Luoshui County.
As soon as Xu Zhengnan moved, all the officers in the county office were mobilized.
Even the City Guards had dispatched large numbers of soldiers.
With the movement of these troops, the streets and various establishments controlled by the Black Tiger Gang were all sealed off.
Anyone who resisted was immediately killed on the spot.
Faced with the full force of the government, the Black Tiger Gang was crushed in one strike, having no ability to fight back.
Even the notorious leader of the Black Tiger Gang was cornered by the City Guards, who used a divine crossbow to shoot him with a barrage of arrows, piercing his heart.
As for the Sihe Merchant Association, they were surrounded by several head officers and completely trapped with no way out.
At the same time, the gates of Luoshui County were temporarily closed.
In such heavy snow, with fewer people coming and going through the gates, closing them caused no resistance.
Liu Mansion.
"Chief Xu, what is the meaning of this?" Liu Tianzheng walked out from the courtyard and looked at the Liu Mansion surrounded by a sea of people, his face immediately darkening.
"Today is the day of reckoning for the evil deeds of your Liu family in Luoshui County over the years," Xu Zhengnan said, then turned to look at the crowd of onlookers in the distance.
He continued, "Today, I, the chief officer, will use the fate of the Liu family to show the people of this city that justice, although late, will inevitably come!"
"Good!"
"Good!"
"Good!"
The cheers echoed from the distance.
The inner city residents, mostly the rich and powerful, although somewhat afraid of a figure like Xu Zhengnan and the officials, were much bolder than the common people from the outer city.
"Xu ZhengNan!" Liu Tianzheng glared at him. "What do you mean by this?"
Xu Zhengnan looked at the head of the Liu family, smiling faintly. "Isn't what I said clear enough?"
"You must be responsible for your words!" Liu Tianzheng said.
"Responsible?" Xu Zhengnan sneered. "I will, of course, be responsible."
With that, he tossed a piece of cloth toward Liu Tianzheng.
"Why did I say this today? Liu Tianzheng, you can see for yourself!"
Liu Tianzheng caught the cloth and gave Xu Zhengnan a deep look before opening it.
After a moment.
Liu Tianzheng crumpled the cloth into a ball.
"Xu Zhengnan, don't forget that you've taken the tribute silver from my Liu family all these years."
"That's right!" Xu Zhengnan smirked. "But that was all just hypocrisy and deceit! I never used that money. To eradicate your family's evil, I will return the money to the imperial court."
"Good!"
"Very good!!"
Seeing Xu Zhengnan, righteous and unyielding, Liu Tianzheng suddenly laughed in anger, continuing, "It seems you, Xu Zhengnan, have truly gone mad. You've made up your mind to be enemies with my Liu family."
"You're wrong!" Xu Zhengnan said slowly. "It's not just me who's your enemy; it's your Liu family that has brought death upon itself."
Xu Zhengnan then turned to the side and said, "Commander Jiang, what do you think?"
With these words, Liu Tianzheng's gaze shifted from Xu Zhengnan to Jiang Ning.
"It's you!!" Liu Tianzheng's pupils constricted. "Jiang Ning!"
"Indeed, it's me!" Jiang Ning replied coldly.
At this moment, Jiang Ning didn't mind Xu Zhengnan shifting some of the heat onto him.
Although Xu Zhengnan appeared straightforward, he was quite clever.
He certainly wouldn't take all the heat from the Liu family alone.
If he absorbed all the hostility and something unexpected happened say, if a major figure intervened to save the Liu family or if some of the Liu family members managed to escape Xu Zhengnan would face significant consequences in the future.
By pulling Jiang Ning into this, Xu Zhengnan ensured that the hatred of the Liu family was shared. Even if something went wrong, he would face less trouble in the future.
Liu Tianzheng stared at Jiang Ning, taking a deep breath, suppressing the despair that clouded his heart.
Jiang Ning's appearance filled him with far more despair than Xu Zhengnan's actions.
