Abandoning literature for martial arts, starting by unleashing the beauty's bow.

"Magistrate Wu?"

Yang Mingxiong looked puzzled. "Did you come here for something else?"

Just as Cao Meng was about to take out Wu Sansheng's arrest warrant, he suddenly remembered something and looked at Lu Fengnian.

Lu Fengnian nodded. "Commander Yang is your brother, I trust him."

Cao Meng then took out the arrest warrant and handed it to Yang Mingxiong.

Upon seeing the name on the arrest warrant, Yang Mingxiong was visibly startled, then asked with a suspicious look, "You need your master's permission to show me an arrest warrant issued by the prefect?"

Cao Meng slightly raised his eyelids. "The reason the prefect issued this arrest warrant is entirely because of my master."

As for the specific reasons, please don't ask anymore.

If you ask again, I dare not tell you any more.

Yang Mingxiong, being sensible, did not ask any further questions.

Cao Meng continued, "Wu Sansheng has been operating in Qinghe County for many years, and he must have secretly cultivated a lot of influence."

I only brought a small group of men with me this time, and I'm worried I won't have enough manpower. If we need to take action against him, you'll have to lend me some men.

Without hesitation, Yang Mingxiong replied, "Isn't that obvious? When you're ready to make a move, I'll personally lead the men over."

Cao Meng asked Lu Fengnian again, "Master, should we deal with Wu Sansheng together tomorrow, or wait a bit longer?"

Just as Lu Fengnian was about to speak, a soldier rushed in and hurriedly reported: "Commander, the bandits from Blackwater Village have come down the mountain again, looted a village, killed fifteen people, and robbed six women."

Among those killed were infants less than a year old.

Yang Mingxiong slammed his fist on the table and stood up, demanding, "Where are those bastards now?"

The sergeant quickly responded, "By the time we arrived, they had already retreated back to Blackwater Village."

Yang Mingxiong snorted angrily, "These bastards, I'll deal with them sooner or later!"

Cao Meng frowned. "What's with all this talk about sooner or later? Hurry up and muster your troops, and wipe out that damned Blackwater Stronghold."

Six women are still in their hands; we need to rescue them quickly.

Yang Mingxiong sighed, "I would like to go, but with the few men I have, I can't possibly take down Blackwater Village."

Blackwater Stronghold occupies a strategic location, is riddled with traps and mechanisms, and, more importantly, includes two martial artists at the first rank of the Acquired Realm among these bandits.

I led my men, and also called upon Ye Zhengtang, the chief constable of Qinghe County, and his constables, to attack Heishui Village twice.

Not only did they fail to capture Blackwater Village, they also suffered heavy losses.

"Two Acquired martial artists!"

Cao Meng looked surprised, then asked, "Since you couldn't take down Blackwater Village, why didn't you report it to the prefecture?"

Yang Mingxiong added, "How come there's no report? I send out requests for help to the state capital almost every month, but each time it's like throwing a stone into the sea."

I don't need much. With Ye Zhengtang's help, as long as the state capital sends me another hundred-man team, we can definitely wipe out Blackwater Village.

The only response they ever gave was always the same: insufficient manpower.

At this point, he sighed deeply, "Blackwater Village is becoming more and more arrogant. Before, they only robbed passersby, but now they have begun to harass villages."

Moreover, the bandits from nearby counties, seeing the strength of Blackwater Stronghold, flocked to join them.

The Blackwater Stronghold is growing stronger and stronger. If it isn't wiped out as soon as possible, one day they might even attack the county seat directly.

Cao Meng added, "Didn't you report these situations to Zhou Li?"

"Why not?"

Yang Mingxiong raised his voice, "When the officials in the prefecture are recruiting, they demand that we not be short even half a spot, but when it's our county's turn to ask for help, they all turn a deaf ear!"

After saying that, he gulped down a bowl of strong liquor and slammed the glass down on the table.

