouldered, thick-waisted build. He was clearly agitated when he arrived. Ever since the Brocade Guard agents had come, all the headmen within the Zhao Character Camp had been suppressing a bellyful of fire.

Hearing him enter, the men in the arrest office tactfully withdrew. As soon as Zhao Wan came in, he said sullenly, "Eleventh Brother, didn't Brother Jin tell us to be cautious and careful? Not to let the agents get anything on us? At such a critical time, how could you stir up something like this?"

His words carried a tone of reproach. The two held equal standing in the city; neither could order the other around. Zhao Shiyi's expression remained as blank as ever. He said coolly, "Is Zhou Baolu's side the Brocade Guard? He smashed our shop and beat our people—why shouldn't we arrest them? Should we just let others walk all over our faces?"

"Brother Jin said not to cause trouble!" Zhao Wan grunted, emphasizing his words.

Zhao Shiyi gave a cold snort and said, "That meant don't do things that let the agents get a hold on us—not do nothing at all! If we let these bastards smash our shop today and do nothing, tomorrow someone will stir up an even bigger mess. Will we act then or not? If the agents arrest someone, will we act or not?"

"You're just twisting words to force your argument!"

"Let one thing slide, and people's hearts are lost. Once they see you're afraid, everyone else will be afraid too. When that happens, even if you have a solution, chaos will break out!" Zhao Shiyi said.

Refuted and at a loss for words, Zhao Wan could only huff angrily, "Afraid? Afraid my ass! It's nothing more than baring blades and spears to fight. The agents aren't worth a fart—one comes, we wipe out one; a hundred come, we wipe out a hundred. Look at their despicable ways—do they really think they're something?"

Hearing this, Zhao Shiyi merely shook his head. Staring at Zhao Wan, he said, "We Zhaos naturally fear nothing. At this stage, thinking is useless. Whatever Brother Jin wants to do, we follow and do it. The Chens, the Wangs, the Shis—these families won't be afraid either. But the men under Brother Jin aren't all our own family, aren't all brothers. How many people in Xuzhou are watching? How many outside Xuzhou are watching? The moment we show weakness, everything collapses immediately!"

Just as he reached this point, a constable outside called out, "Eleventh Brother, the ruckus over at Zhou Baolu's is getting worse and worse. Looks like they mean to head our way."

Zhao Wan fell silent now, looking at Zhao Shiyi, clearly waiting for Eleventh Brother to make a decision. Zhao Shiyi gritted his teeth, cursed, and stood up, casually grabbing his ghost-head blade. He said, "Brother Jin hasn't moved, and some muddled fools really have lost their heads. Call up your whole company, and call up all the militia you can command. I'll muster my people too. We're going to Zhou Baolu's to seek justice."

Thank you, everyone.