He had not forgotten the fate of the Cao family, who had once been stronger than the Liu family. Now, they were nearing their execution, with over two hundred members left to be beheaded in two days.
The Liu family's overall strength was now even weaker than the Cao family's.
If the Cao family had fallen to such a fate, the Liu family would have even less resistance.
"Why?" Liu Tianzheng asked, his voice filled with grief as he looked at Jiang Ning, his eyes slightly red.
"Commander Jiang, why do you have to destroy my Liu family?" Liu Tianzheng spoke again.
Jiang Ning replied, "Ask yourselves."
Then, Jiang Ning spoke again, "Chief Xu, proceed! Kill anyone who resists!"
"Yes, Commander Jiang!" Xu Zhengnan immediately responded.
He then waved his hand. "Follow me inside. Anyone who doesn't surrender will be killed without mercy!!"
"You dare?" Liu Tianzheng shouted angrily.
"You dare!" A stern voice suddenly came from afar.
Everyone turned to look in the direction of the voice, where a man dressed in an official uniform was rushing toward them.
Behind him, several officers followed closely.
"It's Liu Zhaonan!" Xu Zhengnan's eyes narrowed.
The Liu family, the one he feared the most, was Liu Zhaonan.
Liu Zhaonan, the leader of the younger generation in the Liu family, was also the only one who had joined the Inspection Court and obtained the position of Team Leader.
In terms of official rank, he was not as high as Xu Zhengnan.
However, the Inspection Court was a rising power in the imperial court, with immense authority and a high status.
Even he, Xu Zhengnan, would rather not have any conflict with someone like Liu Zhaonan.
However...
Xu Zhengnan secretly glanced at Jiang Ning and instantly felt reassured.
Although the position of Team Leader was high, how could it compare to that of the Deputy Commander?
Not to mention Jiang Ning's current strength.
With that extraordinary power, it wouldn't be long before Jiang Ning rose quickly within the Inspection Court.
Perhaps in a few years, when he met Jiang Ning again, he would have to show him great respect.
It was precisely because of this consideration that Xu Zhengnan made today's choice.
In no time, Liu Zhaonan landed in front of Liu Tianzheng.
"Father!" he respectfully said, then turned to Jiang Ning and Xu Zhengnan, "Commander Jiang, Chief Xu, what is the meaning of this?"
Xu Zhengnan immediately spoke, "Your Liu family has violated 78 articles of the Great Xia laws. Each and every crime has undeniable evidence, and now we must arrest you all and bring you back for trial."
"Evidence? Where's the evidence?" Liu Zhaonan asked.
Xu Zhengnan pointed to a piece of cloth stained with dirty snow on the ground, "It's all there. Your father lost it; see for yourself."
Upon hearing this, Liu Zhaonan gave Xu Zhengnan a cold glance and bent down to pick it up.
After just a moment of looking, his eyes filled with fury.
"What does this prove?"
"It says that I killed Wang Sanzhu? When did I kill him? His wife, Zhang Xiuhui, was bought by me!"
"Bought her?" Xu Zhengnan sneered, "At least you remember this. You paid the money, but it never reached his hands. Instead, he was left to rot at a mass grave outside the city."
At this moment, Jiang Ning watched the two of them preparing to continue their verbal sparring.
He immediately spoke, "Chief Xu, no need to say more. Arrest them."
"Commander Jiang is right. Arrest them and try them. If they've broken the laws of Great Xia, let the law decide their punishment!" Xu Zhengnan responded immediately.
"Let's see who dares!" Liu Zhaonan unsheathed half of his long sword and glared, "I've already notified Commander Yuan Hua, Commander Ye Qiu, and Lord Hong. They are on their way here to uphold justice. I dare anyone to act without the lord's order!"
"Commander Jiang, what do you think?" Xu Zhengnan hesitated and looked at Jiang Ning.
Liu Zhaonan's words made him wary.
According to the rules, if any Inspection Court personnel broke the law, only the Inspection Court could adjudicate the case.
The county office had no authority to do so.
This was also why the Inspection Court had such a high status.
