Chapter 251: You Don't Need to Haggle, You're Dead Anyway

Shen Shuyan was straightforward, he already knew the Heavenly Wolf Guard could not tolerate him, so he told everything he could.

What he revealed made the Director of the Bandit Apprehension Division’s First Division feel chills crawl across his scalp.

His eyes couldn’t help glancing at Lan Wentao’s corpse, utterly unable to imagine this man was a Rong tribe spy.

Lan Jiao shifted uneasily in his seat, trying to appear calm, even deliberately chatting a few words with Yun Ruo beside him.

He wanted to test Yun Ruo’s reaction.

Yun Ruo remained outwardly calm.

Lan Jiao saw no sign of trouble there and felt somewhat reassured.

He calculated that he himself had not yet been exposed.

Finally, Shen Shuyan’s gaze swept and landed on Lan Jiao:

“Lan Jiao is also one of our Rong tribe infiltrators. Not long ago he even served as the Immortal God Sect’s branch leader in Changhe Prefectural Capital.”

The Director of the Bandit Apprehension Division’s First Division’s face changed abruptly, looking at Lan Jiao in disbelief.

“That’s right, Lan Wentao recently had people deal with Wen Kongxuan, all to create a chance to promote his own people.”

“Then by using this case to smear Sun Biao and force him to resign, he could install Lan Jiao into the Public Security Division.”

“Unfortunately, all his plans failed, and even He Dongfeng was exposed because of it.”

Shen Shuyan spoke matter-of-factly, as if recounting something that had nothing to do with him.

Wen Kongxuan’s face grew gloomy as he stared hard at Lan Jiao.

Dai Huaijin’s death had been caused by these people.

Mingxin looked a little weak at this moment, and he gave Shen Shuyan a glance:

“Shen Shuyan, the Heavenly Wolf Guard Commander will not let you go. If he wants you dead, there’s no way to escape.”

Shen Shuyan chuckled coldly:

“Take care of yourself first, Master Mingxin.”

“He is slandering me!”

Lan Jiao stood and looked at Yang Ling, his gaze passing over Lu Yunchen, Yun Ruo, and the Director of the Bandit Apprehension Division’s First Division, finally settling on Eunuch Xu with a twisted expression.

Without another word, Yun Ruo rose and a few maneuvers rendered Lan Jiao unable to act. Then she knelt before the hall as well.

“We currently have very sufficient evidence. The things Lan Wentao did left traces, and he was sheltering wanted men from the Black List.”

Yang Ling smiled, “Lan Jiao, it’s useless to deny it. I already know what you and Lan Yue discussed in secret within the prefectural office.”

“What!?”

Shock flashed in Lan Jiao and Lan Yue’s eyes.

Only then did they finally realize they were beyond saving!

“You knew from the beginning…”

Lan Yue’s voice was hoarse.

“Yeah. I thought your father was of the Silver Generation, but it turned out Master Mingxin was. I didn’t expect that, and I nearly suffered a huge loss because of it.”

Yang Ling nodded lightly, admitting he had overlooked this point.

Lu Yunchen pouted inwardly. Not only had Yang Ling not expected it, he hadn’t either—encountering an Upper Sixth-Rank was beyond his expectation.

“Too bad. If it weren’t for that eunuch, you all would’ve died this time…”

Lan Yue muttered, his gaze fixed on Xu Wuji, eyes like they could devour him.

Xu Wuji’s face sank.

“Bold!”

Yang Ling strode to the front of the hall and with several slaps shattered a tooth in Lan Yue’s mouth, leaving him covered in blood and unable to speak.

A faint smile appeared on Xu Wuji’s face as he inclined his head slightly.

Yang Ling looked to the Garrison Troops Leader Ning: “You’re the commander of the garrison troops next to Lan Wentao. What did you know?”

