Chapter 517: Besieged

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

General Liu rushed halfway with his men and saw a group of people speeding over in front of him. He saw that the man in the lead had a beard, making it impossible to see his true appearance.

General Liu recalled that Chu Shan had mentioned Lord Zhou seemed to have disguised himself like this.

The people opposite also saw the people led by General Liu and gradually slowed down. Zhou Jia rode on his horse and looked at the majestic general riding a tall horse opposite him. He asked, “Is that General Liu Yuan in front?” General Liu looked at him and replied, “That’s right. Are you Lord Zhou?” Zhou Jia jumped off the horse and cupped his hands at him with a smile. “Yes.”

“Lord Zhou, pleased to meet you.” General Liu smiled brightly and jumped down from his horse.

Zhou Jia looked at the officials behind Liu Yuan. Seeing that Chu Shan, Ding Yi, and the others had not come out to meet him, he cupped his hands and said, “General Liu, how’s the matter at Qingyue Mountain?”

General Liu was busy returning to Yuezhou and said to Zhou Jia, “Lord Zhou, you don’t have to go to Qingyue Mountain. Let’s return to Yuezhou together and talk as we walk.”

“Alright.” Zhou Jia nodded and mounted his horse. He rushed towards Yuezhou

with General Liu’s men.

When they were resting at the courier station, General Liu told Zhou Jia what he had discovered in the valley of Mount Qingyue. He heaved a sigh of relief and said, “Senior Zhou, I’m still a little afraid now that I think about it. With so many weapons in the cave, once the Cheng family causes trouble…”

Although Zhou Jia had not seen it with his own eyes, he still felt lingering fear when he heard Liu Yuan’s description.

The two groups rested for a while before continuing on their way. That afternoon, they finally arrived at the entrance of the Yuezhou Prefecture’s city. When the city calvary guard saw General Liu, return to the city, he hurriedly came down from the city wall and bowed. “Greetings, General.”

After General Liu asked him to get up, he asked, “Do you know where General Zou is now?”

The calvary guard bowed and said, “General, General Zou returned to the city yesterday and hasn’t left the city to return to the camp.”

General Liu nodded. “Inform the guards at the city gates that everyone who enters and exits has to be checked before they can be let in. Take down everyone from the Cheng, Feng, and Zou families.”

After receiving the order, the cavalry guard led his men to convey the order.

General Liu said to Zhou Jia, who had returned to his original appearance,

“Lord Zhou, I’ll bring dozens of people to the Zou family to control General

Zou. Bring people to surround the Cheng family and capture Feng Qing.”

“Alright, let’s split up.” After Zhou Jia agreed, he led the group toward the Cheng family.

When the large group of people entered the city, it attracted the attention of the pedestrians. The passersby avoided them one after another. Someone recognized that the leader was the imperial envoy who had just arrived. When they saw the people heading in the direction of the Cheng family, they all discussed animatedly. The bold ones even followed behind the group from afar, planning to watch the commotion.

Zhou Jia brought people to the entrance of the Cheng family and took out a golden token. He shouted, “People inside, listen up. From now on, no one is allowed to enter or leave.”

Seeing this, the doorman was so frightened that he turned around and ran in. After running a few steps, he fell, got up, and continued to run with a long face.

“Surround the Cheng family. No one is allowed to enter or leave.” With Zhou Jia’s order, the officials immediately began to surround the Cheng family’s mansion.

Zhou Jia turned to the secret guards and Zhao Cai and said, “Each of you, bring a team to the mansion and gather everyone in the open space. Lock them up and don’t let them walk around.”

“Search the property in the house, as well as the letters and accounts. Find the secret room in the house and the young master of the third branch of the Cheng family.”

“Yes, sir.” Zhao Cai accepted the order and rushed into the Cheng family with the secret guards.

Zhou Jia brought Ruyi and a group of people straight to the government office.

