The Xuange Division's office is not at the center of the vortex today.

The Xuanji Guard is fully committed to investigating the case, and at most, the Imperial City Garrison will only need to assist in the investigation.

The place has become quiet, much like a brief moment of calm in the eye of a storm.

Amidst this tranquility, Li E led more than thirty men dressed in Xuanwu Army uniforms, looking travel-worn, into the government office.

"Brother Li, what's this?"

A familiar clerk at the door saw this and asked a question out of curiosity.

Li E came to roll call every day, and although he didn't have any official duties, he still became a familiar face to everyone.

“They are all brothers from the Xuanwu Army, who escorted us to the capital together.” Li E’s expression remained calm, his tone steady.

"The Imperial Guards have just given their permission to enter the city for rest and recuperation."

According to regulations, this must be recorded in the Xuan Ge Division's register.

The clerk curled his lip, seemingly thinking it was unnecessary, "It's been so long and you're only now coming to file the paperwork..."

He stepped forward and patted Li E on the shoulder, teasing him with a hint of familiarity, "Brother Li is truly a man who follows the rules."

"Being new here, it's natural to be cautious in everything you do." Li E nodded slightly and softly uttered two words, "I'm sorry."

The clerk was taken aback and subconsciously asked, "Why are you apologizing to me...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Li E stopped looking at him and strode forward.

As the last few soldiers brushed past the minor official, a sudden change occurred!

One of them struck without warning, his palm as sharp as a knife, slashing precisely and ruthlessly at the clerk's side of the neck.

The minor official didn't even manage a muffled groan before his eyes bulged out and he instantly lost consciousness.

He fell softly forward, but was caught by another soldier who gently laid him down on the ground.

The whole process was as fast as lightning, and with a figure blocking the way ahead, it did not cause the slightest disturbance.

However, just as the last person stepped into the government office, he slowly pushed the two heavy vermilion doors shut from the inside.

With a clang, the bolt fell, completely isolating the inside from the outside.

The light suddenly dimmed, and the unusual commotion finally drew the attention of many officials in the hall.

"What happened?"

Who closed the door?

The questioning voices, filled with surprise and doubt, had barely been uttered when the silent Xuanwu Army soldiers, like beasts receiving a command, suddenly sprang into action.

Their goal was extremely clear; they worked in pairs, rushing towards their chosen targets like arrows released from a bow.

Those Xuange officials, whether sitting or standing, who had not yet reacted, could not understand the sudden change before their eyes and were mostly stunned.

"What do you want to do..."

The questioning abruptly stopped.

Facing each other were two burly soldiers who worked in perfect harmony and moved with lightning speed.

The same palm strike to the side of the neck, the same precision and swiftness.

With a muffled groan, the figure collapsed one after another, but was quickly supported and gently laid flat.

In the blink of an eye, the entire front hall of the government office was filled with members of the Xuanwu Army.

In the dim light, Li E kept his eyes straight ahead and strode through the haphazardly lying crowd, heading deeper into the government office.

I walked through the main hall where daily documents and accounting were handled, and through the shelving room where maps and archives were stored, without stopping.

Wherever he went, the few officials he encountered were quickly subdued before they even had time to cry out.

The floodwaters continued forward, submerging the office of the Military Selection and Evaluation Department, which was responsible for selecting and evaluating military officers.

Then, passing under the corridor of the Armory Official's Office, which controlled military equipment and tallies, they finally approached the most central area of ​​the government office.

The Ministry of Personnel, which was in charge of the deployment of troops and the mapping of the country, and the main hall where two junior supervisors and one supervisor were located.

However, Xuangesi was ultimately a strategically important military location.

Most of the officials were military officers; how could they be without any power to resist?

The initial advantage of the surprise attack gradually diminished, and the advantage of being caught off guard by the enemy finally encountered obstacles when facing officials who were truly skilled and experienced.

A bearded official rushed out from the Imperial Carriage Office and roared, knocking away a soldier who tried to approach with a single punch.

"Enemy attack!"

The battle finally broke out, inevitably.

Shouts, the clash of weapons, and the sounds of fists and feet suddenly shattered the silence deep within the government office.

The commotion and fighting alarmed the three top officers.

The doors to the three offices opened almost simultaneously, and the Left Junior Supervisor Lu Mingyuan and the Right Junior Supervisor Cao Chengan rushed out first.

Supervisor Shen Zhijie followed closely behind and immediately saw the chaotic battle under the corridor, with unfamiliar soldiers like wolves and tigers advancing towards the core area.

Shen Zhijie's hair and beard stood on end, and he shouted in a stern voice:

"Who are you? How dare you trespass on the sacred grounds of Xuange Division!"

But the shout had no effect; the battle continued.

Amidst the chaotic sounds of fighting, Li E seemed oblivious to the commotion around him.

His gaze pierced through the crowd, locking onto Cao Cheng'an, the Right Junior Supervisor, and a cold smile slowly spread across his lips.

He stepped out from the crowd and walked towards the other person step by step.

"General Cao, it's been a long time."

Cao Cheng'an stared intently at the burly man in front of him, whose skin was as dark as iron, his brows furrowed.

A flicker of surprise and uncertainty crossed his eyes: "You are... Li E?"

Li E stopped five paces away from him and gave a proper, standard military salute.

"It's kind of General Cao to remember my humble servant."

His voice suddenly rose, and he announced the gate with perfect clarity:

"Li E, Colonel of Xuanjie, formerly under General Zhao Polu, Commandant of the Xuanwu Army, pays his respects to General Cao!"

The two confronted each other as if no one else was around, against the backdrop of a fierce battle.

The soldiers of Xuange Division were fighting hard, but they were held back by the silent and valiant Xuanwu soldiers. The sounds of metal clashing and screams of pain were endless.

Cao Chengan narrowed his eyes.

Having lived a life of luxury in Fengjing for six or seven years, he had long been worn down by the drudgery of official duties and appeared quite old.

But at this moment, his slightly hunched back seemed to straighten a little.

In his dazed eyes, a sudden burst of cold, sharp light, belonging to the general at the northern front, flashed forth.

He slowly swept his gaze across the chaotic government office, his voice chillingly deep:

"Li E, are you planning a rebellion?"