Chapter 38: The Fury of the Duke

  In the mansion of the Duke of Wei in Nanjing, Xu Xian spent the whole night writing a memorial to Emperor Hongzhi, confessing his crimes and asking for punishment in advance. Having been in charge of the military power in Nanjing for decades, Xu Xian had seen too many fierce struggles within the officialdom and would not be foolish enough to wait until things got out of hand and let those officials impeach him. So he took the initiative to write a memorial of self-accusation before things escalated.

  It was said to be a plea for punishment, but in the memorial, Xu Xi severely accused Shaoxing Prefecture's governor Tong Zhen of allowing his son to commit murder. The future heir to the title of Duke of Wei, who was touring Jiangnan, was innocently beaten up by Tong Zhen's son and his gang of thugs, who roamed the streets with weapons in hand, clearly intent on assassination. All the officials and citizens in the city were too afraid to speak out. Shaoxing was supposed to be the emperor's Shaoxing, but now it had become the Tong family's domain, where even a noble heir like him dared not to be beaten up, showing how powerful the Tong family was in Shaoxing, with no restrictions whatsoever...

  This memorial is a plea for forgiveness, but in reality it is a heart-stabbing criticism. In terms of experience with official struggles, the old governor-general is far superior to Governor Tong. Moreover, he has justice on his side, and that's the essence of the matter - who was beaten and who has justice.

  Xun Gui is originally a special kind of person who doesn't talk reason and likes to make trouble, let alone this matter where he has fully occupied the right.

  The draft was written and Xu Xi sent a fast horse 800 miles to rush to the capital, at the same time, the angry old Guogong issued an order to call back Sunzi, this game must be found back no matter what.

  Deadly aura forms clouds at three o'clock, cold sound spreads throughout the night till dawn.

  That night, the Shaoxing Garrison troops stationed in the northern suburbs of Shaoxing Prefecture moved out, following the order of Wei Guogong Xu Laogongye, and a full-strength thousand-household army entered Shaoxing City.

  Leading a thousand households with the surname Lü, named Zhilong, in the 15th year of the Hongzhi era, he was transferred from Xuanfu Border Army to Shaoxing Garrison.

  Ignoring the stunned and terrified gaze of the city gate patrol soldiers, Lü Qianhu led his horse to charge into the North City Gate, followed by more than a thousand cold and fierce Wei Suo officers and soldiers.

  Torches lit up the night sky of Shaoxing, and the sound of horses' neighing broke through the silence of the night.

  Lü Qi'an stood on horseback at the entrance of the city gate, looking at a group of patrol soldiers in front of him who were hesitant to intercept but did not dare to do so. Suddenly, Lü Zhilong shouted loudly: "By order of Duke Wei, the Shaoxing Garrison is entering the city to protect the young master and capture the thugs who beat the young master! Anyone who dares to block us will be beheaded!"

  "Divide two hundred men to go to the guest house to protect Young Master Gong, and the rest of the soldiers will follow me to attack Tongzhen Prefecture!"

  "Yes!"

  All officials and soldiers stood up straight with their fists clenched.

  Tong Mansion

  Tong Zhen sat in the front hall's armchair, her usual calm and composed expression now deathly pale, her body trembling uncontrollably as if she was suffering from immense psychological terror.

  Tong Yinglong knelt in front of Tong Zhen, his face whiter than his father's, and his body shaking more frequently than his father's, with a stronger rhythm.

  The wedding was cancelled, the banquet had already been withdrawn, and the guests bid farewell with a mixture of complex expressions on their faces. However, everyone knew that the Tong family had made a name for themselves in Shaoxing City today.

  Tong Zhen had no time to pursue the changes in the Tong and Du families' affairs, he had a premonition of great disaster approaching.

  "You scoundrel, have you asked clearly? Is he really the young master of the Wei State Duke's manor?"

  Tong Yinglong nodded hastily: "After beating him a few punches, the people below used sticks to knock on his legs, and the child only knew his identity..."

  "Why didn't you ask before hitting?"

  "That Qin Kan originally lived on the second floor, and I had seen him before. How did I know that there was a sudden appearance of a young master in his room? Moreover, at that time, I was furious and my heart was racing, when I rushed up to the second floor, I saw countless guards drawing their swords towards me, so I didn't have time to ask..."

  Tong Zhen heard this and suddenly felt a blackness before her eyes, her body swaying unsteadily.

  "Scoundrel! Scoundrel! You've brought calamity upon yourself! Xu Pengju is the old master's most beloved grandson, and he will inherit his title in the future. How dare you hit him? The old master won't let this slide!"

  The father and son were still discussing countermeasures when they heard the main gate of Tongfu Mansion burst open with a loud crash, and countless soldiers carrying torches and wielding swords and spears rushed in.

