Who killed the Ming Dynasty?

Zhu Cilang's expression remained unchanged.

Thirdly, the leader of the expedition, Li Xianggui, at three-quarters past dawn, when the blockage caused by the sunken ship was still unresolved and the thick fog had not yet dissipated,

"Using 'free tea' as bait, they lured away all the ship's crew and even the soldiers on duty!"

He suddenly pointed his finger at the location of the dock on the map.

Fourthly, Li Xianggui—has vanished without a trace! His name is nowhere to be found, and he has disappeared without a trace!

The last two points were like a thunderclap!

"Whoosh—!"

The detained canal workers below the hall immediately became agitated.

Zhu Cilang met Lu Zhenfei's sharp gaze and said firmly:

"While clues one and two may be questionable, clues three and four are irrefutable!"

"At this critical juncture in the transport of military supplies, Li Xianggui used a pretext to empty the entire ship, leaving only himself behind. His actions were extremely bizarre!"

He then shifted his tone and pointed out the core contradiction.

"Indeed! Even if Li Xianggui is an inside man,"

"He attempted to steal all ninety chests of official silver by himself within a short half-hour period of time."

"Then fill the box with stones of equal weight and seal it... This is beyond human capability; there must be some other ingenious method!"

He stepped forward and bowed to Lu Zhenfei:

"I assert: the most urgent task is to capture Li Xianggui! This villain is the key to breaking the deadlock!"

"Please issue an arrest warrant immediately, block all land and sea routes, and apprehend this thief!"

The word "thief" had barely faded from the air—

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

With the heavy thud of iron boots, Gao Jinzhong, accompanied by two guards, strode into the main hall like a dark cloud pressing down on a city.

The two guards were identical in height, clothing, and appearance.

Even their steps were perfectly synchronized, like a reflection in a mirror.

Gao Jinzhong walked straight through the pile of documents and stopped right in front of the documents that Lu Zhenfei was reviewing.

"Roadside, is there any chance of a breakthrough in the case?"

The wolf-hair brush tip spread an ink stain on the rice paper, and Lu Zhenfei slowly raised his eyes:

"Gao Yourong, it seems that I did not agree to any time with you."

"Criminal trials are the duties of this governor; how can I act rashly?"

Gao Jinzhong leaned forward, his right hand resting on the sword at his waist:

"As I warned beforehand, these bandits won't confess unless they are severely punished!"

The iron-inlaid wrist guard slammed heavily against the desk, making the inkstone tremble.

"Since the transport commissioner is delaying the decision, I am hereby ordered by the garrison commander to immediately transfer this case to the Central Army Commander!"

Gao Jinzhong suddenly stopped as he turned to pass Zhu Cilang:

"You ignorant brat! How dare you presume to discuss military secrets based on mere theoretical knowledge?"

Leaving behind a disdainful, sinister look, he abruptly turned around:

"Zhang Hu, Zhang Bao! Let's go!"

The two guards turned around simultaneously like puppets, their movements perfectly synchronized, and disappeared through the doorway.

A quarter past noon.

The air seemed to freeze.

Lu Zhenfei suppressed his surging anger, and when he turned to Zhu Cilang, his expression had returned to calm and resolute.

"The young man meticulously unravels the case, directly pointing to the ringleader! Li Xianggui, this scoundrel, is beyond redemption!"

He abruptly stood up, his voice booming like thunder, his imposing aura instantly enveloping the entire area:

"Issue this order:"

"Immediately issue a warrant for arrest, including a photograph, and issue a general order to Huai'an Prefecture and surrounding counties, and to conduct strict checks at all land and sea checkpoints!"

"A generous reward will be given to anyone who can provide information on Li Xianggui's whereabouts! A reward of one hundred taels of silver will be given for his capture!"

"Yes, sir!"

The yamen runners below the hall responded with a resounding roar.

Zhu Cilang picked up Wang Fugui's confession, feeling that something was amiss, and was about to inquire further—

"ah--!!!"

A piercing scream, so shrill it was almost inhuman, suddenly erupted from the direction of the screen wall outside the government office.

Immediately afterwards, a burst of terrified screams and cries erupted from the crowd and flooded the hall.

"Murder!"

"Good heavens!"

"Young Master Han..."

Zhu Cilang felt a chill run down his spine and rushed out of the hall.

The sight before him instantly made his blood run cold and his eyes widen in horror!

Crimson blood was spreading wildly along the cracks in the bluestone floor in front of the screen wall.

A head—

Han Yuanming's round face, frozen with terror and despair, rolled on the edge of the pool of blood, his eyes wide open in death.

The headless body lay limp like a tattered sack, warm blood still gushing from its neck cavity.

The pungent, suffocating smell of blood assaulted my nostrils.

