Chapter 232: The Law? Now, I Am The Law! Monthly Ticket Bonus Chapter 32
The long night was endless, but Geng Zhong could not sleep.
He was pacing anxiously in his room at this moment.
Although he had temporarily controlled the Blue Dragon with Meng Han Medicine, the unease in his heart grew stronger.
He knew that Zhang Biao would never give up investigating just because he was driven away.
As expected, just past midnight, a trusted close guard rushed to knock on the door, his face pale: “Sir! Something has happened!”
Geng Zhong’s heart skipped a beat: “What’s the panic?!”
“Zhang Biao… Zhang Biao sent someone to investigate the whereabouts of last night’s manure cart!”
The close guard panted and replied:
“We followed the plan to dispose of those files and some problematic military equipment thirty li away in Black Wind Gully, and they almost found the place! Fortunately, the brothers on guard were vigilant, discovered two scouts, and they have been… dealt with.”
“Dealt with?”
Geng Zhong’s eyes sharpened: “Are you sure it’s clean?”
“Confirmed! The bodies were buried on the spot, and the traces were cleaned up. But…”
The close guard hesitated for a moment, then said with concern:
“But those two scouts were clearly skilled Imperial Guards, and they followed the trail from where the manure cart was dumped and the tire tracks!”
“Although the people were dealt with, it’s hard to guarantee Zhang Biao won’t continue to investigate along this line.”
Hearing this, Geng Zhong’s face instantly turned extremely ugly.
His worst fear had come to pass.
Zhang Biao’s sense of smell was too keen; he had already focused on the manure cart so quickly.
“Waste!”
He grunted, but knew that blaming his subordinates was useless at this point.
The manure cart transporting stolen goods was the most covert method he could think of. Who would have thought Zhang Biao would even connect that?
“Also…”
The close guard reported, bracing himself:
“Because it happened suddenly, there are still two boxes of account books that couldn’t be destroyed in time, and more than a dozen strong bows and several sets of leather armor in Black Wind Gully. They were temporarily hidden in a cave within the gully, and we didn’t dare to transport them further for fear of being tracked again.”
【 When it rains, it pours! 】
Geng Zhong felt a wave of dizziness.
The people were killed, but the clues were exposed, and more importantly, the stolen goods were still at large!
Zhang Biao had lost two subordinates and would not let this go. He would surely pounce like a shark smelling blood!
“Sir, what should we do now? Zhang Biao must be suspicious!” the close guard asked anxiously.
Geng Zhong forced himself to calm down, his mind racing.
Killing Imperial Guards was a grave crime!
Once proven, let alone Geng Zhong himself, even the Prince behind him might not be able to protect him!
The only way out now was to completely muddy the waters, shift the blame to someone else, and buy time to dispose of the final evidence!
His gaze inadvertently swept towards the secret room, where the unconscious Blue Dragon was still held.
An extremely bold, even reckless, idea took shape in his mind.
【 Act contrary to all expectations! 】
He suddenly raised his head, a ruthless and determined glint in his eyes:
“Go! Select a few smart and reliable brothers whose build is similar to the guards of the Duke of Liang’s mansion, and have them put on their clothes and armor! Then find someone whose build is close to the Blue Dragon’s, and have them wear his attire!”
The close guard was stunned: “Sir, what are you…?”
A sinister smile appeared on Geng Zhong’s face:
“Zhang Biao is investigating the manure cart, right? And scouts were killed? Then we’ll put on a grand show for him!”
“You take people, impersonate the Blue Dragon and his guards, and ‘leave the city’ overnight! Create the illusion that they are leaving Raozhou Guard or on some secret mission.”
“Then, near Black Wind Gully, fake an ambush scene! It must be intense! It must be realistic!”
He lowered his voice, his tone chilling:
“Bring a few bodies of the Blue Dragon’s guards, and also bring out the bodies of those two Imperial Guards. Arrange the scene to look like a fierce battle between both sides, resulting in mutual destruction!”