It operated as an independent system with its enforcement rights.
Other law enforcement agencies had to cooperate unless it conflicted with the rules.
Moreover, Inspection Court personnel had the right to execute first and report later.
These numerous privileges gave Inspection Court members their high status.
This was why Xu Zhengnan hesitated.
Even though he had undeniable evidence of Liu Zhaonan's crimes, and according to the laws of Great Xia, Liu Zhaonan's crimes were punishable by death, Liu Zhaonan was no longer an ordinary person. He was now the Team Leader, a rank of the Inspection Court, equivalent to the eighth rank.
This position meant that even the county's chief constable, ranked eighth, couldn't touch him or impose punishment.
The only person who could act against Liu Zhaonan was Jiang Ning, who also held the eighth rank as Deputy Commander of the Inspection Court.
At this moment, Jiang Ning saw the hesitation in Xu Zhengnan's eyes.
He immediately spoke, "Since you say that Commander Yuan Hua, Commander Ye Qiu, and Lord Hong are on their way, then I will wait for them."
Upon hearing this, Liu Zhaonan felt reassured.
Not to mention Ye Qiu and Lord Hong, as long as Yuan Hua arrived, with Yuan Hua's backing, he would pass through this obstacle today.
In his mind, Jiang Ning was strong, but so what?
Commander Yuan Hua, however, was a martial genius from the academy.
He had already reached the seventh rank in martial arts.
He was from the prestigious academy in Guangning Prefecture, which was no small matter.
The academy's students received the orthodox teachings of the Martial Saint's House, and their martial arts skills were extraordinary.
Those like him, at the same martial arts rank, could easily take on two or even three opponents.
This was the power of orthodox teachings.
In Liu Zhaonan's view, with Yuan Hua's seventh rank martial arts strength, he could rank among the top three in the entire Luoshui County, aside from foreign martial artists like Ye Qiu, the four commanders, Lord Hong, and members of the Yellow Heaven Sect.
Once Yuan Hua arrived, with his strength, what was there to fear from Jiang Ning?
However, at this moment, Liu Zhaonan did not know that Yuan Hua had already fallen unconscious.
After Jiang Ning's Water-Fire True Force erupted inside Yuan Hua's body, his internal injuries were extremely severe, and he would need at least three to five months of rest to recover.
In the fine, falling snow, everyone stood still, waiting.
As for the Black Tiger Gang in the city, under the full force of the officials, with their leader already executed, the gang was wiped out in a matter of hours.
Those who were captured, captured; those who died, died.
The majority of the dead were killed, with almost no one surviving.
This was because, within the official forces, there had already been secret orders.
Anyone who could be killed should be killed.
Unless it was truly against the rules and in plain view, then they would be captured.
As time passed, the light snow gradually turned into heavy snow.
The sky grew darker, and soon, the officials lit torches.
The bright flames illuminated the area around Liu's residence, casting everything in light.
Although the wait was long, no one uttered a word of complaint.
Because the people they were waiting for were the most powerful and influential figures in Luoshui County. In front of Hong Minghu, even the County Magistrate would not stand a chance.
"They're here!"
Suddenly, Jiang Ning spoke.
"Is the Lord of the Mansion here?" Xu Zhengnan leaned forward, looking toward the direction of the inspection Office, and asked.
"And Commander Ye Qiu is here as well!"
As soon as Jiang Ning's words fell, Xu Zhengnan's eyes sharpened.
"Hong Mansion's Lord and Commander Ye Qiu are here!" Xu Zhengnan said, his gaze briefly flickering over Liu Zhaonan.
When Liu Zhaonan mentioned that he had sent people to invite those two important figures, Xu Zhengnan didn't take it seriously.
Someone like Hong Minghu, such a high-ranking figure, would hardly involve themselves in such small matters, and it was already good enough that Ye Qiu had come.
But now, it seemed Liu Zhaonan truly had some abilities, enough to invite the mighty Hong Minghu.
"Greetings, Lord of the Mansion!" Jiang Ning cupped his hands.
