Chapter 20: Handing the Fish Over to the Cat

  "Oh dear, Lord Zhao, a rare guest, a rare guest indeed."

  Peng's family opened the gate, and Peng Wanli seemed to have not seen the two hundred fierce-looking guards at all. He was overjoyed and rushed forward: "Ah! Director Feng is also here! You two are here for what reason? On this hot day, please hurry up and dismount your horses, come into the house and take a seat."

  The Peng family's business spanned both the legitimate and illegitimate worlds, so they couldn't avoid having connections with government officials. As a result, Peng Wanli was quite familiar with Judge Zhao, Inspector Feng, and Captain of the Guards, often greasing their palms to maintain good relations. Normally, these two dignitaries would chat and laugh with him, but now they wore stern, official faces that were somewhat intimidating, causing Peng Wanli's heart to skip a beat.

  Fortunately, this exploratory sentence still worked, and Zhao Ximu snorted, got off his horse, and said in a low voice: "Lead the way ahead, let's talk inside."

  Peng Wanli heard this and his heart immediately fell back into his stomach, it seemed that it was not the matter of life and death that had happened, otherwise Zhao Pushan would have ordered to arrest people and copy houses, how could he have gone in and talked nonsense with him.

  In his heart, Peng Wanli couldn't help but secretly resent: "Every year, I treat you like a Ming dynasty emperor, with three sacrifices and six fruits, never lacking. During festivals and holidays, I'm extremely polite, but as soon as something happens, you turn your back on me faster than flipping through a book! You're a bunch of good-for-nothing bastards!"

  Peng Wanli was secretly resentful, but he didn't dare show any disrespect on his face. He made a covert hand gesture to signal the family members in the house to withdraw their defenses. At the same time, he personally led the two officials into the hall. The patrolmen entered the courtyard and waited for orders under the shade of the willow trees. Zhao Pushan and Feng Jianxun walked in with their heads held high and their chests out, hands on the hilts of their swords, and sat down on the platform with an air of arrogance, as if they were the real masters of the house.

  Peng Wanli presented tea and incense with both hands, and asked cautiously: "Sir, what brings you here on official business today?"

  Magistrate Zhao's face was as calm as water, and he coldly smiled: "Peng Wanli, your family's business is quite large, isn't it? Carriage shops, boat shops, mule and horse shops, pawnshops, inns, martial arts schools... Shandong, Hebei, Henan, Jianghuai, the Peng family's banner is very loud indeed."

  Peng Wanli smiled and said: "This is all due to the care of you gentlemen, our Peng family also works diligently, so business is booming."

  "Add fuel to the fire? I'll add another flame for you!" Magistrate Zhao said, slamming his hand on the table, causing the teacups and saucers to jump: "Peng Wanli, your troubles have begun."

  Peng Wanli was shocked and took two steps back, exclaiming: "Your Honor, what are you talking about?"

  "Where to start?" Zhao Pushan suddenly jumped up, pointing his finger at the tip of his nose: "Yang Xu, a young master from Qingzhou, was assassinated in broad daylight, do you know about it?"

  "This, I know a thing or two about it, but this matter has nothing to do with me..."

  Magistrate Zhao sneered, "Indeed, news travels fast! Your Peng family runs a business with connections to both the underworld and the legitimate world. Do you dare say that everything is done by the book? However, considering your Peng family has always been relatively well-behaved, building bridges, repairing roads, donating to education and helping the disabled, never falling behind others, and restraining your subordinates from causing trouble at home, the Prefect and the Judge have shown favor towards you. This official has also given you many concessions, and even when there are minor transgressions, they are not pursued..."

  Peng Wanli hastily said: "Yes, the elderly care about the Peng family, and we in the Peng family have always been grateful for that."

  Magistrate Zhao's face sank, and he shouted: "You offer me one foot, I'll give you ten feet, that's the way it should be. Now that Young Master Yang has been stabbed, the scholars and officials of Qingzhou are in an uproar, they're all shocked and frightened. Should I still be polite to you?"

  Peng Wanli called out to Qu Dao: "Magistrate sir, Yang Gongzi was stabbed, what does this have to do with my Peng family? This matter..."

  "What does it have to do with you!" Zhao Pushan's voice was even louder, and he shouted: "The foxes and rats of Qingzhou, the rascals and scoundrels, only your Peng family is in charge. Is this not true? The caravanserais, the docks, the shops, and the pawnshops, all are occupied by your Peng family. Among the heroes and masters from the south and north, can anyone escape the eyes of your Peng family? Even if Yang Gongzi's assassination was not done by your Peng family, it must have been with your connivance and assistance. You may not be the main culprit, but you are an accomplice!"

  "Adults, catch adultery, catch thieves, no evidence..."

  "Are you looking for evidence?" Magistrate Zhao's tone was severe: "I've come to find evidence! I suspect that you're hiding the murderer and were involved in the plot to harm the city's gentry. I'm going to search your estate. Furthermore, under the Peng family name, there are carriages, boats, mules, inns, and martial arts schools, all mixed together with good and bad people, and there is a strong suspicion of wrongdoing. From today on, you must stop operating all of these businesses. I will investigate each one until the murderer is found!"