The close guard gasped, instantly understanding Geng Zhong’s intention: this was to frame someone.
“Sir, this… will this work? The Duke of Liang’s mansion side…”
“We can’t afford to worry about that anymore!”
Geng Zhong interrupted him, his eyes wild: “This is the only way! As long as we make it a solid case, it will be Zhang Biao’s subordinates who ambushed and killed the Blue Dragon, the adopted son of the Duke of Liang, and his guards!”
“At that time, let alone investigate the case, Zhang Biao himself will be in grave danger! The Duke of Liang’s wrath will be the first to burn him to ashes!”
He patted the close guard’s shoulder, his tone both seductive and threatening:
“Handle it beautifully! When dawn breaks, this Commander will ‘discover’ that my brother Lan has gone missing, and then logically lead people out of the city to search, and finally ‘heartbrokenly’ discover their bodies!”
“At that time, with both human and material evidence present, let’s see how Zhang Biao can argue!”
“What about… that batch of military equipment and the undestroyed account books in the cave?” the close guard asked.
“Don’t touch them for now! After this matter erupts tomorrow and everyone’s attention is diverted, we’ll find a chance to quietly dispose of them!”
Geng Zhong gave decisive orders, brooks no argument:
“Go do as I’ve instructed immediately! Remember, be clean with your hands, and make the scene look convincing!”
“Traces of struggle, arrows, and even… leave some traces of weapons that might have been used by Zhang Biao’s men! Hurry!”
“Yes! Your subordinate understands! I’ll go now!”
The close guard, stirred by the crazy plan, took the order and left.
In the room, Geng Zhong was alone, his face a mixture of fear, ruthlessness, and a touch of desperate madness.
He knew he was playing with fire, dancing on the edge of a precipice. If exposed, he would be doomed.
But he had no better options.
Zhang Biao’s pursuit was like a persistent ulcer; he had to cover it up with a more intense and sensational event.
He walked to the window and looked out at the dark night, as if he could see Zhang Biao’s stubborn and cold eyes.
【 Zhang Biao, you forced me to do this! 】
【 You want to investigate to the end? I’ll smash a hole in the sky! Let’s see who will be crushed to pieces first! 】
…
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.
Zhang Biao had barely slept this night.
The two Imperial Guards he had sent out with Song Zhong had not returned to report, nor had any news come back.
A premonition, like a viper, coiled around Zhang Biao’s heart.
“Something is wrong!”
Zhang Biao said to Song Zhong: “They might have had an accident! Let’s go and see for ourselves!”
Suddenly, the sound of urgent horse hooves and commotion came from outside the tent of their temporary lodging.
Zhang Biao and Song Zhong exchanged a look, then simultaneously lifted the tent and walked out.
They saw Geng Zhong leading a team of Raozhou Guard cavalry, fully armored and radiating killing intent, surrounding their temporary lodging.
Geng Zhong himself had bloodshot eyes, looking like a madman.
He spurred his horse to the entrance, pointed his whip at Zhang Biao, who had come out upon hearing the noise, and his voice, filled with grief and indignation, echoed through the early morning:
“Zhang Biao—! You scoundrel! Give me back my brother’s life!!”
Zhang Biao’s brows furrowed, his alarm bells ringing: “Geng Zhong, what madness is this?!”
“Madness?!”
Geng Zhong’s acting skills kicked in, tears instantly welling up, and he beat his chest and stomped his feet:
“My brother Lan, and the several guards from the Duke of Liang’s mansion who were with him! Last night at Black Wind Gully outside the city, they were ambushed and killed by the Imperial Guards you sent! Their bodies are barely cold!”
He suddenly pulled out two bloody waist tokens of the Imperial Guards from his inner pocket and threw them forcefully in front of Zhang Biao:
“This is the evidence! What else do you have to say?!”
“What?!”
Zhang Biao, Song Zhong, and the others behind them all changed color.