Ning the commander gave a bitter smile and knelt, saying:

“Sir, I too am guilty. I knew Lan Wentao sheltered several wanted men from the Black List, but I did not know he was a Rong tribe spy…”

“Hm, the fact you didn’t choose to side with Lan Wentao at that time shows you truly didn’t know he was a Rong tribe infiltrator.”

Yang Ling said calmly, “But you knew he sheltered Black List fugitives and didn’t report it to the Ironclad Department. You knowingly broke the law. You may be spared the death penalty, but you won’t escape a criminal sentence.”

Ning the commander breathed a sigh of relief—at least a criminal sentence meant his family might be safe.

He knelt and accepted punishment, offering no protest.

“Eunuch Xu, I am the Director of the First Division of the Prefectural Ironclad Department in Yunwen Provincial Capital.”

Lan Jinshui suddenly looked at Xu Wuji, flattering:

“This time I delayed matters and feigned cooperation with Lan Wentao as a stalling tactic.”

“Don’t you know Ironclad Department regulations? I actually know them better than you. You don’t need to plead; you’re dead anyway.”

Xu Wuji smiled.

Lan Jinshui’s face went ashen, a trace of despair appearing in his eyes.

He wanted to beg Lu Yunchen or Yang Ling for mercy, but all he received were pairs of indifferent eyes.

He slumped weakly to the ground, drained of strength.

The case progressed smoothly; all kinds of evidence—witness testimony and physical proof—were plentiful.

Yang Ling quickly finished writing the case dossier and pressed his thumbprint and signature on it.

Next were Lu Yunchen, Yun Ruo, and Wen Kongxuan.

“Those four, please do the same.”

Yang Ling signaled the Director of the Bandit Apprehension Division’s First Division and the three Directors from the Inspection Department.

All four looked stunned, then suddenly overjoyed, and promptly stepped forward to press their thumbprints and sign.

Lin Yan’s hands shook as he pressed his thumbprint.

This was a magnificent contribution.

When he returned to his seat and looked at the young face occupying the main position, he had a hard time matching it with the miner who had once come begging for a constable’s position.

“Director Yang truly is a rare talent…”

Lin Yan could only sigh with admiration.

Xu Wuji reminded: “Director Yang, also compile a detailed list of everyone involved in the case so we can distribute rewards according to merit.”

Yang Ling immediately produced a fresh official sheet and wrote down name after name.

“Qin Mo, Chen Guoqing, Wu Xiaochen, Chen Xu, Li Tianye, Wang Xudong, Liang Yue, Lin Qin, Wang Shichang…”

These directors’ names didn’t need special mention; the document listed the people who had done the work, and some who were not part of the Ironclad Department.

Everyone thought one sheet would be enough.

Instead, Yang Ling piled sheet after sheet in front of him, each filled with dense names.

Names like Wei Ran and Cao Yifei were included as well.

This time, whether they directly participated in the case or not, they were listed.

Included were the constables from the Changhe Prefectural Capital Ironclad Department,

the Green Mountain City Ironclad Department constables,

and the Tingjiang City Ironclad Department constables.

For some names he added detailed notes.

For example, he noted Qin Mo’s slaying of the catfish, saving a Tingjiang City fisherman’s life and dispelling rumors.

They waited a full hour before receiving the thick roster.

Lu Yunchen intended to say something but ended only with a wry smile and silence.

Xu Wuji narrowed his eyes slightly and could not help but incline his head a bit.

At that time, two more people were escorted into the hall.

One was Wu Chuankong.

The other was the steward from Wang Shichang’s household.

They quickly confessed.

Liang Yue and Lin Qin were astonished.

Wang Shichang felt secretly terrified, but he breathed easier when Director Yang didn’t intend to implicate him further.

“Director Yang, I will inform the Capital to expedite handling of this case. I believe your Department Head there knows how to proceed.”

“In as little as half a month, or at most a month, the case can be completely closed, and rewards distributed according to merit.”

Xu Wuji said with a light smile.