"Your subordinate pays his respects, County Captain."
Chen Sheng proceeded to the rear hall of the Changshan County Government Office. Perhaps Wu Kuang had already given the order, because his path was clear, allowing him to walk straight into the inner chamber. Wu Kuang was leisurely sipping a cup of fragrant tea. When he saw Chen Sheng enter, he gestured casually.
"Sit."
Chen Sheng took a seat as instructed. The moment he sat down, he couldn't help but lean forward and ask pressingly:
"County Captain, has there been... any word from the Prefecture City?"
Seeing his urgency, Wu Kuang couldn't help but smile. He set down his teacup. "I knew you wouldn't be able to wait. With all the chaos in North City these past few days, you must have been under considerable pressure."
"My objectives are clear and I have a firm grasp of the situation. These minor disturbances are hardly what I'd call pressure."
Chen Sheng shook his head, his expression serene.
"Oh, you..." Wu Kuang pointed at him, chuckling, then his expression turned serious. He took a deep breath, and his tone became solemn and grave. "The reply from the Prefecture City has arrived."
He paused, his gaze fixed sharply on Chen Sheng.
"The letter greatly praises our previous actions in restoring military discipline and punishing insubordination. It encourages us to persevere and act boldly. And... it explicitly states that as long as we don't provoke a widespread civil uprising and cause the situation to spiral completely out of control, we have a free hand to do as we see fit!"
Hearing this, a great weight was finally lifted from Chen Sheng's heart. He knew, however, that the one who truly needed this reassurance was Wu Kuang. He immediately adopted a fitting expression of relief.
"With this word from the Prefecture City, I can finally be at ease. I will not fail to live up to our superiors' expectations!"
"Good." Wu Kuang nodded, satisfied. He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice. "So, what's your plan?"
A cold glint appeared in Chen Sheng's eyes, and he made no effort to conceal his killing intent.
"I'm preparing to strike with overwhelming force and wipe out the Seven Stars Gang, severing one of the Gao Family's limbs!"
"A direct assault..." Wu Kuang's eyes flickered as his fingers tapped lightly on the desk. He was clearly weighing the risks and rewards of such a move.
Seeing his hesitation, Chen Sheng quickly explained:
"Rest assured, my lord. I am not acting recklessly. Before we move, I will be sure to 'collect' enough ironclad evidence to doom the Seven Stars Gang completely. Treason, inciting riots, harming the common folk... Every single charge will make them deserving of death ten times over, so no one can find fault with our actions.
Once the Seven Stars Gang is toppled, it will be a tangible political victory for you with the Prefecture City. It will also demonstrate the resolve and competence of the County Captain of Changshan's office, ensuring you are never put on the defensive."
Chen Sheng then laid out their advantages, the potential resistance they might face, and a rough outline of his operational plan.
Of course, he intentionally left a few minor "oversights" and "careless" spots in the details—openings for his superior to offer guidance and display his own veteran experience.
As expected, after listening, Wu Kuang mulled it over for a moment before pointing out several key issues.
"The evidence must be concrete; leave no room for criticism. Also, you must secure the Seven Stars Gang's various storehouses immediately. We can't have looters taking advantage of the chaos, or someone secretly moving their assets..."
Chen Sheng put on an expression of "sudden enlightenment" and "admiration" at just the right moment, cupping his hands in a salute again and again.
"The County Captain is truly experienced and thorough in his considerations. I am, after all, still young and reckless, and my own thinking was incomplete. Thank you for your guidance, my lord!"
Wu Kuang laughed heartily, feeling quite pleased with himself. He waved a hand. "Ah, no need to be so modest. It's rare for someone your age to possess such decisiveness and strategic thinking."
"You praise me too highly, my lord."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Chen Sheng rose to take his leave and prepare for the operation. But Wu Kuang suddenly called out to him, a flicker of hard-to-read concern in his eyes.
"How confident are you in dealing with Ma Changhai? He couldn't have become the Gang Leader without considerable strength. If you need me to personally oversee the battle..."
He acknowledged Chen Sheng's strength, but the man was young. He worried that in the heat of a chaotic battle, Chen Sheng might not be able to maintain complete control.
Chen Sheng turned and offered a salute.
"Rest assured, County Captain. The Seven Stars Gang is nothing more than a minor nuisance; why would we need to trouble you to act personally? Leave it to me. On the other hand, if the Gao Family and the County Magistrate get wind of this, I'm afraid they'll try to interfere. At that point..."
At this, a faint, knowing smile of confidence appeared on Wu Kuang's face. He waved his sleeve.
"In that case, do as you see fit. I will handle the Gao Family and Lin Shou for you. If they dare make a move, I'll take the opportunity to see what they're really made of!"
"With your word, my lord, I have no lingering concerns! I take my leave!"
...
North City Military Camp, the training grounds.
An air of deadly solemnity filled the grounds. Over a hundred armored and armed soldiers stood in formation, utterly silent. The only sound was the occasional, cold clink of weapons.
At the head of the formation, ten black Wind-Breaking Crossbows were lined up, their massive bolts already nocked and gleaming with a terrifying, cold light.
These were the Government Office's ultimate weapons for suppressing local dissent and dealing with high-level Martial Dao experts!
Once fired, the bolts struck with immense force. An average Martial Master would be wounded on contact, and even a Bone Forging expert wouldn't dare to face one head-on.