Blue Dragon was dead? Ambushed and killed by Imperial Guards? How was this possible?!
“Geng Zhong! Stop your slander!” Song Zhong shouted sternly.
“Slander?!”
Geng Zhong grinned sinisterly and suddenly waved his hand:
“Guards! Bring up the fallen brothers!”
As soon as he finished speaking, several garrison soldiers carried up several stretchers.
They were covered with white cloth, but the bodies in the attire of the Duke of Liang’s mansion could be vaguely seen beneath, along with two bodies in tattered Imperial Guard uniforms beside them.
A wave!
The scene immediately erupted in an uproar!
The common people and soldiers gathered to watch around the post station were stunned.
Geng Zhong pointed at the two Imperial Guard bodies and cried out to the surrounding crowd with grief:
“Fellow villagers! Soldiers! You all saw it! This is Zhang Biao, Censor Zhang! This is the Anti-corruption Bureau!”
“They couldn’t find evidence, so they resorted to this despicable assassination! They harmed the descendants of meritorious officials and border generals! Where is heaven’s justice! Where is the law of the land!?”
At these words, those who didn’t know the truth were all enraged, and they cast hateful glances at Zhang Biao and his group.
Old Qian couldn’t help but step forward and scold: “Commander Geng, stop slandering Lord Zhang here! We would never do such a thing!”
“Hmph!”
Geng Zhong snorted coldly, then said grimly:
“Yesterday, you had repeated conflicts with my brother Lan within Raozhou Guard and harbored resentment, hence you harbored murderous intent! Human and material evidence are both present, do you still dare to quibble?”
After speaking, he abruptly looked at Zhang Biao again and shouted sternly: “Zhang Biao—!”
“My brother Lan spoke righteously for me, and you dared to kill him! You are truly committing a grave crime!”
As his voice fell, Geng Zhong immediately drew his saber and pointed it at Zhang Biao, his voice filled with bone-chilling hatred and righteous roar:
“I will now escort you to the Capital City to await the Emperor’s and the Duke of Liang’s judgment! Guards! Arrest him!”
Hearing this, the soldiers of Raozhou Guard immediately drew their weapons and were about to act.
“I’d like to see who dares!”
Song Zhong roared, and his subordinate Imperial Guards and old soldiers immediately drew their swords and faced off, protecting Zhang Biao in the center.
Both sides were at swords’ point, and the atmosphere instantly exploded.
At this critical juncture—
“Imperial Decree arrives—!”
A high-pitched shout accompanied by rapid horse hooves approached from afar.
A dust-covered Imperial Guard messenger, holding a bright yellow scroll, rode through the encirclement of the Raozhou Guard soldiers and straight into the center of the scene.
The messenger reined in his warhorse, scanned the scene, and finally landed his gaze on Zhang Biao and Song Zhong, then announced loudly:
“Zhang Biao, Director of the Anti-corruption Bureau, and Song Zhong, Commander, receive the decree!”
This sudden turn of events stunned everyone, including Geng Zhong, who was confident of victory.
Zhang Biao and Song Zhong immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said: “Your subject receives the decree!”
The messenger unfolded the imperial decree and read it aloud:
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:”
“Zhang Biao, Director of the Anti-corruption Bureau, acting with arrogance and disregard, has dared to misinterpret the Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings, blaspheme against Ancestral Law, mislead the populace, and shake the foundation of the state. His actions are punishable by death!”
“However, in consideration of his minor merits in the inspection of military affairs, his head shall be spared for now. Effective immediately, you are strictly prohibited from using the name of Ancestral Teachings to conduct investigations, mobilize troops, or exceed your authority! If you dare to repeat such actions, you will be executed without mercy! By Imperial Order!”
This initial stern reprimand made Geng Zhong’s face instantly light up with ecstasy.
The Emperor was indeed enraged! Zhang Biao’s good days were over!
