The Ming Dynasty took an unconventional approach

Cao Rong, who had already given up and decided to use his last resort, hesitated for a moment and then sat back down.

The cost of killing the imperial inspector was too high, especially with the Embroidered Uniform Guard around him;
How he managed to evade the watchful eyes of so many people in the Cao household and steal a storeroom full of treasure remains a mystery.

Cao Rong couldn't guarantee that killing Xue Shao wouldn't leak the news, so he was willing to fight for it as long as there was even the slightest possibility.

Seeing him sit back down, Xue Shao smiled slightly and turned to tell Xi Jin to go down and arrange dinner: "Please invite Prefect Song to come and keep us company."

Prefect Song originally wanted to avoid this situation, but Xi Jin came to invite him personally. After hesitating for a moment, Prefect Song gritted his teeth and went anyway.

At the dinner table, Xue Shao and Song Hao held off Cao Rong, while the yamen runners surrounded the prefect. Anyone from the Cao family was turned away, and if they caused a disturbance, they were simply gagged and driven away.

Prefect Song even paid to hire musicians from the Baiyi Tower to sing. Their melodious voices were so enchanting that even if there was a commotion outside, it would be difficult for the sound to reach the backyard.

Cao Rong glanced at Xue Shao, who was tapping his fingers lightly, and a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.

So it turns out that Xue Shao didn't dislike worldly things, but rather that the people in Jiangnan just couldn't find what he loved about them?
Cao Rong glanced at the musicians, made up his mind, and was no longer in a hurry.

At this moment, An Chen, along with the Imperial Guards and Wang Cong, surrounded the Cao residence. Having obtained the warrant, they rushed into the Cao residence to arrest the person.

When Pan Yun returned from outside the city, he couldn't find Wang Cong and the others in the courtyard. So he came to join the fun, just in time for the most exciting moment.

The steward of the Cao family led a group of soldiers and servants to resist, directly drawing their swords.

An Chen shouted sternly, "Imperial Censor Xue is on an inspection tour by imperial decree; he is an envoy! To see an envoy is to see the emperor himself. How dare you draw your swords against him? Do you intend to rebel?"

The steward retorted sternly, "Don't try to fool us! Our commander is not here. Anyone who dares to break into the manor is no different from a bandit! Brothers, if bandits invade, kill them with all your might! I will take full responsibility for the consequences!"

"Cao Rong has already been executed and is being held in the prefect's prison. How dare you disobey orders on his behalf!" An Chen drew his sword with a swift motion and said in a deep voice, "Anyone who disobeys orders will be killed without exception!"

Just as the fight was about to break out, Pan Yun, who was lying on the roof, picked up a tile, broke off a corner, and flicked it with her finger. The tile shot out and hit the butler squarely on the back of the neck. The man's eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

An Chen was taken aback, but quickly realized what was happening and shouted, "The Cao family steward has already surrendered. Do you still wish to resist?"

In the midst of the chaos, the Imperial Guards shouted, and Wang Cong and the others immediately followed, yelling, "Disarm and you will not be killed!"

Indeed, some people did drop their swords.

But some people were clear-headed and knew that given Cao Rong's crimes, they would likely not survive even if they laid down their swords. So they charged forward with their swords drawn, shouting, "Fight our way out, rescue the commander, and rebel against this unjust world!"

An Chen kicked him, and the Embroidered Spring Blade sliced ​​down, severing his entire head.

In a world that is still unjust, what right does he have to shout this slogan?
Wang Cong also kicked away the men who rushed at him, knocked them unconscious with the back of his knife, and then protected Wang Xiaojing and the others.

Pan Jun was breaking off roof tiles, dropping one every now and then.

When the guards of the Cao family swung their swords down, just as they were about to strike someone, there was a loud bang. Either the sword went astray, or the guards felt a sharp pain and numbness in their elbows, leaving them instantly powerless.

The Wang family's men charged into the crowd with howls, fighting like bandits. When a knife was about to strike his face, he closed his eyes in fear, ready to die. But then his legs went numb, and he fell to his knees with a thud. When he opened his eyes again, he had not only dodged the knife, but the man who was about to strike him had also fallen to the ground with a thud.

