Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 487: Chapter 449 Mr. Zhang, the night is deep and all is quiet, why not return to your room to sleep!

Late at night.

Inside Jizhou City, the Luo Family residence suddenly found itself entirely surrounded by a large number of guard soldiers.

Boom Boom Boom~~

The violent sounds of door-pounding echoed through the night.

”Who is it?” The house servants inside were awakened by the door-pounding and asked impatiently.

”Open the door!”

With a creak, the door opened slightly, but before the house servants could see what was outside, the soldiers rushed in.

”The government office is handling a case! There are thieves sowing chaos inside the city, I am here under the command of the Deputy Magistrate to search for thieves!”

”Everyone, search!”

Similarly, a middle-aged man wearing a blue government robe led the charge into the Luo Family, and a commotion quickly ensued.

”Who are you people?”

Luo Jiangqiu, clad in his robe, stepped out of his bedroom and angrily questioned the fearsome-looking soldiers.

”The government office is handling a case! Are you Luo Jiangqiu?” the middle-aged official asked.

”The government office is handling a case? Which government office are you from?” Luo Jiangqiu demanded.

The middle-aged official’s face revealed a smirk, ”Jizhou Guard, Guardian Department! I am Commander Li Guangyao of the Jizhou Guard!”

Luo Jiangqiu was completely stunned!

The Jizhou Guard’s soldiers were here to capture thieves!

Who orchestrated this?

The Jizhou Guard was responsible for the defense of Jizhou City as well as patrolling the Jizhou Canal, but they specifically did not handle thief-capture within the city.

Capturing thieves was the job of the Prefectural Government, and unless there were major troubles, the government office would normally not request the garrison’s soldiers to interfere with matters such as capturing thieves.

Because this would show the incompetence of the government officers in the Prefectural Government.

”You!” Luo Jiangqiu wanted to say more, but Li Guangyao slapped him, ”Old fool, shut your mouth, you have no right to question in front of me!”

”Arrest them all!”

...

In the early hours, on the streets of Jizhou City.

A large number of constables from the Prefectural Government formed teams and took to the streets; any shop bearing the Luo Family’s signboard was forcibly entered to arrest people and seal the premises.

”The government office is chasing thieves, clear the way!”

Clang Clang Clang~~

”Open the door! If you don’t open it, we’ll break it down!”

”Damn it, how dare you resist, kill!”

For a moment, various noises arose, completely awakening the city that had been in slumber.

Inside the Prefectural Government.

Prefect Zhang Mo was woken up by the noisy commotion.

”What’s going on!” Clad in his robe, Zhang Mo stepped out of his bedroom and asked the strategist outside.

”Master, something big has happened in the city!” the strategist urgently reported.

”What big thing?” Zhang Mo frowned and inquired.

Though Jizhou City was complex with frequent disturbances by thieves, such petty criminals didn’t yet count as a ’big thing’.

Both the constables of the Prefectural Government and the guard soldiers of the Jizhou Guard were not to be trifled with; and on top of that, the Hengdao Sect held significant sway in Jizhou.

There weren’t many who could stir up big trouble in Jizhou City.

”For some reason, the constables from the government office and the guard soldiers of the Jizhou Guard are arresting thieves all over the city!” the strategist announced.

Zhang Mo stared at him, shocked, ”The constables from the government office?”

”Yes, I don’t know what got into Arrest Officer Han’s head; he took all the constables with him!”

The government office employs various types of officers: Civilian braves responsible for guarding the city gates, government office, jail, patrolling outside the city, etc.

There are constables tasked with following and protecting the officials upon command; for instance, those officers who shout for authority when the government office convenes are the standing team.

And then there are the swift constables, commonly known as constables, responsible for criminal investigation and evidence collection, etc.

There are also others like night watchmen, coachmen, cooks, storekeepers, and others employed for miscellaneous tasks within the government office.

Amongst all, the constables hold the greatest strength as they are charged with capturing thieves and often have to face Jianghu Martial Artists, so having some capability is necessary.

But here’s the problem!

The constables from the government office were rampantly capturing thieves within the city, and he as the Prefect was utterly unaware!

Who gave the orders to the constables?

The other Deputy Magistrates and Assistant Governors?

Impossible!

For such a matter, at the very least, they should have informed him.

And what’s the deal with the Jizhou Guard’s soldiers?

Zhang Mo’s face darkened dramatically.

”Go, recall all the constables for me. What are they trying to do?” Zhang Mo demanded angrily.

The strategist beside him was about to comply, but at that moment, a voice suddenly came from above.

”Mr. Zhang, it’s late at night, it might be better to return to your room and sleep!”

”Who’s there?”

Everyone in the yard was startled by the sudden voice.

”Hengdao Sect’s Ji Hai!”

The night breeze blew, and a figure appeared atop a large tree in the courtyard; beneath the cold moonlight, the shadowy visage of a face emerged before everyone.

”Hengdao Sect!” Zhang Mo’s eyes narrowed.

Indeed!

Who else but the Hengdao Sect could cause such a commotion in the entire Jizhou City?

The Hengdao Sect’s Disciples were seldom in official positions, and even if they were, they tended to hold minor offices.

But the Hengdao Sect had deep roots in Jizhou, entwined with various officials of Jizhou by many threads.

Take the arrest officers from the Prefectural Government, for example—half of them came from the Hengdao Sect.

It could be said that for the Hengdao Sect to mobilize the constables, it would be more convenient and quicker than for him, the Prefect.

”What are you trying to do?” Zhang Mo asked.

”Our master has decreed the Luo Family cannot remain in Jizhou!” Ji Hai declared.

Zhang Mo frowned, ”The Luo Family!”

He did not understand why the Hengdao Sect targeted the Luo Family, considering they were merely a rich merchant family; he wasn’t overly concerned.

”Is it just because of the Luo Family?”

”Just because of the Luo Family!” Ji Hai confirmed.

”After dawn, I don’t want any more chaos in the city!”

He had no intention of opposing the Hengdao Sect for the sake of the Luo Family—it was senseless and unnecessary.

”Mr. Zhang, rest assured, we at the Hengdao Sect still need to establish ourselves in Jizhou; we will not allow chaos to ensue here!”