  The Peng family and Yang Wenyuan's assassination may not have anything to do with each other, but if they investigate the Peng family's followers, guests, and friends one by one, there must be many people who are suspicious or have a record, so Zhao Pushan is fearless and doesn't worry about making things bigger.

  "What?" Peng Wanli's face turned pale upon hearing this: "Your Honor, I've only heard of Yang Xu's reputation. The Yang family is a scholarly family, while my Peng family is just a humble household. We're worlds apart and have never had any dealings with each other. As for business, our families have no conflicts either. Where did the grudge come from? Why would my Peng family be suspected? Isn't this a case of 'calamity striking out of the blue'?"

  "Are you implying that I, Zhao, have misused the law and harmed innocent people?"

  Peng Wanli suppressed his anger and said: "The humble subject dare not, it's just..."

  Feng Jianxiao smiled wryly and intervened, saying: "Brother Peng, to be honest with you, this case is not trivial. Even the Magistrate, the Vice-Magistrate, and the Prefectural Judge are finding it difficult to handle. The Investigating Officer wants to thoroughly investigate this case, and all of them support him. In fact, the Investigating Officer doesn't suspect that your family, Peng, is in cahoots with the murderer, but your business dealings are diverse and attract all sorts of people. Can you guarantee that there aren't any scoundrels hiding among them?"

  "Sir, this is rather difficult for me. My family's business is very extensive, with thousands of customers, partners and servants coming and going all the time... how can I possibly know each and every one of them?"

  "That's it, I understand too. You, Peng Er Ye, are a man of the world, with extensive connections and social interactions. Even if the murderer is really found in your family's estate, it doesn't necessarily mean it was one of your people. Although that's what I said, who can prove your innocence to avoid being implicated? The county magistrate has set a deadline for capturing the murderer, and it's hard for the presiding judge. If you want the presiding judge to show mercy, you'll have to make it worth his while, won't you?"

  Peng Wanli heard the implication in his words and hastily said, "This is easy to say, if Magistrate Pushan has any instructions, I will do my best. However, I don't know what you need the Peng family to do?"

  Magistrate Zhao didn't say a word, he just hummed and sat back in his chair, propping up one leg, slowly and leisurely sipping his tea.

  Feng Jianxiao smiled slightly, pulled Peng Wanli's arm to one side and said in a low voice: "This is the first point. Your Peng family runs various businesses such as carriages, boats, and pawnshops, and also controls the Qingzhou City Thieves' Guild. With so many eyes and ears, no one can match you. If you want to clear your suspicions, you should mobilize your powers to assist the government in investigating suspicious individuals."

  Peng Wanli let out a sigh of relief and hastily said: "This is easy, I am willing to work hard for you like a horse or a dog."

  "Feng Jianxiao said, 'Another thing, even more important. The killer can't be caught for the time being, it's not a big problem, what's important is that Yang Xu can't be assassinated again. If he's still killed by an assassin after reporting to the officials, how will you explain it to the people of Huaicheng? But Yang Xu can't stay hidden at home all day, and when he goes out, since ancient times, there has never been a reason for the government to send police officers to escort and protect him. Not to mention whether he has this qualification or not, just this one move, it will show the incompetence of the government.'"

  Peng Wanli said: "This is easy, my Peng family has a martial arts hall, and we can just send some people over to protect him."

  Feng Jianxiao chuckled and said, "Why can't you understand, Peng Er Ye? Yang Gongzi is both a student of the prefectural school and a local scholar-official with many friends. He attends banquets and gatherings frequently, and it's inevitable that he'll be accompanied by seven or eight burly men with guns and clubs. Wouldn't that cause a stir in the whole city? Every time he appears like this, isn't it like slapping the faces of all the dignitaries, making them lose face? Moreover, when it comes to martial arts, your Peng family's Five Tigers Broken Gate Knife technique is not passed down to outsiders. The disciples in the martial arts hall are learning some fancy moves that can deceive ordinary people but not me, Feng Mou. What can they accomplish?"

  Peng Wanli hesitated and said: "That... what you mean is..."

  Feng Jianxiao said: "Your Peng family can dominate both the black and white ways, and those foxes and rats, rascals and hoodlums are all well-behaved under your control. It's true that your Peng family is wealthy and powerful, but it's also inseparable from your Peng family's unparalleled Five Tigers Broken Gate Knife. According to what I know, the murderer has excellent martial arts skills, and ordinary guards can't guarantee Yang Gongzi's safety. At the same time, in order to minimize the impact, the number of guards should not be too many. Therefore... if your Peng family is willing to send a young master who has mastered the family's unique skills to protect Yang Xu, I believe that the governor and the judges will all acknowledge your Peng family's kindness. Do you think anyone would dare to trouble your Peng family?"

  Peng Wanli stuttered: "Is the Inspector saying... that I, Peng's family... should send my nephew to be Yang Xu's escort and protect his safety? How can this be!"

