County Magistrate Fang was somewhat speechless, Comrade Jiang, this is the government office, can you speak more civilly? You are not a mountain bandit, why address people as ’old man’?

Jiang Qi looked at County Magistrate Zheng: "Sir, let’s proceed as San Lang suggested, this indeed seems a good plan, much better than using money from government coffers and getting punished by the Emperor later."

Even if you are from the Zheng Family and have Old Master Zheng’s support, you cannot be this willful.

"Alright, let’s do as San Lang proposed!" County Magistrate Zheng swept away the exhaustion from a sleepless night and cheerfully said: "San Lang, present all the evidence you’ve collected; Squad Leader Jiang, immediately bring Elder Shi, Bai Changfu, and the captured people from Bai Village to the court, I need to conduct a hearing and convict them."

After conviction, we can confiscate the Gao family’s Silver.

"Understood."

"As you command."

Qin San Lang and Squad Leader Jiang responded simultaneously, and the two began to take action.

Before long, after everything was ready, County Magistrate Zheng, energized, took the evidence Qin San Lang submitted and ascended the court.

County Magistrate Zheng hurried to confiscate the Gao family’s property, not wasting time with Elder Shi, Bai Changfu, and the others, using severe tortures from the prison straightaway, which caused Elder Shi and others to confess everything.

"Sir, it was all Gao Sanxiong forcing the old man; the old man was coerced... *cough cough,* Gao Sanxiong said if the old man didn’t follow his orders, he’d incite the villagers to smash the government office and cause more trouble with the taxes; he threatened to ruin my shop!" Elder Shi sobbed and wailed.

But County Magistrate Zheng was too busy to listen, he slammed the gavel down: "Silence! The evidence is irrefutable. Immediately sign the confession!"

He then gave a signal to the clerk recording the testimonies, who took the confession to Elder Shi to sign.

With a bang, a large handprint was stamped on the confession, Elder Shi conceded guilt.

Bai Changfu and the people from Bai Village all signed confessions of guilt too.

County Magistrate Zheng: "Company Commander Qin, Squad Leader Jiang, Steward Zheng receive orders, Gao Sanxiong from Xianggui Town instigated Bai Changfu and others to vandalize the government office, the evidence is undeniable, this crime equals conspiracy, proceed immediately to Xianggui Town and apprehend Gao Sanxiong!"

Upon County Magistrate Zheng’s command, Qin San Lang, Squad Leader Jiang, and Steward Zheng quickly moved into action.

Qin San Lang selected two Section Leader soldiers, accompanied You Ping and others, and Squad Leader Jiang and a group of Government Officials, heading towards Xianggui Town.

However, Qin San Lang wasn’t reassured about Luo Wu, so he quietly left Sanping behind, instructing Sanping: "Don’t let Brother Luo Wu do anything regrettable, if there’s danger, ensure his safety."

This is my brother-in-law, he can’t get into trouble.

"Understood." After accepting the orders, Sanping hid nearby, watching Luo Wu.

And the villagers kneeling at the government gate, as well as the people gathered around for news, were all frightened by the scene.

"Is Company Commander Qin going to apprehend Old Master Gao?"

"Oh God, we better stay honest; otherwise, we’ll also get caught by Company Commander Qin."

The villagers were terrified, but those with malicious intents, who wanted to take advantage of farmers’ misfortune, were even more afraid, cursing Qin San Lang: Damned King Qin, earning only that meager salary monthly, why so dedicated? Why not side with us? By cooperating with us, you’d get Silver much more than the government’s.

In fact, these people considered bribing Qin San Lang to turn a blind eye to certain matters, but knowing Qin San Lang was one of Gu’s Workshop’s owners, receiving substantial dividends monthly, he was not at all short of money, they had to give up.

As for hiring someone to kill or maim Qin San Lang, haha, don’t be foolish, they’d only get themselves killed!

...

In Xianggui Town, Gao Sanxiong slammed the table angrily after hearing his housekeeper’s report: "Useless, can’t even handle such a small matter."

Li Kuihu said: "Calm down, Third Master, actually there’s no need to be so anxious, those mud-legged peasants are all paupers, without Silver to pay taxes. By the final deadline, they’ll still have to sell their assets cheap to us to survive."

Indeed, Li Kuihu was formerly under Gao Sanxiong’s wing, but after County Magistrate Zou was arrested, Li Kuihu became timid, and Gao Sanxiong looked down on him, giving him no work in recent years.

But this time Gao Sanxiong set his eyes on the farms in Niugou Town, so he summoned Li Kuihu to spread rumors, leading farmers in Niugou Town to borrow high-interest loans from his gambling house to take over their assets at rock-bottom prices.

Zhou Laoer also came along; because Zhou Laoer claimed to be familiar with the Gu family, Gao Sanxiong had intentions to establish ties with the Gu family and thus treated him well.

Gao Sanxiong, upon hearing Li Kuihu’s words, coldly snorted: "Humph, do you think I want to rush? It’s because of that new bank causing trouble. Once the Ouyang family’s bank opens, those mud-legged peasants have a place to borrow money, they won’t easily sell their properties cheap, and what would I gain then?"

Initially, Gao Sanxiong wasn’t in a hurry, just waiting for farmers to sell their properties cheap or borrow high-interest loans from his gambling house. But unexpectedly, a new bank appeared offering loans with low interest rates, and it was run by the Ouyang family, a high-status noble family that he wouldn’t dare offend.

Thus he aimed to convict those peasants before the bank opened, upsetting their plans and forcing them to sell land cheap.

Li Kuihu dared not speak upon hearing this; he wouldn’t dare provoke Gao Sanxiong.

"Father, bad news! A group of soldiers has surrounded our house, saying they’re ordered to arrest you!" Boss Gao rushed into the yard, his face pale, shouting to Gao Sanxiong before even entering the house.

Gao Sanxiong was astonished, hastily asking: "What did you say? Soldiers surrounded our mansion? How many of them?"

Mansion? Engaging in shady activities isn’t being an official, who deserves calling it a mansion?

Boss Gao: "About twenty soldiers, thirty Government Officials, they’ve blocked our front and back doors, not allowing us to leave." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

He purposely added: "Leading them is Qin San Lang from the Military Office!"

"King Qin!" Gao Sanxiong originally did not think much of the twenty soldiers, but knowing Qin San Lang’s reputation, having stormed the Water Bandit Village and killed bandits, he knew this was not someone easy to deal with.

"Old man, you lead men to hold off that surnamed Qin; I’m escaping through the secret passage to the gambling house, heading to Hushan Prefecture to find your Uncle Liu. With him covering us, our family will certainly be fine!" Gao Sanxiong and Liu Chief Commander from the garrison at Hushan Prefecture were close allies, as long as Liu stepped forward to rescue him, he will undoubtedly be safe.

"Father!" Boss Gao anxiously grabbed Gao Sanxiong: "I’ll go with you."

"Go where? You, as the eldest son of the Gao family, need to stay and watch over our considerable assets. Rest assured, Father will return to save you all." Gao Sanxiong shook off Boss Gao’s hand and quickly ran out of the yard towards his room.

The entrance to the secret passage was in his bedroom.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t run far when the sound of breaking wind came from behind him.

Whoosh!

The arrow flew like lightning, piercing through Gao Sanxiong’s knee hollow in a blink.

"Ah!" Gao Sanxiong screamed miserably as his kneecap shattered by the arrow, and he couldn’t support his body anymore, kneeling down.

Qin San Lang sat on horseback, holding his bow, his gaze sharp as he eyed Gao Sanxiong: "Still trying to run?"