"It's true."
"It really is General Zhao Feng."
"So young, with so many trusted aides by his side. It couldn't be anyone else."
Many People of Qin looked at Zhao Feng with admiration welling up in their eyes. In contrast, the citizens of other nations watched him with fear. Although Zhao Feng had not committed any massacres, his fierce reputation had spread far and wide, and he was even hailed as the "Invincible General."
"Yes." Zhao Feng nodded.
"Open the barricades. The general needs to enter the city and rest," Zhang Ming said solemnly.
"Understood."
The Prefecture Soldiers dared not disobey and immediately moved the barricades at the city gate to clear a path.
"Let's go."
Zhao Feng spurred his horse, moving slowly toward the city center where he naturally could not gallop. His trusted aides followed closely behind.
"Brother Wei, this is your hometown," Zhao Feng remarked after glancing around, a hint of surprise in his voice. "It's quite prosperous."
It was rare to see such prosperity in a border city.
"This city is adjacent to Hangu Pass. It was also a vital trade route for people from the Zhao State, Chu State, and others to enter Qin. That's why this city is so prosperous," Wei Quan explained with a smile.
"Let's not waste time. We'll go straight to your house," Zhao Feng said with a smile.
"Alright," Wei Quan replied, his face alight with excitement. After so many years away from home, he had no idea what state his family was in.
At this moment, in front of the Government Office.
A woman in her thirties stood before a government official and pleaded, "Sir, my husband's Annual Salary has not been paid for two years, and the amounts paid previously were incorrect. Our family requests an audience with the County Governor. Please, sir, we beg the County Governor for justice!"
"Mrs. Wei, it's not that we are stopping you," a government official said coldly. "But you know your family's situation. The County Governor simply will not see you."
"Embezzling my husband's Annual Salary... must the County Governor be so ruthless?" Mrs. Wei said in utter misery. "The events of that year are long past. Why does he continue to target our family like this?"
"Enough," another government official snapped. "Don't waste words on her. Get lost! If you linger at the Government Office any longer, don't blame us for throwing you in jail." He drew the blade at his waist, his threat clear.
"I won't leave!" Mrs. Wei cried frantically. "Our entire family relies on the Annual Salary to live! Without it, we can't survive! If you have the guts, then kill me! I will file a complaint! I'll take it to the Prefectural Governor, to the Shaofu!"
Her shouts drew a crowd of onlookers.
"Alas, what a pity for the Wei Family," one sighed. "They used to be doing so well, but then their daughter was defiled by that Mr. Bai. The Wei Family could find no justice and were beaten instead. Their daughter even went mad... oh, how pitiful."
"That's right," another added. "They say Mr. Bai has connections to the powerful Bai Family in the Capital. That's not something ordinary people can fight against."
"There's nothing to be done. Although Qin Law is strict, the officials of Linguan are all in it together. The Wei Family can't win. They're just trying to drive the Wei family to their deaths."
"And we commoners can only watch..."
The gathered crowd murmured amongst themselves. To them, aside from feeling pity for the Wei Family, there was nothing else to say. After all, they were powerless to change anything.
Just then, a roar of anger came from inside the Government Office. "What is all this noise? Impudent woman! How dare you cause a scene before the Government Office! Men, seize her!"
A dozen government officials rushed out and charged menacingly toward Mrs. Wei.
Seeing the official emerge, Mrs. Wei confronted him angrily. "County Governor, you finally dare to show your face! You embezzled my husband's Annual Salary for years! With so many people watching, are you not going to give me an explanation?"
Being called out in front of such a crowd, the County Governor's expression flickered. With a wave of his sleeve, he snapped, "Nonsense! Seize this wicked woman, lock her in the great prison, and interrogate her later. I will teach her the price of slander!"
At the County Governor's command, several government officials rushed toward Mrs. Wei, ropes in hand.
"Don't hurt my mother! Stop!"
Suddenly, the voices of two young boys cried out from the side. Two boys dressed in coarse hemp clothes ran over swiftly, shielding their mother behind them.
"You've come just in time," the County Governor said with a cold face. "You've been pestering us with false accusations for years. Today is the perfect day to arrest your entire family!" He then bellowed, "Seize the sons of the Wei Family!"
"Yes, sir!"
Several government officials stepped forward, ready to grab them.
"STOP!"
A thunderous roar cut through the air, followed by the sound of galloping hooves.
Wei Quan charged forward on his horse, surrounded by a group of trusted aides. All eyes turned toward him, their expressions filled with shock.
"Is that Wei Quan from the Wei Family? He's actually back?"
"And he's on a warhorse! He doesn't look like an ordinary soldier."
"Does he have a title? Is he already one of the Sharp Warriors?"
"Wasn't he in the Logistics Army?"
"Why does it look like Wei Quan's rank is quite high?"
Many in the crowd knew the Wei Family, and seeing Wei Quan's return left them utterly astonished.
The County Governor was also quite surprised to see Wei Quan. He actually managed to return alive?
However, he did not take Wei Quan seriously.
"Galloping on horseback within the city is a violation of Qin Law."