Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 272 You brat, I will tear you to pieces!
The hundred-horse cavalry was reorganized, and the sound of hooves echoed through the streets once more.

Wen He and Zhang Wenxiao were sitting on a horse.

He gazed in the direction of Chang'an, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

It's his turn to make a move in this game.

Cui San was carried by two riders to keep up with the group. When they passed the charred wool workshop, he subconsciously shrank his neck.

In the morning sunlight, the charred wool curled into black clumps, like countless withered hands reaching towards the sky.

He suddenly realized that he had been drawn into a far more complex case than a simple arson case, but a vortex that could turn the entire city of Chang'an upside down.

Zhao Qin rode at the back of the group, glanced back at the ruins, and then looked at Wen He's tall and straight back in front of him. He suddenly felt that this young county magistrate was even more unfathomable than the legends said.

Those aristocratic families who wanted to scheme against him were probably mistaken.

The cool morning breeze swept through the treetops, carrying the distant sound of the night watchman's clapper, signaling that dawn had broken in the distance.

The morning in Chang'an was a bit chilly, but a storm was already brewing amidst the sound of Wen He's horse hooves.

When the procession reached Zhuque Avenue, they encountered the patrolling Jinwu Guards.

Upon seeing such a large group of men, the leading captain felt a chill run down his spine and immediately stepped forward to ask, "Who are you, and why are you gathered here?"

"A hundred riders are handling the case." Zhang Wenxiao revealed the token engraved with "hundred riders," its two gilded parts gleaming in the firelight.

The captain of the Imperial Guards' expression changed slightly. Not daring to ask any more questions, he quickly waved for them to pass.

Once the 100 cavalry had gone far away, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and whispered to the squad leader beside him, "Quickly report to the commander. The mobilization of so many 100 cavalry is suspicious; something big is about to happen."

The team leader hurriedly left after receiving his orders, and in the early morning, only the sound of a hundred riders' hooves echoed as they rode away on Zhuque Avenue.

Wenhe reined in his horse and stopped at a fork in the road.

To the left was the imperial road leading to the capital, and to the right was the neighborhood where the Zheng family of Xingyang lived. He glanced back at Xu Jingzong, who was nervously gripping the reins.

"This way." Wen He pointed his whip to the right, his voice clear and firm.

Xu Jingzong's expression changed drastically: "Jiaying! That's the territory of the Zheng family of Xingyang! You're going there..."

"Let's go meet Jung Yunho," Wen He interrupted him, urging her horse forward.

"Don't worry, I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong."

Huang Chun laughed heartily: "That's more like it! What kind of behavior is it to dawdle like that!"

He urged his horse to catch up, the sword making a soft clanging sound as it was sheathed.

Xu Jingzong looked at the two men's backs, then at the resolute eyes of the hundred cavalrymen behind him, and felt somewhat helpless.

Is that about meeting Jung Yunho?

The person we're about to meet is Zheng Yuanzhu, a third-rank official and the Left Martial General.

Seeing that all the riders had left, he could only grit his teeth and crack his whip: "Wait for me!"

He had only one thought in his mind: Please, please don't really cause a major disaster. As the procession turned the corner, the vermilion gates of the Zheng family of Xingyang came into view in the distance.

The plaque bearing the inscription "Xingyang Zheng Family" hanging above the gatehouse gleamed with a dark red luster under the sunlight, while two stone lions squatted in front of the gate, their fangs bared.

Wen He raised his hand to signal the group to stop and sent someone up to knock on the door.

"A hundred riders are on duty! Open the door!"

The sleepy doorman didn't quite hear what was being shouted, and impatiently yelled, "What are you yelling about in broad daylight?"

The doorman impatiently opened the side door, and as soon as he peeked out, a horizontal knife was held to his neck.

Only then did the doorman get a clear look at the fierce-looking face in front of him. He was startled and was about to shout when someone covered his mouth and pulled him away.

Three riders charged in from the side and opened the mansion gate.

"Go in and seize the Zheng family members!"

With a furious shout, Wen He led a hundred cavalrymen, along with Zhao Qin's imperial guards, into the fray.

at the same time.

Inside the study of the Zheng family mansion.

Jung Yunho and several young men from five prominent families were brewing a pot of tea.

"Although Wen He is of lowly birth, the tea he makes is of excellent quality. If he knows what's good for him in the future, he could become a servant in the Cui family, which would be a very elegant thing."

“Brother Jingyun, you’ve gone too far. No matter what, Wen He is still a native of Gaoyang County.” Zheng Yunhao sneered.

His words clearly showed that he didn't take this so-called Gaoyang County scion seriously.

"He's just a mere child, and after today, I'm afraid he won't even be able to keep his title as county magistrate. Brother Hanzhi, we've come to your residence today to watch a good show. I wonder when it will begin?"

The young man sitting opposite Jung Yunho gave him a meaningful look.

Upon hearing this, Jung Yunho laughed loudly and said, "It should be soon. With the capabilities of the Hundred Riders, as long as they're not too stupid, they'll arrive by noon at the latest."

Knowing that Wen He and his group would come looking for him today, Zheng Yuanzhu naturally couldn't have been unprepared.

He was, after all, a Grand General of the Left Martial Guard, so it wasn't unusual for him to have guards and servants at home.

"No, it's not good!"

at this time.

Those inside heard a sound from outside, and then the study door was opened, with a servant hurriedly bowing outside.

