The county magistrate put on a troubled expression. "Do you want to think it over carefully again, to see if there's any physical evidence?"

Jiang Chen shook his head without needing to think.

"Then there's no way."

The county magistrate slammed the gavel. "This case has no factual basis. The accusation is invalid. Court adjourned!"

With that, he was about to get up and leave for the inner office.

The reinforcements hadn't arrived yet. He was afraid that Jiang Chen would become enraged and attack, so it was better to avoid him.

Jiang Chen then said, "Wait, I have another accusation to make."

"Another accusation?"

The county magistrate sat back down, looking at Jiang Chen in confusion. "Who else do you want to accuse? And what for?"

Jiang Chen smiled and said, "This time, the one I want to accuse is you, County Magistrate!"

"What?!"

The county magistrate's nonchalant expression changed, his eyebrows shooting up as he said angrily, "You want to accuse this official?"

"That's right." Jiang Chen nodded. "I want to accuse you of setting up illegal checkpoints and charging fees for entering and leaving the city!"

"Bold!"

As soon as Jiang Chen finished speaking, the county magistrate slammed the gavel violently.

"Guards, seize this slanderer!"

The surrounding constables immediately stepped forward with weapons, ready to subdue Jiang Chen and the others.

Jing Yue had been holding back for a while. Before the constables could get close, she lashed out with her whip, sending them reeling and collapsing on the ground.

The county magistrate's face turned pale. He hadn't expected Jing Yue to be so powerful.

A dozen constables and patrolmen couldn't even defeat one woman.

Watching Jiang Chen approach step by step, the county magistrate retreated, terrified. "W-what do you want?"

Jiang Chen sneered. "Where's the courage you had when you were collecting entry and exit fees?"

The county magistrate's lips twitched. "You want money? This official can give it to you."

"Money?"

Jiang Chen nodded. "Of course, I want it."

The county magistrate's eyes lit up. "Good, I'll go get it!"

With that, he tried to stand up and escape to the inner office.

But Jiang Chen reached out and pressed down on the county magistrate's shoulder, preventing him from moving.

Jiang Chen smiled faintly and said, "Wait, besides money, I want something else."

The county magistrate asked quickly, "What else do you want?"

As long as the other party wanted something, he wasn't afraid.

As long as they weren't desperate lunatics!

Jiang Chen smiled coldly. "I also want your life!"

The county magistrate's face instantly turned ashen.

"Y-you must be joking, right?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Jiang Chen said.

The county magistrate's expression became incredibly fearful.

Even though it was already winter, his forehead was covered in cold sweat, large drops falling.

At that moment, a series of orderly footsteps came from outside, followed by a shout of good news.

"Lord, the reinforcements have arrived!"

The shiye (personal secretary) rushed into the hall excitedly, only to see the constables lying all over the ground and the county magistrate pinned to his chair by Jiang Chen.

The shiye was taken aback and shouted, "Y-you, quickly release the lord! I'm telling you, there are eight hundred soldiers outside, surrounding the county yamen!"

"If you release the lord, everything can be discussed! Otherwise, you won't be able to escape even if you grow wings!"

Hearing the shiye's words, the county magistrate felt much more at ease.

"That's right, aren't you just after money?"

The county magistrate tried to soften his tone as much as possible. "As long as you let me go, I can let bygones be bygones, and even give you a sum of money to leave safely. How about it?"

Although he said that, the county magistrate had already decided in his heart to frame Jiang Chen for treason.

Daring to threaten him? Only exterminating his nine generations would be enough to quell the anger in his heart.

"Is that so?"

Jiang Chen chuckled and removed his hand from the county magistrate's shoulder.

The county magistrate breathed a sigh of relief.

In his opinion, Jiang Chen must have compromised.

The county magistrate said, "Shiye, where is General-daren?"

"He's outside," the shiye gave the county magistrate a reassuring look.

"Good."

The county magistrate pondered for a moment and said, "I'll personally escort you three out. How about that?"

"No need."

Jiang Chen waved his hand. "Let that general come in."

The county magistrate and the shiye exchanged glances, unsure of Jiang Chen's intentions.

But thinking that the general's skills should be good, the county magistrate said, "Then I'll go invite him."

With that, he was about to walk out.

Jiang Chen chuckled and pressed the county magistrate back into his chair again. "Let the shiye go out and invite him."

A flash of anger crossed the county magistrate's eyes, but he immediately smiled. "Very well, very well."

"Shiye, then you can take another trip and invite the general in."

"Yes!"

Watching the shiye leave, the county magistrate felt a trace of unease, afraid that Jiang Chen would kill him in the meantime.

Fortunately, Jiang Chen didn't make a move. Hearing the sound of armor clashing outside, the county magistrate felt relieved.

Finally safe!

At that moment, a loud voice came from outside. "Who wants to see me?"

A burly man in silver armor strode into the hall.

The burly man saw Jiang Chen standing above at a glance and couldn't help but be stunned.

Seeming not to believe his eyes, the burly man rubbed his eyes hard and confirmed again and again that he had not seen wrong, then the burly man's expression changed.

At this moment, the shiye on the side said, "General, he is the one who wants to see you."

As he spoke, the shiye winked at the burly man, signaling him to say what he had told him before.

When he saw the burly man's expression, he couldn't help being stunned.

What's going on?

Immediately, his eyes widened.

He saw the burly man suddenly kneel on one knee, clasping his fist and saying, "This subordinate Xu Zhen'an, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

What?!

Inside the hall, other than Jing Yue, the other three were all stunned.

Did they hear wrong? This general said he was paying respects to His Majesty?

"Xu Zhen'an, I didn't expect it to be you," Jiang Chen said faintly.

Xu Zhen'an was overjoyed and said, "I am honored by His Majesty's promotion!"

Jiang Chen's expression, however, turned cold at the next moment. "But how are you repaying me?"

Xu Zhen'an's expression changed drastically. "Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

"Forgive you?"

Jiang Chen sneered. "Without asking questions, you brought eight hundred soldiers here. Did you want to kill me?"

Xu Zhen'an was shocked and quickly said, "This humble one dares not!"

"Of course, you wouldn't dare!"

Jiang Chen snorted coldly. "Let's put this matter aside for now since it was an emergency and there wasn't time to investigate carefully. I ask you, were you aware of the matter of collecting city entry and exit fees here?"

After hesitating for a moment, Xu Zhen'an said, "This humble one was aware."

"You knew, but you didn't report it?" Jiang Chen asked in a cold voice.

Xu Zhen'an couldn't say anything.

"There are also some commoners nearby who are collecting tolls on the roads. Did you know about that?" Jiang Chen asked again.

After hesitating for a moment, Xu Zhen'an nodded again. "This humble one was aware."

"Good."

Jiang Chen sneered. "You knew everything, but you did nothing!"

Xu Zhen'an was drenched in cold sweat, unable to say a word in his defense.

The things Jiang Chen said had obviously already happened, and he couldn't quibble about them.

"Return to the capital yourself, and start over from the Imperial Guards," Jiang Chen said faintly.

Xu Zhen'an was full of regret and could only say, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"