Eliminating Treacherous Foes

With Yin Li's command, about a dozen bandit soldiers raised their swords and moved forward, only to be stopped by Ouyang Lei stepping between them.

"Third Master, wait!" Ouyang Lei shielded Qin Longyang like a protective parent.

Yin Li frowned. "You old fool! What are you trying to do?"

Ouyang Lei forced a smile. "I have a plan that benefits both sides."

"Oh? Then let's hear it," Yin Li raised an eyebrow, looking at Ouyang Lei with disdain.

Turning to Qin Longyang, Ouyang Lei continued, "Young man, you are quite capable, but your troops are outside the city, and this County Government is surrounded by our soldiers. "

"The advantage is on our side, and even with wings, you couldn't escape. But I'm getting old and have enjoyed the good life for the past decade. If you agree, you could continue to collaborate with our leader and live as a local tyrant in Langya. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Yin Li clapped his hands and laughed. "Right! This kid is clever. If he continues to work with us, he won't miss out on any benefits!"

"Hahaha!" Qin Longyang burst into laughter. The two thought he agreed and laughed along, their chaotic laughter echoing in the empty room. The surrounding bandits, however, looked embarrassed.

"Thank you for your kindness," Qin Longyang stopped laughing, his smile cold. "But I know the rules of the underworld; dealing with bandits usually requires a tribute as a token of sincerity, right?"

Although Yin Li was displeased at being called a bandit, he waved it off. "No need for formalities. Just give your word, and I'll report to our leader at Mount Tai. From now on, you're our brother in the Mount Tai Army. We'll share wealth and meat together!"

"Pfft," Qin Longyang couldn't help but chuckle. "No, a tribute is necessary. How about you, big brother, present your head as a token?"

Yin Li was momentarily stunned, then quickly realized what Qin Longyang meant. "You brat! How dare you mock us!"

Unfazed, Qin Longyang let out a light snort. Suddenly, the sound of galloping horses approached. Shouts and the clash of weapons erupted outside, and everyone inside turned their eyes toward the door in shock.

Taking advantage of the confusion, Qin Longyang stood up, grabbed the teapot from the desk, and smashed it against Yin Li's head. The hot tea scalded Yin Li, turning his face a livid color as he fell, screaming in pain.

Qin Longyang then swiftly punched Ouyang Lei in the face, causing the old fox to groan and collapse on the ground. The bandits finally reacted and moved to attack, but Qin Longyang picked up Yin Li's waist knife and held it to his throat.

"Take another step, and it'll be a fight to the death!" Qin Longyang shouted, and the bandits stopped in their tracks.

"You worthless scum, kill him!" Yin Li, covered in blisters from the scalding tea, roared in fury.

"Let's see who dares! Drop your weapons and surrender!" At that moment, Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song charged in with a large force, surrounding the room. "Master! Apologies for our delay!"

"Not at all, gentlemen, you've arrived just in time." Qin Longyang smiled and kicked the fallen Ouyang Lei. "Old fox, do you know who these two are? This is Imperial Guard General Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi. Do you think your tricks can deceive us?"

Ouyang Lei's face turned ashen, and he crawled to Qin Longyang's feet, pleading, "General Qin, I was momentarily confused, forced by the Mount Tai bandits who threatened my family. Please, spare my life!"

"Ouyang Lei! You old scoundrel!" Yin Li, restrained, could only curse, wishing he could kill the old man himself.

Qin Longyang chuckled coldly. "Old man, you've served as an official; the power of life and death is not for me to decide. Besides, as a local magistrate, big or small matters must be agreed upon by the people."

"Zigan!"

"At your command!"

"Arrest all the bandits present. Ouyang Lei and Yin Li are guilty beyond redemption and shall be paraded through the streets and executed tomorrow!"

"Yes!"

"Yizhen!"

"At your command!"

"Ouyang Lei has been an official for decades, deceiving the emperor and oppressing the people. Go seize his property and make it public!"

"Yes!"

Qin Longyang smiled wickedly. "Old man, once your crimes are exposed, how do you think the townspeople you've oppressed will deal with you?" Ouyang Lei wailed as two soldiers dragged him away, his legs giving out beneath him.

"The first task of a new official is to eliminate the pests that feed on the people!" Qin Longyang coldly addressed Yin Li.

As Yin Li was dragged away, he laughed maniacally. "Hahaha, Qin Longyang, killing me means you're opposing our Mount Tai Army. Just wait; in less than half a month, my brother will bring our army to Langya and slaughter everyone in the city! Hahaha!"

...

