Chapter 4: A Hero's Fury Captures the Tiger and Wolf

"Get down!" Liu Yan stepped forward and crouched down, extending his right leg to deliver a powerful sweep. The squad leader who was leading the capture of Ma Wu was sent flying more than two zhang into the air, landing with a loud "bang" and rolling over like a tumbling gourd.

Ah! The wind is strong! The remaining soldiers in the courtyard sensed the danger, lacking the courage to rush out for help or to protect their own captain. They turned around and scurried into the inn like frightened mice. Meanwhile, the survivors in the inn, having escaped the calamity, completely abandoned their hopes of yielding to the situation. They grabbed table legs, rolling pins, and kitchen knives, surrounding and mercilessly beating the fallen soldiers, who soon found themselves crying out for their mothers.

The scholar opened his tear-filled eyes in both shock and joy, only to see the town chief, wielding a steel knife, being beaten to a pulp by Liu Yan, who was barehanded, his face bruised and his armor askew. Meanwhile, the soldiers who had rushed out from the inn were being continuously stabbed to the ground by four other men who had accompanied Liu Yan earlier, blood flowing profusely.

The captain leading the team to capture Ma Wu had no time to pay attention to what the ruffians were shouting. He immediately ordered his subordinates to step forward and apprehend several looters, catching them "red-handed". He then turned his head and smiled at Liu Yan, saying: "Since you are from an official family, you naturally have no connection with that Zhang fellow. There is no need to search the room you and your companion are in. However, I am tasked with capturing a major criminal, and I cannot be negligent. The rooms of the others, however, must be searched thoroughly!"

The village chief said, "Those who travel outside are all respectable individuals, carrying travel permits issued by the authorities!" Liu Yan chased after a few steps, his voice gradually rising.

His gaze suddenly fell upon the heads of the gangsters tied to the column, and he was taken aback for a moment. His tone shifted instantly, "Who are they? Why have you tied them up?"

The door must be opened! Liu Yan also understood that one cannot forcefully confront without sufficient reason. He frowned slightly, nodded in agreement, and then quickly turned his gaze to his brother-in-law Deng Chen and his newly acquainted partner Feng Yi, "Wei Qing, Gongsun, you two hide behind the door and wait for the right moment to act"

Refusing to accept a search is tantamount to harboring. Harboring bandits is punishable by the same crime as treason

The children of respectable families generally have a clear lineage, possess stable assets, and are well-versed in both literature and martial arts, making it likely for them to be recruited by the court as officials in the future. Therefore, under normal circumstances, the authorities seldom intentionally create difficulties for them. However, that is merely the usual situation; since the establishment of the New Dynasty, circumstances have been rather exceptional. Tonight, as the troops pursue the屯长 Ma Wu, who is eager to acquire a windfall to compensate for the losses incurred from purchasing an official position, he not only refuses to acknowledge Liu Yan's goodwill but also turns around, frowning, and sternly rebukes: "You are, after all, a child of an official family; how can you be so ignorant of the rules? When have the county soldiers ever allowed commoners to interfere in their affairs? If it weren't for your youth..."

"Judging by their attire, they must be local militia, definitely backed by the local government." The valley hero Zhang Jun quickly stole a glance at the outsiders and then added in a low voice

"Whoever you say is Ma Wu's accomplice is indeed Ma Wu's accomplice, Captain, you truly possess great power!" Liu Yan stepped forward, as if sweeping away a spider's web, casually pushing the gleaming blade aside. "According to the military laws of the Great New Dynasty, when on campaign, killing the innocent and taking credit for their achievements is an unforgivable crime. If your men do not cease their actions, I, Liu, will risk my life to travel to Chang'an and sound the drum of justice to report your heinous deeds to the heavens!"

"You, you..." The retired county magistrate's son never expected that he would dare to oppose him time and again. The captain leading the team to capture Ma Wu was furious. Gritting his teeth, he pointed the tip of his knife at Liu Yan's nose and roared, "I suspect that this couple is in cahoots with Ma Wu. I must apprehend them for questioning. You must step aside immediately. Otherwise, do not blame me for charging you with being an accomplice to banditry!"