Against anyone below the Marrow Transformation Realm, they were veritable life-reaping instruments.
All of Changshan County possessed only twenty such heavy crossbows, and half of them had been mobilized today. This was more than enough firepower to deal with a single Seven Stars Gang.
The soldiers on the field didn't dare to whisper, but their exchanged glances were filled with shock, doubt, and tension.
A deployment of this scale was no mere patrol or riot suppression!
Only Vice Commander Cheng's face was pale, beads of sweat forming on his brow. 'He had a sickening feeling he knew what was happening, but he couldn't believe the Government Office would actually resort to such extreme measures.'
THUMP... THUMP... THUMP...
The heavy, rhythmic sound of hoofbeats drew closer, shattering the oppressive silence of the training grounds.
Everyone instinctively turned toward the sound. They saw Chen Sheng, clad in jet-black light armor and riding a magnificent black warhorse, entering at a slow canter.
His gaze was placid and his face was grim. An oppressive, murderous aura, forged in the blood and fire of the battlefield, washed over them, instantly blanketing the entire grounds.
The warhorse came to a halt in the center of the grounds. Chen Sheng's sharp, hawk-like gaze swept slowly over every face below. None dared to meet his eyes; all lowered their heads. Even the words of protest on the tip of Vice Commander Cheng's tongue were forced back down by the immense, unseen pressure.
"All men, hear my command!"
Chen Sheng's voice wasn't loud, but it carried with a metallic timbre, reaching every ear. "By my investigation, Ma Changhai, Gang Leader of the Seven Stars Gang, and his followers have for years defied authority and stirred up chaos! They have colluded with the Qinglin Water Bandits, terrorized the local villages, incited refugees, and committed countless acts of murder and robbery! Their blood debts are too numerous to list! Today, the evidence is undeniable, the case against them ironclad!"
He paused, letting the words sink in, then his voice boomed. "I, your commander, under orders from the County Captain, have resolved to wipe out the Seven Stars Gang today! We will eradicate this evil, cleanse this county, and return justice and peace to the people of Changshan!"
A dead silence fell over the training grounds, broken only by the sound of heavy, ragged breaths.
Chen Sheng took in their reactions. His tone suddenly shifted, and a smile that could almost be described as "gentle" touched his lips. The meaning behind it, however, sent a chill down the spine.
"Of course, that's the official story. That's our righteous cause for mobilizing the army."
His voice became more casual, yet it seemed to carry even further.
"But between us, brothers, I can be more direct. For the past few days, haven't those bastards from the Seven Stars Gang been disrespecting our North City Military Camp? Running wild on our turf? They're digging their own graves!"
He chopped a hand through the air, his voice firm and decisive. "I only have one thing to say today, and I want you all to remember it! We will annihilate the Seven Stars Gang and confiscate their illicit gains! After we turn over the required portion to the Government Treasury, everything else—all the silver coins and valuables—we, as brothers... will share in the fortune!"
His eyes blazed as he scanned the crowd. "In this battle, those who charge forward bravely will be handsomely rewarded! If any are unfortunately killed or wounded, their family's compensation will be doubled!"
He suddenly roared, "You tell me! Does the Seven Stars Gang deserve to be slaughtered?!"
"Slaughter them!!" Yan Ming was the first to pump his fist in the air, roaring himself hoarse.
"Slaughter them!!" Immediately, all the veterans who had followed him from the Mountain Camp erupted like dry tinder set ablaze. They had been bottling up their rage for far too long!
"KILL! KILL! KILL!!"
The deafening roars crashed over them like a tsunami, one wave higher than the last, quickly infecting the local soldiers who had still been hesitant.
The lure of wealth, the passion of their comrades, and their long-held resentment for the Seven Stars Gang's tyranny all ignited at once. The roars of a hundred men merged into a pillar of killing intent that soared to the heavens!
Chen Sheng nodded slightly, extremely satisfied with their morale. He yanked his horse's head around, his crop pointing straight toward the Seven Stars Gang's Main Hall. His voice was like a drawn sword, sharp and bone-chillingly cold.
"Target: the Seven Stars Gang Main Hall! Move out!"
"Yes, sir!" Yan Ming roared in acknowledgment and immediately began directing the troops.
Squads of soldiers sprang into action. Armor clanged and weapons bristled like a forest of steel. Pushing the ten fearsome Wind-Breaking Crossbows before them, they surged out of the Military Camp's gates like a river of iron, their heavy, synchronized steps carrying them straight toward the heart of North City.
"Commander, this... isn't this too extreme? Perhaps we should reconsider..." Vice Commander Cheng finally found a chance to approach Chen Sheng, his face pale as he spoke in a low voice.
Chen Sheng didn't even glance at him. He simply uttered two words, his voice filled with unquestionable authority:
"Move out."
Staring at Chen Sheng's determined back and the torrent of soldiers surging forward, Vice Commander Cheng gritted his teeth. Ultimately, he didn't dare to disobey. Steeling himself, he quickened his pace and fell in with the troops.
The sight of a hundred fully armed government soldiers marching out of the Military Camp was an immense commotion.
Pedestrians and vendors on the main street blanched at the sight. They scattered in a panic, ducking into side streets and alleys. Peeking out from their hiding places, they watched in terror as the murderous army marched through the city. A wave of hushed arguments and shocked gasps instantly erupted in every corner.