The 18th year of the Da Yong reign: The beginning of the story involves rescuing revolutionaries.

"Let's go to the yamen, how much?" Wang Zhi looked at the young driver, who was bare-armed with slightly bulging muscles, indicating he was quite strong.

"I'll take fifteen coins from you," the driver said with a smile.

"Alright, let's go." Wang Zhi nodded slightly and got into the car one after the other with Wang Lingguan.

In those days, the imperial court reformed the system, and the government office in Zhaoyang City was called the Inspectorate, but the common people still preferred to call it the Yamen (government office).

Wang Zhi didn't say a word the whole way, just quietly watching the scenery rushing past on both sides of the car. The rubber wheels made a clattering sound as they rolled over the bluestone road.

A gourd hangs at the entrance of the old pharmacy, spinning in the wind and carrying a hint of the bitterness of coffee.

Several men and women dressed in Western-style clothing sat under the dark green awning.

Zhaoyang City is much more bustling than the small Liuzhou County.

Different scenes kept flashing past Wang Zhi's eyes, and his thoughts drifted. It seemed that ever since Wang Lingguan was abducted by human traffickers into the Daxing Gang, his gang leader had probably been watching her.

But as long as Wu Yibo is alive, those people don't dare to take the girl's life themselves.

Whether it was human traffickers or being sold to the Daxing Gang, it was all an accident.

Those people probably felt quite at ease after learning about the notorious reputation of the Daxing Gang. It was only when Wang Zhi led Wang Lingguan south by boat and entered Zhaoyang City that they were completely baffled.

So they found the bandits of Shibawu and had them hijack the ship, just like any other accident that would happen.

The bandit leader, a fairly powerful figure, was dead, something they probably hadn't anticipated. With their own men not intervening, where could they possibly find the time to create an accident in their haste?

In the original story, they also failed, and Wang Lingguan escaped back to Lidu on her own.

Yes, now that the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Wuyi has gone missing, besides the person who harmed her, there is someone even more anxious, and that is her third brother who traveled to Zhaoyang by train with Wang Lingguan.

The girl disappeared after she came out with him. He didn't dare tell his master, but he must have been as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, using all the resources he could to find her.

Five days have passed, and Third Brother's men have still not been able to find Liuzhou County by following the slightest clue. That human trafficker nicknamed Aunt Tao is really something else.

However, Zhaoyang City likely still has its own spies and informants.

Ring ring—

The driver rings a bell.

"Sir, we've arrived at the yamen." The driver put down the handrail, turned around, and smiled.

Wang Zhi snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the two stone lions, each taller than a person, standing upright in front of the yamen gate, as well as the two officials standing straight. They were in good spirits, with official swords at their waists and muskets on their shoulders, made in the Great Yong Dynasty, not foreign guns.

The guns and cannons of the Western countries are divided into six levels from S to E, and Wang Zhi is familiar with most of them.

"Fifteen coins, count them." Wang Zhi took out a handful of copper coins from his pocket.

"Exactly fifteen coins, that's right." The driver weighed it in his hand, smiled, pulled the cart around a corner, and drove off again.

The plaque above the main gate of Zhaoyang Public Office bears these four large characters in regular script.

"What are you doing here?" Two constables, one on the left and one on the right, stopped Wang Zhi.

"The head of Hong Tiedan, the bandit of Shibawu, is here. I've come to claim my reward. Please lead the way, gentlemen." Wang Zhi patted the box he was carrying without a smile.

Upon hearing the name of Hong Tiedan, a bandit from the Eighteen Docks, both men's expressions changed, and they asked in unison, "Really?"

It should be noted that Hong Tiedan, a bandit leader from the Eighteen Forts, was a powerful expert at the Commoner Realm, and since he was holed up in those eighteen forts, it would be troublesome for the imperial court to suppress him, which is why a bounty was issued.

To be able to claim a reward for taking Hong Tiedan's head, one must at least be a commoner. If one were to participate in the imperial military examination, one could at least pass as a martial arts scholar.

After Wang Zhi nodded, the officer on the left said, "Sir, please come in and wait a moment."

Not long after, an official wearing a blue jacket came out and led Wang Zhi and the other man around the corridor toward the east courtyard.

"Why haven't my third brother's spies in Zhaoyang come knocking yet, after all this time?" Wang Zhi thought to himself as he walked forward.

Inside the torture chamber, after verifying that the head was indeed that of the bandit Hong Tiedan, the officials looked at Wang Zhi with a smile: "Well, the head is indeed real, but I need to give you a stamped receipt before you can collect the silver dollars. So, you see." As he spoke, he rubbed his fingers together.

Wang Zhi instantly understood and reached into his robes, pulling out a few pieces of silver that had been cut into smaller pieces and handing them to the man: "A small token of my appreciation, thank you for your trouble, sir."

"Hehehe, easy." The man secretly stuffed the silver into his pocket, quickly wrote a note, had Wang Zhi stamp it, and then handed it over.

After receiving the voucher, Wang Zhi wandered around for a while before finally arriving at the Ministry of Revenue to collect his reward, a total of ninety-five silver dollars.

Five silver dollars less than the reward of one hundred. According to the official from the Ministry of Revenue, the money had been used to pay taxes. So, five dollars less is five dollars less. Wang Zhi didn't dare to ask any further questions.

But when he left, he made a point of asking where the back or side gate of the government office was.

Following the direction the man pointed, we turned past the pillars. The southwest area was damp, and we saw moss growing at the base of the walls. After passing the screen wall carved with "Seawater Facing the Sun," a strangely shaped artificial mountain suddenly appeared before us. The rocks were peculiar, and we didn't know where they were transported from to be piled up.

Just from one side of the artificial hill, a woman with delicate features and fair skin suddenly appeared. The two walked towards each other, glanced at each other, and then quickly looked away.

The woman had a cold and aloof look in her eyes. She was wearing a modern cheongsam, carrying a small orange bag, and wearing a top hat. She was accompanied by officials from the government office.

They must have been born into a powerful and influential family.

After the two passed each other, Wang Zhi's ears twitched slightly, and he keenly heard the conversation coming from behind the artificial hill.

"The Inspectorate is quite a scene, bringing all sorts of people in." She seemed to have been caught in the act, and her tone carried a hint of annoyance.

"Hehe, since the officials let you in, it must be on official business. Miss, you don't need to worry. Reverend Ingis is already waiting for you in Lord Huo's study."

The sound faded into the distance as the footsteps receded, but when Wang Zhi heard the name Pastor Ingis, his heart stirred.

It turns out that this foreign missionary was already in Zhaoyang City and was staying at the Inspectorate.

His secret letter was sent to the provincial government of Lidu. Could it be that the letter was intercepted by the bandit strategist, causing the matter to stall, and he then turned to the Zhaoyang government office? Or perhaps the mysterious person in the provincial government never agreed in the first place.

The reason is still unclear.

However, because of Ingishi, Wang Zhi firmly remembered the young lady's appearance.

After leaving the artificial hill, Wang Zhi successfully found the side door, and the two of them exited through it.

If it weren't for the fact that he had to send Wang Lingguan off, he would have liked to stay in Zhaoyang City for a couple more days, join in the Shen family's fun, and see what kind of trouble that dog of a missionary was up to.

As if sensing Wang Zhi's thoughts, Wang Lingguan raised his small face and pondered, saying, "I've seen that beautiful young lady before, she seems to be... Miss Shen, Shen Lingyu."