  "Lu Zhilong, a thousand-household under the command of Shaoxing Wei Qi, is ordered by the Duke of Wei to capture the murderers. No one in the Tong Mansion is allowed to move or resist without permission. Those who disobey will be beheaded!"

  Tong Zhen was shocked and forgot her demeanor, rushing out a few steps and pointing at Lü Zhilong in anger: "Lü Qianhu, how dare you bring soldiers into the city and barge into my private residence? Don't you fear the law?"

  Lv Zhilong sneered: "Tong sir, didn't you hear what I just said? I am carrying the order of the Duke of Wei! Is the young master at home? Please ask him to come out and see me. The trouble is big, no one can protect him."

  In the flickering light of the torches, Lü Zhilong's eyes swept over and saw Tong Yinglong kneeling in the front hall, his body trembling like a sieve. A mocking smile curled up at the corner of Lü Zhilong's mouth.

  "Lord Tong, you are a true dragon and phoenix among men, even the future Duke Guo dares not to hit you..."

  These words were like a slap in the face to Tong Zhen, who suddenly changed color and hadn't even had time to get angry when another commotion came from outside the Tong mansion.

  Young Master Xu Pengjiu, with a swollen left cheek and disheveled clothes, was being supported by someone as he limped along, followed by over ten injured and enraged guards, as well as... the two hundred government soldiers that Lv Zhilong had just dispatched to protect him.

  "Where is the one who hit me? Damn it, the world has turned upside down! Tong Zhen, you old turtle, how dare you provoke me, a noble official? Don't you know that I have more people than you do? Now my men outnumber yours, call your son out to meet his death..."

  Xu Pengju walked into the Tongfu gate, grumbling and complaining. Today's young master was very indignant. In Nanjing city, he had been lawless and domineering, and even the governor didn't dare to control him. Unexpectedly, after coming to Shaoxing, he hadn't provoked anyone or caused any trouble, but quietly slept in his guesthouse room. However, disaster struck from heaven, and the young master was actually beaten by the son of the governor. Where could the young master's face be put? In the future, when he returned to Nanjing and met those aristocratic young masters, wouldn't today's experience become a laughing stock for others?

  The pent-up anger of the spoiled child has finally burst out today, and Xupeng even dares to be unscrupulous. He and his grandfather are of the same mind: my father was beaten, but he's in the right!

  Tong Zhen's face turned pale, he took two steps forward and was about to bow his head to apologize, but Xu Pengji didn't even look at him. His gaze pierced through Tong Zhen, pointing at the front hall of the Tong Mansion: "Come on, people! Demolish this broken house for me, smash it into pieces! And that little bastard surnamed Tong, get over here and kowtow to me!"

  Lv Zhilong clasped his fist in response, then waved his hand at the soldiers under him: "Smash!"

  Like wolves and tigers, the Weisuo officers rushed towards the Tong Mansion like a tidal wave, destroying everything in their path. The Tong Mansion was filled with the sound of crashing and shattering, as Tong Zhen and Tong Yinglong watched helplessly as their home was reduced to rubble at a speed visible to the naked eye, from gold and jade to dust and powder.

  Tong Zhenxin was furious, pointing at Xu Peng and scolding: "Young Master, you're going too far! My son may have been wrong first, but you shouldn't be so arrogant, taking advantage of your power to bully others?"

  "Laozi has got the reason, why should he spare someone?" Xu Peng raised his eyes and saw Tong Yinglong in front of him, who was extremely frightened, and suddenly a bellyful of anger turned into thunder.

  Young Master Xiao had been pampered and spoiled by the Duke of Wei since childhood, and had never suffered such humiliation before.

  "You, that little turtle egg with the surname Tong, come here!" Xu Peng beckoned to Tong Yinglong with his finger.

  Tong Yinglong regretfully closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. This matter today is probably going to be difficult to end well.

  Trembling with fear, he walked up to Xu Pengju. Xu Pengju didn't say much, but his eyes gleamed with a fierce light as he took from Lü Zhilong's hand an iron four-section staff used for charging into battle arrays. With a sudden smile, he said to Tong Yinglong: "Don't say I'm bullying you, you hit my leg, and I'll hit yours back, one for one! If you're not satisfied, we can take this to the Ministry of Punishment, the Supreme Court, or even the Grand Secretariat to file a lawsuit!"

  Without waiting for the Tong family father and son to react, Xu Pengjie swung his iron club fiercely, hitting Tong Yinglong's calf. The pure iron-made four-section club, combined with Xu Pengjie's angry strike, produced a "crack" sound, and Tong Yinglong's calf bone bent at an unusual angle.

  Tong Yinglong let out a shrill cry of despair and then everything went black as he fainted.

  P.S. There is another update tonight.....

  Suddenly found that this book actually made it to the new book chart on the homepage, it's really an unexpected surprise, thank you everyone for the support, Monday is here, cast your recommendation votes, they'll expire if not used...