Chapter 64: Escorting the Goods
Chapter 64: Escorting the Goods
At the City Guard General Office, Chen Mu listened to Liu Song's report with a calm expression.
"I have news from the Blackwater Gang, sir. It should be reliable," Liu Song replied from the side.
"Good," Chen Mu nodded slightly.
The information he had asked Liu Song to investigate was about the Zheng family's smuggling of medicinal ingredients.
Among the Zheng family's misdeeds, smuggling medicinal ingredients wasn't the most severe crime, but it had the most far-reaching consequences. By exposing this, the entire Zheng family could be uprooted, rather than just catching a few of them for minor offenses like bullying men and women.
Yes, Chen Mu had never been interested in playing games of intrigue with the Zheng family.
In fact, in today's world, smuggling medicinal ingredients was no longer something anyone paid attention to, not even the imperial court itself. It was simply a way to make money, and the Zheng family had been doing it for many years.
As a Patrol Commander of the City Guard, Chen Mu didn't need to resort to traps or tricks to deal with the Zheng family. All he needed was to find any handle and take swift action, as the key wasn't in the crimes of the Zheng family, but in cutting through the chaos with a decisive strike.
After all, the Zheng family had backing and was deeply rooted in Willow Grove, with a large household and extensive connections.
When dealing with such a powerful force, one could either leave them be or strike with lightning speed, uprooting them entirely without giving their connections or the Zheng family itself time to react.
Usually, this wouldn't be easy, as the Zheng family had significant influence, with dozens of martial artists guarding their compound and hundreds of servants. They even dared to confront the City Guard directly, and their informants were spread throughout the city, ensuring a swift response to any major movements by the Guard.
But...
Chen Mu, the new Patrol Commander, had started his tenure with a grand display of morning and evening drills, creating a chaotic scene that lasted for several days. After a while, the increased activity of the City Guard became commonplace, even with double the number of patrols and frequent gatherings of the third-rank patrol officers. It was all attributed to the new commander's initial enthusiasm, and no one paid it much attention.
Chen Mu slowly walked to the window, hands behind his back, gazing at the outer yard of the City Guard.
In the yard, numerous patrol officers held their guard sabers and practiced in perfect unison, their shouts filling the air and echoing through the streets several blocks away, creating an impressive display.
"Let's do it tonight," Chen Mu's eyes flashed with determination.
It was his fifth day in office, and the residents of Willow Grove had become accustomed to the new commander and the City Guard's recent activities.
...
Night fell.
Willow Grove was quieter during the day compared to Nine Streets, but at night, the two places were almost indistinguishable. Every household was tightly shut, and no one was visible in the dark alleys.
Two carts slowly made their way through the streets, approaching Willow Grove. Pulled by men, they moved silently, accompanied by twenty to thirty people escorting them through the darkness.
Suddenly, shadows stirred in the night, and a group of about ten people appeared in front of the carts.
"What are you doing?" one of them asked in a low voice.
A man from the escort group stepped forward, his face visible in the dim light. He gave a slight bow to the group of ten and said, "This is Master Zheng's procession. Please let us pass, brothers."
"Oh, I thought it was someone else, but it's Master Zheng's household..." One of the men blocking the carts stepped aside and made way.
The escort group, now accustomed to such encounters, greeted each other and continued pulling the carts through the alleys. Once they were fully within Willow Grove, their expressions visibly relaxed.
"Alright," Zheng Fu said with a sigh of relief.
The reputation of the Zheng Family might not hold much sway in other districts of the Southern City, but back in Willow Grove, it was a different story. Few gangs were willing to cross them.
The dozen or so individuals from the Crocodile Gang had let them pass without incident earlier, recognizing the Zheng Family's procession.
The guards escorting the procession, all members of the Zheng Family, relaxed now that they were back in familiar territory. They began to chat quietly among themselves, discussing the latest gossip, including the rumored charms of a certain widow.
However, their leisurely conversation was short-lived.
As they turned into an alley, a group of people emerged from the shadows, blocking their path. The alley was soon surrounded, with several dozen individuals sealing off both ends. The darkness made it impossible to discern their features.
The Zheng Family members were taken aback by this sudden turn of events.
Zheng Fu, however, remained calm and took a few steps forward. He bowed and said in a low voice, "I am Zheng Fu, a brother of the Sandflow Gang and an associate of the Blackwater Gang. Please, let us pass."
They were, after all, in the territory of Willow Grove, where the active gangs were well-known. The Sandflow Gang had a partnership with the Zheng Family, while other gangs like the Bandit Gang tended to mind their own business. The Blackwater Gang, with whom the Zheng Family had a history of conflict, still didn't have the backing to confront them directly.
Yet, Zheng Fu's words were met with silence.
The people surrounding them remained still, their faces obscured by the darkness.
Zheng Fu's brow furrowed, and he spoke in a serious tone, "Do you intend to cross the Zheng Family? You should think carefully, as this is our territory."
Typically, their processions only encountered trouble outside of Willow Grove, where unfamiliar gangs or newly risen ones might spark conflicts. Within their own territory, however, they rarely faced issues.
But in the next moment, torches flared to life.
The sudden illumination revealed a shocking sight, causing Zheng Fu's eyes to widen in alarm.
The rows of black-clad individuals blocking their path were, in fact, dozens of City Guard officers, with several senior patrol officers among them, distinguishable by their blue attire.
"Zheng Fu?" Shang Qinglai called out, holding a torch and emerging from the crowd. His eyes fixed on Zheng Fu, and he asked, "Can you tell me what you're transporting in this procession?"
Zheng Fu's expression turned grim.
He had never expected the ones intercepting them to be City Guard officers. If it were another gang, it might have been a coincidence, but the presence of so many officers clearly indicated they were the target.
Recalling the events of recent days, Zheng Fu's face grew even darker. This was obviously retaliation from the new Magistrate, and their night was about to take a turn for the worse. The key now was to inform the main family as soon as possible.
For now, he could only say in a subdued tone, "Just ordinary goods, Lord Shang. Could you please show some leniency?"
"Ordinary goods? I doubt that," Shang Qinglai sneered, waving his hand. "Take them into custody, all of them!"
(End of Chapter)
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