Chen Zhongshu’s tidy-up of the Imperial Guard Department is not worth detailing; with Chen Zhongshu personally making an appearance, nobody in the entire Imperial Guard Department dared to resist. Shortly after Wang Zhongzhi and others entered the premises, in just a matter of moments, they had captured all the rats with Jiang Cheng at the helm.
As Chen Zhongshu entered the Imperial Guard Department, a huge number of imperial guards surged onto the four walls of the Capital City. Marquis Nanyang, Lu Baishu, sat on a horse brandishing a gleaming blade in front of the city gate tower above the Zhengyang Gate, casting a cold glance at several thousand commanders and Bazong among the imperial guards.
Behind him stood four Marquises of the Twelve Camps of the imperial guards, Marquis Guangping, Xue Ou; Marquis Jianliang, Lv Shizhi; Marquis Pingjiang, Chen Yu; Marquis Yongkang, Xu Yuan.
Da Rong had only six Dukes but over thirty Marquises, and as for Earls, there were as many as seventy.
The four men in front of him were supervising officers of the Twelve Camps of the imperial guards.
Kneeling in front of Lu Baishu were already three thousand commanders, four Bazong, and several Military Officers who had been brought in successively.
Seeing this, Xue Ou and the others exchanged looks, puzzled by what Lu Baishu intended to do.
However, they also did not dare to ask too much; judging from Lu Baishu’s demeanor, this was obviously no good matter.
At this moment, the city also resounded with a series of noisy clamors. View the correct content at fre.ewe(bn)ovel.c om
Upon hearing the commotion, Xue Ou and the others all looked towards the city. The distance was too great, and what they could barely discern seemed to be a battalion marching in their direction along Zhengyang Street.
"What’s happening here?" Marquis Pingjiang, Chen Yu, could not help but ask.
Marquis Yongkang, Xu Yuan, shook his head slightly, "I don’t know. They don’t look like personnel from the Military Department, nor do they resemble government officials from Shuntian Prefecture!"
As the distance closed, they could finally make out the specifics of the approaching battalion.
The troop of three hundred, all dressed in black, marched briskly with uniformly synchronized steps, lead by a man on horseback.
Seeing the horse rider, Marquis Guangping, Xue Ou’s eyes sparkled.
"It’s Marquis Jing’an, Yang Zhenshan!"
He had interactions with Yang Zhenshan before. During the battle at Guanshan Pass, he had followed Marquis Changping into combat, and he was present for Yang Zhenshan’s ennoblement.
"It’s him, such strong murderous aura!" Marquis Jianliang, Lv Shizhi, said in a deep voice.
By now, the troops on the street had approached within two hundred meters, although Yang Zhenshan and his men had already come to a stop.
Yang Zhenshan on horseback looked towards the city gate tower above Zhengyang Gate to the south. With his eyesight, he could see Xue Ou and the others clearly, although he couldn’t hear their words.
The distance was not too far, but the surrounding environment was too noisy. Because of their arrival, many citizens had run out into the streets to witness the spectacle.
Indeed, to witness the spectacle!
The citizens of the Capital were bold, not fearing a group of edge-bearing, murderous-looking soldiers; in fact, they were all immensely curious about where these people had suddenly appeared from.
Yang Zhenshan ignored the surrounding onlookers, raising his head to look at the louge with the Chunzai Hall inscribed plaque before him.
"By royal decree, apprehend the spies, and should any dare to resist, execute them on the spot!"
He dismounted, took out the royal decree given to him by Chen Zhongshu, held the decree high with one hand, and with a spear in the other, proceeded directly into Chunzai Hall.
Simultaneously, Ding Qiu, Wu Zhan, and Luo Jingsong, each leading a detachment of guards, either rushed into Chunzai Hall or encircled the building.
Chunzai Hall was a study, boasting a vast collection of books, encompassing four Book Collection Pavilions, a teahouse, two banquet halls, and rooms for rest.
Additionally, it included pavilions and ponds, decorated in classical elegance and offering a tranquil scenery, making it a rare sanctuary for reading, hence greatly favored by literati and scholars in the Capital.
Many literati and scholars frequently held poetry gatherings, artistic appreciation events, and tea parties there.
Though today held no specific gathering in Chunzai Hall, many a scholar came to read or convene casually.
The guards storming into Chunzai Hall immediately triggered panic among the scholars.
"What are you people doing? How dare you create havoc in Chunzai Hall!"
A youth dressed as a scholar confronted them as he saw the scene unfold. Correct content is on f.ree w.e(b)nov el.c.om
Meanwhile, many of Chunzai Hall’s attendants, witnessing this, became alert, exchanging glances and then retreating towards the back.
Yang Zhenshan strode into the courtyard, glancing at the young man who had spoken up.
"By royal command, apprehend the spies; anyone who obstructs will be executed without question!"
He brandished the decree adorned with lucky clouds and cranes, his gaze piercing coldly over the assembled literati and scholars.
"Seal off Chunzai Hall, prohibit anyone from leaving; if anyone dares to rush, execute on the spot without inquiry!"
The group of guards paid no mind to the literati and scholars before them, as they charged directly towards the back of Chunzai Hall.
Under the intimidation of Yang Zhenshan, all the scholars stood still, daring not to move an inch.
Although many among them were children of nobility, who would dare resist in the presence of Yang Zhenshan, bearer of the royal decree.
Yang Zhenshan merely swept them with a glance and stepped towards the back.
However, before he could enter the Moon Gate leading to the backyard, a clash of armed conflict erupted.
Entering through the Moon Gate, the guards were already skirmishing with a group of Chunzai Hall’s attendants.
Not only Chunzai Hall’s attendants but also numerous Martial Artists dressed in black were involved.
Surprisingly, there were at least thirty of them, each seemingly with no low level of cultivation.
Finding so many hidden warriors within a study, nobody would believe that there wasn’t an issue.
Yang Zhenshan’s eyes narrowed, spotting an expert who had broken free from the guard’s encirclement, leaping up with agility onto the rooftop, attempting to flee southward.