"Reporting to my lord, Wen He and his hundred riders have broken in."

"Oh, you arrived quickly." Jung Yunho was somewhat surprised.

This happened even faster than he expected.

It had only been a little over an hour since the market opened, and the hundred riders had already charged in.

"A lowly woman who started as a stable boy is indeed incompetent. Fortunately, Father was prepared before going to court and ordered all the guards in the manor to go up. They broke in, so there's no need to show mercy. Kill them all, except for Wen He!"

Jung Yunho gave a disdainful snort.

Even if it's a hundred riders, what can they do? They broke into their residence without an imperial decree. Even if they were killed, the emperor couldn't say anything. "Brother Hanzhi truly has the spirit of your father."

The sons of the aristocratic families began to boast.

Jung Yunho was a little smug for a moment, but still pretended to be humble and said, "It's nothing special, just dealing with a country bumpkin. Don't praise me like that."

He smiled, and everyone in the study offered their congratulations.

"kill!"

In the front courtyard of the Zheng family mansion in Xingyang, Wen He sneered as she looked at the more than one hundred guards wielding sharp blades.

Just as he had predicted, the Zheng family had long anticipated that he would come to their door with a hundred cavalry.

"The Zheng family of Xingyang intends to rebel. Anyone who resists will be killed without exception!"

Since they've come to her doorstep, Wen He naturally won't hesitate to frame them.

"This...this isn't quite right," Xu Jingzong hesitated.

After all, the Zheng family of Xingyang has not shown any signs of actually plotting a rebellion.

Wen He scoffed and asked, "Why don't you go ask those ten thousand-plus soldiers who are about to go north? Ask them if the Zheng family of Xingyang should die if their winter clothes are burned?"

"Cough cough, damn it."

Xu Jingzong responded without hesitation.

If he says he shouldn't, I'm afraid his mansion will be surrounded by his guards tomorrow.

"Charge!"

Zhao Qin shouted, and his imperial guards, in perfect formation, charged toward the guards.

One side consists of well-equipped, highly trained individuals who have fought on the battlefield and killed people.

Another group, despite their imposing and fierce appearance, actually lived a life of luxury in their mansion.

There is almost no comparison between the two.

In just one encounter, the situation became one-sided.

Originally, Zheng Yuanzhu and his son Zheng Yunhao thought that Wen He had only led fifty cavalrymen.

With their numerical advantage, these hundred-plus men, even if they couldn't defeat the hundred cavalry, could at least force them to retreat.

But they never expected that Wen He would bring more than a hundred imperial guards with him today.

In other words, within Chang'an City, bows and crossbows cannot be used without permission; otherwise, Wen He and Zhao Qin would not be able to use them.

"Leave this to General Zhao. The rest of you, charge in and capture Zheng Yunhao!"

At Wen He's command, the hundred riders responded and bypassed the guards, heading straight deeper into the territory.

The servants and maids along the way, seeing this group approaching menacingly, had already fled in panic.

"Old Huang, I'll have to trouble you to go to the palace and report to His Majesty that the Zheng and Cui families are plotting a rebellion."

Hearing Wen He's words, Huang Chun felt quite helpless.

Now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to confirm that they plotted a rebellion.

He immediately nodded, turned and went out, riding his horse towards the imperial city.

Just as Huang Chun arrived at Zhuque Street, two magnificent carriages passed by him.

"How outrageous! In Chang'an City, someone is riding a horse so arrogantly!"

The person in the carriage was none other than Zheng Yuanzhu.

After the court meeting concluded today, he met with members of the Cui clan of Qinghe, the Cui clan of Boling, and the Lu clan.

After discussing it, the four of them left the palace together and went to his residence.

On the way, they encountered members of the Wang family from Taiyuan. They had originally planned to invite them, but the latter declined, saying they had other matters to attend to.

But Zheng Yuanzhu could tell that the people from the Wang family of Taiyuan were deliberately not coming, wanting to distance themselves from them.

They clearly agreed to act together that day, but today they suddenly went back on their word.

That's why he was filled with anger at that moment.

"Defang, don't be angry. They are just a group of people who don't obey the law. We shouldn't let them distract us. At this moment, the Hundred Riders are probably already on their way to your residence."

The old man from the Cui family of Boling comforted the driver and then told him to speed up.

Zheng Yuanzhu gave a faint "hmm".

But just as the carriage started moving, before it had gone far, it suddenly heard a shout from its side.

"No, this is terrible! The Hundred Cavalry has stormed into the Zheng family compound in Xingyang! Zheng Yunhao, the son of the Duke of Zheng, has been captured by the Hundred Cavalry!"

Inside the carriage, Zheng Yuanzhu, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly widened his eyes.

how come?
This is impossible!

Even though the hundred riders arrived ahead of time, he had already arranged for more than a hundred more to be stationed in the mansion.

How could they have been caught so quickly?

He took a deep breath, immediately jumped out of the carriage, kicked the driver off the carriage, grabbed the reins and shouted angrily, "Giddy up!"

They drove the carriage and sped towards the Zheng family mansion in Xingyang.

This caused great suffering to the elderly man from the Cui family of Boling inside the carriage.

When they arrived at the residence of the Zheng family in Xingyang.

They were shocked to see a hundred riders dragging the corpse outside the door.

Zheng Yuanzhu's eyes widened in fury as he roared, "You scoundrel, I will tear you to pieces!"

(End of this chapter)