Cao Meng frowned, remained silent for six breaths, and said in a low voice, "Once I finish this mission in Qinghe County and return to the prefecture, I will immediately inform Commander Lei of the situation at Blackwater Village."

Yang Mingxiong shook his head and smiled bitterly, "I am Lei Qianhu's old subordinate. When we asked the state for help, how could we overlook him?"

However, his reply to me was that the garrison commander refused to send troops.

Upon hearing these words, Cao Meng's eyes dimmed.

For a moment, the banquet fell silent.

About ten breaths later, Lu Fengnian said in a deep voice, "Cao Meng, you can't get involved in the Blackwater Stronghold matter. Let's put it aside for now. Tomorrow, we'll take down Wu Sansheng first."

…………

The next day, at Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

A group of dozens of soldiers emerged from the military camp in Qinghe County, all fully armed. In the center was a man dressed in gray cloth, none other than Lu Fengnian.

Judging from the way they're being escorted, it looks like they're being taken away.

Some sharp-eyed citizens recognized Lu Fengnian and exclaimed in surprise:

"Look everyone, it's Lu Fengnian!"

"It really is him, exactly like the portrait."

"We thought he had already escaped Qinghe County, or even Liuzhou, but we never expected that he would still be caught in the end."

"It's over. He killed someone and escaped from prison. His crimes are compounded. Lu Fengnian is definitely not going to get away with this. He will most likely face the death penalty."

…………

Hearing these voices, Cao Meng wanted to speak up for Lu Fengnian and disperse the crowd, but Lu Fengnian stopped him.

Lu Fengnian remained expressionless, his eyes fixed straight ahead, seemingly oblivious to the conversations around him.

Soon, news of Lu Fengnian's arrest spread throughout Qinghe County, and more and more people gathered around.

Lu Fengnian instructed Cao Meng and Yang Mingxiong to slow down and walk slowly toward the county government office.

The journey from the garrison camp to the county government office originally took only a quarter of an hour.

Because there were so many people gathered around, Lu Fengnian deliberately slowed down, and it took him half an hour to walk.

In such a long period of time, those who were supposed to hear the news have already heard it.

Two streets away from the county government office, Lu Fengnian saw Fang Tong.

He squeezed into the crowd, his face full of worry.

Seeing that Fang Tong was unharmed, Lu Fengnian felt a little relieved.

He was initially worried that Wu Sansheng would target Fang Tong.

After Fang Tong, Lu Fengnian saw Du Sanqiu in the crowd.

However, Du Sanqiu glanced at Lu Fengnian and then hurriedly left, as if to confirm the information.

Upon arriving at the county government office, a dozen constables were waiting in front of the gate, with Ye Zhengtang leading the way.

Ye Zhengtang glanced at Lu Fengnian from afar, his expression complex, then cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Yang Mingxiong.

"Commander Yang, thank you for bringing the wanted criminal to justice."

Yang Mingxiong smiled slightly and pointed to Cao Meng beside him, "Chief Constable Ye, let me introduce you. This is Squad Leader Cao from the Liuzhou Camp. He just arrived in the county last night."

Ye Zhengtang immediately realized what was going on, "Greetings, Squad Leader Cao. Thank you for capturing the criminal Lu Fengnian."

Cao Meng looked Ye Zhengtang up and down and said with a smile, "I've heard that Chief Constable Ye is a second-level martial artist of the Acquired Realm and the number one in Qinghe County. I've admired him for a long time but have never had the chance to meet him."

Seeing it today, I can see it truly lives up to its reputation.

Ye Zhengtang smiled and replied, "Squad Leader Cao, you flatter me. I just stumbled upon this by accident and figured it out on my own. I'm by no means the number one in Qinghe County."

At this point, he bowed to Yang Mingxiong and Cao Meng, saying, "My lords, the prisoner has been escorted to the county government office and can now be handed over to me."

I immediately took him to the county jail to await his sentence.