In an instant, all eyes turned to the source of the sound.

A young man exuding an imposing aura rode in on a horse. Though not clad in battle armor, his black military uniform and sharp, authoritative eyes made everyone present feel a suffocating pressure. It seemed as if with a single move, a torrential killing intent would be released to slaughter everything in its path.

"General." Wei Quan turned and bowed respectfully.

"General, I am the County Governor of Linguan City. Your soldiers have been acting recklessly. I implore you to control them," the County Governor said angrily, struggling to lift his head. It seemed he believed that this general, Zhao Feng, could save him.

"Men," Zhao Feng commanded with a raise of his hand.

"Your orders, my Lord," the trusted aides replied, looking at Zhao Feng expectantly.

"Search the Government Office. Find the ledger for the annual salary distributions," Zhao Feng said in a heavy voice.

"Understood."

Zhang Ming immediately accepted the command, and the trusted aides charged into the Government Office.

"What do you think you're doing?" the County Governor panicked and yelled at Zhao Feng. "Even if you're a general, you can't be so presumptuous! The Government Office is not under military jurisdiction. How dare you search it at will?"

SMACK!

Zhang Ming slapped the County Governor so hard across the face that it knocked out his front teeth.

"Do not be insolent to the General," Zhang Ming rebuked coldly.

"You... you..." the County Governor sputtered, his mouth full of blood as he stared in horror.

Zhao Feng slowly dismounted and walked over to the County Governor. "I will give you one more chance. Did you or did you not embezzle Wei Quan's annual salary?"

"Utter... utter nonsense," the County Governor stammered, still in denial until the bitter end. "I... I will report this to the Military Judge! I will report this!"

Zhao Feng turned to Wei Quan. "Was he the one who humiliated your sister and injured Mr. Wei's entire family back then?"

Wei Quan stepped forward, glaring at the County Governor with gritted teeth. "He was an accomplice. The main culprit was the young master of the county's Bai Family, who is now the Bai Family Head."

"Then what are you waiting for?" Zhao Feng's brow furrowed. "In the past, no one gave you justice. Today, I will."

"Han Chenyan!" Zhao Feng shouted.

"Your subordinate is here," Han Chenyan replied, stepping forward at once.

"Arrest the Bai Family Head and his entire household. Spare no one, not even the servants. Today, I will hold a retrial for that old rape case right here," Zhao Feng commanded coldly.

"Understood." Han Chenyan immediately took his leave, leading his trusted aides toward the Bai Family's residence.

Seeing this display, the surrounding crowd of townspeople grew larger and larger, nearly surrounding the entire Government Office.

"This general looks incredibly formidable."

"The Wei Family's suffering is finally over."

"He's going to see that justice is done for the Wei family."

"That's right."

"That general is so young! Why does he have so many trusted aides?"

"You fool. Didn't you just hear his surname is Zhao?"

"General Zhao? Could he be the Zhao Feng who beheaded Lian Po, killed Pang Xuan, and defeated Wei Wuji?"

"Besides General Zhao Feng, what other war general in Qin is so young yet protected by so many trusted aides?"

"He's a legendary figure! I can't believe I'm seeing him in person today."

"He's Qin's bravest and most skilled general. General Zhao Feng's contributions to the conquest of the Zhao state were indispensable. He must be on his way back to Xianyang to report to the court and receive the King's generous rewards."

"With General Zhao here to see justice done for the Wei Family, the Bai Family and the County Governor won't be able to cover this up anymore."

"I never imagined Wei Quan would have such an opportunity, to be serving under General Zhao. That must be why the General himself has come to administer justice."

The surrounding townspeople's discussion, though casual, did not go unheard.

Upon hearing the name "Zhao Feng," the government officials and the County Governor being held by the trusted aides all went pale with terror.

"Zhao... Zhao Feng?"

"He is Zhao Feng?"

"How is this possible?"

The County Governor's face turned deathly white. He was just a minor County Governor, a rank equivalent to a Capital Commandant in the military. Before him stood Zhao Feng, a rising war general of Qin whose prestige rivaled that of the three Senior Generals. To a man like Zhao Feng, a petty County Governor was nothing more than an ant.

"General Zhao, I was wrong," the County Governor finally broke down, pleading in terror. "I am willing to confess everything. Please spare me, General..."

Faced with Zhao Feng, he knew the Bai Family could no longer protect him. He didn't dare remain silent any longer.

"So now you're willing to confess?" Zhao Feng shot him a look. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zhang Ming and his men carrying numerous ledgers out of the Government Office.

"General," Zhang Ming said, stepping forward and bowing. "We've brought out all the ledgers related to annual salaries from the office. The County Magistrate and the Inspector tried to flee, but my men caught them."

Behind him, a few other trusted aides held two men in official robes captive.

"Where are Wei Quan's annual salary records?" Zhao Feng asked, his gaze skipping past the County Governor to land on the County Magistrate responsible for the salary disbursements.

"There... over there," the County Magistrate pointed fearfully at a stacked ledger.

Zhang Ming immediately walked over, picked up the ledger, and examined it. His brow furrowed instantly.

"General," Zhang Ming reported respectfully. "This is General Wei's annual salary record from two years ago."

"How much was paid out?" Zhao Feng asked.

Zhang Ming looked closely at the distribution record again, his frown deepening. "Two years ago, General Wei was a Junhou. Ninety percent of his salary was skimmed off; only ten percent was distributed."

Hearing this, Wei Quan could no longer contain his rage. He rushed forward and slapped the County Governor several times.

"You bastard!" he roared. "You stole ninety percent of my salary! Do you have any idea that my entire family depends on that salary to survive?"

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