Chapter 36: Yuzhang Commandery

Page 1 of 3

“Miss, we’ve been following him all this way. When are we going to make our move...?”

Watching Sun Ru frown deeply as she studied the map in her hands, Little Jade asked softly, afraid of interrupting her thoughts.

In the woods, Sun Ru looked at the map, then at Liu Xie’s convoy in the distance. Their position was roughly level with the convoy, but a question had arisen in her mind, and she fell into deep thought. Only when she heard Little Jade’s question did she return to her senses.

The last time Liu Xie purged Luoyang, the two of them had narrowly escaped disaster by relying on information from their secret contacts. After finally waiting for Liu Xie to leave the city again, they had followed him south from Luoyang all the way to Yuzhang Commandery. Yet he had brought a large number of guards with him, and Sun Ru had found no opportunity to strike.

“Let’s wait. It’s too dangerous, and the chances of success are too low. Let’s see what he’s really planning to do.”

Sun Ru spoke with certainty.

“Keep following them!”

Little Jade could only sigh inwardly.

“Yes, Miss.”

“Young Master, we’ve reached Yuzhang Commandery!”

Hearing Er Niu’s voice outside the carriage, Liu Xie rose and lifted the curtain.

A towering, imposing city wall stood before the convoy. Its great gray-black walls were enough to make anyone hesitate.

The city gate was packed with people. Soldiers clad in armor and armed with sharp weapons were inspecting everyone who wished to enter.

Just as Liu Xie was wondering how the defenses of Yuzhang Commandery could be so formidable, Zhou Yi suddenly snorted beside him.

“These city guards are collecting tolls again!”

“Tolls?”

Liu Xie looked at Zhou Yi in confusion.

A trace of indignation appeared in Zhou Yi’s eyes.

“It’s some kind of security deposit the city guards came up with themselves! They claim it’s to ensure the safety of the city, so everyone entering has to pay a security deposit. In other words, anyone who doesn’t pay isn’t allowed inside!”

Liu Xie grew even more puzzled.

“What authority do the city guards have to collect fees on their own?”

Zhou Yi let out a sigh before explaining.

“The city guards of Yuzhang are actually under the command of Gongsun Ye, the Commandant of Yuzhang. Their authority isn’t insignificant. They receive orders directly from the Governor of Yuzhang. But after the former governor abandoned his office and fled, Gongsun Ye colluded with the commandery assistant, Qilian, and seized control of Yuzhang’s military and civil administration.”

“That pair is precisely why Yuzhang Commandery has become what it is today!”

At this, Zhou Yi could not help sighing again.

“How do you know so much?”

As he spoke, Liu Xie glanced at Zhou Yi. He had not expected the man to be so well informed.

“Good heavens, everyone in Yuzhang knows about it! Those two are practically emperors in their own territory. They commit every imaginable evil here—colluding with merchants, colluding with bandits. The people of Yuzhang have long since grown used to it.”

Only then did Liu Xie understand. Those two men had committed so many crimes that their notoriety was common knowledge.

A chill entered Liu Xie’s eyes. These two bastards had turned Yuzhang Commandery into a complete cesspool.

After giving the top of the city wall a cursory glance, Liu Xie lifted the curtain and called out to Er Niu.

“Er Niu, come here for a moment!”

“Young Master, what would you like me to do?” Er Niu came running over eagerly.

Liu Xie leaned down and whispered several words into his ear.

“Understood?”

Page 2 of 3

Liu Xie looked at Er Niu.

Er Niu nodded firmly.

“I understand. I’ll go at once!”

He then jumped down from the carriage and headed off in another direction.

Zhou Yi could not figure out what Liu Xie was planning, but out of trust in him, he wisely chose not to ask.

Seeing his expression, Liu Xie smiled.

“I’m guessing you want to know what Er Niu went to do, don’t you? Don’t worry. You’ll find out soon enough.”

Zhou Yi nodded, though he looked only half convinced.

“Come on. Let’s enter the city!”

When they reached the gate, the convoy was indeed stopped by the city guards.

“Stop! Stop! Have you paid the security deposit? No payment, no passage!”

A shrill voice rang out from the front of the convoy. Zhou Yi began to climb down from the carriage, but Liu Xie stopped him and stepped out himself, carrying a small pouch.

Several city guards had blocked the convoy. Their leader pointed his sword this way and that, speaking with extreme arrogance.