After a fierce battle, our side suffered zero casualties, while the enemy lost five men. Apart from those who initially threw down their weapons and lay motionless with their heads in their hands, the rest were all lightly wounded and captured.

The five dead men were all killed by the Embroidered Uniform Guards; they showed no mercy.

The other minor injuries were inflicted by Wang's servants and the able-bodied soldiers who came in from outside the city.

However, the military households that entered from outside the city formed a larger encirclement. They not only guarded the six gates of Cao's residence but also assigned men to watch the walls, ensuring that both groups could see each other.

They absolutely forbade anyone from sneaking out of Cao's residence to tip off others, lest all their efforts be in vain.

These military households wanted Cao Rong dead more than anyone else.

However, the commotion was so great that even if the people inside the mansion couldn't escape, those outside noticed something was wrong.

Immediately, people spread the news far and wide.

Besides informing Cao Rong's allies, he also sought out Cao Rong.

But to their surprise, several of Cao Rong's allies also disappeared. When they finally found out that Cao Rong had gone to the prefectural government office and had not come out again, they turned around and headed towards the prefectural government office, but a curfew had already been imposed on the streets.

Cao Rong was enjoying his wine when he vaguely heard some noise. He tilted his head, intending to listen carefully, when Song Hao raised his wine cup and said, "Commander Cao, let me toast you. Our Lingnan region is remote, and I am truly grateful that you have persisted here for so many years. I think Imperial Censor Xue also knows your hardships and is willing to make an exception for you."

Cao Rong immediately snapped out of his daze, holding his wine cup and glancing sideways at Xue Shao: "Over the years, I may not have achieved anything great, but I have certainly put in a lot of hard work. It is Prefect Song who understands my pain. Censor Xue, could you please show leniency?"

Xue Shao swirled his wine glass and said, "No problem."

Cao Rong curled his lips slightly, tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup, scoffing inwardly, "Xue Shao is nothing special after all."

Not only did the people outside the prefectural government office fail to find Cao Rong, but they were also soon detained by the yamen runners on the grounds of making noise at night and violating the curfew, and were directly locked up in jail.

The area around the prefectural government office quieted down, but the whole city of Guangzhou began to bustle with activity.

After An Chen took over the Cao residence, he ordered his third son to escort a group of people back, while the rest were separated into two categories: those who surrendered and those who resisted, and tied up and imprisoned on the spot.

He then left a group of people to guard the Cao residence, while he led the rest of the men to search the next house according to the list.

Before leaving, he looked up at the empty rooftop, and without caring whether anyone was still there, he waved to the rooftop, signaling Pan Yun to follow.

As Wang Cong passed by him, he said, "My junior uncle is no longer there."

An Chen remained expressionless: "No matter where she is, as long as she understands what I mean, that's enough."

Pan Xiaohei relayed the message, and Pan Yun, who was putting things into Cao Rong's master bedroom, casually replied, "Let them go first, I'll catch up soon."

Pan Xiaohei noticed that Pan Yun had slipped a talisman into the middle of the things she was putting in, and said speechlessly, "Are all you Taoists this suspicious?"

Pan Yun: "What do you know? This is called having control of the overall situation."

The steward of the Cao family was escorted back to the prefectural government office. Half-drunk but still sober, Song Hao made a decisive move and immediately ordered his confidants to gather all the manpower to search the remaining houses with An Chen.

Xue Shao actually managed to take over the Cao family mansion, relying on those low-ranking military households outside the city who hadn't received much training.
Song Hao immediately decided to side with Xue Shao.

Xue Shao never complained that the alliance came late; he simply wrote a letter and handed it to him.

He instructed the constables to take the letter to An Chen: "However, I must make this clear beforehand, Prefect Song: those who go must obey Lord An's orders. Anyone who disobeys will be dealt with according to military law."

Song Hao quickly lowered his head and agreed. (End of Chapter)