"Former Prefect of Langya, Ouyang Lei, colluded with Mount Tai bandits, oppressing the local people. His crimes are too numerous to record. The law is inescapable; today, the villains have been subdued by this official. "

"They will be beheaded and displayed to the public at Shen Hour! New Prefect Qin Longyang!"

Qin Longyang wrote a notice and posted it outside the County Government. It wasn't long before a crowd of townspeople gathered to read it.

A literate man read it aloud, then shouted excitedly, "Qin Longyang! The Qin Longyang, famous for his victories in You Province! He's come to Langya! We're saved!"

The name Qin Longyang alone might not have been well-known, but mentioning You Province instantly made his identity clear to those who were aware of current events.

A young general who had swept through You Province, crushing fifty thousand Yellow Turbans and repelling nearly a hundred thousand Xiongnu invaders. His half-year tenure in You Province had revitalized the region, making his name legendary.

At that moment, Qin Longyang and Lu Zhi rode into the city on horseback, accompanied by guards. At the end of the procession were two prison carts containing Ouyang Lei and Yin Li. Dressed in prison garb, Ouyang Lei sat lifelessly in the cart, saying nothing.

Though silent, the townspeople hadn't forgotten his atrocities. At the sight of him, someone shouted, "The old villain is out! Beat him to death!"

Angry citizens surged forward with sticks, scaring Ouyang Lei into wailing and curling up in the corner of the cart. Qin Longyang had already arranged additional security to prevent the mob from lynching him.

This precaution was also a safety measure against potential spies in the crowd who might try to rescue Yin Li. Qin Longyang was prepared for anything.

Cheering crowds accompanied Qin Longyang's entourage to the central square, where Huangfu Song's team had gathered a mountain of gold, silver, and foodstuffs from Ouyang Lei's home. The sight reminded Qin Longyang of the illicit wealth from his past in Gong County.

Besides the wealth, Ouyang Lei had six concubines! The youngest was barely fourteen, forcibly taken by this old scoundrel.

"Damn him!" Qin Longyang glared at Ouyang Lei. Seeing such wealth and resources, it was clear how much this old man had drained from Langya.

"Bring them up!" Qin Longyang dismounted and ordered. Ouyang Lei and Yin Li were dragged to the center of the square.

"People of Langya, as you can see, this mountain of wealth and food was extorted from you by these two beasts in human clothing: former Prefect Ouyang Lei and Mount Tai bandit leader Yin Li. Their crimes are unspeakable."

"I am Qin Longyang from You Province, appointed by His Majesty as the new Prefect of Langya. Ouyang Lei conspired with Mount Tai bandits to ambush me on my way here, but I came from Qing Province and caught him in the act!"

"Folks, the villains are here. How should we deal with them?" Qin Longyang shouted, and the crowd responded in unison, "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The cries struck fear into Ouyang Lei's heart. He kowtowed and begged for mercy, but the people's anger was unstoppable.

"Hahaha!" Meanwhile, Yin Li laughed loudly, drawing everyone's attention. "Kill! Go ahead and kill us! But remember, my elder brother Chang Xi will lead the Mount Tai bandits to Langya within a month, and he'll leave no one alive!"

Yin Li's boldness was not unfounded. The Mount Tai bandits were infamous in the area, with leaders like Chang Xi, Wu Dun, Yin Li, and Sun Guan, known as the Four Bandit Kings.

The difficult terrain of Mount Tai made their stronghold hard to breach, and since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, their numbers had likely grown to over ten thousand.

The townspeople were terrified, especially by the mention of Chang Xi, rumored to be a monster who enjoyed eating human flesh. Just his name was enough to frighten the children present.

Qin Longyang, however, laughed dismissively. "Is that so? Maybe you don't know me, but in You Province, if any bandit group refused to surrender, they met their end."

"Though the name of the Four Tyrants of Taishan is formidable, to this general, you're just a bunch of useless bandits waiting for your doom."

"You!" Yin Li glared at Qin Longyang with gritted teeth. "Fine, I'll tell you the truth. Our spies in the city have already sent word back to Taishan. In at most a month, my elder brother will break through Langya and have your head severed and crushed to pieces!"

"Hahaha!" Qin Longyang burst into laughter again. "A month? This general has no such patience. In ten days, when my army arrives, it will be the day you petty bandits of Taishan are annihilated!"

"Bastard..."

"Enough, you're wasting my breath," Qin Longyang said impatiently, clapping his hands. "Execute them!"

As soon as the command to execute was given, the executioners standing on both sides raised their swords and swung them down heavily...

"Yes!" The crowd erupted in thunderous cheers. However, Qin Longyang also keenly noticed a few resentful eyes glaring at him before quietly slipping away from the crowd...