General Bai Guang'en of Jizhen was in a precarious situation in Yizhou City, and similarly, his stronghold welcomed uninvited guests.
Five hundred elite cavalry appeared outside Jizhen. One person stepped out from the ranks and revealed his identity to the soldiers guarding the gate.
"Imperial Guard, acting under imperial decree. Open the city gates immediately!"
The soldiers, seeing their attire, dared not obstruct them and opened the city gates at once.
Seeing a soldier rush towards the city, the leader of the Imperial Guard not only ignored him but followed closely behind.
This person was clearly going to report to the officials inside the city, which would also serve to guide them.
The General's Mansion of Jizhen, though called a General's Mansion, was not Bai Guang'en's residence.
After a few words with the gatekeepers, the messenger soldier was granted passage and ran inside.
The Imperial Guard dismounted outside the General's Mansion. The leader waved his hand behind him: "Surround it!"
"Yes!"
A flurry of hurried footsteps sounded. In just a moment, the entire General's Mansion was completely surrounded.
Such a formidable display startled the soldiers guarding the mansion.
It was the same Imperial Guard soldier who had called for the city gates to be opened. He stepped forward, produced an imperial edict from his robes, and held it above his head.
"Imperial Guard, acting under imperial decree!"
Saying this, he walked into the General's Mansion.
Apart from those surrounding the mansion, everyone else followed him inside.
The grand hall of the General's Mansion was a stark contrast to the tense battlefield in Liaodong.
Music filled the air, with singing girls performing tunes and dancing girls displaying their allure.
A eunuch dressed in python robes sat in the main seat, holding a disheveled woman.
This eunuch was none other than the Supervisor of Liaodong, Gao Qiqian!
Gao Qiqian brought his nose close to the woman's hair, a look of intoxication on his face. He narrowed his eyes and chuckled.
"Hiahiahiahia~~ So fragrant!"
"Little wench~ Would you like to go to my chambers?"
A hint of disgust flashed in the woman's eyes, but she feigned shyness and coquettishly replied, "Master~~"
"You're so impatient, and it's still broad daylight!"
Gao Qiqian's hand reached into her cleavage and pinched her. He feigned anger.
"What's wrong with it being daytime? If I want it, what time is it?"
"Let's go, let's go! Come with me to the room for some fun. I've learned quite a few new tricks."
"Oh~~"
The woman cried out in pain from the pinch, unable to suppress a moan.
"Master, be gentler~"
"My darling, later, I'll guarantee you'll beg me to go harder!"
Gao Qiqian stood up, scooped the woman into his arms, and started to walk out.
"Supervisor, the Imperial Guard has arrived!"
Just as he reached the doorway, he encountered the soldier who had come to report.
"You blind beast! Don't you see I'm busy?"
"What are the Imperial Guard? They've long been out of favor with the Emperor. Make them wait!"
Gao Qiqian cursed angrily and, without looking back, carried the woman towards the back courtyard.
However, after taking just two steps, he heard an unfamiliar voice from behind him.
"Eunuch Gao, you seem rather short-tempered!"
"Of course. Aren't I just about to go and cool off?"
Gao Qiqian finished this sentence instinctively and then immediately felt something was wrong. He quickly turned to look at the person who had just spoken.
"Bullfighting attire, Imperial Guard!"
Behind that person stood dozens of Imperial Guard cavalry.
He had thought it would just be a few cats and dogs from the Imperial Guard, but he hadn't expected so many.
Gao Qiqian frowned and looked at the person, asking, "Who are you?"
The person stood with his saber, coldly replying, "Town Commander! Li Haitian!"
A person stepped out from behind Li Haitian, unfurled an imperial edict, and announced loudly, "Gao Qiqian, Supervisor of Liaodong, has neglected his duties, engaged in extensive corruption, killed innocents, and claimed false victories. By imperial command, you are to be sliced to death today, and your head shall be displayed in the nine border towns as a warning to all under heaven!"
Gao Qiqian heard this and was instantly stunned. Cold sweat broke out on his body. He put down the woman in his arms and pointed at Li Haitian, yelling hysterically.
"Impossible! You are slandering me! When have I ever done these things!"
"You must be forging the imperial edict! I want to return to the capital and see the Emperor personally!"
Li Haitian beckoned to the woman. "Hong'er, come back."
Gao Qiqian looked blankly at the woman beside him. Thinking back to the things he had said to her in bed these past few days, he finally understood what was happening.
He slapped himself across the face and cursed bitterly.
"Cuckolded, deceived, and finally killed by a cuckold!"
"I've been playing tricks on others my whole life, only to fall for a trick myself!"
Li Haitian gave him a cold smile. "Take him!"
"Yes!"
Four burly men rushed out from behind Li Haitian towards Gao Qiqian.
Eunuchs were merely servants of the Emperor. Let alone arresting someone for a crime, even if he were killed without reason, he could only accept it.
But even without mentioning the gold and silver he had hidden elsewhere, or the beautiful maids he kept, who would want to die if they could live?
Therefore, how could Gao Qiqian submit so easily? Although he was a eunuch, he was also skilled in martial arts. He immediately turned and fled.
Li Haitian stood there motionless, looking disdainfully at Gao Qiqian's pathetic escape.
In just a moment, over a dozen Imperial Guard cavalry, holding their embroidered spring sabers, forced Gao Qiqian back.
These were the same subordinates who had surrounded the General's Mansion earlier.
Gao Qiqian fell to his knees with a thud. He kowtowed three times to Li Haitian, his forehead forming a large bump, and tearfully pleaded.
"Brother! Brother! Be merciful, just pretend you never saw me today. I am willing to pay one hundred thousand taels of silver for my life!"
"That's enough for you and your brothers to live in wealth and honor for the rest of your lives. Just be merciful today, alright?"
"As long as you and these brothers go back and say you didn't see me, the Emperor certainly won't investigate further. I know his temperament very well."
Li Haitian squatted down and looked at Gao Qiqian with a smile. "One hundred thousand taels, very well. Where did you put it? Take me to get it, and once I have the money, I'll spare your life!"
"Is that true?" Gao Qiqian was overjoyed.
"Of course, who has a problem with money? That's one hundred thousand taels! I brought five hundred brothers; that's enough for everyone to get a good share." Li Haitian nodded affirmatively.
"Here, here~~" Gao Qiqian was about to reveal the location but stopped himself. He glanced warily at the Imperial Guards in the courtyard before speaking.
"Brother Li, come with me. Just the two of us. I'll take you to get the silver!"
He was gambling, betting that Li Haitian would let him go after taking the money.
But he was also afraid that Li Haitian would turn on him after receiving the money, so he was only willing to take him alone to retrieve the silver.
This way, even if Li Haitian decided to make a move, he believed his martial arts were good enough to escape.
Li Haitian smiled. "No problem, no problem. As long as I can get the money, everything is negotiable."