Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 523 The poster wants to come to my house as a guest
Ningzhou City.

The Lian family.

The Lian family home is now shrouded in gloom and despair.

Even in broad daylight, everyone kept their doors tightly shut, looking tense and anxious.

Everyone could sense that something terrible was about to happen to the Lian family!

Even passersby couldn't help but sigh when they saw it.
"How did the Lian family fall to this state? Magistrate Lian was a good man, but it's a pity that good people don't live long."

"Hmph! Now that he's an official in the Great Qian Dynasty, he still thinks he can be a good one. No wonder the Tongpan has suffered such a calamity."

"Now that things have come to this, I don't know what the final fate of the Lian family will be, or whether they can even survive these next few days. Sigh..."

……

The people looked on with sympathy, but they were clearly helpless and could only shake their heads and sigh.

The Lian family was no small household in Ningzhou City.

Lian Wen, the head of the Lian family, was the Tongpan (assistant magistrate) of Ningzhou, making him an important local official.

But here's the problem.

The role of the Tongpan (assistant prefect) was to check and supervise the officials of the prefecture, report their illegal activities, and prevent the prefecture from becoming too powerful and beyond the control of the imperial court.

It is precisely this function that makes the position of Tongpan (assistant prefect) easy to offend people.

If one were an ordinary prefect, one would either collude with local officials or inevitably face exclusion; there was no other way out.

Even if one does not intend to go along with the corrupt practices, but only wants to turn a blind eye, one will inevitably be suspected by others and suffer misfortune.

Lian Wentong, the head of the Lian family, was an upright and honest man, which made him stand out in the officialdom of the Great Qian Dynasty and inevitably offended all the important officials in Ningzhou.

He first reported that the Six Doors of Ningzhou forced martial artists to become bandits, then reported that the Assistant Magistrate of Ningzhou forced respectable women into prostitution, and then reported that the Prefect of Ningzhou abused his power for personal gain.

This made almost everyone in Ningzhou's officialdom wish for Tong Lianpan to die as soon as possible.

In other states, it wouldn't be so easy to get a judge to die early.

But Ningzhou is different.

Located on the border of the Great Qian Dynasty, this place borders the Western Desert to the west and the Black Dragon Empire to the north, making it a turbulent region.

Ningzhou has been known for its fierce and valiant people since ancient times, and it is famous for its warhorses and chivalrous heroes.

Anyone who commits murder or other crimes here can simply ride a horse either west into the Western Desert or north into the Black Dragon Empire to escape punishment under the law.

Similarly, bandits from the Western Desert and outlaws from the Black Dragon Empire frequently entered Ningzhou.

If an enemy army were to enter, the garrison commander of Ningzhou would naturally lead his troops to respond.

However, it is impossible to deploy a large army to deal with small groups of bandits, and these bandits are often exceptionally fierce, leaving local security forces struggling to cope.

If it were during a period of great prosperity in the Great Qian Dynasty, the situation could be stabilized.

However, the Great Qian Dynasty is now in decline, and the national treasury is so tight that even the Imperial Guard has been reduced. The local governments have to find their own ways to raise money to maintain order.

Once local authorities are allowed to raise funds on their own, corruption immediately erupts like a floodgate being opened, becoming uncontrollable. Conversely, the real problems that need to be solved are covered up by officials without prior agreement.

Therefore, many civil officials in various counties of Ningzhou died violently in office, and even officials in the prefecture government died at the hands of thieves.

Everyone knows there's something fishy about this.

No matter how strong a thief is, there is absolutely no reason why he could break through the heavy blockade to harass the state government and kill state officials.

It's hard to believe that no one was using someone else to do the dirty work.

Unfortunately, these thieves would flee abroad after killing people, making them impossible to catch, and many cases became unsolved mysteries.

The imperial court was furious and sent capable officials to rectify the situation.

The efforts to improve Ningzhou had just begun, but unfortunately, the minister was implicated in the internal power struggles within the court and was demoted and transferred, causing the efforts to improve Ningzhou to be in vain and the state of Ningzhou to return to its original state.

Now, the damage is so deep that it's impossible to reverse; it's completely rotten from the very roots.

But in this world, there are always people who don't believe in superstition.

This connection is one.

He had only been in office for a year when he couldn't contain his desire to turn things around.

However, three days ago, eighteen copper nails were nailed into the gate of the Tongpan family's house, forming the character "死" (death).

Everyone knows that this is the mark of "Happy Marquis," the notorious bandit of Ningzhou.

This Happy Marquis was the leader of a band of thieves. He was swift as the wind, appearing and disappearing like a ghost. He had killed countless people and was feared by all.

No matter which family is marked, they will only face the fate of being slaughtered in three days!
Now that this Happy Marquis has set his sights on the Tonglian Pan family, it naturally infuriates the Tonglian Pan.