"It's all good, it's all good, brothers are just joking around, don't worry, it won't cost anyone their life!" The squad leader didn't really want to get involved, but he was also unwilling to undermine his face, so he took a few steps forward, lazily brushing it off.

"You have no right to interfere!" The team leader, feeling embarrassed, retorted with a stiff neck, "I suspect that thieves have hidden in the inn. You must quickly open the main door and allow my men to search. If we find nothing, I will naturally lead my team away. However, if you dare to refuse, hmph..."

Before long, there was another sound of footsteps outside the door. It was several soldiers, carrying the "stolen goods" seized from the homes of the common people, coming over with an imposing demeanor

However, the roar that followed, which reached his ears, filled him with unexpected joy. He could hear the village chief shouting endlessly like a mad dog: "You, you dare to retaliate? Ah, you, you actually dare, dare to strike this official. You are seeking death! Ah! Ah ah ah! It hurts so much. If I don't kill your entire family, I swear I won't be human! Someone, take everyone in this courtyard down for me! Ah ah ah! It hurts so much. If I don't kill your entire family, I swear I won't be human! Someone, take everyone in this courtyard down for me! I am certain that Ma Zi Zhang is being hidden by them! Someone, hurry! Capture this scoundrel for me, this scoundrel has violated the law with his martial skills! Someone, hurry and help me, this thief is a trained fighter—"

"My lady, my lady!" A scholar, dressed in traditional attire, cried out as he jumped down from the window. Ignoring his own bruised and battered face, he limped over to the woman, wailing loudly, "My lady, wake up, my lady, we can forgo those few pieces of jewelry, we can forgo them, just consider them lost, just consider them carelessly lost!"

Deng Chen and Feng Yi worked together to secure the main gate, then turned to draw their swords. With one strike each, they pierced the thighs of the remaining soldiers one by one

Outrageous! It was as if those kicks landed squarely on their own faces. The leading captain, furious, exclaimed, "Liu, are you trying to protect the Ma siblings?"

Ah! The well-known traveler hesitated slightly in his action of taking out money, and was kicked out the door by a sergeant. Four county soldiers, fierce as wolves and tigers, chased after him, pinning him to the ground and rummaging through his chest and waist.

"It is not Ji Yang, it is Ji Yang, with a falling tone!" Liu Yan smiled again, patiently correcting.

"Spare my life, military officer, spare my life. My master is a scholar, recently recommended as a scholar in the state." Three men dressed as servants rushed out, yet they did not dare to pull the soldiers away, only surrounding the scholarly couple and continuously bowing their heads.

The target is precisely the scholar! The county soldiers have already gone wild, showing no concern for the identity of those being robbed and insulted. Those who are fighting continue to fight, and those who are stripping continue to strip, creating a scene of great chaos.

I will fight you to the end! The scholar, unable to contain his anger, swung his fists wildly at the soldiers. Unfortunately, his frame was too frail, and he was quickly knocked down beside his wife by the soldiers. Following that, he was beaten until blood flowed from his mouth and nose, curling up like a broken shrimp, clutching his head.

The eldest son of Gu Ji Yang, Liu Yan of Chongling, has met with the camp leader! Liu Yan did not flinch or evade, crossed his arms, and responded with a smile, "Previously, there were thieves taking advantage of the chaos, so we had to be cautious and vigilant, which is why we locked the main gate. It was not our intention to be negligent. If we have offended you in any way, I hope the camp leader will be understanding."

This is my travel money for going to Hanoi. There are still over a thousand miles to go, sir, you cannot take it all away!

"Spare my life!" The once formidable captain, now like a pig awaiting slaughter, cried out loudly, "Spare my life, brave warrior! I, a lowly official, will never dare again! I have an eighty-year-old mother..."

Where to go

Surrender, you all hurry up and surrender. Bastards, do you want to kill me!

"Call for reinforcements, hurry and call for reinforcements. Ma Zizhang is here, and all of Ma Zizhang's associates are here!" The leading squad leader, having endured countless blows, felt dizzy and disoriented, filled with both fear and resentment, raised his voice and issued a loud command

"Surrender your weapons, or else I will flay you alive!" He quickly closed the distance, stepping on the back of the station chief, drawing his sword with one hand, and slowly pressing it down. "Don't play dead; I will count to three. You start from four, and if you hesitate for even a moment, I will slice off a piece of your flesh, one..."

