How come I'm invincible?

Chapter 107 The Divine Martial General Returns in Glory to Anzhou
This situation put the Grand Tutor in a dilemma.

If he insists that Lin Fan was responsible for forcibly breaking into the Grand Tutor's mansion and publicly beating him, which he considers an act of contempt for the law and utter disregard for the law, then he will have to fight Lin Fan to the death over this matter.

More importantly, His Majesty is not on their side now, but on Lin Fan's side.

He won't benefit from it.

Now he truly understood that this Lin fellow was a lawless individual who showed no respect for anyone.

Can you guarantee he'd dare beat himself up in the street?

Why don't you dare beat yourself up in the palace?
Thinking of this, the Grand Tutor decided to hold back. He had indeed wanted other officials to relentlessly attack Lin Fan during the morning court session, but now he had changed his mind.

The Grand Tutor stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, Vice Minister Zhang is mistaken. When I was young, I also loved martial arts. I couldn’t resist the urge and sparred with Lord Lin. The injuries I sustained were from the sparring and have nothing to do with Lord Lin.”

When these words were spoken, everyone in the hall was shocked.

Vice Minister Zhang was dumbfounded.

What the hell!

Why the change of heart again? But those who can attend the morning court session must have no problems with their thinking.

Vice Minister Zhang hurriedly said, "I am guilty. I failed to investigate the matter thoroughly before making a presumptuous report to Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

The Emperor said, "Since it is a misunderstanding, then let it go. However, we must be careful in the future. Minister Lin is a pillar of the country. We must not discourage a meritorious official."

"Your subject... will remember Your Majesty's instructions." Vice Minister Zhang kowtowed, his back already soaked with cold sweat. From this day forward, he vowed never to get involved in the affairs between the Grand Tutor and Lin Fan again.

The civil and military officials of the Second Prince's faction were somewhat disappointed, not expecting that the Grand Tutor would swallow his anger and not continue to make trouble.

They were all prepared to stand on Lin Fan's side and directly confront the Grand Tutor's side.

What a pity, what a real pity.

Seeing that the turmoil had subsided, the emperor's expression turned solemn, and he gestured to the eunuch beside him.

The eunuch stepped forward and announced loudly, "Lin Fan, Chief of the Security Bureau of Xuan'an Prefecture, enters the hall."

All eyes turned to the entrance, where a tall, imposing figure walked into the hall with a broad smile. To the civil and military officials present, this young man truly stole the show.

Lin Fan walked into the hall, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Your subject, Lin Fan, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities," the emperor said.

Lin Fan straightened up, looked at the Grand Tutor with a playful gaze, and said with a smile, "Grand Tutor, I thought you could be a bit tougher. You're just not going to impeach me like this?"

The Grand Tutor took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and forced a smile, saying, "Lord Lin, what do you mean by that? When did this old minister ever impeach you? You are a hero of the court, personally appointed by His Majesty as the number one in the world."

"You old dog know what's good for you," Lin Fan said with a smile.

The Grand Tutor was truly enraged.

Lin Fan's voice was not quiet, and all the officials present could hear it clearly.

But at this moment, no one dared to stand up and say a word; they all remained silent.

The emperor, seated on the dragon throne, pretended not to hear and said, "My beloved ministers, Minister Lin has brought glory to the country and made great contributions to the nation. I will bestow upon Minister Lin a great reward. Please read it."

Upon receiving the signal, the eunuch stepped forward, unfurled the imperial edict, and proclaimed in a loud voice that resonated throughout the hall:
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have heard that praising virtue, rewarding talent, and rewarding merit are the constant principles of the state. Now, there is Lin Fan, the chief of Anzhou, who is loyal and brave, and whose talent and martial arts are unparalleled. During the competition between the two countries, he was entrusted with a critical mission, fought against the northern barbarians, lifted a giant cauldron, and demonstrated the power of our nation throughout the world, thus enhancing my reputation. His achievements are truly remarkable and will be recorded in history."

As the eunuch read it aloud.

Everyone present held their breath, not daring to breathe loudly, all wanting to know what Lin Fan's reward would be.

"I have decided to appoint Lin Fan as the Divine Martial General, of the first rank."

