Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 253 - 244: The Imperial Edict Has Arrived!

Chapter 253: Chapter 244: The Imperial Edict Has Arrived!

Seeing the space being torn open with a crevice, a hand reached out, Zhang San only felt a breeze passing by, and then Wei had disappeared.

While he was still holding Xu’s hand and hadn’t managed to leave yet, he saw someone leap out from the spatial rift.

It was Third Miss Gan.

Third Miss Gan jumped out from the spatial rift two zhang above the ground, landed, then turned toward the direction of the rift and bowed in respect.

Although Zhang San did not understand what was happening, he guessed that the other party must be a significant figure, so he immediately bowed respectfully as well.

Xu also followed suit and bowed.

By this moment, Wei, who was already a few hundred steps away, looked back once, then, feeling reassured, he walked back.

From within the spatial rift, a middle-aged man’s voice, refined and gentle, sounded.

"In the name of the Emperor, commanding all Martial Artists, daring to be just for the whole world. You have all been doing very well."

As the voice faded, the spatial rift gradually closed and eventually vanished completely, as if nothing had happened in that space.

This was the first time Zhang San had seen such a technique.

So the world actually had the capability to tear space?

Zhang San’s eyes widened as he continued to look at the space that had just been torn, wondering why he hadn’t seized the chance to comprehend some sort of spatial ability.

Or perhaps tonight, Sun Golden Hand might teach him some type of spatial ability?

This was a spatial ability!

While Zhang San was lost in wild thoughts, Third Miss Gan slapped his shoulder, and spoke in a cold voice, "Stop dawdling. Gather all the Military Chiefs from Chuan-Yu Road at Xiongfeng Manor immediately! Also, have them start assembling all the Martial Artists available at the Town Martial Office, all Martial Artists that can be assembled at each stronghold. Big things are about to happen!"

Zhang San, seeing the look of determination on Third Miss Gan’s face, finally felt the heavy stone in his heart drop.

The ledger had just been delivered yesterday, and today, significant actions were to be taken. Clearly, the Emperor had not glossed over the issues mentioned in the ledger but planned to handle them seriously.

Indeed, this matter was assigned to the Town Martial Office.

Thus, Zhang San went to find Wang Ziteng immediately, and using his own identity, dispatched Qiongqi messengers to all strongholds, ordering all Military Chiefs to gather immediately.

While helping Zhang San find Qiongqi, Wang Ziteng asked, "Brother San, usually you let Lu Qingquan handle such things. Why are you doing it yourself today?"

Zhang San sighed and said, "This matter is rather urgent. If the message were sent by Lu Qingquan, I reckon everyone wouldn’t be in a rush to come."

Wang Ziteng thought about it, indeed that was the case.

Although he had always heard that Lu Qingquan was harsh on his subordinates, it seemed that ever since he had known him, aside from losing hair, this man hadn’t had any shortcomings.

Sure enough, as Zhang San sent out the Qiongqi, a large number of Military Chiefs quickly arrived at Xiongfeng Manor with their men.

And Zhang San had already been waiting at the entrance of Xiongfeng Manor for the arriving Military Chiefs.

"Military Chief Zhang, I heard you came across some treasure, and someone has their eye on it?" Sun Wushuang smiled and asked as soon as he saw Zhang San.

Zhang San forced a smile and sighed, "What treasure could I possibly have acquired? It’s just that someone is jealous of my handsome looks."

Sun Wushuang laughed heartily, leaned in close to Zhang San, and murmured, "We caught a few rumor-mongers recently who claimed you found a treasure left by Bai Yucheng before his death, acquiring many valuable items. It seems someone is targeting you. Be extra cautious."

Zhang San guessed that the Crown Prince’s people speculated he had obtained the ledger, thus guiding his own pace.

"Everyone knows why Bai Yucheng died; forget finding nothing, what could there be of value even if there were?"

Sun Wushuang snorted coldly and retorted, "I believe that, but ask the Martial Artists outside, do they believe it?"

Zhang San, helplessly, knew that rumors worked that way; as long as they met everyone’s expectations, people were willing to believe them.

Whether it was true or false, from the moment they believed, it became true.

Soon, all the Military Chiefs had arrived, and everyone gathered in the council hall.

Third Miss Gan glanced around, ensuring everyone was present, then she looked towards Lu Qingquan.