The humiliating cries rose and fell. The travelers in the inn lacked the courage to resist. They accepted their fate, hoping that by losing wealth they could avoid disaster

"Did your father serve as the magistrate of Jiyang County?" Upon hearing Liu Yan claim to be the son of an official family, the commanding officer leading the team immediately lost his arrogance, paused in surprise, and hesitated to confirm.

The local ruffians were so frightened that their souls seemed to leave their bodies, and they cried out loudly for mercy. After dawn, they were handed over to the county office by Liu Yan. According to the crimes they committed that night, at most they would receive a beating and then be sent to the border as soldiers. However, if they fell into the hands of the county soldiers, they would likely face execution, being treated as accomplices of bandits, a fate from which they could not escape.

A few relatively clever soldiers, upon hearing this, immediately seemed to awaken from a dream. With a scream, they bypassed the man blocking their way and dashed towards the door along the wall. Before their legs could cross the threshold, the two doors suddenly closed with a loud "bang" as if they had come to life, causing the two fastest soldiers to collide and fall flat on their backs.

Ah! The scholar, who was blocked behind Liu Yan, screamed and closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face. Although the blade did not strike his head, he felt it deeply. At such a close distance, with no prior indication of movement, his benefactor was undoubtedly doomed.

The heavy wooden door creaked open, revealing a narrow gap under the force of the night wind. Outside, the village chief, already feeling anxious and irritated from waiting, immediately led his soldiers in a rush. Upon entering the courtyard, without even glancing at the surroundings, he pointed his treasured sword at Liu Yan, who was quietly waiting directly in front of the main gate, and shouted sternly: "Who are you? Why are you deliberately obstructing this general from capturing the bandits?"

A few sentences, spoken with great vigor and resonance. The soldiers who were plundering the common people in the inn suddenly felt a chill in their hearts upon hearing this. They all stopped their actions, standing in the main hall and the corridors on the second floor, looking towards their leader.

Liu was unable to obtain it! Liu Yan did not think twice and immediately nodded gently

The standing army of the Great New Dynasty is divided into two categories: the official troops and the local troops. The former is directly dispatched by the court and is primarily used to suppress large-scale rebellions. The latter is under the control of local officials and is responsible for eliminating bandits within their jurisdiction. In terms of combat effectiveness, the local troops are far inferior to the official troops; however, when it comes to the ability to harm the common people, they are unmatched by the official troops.

The innkeeper was so frightened that his legs trembled, leaving him with no ideas. He raised his tearful eyes to Liu Yan, pleading for him to take charge. Liu Yan, having already formulated a plan in his mind, did not decline. He moved his body slightly away from the door and responded loudly: "May I ask which lord's subordinate the general outside is? Since you are here on an imperial mission to eliminate bandits, why have you not engaged them in battle in the wilderness, but instead come to the county town?"

Don't, don't take off my clothes. I, I will get it myself. The wallet, the wallet is here, not, not, ah!

Ah—! A sharp scream suddenly echoed from the guest room on the second floor. Immediately after, a disheveled woman, barefoot, jumped down from the window and fell onto the hard, dry earth of the courtyard, blood streaming down her face

Liu Yan turned his head and quickly glanced back, promptly providing an answer, "Reporting to the commander, they are the thieves who took advantage of the chaos. They were previously captured by me and a few companions, which is why they are tied to the pillar, waiting to be handed over to the authorities for disposal after dawn"

The team leader, upon seeing the grand architecture of the Gaosheng Inn, with stone posts in front specifically for tying up horses of individual travelers, immediately concluded that there might be a group of easy targets hiding inside. After exchanging a brief word with his subordinates, he took the lead and rushed forward.

The soldiers, well-versed in their duties, repeatedly recited the threatening words

Lie down to avoid death

"Good!" Deng Chen and Feng Yi nodded without hesitation, then quickly walked to either side of the main gate, pressing their bodies against the courtyard wall. Liu Yan looked around, confirming that his method was feasible. He took a deep breath, sheathed his sword, and stepped forward, forcefully pulling open the latch.

