Wu Luoran, the County Magistrate of Chang 'an, led three teams of bailiffs to the Wan Nian County Yamen and saw that the three teams of bailiffs had already assembled. Not only was County Magistrate Wen present, but so was Gao Jingqian.
Gao Jingqian decided to teach the Shun School a lesson after receiving the generous gifts from the Chuan School. Early in the morning, he rushed to the yamen to report the security problems on Ba to Qi Anrun. Unexpectedly, Chancellor Li Jianbai of the Imperial Academy was also there.
Qi Anrun and Li Jianbai had always been close because both of his sons were studying in the Imperial Academy. Thus, Gao Jingqian did not think much of Li Jianbai's presence.
He wanted to meddle in the affairs of Ba out of selfishness, but he did so in a dignified manner. Thus, he did not conceal his intentions even though Li Jianbai was present. Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished, he saw a strange expression on Chancellor Li's face.
Gao Jingqian was very astute, he asked in a roundabout way. It turned out that Chancellor Li was also here for this purpose. Gao Jingqian immediately knew that this Chancellor Li was definitely the backer of some gang. Fortunately, both of them had the same goal, that was to punish the Shun Gate side. This way, both of their relationship immediately became much closer.
The two were chatting and laughing when Zhao Haochen, the County Magistrate of Chang 'an, and Wang Shixiu, the founding Marquis of Chang' an also arrived. The two indignantly reported to Qi Shaoyin that the gangs on Ba fought openly and covertly before and after the Spring Festival, which caused a large number of servants to be injured or disabled.
Zhao Haochen said, "Now that the Emperor's Western Tour is near, the imperial court has sent an imperial envoy to Chang 'an to manage the security within the Pass. The Chang' an judicial officials cannot escape the blame and should respond to the imperial court's order to crack down on the tyrants on Ba!"
Young Master Qi knew that there must be a reason for so many officials to come to the government office after the Lantern Festival to question the security of Ba. However, since the reasons given by the officials were reasonable, Young Magistrate Qi did not question them further and immediately agreed. He took the opportunity to order Adjunct Gao to take charge of the matter.
Gao Jingqian was secretly delighted. Since Wu Luoran had not arrived, he went to the Wan Nian County Yamen first. Wu Luoran led more than 60 bailiffs from Chang 'an to Wan Nian County Yamen. Gao Jingqian had already given instructions to the bailiffs from Wan Nian County Yamen. As soon as Wu Luoran arrived, Gao Jingqian urged the bailiffs from Wan Nian County to set off immediately to Ba.
Chang 'an was divided into Chang and Wan County Yamen and County. Yamen of the two counties were in the same city, but this was the first time. The constables from the two counties totaled to a hundred and twenty men. They rushed to the Ba River in a formidable array.
These days, Yamen had been living in County County Wan Yamen. Nian county yamen. Chang. Chang, and Yamen, and Yamen. a, the county. Yamen, Lun Nian County Yamen, Chang, he Yamen, then Wan, Yan Wen Yamen, Yamen Yamen. Long Yamen.
Wen Ao had been staying in Wan Nian County Yamen for a long time. He lived in the side yard of the county yamen. Even the slightest movement in Wan Nian County Yamen could not be hidden from him.
In previous years, Ba was the busiest time after the Spring Lantern Festival. After two and a half months of idleness, the workers had to meet with the stewards of the clan to receive their tasks. Some of the advance workers had to prepare to leave for Yangzhou to prepare for this year's transportation. The ships that had been docked for the entire winter had to undergo their final maintenance …
But this year, Ba still maintained a strange calmness. The docks were deserted. The ships were still docked there. The bare masts were like trees in winter. There was not the slightest hint of spring. The deck had not even been cleared of snow. There was not even a single footprint.
The town was also deserted. There were hardly any pedestrians on the streets. Usually, there was not a single person on the busiest central street. Even children would avoid this road. This road had become the dividing line between the ASEAN and the Western Alliance.
This made life difficult for the taverns and brothels that relied on the workers of Ba. Seeing that the reconciliation between the two factions was still far away, many people had moved from Ba to the west of Chang 'an to make a living. That was the main route for the camel caravans from the Western Region to enter the city. A large number of porters and laborers were gathered there. It was another abnormal and prosperous place in Chang' an.
However, along with the coldness of the day, Ba was the busiest at night. From time to time, there would be sounds of fighting and killing. The battle between the two alliances never stopped. The sneak attacks and attacks at night never stopped either. Many workers had been injured because of this.
One morning, when the sun was high up in the sky, the coldness and tranquility on Ba was suddenly broken. A group of constables in black clothes and boots appeared on Ba. They carried chains in their hands and swords on their waists. After the sudden appearance of a group of constables in front of Wen Changxing's memorial and the arrest of the young master of the Flood Dragon Society, Wen Bin, this was the second time in many years that a public errand had appeared on Ba.
The whole of Ba was quiet. Countless eyes were watching from the top of the walls, the roofs, and the cracks of the doors. Soon they found that this time, the targets of the public errand were the ASEAN gangs. Teams of constables and patrol officers broke into the houses of the main figures of the ASEAN gangs.
Recently, because of the battle between the two alliances, the families of the main figures of these gangs had a large number of thugs and guards. The families of important figures like the gang leaders even hired martial arts experts to protect their homes. But this time, they were facing the officials of the government. Unless they were determined to rebel, they wouldn't dare to resist.
Soon people were surprised to find that even Qiao Mu, the leader of the Shun Faction, Gan Qianhui, the leader of the Life League, and Huang Yunshan, the leader of the Three Rivers Gang, were taken out. Many of their stewards and disciples were following behind them. They looked shocked and angry, but they didn't dare to make a move. They were all people under the control of the government. The transportation they relied on for a living was given by the government. How could they have the guts to fight against the officials?
