Fang Er, furious, exited Chengtian Gate with three imperial edicts, Zhu Ziwen following closely behind.
Yan Shuangying and Su Feng, seeing his expression, hurried to ask.
"My Lord, is there a problem with the dried fish?"
He had brought the dried fish into the palace with Fang Xuanling. Yan Shuangying and the others suspected the dried fish was the issue.
"The brothers of the Third Division and Second Regiment, in Laizhou, something has happened!"
Su Feng, go to Taicang and recall the convoy!
After Fang Er finished speaking with a glacial tone, he turned to Zhu Ziwen. "Go summon the men of the Hundred Knights Division, and also Jiang Shi of Wannian County. I will wait here!"
"Yes, my Lord!"
Su Feng and Zhu Ziwen departed simultaneously, galloping in different directions.
Half an hour later, fifty tractors arrived in a long procession.
Su Feng jumped down from a vehicle. "My Lord, the remaining fifty vehicles are still unloading."
Fang Er nodded slightly. These fifty vehicles were enough.
Soon, the men of the Hundred Knights Division also arrived, led by an old acquaintance, the Melon King.
"Your subordinate greets my Lord." The Melon King, not daring to be flippant due to the seriousness of the situation, bowed respectfully.
Fang Er issued his orders concisely.
"Men of the Hundred Knights Division, take the front twenty vehicles and depart immediately!"
Su Feng, you take the rear thirty vehicles and return to Shenyang. Order the Fifth, Fourth Divisions, and Lai Yifa to rendezvous with me in Laizhou!
The convoy set off, heading east along the cement road, straight for Laizhou. They parted ways at Bianzhou.
The journey from Chang'an to Laizhou, nearly two thousand li, took two days of continuous travel. Led by Zhu Ziwen, the convoy stopped at a valley ten li southeast of Laizhou.
The valley entrance was blocked by massive boulders. After climbing over the boulders, the scene within the valley made Fang Er's eyes split with rage.
Inside, bodies were strewn everywhere, brothers of the Skyfire Army littered the ground.
"My Lord, this was premeditated!" Yan Shuangying stated with certainty, looking at the corpses.
Rolling stones, logs, arrows – looking around, Fang Er could imagine the situation the thousand brothers had faced.
The Melon King, after leading his men to survey the valley, returned with his report.
"My Lord, it's not just the brothers of the Skyfire Army. Nearly three hundred of our colleagues from the Hundred Knights Division also lie here."
Jiang Shi, looking at the scene before him, his legs trembled uncontrollably. He was merely a county magistrate and had never witnessed such a horrific sight.
Leave half the men to collect the bodies. Let's go to Laizhou and have a word with the Prefect!
Fang Er, expressionless, climbed back over the boulders and returned to a tractor.
After briefing his men, the Melon King, along with Yan Shuangying, followed.
At the Laizhou Prefecture Yamen, the appearance of the group threw the guards into a panic.
"You, you, who are you people!"
"Insolence! The Duke of Shenyang is here on imperial orders to investigate. Get out of the way!"
The Melon King stepped forward and kicked the guard to the ground.
Thirteen hundred men of the Skyfire Army and the Hundred Knights Division, all ambushed and killed in that nameless valley, could not have been done by ordinary bandits!
After all, these thousand men were a pure firearms unit!
To annihilate this entire thousand-strong Skyfire Army would have come at a great cost, requiring a massive deployment of men!
It was only ten li from Laizhou Prefecture. The Prefect bore inescapable responsibility!
After kicking the guard, the Melon King directly led a contingent into the Yamen.
The construction of prefectural yamens followed regulations. Upon entering, the Hundred Knights Division quickly dispersed.
Men were assigned to search the main hall, offices, public rooms, and the rear courtyard.
The yamen runners inside and outside the Yamen were stunned, standing frozen and not daring to move.
In less than ten minutes, the Laizhou Prefect was dragged out from the rear courtyard by the Melon King.