These days, Tongpan has been seeking help from various government offices throughout Ningzhou City, receiving various verbal promises but no concrete actions.

Even the yamen runners and constables were not sent to protect the Lian family.

Now everyone knows that the Lian family won't make it through the night.

Even in the homes of the families, there was a chorus of wails.

"Master, let's escape the city before it gets dark!"

"If we're too late, those thieves will probably come knocking on our door."

"We can't count on those officials anymore. They're clearly in cahoots with those bandits; they just want to harm you, sir!"

The lady of the Lian family cried her heart out.

Lian Wentong, however, put on his official robes and sat upright in a grand chair.

His face was solemn as he rebuked:
"What do you know, you woman?"

"I am deeply grateful for the Emperor's favor; how could I possibly escape so easily?"

"Even if I die today, I will die with honor!"

"Only through my death can the imperial court take this seriously, can the world be awakened, and can those corrupt officials realize that not everyone in this world is afraid of death!"

Lian Wenyi's words are righteous and his language is strict.

But he also knew in his heart that running away? There was no way to escape.

Those corrupt officials were more than happy for him to escape the city and die on the way.

But since he can't escape, he'll die in Ningzhou City and make a big scene!
Madam Lian, thinking she couldn't persuade Magistrate Lian, grabbed her chubby-faced son and wept, saying:

"Sir, if you don't think about yourself or me, at least think about your son!"

"He's only six years old, he doesn't understand anything, how can you bear to watch him die with him?"

When Lianpan saw his son, his heart couldn't help but tremble.

But his heart was filled with helplessness and despair.

He knew who wanted him dead, and he knew when he would die.

But he simply couldn't find a way to solve it.

Perhaps it was those enemies who wanted him to experience despair and to intimidate all those like him.

In the end, he could only close his eyes and grit his teeth, saying:
"Take out the piece of cloth that the court bestowed upon me last time and make a new outfit for my son."

"He hasn't worn new clothes for three whole years, tonight he'll have something new to wear..."

Upon hearing this, Madam Lian wept even more bitterly.

Her son, who was in her arms, started crying when he heard his mother crying.

The judge, fed up with the nagging, couldn't help but want to scold him.

But when he opened his mouth, only a mournful cry came out.

The family of three hugged each other and cried so hard that their cries could be heard outside their home.

Just then, the door was pushed open.

An old man was leaning on a cane with one hand, while carrying a large slab of mutton in the other.

"Daughter-in-law, quick! Come and stew this mutton!"

"I'll go buy some more groceries and cook a nice meal tonight!"

The old man was none other than the Lian family patriarch.

When Tongpan saw his father buy so much mutton, his first instinct was to scold him.

After all, he was an honest and upright official, and his family was poor; they could hardly afford to eat meat more than a few times a year.

Now that my father has bought so much meat, it has almost exhausted all the family's money.

But before he could finish speaking, the judge sighed:

"Dad's right, there's no point in keeping the money. Let's have a good meal tonight, this is probably the last one..."

After saying that, Lian Pan wiped away his tears with his sleeve again.

Upon seeing this, Madam Lian cried even more bitterly.

But who knows.

Upon hearing this, Old Master Lian suddenly slammed his cane down hard on the back of the Lianpan Prefect. The Lianpan Prefect, wincing in pain, exclaimed in alarm:

"Father, what are you doing?"

Although he was a sub-prefect, he always valued filial piety. Even when his father beat him, he dared not complain, let alone resist.

Even the old man scolded:

"You spineless coward! What do you mean by 'last meal'?"

"I told you to prepare a good feast; I'm entertaining distinguished guests tonight!"

Upon hearing this, the judge and his wife exchanged a glance, and then the couple embraced and wept bitterly.

The old man must have gone mad.

Tonight, their own family is about to be wiped out, and this old man is still thinking about entertaining some distinguished guests.
Now that the Lian family has been marked by the Marquis of Kuaihuo, everyone avoids them like the plague. Who would want to visit them?
"Dad, stop making a fuss."

"Your son is unfilial and cannot let you enjoy your old age in peace."

"In the next life, your son will be your slave!"

As Lian Pan spoke, he knelt down and kowtowed to his elderly father.

Seeing this, even the old man raised his cane to strike again.

This time, even Madam Lian couldn't bear to watch any longer and hurriedly stopped Old Master Lian from pleading:
"Father-in-law, please stop hitting him!"

When the old man saw his daughter-in-law blocking his way, he finally put down his cane.

Then, with a look of exasperation, he berated the judge:

"I'm so angry at you, you good-for-nothing!"

"You've already brought trouble to my family, and now that I've finally managed to get help, you're acting like you're going to die."