Before anyone could react, the eunuch's voice continued.

"He is hereby promoted to Commander of the Divine Martial Bureau. The Divine Martial Bureau shall be established from this day forward, to be in charge of major cases nationwide, to apprehend criminals, to supervise officials, and to be directly under my command. The Divine Martial Bureau shall be ranked alongside the Three Departments as the fourth judicial office of our dynasty."

The words caused an uproar throughout the court.

An elderly minister with white hair immediately stepped forward, his voice trembling, “Your Majesty, this is absolutely not allowed! Our dynasty’s judicial system has been in place for hundreds of years. The three judicial offices have clearly defined powers and responsibilities and check and balance each other. Now, by adding a fourth judicial office, the powers and responsibilities will overlap, which may cause chaos.”

The old minister immediately jumped out.

When the imperial edict was read, they were completely dumbfounded.

This reward?
Isn't that way too big?

Originally, he was only a sixth-rank official with the title of Loyal and Brave Captain. Now he has directly reached the first rank, which is the limit for an official in the imperial court. Above that are various honors and favors. If he were to go any higher, wouldn't he be granted the title of king?

Of course, it was impossible to confer the title of king, since the founding heroes were only dukes when they were alive. After their deaths, some people proposed to confer the title of king, but the founding emperor refused.

This is enough to show that it is impossible for him to be made a king.

But now, the title of Divine Martial General is just an honorary title without any real power. Who would have thought that His Majesty would allow the other party to establish the Divine Martial Division, directly on par with the Three Divisions, and become a person of real power, and that the powers he possesses would already overlap with those of the Three Divisions.

This is a department that encompasses the powers of three departments.

How is this possible?

Immediately afterward, another senior official knelt down with a thud. "Your Majesty, although Lord Lin has made outstanding contributions, he is still young. Granting him such great power so suddenly may make it difficult for him to win over the people. Moreover, the Divine Martial Division has too much power. If it is used improperly, it may become a boil over the country."

"Your Majesty, please reconsider."

Instantly, more than ten senior officials knelt on the ground and remonstrated in unison.

We must do everything we can to make His Majesty take back this reward.

The Grand Tutor stood to one side, eyes lowered, silent, but his heart was in turmoil. He had never expected that Lin Fan would hold such a position in His Majesty's heart.

Even if it's just their first meeting, and Lin Fan won dignity for his country in a major competition between the two nations, there's no need to reward him so handsomely.

Even the civil and military officials on the Second Prince's side were advising against it, saying that if this reward were to be granted, Lin Fan would become completely dominant in the court.

If he supports another prince.

With his power and personal strength, any prince he supports will surely rise to prominence. Take, for example, the most useless Ninth Prince. Once he gets Lin Fan's support, he will instantly have the qualifications to challenge the First and Second Princes.

This is the last thing they want to see.

Lin Fan, who was standing there, did not say a word, but his heart was also in turmoil.

He never expected the emperor to bestow such a generous reward upon him.

This was beyond his expectations.

He had considered the fear from the imperial power. After all, he was too powerful and he had acted too domineeringly. Wouldn't the emperor be afraid that he might have rebellious intentions or even seize control of the government?
Of course, Lin Fan had no interest in controlling the world.

Governing a country is not something one person can do alone, and besides, he doesn't have that talent. He's very good at killing people, and he can kill from day to night.

They don't even blink.

The main focus is on having drive.

Besides, do you really think being an emperor is comfortable? You carry the hopes of tens of millions of people on your shoulders; are you really playing house?

The events that are happening in the court are now being recorded. The emperor's generous bestowal of such a title shows how much he values ​​this person. If he were to harbor any ambition to seize power in the future, he would be condemned for eternity.

He didn't want to become like that old scoundrel Sima.

Because of that old scoundrel Sima, even the surname Sima has become tainted with prejudice.

"My mind is made up, my beloved ministers need not say more." The emperor's expression was solemn, ignoring all advice, and then he looked at Lin Fan, "My Divine Martial General, why don't you accept the decree?"

Just as Lin Fan was about to take a step forward.

The white-haired old minister cried out, "Your Majesty, if you do not withdraw it, I will kill myself right here in this Golden Palace."

Immediately, other senior officials echoed this sentiment.

