Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

As dawn broke and the rain subsided, the lingering stench of blood and burnt smells inside and outside the courtyard, mixed with the damp, cold air, remained pungent.

On the bluestone slabs in the courtyard, dark red water stains had not yet dried, silently telling the story of the fierce battle that took place last night.

With one arm in a sling and a fresh gash on his face, Liu Sandao was directing the able-bodied men to cover the bodies of their fallen comrades with white cloths and carry them to a makeshift shed. More wounded lay below, their groans rising intermittently, the air thick with the bitter smell of wound medicine and wood ash.

Hou Qi dragged his exhausted body back, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse: "Master Lin, at the docks... the fire is out, but most of the warehouse is burned. Three brothers died, and nine were injured. As for the three cartloads of goods that were stolen... Chen Da led his men along the waterway for thirty miles and found the abandoned empty carts and boats near 'Eagle's Beak,' but the people... are gone. Judging from the tracks, they went north into the mountains."

In the mountains to the north? Lin Feng frowned.

That direction offered both an option to advance or retreat; it could lead deep into Qingzhou's heartland or turn onto a secluded path leading to the northern border. The other party was very shrewd.

"Have we tallied up our losses?" Lin Feng's voice was calm, but his hand inside his sleeve was clenched into a fist.

"I've taken stock," Hou Qi said hoarsely. "Twelve brothers died in battle, seven were seriously wounded, and twenty-three were slightly wounded. Di Rong Gouzi left five corpses, and the scum of the Canal Gang left nine. Seventeen crossbow bolts were used, and many short knives and clubs were damaged. And..." He paused, "the five hundred taels of silver we hid in the warehouse's hidden compartment, intended for bribing the government and for emergencies, were also stolen."

Money is a small matter, but my brother's life is more important... Lin Feng closed his eyes, a dull pain shooting through his chest.

These people were the ones who fought their way out of the "muddy ground" with him, the foundation of his "Sanhe" group! In one night, nearly one-tenth of them were lost!

"Brothers who died in battle, receive double the compensation. Those with elderly or young families, the 'Sanhe' organization will support them for life! Wounded brothers, use the best medicine, no expense spared!" Lin Feng opened his eyes, his gaze now icy cold. "Hou Qi, you handle this personally. If the money isn't enough, take it from my allowance first, then go to the account."

"Yes!" Hou Qi's eyes reddened, and he nodded heavily.

"Brother Liu," Lin Feng turned to Liu Sandao, "Clean up the bodies of Di Rong and the Cao Gang members. Search everything on them, including their clothes, weapons, and ornaments, to see if there are any clues. Especially Di Rong and Gouzi, check if they have any special markings, tattoos, or... anything that doesn't belong to us."

"Understood!" A fierce glint flashed in Liu Sandao's single eye.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the courtyard gate, followed by a commanding shout:

"By order of the Imperial Envoy! Martial law is hereby declared throughout the city! A manhunt is underway for Di spies and bandits! No one is permitted to leave the city without permission! Anyone who disobeys will be punished as a traitor!"

The sound grew louder as it approached, and soon reached the entrance of the "Sanheyuan" (a traditional courtyard house).

A troop of about fifty cavalrymen, their helmets and armor gleaming, exuding a murderous aura, surrounded the front and back gates of the "Sanheyuan" (a traditional courtyard house). Leading them was a general with a ruddy complexion and sharp eyes; he was Yang, a captain in Feng Zhen's personal guard.

Captain Yang dismounted, stood with his hand on his sword, and coldly swept his gaze over the mess in the courtyard and the "Sanhe" members who were on high alert, finally landing on Lin Feng, who came out after hearing the noise.

"You're Lin San?"

"This humble one is indeed you." Lin Feng stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, neither humble nor arrogant.

"A battle broke out here last night, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries. Is that true?" Captain Yang asked curtly.

"That's true." Lin Feng nodded. "Around midnight last night, unidentified thieves attacked my 'Sanhe Freight Transport' headquarters in three groups. One group was suspected to be Di Rong spies, their skills and swordsmanship similar to Di Rong scouts. The other group, judging from their clothing and weapons, should be remnants of the Canal Gang. The thieves were fierce, and my 'Sanhe' fought valiantly to protect ourselves, managing to repel them, but suffering heavy casualties ourselves. The dock warehouse was also attacked and burned, and three cartloads of goods were stolen. I implore you, sir, to investigate thoroughly!"