Standing before him was one of Liu Xie’s guards. He watched the clown prancing insolently before him, completely unaware of whom he was provoking.

Someone had actually dared to demand a toll from the Son of Heaven’s convoy.

The man’s audacity was unprecedented.

The guard was just about to lose his temper when a hand reached out from behind and stopped him.

Liu Xie slowly stepped forward, and the guard hurriedly saluted him.

“Young Master! This man—”

Liu Xie signaled for him to remain silent. He then turned to the arrogant guard captain and arranged a genial smile across his face.

“Big brother, please accept this small token of my appreciation. It’s nothing much—just something for you and the other brothers to drink.”

As he spoke, he discreetly handed the pouch from his robe to the guard captain.

The captain glanced around before quietly slipping the pouch into his possession. He weighed it in his hand, and his arrogant manner instantly changed.

With a broad smile, he said, “You’re a perceptive young fellow! Go on in. If anyone gives you trouble, just tell them Chen the Great sent you!”

He even patted Liu Xie on the shoulder. Anyone who did not know better might have thought they were old acquaintances.

“However, Big Brother, I do have a favor to ask. I wonder if you might introduce me to Commandant Gongsun?”

Liu Xie smiled.

“Tsk... That may be rather difficult.”

The guard captain, Zhang the Great, put on a troubled expression.

Without a word, Liu Xie handed him another pouch. This one was considerably heavier than the first.

Feeling its weight, a sly and greedy glint flashed through Zhang the Great’s eyes. Although he was delighted, he continued pretending to be troubled.

“You should understand, little brother. I can’t just see the commandant whenever I please. This sort of thing... Well, there are always arrangements to be made.”

Liu Xie’s gaze turned cold, and he sneered inwardly. The man certainly had a tremendous appetite. Even this was not enough for him.

He thought one thing but did another, smiling as he handed over yet another pouch.

Page 3 of 3

When Zhang the Great felt that this pouch was heavier than the previous two, his heart nearly burst with joy. He slung an arm around Liu Xie’s shoulder with a laugh.

“Little brother, from today onward, your affairs are my affairs! Leave this matter to me. I’ll take care of it for you!”

“Excellent, excellent! Thank you, Big Brother!”

“A-Si, take my little brother to the finest inn in the city and settle him in. Tell Old Wang that this is my good brother and that he’d better take excellent care of him!”

Zhang the Great spoke with grand confidence. From among the guards behind him stepped a somewhat thin, undersized soldier.

“Yes...”

“What are you dawdling for? Get moving!”

Zhang the Great glared at him and barked.

“I’m going, I’m going! Follow me!”

The soldier named A-Si flinched and hurriedly led Liu Xie’s convoy into the city.

There was no denying that the city was crowded. The moment the convoy entered, it was swallowed up by the endless flow of people.

“Young Master, that wretched bastard was completely out of line. Why did you still—”

The guard Liu Xie had stopped earlier remained puzzled.

“Given our current circumstances, there’s no way we can meet the commandery assistant or the commandant of Yuzhang. As for Zhang the Great... Why bother arguing with a dog? We can use him to help us find those two bastards.”

Liu Xie waved his hand as he explained.

“We’re here to meet the Commandant and commandery assistant of Yuzhang. If we can’t even see them, how are we supposed to deal with them?”

Zhou Yi, who had been following nearby, suddenly looked enlightened. His admiration for Liu Xie deepened yet again.

The guard still found it difficult to accept.

“But Zhang the Great—”

“What’s your name?”

The guard stiffened and hurriedly apologized, thinking that his needless remarks had angered His Majesty.

“This subordinate admits his fault. Please punish me, Young Master!”

Liu Xie smiled.

“I’m not punishing you. I’m asking for your name.”

“Ah? My name is Qin Yu!” The guard was utterly bewildered. What was His Majesty plotting?

“Come here. There’s something I need you to do.”

Liu Xie then leaned to Qin Yu’s ear and whispered several words.

“Understood?”

Liu Xie smiled as he looked at Qin Hanyu.

“I understand. I’ll go at once!”

Qin Yu bowed. Then, while A-Si’s attention was fixed on leading the way ahead, he turned and slipped into the crowd.

“Young Master, what are you—?”

Zhou Yi looked at Liu Xie, bewilderment in his eyes. Liu Xie merely gave him a mysterious smile and raised an index finger to his lips.

“Shh—it’s a secret. You’ll find out soon enough!”