Gao Jinzhong slowly sheathed the dyed goose feather sword.

Blood droplets dripping from the knife tip hit the blue bricks, "tap...tap..." blooming into small, dazzling red flowers.

A cruel pleasure lingered on his face, as if he had just crushed nothing more than an ant.

Gao Jinzhong surveyed the entire audience, his voice booming across the rooftops:

"Gentlemen! I have just received General Liu's order to retrieve the funds today."

"This case is now under the full control of this battalion! Tell the truth, and you will be spared! If you dare to conceal anything—"

He suddenly pointed his scabbard at Han Yuanming's head.

"This is the consequence!"

This Gao Jinzhong dared to arbitrarily kill scholars and commoners in broad daylight, in front of the Governor's Office, to establish his authority!

A surge of burning rage rushed to the top of Zhu Cilang's head, making his vision go black—

If the golden seal in his possession is still there, and the will is proven, why waste words with this arrogant and domineering brute?

A single cry of "The Crown Prince is here!" is enough to seal the fate of the world!

He took a sudden step forward, his clear voice booming like thunder:

"Gao Jinzhong!"

He addressed him by his first name, without the slightest hint of politeness.

"It's not even noon, and without trial or judgment, how dare you kill innocent people? Do you have any regard for the law and justice?"

"In broad daylight, they use the butcher's knife instead of the law, disregarding the ironclad rules of the founding emperor!"

"How is your behavior any different from that of bandits who gather in the mountains?"

He stared intently at the head that was so close to his face.

That glaring crimson was like a branding iron searing his eyes—

This is not a battle on the battlefield; this is a blatant trampling of life and order!

Gao Jinzhong is declaring through his actions:

In this era of broken order, soldiers are bandits, and bandits are soldiers.

Whoever wields the knife is the law!

What imperial officials, what judicial authority—before the blades of arrogant and fierce soldiers, all were reduced to dust.

This is the essence of warlords in the end times—

They carved out their own territory, amassed armies, and disregarded the law and human life.

Lian Guoshi, his beard and hair bristling, his voice drowning out the sobs of the common people:

"I personally signed the document for the 180,000 taels of silver!"

"If you want to kill or torture someone, come at me! What does this have to do with the canal workers? What does it have to do with the common people?"

He took a step forward, his blood-stained official boots landing heavily on the edge of the pool of blood.

"How dare you treat human life so lightly! Where do you place the laws of the court? Where do you place justice and fairness?"

His cloudy old eyes stared intently at Gao Jinzhong, a suppressed sob escaping his throat.

"As the Vice Minister of War, how can I stand idly by and watch you act so lawlessly!"

The old man and the young man were like two volcanoes erupting with a roar.

This exposes Gao Jinzhong's atrocities to the light of day.

"Hahaha!"

Gao Jinzhong laughed in extreme anger, his eyes flashing with a fierce light.

"You two are courting death! Seize them! Tie them up!"

Clang!

Armored vehicle collision!

The four fierce-looking guards instantly surrounded them like an iron barrel.

The cold glint of spears and halberds intertwined into a net, completely blocking all of Zhu Cilang's escape routes.

Even if Zhu Cilang possessed the courage of a champion, how could he possibly defeat a fully armored opponent with his bare hands?

He and Lian Guoshi were roughly twisted by the arms, the rough ropes digging into their flesh.

Two soldiers roughly dragged Lian Guoshi onto the rack.

The ropes tightened, grinding his wrists raw and bloody, yet he still held his head high and his spine straight and unyielding while practicing state affairs.

Gao Jinzhong walked to the rack, his eyes like those of a venomous snake, staring intently at Lian Guoshi:

"This humble general will ask the Junior Sima one last time!"

"As the transport commissioner, how could his salary have vanished without a trace? Could it be that the Ministry of War embezzled the funds?"

Lian Guoshi suddenly looked up, staring directly at Gao Jinzhong, his face showing no fear whatsoever.

"I have maintained an upright reputation for twenty years; how dare you slander it!"

A cruel smile curled at the corner of Gao Jinzhong's lips, and he waved his hand—

"bass!"

A soldier raised his steel knife, its cold glint flashing!

Zhu Cilang felt a chill run down his spine!

incredible!

The laws and regulations of the Ming Dynasty have collapsed to such an extent!

The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, a high-ranking official of the third rank, in charge of the selection, appointment, and training of military officers and soldiers throughout the country, was to be beheaded in broad daylight.

Where did the golden seal and imperial edict that should have proven the identity of the crown prince end up?

Otherwise, why should we stand by and watch loyal ministers be humiliated?

The people were terrified, and gasps filled the air.

"Wait a minute!"

A hoarse, urgent shout suddenly rang out!