"Your Majesty, please withdraw the bestowal of honors."

Faced with this group of old ministers who always contradicted his decrees at crucial moments, the emperor felt dizzy and his current physical discomfort was largely due to them.

"Your subject accepts the decree and expresses gratitude." Without saying a word, Lin Fan directly accepted the imperial decree.

In the instant he turned around, his robes fluttered, and his gaze shot like lightning at the group of kneeling old ministers who were remonstrating with him. He said angrily, "You treacherous ministers and rebellious subjects, as His Majesty's subjects, not only do you not help His Majesty solve his problems, but you also rely on your seniority to threaten and intimidate His Majesty. If you are not satisfied, you will kill yourself on the spot in the Golden Palace."

"Do you want His Majesty to be remembered as a tyrant by future generations?"

"I am His Majesty's Divine Martial General, the Divine Martial in His Majesty's heart. Since you all want to die, then I will grant your wish. I will bear any infamy from future generations."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Fan drew the goose-feather saber from his waist. With a clang, the gleaming blade of the saber flashed with a cold light.

Then, he walked step by step to an old minister.

pat!

The blade of the goose-feather saber rested on the old minister's shoulder.

"Are you trying to frame His Majesty for something unjust?"

"Or do you really want to die?"

Lin Fan's voice was cold.

The old minister, who was kneeling and threatening to kill himself, looked up at Lin Fan with trembling fear. He wanted to say, "Try killing me if you dare," but when he met Lin Fan's eyes...

A sense of fear suddenly gripped my heart.

Killing intent.

He saw intense killing intent in Lin Fan's eyes, as if the knife resting on his shoulder would fall and sever his head if he nodded.

The Grand Tutor said, "Lord Lin, to draw weapons in the Golden Palace is far too presumptuous. Do you even respect His Majesty?"

"Grand Tutor, as a favored minister personally promoted by His Majesty, you still refuse to address me as the Divine Martial General. It seems you also believe that His Majesty is wrong?" Lin Fan said to the Grand Tutor.

The Grand Tutor's face stiffened; he hadn't expected Lin Fan to actually betray him.

The emperor, sitting there, appeared expressionless, but in reality, he was feeling quite bittersweet. For so many years, no minister had ever stood by his side so steadfastly.

Most of them were forming cliques for personal gain and refuting his policies.

The Duke remained silent throughout, glancing occasionally at His Majesty and Lin Fan.

To be honest, the Duke noticed that His Majesty had changed drastically since his youth.

If it were a young emperor, when things had developed to this point, he would have stopped them without even thinking.

But now, His Majesty is allowing things to develop unchecked.

This also reveals that His Majesty wants to use Lin Fan to give these old ministers a good thrashing.

Or perhaps His Majesty is not as clear-headed and rational as he used to be.

Nowadays, people are enjoying more of an emotional value.

I hope someone will stand firmly on his side.

At this moment, Lin Fan turned his gaze back to the old minister. "This general does not wish to say more. Now, I will count to three. Will you stand or not?"

Faced with such a domineering threat, the old minister nervously swallowed.

"one!"

Lin Fan spoke slowly.

The old minister nervously looked at the Grand Tutor, then at his colleagues, while he felt the sharp blade of the goose-feather saber getting closer and closer to his neck.

"two!"

Lin Fan emphasized his words, his killing intent almost solidifying.

The old minister, kneeling, had sweaty palms and was trembling with fear. At his age, he cherished his life more than anyone else. Now, with a house full of children and grandchildren, he simply occupied this position and enjoyed the taste of power that came with his official post.

Moreover, things have come to this point, and His Majesty remains completely silent.

This is clearly condoning it.

In other words, if he dies, it's all for nothing, and he might even be killed as a warning to the other monkeys.

At this moment, the cold blade was already pressed against my skin, and I felt a sharp pain.

"three!"

The moment Lin Fan swung his sword, with a thud, the old minister could not withstand the pressure and fainted on the spot, collapsing to the ground.

Lin Fan frowned slightly, turned to face the emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, may I have a cup of tea?"

The eunuch came over carrying tea.

Lin Fan took the tea, put it in his mouth, grabbed the old minister by the collar, and spat it out. The old minister, who had been unconscious, opened his eyes in a daze.