However, the messenger’s words were not finished, and he continued reading:
“Special decree: Zhang Biao, Director of the Anti-corruption Bureau, we grant you the authority to thoroughly investigate Jiujiang Guard and its surrounding related garrisons. All military equipment, grain and provisions, troop rosters, and even the movements of suspicious individuals are subject to this investigation.”
“If you encounter any obstruction, you may present this decree, and local authorities and garrisons must fully cooperate.”
“Order Commander Song Zhong of the Anti-corruption Bureau and his subordinates to exercise the authority to mobilize local Imperial Guards, provide full assistance, ensure their safety, and guarantee that the investigation process is thorough and complete, reporting to us swiftly! By Imperial Order—!”
The imperial decree was read, and the scene fell into a dead silence.
The first half was a thunderous reprimand, while the second half was an Imperial Sword granting full authority.
Although the Emperor had revoked Zhang Biao’s authority to misuse Ancestral Teachings, he had given him a legitimate and even greater power to investigate.
He had even granted Song Zhong the power to temporarily mobilize local Imperial Guards.
The ecstasy on Geng Zhong’s face instantly froze, then turned deathly pale.
His last resort, attacking Zhang Biao for ‘blaspheming Ancestral Teachings,’ had been blocked by Old Zhu himself.
Moreover, Zhang Biao now had even more power.
Zhang Biao took the imperial decree, slowly straightened up, his face showing no sign of dejection from the reprimand, but instead a cold, all-knowing smile.
His gaze swept over Geng Zhong, who looked like his world had ended, and the soldiers who were still carrying stretchers.
“Commander Geng!”
Zhang Biao’s voice was laced with mockery: “Didn’t you want the law?”
He raised the imperial decree high in his hand, his voice suddenly rising, like a thunderclap:
“Now, I am the law!”
He no longer paid attention to the trembling Geng Zhong and turned to order Song Zhong: “Song Zhong!”
“Yes!”
“Go immediately and find an experienced coroner! Quickly!”
“Yes!”
Although Song Zhong didn’t understand, he immediately sent someone to do it without hesitation.
Zhang Biao then pointed at the stretchers: “Bring all these ‘bodies’ over to the sunlight and lay them out!”
The soldiers looked at each other, then at Geng Zhong.
Geng Zhong was in a state of panic. He opened his mouth but could not issue any orders.
Zhang Biao’s eyes sharpened: “What? The imperial decree is here, do you intend to defy it?!”
The soldiers of Raozhou Guard shuddered, no longer daring to hesitate, and quickly carried the stretchers to an open space, arranging them under the morning sun.
Soon, a trembling old coroner was brought in.
Zhang Biao walked to the stretchers, his tone calm but irrefutable:
“Old sir, do not be afraid. I need you to examine these bodies with me.”
“Follow your own rules and methods, and tell me truthfully what you see and feel.”
“Yes, yes, I understand.”
The old coroner calmed down a little.
Zhang Biao first pointed at the two bodies in tattered Imperial Guard uniforms:
“Let’s look at these two first. Old sir, in your opinion, how long have they been dead?”
The old coroner stepped forward, bowed respectfully, then carefully examined the bodies. He pressed the joints and abdomen, opened the eyelids, and finally sniffed the smell.
“Reporting, sir!”
The old coroner bowed and said:
“Based on rigor mortis, lividity, and abdominal changes, these two have been dead for between the hours of You and Xu yesterday. There is no mistake.”
At this point, the time seemed to match Geng Zhong’s account of the ‘ambush last night’.
Geng Zhong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhang Biao nodded, not drawing a conclusion immediately, but crouched down to examine them himself.
Although he was not a professional forensic examiner, he had watched many TV shows in modern times and knew some basic principles.
Especially his favorite shows, Forensic Doctor Qin Ming and The Appointed, which had many autopsy scenes.
