Chapter 8, The officials are in a flurry due to the fire at the government office

The son of the Prefect of Yingchuan, Feng Yi, greets all the esteemed gentlemen! He had long anticipated that today's matters would not end well. The square-faced wine drinker, Feng Yi, placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Liu Yan

"This, this... is an adult!" The village chief Li Miao was scolded until his face turned red, quickly rolling and crawling to one side. His triangular little eyes were filled with helplessness and grievance

"You won't bow your head for the time being, will you? After I save you and your brother, we can settle the score in the autumn, right?" Liu Xiu remained relentless, continuing to tilt her head, her gaze filled with amusement.

"I dare not. If the county soldiers are merely here to capture the bandits, we would be too late to offer assistance, how could we possibly obstruct them!" As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Yan did not retreat but instead advanced. He took a step forward, pointed around, and responded loudly, "But please look, County Magistrate, what are the county soldiers holding in their hands? And what is the cause of the flames rising all around?"

According to the Great New Law, if a thief breaks into a home to commit robbery, a good family member may draw their sword and slay the intruder, and they shall be deemed innocent for their actions Feng Yi also stepped forward slightly, neither servile nor overbearing, and clasped his hands in salute

No, there is no one, the adults have not yet had the chance to go upstairs, and they have already been knocked down to the ground by them. The younger ones... The village chief Li Miao immediately leaped up more than three feet high like a frog spotting its prey, and shouted loudly in accusation

Not to mention, although he is young, he truly possesses a certain demeanor of a great general. Soon, he mobilized everyone present based on their individual strengths.

Heaven above, I, Ma Sanniang, swear. From this moment on, whatever Liu Sangongzi asks of me, I shall do. Should I defy this... Ma Sanniang has been driven to a dead end, so she resolutely made up her mind and raised her right hand before Zhu You could say anything more that would leave her without a way out.

Both he and Ren Guang had very prudent thoughts, and Liu Yan and others opposite them were also quite "in the know". It seemed that a conflict was about to dissolve without a trace. However, at that moment, the county magistrate Cen Peng, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke up, "Wait a moment, Ren Guang, go and ask Li Miao whether he searched this inn just now or not"

Zhu You was left speechless by the remarks and had no choice but to release Liu Xiu's arm. Blushing, he walked towards Ma Sanniang and softly urged, "Sister San, that, um, Sister San, you..."

"It's not like I want her to kneel down, why are you so anxious?" Liu Xiu said, both amused and exasperated, barely managing to steady himself. He turned back to Zhu You and retorted, "With her reckless temperament, if she refuses to change even a little, what good will a hundred brilliant plans do? They will all just end up being ruined by her, and we would lose everyone's lives for nothing"

The travelers in the inn had rarely witnessed such a spectacle. Instantly, they were frightened into covering their mouths and weeping. However, the county magistrate, Cen Peng, showed not a trace of compassion on his face as he continued to search through one room after another with several trusted aides, leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of any clues.

The sound of Lang Lang reading has begun again, and in this long and chaotic night, it brings an indescribable sense of peace to the heart after listening

Zhang Jun, the son of Lian Shu of the valley

However, this night is destined not to be a peaceful one. Shortly after the sound of reading resumed, a commotion of shouting and neighing came from the entrance. The county magistrate Cen Peng, accompanied by the county deputy Yin Xuan, the county constable Ren Guang, and the captains Yan Feng and Li Zhi, along with hundreds of fully armed county soldiers wielding steel knives, long spears, and horn bows, marched forward in a grand manner.

He originally thought that the county magistrate Cen Peng would seek justice and avenge him after listening to his words. However, to his surprise, the latter merely turned his head and shot him a fierce glance, then immediately shifted his gaze back to the real culprit Liu Yan, "Young Master Liu, do you still intend to obstruct this official from searching this inn?"