  "Can't be?" Zhao Pushan slammed the teacup, suddenly stood up, and shouted loudly: "Come on, copy my house, first copy Pengjiazhuang, and then seal all of Peng's industries!"

  Feng Jianxiao smiled and said: "Peng Er Ye, this is to share the worries of Master Zhifu, to share the worries of Master Tuiguan, you should consider it again?"

  ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

  "What? You want me, Peng's family, to send someone to protect that little Yang?"

  Lord Peng listened to Sun Er's report and asked in surprise, "Peng Wanli cried and laughed, saying: 'Yes, Sun Er also felt unbelievable after hearing it. It seems that Zhao Pushan was really forced by the assassin, otherwise he wouldn't have come up with such a method. Lord, do you think we should agree or not?'"

  Old Man Peng's eyes were half-closed, and he rotated a pair of iron balls in his hand for a while before sighing and saying, "Forget it, send some people over then."

  Peng Wanli sighed and said, "But Magistrate Zhao said that the assassin's skills are extremely impressive. To ensure Yang Xu's safety, I must send a direct disciple of our Peng family. Now my elder brother is taking all the sons and nephews of our Peng family to Huai West for activities, and those who stay in the mansion can get the true transmission of our Peng family... The old ones are old, the young ones are young, it's hard to say, so I'll have to send my son on this trip."

  Old Master Peng frowned and said, "How can that be? You're in charge of such a large estate, and you want to leave? Do you expect me, an old man, to take care of household chores? Moreover, how many people in Qingzhou City don't know you? If Second Master Peng dresses up as a servant and follows that Yang kid around, won't it be a loss of face for the Peng family if word gets out?"

  Peng Wanli said, "It's possible... but I'm afraid the person we send won't be able to handle it and will put that scoundrel Yang Xu's life in danger. If those corrupt officials get desperate, who knows if they'll drag us down with them? Sun Er has seen Zhao Pushan's skills before, this man is quite skilled, if we try to send some ordinary disciples to deal with him, I'm afraid it won't be able to fool his eyes."

  Grandfather Peng's eyebrows furrowed again, and the two sat in silence. After a while, Peng Wanli's eyes lit up, and he suddenly said: "Grandpa, what do you think... let Zhiqi go?"

  Mr. Peng said in surprise: "Zi Qi? Nonsense, she's a young lady, and Yang Wenxu is a notorious lecher, isn't this like giving fish to a cat to watch?"

  Peng Wanli smiled and said: "Fish? Then he must be able to eat it, Yang Xu that dandy, how can he handle our family's Ciqi?"

  Mr. Peng shook his head and said, "That's not suitable either. Letting a young girl from a good family expose herself to accompany that notorious young master will ruin her reputation. How can she get married in the future?"

  Peng Wanli said, "Taigong, let Zhiqi disguise herself as her brother and impersonate him. This pair of twins look exactly alike, there's no problem with that. Besides, this child has mastered all your true skills in martial arts, and the girl is meticulous and clever, if she goes to protect that young master, it will definitely be successful."

  Old Man Peng thought for a moment, then nodded slightly and said, "Hmmm, in that case... go and get that little girl Zhi Qi for me!"

  ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

  Xiao Guanshi was very efficient in handling matters, and Xia Jun had just identified three key investigation targets. Xiao Guanshi had already brought back four martial arts instructors from the Peng family's Wu Guan in one go. The four martial artists were robust and powerful, with an extraordinary presence. As soon as they arrived at the mansion, Xiao Guanshi immediately went to invite the young master to come and inspect them personally.

  Xia Xun heard the news and hurriedly brought Xiao Qi to the living room. As soon as they entered, Xia Xun felt a sense of being surrounded by muscles. These four sturdy men were all super muscular males from Harmon State Governor Arno. The weather was hot, and their sleeveless martial arts uniforms revealed their bulging biceps. With headbands on their foreheads, they sat in the living room, filling the entire space with a strong masculine aura.

  Xiao Guan Shi smiled and introduced: "Four masters, this is my young master. Young Master, these four are the masters I invited from Peng's Martial Arts Hall. Take a look, if you think they're suitable, then keep them."

  The four teachers stood up in a hurry as soon as they saw their employer arrive, and with fists clenched together, they said in unison: "We've seen Mr. Yang."

  Xiao Ding chewed on a piece of dried donkey meat, standing to one side, his big black eyes taking in the scene before him. In his heart, he made a comparison and still felt that their young master's muscles were more impressive... Hmm, they're worth looking at.

  Xia Liu smiled and said, "Four masters, no need to be polite, please sit down." He sat down in the main seat with a smile and said, "I'm sure my steward has already told you the conditions. If you are hired, don't worry about the salary, it will be very generous. However, I didn't invite you here just to watch the house, so I'll ask a rude question: what skills do each of you have?"

  At this time, Zhao Pushan led a large team of people back to the government office with great fanfare. After Feng Jianxun changed into casual clothes, he took a white-robed young man with red lips and white teeth, and handsome eyebrows and eyes out of the government office alone. The two men each rode a horse and rushed straight to the Yang Mansion...