What I was thinking was, "Is the morning court session finally over?"

It was a wise move for him to faint under the pressure.

But when he saw the situation clearly, his pupils dilated as if he had seen a ghost. How could he still be here?

"It's good that you're awake. You fainted just now when I counted to three. Now I'll count to three again." Lin Fan placed the knife on the other person's shoulder again.

what?
The old minister, who had risked his life to remonstrate, was completely dumbfounded.

Is this necessary?

I was completely unconscious, and you actually woke me up and tried to mess with me? Is that something a human being should do?
Just as Lin Fan's lips parted slightly, the old minister moved nimbly, crawled forward, and kowtowed repeatedly, "Your Majesty, this old minister knows his mistake. This old minister's eyes are dim and he has lost his mind. This old minister will not advise you anymore, will not advise you anymore."

The emperor said, "Rise, my dear minister."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

This old minister vowed that he would never provoke Lin Fan again in his life.

terror!
It's really scary.

Lin Fan snorted coldly, then looked at the other kneeling old ministers. As soon as he took a step, he saw the group of old ministers stand up and stand awkwardly in the crowd.

They acted as if it were someone else who had just been kneeling there.

As all the old ministers who wanted to remonstrate to the death rose, the emperor smiled and said, "Good, good, it seems that none of you have any objections. In that case, let's adjourn the court. Minister Lin, please stay and come with me for a walk in the Imperial Garden."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The morning court session has ended.

The emperor and Lin Fan have both left.

Only a group of civil and military officials were left looking at each other, sitting in the court, not knowing what to say.

Suddenly, someone sighed, "From now on, our Divine Martial General will be His Majesty's most favored minister, and no one can rival him."

The Grand Tutor took a deep look, then turned and walked outside, followed by a group of officials.

"You've already risked your life to plead for him, why didn't you stand firm? What if he really didn't dare to kill you?"

"You know it's just a possibility, right?"

"Even at this point, can't you see how much His Majesty dotes on this Divine Martial General? I've seen it myself. Even if he had killed someone earlier, I don't think it would have mattered."

The officials whispered among themselves.

The Grand Tutor took these words to heart.

Everyone understands that the Grand Tutor is in a bad mood right now. The Grand Tutor, who has immense power, is helpless in the face of Lin Fan, which has a huge impact on his prestige.

Just wait and see.

Many officials are opportunistic; they flock to you when you're powerful, but disappear without a trace when you're weak.

……

Royal Garden.

Lin Fan followed the emperor.

The emperor smiled and said, "My mighty general, do a good job and don't let me down. All the civil and military officials are watching. I have never promoted anyone so quickly in my life, and you are the first."

"Your Majesty, I will not let you down," Lin Fan said confidently.

The emperor smiled and nodded.

Lin Fan said, "Your Majesty, there is something I do not understand."

"My dear minister, please speak freely."

Lin Fan asked, "Why is Tuliming from Mengye Kingdom so powerful? How did he train?"

Upon hearing this, the emperor stopped and looked at Lin Fan with a puzzled expression.

"My dear minister, you are more capable than him, so why ask him how he was trained?" The emperor didn't quite understand.

Lin Fan said, "I'm just curious."

The Emperor said, “I don’t know the specifics, but I’ve heard that when this picture was inside his mother’s body, there were abnormalities. It’s said that his mother, who weighed over 200 pounds, gradually became thinner after becoming pregnant with him. After several months of pregnancy, his mother became as thin as a rake, as if she were carrying a demon that was absorbing the mother’s essence and spirit.”

"His mother died before he was born, and he was later delivered by Tudan through an open abdomen. He didn't receive any training and had an enormous appetite from a young age, with astonishing changes every month."

Lin Fan listened attentively, frowning in deep thought.

Judging from the situation, this might really be a gifted individual. He can now confirm that there are extraordinary people in this world, but so far, he hasn't figured out how this comes about.

The younger brother asked with a smile, "You are even more capable than Tuliming. May I ask how you trained him?"

Lin Fan said, "Through arduous training and accumulation over time, I gradually gained my current strength."