"I dare not. I kindly ask you, my lord, to restrain your subordinates and not to take advantage of the situation to exploit the people!" Liu Yan was compelled to furrow his brows by the murderous intent in Cen Peng's words. He then shook his head and smiled as he stepped aside to clear the way

"It is an order from the county magistrate, and Ren Guang does not dare to disobey. He clasped his hands and quickly approached the town chief Li Miao, who was hiding in the shadows, and asked in a deep voice: 'The county magistrate asks you, have you finished searching this inn or not? Answer truthfully, do not mislead yourself! '"

"It's broken!" Liu Yan and Feng Yi were both so frightened that their souls nearly left their bodies, and they simultaneously reached for the hilt of their swords at their waists

"Get out of my way!" County Lieutenant Ren Guang, however, is far more responsible than Yin Xuan. He stepped forward, kicked Li Miao hard, and shouted, "You can't even handle such a trivial matter, are you not embarrassed enough?"

Seeing that she had completely submitted, Liu Xiu did not press further, nodded slightly, and immediately began to assign tasks to everyone. "Time is of the essence, I will outline the general plan. Yan Guang, you will supplement with specific action details. Zhu You, Deng Feng, one of you will monitor the corridor, while the other will continue reading loudly by the window, simultaneously keeping an eye on the movements outside. I estimate that it won't be long before someone notices that something is amiss at this inn and comes to rescue that group of unruly soldiers!"

This? Ma Sanniang has not yet recovered from the shock, and after a moment of daze, she squatted down and said softly: Of course, there is no problem. Please feel free to instruct Sanniang on what to do next.

We do not dare to oppose the authorities, but assisting the authorities in capturing thieves and ensuring the peace of the people is our respective duty. I kindly ask the county magistrate to observe this clearly!" Liu Zhi quickly stood on the other side of Liu Yan and spoke slowly.

"Please do not take offense, my family member is always so serious in their work!" The county magistrate Ren Guang, known for his tact, noticed that Liu Yan and the others were growing increasingly displeased, and quietly began to share some light conversation with everyone.

Liu Zhi, the son of Cheng from Julu County, greets all the esteemed officials! Liu Zhi still wore a nonchalant expression as he picked up the still-drying bloodstained sword, smiling and cupping his hands in salute to the tense crowd at the door

"Fire! Hurry to put out the fire!" The residence of the county magistrate Yin Xuan was also adjacent to the county office. At this moment, there was no time to worry about where Ma Wu had gone; with a wave of his hand, he led his brothers to follow Cen Peng and sprinted away.

In the midst of the polite exchanges, a sudden loud voice from upstairs inquired, "Blood, you several children, quickly confess the truth, where did this bloodstain come from?"

Xu Yu, the nephew of the Prefect of Jingzhou Commandery

You all, since you are descendants of officials, why do you obstruct the local soldiers from capturing the bandits?" The county magistrate Yin Xuan felt a series of jolts in his heart, and his tone immediately softened. "Hurry and step aside; the county governor and I can overlook your youthful exuberance and let the past be the past!"

The several heroes who had previously fought alongside Liu Yan stepped forward one after another, standing in a straight line in the courtyard. Although their numbers were still only a fraction of the troops behind Cen Peng, the aura they exuded was enough to match that of their opponents.

While speaking, he suddenly flipped his wrist, and the entire bowl of clear water was poured over his own head

Indeed, you should disperse and rest! There is no need to stoop to their level!" The county magistrate Yin Xuan quickly took the opportunity to step down, blushing, and gently waved his hand

Li Miao had long received secret reports from her subordinates and was pretending to be confused while fully aware of the situation. She glared at the few people drinking in the courtyard and sternly questioned, "Is this how you apprehend a wanted criminal? If Ma Wu escapes, everyone in this courtyard tonight will be implicated!"

"There is no need to swear," Liu Xiu said with a slight smile, interrupting softly, "Please bring me a bowl of water. After all this fuss, I am indeed quite thirsty!"

"Quick, come with me to put out the fire!" The county magistrate, Cen Peng, suddenly turned around, and was immediately frightened to the point of turning pale, then he ran away. He was well-known as a filial son, having lost his father at a young age and being raised entirely by his mother. Therefore, at this moment, even if the sky were to fall, it was far less important than his mother's safety, and he had no mind to discern whether the words of the youths were true or false.

