#29 - First time leading a team

It was the 12th of August in the fifteenth year of Tianji.

Ren'an Ward was a neighborhood located in the southern part of the capital, home to about a few hundred families, most of whom were business people engaged in small trades nearby.

Locust Flower Lane was the smallest street in Ren'an Ward, with few pedestrians on weekdays, except during March and April each year when some people would come to pick locust flowers, taking them home to steam with rice or steam and eat.

Apart from that, few people remembered this ordinary little lane.

At dusk, several people dressed as servants stopped in front of a house in Locust Flower Lane, each carrying several large food boxes, from which the aroma of food faintly wafted.

"Brother, we've been delivering food for almost ten days now. What do you think the person inside is doing?" one of them asked in a low voice.

"Don't ask what you shouldn't!"

Another person glanced at him, placed the food box in his hand on the ground, and knocked the copper ring on the door four times, three fast and one slow.

"..."

There was no movement from inside the door.

"Huh? Brother, what's going on?"

"I don't know."

The leader was also a little puzzled. After hesitating for a moment, he knocked again.

"Knock, knock, knock, knock..."

"..."

Still no response.

"Brother, something's not right... How about I climb over the wall and take a look?"

"Don't make trouble! We'll guard here. You hurry back and tell Steward Liu about the situation!"

"Yes, I'll go back right away..."

The person who spoke agreed and quickly ran away, while the others who remained in place looked at each other, each finding a free spot to sit down and rest.

Only the leader did not sit down. He looked at the courtyard door with a serious expression, his nostrils twitching slightly.

Hmm? Why does the wind seem to carry a bloody smell?

"..."

"What exactly happened?"

"Could it be that a dozen living people just disappeared like that?"

"What's the use of keeping you bunch of useless people?!"

"Find them for me immediately! I want to see their bodies if they're dead, and the people if they're alive..."

In the main hall of the Liu Mansion, an old man in purple robes with a golden fish bag was roaring at several people.

He was none other than Liu Yuanshan, the head of the Liu family and the current Prime Minister.

Having just returned from the palace after a busy day, he hadn't even had time to take off his official uniform when he heard such bad news. It was really difficult for Liu Yuanshan to speak calmly.

"..."

The people in front of him all lowered their heads and dared not say a word, except for an old man who looked like a steward, who stepped forward and bowed slightly, saying softly, "Master, don't ruin your health over such a trivial matter."

"In this servant's opinion, only the Hanging Mirror Division in the entire capital could make more than a dozen people disappear so silently."

"The Wei family must have learned the news from somewhere and silenced them."

"Alas..."

Liu Yuanshan sighed, his emotions also calming down.

Having been in the position of Prime Minister for so many years, he had seen many storms. He could get angry, but his mind was always very clear.

"Of course, I understand that this is Wei Xianzhi's doing, but I don't know who leaked the information."

"Master, this can be investigated, but I'm afraid it will be difficult to get results."

The old man said calmly, "Besides the Liu family, several people from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review also know about this matter. It's easy to investigate our own people, but them..."

"Are you saying that the informant might be from the Ministry of Justice or the Court of Judicial Review?"

"This servant is just offering a humble opinion."

"..."

Liu Yuanshan took a deep breath, "Since that's the case, then let it be."

"Anyway, this time it wouldn't have hurt the Wei family's foundation. Since it's already like this, it's not worth antagonizing the two departments over it."

"Master has foresight."

The old man patted him on the back and reminded him, "The eldest young master's side..."

"Call Zongliang here, I'll talk to him personally."

Liu Yuanshan shook his head, "Otherwise, I'm afraid he won't be able to swallow this anger."

"Yes, Master... Oh, right, there's one more thing."

"What is it?"

"A hero from the Mysterious Heaven Society wants to see you. He's been waiting all afternoon."

"The Mysterious Heaven Society? That group of hooligans..."

Let's see him, what if there's something important...?"

"... Let him in."

"..."