The emperor stroked his beard and blinked, clearly feeling somewhat tense. When people like Qin Li, Tu Dan, and Tu Liming, who possessed extraordinary abilities, first appeared, he had wondered if it was possible to train them to achieve the same.

They even organized some, but they all ended in failure.

Training can certainly improve physical health. But reaching their level is clearly impossible.

"If you are interested in this, you can look for clues in the royal library when you have time," the emperor reminded him, then changed the subject and said, "My dear minister, I have some serious business to discuss with you. I will personally allocate the funds needed to establish the Divine Martial Division, and I will also find a suitable location for you. All you need to do is recruit personnel yourself and develop a set of standards for the Divine Martial Division."

"Your Majesty, I understand." Lin Fan nodded, knowing this was a troublesome matter.

Recruiting staff is the most troublesome part.

But now that His Majesty has placed high hopes on him, he has no choice but to bite the bullet and do it. Fortunately, he has some trusted confidants with him when he travels from Yong'an to Anzhou.

The emperor nodded and said, "If you encounter any trouble, feel free to come to me. Since I have delegated power to you, it is because I trust you. If you encounter anything you don't understand, you can ask the Duke for advice."

"Mm." Lin Fan nodded.

The emperor's eyes appeared cloudy, but they actually shone with a faint light. He looked at the young and promising Lin Fan before him and couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

Talented and virtuous people are always someone else's children.

How wonderful it would be if this were my own child.

The emperor was quite accurate in recognizing talent. Even though he knew some people were extremely ambitious, there was nothing he could do. The court needed such talents, at least to prevent trouble and to solve many problems for the court.

The only downside is that it becomes increasingly difficult to clean up as time goes on.

But he always believed in one thing.

In due time, someone will appear who can resolve this matter.

He gave Qin Li and the Grand Tutor such high positions; if the two joined forces, it would be enough to shake the foundation. Fortunately, the two did not join forces, and now with the appearance of Lin Fan.

He believed that he was the key to breaking this deadlock.

"My dear minister, you can think carefully about what I told you before. As long as you've come to your mind, I'll always be willing," the emperor said with a smile.

"Is this what Your Majesty is referring to?"

"My youngest daughter, the Eighteenth Princess, is quite good," the Emperor said with a smile.

Lin Fan suddenly realized, then smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please allow me to think about it."

"Very well, after some time, you can return to Anzhou to properly handle things there. I have already prepared a mansion for you in the capital for the Divine Martial General. I have arranged for people to renovate it for you. Once it is renovated, you can move in." The emperor handled everything in an orderly manner.

Lin Fan nodded, naturally understanding that the emperor had already arranged for people to repair his residence before the imperial edict was read aloud.

Even if he doesn't make a move in court today, the emperor will not allow anyone to oppose him.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Lin Fan said.

The emperor looked at Lin Fan and said, "I've figured out your personality. Are you too reserved to be by my side?"

"Your Majesty, that's not it. It's just that I'm used to handling cases, and my tone of voice is rather rude and irritable," Lin Fan said.

The emperor waved his hand and said, "It's alright. From now on, communicate with me the same way you communicate with others. I am now in my old age, and this is my last gamble with you. I still hope that you can be honest with me."

"Okay, got it," Lin Fan said.

Alright!?
The emperor listened and couldn't help but laugh. "That's exactly the feeling. My dear minister, you are now second only to me and above ten thousand others. I was young once too. When you return, there will be eunuchs accompanying you. I have also prepared a gift for your sworn sister, as well as a gift for the blacksmith shop that will forge weapons for you."

"Huh? There's even a reward?" Lin Fan exclaimed in surprise.

The emperor laughed and said, "It's not a reward for you, so why are you so surprised? You'll find out when the time comes. As the saying goes, 'Wealth and honor not returned home are like wearing brocade at night.' I've given you everything I could."

Lin Fan remained silent for a moment, then raised his head and said with a burning gaze, "Your Majesty, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart. I, Lin Fan, am a man of my word. I have never coveted power. What I want is to see those corrupt officials who prey on the people being trampled on by me. As for wanting to advance, it is only for the sake of a stable future for the brothers who have risen from the bottom with me."

"I swear to God, if I ever..."

Before he could finish speaking, the emperor interrupted him.

