Chapter 126: Chapter 105: Breaking the Cup as a Signal
Translator: 549690339
That night.
The county government office was a dazzling sight, with carriages and horses coming and going.
Over ten prominent families and heroic heroes from the city received invitations and swarmed to the office, many of them arriving in pairs, clearly having gathered together beforehand.
The grand entrance of the County Magistrate at noon had unsettled many people.
Therefore, after welcoming the new County Magistrate, many family heads and heroes gathered to discuss countermeasures.
Now that it was time for the banquet, they readily tagged along together.
“Ning Family Master.” “Leader Zhang.”
“Chief Bai. ”
These people, who had either been acquaintances or adversaries in the past, ran into each other at the entrance and greeted each other with smiles.
At the meeting of gazes, the old foxes saw each other’s intentions and felt reassured.
Although the new County Magistrate’s entrance at the city gate had made them realize his strength, they knew that this new official was not easy to fool.
However, no one wanted to give up the power they had gained.
Therefore, many had already decided that, when negotiating with the new County Magistrate later, they would work together in a united front.
Of course, this was not to completely undermine the new County Magistrate, but to negotiate how much power should be given away and how much interest should be divided among them.
Twenty soldiers guarded the entrance, all of whom were powerful and extraordinary, handpicked by Lu Yuan, and led by an Inspector named Ma Ying, whose strength had reached the third rank.
The signal to close the doors and “deal with the fleeing dogs” was about to be given.
If they did not strengthen their guard at the entrance, what would they do if the gluttonous and cruel dogs managed to escape?
At this moment, Ma Ying saw the gathering of people at the entrance and, already aware of the plan, could not help but reveal a hint of mockery in his eyes.
Seeing that it was about time, he stepped forward and spoke to the crowd that was still chatting, “Gentlemen, the time for the banquet has arrived. The feast has been prepared inside the county office; please enter without making the County Magistrate wait too long.”
Hearing this, those who were still chatting stopped and glanced at Ma Ying, ignoring the Inspector and instead saying to each other, “Gentlemen, since the county office has already urged us, let’s go in.”
“Yes, yes, let’s not make the County Magistrate wait too long.”
“Even though we had to wait for the County Magistrate for a long time at noon, we are here to make it up to him. We won’t behave like this.”
Seemingly emboldened by the unity of all the city’s powerful figures, those who had been humbled earlier in the day began to regain their confidence and arrogance as they engaged in conversations.
Their determination to resist the County Magistrate surfaced once more.
Seeing himself being ignored, Ma Ying, who had recently taken office, could not help but feel a surge of anger.
However, thinking of the outcome for these people once they entered, he no longer felt angry.
Instead, he stepped aside with a smile, making way for the arrogant fellows.
Seeing his yielding attitude, the local city bullies gained confidence and became even happier, believing they had intimidated him with their combined power.
Striding confidently, just as they always had, they entered the county government office with their noses in the air.
Some even looked at Ma Ying with mockery in their eyes as they passed him by.
As for this…
Ma Ying: I can bear it for now.
However, he was determined that when the time came to take action, he would gouge out the eyes of those who had looked down on him, and only then would his anger be sated.
Inside the county government office.
These city bullies had come to the government office countless times during the city’s occupation, and many of them had grown familiar with the teacher’s chair where the county magistrate held court.
Thus, they comfortably navigated the county office without needing guidance and arrived at the banquet hall.
Once in the hall, they saw that the food and wine had indeed been prepared.
Perhaps due to the County Magistrate’s recent arrival, there were no serving girls in the hall, only rough soldiers wielding knives and swords, standing guard on both sides of the main hall.
Many looked at them with either laughter or disdain, while others, remembering the events of the day, felt uncomfortable.
But since they were already at the banquet and had bigger plans in mind, they paid little attention to these matters.
As more people took their seats, the hall grew crowded and soon all places were filled.
All those who were invited had arrived.
However, the man who should have appeared long ago, the County Magistrate they had seen during the day, was still nowhere to be seen.
After waiting for another moment, the County Magistrate still did not appear.
“What’s going on with the County Government? They promised us a banquet, but we have been waiting here for so long, and the County Magistrate has yet to arrive.” Speaking was still Leader Zhang; perhaps it was the imbalance brought about by his sudden rise to power, but he seemed to enjoy expressing himself.
“Exactly, the guests are here, but the host hasn’t arrived. What kind of hospitality is this?”
“Although the County Magistrate is not a county magistrate yet, he doesn’t seem to care about us, the local gentry. Does he not want to properly govern this county?
As people began to speak up, a chorus of agreement followed.
It was at this moment that heavy footsteps echoed from outside the main hall.
The noise of the crowd subsided, and then they saw the brave general who had ridden his horse during the day, now holding a sword in one hand and an Iron Bow in the other, entering through the doorway.
Seeing him, those who had been making noise in the hall quieted down.
They couldn’t help but remember the general’s prestige and feel a bit afraid.
However, given the current atmosphere, many felt a growing sense of unease.
Lu Yuan walked in, looked around at the agitated guests, and said with a smile to their doubtful expressions, “It seems everyone has arrived. However, as you have mentioned, the County Magistrate won’t be attending. Tonight’s host is me, the County Captain.”
Upon hearing these words, the quiet hall erupted into noise once more.
People talked in hushed tones, wondering what was going on.
The seemingly calm Ning Family Master stood up, cupped his hands, and asked, “County Captain, may I ask why the County Magistrate isn’t attending?
Is he unwell?”
Lu Yuan glanced at the old man and then raised his bow, placing an arrow on the string. With a smile, he said to the shocked Ning Family Master, “Of course, the County Magistrate is in good health, but given his status, how can he dine with you bandits?
By the County Magistrate’s order, the ten major crime families of Wang,
Cheng, Ning, Liu, and Zhou in the county, as well as the nefarious Qinghua Gang, Hongshan Gang, and the Miao people from outside the city — Bai, Lan, and Qing – are all found to be in collusion with rebel bandits, wreaking havoc in the county, and oppressing the people.
Now that their crimes have been exposed, these ten rebel heads shall be put to death and all others involved shall be implicated with no mistake.
Guards, kill them all.’
As he finished speaking, Lu Yuan released the bowstring, and the sharp arrow pierced through Ning Family Master’s chest, sending him flying through the air, crashing into tables and dishes along the way until he landed heavily on the ground.
This appeared to be a signal.
A group of archers surged in from outside the door, their bows drawn and arrows aimed at the startled crowd inside the hall..