"How could I have given birth to such a useless son like you!"

Upon hearing this, the judge and his wife stopped crying.

Then Judge Tong looked at Old Master Lian with a puzzled expression:
"Father, what reinforcements?"

His heart was filled with suspicion.

My father used to be an official, but he was an official in the previous dynasty.

Since the change of dynasties, his family's connections have been completely severed, and the old man has not left his home for decades.

Where else could he possibly get any reinforcements?
Old Master Lian replied:

Have you ever heard of the "Western Desert Green Robe Tower"?

The judge was taken aback upon hearing this.

But his professional skills were still there, and he quickly recalled them.

Ningzhou is adjacent to the Western Desert, so it is naturally able to obtain some intelligence about major events in the Western Desert.

Now, a force called Qingyi Tower has emerged in the Western Desert and has swept across the region in a short period of time, becoming the undisputed overlord of the Western Desert.

Such power naturally attracted the attention of the Ningzhou government, and the Tongpan magistrate was also aware of it.

Under the puzzled gaze of the judge, Old Master Lian said smugly:

"The owner of Qingyi Tower will be passing through Ningzhou City tonight."

"And I went to great lengths to invite him to my home as a guest."

"With him here, my family is safe and sound!"

Upon hearing this, the judge and his wife exchanged another glance and shook their heads helplessly.

My own father has either lost his mind or been scammed.

How could the leader of Qingyi Tower, a powerful figure from the Western Desert, possibly come to Daqian?

Even if they did come to Daqian, how could they possibly visit my home?

The Lian family used to live in the interior and had absolutely no connection with Ximo.

The judge anxiously said:

"Father, it must be those corrupt officials who are playing a trick on you. Don't fall for it!"

He had heard that even the powerful and influential Demon Slayer King of the Black Dragon Dynasty had suffered a great loss at the hands of the Green Robe Tower Master.

How could an ordinary person possibly invite the owner of the Green Robe Pavilion?
This must be a wicked trick by those bad people!
The old man became anxious upon hearing this:

"Fuck your mother's fart!"

"I can't explain this to an idiot like you. Just do what I tell you to do!"

"Otherwise, I'll definitely beat you to death today, you blind bastard!"

Even the old man was furious and made a move to hit someone in anger.

The judge had no choice but to let his wife do as he was told.

He wasn't afraid of being beaten to death by his grandfather, but rather that his grandfather would be angered to death.

So the Lian family reopened their door and got busy.

Mrs. Lian started cooking at home, Mr. Lian continued to go to the market to buy ingredients, and Judge Lian and his son began to decorate the house with lanterns and decorations.

Seeing the Lian family hosting such a banquet for their guests only aroused the surprise of the surrounding people.

They couldn't help but stop and linger, speculating amongst themselves.

But no one dared to step forward and ask.

Because someone has already stepped forward to ask questions:

"Court Judge, what are you doing?"

"The Marquis of Pleasure is coming to your house tonight. You're not planning to treat him to a good meal and drinks, hoping he'll let you off the hook, are you?"

The person asking the questions was the head constable of the government office.

He shouldn't have said those things, especially not in the street.

But the fact that he dared to say it so openly proves that he can act with impunity in Ningzhou.

Upon hearing these words, the judge was filled with sorrow.

Even a lowly constable is so arrogant; Ningzhou is truly rotten to the core.

But the old man walked out of the door and said in a loud voice:
"You scoundrels, listen to me clearly!"

"If that 'Happy Marquis' dares to come to my Lian family tonight, he'll be in deep trouble!"

"No, that scoundrel can't even get into my house!"

Upon hearing this, the head constable and the constables around him exchanged glances and then burst into laughter.

They laughed as they turned and left.

They couldn't even be bothered to argue with a dying old man.

As the sun set, the surrounding people dispersed, not daring to linger.

it's getting dark.

The Happy Marquis is coming soon.

The people were terrified of being caught in the crossfire.

The area in front of the Lian family's gate had become unusually quiet and deserted.

Old Master Lian and all the members of the Lian family were still standing at the gate, waiting for their distinguished guests to arrive.

The judge and his wife looked utterly hopeless.

They naturally didn't believe that the owner of the Green Robe Pavilion could come.

It is especially ridiculous for them to waste their time on someone who doesn't even exist, especially in the final moments of their lives.

"Father, let's go back."

"We'll finish the meal as a family so we can get ready to hit the road."

The judge said sadly.

Mrs. Lian hugged her son and cried again.

Even the old man was furious and was about to start yelling.

at this time.

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves could be heard from afar on the street.

Immediately afterwards, two riders appeared from the side of the street.

They looked travel-worn, clearly having come from a long journey.

Especially since they all carried weapons, they were clearly martial artists!
(End of this chapter)