He noticed that one of the Imperial Guards’ hands was clenched tightly. He signaled Song Zhong to pry it open forcefully. Upon close examination, he found dark red debris and a few strands of coarse blue cotton thread embedded in the fingernails.
“Old sir, look at this.”
Zhang Biao pointed to the fingernails:
“This debris looks like wood shavings, and this blue cotton thread… it doesn’t seem to be the material of the Duke of Liang’s mansion guards’ uniforms, does it?”
The old coroner leaned in to examine it closely, then touched the thread and confirmed:
“Your discernment is keen, sir! This blue cotton thread is rough and is the most common native cloth used by the common people, definitely not military-grade!”
Zhang Biao’s heart stirred, and he took note of this detail.
Geng Zhong and his close guards behind him began to break out in a fine sweat, sensing something was amiss.
It was clear they hadn’t expected Zhang Biao to perform an autopsy, and even less so to discover discrepancies so quickly.
Zhang Biao stood up without a word and walked directly to the bodies of the Duke of Liang’s mansion guards.
“Now, let’s look at these.”
The old coroner examined them in order.
When he examined the second guard’s body, his brow furrowed slightly.
He repeatedly pressed the abdomen and opened the mouth, leaning in to sniff carefully.
“Sir…”
The old coroner’s face showed confusion: “This person… is a bit strange.”
“Oh?”
Zhang Biao’s eyebrows rose, and he immediately pressed: “What is strange?”
“According to Commander Geng, they were ambushed and died last night. But based on the degree of rigor mortis, it seems… lighter than those two Imperial Guards, and more like they died after midnight.”
Geng Zhong’s face changed, and he couldn’t help but shout angrily:
“What nonsense are you spouting?! Those two Imperial Guards died earlier because they were more severely injured, while the guards of the Duke of Liang’s mansion were less injured and died later. Is there a problem with that!?”
“Heh!”
Zhang Biao chuckled: “It seems Commander Geng knows a lot. Did you witness it yourself? Do you know such detailed information?”
“You!”
Geng Zhong was momentarily speechless, then snorted coldly, “Stop your baseless accusations. The time of death doesn’t prove anything!”
“I didn’t say the time of death was problematic either. Why are you so agitated? Are you guilty?”
“Zhang Biao! Even with an imperial decree, your words must be backed by evidence. Otherwise, even if I report to the Emperor, I will seek justice for my brother Lan!”
“Tch!”
Zhang Biao sneered disdainfully, then ignored him and said to the old coroner:
“Old sir, please continue. I have the imperial decree, and the Emperor supports you, so don’t be afraid!”
Hearing this, the old coroner subconsciously glanced at Geng Zhong. After a slight hesitation, he spoke more cautiously:
“Besides the time of death, when I pressed his epigastrium just now, it felt quite distended. Opening his mouth, I detected a faint… lingering smell of alcohol!”
A sharp glint flashed in Zhang Biao’s eyes: “Alcohol? Can you estimate roughly when he drank it, old sir?”
The old coroner pondered for a moment and said:
“Reporting, sir. For normal people, if not heavily drunk, the smell of alcohol lingers in the mouth for a few hours before dissipating. Judging by this intensity, coupled with the fullness of the stomach… I infer that the time of drinking was likely no more than two hours before his death! Probably between Hai and Zi yesterday!”
“Song Zhong!”
Zhang Biao suddenly turned, his gaze like lightning shooting towards Song Zhong, and said with no room for doubt: “Immediately check the records of departures from Raozhou Guard to see when Blue Dragon and his guards left the city!”
“Yes!”
Song Zhong immediately took the order.
Geng Zhong and the close guards behind him paled, seemingly not having considered this.
Not long after, Song Zhong returned and reported:
“Reporting, sir, General Blue Dragon and his guards left the city at 3:00 AM last night. Also, Commander Geng’s close guards and General Blue Dragon’s guards were drinking together in the mansion’s small courtyard. The commotion seemed to be quite significant.”
“Hahaha!”