The constables of Wan Nian and Chang 'an Counties were extremely cautious when they arrived at Ba, which had always been unfamiliar to them. They unsheathed their steel swords and took strict precautions. As soon as they caught the leaders of the ASEAN gangs, they quickly retreated. When they left Ba Shang Town, the disciples of the West Alliance immediately ran to the streets, cheering and jumping as if they had just celebrated the New Year.
The whole Ba Shang Town was in an uproar. The leaders of the ASEAN gangs were caught in one fell swoop. What else did they have to worry about? Meanwhile, the disciples of the ASEAN gangs were dejected. They didn't resist the verbal provocation or physical contact of the disciples of the West Alliance. Once they lost their backbone, they didn't know what to do next.
Li Hei, Yan Shiwei, Qiao Sen, and other stewards looked as if they had lost their parents. They chased after the captured Qiao Mu all the way out of Ba Shang Town. They watched as the officials escorted the leaders of the gangs back to Chang 'an City. Only then did they return to the entrance of the Shun Faction with gloomy faces. They didn't say a word in the face of the mockery and ridicule of the West Alliance gang members.
But as soon as they entered the hall of the Shun Faction, the gloomy expression on Li Hei's face was swept away. The important figures of the Shun Faction all knew about today's change, especially him. He controlled the largest force of the Shun Faction. If he didn't know that the Shun Faction had a backup plan, no one could predict how he would react.
Facing this cruel and merciless old man, Gu Zhuting used and guarded against him. She couldn't hide the things that she should let him feel at ease. And Li Hei was very calm because he knew that the Shun Faction still had a trump card. If he could stay calm, then the whole Shun Faction would naturally stay calm.
Gao Jingqian rode on the horse. He occasionally looked back and saw Gan Qianhui, Huang Yunshan, Qiao Mu, and the others who were caught. They were dejectedly wearing the big shackles and staggering on their way. He couldn't help but sneer. To tell the truth, when he came to Ba Shang to arrest the people, he secretly broke out in a cold sweat. He was afraid that these unruly Jianghu people would really resist at all costs.
In that case, although Ba Shang's laborers were doomed to be publicly resisting the law, they were the first to bear the brunt and would definitely be the first to die. Now that the arrest went so smoothly, Gao Jingjun couldn't help but secretly let out a sigh of relief.
Just three miles away from Ba Shang, they could see the tall and majestic city gate of Chang 'an in the distance. Suddenly, a group of sentries rushed out from the gate like two black dragons, outflanking them from afar. Gao Jingqian was delighted and thought, "Junior Magistrate is really good at doing things. Did he send soldiers to help?"
The sound of hooves was getting closer, from weak to loud, from dull to clear. In an instant, the earth shook, the hooves were like thunder, and the clanking sound of armor colliding could also be heard clearly. There were only about two hundred riders, but their momentum was like that of a magnificent army. It was like a hurricane, whistling over.
Banners fluttered, horses galloped like dragons. The riders on the horses were all dressed in black armor, holding long spears and big halberds. They looked murderous. Such military attire was not the ordinary Chang 'an garrison, but the Emperor's personal guards — the soldiers of the Thousand Horsemen Battalion. For the past half a month, the soldiers of the Thousand Horsemen Battalion had been cooperating with the Ministry of Justice to rectify public order. Gao Jingqian was already very familiar with them.
When Gao Jingqian saw that the soldiers of the Thousand Horsemen Battalion were mobilized, he thought that Director Chen of the Ministry of Justice had heard the news and volunteered to lead troops to wipe out Ba Shang. He hurriedly lifted his horse and went to meet them.
On the opposite side, there were two groups of cavalry moving side by side along the official road. As soon as they came into contact with them, they immediately flanked them, forming a tight encirclement around the entire team of constables.
Gao Jingqian rode his horse forward alone. When he got closer, he saw two horses in front of him, with a civil official and a military official sitting on the horses. The civil official was Director Chen Dong of the Ministry of Justice. He also knew the military official, who had once asked him to lead the way and capture the fugitives of Chang 'an. He was a general of the Thousand Horsemen Battalion, named Maqiao.
Gao Jingqian laughed and came forward, cupping his hands and said, "Director Chen, General Ma, thank you for your welcome. The Ba Shang gang is afraid of the imperial court and dare not resist. They have already surrendered!"
Chen Dong's face suddenly darkened, and he shouted, "Who came to welcome you? How dare you, Gao Jingqian! I have received a report from the people, accusing you of colluding with the tyrants of Ba Shang to oppress the good people. Now that I have seen you, it is indeed true. Come, arrest Gao Jingqian and his men, and bring them to the Imperial Palace for trial! "
When Gao Jingqian heard this, he could not help but be dumbfounded. He turned pale and said, "Director Chen, you … you are …"
Maqiao held the reins in one hand and pointed the horsewhip forward with the other. He shouted sternly, "Arrest everyone except Gao Jingqian!"
The thousand soldiers of the Thousand Horsemen Battalion, who had already formed an encirclement around the constables of Wan Nian and Chang 'an Counties, pointed their sharp spears forward in unison, and shouted, "Disarm and be bound!"
The two county lieutenants, Wu Luoran and Lang Wen, looked at each other. "What's going on?"
At the same time, another group of horsemen arrived. They whizzed past the snow-covered fertile fields on the side of the official road. The scarlet capes of the military leaders fluttered in the air like red clouds. They were heading in the direction of Lake Ba.
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