The couple has fallen to such a miserable state, yet those opportunistic bandits still do not wish to let them go. One after another, several of them rushed out from the window, snatching jewelry and valuables from the unconscious woman while taking the opportunity to grope her chest.

Two

Whether it is the official of Jiyang or the official of Jiyang, they are all officials appointed by the court. Regardless of whether they are officials of the Han Dynasty or officials of the Xin Dynasty, their clan influence is unlikely to be weak. The captain leading the team also comes from a branch of a prominent family; how could he be unaware of the stakes involved? Instantly, his arrogance diminished by three inches, and with a smile, he said loudly: "Since you are the children of officials, it is only right to act justly and help the common people deal with bandits. Previously, your reluctance to open the door for this general, for this official, I shall not pursue it. However..."

Spare me, I will never dare again. I have an eighty-year-old mother above me

"Spare my life, spare my life, I have an eighty-year-old mother above me and a three-year-old child below me..." As the saying goes, what kind of leader brings what kind of soldiers. The remaining soldiers who have not yet fallen to the ground all dropped their weapons and knelt down, crying out in desperation as if they had rehearsed their lines beforehand. The bravery they displayed while robbing and injuring others was nowhere to be seen at this moment

"I dare not!" Liu Yan quickly turned his head, using his body to shield the injured scholar couple, and responded in a deep voice, "I, Liu, have only seen the officials and soldiers exploiting the common people for their own gain, yet I have not seen the Ma siblings committing murder and arson!"

"Alright, alright!" The village chief responded repeatedly, then quickly waved his hand behind him, "Brothers, it's time to get to work. Keep your eyes sharp, don't let the Ma siblings escape!"

Sir, please show some mercy. I only have these two coins left, and I haven't even paid for my shop expenses yet

... ...

It is not easy to be away from home; I kindly ask you, esteemed sir, to properly restrain your subordinates and not to cause excessive disturbance. Liu Yan could not think of a reason to refuse, so he could only step aside and clasp his hands in request

He carries the imperial order; if we insist on not opening the door, we might be accused later on! Liu Zhi, having been taught by his father and uncle, understood the intricacies of the officialdom quite well. After a moment of hesitation, he looked up and reminded Liu Yan.

Open the door, acting under imperial orders to apprehend thieves. Refusal to accept a search is tantamount to harboring criminals. Harboring bandits is a crime equivalent to treason! The soldiers also became excited, without waiting for the garrison commander to urge them, they proactively shouted in unison. They threatened the innkeeper to quickly open the door and allow them to enter and do as they please

Stop! Liu Yan pleaded with the camp leader several times, only to receive harsh reprimands in return. Unable to endure any longer, he shouted loudly and stepped forward, raising his foot to kick several shameless soldiers to the ground one by one. "Are you officials and soldiers, or bandits?"

Refusing to accept a search is tantamount to harboring. Harboring bandits is punishable by the same crime as treason

Wronged, the petty person is wronged! The petty person merely takes a stroll after finishing a meal...

Please, my lord, impose some constraints on my brothers! Liu Yan looked on with great reluctance, furrowing his brow, and opened his mouth again to plead.

Help, Master Liu, help me!

Do not hit, do not hit, I will give, I will give

Oh! The leader murmured softly, his gaze sweeping over several ruffians before finally resting on the stolen goods beside the column. He then broke into a smile, saying, "There is no need for such trouble; just hand them over to me, along with the loot they plundered tonight!"

Refusing to accept a search is tantamount to harboring. Harboring bandits is equivalent to conspiracy against the state

Understood! An excited uproar erupted from the ranks behind. The soldiers, like long-estranged bachelors encountering a naked woman, rushed into the inn with reddened eyes. Within three or two breaths, they stirred up chaos inside, creating a scene of utter disarray.

With so many subordinates watching eagerly, the leading captain suddenly understood that if he did not deal with this young man before him today, he would certainly be unable to save face. Resolutely, he steeled himself, raised his steel knife high, and struck directly at Liu Yan's forehead, shouting, "Bold and unruly commoner, I will kill you first!"