Just as Liu Yuanshan and Xiao Feng were about to have their first "historic" meeting, the atmosphere in a secret room of the Hanging Mirror Division was particularly grim.

A full one hundred and twenty officers in black Tiger Flood Dragon uniforms stood in six rows, each with a straight back, a bucket hat, and his left palm resting lightly on the hilt of his knife.

If it weren't for the slight differences in height and build, they would have been completely identical.

At the front of the crowd, Wei Changtian was also wearing a Tiger Flood Dragon uniform with a cold expression, with a chiliarch with a long beard standing beside him.

The secret room was so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping, it seemed that even breathing was absent.

Although it was very unscientific, Wei Changtian did feel an obvious killing intent.

Or rather, baleful aura would be more appropriate.

Looking at the dark mass of bucket hats opposite him, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart—

The Hanging Mirror Division is awesome!

In less than a day, one hundred and twenty experts above the seventh rank.

Plus a fifth-rank chiliarch.

It should be known that this force would be enough to rebel in some small counties, but tonight they would completely obey his command.

Tsk tsk, as expected, it's good to have a big tree to lean on!

"Young Master, it's already Hai Hour."

A reminder suddenly sounded in his ear.

Wei Changtian immediately gathered his mind and nodded very seriously: "Lord Huang, let's go."

"Yes!"

Chiliarch Huang responded, then looked up at the crowd and ordered loudly: "From now on, anyone who leaves the team without authorization will be executed!"

"Anyone who perverts the law for personal gain will be executed!"

"Anyone who outwardly agrees but inwardly opposes will be executed!"

"..."

He said several prohibitions in a row, and then waved his hand.

In just five breaths, the secret room that was just full was now only left with him and Wei Changtian.

"Young Master Wei, where are we going? You can tell me now."

"Okay."

Wei Changtian turned his head slightly and said the mission target for the first time.

"Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Zhang Mansion!"

"..."

A hint of disbelief flashed in Chiliarch Huang's eyes instantly, but it was quickly suppressed.

He took a deep breath and replied in a deep voice: "Yes!"

Half an incense stick later, a dozen various carriages drove out from various small doors of the Hanging Mirror Division, stopped near Zhang Mansion in the night, and then dispersed and sneaked to the surrounding walls.

The entire Zhang Mansion was quiet, completely unaware of all this.

"Young Master, our people have already guarded all the exits."

Chiliarch Huang looked up at the vermilion gate just a few feet ahead, as well as the large plaque engraved with "Zhang Mansion", and finally swallowed his saliva.

Although he didn't know what crime the Zhang family had committed, judging from this posture, it would definitely not be simple.

Looking at Wei Changtian, who was calm and even a little excited, he paused for a moment before handing over a bamboo tube: "Young Master, this is the signal flare. You only need to twist the bottom to shoot out the fire... Be careful not to hold it upside down."

Wei Changtian: "..."

At this time, he really wanted to ask, "Do I look like an idiot?", but in the end, he still held back, just glanced at Chiliarch Huang, and then took the bamboo tube and aimed it at the night sky.

"Bang!"

A huge ring of fire suddenly exploded in the night sky, and then the torches that lit up instantly surrounded Zhang Mansion.

After a brief silence, a commotion began to sound from inside the mansion, and the officers who flipped into the courtyard also completely pushed open the gate.

"Who, who are you people?"

"Do, do you know this is Zhang Mansion?"

Several gatekeepers knelt tremblingly under the cold light, looking at Wei Changtian, who was striding forward, with fear.

Wei Changtian didn't care about them at all, just gently waved forward.

"Swish! Swish, swish, swish!"

Hundreds of black figures holding torches and long knives with flower feathers instantly rushed into the inner mansion, accompanied by shouts that made countless people terrified—

"The Hanging Mirror Division is handling a case!!"

"Everyone come out! Kneel on the threshold!"

"Resistance will be regarded as treason!"

"Those who escape will be punished the same!!"