In the Yang family's Ink Hall in Mingzhou, Xue Zhiqian was unfamiliar with it, and Fang Er and Zhang Gongjin had never even heard of it.
However, Lai Yifa, without a second thought, revealed the background of the Yang family's Ink Hall.
The Yang clan of Hongnong!
The Yang family's Ink Hall in Mingzhou, under the protection of a member of the Yang clan, the Prefect of Mingzhou, Yang Qianye!
Upon hearing this, Zhang Gongjin immediately issued a military order.
"Pass down the order!"
"The Second Division, Third Regiment of the Breaking Waves Army, will immediately proceed to Mingzhou!"
"I want all the accounts of the Yang family's Ink Hall from the past three years!"
"Tell Yang Qianye, if even a single account is missing, I will have his head!"
"Yes!"
The personal guards clasped their fists and departed.
After he left, Lai Yifa explained the reason for his arrival.
"My Lord, incidents are occurring everywhere. This humble subordinate feels something is not quite right."
"Huainan Circuit, Chaoxian, grain prices have skyrocketed, doubling in three days."
"Jiangnanxi Circuit, Raozhou, a large number of dead bodies have surfaced in Poyang Lake overnight!"
"Lingnan Circuit, Wandezhou, snakes and insects have descended the mountains without reason, entering the city and wreaking havoc!"
"Tubo Circuit, Jinchi Tribe, grasslands have suddenly caught fire, killing countless cattle, sheep, and herders!"
"Henan Circuit, the Huan River has breached its banks, and the railway in the Fuli section has been destroyed."
"..."
Inside the 29-inch alloy case were telegrams, each carrying similar news!
Fang Er and Zhang Gongjin exchanged glances, both feeling as if they were in an ice cellar.
The speculation from yesterday had come true so quickly!
The Great Tang was in turmoil everywhere...
If it were just one incident, it could be attributed to coincidence.
But with so many occurring together, it was definitely the work of someone plotting behind the scenes.
Yet, on the surface, there were no clues...
Although not an open rebellion, its impact was greater than a rebellion!
Lai Yifa carefully put away the telegrams and continued.
"My Lord, the current situation among the common people is very unfavorable to the court."
"Someone is fanning the flames from below."
"They say that building railways has broken the dragon veins, and the expansion of territory requires consuming national destiny to suppress foreign tribes."
"They also say that this series of incidents are the dragon veins and national destiny retaliating against the Great Tang, and the current prosperity is merely a last burst of energy before the end. The world is about to perish."
"In this situation, even His Majesty is overwhelmed. Yesterday, he dismissed more than ten censors, and three cartloads of porcelain shards were transported out of the palace!"
Zhang Gongjin looked at Fang Er with confusion.
Yesterday, he had sent a telegram to Chang'an and specifically inquired about the situation in the court, but he had not received this news from above.
How did this young man's subordinates know?
Although he was puzzled, he did not press for details. This was not the time for curiosity.
He could not manage, nor did he have the authority to manage, other prefectures and counties.
However, Huainan Circuit, Jiangnanxi Circuit, and Jiangnan Circuit fell under the jurisdiction of the Yangzhou Protectorate's administration, and those vermin had to be cleared out as soon as possible.
"Pass down the order!"
"The Divine Spear Army will remain at the main camp!"
"The Invincible Army will depart immediately, unit by unit, and garrison the prefectures and counties of Jiangnan Circuit!"
"The Riding the Wind and Breaking Waves Armies will garrison the prefectures and counties of Jiangnanxi Circuit and Huainan Circuit!"
"Anyone found instigating the populace to cause trouble will be executed without mercy!"
The various protectorate armies had never been mobilized on such a large scale since their reorganization and establishment.
This was the first time!
North, East, and West of the city, the great camps soon sounded the emergency assembly bugle.
After the order was issued, in less than an hour, the entire area outside Yangzhou city was filled with departing formations from all directions!
Helicopters patrolled the sky, cavalry galloped out, and tractors carrying supplies followed behind.
In the years since the reforms, pure infantry no longer existed!
During dinner, Changsun Ling'er had no appetite, only sipping two mouthfuls of congee before putting down her bowl.
"Husband, have there been any updates on those sisters?"
"The people from Liujia Village outside the city have been apprehended and are being interrogated."
Fang Er said, looking at her sallow complexion, his heart felt uneasy.
The physicians from Shenyang Hospital had come to assist under his command, yet they were abducted right under his nose.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He picked up a handkerchief to wipe his mouth and stood up to walk out.
"You should get some rest. I'll go take a look. If there's any news, I'll use the walkie-talkie to relay it to you."
After speaking, he left on his own.
Before he reached the Divine Spear Camp's tent, he heard the sound of whipping.
"Speak!"
"Where did you take those physicians!"
"Confess honestly, otherwise, I'll make it so you can't even die if you want to!"
Fang Er pushed the door open and saw more than ten men and women kneeling inside.
"Swoosh..."
Zhang Gongjin's whip, whistling through the wind, fell towards the face of an old man in the crowd.
"Will you confess or not!"
"Hmph!"
A bloody gash instantly appeared on the old man's face, but he glared at Zhang Gongjin with bloodshot eyes and sneered.
"Hahahaha, it's death whether I speak or not!"
"Better to let those beautiful young ladies be buried with my Liujia family!"
"Do you think my Liujia family is the only one involved in this?"
"Pah!"
"You have no idea what you're about to face!"
"If one Liujia falls, millions of Liujia families will rise up. Just wait!"
As the words fell, the old man suddenly scrambled to his feet and lunged towards the corner of the table behind Zhang Gongjin.
"Bang!"
Zhang Gongjin, being a military man, was quick-witted and kicked the old man into a rolling heap.
"Trying to die in front of me, do you think you can compare to those suicidal guards sent before?"
"Guards, drag him out!"
"Roast him until he's golden brown, sprinkle him with cumin and chili, and serve him as future sustenance for his descendants!"
At these words, everyone's faces changed instantly.
Even Fang Er was surprised that this fellow could utter such words.
The old man shivered upon hearing this.
"Shameless! Beast!"
"Swish!"
Zhang Gongjin retaliated with another whip.
"Tell me, if a plate of delicious roasted meat is placed before them, would your descendants starve themselves to death?"
The old man remained silent, his gaze like an arrow, fixed on Zhang Gongjin.
If looks could kill, he would have been riddled with holes by now.
However, not everyone could endure such an inhumane interrogation method.
Regardless of whether Zhang Gongjin's threat was real or not, some people dared not gamble!
"I'll say it, I'll say it, I'll say whatever you want to hear!"
From the crowd, a young man crawled forward, shouting in terror.
"Those physicians are not dead, they are being held ten miles south of the city, at Laoyatan!"
"Please, please spare my life. This has nothing to do with me."
"It was these old fellows who did it. I am a top student from the Yangzhou Academy, always ranking in the top three. I know cooking, farming, and masonry!"
"Practice leads to true knowledge, as Duke Anguo said!"
"My, my future is bright, I couldn't possibly have colluded with them."
"Duke Zou, this student is innocent, it's a frame-up!"