"My dear minister, you don't need to swear to me. I unconditionally trust my judgment this time. I believe in you. You will not betray me, nor will you betray this court," the emperor said solemnly.

Lin Fan looked at the emperor and said earnestly, "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty."

The word "trust" carries immense weight.

The emperor laughed and said, "Come on, accompany me for a stroll."

"Okay."

……

A few days later!
Anzhou, Zhian Prefecture.

"Your Excellency, we will not release the prisoner." Yang Ming, along with a group of his men, blocked the prison entrance, directly confronting the prefect.

There has been no news since the head instructor was summoned to the capital.

At first, they thought there shouldn't be any problem, but now, with no news at all, everyone is filled with anxiety.

At the same time, the prefect also started to make trouble, which put them in a very passive position.

Prefect Zhao roared, “You have some nerve! You dare to disobey even my orders? Your Chief Lin assaulted the Censor and was summoned to the capital. He must be in jail right now. How long do you think you can keep resisting? I’ve been merciful enough by not arresting you beforehand, giving you a chance to live. But it seems you really don’t know what’s good for you.”

Yang Ming and the others had solemn expressions, their palms already resting on the hilts of their swords.

Their current prefecture is in complete chaos.

Many constables have already given up resistance. They were all defeated one by one by Prefect Zhao. They all have families. Even if they don't think about themselves, they have to think about their families.

That's exactly what Prefect Zhao was trying to achieve.

Yang Ming didn't speak, but Xu Ming deftly drew his knife. "Prefect, without Chief Lin's order, not a single prisoner in the jail can be released. If you force your way in, it will be a prison break. Brothers, what are you waiting for? If you still consider Chief Lin your superior, then join us in protecting the jail and waiting for him to return."

Sonorous.

Wang Baoan decisively drew his knife.

Qian Tao, Wu Yong, Lu Zhongtian, Ding Peng, Hong Hao, and the others did not hesitate at all.

Hong Hao roared, “Brothers, we are following Lord Lin on the right path. No matter what, the prisoners in the jail cannot be released, even if the consequences are beyond our ability to bear. My parents are always proud of me.”

brush!
brush!
One after another, constables drew their swords and went out.

They were all recruited by their own head squad, but many of the constables kept their heads down and didn't move, mainly because they had too many weaknesses and didn't want to involve their families.

Looking at the situation before him, Yang Ming said, "Brothers, I don't blame you for not wanting to draw your swords, because you all have families. But I hope you can stay put. I don't like it when brothers turn against each other."

Prefect Zhao angrily pointed at Yang Ming, "You've rebelled! I think you've really rebelled. According to the rules, since your chief sergeant was arrested in the capital, Anzhou Prefecture will be temporarily under my jurisdiction. How dare you disobey my orders?"

As the constables drew their swords, the yamen runners also drew their swords.

Then, Prefect Zhao looked at Li Zhengdao. He knew this man well, as he had once used his connections to come to him. He pointed at Li Zhengdao and said, "I am now promoting you to the position of temporary chief of the Public Security Bureau. You are to have them put down their knives, release the people in the jail, and hand them over to the yamen for interrogation."

Faced with this move.

Li Zhengdao looked at Prefect Zhao with a complicated expression, then at Yang Ming and the others.

To be honest, at first, he thought Lin Fan might not have any problems going to Beijing, but as the days went by, there was still no news.

Li Zhengdao was also somewhat flustered.

In this life, those who understand the times are the wise ones.

Now Prefect Zhao has promoted him to temporary chief officer. Although it is only temporary and has not been recognized by the imperial court, it has at least given him some progress.

Logically speaking, one should stand with Prefect Zhao without even thinking.

Using his current identity, he ordered Yang Ming and the others to lay down their weapons.

But for some reason, Li Zhengdao was unable to make a decision, and his inner struggle was very intense.

He really wants to improve.

On Lin Fan's side, he was only the deputy squad leader. If he continued to stand on Lin Fan's side and waited for the imperial decree to arrive, under the influence of Prefect Zhao, he would probably be completely implicated.

But if we side with Prefect Zhao...

Not only will everything be fine then, but you can also improve. Even if you can't become the top student, it will at least be better than it is now.