He placed "Di Rong spies" first to clarify the origins of the thieves, and referred to the canal gang as "remnants," positioning himself as a passive defender, victim, and informant.

A strange look flashed in Captain Yang's eyes. He hadn't expected Lin Feng to be so calm and to throw out the name "Di Rong" so directly.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Last night, the prefecture was attacked in several places. The Imperial Envoy is furious and has ordered a city-wide search to arrest Di Rong spies and their accomplices. Since you say that Di Rong spies were involved, do you have any evidence? Where are the bodies?"

"The body is still here, please examine it, sir." Lin Feng stepped aside, gesturing for Liu Sandao to lead the way.

Captain Yang left most of his soldiers to surround the courtyard, while he himself, with a few personal guards, followed Liu Sandao to the temporary shed in the backyard where the corpses were kept. Five bodies of Di Rong assassins lay side by side. Although somewhat whitish from being soaked in rain, their high noses, deep-set eyes, peculiar hairstyles, and the Di Rong-style undergarments and accessories they hadn't had time to completely change out of were still clearly discernible. The wounds were mostly caused by crossbow bolts and short knives, clean and swift.

Captain Yang crouched down and examined the area carefully, especially near the shoulder blade of one of the assassins, where he discovered a black mark, tattooed with special pigments, resembling an eagle. His expression changed slightly, and he stood up.

"It is indeed the 'Shadow Hawk' mark of the Di Rong." He whispered to a knowledgeable bodyguard beside him, then looked at Lin Feng with a scrutinizing gaze. "Why did these Di Rong spies attack your 'Three-in-One Goods Operation'?"

"This humble one does not know," Lin Feng shook his head, his tone frank. "My 'Sanhe' is merely a legitimate freight transport company, and has never had any dealings with the Di Rong. Last night, the bandits launched a surprise attack, their shouts deafening, and this humble one was also baffled. Perhaps... someone bribed a Di Rong spy to frame me, who knows? After all, my 'Sanhe' has indeed offended some people recently while operating at the docks."

His words were half true and half false, both distancing himself from Di Rong and implying suspicion of the Grand Canal Gang.

Captain Yang gave Lin Feng a deep look, but did not press further. Instead, he said, "This matter is of great importance, and I will report it truthfully to the Imperial Envoy. Until the matter is clarified, you, and everyone in your 'Sanhe' group, are not allowed to leave this compound and must be summoned at any time! I will take away the bodies of these Di Rong spies. In addition, those who participated in last night's battle must be registered, and the casualties must be listed in detail."

"Yes, I will follow your instructions, sir." Lin Feng bowed.

Commander Yang said no more, ordered his men to carry away the body of the Di Rong assassin, left twenty soldiers to guard the "Sanheyuan" (a courtyard house), and then hurriedly left with the rest of his men, clearly to report back to Feng Zhen.

Watching the soldiers leave and the courtyard gate being guarded again, Hou Qi leaned close to Lin Feng and whispered, "Master Lin, Feng Zhen's reaction... does it mean he believes us? Or does he consider us suspects too?"

"Half and half." Lin Feng looked towards the state government office. "The body of the Di Rong assassin is irrefutable evidence, and Feng Zhen must take it seriously. But he won't completely believe our side of the story. Leaving troops to guard the area is both surveillance and... a form of protection. After all, if a Di Rong spy really did infiltrate and attack 'Sanhe,' it means 'Sanhe' might have something to hide, or they might be targeted. Feng Zhen needs to find out."

He paused, a cold glint in his eyes: "Next, let's see how Feng Zhen investigates and who he investigates. The 'anonymous letter' we submitted, along with the corpses of these Di Rong assassins, should be enough to make him turn his attention to certain people."

Sure enough, within an hour, the entire prefecture was filled with panic and fear.

Large contingents of soldiers, constables, and yamen runners began house-to-house searches, focusing on inns, roadside lodges, docks, warehouses, and any place where unfamiliar faces might be hiding. They were particularly strict with those who had high noses and deep-set eyes, spoke with a northern accent, or acted suspiciously. News kept coming in: a certain inn had arrested several suspected Di Rong spies; a certain gambling den had been shut down, and local thugs who had contact with unfamiliar faces had been arrested…

The entire prefecture was instantly on high alert because of the imperial envoy's order. The undercurrents that were originally hidden beneath the surface were stirred up and churned by the sudden appearance of the large rope.