Magistrate Wu's face immediately darkened.

Although it is said that even a seventh-rank official can stand before the prime minister, that is just a saying. How could a second-rank servant really think he could be on equal footing with a seventh-rank official like himself?

No, this isn't about being on equal footing; it's about making him go and pay his respects!

On what grounds?

"Sir, would you like to come over for a moment?" Xiao Liu urged with a sullen face.

Constable Sun was exceptionally assertive: "Why should our master go over there! He's just a servant, yet he acts like an official?"

"Little Liu, whose servant are you? Whose food do you eat, and whose bowl do you hold?"

Little Liu had a long face. Little Constable Sun didn't know that the servant he was talking about had quite the air about him, and looked more like a master than their master.

Constable Sun glared fiercely at Xiao Liu. "I'll go and invite him, sir. Don't worry, whatever it is, I'll make sure he comes to pay his respects to you!"

Magistrate Wu breathed a long sigh of relief and looked at Constable Sun with satisfaction.

Finally, I have a capable subordinate.

Officer Sun left quickly and returned even faster, his face even more sullen than Xiao Liu's, and advised, "Sir, please go over there for a moment."

Magistrate Wu: ...A bunch of useless bastards! Just wait, I'll deal with you when we get back.

Magistrate Wu looked at the sharp-eyed man on horseback, his legs trembling uncontrollably, and even his voice trembled: "Ling Ling, this humble official greets Governor Ling!"

He knelt down with a thud.

He only needed to put one knee on the ground, but for some reason, his legs were out of his control. He put his forehead on the ground and performed a deep bow, his mind racing.

Why would Governor Ling come to Shanshui Village?

His men hadn't even delivered the letter yet. Besides, even if they had, he was on holiday right now. Why would Governor Ling come over personally for such a trivial matter?

That makes no sense at all.

Never mind, he first apologized: "This humble official has failed to greet you properly, please forgive me."

Ling Ce, perched high on horseback, lowered his eyes to look at the ground, displaying the decisiveness of a superior, and casually ordered: "Tie them up, tie everyone up."

A group of people immediately surged out from behind him, and without saying a word, they stepped forward, tied his hands behind his back, and pressed him to the ground. Another person on his side quickly tied him with a rope. The whole process was neat and efficient, so skillful that it was obvious that he did it often.

Magistrate Wu was tied up, as were Constable Sun and Xiao Liu. The clerk, who was shouting and cursing loudly, was also tied up before he could even react.

The men Ling Ce brought were well-trained and worked without speaking. In no time, most of them were tied up. When the refugees who had gathered temporarily saw that things were not going well, they ran away. The men did not chase after them, but only kept watch over all of Magistrate Wu's men.

The group on the dam, as well as Li Changlin, Bai Ziqian, and others on the watchtower, were stunned.

They watched helplessly as the arrogant clerk on the other side fell silent, and Magistrate Wu, who had come to provide support, was tied up with a rag stuffed in his mouth, making incessant whimpering noises. The others either ran away, scattered, or were tied up again, and the situation was instantly reversed.

"What happened?"

"What do we do now?"

Is this person friend or foe? If they ask us to open the door later, should we open it?

Before they could think for long, a familiar face rushed out from the crowd and shouted, "Open the door! We're back!"

"It's Governor Ling! Our village is safe now! Don't be afraid!"

Upon seeing Jin Niu, Yin Niu, and Feng Da, Li Wen excitedly stood up and shouted joyfully towards the back, "It's the men from our village! They've returned with their men!"

Shui Qingchao nodded to the man guarding the gate, and only then did the men on either side remove the bolts, and the gate slowly opened.

All forty men, not one missing, rushed in first.