Chapter 82

Yang Rui was at a loss, "Elder Brother, do you still have the mood to jest?"

"What's wrong?"

"Lu Yongcheng has returned!"

"Oh?" Yang Shouwen stood up and gestured for You Niang and Qing Nu to play elsewhere.

"Just because he returned, why are you so panicked?"

Yang Shouwen walked to Yang Rui's side and whispered with a smile, "Besides, Lu Yongcheng is just the Chief Clerk of Changping. What's so unusual about his return?"

"No, it's not that... Lu Yongcheng..."

Yang Rui shook his head repeatedly, trying to calm himself down before speaking softly, "This time, Lu Yongcheng returned with quite a few people. I just heard that a Chief Clerk from the Du Fu (Governor's Office) also came. They are already at the county office."

Chief Clerk of the Du Fu?

Yang Shouwen was taken aback, and his smile quickly faded.

The predecessor of the Youzhou Du Fu was the Youzhou General Administration established by Emperor Wen of Sui, specifically to resist the Tujue.

After Emperor Yang of Sui defeated the Tujue, the northern pressure eased, and the General Administration was once abolished.

However, during the late Sui and early Tang dynasties, the Tujue took advantage of the chaos in Central China and rose again, becoming a major threat to the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, re-established the Youzhou General Administration following the Sui system. The first Grand General, Luo Yi, governed the eight states of You, Yi, Ping, Tan, Yan, Beiyang, Ying, and Liao.

North to the Great Wall, east to Yingzhou, including the land beyond the pass, a belt-shaped defensive area parallel to the Great Wall was formed.

In the seventh year of Wude, the General Administration was renamed the Du Fu.

At that time, the Crown Prince Li Jiancheng was stationed in Youzhou and became the first Grand Du Fu.

After that, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin initiated the Zhenguan era of prosperity, bringing nearly forty years of peace to the north. However, from the end of Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi's reign, the Tujue rose again and invaded the borders several times. In the first year of Wansui Tongtian, 696 AD, the Khitans captured Yingzhou and threatened Youzhou. Empress Wu Zetian strengthened the defense and granted the Du Fu great power.

The current Grand Du Fu of Youzhou is named Zhang Renyuan, a famous general promoted by Wu Zetian.

He was the second martial arts champion after Wu Zetian established the Wuju (martial arts examination). Not only was he exceptionally brave, but he was also proficient in military strategy.

The Chief Clerk of the Du Fu must have been dispatched by Zhang Renyuan.

But why did Zhang Renyuan send someone? Yang Shouwen suddenly had a foreboding feeling...

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"Tiger, the town has been relatively calm these past two days, but the number of refugees outside the city is increasing.

Huang Qi went to Jixian and hasn't returned yet; Chen Yi also had an accident... I want you to pay more attention to the refugees outside the city for the next few days. I'll handle things in town for now. When Huang Qi returns, you can resume patrolling the city, okay?"

In the office, Yang Chenglie looked helpless as he discussed matters with Guan Hu.

He already knew that Guan Hu seemed to have a significant background.

This made Yang Chenglie more cautious, but he didn't want to fall out with him, so he came up with this plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain.

The Fast Capture Squad was Yang Chenglie's direct subordinate.

Previously, he had always left it to Guan Hu to lead and hadn't interfered.

But now, Guan Hu was no longer trustworthy, and Yang Chenglie wanted to take control of the squad.

However, he couldn't be too obvious, or it might arouse Guan Hu's suspicion, which would backfire.

After all, Guan Hu's background was unknown, and he didn't dare to act rashly.

With the shortage of manpower outside the city, Yang Chenglie came up with this plan to temporarily remove Guan Hu from the squad. As long as Guan Hu wasn't in the squad, Yang Chenglie had a good reason to take over. By then, even if Guan Hu returned, he would already have control of the situation.

Guan Hu was taken aback and whispered, "But the case of Chen Yi..."

"Don't worry about Chen Yi's case. I'll handle it personally.

Actually, this case shouldn't be too complicated. I heard that Chen Yi was usually arrogant and spoke without restraint, so he might have offended someone. As long as we find the right direction, we can find the murderer."

"But..."

"Alright, that's settled."

Yang Chenglie didn't give Guan Hu a chance to refuse, smiling, "Actually, I'm more worried about the situation outside the city. With Murong Xuanyi rebelling and the Jingnan Army stationed outside Juyong Pass, if there are spies in the refugee camp, it could bring disaster to Changping. Focus on that for now, and when things calm down, come back to investigate the murderer."

Yang Chenglie's reasons were compelling, and Guan Hu didn't know how to refuse.

Reluctantly, he nodded in agreement.

However, Guan Hu felt a subtle sense of distance from Yang Chenglie, despite his continued friendliness.

"County Magistrate, I..."

Just as he was about to speak, he heard a commotion outside.

Yang Chenglie frowned and quickly stood up, walking out of the room to see a group of soldiers rushing into the county office and quickly surrounding the left wing.

Lu Yongcheng walked in calmly.

"Chief Clerk Lu, you're back? What's going on?"

Yang Chenglie stepped forward and sternly demanded.

It seemed that Lu Yongcheng had come with ill intentions!

Although he didn't know what Lu Yongcheng intended to do, as one of the four major figures in Changping, Yang Chenglie had to make a show of force.

"Xuwen, don't be angry, let me introduce you first."

Lu Yongcheng didn't show any displeasure at Yang Chenglie's rebuke. After greeting Yang Chenglie with a bow, he stepped aside to reveal the person standing behind him.

"This is Chief Clerk Wang from the Du Fu, also a member of the Taiyuan Wang clan."

"Ah?"

Yang Chenglie was even more puzzled but didn't dare to be impolite, hurriedly bowing, "I greet Chief Clerk Wang."

Chief Clerk Wang ignored Yang Chenglie, his attitude unusually cold.

"Da'an, don't delay, take me to arrest the criminal."

As he spoke, he stepped forward, trying to push past Yang Chenglie.

Yang Chenglie frowned, about to speak, but Lu Yongcheng pulled him aside, "Xuwen, although we have some conflicts, they are just personal grievances. I have no intention of targeting you today, and you can't interfere in this matter... Chief Clerk Wang's target today is not you or me, but our County Magistrate."

"Da'an, what's going on?"

Yang Chenglie was completely confused, looking at Lu Yongcheng in bewilderment.

At this moment, Chief Clerk Wang had already led his men into the room where the County Magistrate usually worked.

"Where is the criminal?"

"Which criminal?"

Yang Chenglie couldn't help but ask.

Chief Clerk Wang sternly replied, "Naturally, the criminal who killed to silence and then impersonated, Wang He."

"You mean the County Magistrate is a criminal?"

Yang Chenglie was stunned.

Lu Yongcheng then smiled bitterly, "Xuwen, we've both been deceived, fooled by a criminal for three years."

"Wait, wait, what's going on?"

Yang Chenglie was thoroughly confused. How did the County Magistrate suddenly become a criminal? And wasn't Wang He from the Taiyuan Wang clan? Why did Chief Clerk Wang, also a member of the Taiyuan Wang clan, call him a criminal?

Lu Yongcheng patiently explained, "Not only did you not expect it, but I didn't either.

Chief Clerk Wang is the newly appointed Chief Clerk of the Du Fu. He has an old acquaintance with my uncle. My uncle heard that I had a falling out with the County Magistrate recently, so he scolded me. It wasn't until I talked with Chief Clerk Wang that I realized our County Magistrate is not the clan member he described. I immediately realized that our County Magistrate might be an impostor.