“Alive.”
"That'll do."
＊
The next day, Qi Su, the commander of Qiangzhou Guard, came to Ma Zikun with a stack of names.
"Master Ma, Zhang Qing has revealed four individuals. Two of them followed Magistrate Yu to Xiaolin Village yesterday, and the other two are stationed at the county government office. We have already apprehended all four."
Zhang Qing was the government servant who went up the mountain to report the news yesterday.
"Afterwards, we followed the clues and found several people who were connected to the bandits at the government office. We also arrested them all. They are now being held by the Qiangzhou Guards."
Qi Su, who was still energetic after a sleepless night, took out another list with the names and addresses of the captured yamen runners.
"Also, after repeated investigations, it was confirmed that Magistrate Yu was indeed unaware of the collusion between the government officials and the bandits."
Ma Zikun snorted: "Then he can't escape the guilt of dereliction of duty."
Qi Su did not refute, and Lord Ma remembered it. County Magistrate Yu would have no chance of getting promoted in the next few years.
"We're trying to suppress bandits right under their noses, no wonder we fail every year."
Looking at the two compiled lists, Ma Zikun couldn't help but curse: "How did he manage to be a county magistrate? The county government office has been turned into a hornet's nest by bandits."
"Uncle Ma, calm down."
Yan Cheng handed Ma Zikun a cup of tea and said, "There are many servants in the county government office. Lord Yu can't chase them every day. It's understandable that he didn't notice their abnormality."
"My nephew actually spoke for him."
Ma Zikun complained, but actually took a sip of the heat-reducing tea.
Maybe it was because the tea was delicious or Yan Cheng was good at talking, but he wasn't as angry as before.
"Nephew, when do you think it would be appropriate for us to attack Black Wind Village?"
Yan Cheng hadn't spoken yet, but Qi Su couldn't help but frown when he heard what he said. Ma Zikun smiled and said, "Master Qi, do you think I shouldn't talk to a child about such an important matter as suppressing bandits?"
Qi Su remained silent, but his stern face seemed to be a silent answer.
"Since Lord Qi is curious, I will tell you the truth." Ma Zikun looked at Yan Cheng, "In fact, last night's plan was thought up by my nephew."
"Originally, I planned to fight a long battle with Black Wind Village, but my nephew had other ideas. I thought it might be worth a try, and I didn't expect it to actually work."
"My nephew is not ordinary smart."
He looked proud and smiled contentedly, as if the extremely intelligent Yan Cheng was his own son.
Qi Su looked at Yan Cheng with a different look.
If what Lord Ma said is true, then this young man has a bright future and is born to be a political manipulator.
At such a young age, he can play with bandits at his fingertips. When he grows older and enters the court, he will definitely be a big threat to some people.
"Uncle, you are too kind. If it weren't for your full support, I wouldn't have thought so much, and everyone wouldn't have been so quick to find the fault with the government office."
Yan Cheng said a few humble words and got back to the topic.
"I don't think now is the best time to attack Black Wind Village. It's best to wait and see what other tricks they have."
"My dear nephew, what you said makes sense. This period of time is just the right time to integrate the Luyang Guard. Sir Qi, I'll leave this matter to you."
Qi Su agreed.
It's just military training. The Luyang Guard can train in the same way as the Qiangzhou Guard does. It's not difficult.
Thinking of the scene of Qiangzhou Wei's high-intensity training that he saw when he was strolling in Xiaolin Village at dawn, Yan Cheng felt that Lu Yangwei, who had been lazy for many years, had suffered a lot in the past few days.
Yan Cheng's eyes darkened as he caught sight of the dried fish under the eaves.
"Uncle, there is one more thing..."
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