"Your subordinate, the Prefect of Laizhou, Bai Ji, greets my Lord!"
"Get in here!"
Fang Er uttered the three cold words and walked into the Yamen, proceeding to the main hall and taking his seat in the principal position.
Yan Shuangying and the Melon King stood on either side, while Bai Ji stood below the hall, wiping sweat from his brow.
Fang Er stared at Bai Ji with eyes like knives for a long moment, then suddenly asked.
"Tell me, what have you discovered in the past few days regarding the interception of the national debt?"
"R-responding to my Lord, your subordinate has dispatched all the yamen runners, but, but, but have found nothing."
Bai Ji's answer further fueled Fang Er's anger.
"Guards! Strip him of his official robes and detain him for now!"
"From today onwards, Jiang Shi will succeed the Prefect of Laizhou!"
"No! No!"
"I am an official appointed by the imperial court. You, you, you have no right to dismiss me!"
Upon hearing that he was to be dismissed, Bai Ji instantly became flustered.
Fang Er let out a cold laugh and looked at the Melon King.
"What are you still standing there for?"
"Yes!"
The Melon King quickly took an imperial edict from his怀. This one was specifically for the Prefect of Laizhou, stating that for dereliction of duty, he was to be immediately investigated.
After he finished reading the edict, two men from the Hundred Knights Division dragged Bai Ji out of the hall without a word. Fang Er paid no attention to his cries and left the Yamen with Yan Shuangying and the Melon King.
Jiang Shi stood foolishly in the hall, unsure of what to do. What should he do now?
Right, he was the Prefect now. He should summon the yamen runners and the heads of the various departments to understand the situation!
In front of the Laizhou Prefecture Yamen, countless civilians had gathered at some point.
The incident of the national debt being robbed could not be kept secret; news had already spread among the populace.
Now, the arrival of this mysterious convoy made their purpose obvious.
Standing before the Yamen and looking at the gathered crowd, Fang Er spoke with a mournful voice.
"A few days ago, two million in national debt was robbed in a valley ten li from here. The soldiers escorting it were also killed by bandits!"
"This national debt was intended to purchase grain, to feed you! The people of all prefectures affected by the drought!"
"These bandits, for a mere sum of money, disregard the lives of the people of the realm. They are truly insane!"
"If anyone has information, please come forward. I will reward you generously!"
"If the report is verified, a reward of ten thousand taels of silver!"
The onlookers looked at each other. Not only did no one step forward, but they began to disperse.
Yan Shuangying watched the retreating backs of the crowd and cursed loudly. "These people are too detestable! I refuse to believe there isn't a single witness!"
What he said was true, but Fang Er shook his head.
"The bandits are fierce. It is normal for no one to dare to come forward in broad daylight."
Let's return to the Yamen. If nothing unexpected happens, Lai Yifa and the others should arrive within these two days.
Two days later, wave after wave of troops arrived in Laizhou.
Skyfire Army, Fifth Division, Zhang Tian, reporting to my Lord! Expected strength 3135, actual strength 3135!
Skyfire Army, Fourth Division, Wu Yong, reporting to my Lord! Expected strength 3135, actual strength 3135!
Skyfire Army, Sixth Division, Tie Lao Ba, reporting to my Lord! Expected strength 3135, actual strength 3135!
Eastern Depot Lai Yifa, reporting to my Lord. All subordinates within Dengzhou have been notified and are assembling here!
Yan Yun Eighteen Riders, reporting to my Lord! Expected strength 18, actual strength 18!
Torch Special Operations Team, Wang Xuance, reporting to my Lord! Expected strength 14, actual strength 14!
Paratroopers, Xue Rengui, reporting to my Lord! Expected strength 20, actual strength 20!
Dengzhou Protectorate, Deputy Protector General, Fan Wujiu, leading thirty thousand Protectorate troops, reporting to my Lord!