Hearing this, Zhang Biao couldn’t help but throw his head back and laugh, then suddenly turned to Geng Zhong and said coldly:
“Commander Geng! May I ask! How could they have been drinking with you in the garrison until late at night, and at the same time be ‘ambushed’ and killed tens of li away in Black Wind Gully?! Can they teleport?!”
“And!”
Zhang Biao, without waiting for Geng Zhong’s reply, pointed at the wounds on the guards’ bodies and said:
“Old sir, examine these wounds closely again. Are the edges of the wounds too neat? Compared to the expected signs of a fatal wound, is the degree of skin inversion and bloodstain infiltration a bit… off?”
He knew that post-mortem wounds were different from ante-mortem wounds.
And the old coroner, after being reminded by him, immediately leaned in to examine carefully. After a moment, his face changed, and he confirmed:
“Your discernment is keen, sir! These wounds… especially the one under the left rib, the edges are too clean!”
“There is very little bloodstain around it. It is clearly a post-mortem wound, inflicted after death when blood no longer flows!”
As these words were spoken, the truth became clear.
Zhang Biao faced everyone, connecting the doubts he and the coroner had discovered, and his voice rose a few decibels:
“Everyone listen carefully!”
“Contradiction in time of death! These ‘guards’ died around midnight, and at that time they were drinking in the garrison!”
“Contradiction in stomach contents and activity trajectory! They were still drinking within two hours of death, how could they have been in Black Wind Gully?”
“Fabricated wounds! Some wounds were added after death, intended to disguise a struggle!”
“The conclusion is! These guards of the Duke of Liang’s mansion were killed within Raozhou Guard late last night, then secretly transported to Black Wind Gully and placed with the two deceased Imperial Guard scouts to meticulously stage a scene of conflict!”
“The purpose was to frame me!”
A wave!
The scene erupted in an uproar!
Everyone was stunned by this shocking truth!
Geng Zhong’s face was ashen, his back soaked in cold sweat. He pointed at Zhang Biao and the old coroner, his lips trembling:
“You… you colluded! Talking nonsense! Deceiving the masses!”
“Colluded? Deceiving the masses?”
Zhang Biao sneered, his gaze sharply sweeping across Raozhou Guard:
“Geng Zhong, to cover up the crime of military equipment loss, you spared no effort to kill and frame.”
“General Blue Dragon disappeared last night after drinking with you. You claimed he was killed, but in reality, you would never dare to kill the adopted son of the Duke of Liang easily, as that would bring about utter destruction!”
Zhang Biao’s mind raced, analyzing based on Geng Zhong’s personality and modus operandi:
“So, the most likely scenario is that you didn’t kill him, but controlled him! Right here within Raozhou Guard!”
“Let me guess, where would you hide him?”
Zhang Biao’s gaze slowly swept across the buildings of the garrison, finally settling on the area behind the Commander’s yamen.
That area usually contained official buildings, warehouses, and some unknown secret places.
“The Commander’s yamen is a key location, there must be a secret room or a cellar!”
He suddenly pointed in that direction and shouted to Song Zhong:
“Old Song! Search there!”
“Focus the search on the secret rooms and cellars of the Commander’s yamen! Dig three feet deep to find General Blue Dragon!”
Geng Zhong was completely flustered.
He knew that if the search was conducted, everything would be over. So he suddenly drew his saber and roared like a madman:
“Zhang Biao! You fabricated evidence and slandered me! All soldiers, listen to my order! Cut these madmen down with your sabers! Leave none alive!”
The soldiers of Raozhou Guard hesitated, but Geng Zhong’s loyalists had already drawn their swords and pressed forward.
Song Zhong and the others immediately shielded Zhang Biao, and the situation quickly spiraled out of control.
“What is all this commotion up ahead?! The Duke of Liang is here!”
Suddenly, another wave of thunderous horse hooves could be heard.
A different contingent of cavalry appeared on the official road.
Seeking monthly tickets~