Are you truly willing to listen and do as I say? No matter what I ask you to do? Even if it means to toil like a beast? Liu Xiu, however, did not take the water bowl from her, instead he looked her up and down and tilted his head in inquiry

"Big, adult..." The village chief Li Miao raised his head from the ground, his face covered in snot and tears, and whispered in accusation, "He, those few just now..."

Just half an hour ago, the two of them had witnessed the bloodstains on Liu Xiu's face with their own eyes. At that time, they were easily brushed off by a few words from Liu Xiu. Now, upon reflection, those bloodstains, along with Liu Xiu's earlier reading voice, were clearly hinting to everyone that an injured guest was hiding on the second floor, yet they, at that moment, surprisingly chose to ignore it and turned a blind eye.

"It's done. Every year, there are thousands who make vows, yet how many have actually been struck down by heaven?" Liu Xiu chuckled and stepped forward to take the water bowl. "It wasn't my intention to force you just now; rather, the situation is urgent at this moment, and I cannot allow you to act recklessly any longer. Well then, this bowl of water shall serve as an apology from Liu to you"

Unlike the noble-born Cen Peng, he hailed from a prominent local family. He had long been aware of the reputation of Liu Yan, also known as Liu Bosheng. He understood that historically, government officials have always been interconnected, and certain powers would not be deterred by the distance to reach the remote and impoverished region of Jiyang. Therefore, deep down, he was very reluctant to engage in any conflict with the young Mengchang before him. Even more so, he did not wish to offend the likes of Feng Yi, Liu Zhi, and other officials' descendants all at once.

There are guests staying, there are guests communicating. Words are given as bonds, to bind their horses. With gentle words, they pursue them, soothing them from both sides. Having already indulged in power, blessings descend abundantly...

After escaping danger, Ma Sanniang's thoughts were precisely to dismember this detestable little brat into eight pieces. Upon hearing Liu Xiu's words, her heart tightened instantly, and her arm trembled slightly, almost splashing water all over herself. Fortunately, she had trained diligently in martial arts, and her control over her muscles far exceeded that of ordinary people. In the moment before the water spilled, she quickly steadied the bowl and then lowered her head, timidly saying: "You have saved our brother and sister, and I cannot repay you enough, how could I possibly turn against you with swords? If you are still worried, then how about this, I can swear another oath to heaven, if..."

County Lieutenant Ren Guang, however, did not consider whether a mere屯长 was being wronged. Turning around, he once again approached Liu Yan, Feng Yi, and a group of heroes, and with a pleasant demeanor added, "The county soldiers are all temporarily recruited, and it is inevitable that a few bad apples will emerge among them. There is no need for you to lower yourselves to their level. Hurry up and tidy up, and go rest! It is getting late, and after I return, I will naturally deal with them according to the law and provide everyone with an explanation."

The young men across the way are all either serving or retired officials' sons, and there is naturally a sense of kinship between both parties due to their shared bloodlines. There is no need to get overly serious about trivial matters. Moreover, even if one were to take it seriously, the local militia would gain no advantage from it. The young men would at most be fined a small amount of copper, which would then be taken home by their respective elders for reprimand. However, on the side of Jiyang County, it is likely that someone would have to bear the responsibility for the militia's wrongful killing and misattribution of merit. The young men would at most be fined a small amount of copper, which would then be taken home by their respective elders for reprimand. However, on the side of Jiyang County, it is likely that someone would have to bear the responsibility for the militia's wrongful killing and misattribution of merit.

You ... ... '' Little did she expect that Liu Xiu would really treat her like a maid, causing Ma Sanniang's eyes to widen in anger. However, upon turning her head and seeing her elder brother Ma Wu lying unconscious from his injuries, all the anger in her stomach vanished instantly. She stood up, gritted her silver teeth, and walked towards the water jar in the corner. Carefully pouring a bowl of clear water, she tried her best to put on the demeanor of a submissive little maid, slowly walking to Liu Xiu and gently presenting the clear water to her forehead, "Young Master, please drink some water!"

The silver teeth bit into the pink lips, causing a pain that pierced the heart. The anger that had just surged within me cooled once more, transforming into a low response, "Hmm!"