Anyone in that situation would know how to make the right choice.

Yang Ming and the others looked at Li Zhengdao. Their perception of Li Zhengdao was still based on their past impression that he was not a good person, that he was opportunistic, and that he would follow whoever offered him benefits.

So they never expected Li Zhengdao to be on their side.

But soon, something unexpected happened.

Li Zhengdao said, "Thank you for your kindness, Prefect, but I think we should wait for Chief Lin to return. As long as the imperial decree has not arrived, Chief Lin is still the chief of the Security Bureau. We must do everything we can to fulfill the instructions he gave us before he left."

"If the prefect insists on forcing his way in, then our prefecture will have no choice but to resist."

As soon as these words came out.

Yang Ming and the others were excited. "Lord Li, well done! From now on, I, Yang Ming, will call you brother. You will call me squad leader, and I will call you brother. We'll each address each other as we would our own."

Li Zhengdao glanced at Yang Ming, too lazy to pay him any attention.

What about the future?

We'll probably have to meet in prison from now on.

"Good, good, good, you're all quite something, daring to oppose me. Men, get ready! Anyone who resists, execute them on the spot!" Prefect Zhao roared.

The yamen runners were all prepared, and the number of yamen runners brought by Prefect Zhao this time was not small. Moreover, because many of the runners were afraid and gave up resisting, the yamen runners did not have any advantage in terms of numbers.

Just now.

A voice suddenly rang out from among the onlookers.

"Son, what are you standing there for? You're a constable of the Public Security Bureau, and now your brothers are in danger. Aren't you going to draw your sword? How can you be so cowardly?"

An old man squeezed out of the crowd, pointed at the child who was standing there dumbfounded, and started yelling at him.

Hearing the familiar voice, the constable, who had been bowing his head, suddenly looked up and saw his father. "Father, it's me..."

"What do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'have you forgotten the peaceful life that Master Lin brought to the people of Anzhou? He's not here, and you've already forgotten his words? Even if something really happens to Master Lin, you must stay and guard him until the very last moment, and not let this corrupt official take the prisoner away.' The old man, dressed in patched and mangled clothes, showed no fear of Prefect Zhao's authority and angrily cursed.

Prefect Zhao flew into a rage, "You unruly commoner, how dare you insult an official of the imperial court! I think you have a death wish!"

"Guards, seize this troublemaker!"

Immediately, the people rose up in resistance, cursing and shouting.

"What are you doing?"

"What do you want to do?"

The people pointed at the constables, their emotions running high. They seemed to think, "If you dare to arrest people, we dare to take action." For a moment, the constables looked at each other in a dilemma, not knowing what to do.

No one could make a move.

At this time, the parents of the constables from the prefectural government also rushed over after learning about the incident. Some came just to see what their children were doing, and when they saw their children confronting Prefect Zhao, they all cheered.

But some parents, seeing their children standing there with their heads bowed and admitting defeat, felt ashamed and started scolding them. Faced with their parents' scolding, they gritted their teeth, drew their swords, and returned to their original posts to fight alongside their brothers.

Sudden.

A series of footsteps could be heard outside.

"Get out of the way, get out of the way."

Then a large number of soldiers appeared, roughly pushing aside the crowd to make way, and Qin Zhenfu hurriedly came with his hands behind his back.

"I, the commander, heard of the unrest that has broken out here, and have come to quell the disturbance," Commander Qin said.

Prefect Zhao was secretly pleased. Although he no longer felt as friendly towards Commander Qin as before, the situation was tense and he urgently needed external assistance.

"Governor Qin, you've come at the perfect time. These bastards are so audacious that they actually tried to kill me with their swords," said Prefect Zhao.

Qin Zhenfu didn't say much, just waved his hand and said, "Disarm everyone present. I am here to maintain stability. Your use of weapons in the city is disrupting stability. Anyone who resists will bear the consequences."

He did not side with Prefect Zhao.

They did not side with the police prefecture.

With the soldiers' intervention, the officials from the yamen laid down their weapons, but those from the garrison held their knives tightly, not letting go, and they were also unsure of what was going on.

With a knife in hand, they still have the right to speak.

But what would happen if the knife were put down? Who knows?