Lu Qingquan, puzzled, didn’t understand what was required of him, then he heard Third Miss Gan say, "Go stand down there; don’t stand next to me."

Lu Qingquan’s face was still filled with confusion, and then he started to panic inside. Could I be demoted to a Military Chief?

I had just managed to work my way up to the position of Deputy Officer, and I was hoping to climb even higher. Why am I being sent down again?

Next, Third Miss Gan glanced at Zhang San and gave him a signal with her eyes.

Zhang San stepped forward and stood beside Third Miss Gan.

Although everyone was unsure of what was happening, seeing Third Miss Gan’s icy gaze, all had obedient expressions on their faces.

"What’s going on? Lu Qingquan is being demoted, are we going to destroy a Sect again?"

Now, even among the Town Martial Office personnel, just seeing Zhang San take action, everyone felt it was certainly a sect-destroying battle.

"That can’t be right, there aren’t any Martial Path Sects left on the Chuan-Yu Road that could stand a battle!"

"But without destroying a sect, there’s no need to involve Brother San, right?"

Hearing the quiet discussions below, Zhang San was completely baffled. So, I am seen as sect-destroying force, am I?

At that moment, Lu Qingquan could hardly restrain himself and whispered to Third Miss Gan, "Officer, is there something important to announce? Being a Deputy Officer, shouldn’t I be standing next to you?"

However, Third Miss Gan immediately softened the indifference on her face and smiled at Lu Qingquan.

"It’s not that you cannot, but I am afraid that once the announcement is made later, Deputy Officer Lu might be afraid to take on the task."

Although Lu Qingquan immediately lowered his head and said nothing, he felt extremely annoyed inside.

What task wouldn’t I dare to take on!

Hmph!

You, an Acting Officer, what are you getting excited about!

At that moment, Third Miss Gan took out a white imperial edict from her Storage Ring.

Upon seeing the imperial edict, everyone present knelt down.

"In accordance with Heaven and timely obedience, bearing this clear decree. The Great Sui Dynasty, established on Martial principles and prioritizing people. Currently, an official in the Chuan-Yu Road spreads chaos, deceiving superiors and misleading subordinates, ignorant of loyalty and righteousness, his crimes too numerous to document. The imperial edict orders the Town Martial Office of Chuan-Yu Road, led by Third Miss Gan and assisted by Zhang San, to apprehend the Governor of the Fourteen Zhou of Chuan-Yu Road and thirty-nine County Magistrates. Apprehend them on the spot and escort them to the Capital. If anyone obstructs or resists, they may be dealt with as traitors and executed on the spot. In the twenty-second year of Kaihuang, the seventh day of the seventh month."[Note 76]

After finishing, Third Miss Gan closed the imperial edict and looked at the people kneeling before her, finally resting her gaze on Lu Qingquan.

"Deputy Officer Lu, perhaps you would like to take Zhang San’s place?"

Lu Qingquan was so frightened that he continuously shook his head and kept kowtowing on the ground.

Not to mention the Kaihuang imperial edict requiring Zhang San’s assistance, just the task of capturing one Governor already made his legs go weak.

Let alone the Governors of fourteen Zhou!

The entire Chuan-Yu Road only has seventeen Zhou in total!

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[Note 76]Small legal education

Because an imperial edict is a command from the Emperor, this note is provided for legal education. The well-known phrase in dramas "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees this day," actually originated from the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang claimed himself as "Emperor by the mandate of Heaven" because he rose from a beggar to become the Emperor, thus in the feudal era, he needed to legitimize his ascendancy, hence he declared that he was "commanded by Heaven, bestowed by the will of Heaven, thus he who is called the Son of Heaven, also regards Heaven as father, serving Heaven with filial piety." This is the origin of "mandate of Heaven."

The term "bearer of destiny" comes from Zou Yan’s theory of "Five Virtues cycle," where each virtue represents a dynasty, and Zhu Yuanzhang believed he started the great Ming, carrying the inevitable trend of history, thus he had "bearer of destiny."

While researching, I found some imperial edicts from Emperor Gong of Sui, but there was no formal beginning found; thus, here I use the imperial edict beginning from the Northern and Southern Dynasties period "In accordance with Heaven and timely obedience, bearing this clear decree," which means: In line with the Heavenly Dao, this order is granted to you.