Chapter 66: 66: The Horse Bandits Must Be Wiped Out!

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: The Horse Bandits Must Be Wiped Out!

“Swoosh!”

Chen Yuan’s footsteps moved in an instant, a flash of white light from his blade passing by as he held the gleaming knife to the man’s throat, his voice cold, “Who are you to speak to a constable like that?”

“Since when does the County Government need to report its bandit extermination plans to you?”

“Chen…arrest officer Chen, why make such a big fuss out of nothing?”

“Please don’t, please don’t.”

“Constable Chen, please, calm your anger.”

...

Feeling the chill from the blade’s edge, the middle-aged man who had the knife pressed against his neck broke out in cold sweat, which immediately began dripping from his forehead as he swallowed hard and said in a low voice:

“Constable Chen, please don’t be rash; I indeed spoke too loudly just now… Please don’t lower yourself to my level.”

Li Mingqi watched Chen Yuan’s performance with a smile hooked on the corner of his mouth, quite intrigued.

He was growing more and more satisfied with Chen Yuan, seeing him as a promising talent. It was a pity that he didn’t have an eligible daughter, otherwise…

Chen Yuan glanced at him, then patted his shoulder, saying:

“Family Head Chen, I was just joking. Don’t take it to heart.”

“Of course, of course…” The man called Family Head Chen grinned stiffly. Just now, he had truly sensed a hint of killing aura.

Seeing that Chen Yuan was no longer on the offensive, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.

It wasn’t that they were afraid, but that their goal wasn’t to create conflict with the government. They wanted to find a way to retrieve their goods through official channels, and starting a conflict wouldn’t be easy.

This Chen Yuan was young and impulsive, quick to draw his sword at the slightest disagreement. Picking a fight with such a person was unwise!

Chen Yuan looked at the several Family Heads stunned into silence and hooked his lips slightly, then declared loudly:

“The horse bandits must be exterminated!”

“You all have a profound understanding that these horse bandits do not blink an eye when killing people. They are indeed a great scourge to Ping’an County. With these villains around, how can we be at peace?”

“I fear, you wouldn’t even dare to leave the city on most days.”

“But… to be frank with all of you, the County Government would like to take action, but we lack the silver to reward and compensate. Tell me, without silver, how can constables and government officials dare to risk their lives?”

“Then… what do you propose, arrest officer Chen?”

Someone asked with a frown.

Chen Yuan glanced at Li Mingqi, who sat at the head of the table without showing any reaction, and said with a smile:

“My meaning is quite simple. If you want to exterminate bandits, you’ll need to provide some silver. With that, the constables and officials under me will fight the horse bandits to the end!”

The seated crowd looked at one another, understanding Chen Yuan’s intention even if they were not the brightest. They could proceed with the bandit extermination, but they’d need to provide silver, otherwise, who would risk their lives for them?

“Arrest officer Chen, we have always paid our monthly dues without fail, how is it that now…” someone said in a low voice, somewhat displeased. The amount of silver they provided yearly was not insignificant.

Now, when there was actually something to be done, they were still being asked for money. There wasn’t a single decent person among the officials!

Chen Yuan’s eyelids drooped as he said slowly:

“I have never seen that silver. How about this: whoever you gave your silver to, let them take care of exterminating the horse bandits for you.”

Although taking bribes in secret was common, there were few who dared to be so blunt about it.

Chen Yuan wanted to see if they would dare to name who they had been paying.

“Arrest officer Chen, how much are you asking for?” A portly middle-aged man stood up, silencing the others.

He was very clear that the arrest officer Chen Yuan would not make a move until he saw benefit, and even if some influential figures pressured the constables of the County Government to go after the bandits, what could he do if they dragged their feet? His goods were what mattered most, and if there were delays, the compensation wouldn’t be a small figure.

“Sir, how much do you think is appropriate for exterminating the bandits?”

Chen Yuan did not make the decision himself but turned his gaze to Li Mingqi at the head of the table.

Li Mingqi gave a knowing smile as if to say ‘you’re quite sensible,’ and said indifferently:

“Exterminating bandits is indeed the County Government’s duty. However, just like arrest officer Chen said, without sufficient rewards and compensations, the arrest officers in the government will not give it their all… Each family should contribute fifty taels of silver, and the County Government will surely eradicate this scourge of horse bandits, returning a just and peaceful order to Ping’an County!”

Chen Yuan sneered inwardly. Li Mingqi truly was the County Magistrate, delivering such grand and lofty statements so impressively!

The few Family Heads sitting down seemed hesitant, their gazes wandering. Fifty taels from each family was not a trivial amount; together, it added up to two hundred and fifty taels of silver.

“`

It was almost a quarter of the value of that batch of goods.

“How is it, gentlemen, are you unwilling?” Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes as he scanned over them one by one.

“Fine, fifty taels it is!”

The portly middle-aged man appeared to be quite authoritative, and after he made the decision, there were no further objections from the others.

“As soon as the silver arrives, the County Government will immediately begin suppressing the bandits!”

Chen Yuan said in a firm voice.

“Good, Arrest Officer Chen is a forthright man, and I shall not be vague either. Before the darkness falls today, the Yang Family’s silver will surely be delivered into your hands, Arrest Officer Chen!”

The portly middle-aged man was very hearty.

“That is very good indeed!”

Chen Yuan nodded slightly.

After negotiating the silver, the remaining matters were very straightforward, merely a few more pleasantries in fact, and it wasn’t long before the representatives of the several families left the County Government.

Before leaving, Chen Yuan and Tie Qinghua exchanged a smile discreetly.

…

…

“My Lord, once they deliver the silver, I, your humble official, will have Wang Ping deliver it all to your residence,” Chen Yuan said with a smile after everyone had left.

“There’s no need for such clever tricks, keep one hundred fifty taels for yourself, and bring only one hundred taels…” Li Mingqi said indifferently.

“Thank you, my Lord.”

Chen Yuan promptly showed some respect.

Li Mingqi gave Chen Yuan a penetrating look:

“Without the silver, it wouldn’t matter if you couldn’t suppress the bandits, but once you accept the silver, it becomes more complicated. They will surely find a way to report this to the higher authorities.”

“Isn’t my Lord here for that?”

Chen Yuan spoke softly.

Yet in his heart, he was scheming, taking half right off the bat, they couldn’t possibly let this pass without even a fart, could they?

“Tell me, what are your plans?”

Li Mingqi looked straight at Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan immediately replied:

“To be honest with my Lord, your humble official has already acquired some clues.”

“Oh?” Li Mingqi was startled, Chen Yuan had clues already when these people had just come to file the report today?

Even a divine detective couldn’t do much better, could he?

Instinctively, Li Mingqi was somewhat disbelieving.

Chen Yuan took a deep breath and said:

“My Lord, do you know who that woman dressed in green among those five people was just now?”

“I naturally recognize Tie Xuan’s sister,” Li Mingqi spoke softly.

“Right, it’s the sister of the Head of the Tie Prison. With Tie Xuan’s death, the Tie Family has faced a lot of exclusion, and many forces want to swallow up the Tie Family’s foundation. And last night, Tie Qinghua found me, hoping I could protect her.”

“It was from her that I learned about this bandits’ matter and also received some clues,” Chen Yuan said, carefully watching Li Mingqi’s expression, after all, he and the late Tie Xuan were not on the same side before.

————

The follow-up has dropped quite a bit, brothers, don’t nurture the book!

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