When Commander Qin saw that the constables still hadn't put down their knives, he frowned and shouted angrily, "What is your prefecture doing? The people from the yamen have already put down their knives, why aren't you?"

"Commander Qin, it was Prefect Zhao who brought people to cause trouble. Our Security Bureau did nothing, so why did they release knives?" Yang Ming asked.

"Are you questioning my orders?" Commander Qin said with displeasure.

What's wrong with these people from the Public Security Bureau? They're all so arrogant.

Have they all become stupid because of that Lin guy?

brush!
brush!
The soldiers pointed their weapons at the constables of the magistrate's office, their menacing expressions clearly indicating that if they didn't let up soon, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The official road not far from Anzhou.

Banners obscured the sun.

The imperial guards, with their iron cavalry leading the way, gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight, their black armor and swords flashing dazzlingly.

In the procession, the scarlet banner embroidered with "Divine Martial" fluttered in the wind.

Lin Fan did not ride in the imperial sedan chair, but instead rode the precious horse bestowed upon him by the emperor, head held high and chest out, heading towards Anzhou with great majesty.

Behind him, in the honor guard, some people held imperial gold medals, some held imperial edicts, and some held the robes of the Divine Martial General. Further back, several people were looking at the imperial gold plaque with the four characters "Number One Under Heaven".

The scene was grand and imposing, quite majestic.

As they were about to reach Anzhou, an attendant immediately stepped forward and said, "General, I will go and report to the authorities, and have all the officials in Anzhou come out to welcome you back in triumph."

Lin Fan waved his hand and said, "No need. This general prefers to appear quietly without reporting."

"Yes."

The team moved on.

Before long, the city wall came into view, and at this time, more and more people gathered by the roadside. When they saw such a grand scene, they were all stunned and stood there dumbfounded.

They had never seen such a grand spectacle in their entire lives.

"Ah...Master Lin."

Suddenly, some of the people recognized a familiar face—it was none other than Master Lin.

Hearing the sound, Lin Fan looked at the people and nodded with a smile.

The people stood there, mouths agape, their minds blank, completely bewildered by what was happening. Why was Master Lin's return so grand?

Of course, they saw the divine power on the great banner, but no one could understand the meaning of this divine power.

On the contrary, the signboard was very attractive.

Number one in the world.

How did Master Lin manage to come back as the best in the world after going to the capital?
Although they couldn't understand it, everyone knew that Master Lin had returned in glory and had not suffered any misfortune in the capital.

Upon arriving at the city gate.

The soldier guarding the city gate stood lazily and bored. Suddenly, he turned his head to look at the official road. When he saw the formation there, he straightened his back. As the iron cavalry entered first, he immediately felt the fierce killing intent emanating from them.

These are definitely veterans of battle.

At this moment, the attendants shouted, "The Divine Martial General has returned to Anzhou in glory! Kneel down to welcome him!"

Wow!
The people on both sides knelt down, not daring to look up. After all, they didn't know where these people came from, but for them, these were definitely not people they could mess with.

"Fellow villagers, please get up. There's no need to kneel," Lin Fan said.

The voice sounded somewhat familiar to the people, and some of the bolder ones looked up and saw the imposing Lin Fan. They exclaimed in surprise, "Master Lin! Ah! Our Master Lin is back!"

These words immediately caused a huge uproar.

The people immediately looked up.

Once they could see each other clearly, they shouted excitedly.

"Master Lin!"

"Master Lin!"

Faced with the cheers of the people, Lin Fan raised his hand and greeted them with a smile.

It's quite nice to go out for a trip.

Bring back some honors.

It would also be good to give the brothers an extra meal.

Suddenly, a commoner shouted, "Master Lin, you must go back and see! Prefect Zhao has led his men to cause trouble at the police station!"

Ok?
Lin Fan's expression changed, and his smile became restrained. He never expected that after he had been away for a while, this Prefect Zhao would dare to cause trouble at his prefectural office. He was simply asking for trouble. If he didn't deal with him when he got back, he would change his name.

As Lin Fan arrived at the gate of the government office, more and more people followed him.

The people gathered outside the government office naturally saw Lin Fan.

Suddenly, shouts resounded through the sky.

"Master Lin, you're back."

(End of this chapter)