238 Capture (2)

Zhou Jia pondered for a moment before saying, “From what you said, it seems that they are investigating my family. Ding Man, is Tu Hui still following them?”

“Yes, my lord,” Ding Man said, bowing.

Zhou Jia said to Ding Man, “Go back and report the situation to the scribe and County Lieutenant Yu first. Then, gather the brothers. I’ll be right there.” Ding Man retreated. Zhou Jia returned to the house and told Li Yu what Xiao Shan had reported yesterday. “Yu’er, I think they’re targeting the county office. I can’t take the risk. I have to get someone to capture them. Be careful at home.”

Li Yu wondered if they were trying to use her to threaten Zhou Jia. She thought for a moment and said, “They might be here to make a move. They didn’t find out anything about the garrison. They might want to enter the county office to capture me and use me to threaten you. It looks like Great Qi might really want to attack Qingchuan. Since they’ve already entered the city, quickly send someone to capture them and interrogate them.”

Zhou Jia nodded and instructed, “Alright, it’s not convenient for you to be at home now. Be careful. I’ll get someone to capture them now.” Zhou Jia squeezed Li Yu’s hand gently and strode toward the front office.

Seeing that Zhou Jia had left, Li Yu returned to the house and took out the crossbow and arrow from her space. She tied the sleeve arrow and dagger to her arm and went to the front hall to eat as if nothing had happened.

Zhou Jia went to the escort room of the county magistrate. Seeing that the door of the escort room was still closed, he saw that the clerk and Ding Man had already gathered the constables and bailiffs. He said to them, “Send three more people to each city gate. Two of them will guard the courtyard at the back. The rest will wait for news from Tu Hui at home.”

“Yes, sir.” The bailiffs and constables split up to get ready.

Tu Hui followed the few men towards the city gate. When they reached the city gate, the crossed-eyed man quietly gestured toward the few bailiffs guarding the city. After Tu Hui followed them into the city, he saw them scatter and leave.

Tu Hui was stunned for a moment and followed the cross-eyed man who was walking toward the county office. He saw the cross-eyed man reach the alley beside the county office and slow down after entering the alley. He slowly sneaked along the back wall of the county office and hid at the corner to peek at the cross-eyed man. He thought to himself, “From the looks of it, he’s checking the terrain. Could it be that they want to kidnap Lord Zhou?”

Tu Hui turned around and ran towards Uncle Liu, who was standing at the door. He said to Uncle Liu, “Uncle Liu, quickly go to the county office and inform Lord Zhou that there are robbers checking on us outside the wall of the county office.” Uncle Liu quickly ran towards the county office. Tu Hui turned back and found that there was no trace of the cross-eyed man in the alley. Tu Hui hurriedly ran outside and checked along the wall. He did not find any traces of anyone climbing and gave chase along the alley.

Soon, Zhou Jia ran from the government office to the alley outside the county office with a few bailiffs. However, there was no trace of Tu Hui. Zhou Jia said to the bailiffs, “Chase after him and take a look.”

The bailiffs agreed and ran towards the end of the alley. Tu Hui chased after them until he saw the cross-eyed man and another bearded man standing in front of a steamed bun shop to buy steamed buns. Tu Hui took out two copper coins and walked towards the steamed bun shop. The two of them had already bought the steamed buns and were about to leave. When Tu Hui saw that the two of them were about to leave, he chased after them and shouted, “Friend, I heard that you’re selling fur. I wonder if it’s all sold out?”

The cross-eyed man said to the bearded man, “Cai, what do we do?”

Ah Cai did not look back. “Let’s go. Ignore him.” The two of them walked away quickly. Tu Hui was unwilling to let them go just like that. He hurriedly chased after them and pulled the cross-eyed man back. “Friend, I’m calling you!”

The cross-eyed man did not want to expose his identity. He turned to look at Tu Hui and smiled. “I’m sorry, my fur has been sold out. If you want to buy it, you can only wait for the next time.”

Tu Hui looked disappointed. “When can you come? I want to collect a few better furs. It would be better if it’s fox fur.”

“We don’t know when it’ll come. Go find someone else.” Ah Cai pulled the cross-eyed man away warily. Tu Hui grabbed the cross-eyed man in a hurry. Ah Cai pulled out his saber and stabbed at Tu Hui. Tu Hui hurriedly let go of the cross-eyed man and dodged but the saber stabbed into Tu Hui’s abdomen.

Zhou Jia had already caught up with them with a few bailiffs. Seeing Ah Cai draw his saber and stab at Tu Hui, he sped up and rushed towards them.

When the cross-eyed man and Ah Cai saw that their whereabouts had been exposed, they pushed Tu Hui away and fled. Ding Man and the bailiff drew their sabers and chased after them. When Zhou Jia saw that Tu Hui had been stabbed in the stomach, he hurriedly shouted to the passers-by who were standing at the side in shock, “Someone, send him to the medical hall.”

When the owner of the steamed bun shop saw that it was Zhou Jia, he hurriedly shouted, “Everyone, help. It’s the county magistrate.”

Cross-Eyed and Ah Cai ran while Ding Man led his men in pursuit. Pedestrians dodged. Ah Cai and Cross-Eyed entered an alley. Ding Man raised his saber and slashed at Ah Cai. Ah Cai kicked him in the wrist. Another bailiff stepped forward and stabbed Ah Cai in the thigh. Ding Man kicked Ah Cai’s injured leg. The saber in Ah Cai’s hand fell to the ground. Ding Man pounced on him and pressed him to the ground, tying him up with ropes.

Ah Cai struggled and shouted at the cross-eyed man, “Hurry up! Leave me alone. Hurry up and flee.” The cross-eyed man glanced at Ah Cai and gritted his teeth. He sprang up and kicked the Yamen officers blocking the front. Then he quickly rushed out of the alley. The three Yamen officers ran after him, but the cross-eyed man was already gone.

Ding Man and the bailiff pulled Ah Cai, who had his arms tied around his neck, out of the alley. When he saw the three bailiffs waiting at the entrance of the alley, he said, “Xiaoguang, did you chase them?”

Xiaoguang looked frustrated. “We were delayed. We chased them to the alley and they were gone.”

Ding Man patted Light and said, “Let’s go! His Excellency has already sent more people to the city gate. Let’s send this guy back to the government office and watch the city gate. I don’t believe they can still fly out of the city gate!”

Ding Man and the others returned to the government office with Ah Cai and said to Zhou Jia, “Sir, one of them escaped. Is Tu Hui seriously injured? Is he alright?”

Zhou Jia said thankfully, “Fortunately, they didn’t hit a vital spot. Get someone to bring him down to the inn outside the city to take a look. Did the others return to the inn?”

“Yes, sir.” Ding Man bowed and left, rushing towards the inn outside the city. When he returned to the inn, he saw that the door to the guest room next door was closed. He said to Xiao Shan behind his back, “I was sent by Lord Zhou. Did those hunters return to the inn?” Xiao Shan said in a low voice, “They haven’t returned since they went out this morning.”

Ding Man came out of the inn and said to his colleagues guarding the door, “Everyone, be careful. Those people are still in the city and have not returned to the inn.”

Zhou Jia went to the county magistrate’s jail and got someone to bring Ah Cai out of the cell and tie him to the torture rack. Ah Cai looked at Zhou Jia indignantly and said, “We’re just hunters on the mountain. If you don’t believe me, I have a household note in my pocket as evidence, we didn’t commit any crimes after we left the mountain. What right do you have to arrest us?”

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