Though she harbored resentment, this young lad before her had never acted according to reason since she joined. Amidst her anger, she could not help but feel a surge of hope. She hoped that he could truly devise some astonishing plan to help her and her brother escape from their predicament

"The nose, of course, is dripping from the nose. You all, didn't you see Liu San's nose smeared with white powder, and his head drenched with cold water?" A sharp, thin voice of a young boy followed closely. Although frail, it did not show the slightest hint of weakness

At this critical moment, the sky behind suddenly brightened, followed by the piercing sound of gongs and shouts, once again echoing through the city of Jiyang County. "The water is coming! The water is coming! The county office is flooding! Ding ding, ding ding, ding ding ding ding..."

Feng Yi and others were not in the mood to engage in battle with the officials and soldiers. They each curled their lips and dispersed. The entrance of the inn, which had been tightly blocked, suddenly became unobstructed. The county magistrate, Cen Peng, maintained a stern expression and lightly waved his hand, leading over a hundred fully armed county soldiers to charge in. In the blink of an eye, they created chaos on the first floor, and soon after, another group, like hungry wolves, rushed to the second floor, rummaging through each room without regard for whether the occupants were male or female.

The eldest son of Guxi Yang, Liu Yan of Chongling, has met with the county magistrate and several dignitaries! Liu Yan, the brother of Liu Xiu, turned a blind eye to Li Miao's attempt to escape, standing up generously and cupping his fists in salute to Cen Peng and others

Thank you, esteemed gentlemen, for your magnanimity. We take our leave. Those tied to the pillars are nothing but ruffians taking advantage of the chaos; we kindly ask you to escort them back for appropriate handling. As the saying goes, one should not strike a smiling face. Since the county magistrate and the county lieutenant of Jiyang have both voluntarily made concessions, Liu Yan and Feng Yi do not wish to escalate the matter further. They successively cupped their hands in salute and presented a generous gift with smiles.

Both he and Feng Yi are descendants of serving officials, and they have often heard their elders discuss the trivialities of the judiciary. Through constant exposure, they have learned how to protect themselves. Therefore, with just a few words, they not only completely rid themselves of the charge of "obstructing the county soldiers from capturing bandits," but also directly used solid evidence to counter the other party, causing their arrogance to diminish significantly.

The petty official was wronged! The village chief, Li Miao, immediately rolled off the stool and quickly crawled towards Yin Xuan and Cen Peng, saying, "Your Excellency the County Magistrate, Your Excellency the County Deputy, I am truly wronged. I have no acquaintance with these few people, yet I have been..."

Only County Lieutenant Ren Guang remained composed, unlike Cen Peng and Yin Xuan, who were in a state of utter confusion. Instead, he continued to scrutinize Liu Yan and the others several times, until he had examined Liu Yan to the point where veins began to bulge on the back of his hand. Only then did he suddenly release the handle of his knife, give a slight smile to his companions, and gracefully depart

"Third Brother!" Zhu You felt embarrassed, his face turning red, and he suddenly increased the strength in his arms, causing Liu Xiu to stumble. "She, she has already apologized, she has even knelt down for you..."

Wan Cheng Qu Yang

Ah— the changes throughout the entire process have been too rapid, catching everyone off guard, and they all gasped in low voices. However, Liu Xiu smiled slightly at the astonished Ma Sanniang and whispered, "If you want to save your brother, it mainly depends on you. I believe that if it weren't for Ma Wu's burden, you alone could lead the pursuers in circles and conveniently set a fire near the county office; it shouldn't be too difficult, right?"

"Li Miao, you fool, is this how you lead your troops?" The county magistrate Yin Xuan was left speechless by the question and could only vent his anger on his own subordinates. He walked a few steps sideways, grabbed the collar of the屯长 Li Miao, and questioned him through gritted teeth.

"Ah, are there really thugs taking advantage of the chaos?" The county magistrate Yin Xuan immediately understood the implication, waved his hand, and ordered the brothers behind him to go to the corridor pillars to deal with the injured thugs, while also collecting the stolen goods at their feet. When they return to the county office later, the stolen goods will be "confiscated" as usual, and the thugs can also be considered as subordinates of Ma Zi Zhang. After beheading them and covering their heads with mud, they can submit them and receive additional credit.