"There's no need for such courtesy, Commander Jiang!" Hong Minghu immediately smiled.
At that moment, everyone else also greeted Hong Minghu and Ye Qiu.
After a moment, Hong Minghu scanned his surroundings and the crowd.
"What is going on here?"
"Sir, Commander Jiang is settling personal grudges," Liu Zhaonan immediately reported with a look of indignation but was interrupted by Hong Minghu waving his hand.
"Xu Chief, you explain!" Hong Minghu turned to Xu Zhengnan.
"Lord, over the past few years, the Liu Mansion has been involved in numerous major cases, and the number of lives they have taken is beyond count! The site where you just visited, which is a stronghold of the Cult of the God of Worship, is a black market operated by the Liu Mansion, and the Black Tiger Gang is one of their criminal organizations," Xu Zhengnan explained.
"Oh? So, the Liu Mansion is colluding with the Cult of the God of Worship?" Hong Minghu asked.
"Lord, that's not the case!" Liu Zhaonan hurriedly spoke up, wanting to defend himself.
"Silence!" Ye Qiu cast a cold glance at Liu Zhaonan, and his gaze was so oppressive that Liu Zhaonan immediately shut up.
At this moment, Xu Zhengnan gave Liu Zhaonan a brief look before looking away. He then took out a small book that had already been prepared.
"Lord, please take a look. This book contains records of the various crimes the Liu Mansion has committed over the years."
"Half of these cases have solid evidence ready for presentation."
Upon hearing this, Hong Minghu was visibly surprised. He took the book from Xu Zhengnan's hands.
He flipped through it briefly and said, "Xu Chief, you've truly prepared everything thoroughly."
As he spoke, Hong Minghu meticulously went through each page from beginning to end.
The place became completely silent.
However, beads of sweat began to appear on Liu Tianzheng's forehead, and Liu Zhaonan's expression also grew very grim.
From Ye Qiu and Hong Minghu's attitude, it was clear that the Lord of the Mansion was clearly favoring Jiang Ning.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Hong Minghu closed the book.
"If the evidence is true, arrest them! Captain Liu and the other Liu Mansion members, arrest them all!" Hong Minghu ordered.
"Yes, Lord!" Xu Zhengnan immediately cupped his hands in acknowledgment.
"Lord, Xu Zhengnan has issues, don't trust him!" Liu Zhaonan shouted.
"Silence!" Ye Qiu gave a light reprimand, and in a flash, appeared beside Liu Zhaonan.
He lightly tapped Liu Zhaonan, and instantly, Liu Zhaonan collapsed to the ground like a deflated balloon, powerless and weak.
At this moment, Jiang Ning's gaze also suddenly sharpened.
"Internal and external cultivation, transforming internal energy into reality!" He was inwardly astonished.
Apart from himself, Ye Qiu was the first martial artist he had encountered who had achieved the level of integrating internal and external cultivation and transforming internal energy into solid form.
The fact that Liu Zhaonan had collapsed so suddenly was proof of how profound Ye Qiu's method was.
Seeing this, Xu Zhengnan felt even more certain.
Both Ye Qiu and Hong Minghu were on his side.
The key to this, he easily guessed, was Jiang Ning.
Because he knew very well that without Jiang Ning, he wouldn't have the face to carry out such a plan.
Then, Xu Zhengnan waved his hand. "Go in and arrest them. Anyone who resists, kill them on the spot!"
"You handle it," Hong Minghu said indifferently.
He then turned to Jiang Ning and spoke, "Once this matter is handled, if you have the time, Commander Jiang, you are welcome to join me at Mingyue Tower!"
Jiang Ning cupped his hands in reply, "Lord's kindness is overwhelming. I will certainly visit later!"
Upon hearing this, Hong Minghu smiled and nodded.
On the other side, Liu Zhaonan lay helplessly in the snow, and gradually, the snow covered his body.
As he saw this, his eyes were filled with intense sorrow and rage.
"Under the Rule of Power, where is the justice?!"
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