Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

Having obtained the list, Gao Zhao did not immediately take action against the five pawnshops!

Instead, they set their sights on the visible industries in Wuyoudong!

This is easy to understand. The business of selling stolen goods is one of the core businesses of Wuyoudong. So, it is natural to be more cautious and make more preparations when dealing with it. We cannot be too hasty!

Based on the young master's experience, this is how things are done: first, gently knead, twist, and tease the outside, proceed step by step, gradually delve deeper, and finally strike a fatal blow!

There's no reason to jump straight to the point right away!

Moreover, these brothels and other openly operated businesses are the windows through which Wuyou Cave exposes itself to the outside world. Most of the dirty dealings are carried out through these windows!

Therefore, cracking down on these places is very necessary!

He immediately summoned Zhou Ang, Qiu Yue, and a group of imperial guards generals for a meeting.

"It's appalling! Soldiers!"

Once everyone had arrived and sat down, Gao Zhao slammed two volumes of files on the table and exclaimed in anguish, "Look at how inhumane and depraved this Wuyou Cave is! It's utterly outrageous!"

"I find it hard to believe that such a sinful and dark place could exist in the prosperous and magnificent city of Bianjing in my Great Song Dynasty. It is truly appalling!"

"Openly abducting children and women, committing atrocities such as forced abduction and mutilation, harboring criminals and wicked people, oppressing the innocent, and disregarding human life have plunged the people of our Great Song Dynasty into misery. This is all our dereliction of duty!"

The generals looked at each other in bewilderment. "No, we have no objection to the Wuyou Cave's heinous crimes, but how come it's us who failed in our duty?"

We are imperial guards, not yamen runners of Kaifeng Prefecture, so this is not under our jurisdiction!

If you hadn't come, we wouldn't have had this job in the first place, you know!

Ignoring the reactions of his generals, Gao Zhao waved his hand and declared passionately, "I don't care what happened before, but the Emperor has ordered us to wipe out the Worry-Free Cave and restore peace to the people. We cannot stand idly by and watch the Worry-Free Cave continue to plague Bianliang! If we don't eliminate this den of evil today, your wives, children, and elderly parents will likely be the victims in the future!"

"Very well!" Zhou Ang responded first, slamming his hand on the table and shouting, "Please give your instructions, Your Excellency! This humble general is willing to serve you to the death!"

The generals then rose to their feet and responded loudly, pledging to fight to the death!

Seeing that morale was high, Gao Zhao immediately took out a map of Tokyo, pointed to two places on it, and ordered: "I make the following arrangements: Zhou Ang, you will lead three hundred men to attack the brothel in the south of the city; Qiu Yue, you will lead three hundred men to attack the alley in the west of the city. You must fight quickly and decisively. Anyone who resists must be killed without mercy!"

"I will command the remaining four hundred men. If Wuyou Cave dares to resist, we can annihilate them in one fell swoop!"

"Understood!" The two generals clasped their hands in acceptance of the order.

Gao Zhao then swept his gaze across the crowd and asked in a deep voice, "Does anyone have any further objections? Please feel free to ask!"

Everyone remained silent.

Seeing this, Gao Zhao nodded in satisfaction. Just as he was about to dismiss everyone to prepare, Qiu Yue suddenly spoke up: "Lord, I have no objections, but there is one thing I don't understand, and I hope you can enlighten me!"

"Speak freely!" Gao Zhao glanced at him, feeling somewhat displeased. Couldn't the old scoundrel ask in private?

If I can't answer in front of everyone, wouldn't I lose face?

Once I'm in a higher position, you'll be the first one I deal with! I'll let you know that the authority of a high-ranking official is not to be trifled with!

Poor Qiu Yue thought he had high emotional intelligence and that his question was perfectly timed, but he was completely unaware that he had already incurred a grudge. He then asked:

"Just now, the two military inspectors from Kaifeng Prefecture said that they had long known these places were the black market of Wuyou Cave. The reason they were difficult to eradicate was because they were mixed with good people, making it difficult to distinguish them. If we encountered such a situation, how should we handle it?"

The others nodded in agreement, agreeing that this was indeed a very thorny issue!

Gao Zhao snorted coldly upon seeing this, glanced at everyone, and finally landed on Qiu Yue's face. He shook his head and sighed, "Old Qiu, you are also a veteran general with many merits. I really can't believe that you would ask such a childish question."

Qiu Yue's face stiffened, and he quickly cupped his hands in apology: "Please enlighten me, Master!"

"You've forgotten your place! Who are you? You are the Imperial Guard! What are your orders? To wipe out these criminal gangs in Wuyou Cave!"

Gao Zhao slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "As for whether those people are good or bad, virtuous or wicked, that's a matter for the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. What does it have to do with you!"

All the generals were startled!

Are we playing this high?

This is the capital city! Not some remote place where you can act like a tyrant.

If you accidentally harm innocent civilians, the censor might impeach you to death!

Gao Zhao's sharp gaze swept over the expressions of the crowd as he continued in a cold voice, "There is only one military order: anyone who entrenched themselves within the Wuyou Cave estate, resists arrest while guarding the premises, hides stolen goods, or resists government troops will be considered an accomplice!"

"I don't care if he was coerced, unaware, or innocently detained! During the army's crackdown, anyone who dares to linger and obstruct official business is a traitor!"

Upon hearing this, the generals inwardly criticized it as too simplistic and crude, but at the same time, they felt encouraged. If everyone did it this way, their tasks would be much easier!

It's nothing more than shouting a few words when you first join, and then going on a killing spree!

However, how to handle the aftermath is a major problem...

Gao Zhao's voice suddenly rose as he looked at the crowd and shouted, "Killing the wrong person is a matter for subsequent investigation in the prison! Letting a thief go free or missing a hideout is tantamount to you delaying military operations, and you cannot escape your culpability!"

Everyone was taken aback, but immediately put aside their concerns and readily agreed.

"Gentlemen, muster your troops immediately! Before sunset, I need both of these hideouts completely sealed off. We must take them tonight!"

Gao Zhao coldly shouted, "Anyone who dares to show favoritism, anyone who dares to delay or neglect their duties, will be dealt with according to military law!"

"Yes, sir!"

The crowd responded with a resounding roar.

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhou Ang and Qiu Yue turned around and strode out of the tent, each calling out their troops and forming ranks.

All the generals in the tent dispersed and prepared for battle.

Yang Zhi was so excited by this mobilization that he wanted to go and see, but when he thought of his duty as a bodyguard, he had to give up.

He turned to look at Gao Zhao, wondering how to start the conversation and ask him if his surname was Gao or Tong. He could see that Gao Zhao was seriously reviewing the documents, and he was worried about disturbing military affairs.

Yang Zhi turned his head and saw that the person who came was the same man with thick eyebrows and bright eyes he had seen before.

"Old Shi, you've come at the right time! I have something to tell you to do!" Gao Zhao looked up and saw Shi Qian arrive, his face lighting up with joy. He then turned to Yang Zhi and said with a smile, "Old Yang, go and keep watch outside the tent. Don't let anyone in!"

Yang Zhi knew that he had important instructions to give and that it was inappropriate for him to overhear them, so he responded and walked out of the tent with the precious sword in his arms.

Looking around, no one was coming this way. He couldn't help but become curious about what Gao Zhao and the others were talking about. He listened carefully and could hear low voices, but he couldn't make them out clearly.

Just as I was about to listen more closely, I heard the man inside exclaim in surprise, "This is too much...this is inappropriate!"