The doorman stumbled to the second door and shouted miserably, “Master, bad news. The raiders are here. Bad news…

“What?” When Cheng Shan heard the report, his legs went limp and he sat on the ground. He struggled to get up and ran towards the small residence. The prosperous Cheng family was in chaos.

When the Eldest Prince heard that the Cheng family was surrounded, he thought of how Zhou Jia had repeatedly ruined his plans and said hatefully, “It’s this Zhou guy again.”

Cheng Shan slumped in his chair dejectedly. “It’s over. It’s all over.”

The Eldest Prince glanced at him coldly and looked up at the three green-robed men standing at the door. “Chu Jia, leave immediately and wait on the way back to the capital. Kill that Zhou guy and avenge me. After that, you’ll be free. Find a remote place to settle down and live the rest of your lives!”

The three of them glanced at the Eldest Prince. After agreeing, they knelt down and kowtowed to him three times. They got up and ran quickly towards the wall in the backyard. They jumped onto the wall and jumped down before running away.

The officials barged into the Cheng family fiercely and chased everyone to the outer courtyard. The decorations and jewelry in the house were all searched. The Madam and Miss in the inner courtyard screamed in fear.

Seeing that what originally belonged to them had been searched by these rough soldiers, the Cheng family tasted the feeling of not being able to fight back.

Boxes of gold, silver, and jewelry were carried to the courtyard. The title deeds and banknotes were all searched.

When Zhou Jia arrived at the government office, he brought people and barged into Magistrate Feng’s room. Seeing Zhou Jia barge in, Magistrate Feng said angrily, “Lord Zhou, I want to…”

The sign in Zhou Jia’s hand was waved in front of him and he said to the soldiers behind him, “Take him down.”

Magistrate Feng struggled and looked at Zhou Jia fiercely. “What right do you have to arrest me? I’m going to sue you.”

“What right do I have to arrest you? I’ve already reported it to His Majesty.” Zhou Jia walked up to him and looked at him coldly. “Feng Qing, the miners in the Qingyue Mountain have been rescued. Don’t you know what you’ve done?”

It was over, it was over. Feng Qing trembled when he heard that. He begged, “Lord Zhou, it’s all the Cheng family’s fault. They forced me. On account that we are colleagues, please let me go. I won’t treat you badly.”

The dignified magistrate was forced by the Cheng family. To say such a thing, he was really a shameless person. Zhou Jia looked at him in disgust. “Save these words for His Majesty when you return to the capital!”

Vice Prefect Lin and Judge Wu also rushed over when they heard the news. When they saw Magistrate Feng, who had his official hat removed and was trembling like a leaf, Judge Wu revealed a look of understanding. Vice-Prefect Lin’s face turned pale as if he had lost his parents.

Zhou Jia looked at Judge Wu and said, “Lord Wu, I’ll let you handle the government affairs for now. I’ll ask His Majesty for an edict.”

Judge Wu bowed deeply. “I understand.”

Zhou Jia nodded. “Take some people and raid the back office. Search the property and lock the families in jail. Send a few scholars to the Cheng family to count the property.”

“Yes, sir.” Judge Wu had someone bring Feng Qing down.

Zhou Jia looked at Vice-Prefect Lin. “Lin Tongzhi, suspend all official business and wait for His Majesty to deal with you in the back office.”

When Vice-Prefect Lin heard this, he heaved a sigh of relief. He bowed to Zhou Jia and left.

Zhou Jia turned around and left for the Cheng family. He saw that the courtyard was filled with the master and servants of the Cheng family. The empty space in the courtyard was filled with valuables that had been taken from the house.

Zhao Cai pointed at the side courtyard and said, “Master, that might be the one. There are also two girls serving inside.”

Zhou Jia thought that he was from the royal family after all. He did not know how His Majesty would deal with him. It was better to keep him inside!

“Disregard him for now. We’ll make a decision when His Majesty’s decree arrives.. Have you found the young master of the Cheng family’s third branch?”