Gu Zhan frowned and said, "What is the specific situation?"
Zuo Yang cupped his hands and said: "It's always been normal over there in Youyang County. There are only a few second- and third-rate forces there. Although they often clash with our Jin Yiwei, both sides are relatively restrained.
Those Jianghu forces didn't dare to kill anyone. We at Jinyiwei just caught some troublemakers and fined them for a few days and locked them up for a few days. But just two nights ago, a fire suddenly broke out.
It was the Youyang County government office that rushed to put out the fire and discovered that all the people in the 100-household office were killed. The fire was set after the killings. Even the concierge and groom were not spared. There were more than 200 people in total, and no one survived! "
"How brave!"
Mo Beiyan suddenly slammed the table and said, "I guessed that these Jianghu forces would not be willing to let our Jin Yiwei cannibalize them step by step. I didn't expect that they would dare to be so cruel and kill more than two hundred people!"
Mo Beiyan took a deep breath and said: "Brother Gu, I'm afraid this is the counterattack of those Jianghu forces against us. Youyang County is the first one. If this is not handled well, I'm afraid those forces in other places will follow suit. Imitation will directly make hundreds of households everywhere unable to stay!"
Gu Zhan's face was cold and he said: "You are so decisive. Before we took the next step, they took the initiative."
Mo Beiyan said in a deep voice: "This is a warning and a threat to us. It should be that we have pushed them too hard during this period. Youyang County seems to be adjacent to the Lingxi Sword Sect, right?"
Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "You mean the Lingxi Sword Sect made a move?"
Mo Beiyan shook his head and said: "It's not necessarily the Lingxi Sword Sect that takes action. Their target is too big. Moreover, during this period, we are mainly targeting second- and third-rate forces. Those first-rate forces should not be forced to this point. , However, Lingxi Sword Sect is the overlord in that area, and if we have to deal with this matter, we may not be able to bypass Lingxi Sword Sect!"
"Invincibility starts with sacrificing the ancestor"
A cold light flashed in Gu Zhan's eyes, and he said in a deep voice: "The Lingxi Sword Sect had better have nothing to do with this matter, otherwise, I don't mind starting with the Lingxi Sword Sect in advance!"
After all,
Gu Zhan stood up and said, "Zuo Yang, get ready now. We will leave for Youyang County tonight."
"Yes." Zuo Yang handed over and left.
"Brother Gu," Mo Beiyan asked hurriedly, "do you want me to go with you?"
"No need," Gu Zhan waved his hand and said, "One of you and I must be in charge of Pingyang City to coordinate the overall situation. I can just go to Youyang County."
Mo Beiyan nodded and said: "However, this may be a bit troublesome to investigate. Since the other party killed everyone and set fire to the house, they just don't want to leave traces, and the local forces must also be unanimous about Jin Yiwei. xenophobic."
Gu Zhan said slowly: "If they dare to be unanimously xenophobic, then I will kill them all together!"
…
After spring, Pingyang gradually begins to warm up, and occasionally there will be one or two sunny days.
After several days of galloping,
Gu Zhan came to Youyang County with a group of lightly dressed Jin Yiwei.
Youyang County is quite far away from Pingyang City. It is already a border area of Pingyang Prefecture and borders several other two counties.
In this area, the largest martial arts force is the Lingxi Sword Sect on Lingxi Mountain. It spans three counties and is the leading martial arts sect in this area. The rest are some second- and third-rate aristocratic family gangs. It is natural to establish a sect. No, if you dare to establish a sect in this area, you will be in trouble with the Lingxi Sword Sect.
Gu Zhan had already learned about the situation in Youyang County when he came. This place is rich in elixirs, and basically all the major forces are involved in the elixir business. It is also a major weapons production county, because the iron ore produced in Youyang County is of good quality. , the weapons produced are better than those of the same price range, and they have always been widely sought after, with demand exceeding supply. Several local aristocratic families have also become rich through this business.
It's just that it's quite speechless to say,
A large county that is rich in elixirs and weapons often fails to collect taxes. It was not until last month that the Jin Yiwei forced all the major forces to work together to collect 20,000 taels of tax money.
It was only 20,000 taels of silver, which was not even enough for the salary of a hundred households. This was all forced out by the Jin Yiwei who blocked the door every day.
The Baihu Office in Youyang County has 235 people on staff. Baihu is a middle-class innate warrior who came out of Shuixie Villa, and his strength is not weak.
…
When Gu Zhan came to Youyang County, the local magistrate and a group of county government officials came to the city gate early to wait.
Most of this intention is really sincere.
In the past, this county government was in charge of a county in name, but in fact it had no effect at all. On the contrary, it was bullied by local forces. The dignified county magistrate was often called back and forth.
However, since Jinyiwei was rebuilt,
After the establishment of the Hundred Household Office in Youyang County, the county government benefited and its status rose steadily. Especially when the guards of the Hundred Household Office implemented ruffian-style law enforcement, the local gangsters had a headache, and there were many more. Many people came to the county government to plead for mercy, but they gave the county government a sigh of relief.
The magistrate of Youyang County was a short, fat, middle-aged man. He ran in front of Gu Zhan's horse from a distance and came to help Gu Zhan, panting, nodding and bending like a dog.
Gu Zhan looked at the fat county magistrate who was so weak that he had difficulty walking, waved his hand and said, "Go to the scene!"
"Okay, okay," the fat county magistrate hurriedly greeted the officials: "Quick, quick, follow Mr. Gu into the city and go to the scene."
Looking at the back of Gu Zhan riding into the city,
The fat county magistrate sat on the carriage and sighed: "What a brave and extraordinary young man! He is a rare young talent in the world!"
A boy next to him said softly: "Sir, Gu Qianhu has already entered the city. I can't hear him. If you want to flatter me, you have to go to the city first."
"You know shit," the fat county magistrate tutted, "Don't flatter others before and after others. You have to flatter yourself so much that you believe it. Only then can others believe that you are telling the truth."
"Sir... brilliant!"
…
Youyang County Hundred Household Office.
Gu Zhan stood at the door, looking at the dark and dilapidated manor in front of him, his face sinking.
A fire burns until only some gray carbon remains,
A group of royal guards searched the manor for a long time, but found no useful clues. They immediately turned to the county government morgue to check the bodies.
Many of the corpses were burnt;
However, the people from the county government arrived in time and snatched some intact bodies.
Soon, Zuo Yang came to the door, cupped his hands and said: "Sir, they are all killed in one blow. This is not something that three or five masters can do. There must be at least thirty innate warriors. Otherwise, it cannot be done so simply." .”
Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Are there any other clues?"
Zuo Yang shook his head and said: "The fire burned it so cleanly that it is difficult to find other clues."
"Gu...Master Gu,"
The fat county magistrate who had been following Gu Zhan suddenly said: "Xiaguan, Xiaguan knows something. I wonder if it will help you solve the case?"
