Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The night in the capital was dark and deep, but tonight was a little special.

Around the streets, in many houses, families that should have been resting had faint lights glowing inside.

If you looked closely, you could see tiny holes poked through the window paper.

People were peering out from behind these little holes.

The news of the East Depot's exercise was hardly a secret; in just one afternoon, it had spread to the entire city's support group.

To help the Embroidered Uniform Guard achieve a great victory was a lifelong honor!

If they could boast about it, their neighbors would be impressed!

Enthusiastic citizens and fans were eager and ready, anticipating the excitement... hoping it would be their neighborhood's turn.

However, Meng Weimin's area was still the main focus. The Hundred Household Office located here was in the center of the capital, and the surveillance was far stricter than in other areas!

At this moment, Li Yuanzhao led four hundred men, carrying cudgels, and rushed menacingly towards the Hundred Household Office.

The remaining two hundred men had also disguised themselves as ordinary people and were heading towards the destination.

The four hundred men were the visible force, running forward with torches held high.

Li Yuanzhao didn't bother to conceal them. After all, whether in terms of manpower or other aspects, these four hundred men already overwhelmed the Hundred Household Office. Even without forming battle formations, they had an overwhelming advantage.

His only worry was that Lao Fang had stationed the elite soldiers from Peach Blossom County around Meng Weimin. As for Meng Weimin, he was just an incompetent fool!

But even if the Peach Blossom soldiers were strong, there would only be two hundred at most. He couldn't possibly station all two hundred inside the Hundred Household Office, unless he knew their movements in advance. Moreover, they had also planted two hundred hidden agents.

Now, victory was assured!

Thinking about this, Li Yuanzhao smiled. Under the firelight, his smile was extremely arrogant.

Lian Yong, beside him, asked anxiously, "Your Highness, why are you smiling...? You're too far forward. Why don't you go to the back to command the troops? In case a conflict breaks out, fists and feet have no eyes, Your Highness."

"Heh heh, I'm laughing at Lao Fang's lack of strategy, putting an incompetent fool there to pretend! I lost to him once in the military exercise at the training field. This time, it's my first official battle, and I'll let him see my abilities! No need to hide in the back, I will lead from the front!" Li Yuanzhao waved his sleeve, filled with heroic spirit.

Lian Yong's face fell, and he cursed inwardly.

With a nearly ten-fold advantage in troops... what was there to fight? Even if six hundred dogs rushed up together, the other side wouldn't be able to win.

"We'll be there in another four li. When the fighting starts later, and it gets noisy, if any civilians come out to watch the fun, you must remember to avoid them and not hurt them. Speed up!" Li Yuanzhao gave the order, then quickened his pace and continued towards the Hundred Household Office.

As they were hurrying along, the sound of a bird suddenly chirped.

Immediately afterward, another sound came from a slightly farther position... and then another...

Li Yuanzhao's expression changed, and he immediately stopped, raising his hand to stop the others, squinting at the darkness: "Something's wrong! Where would birds be calling in the middle of the night? Did you all hear that?"

"Heard it!" Someone behind him responded.

Li Yuanzhao stood there hesitantly, but after a short while, he made up his mind.

He decisively said: "We must have been discovered by the sentries! Divide the troops into two groups to flank them from the front and rear. Now, take people and charge over at the fastest speed! Lian Yong, you take one team! At the position I point to, split into left and right teams, and the people on the left follow me!"

The team quickly split into two, and Li Yuanzhao led one group of soldiers and began running quickly without hesitation!

Watching Li Yuanzhao's quickly disappearing figure, Lian Yong sighed.

Was there really a need for this? Even if the other side knew, what could they do? Just run over them. His Highness the Crown Prince was still too young.

"Come, come, come! Follow this old servant, we'll go around to their rear!"

......

Inside the Hundred Household Office, Fang Zheng was leisurely drinking wine, holding a handful of grilled skewers in his hand.

Today, all the officers on duty were required to stay in their respective offices in advance.

Meng Weimin was beside him, staring at Zhang Biao, who was grilling skewers, his throat constantly bobbing up and down.

Suddenly, the sound of a bird whistle came, and Fang Zheng's spirits lifted. He stood up and said, "Brothers, perk up!"

He didn't expect them to really come. Qian Desheng had really guessed it.

The officers and strongmen picked up their cudgels and looked seriously in the direction of the door.

Today was not their main event, but they couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

If there were no accidents, a sentry who had been arranged outside in advance should be back to report soon.

Sure enough, before long, an officer rode in madly and rushed in, panting loudly: "Sir Fang, the people from the East Depot are coming quickly! They've divided their troops into two groups, and I estimate there are as many as four hundred people, but they're not on horseback. I've been discovered by them!"

Four hundred people?

When Fang Zheng first heard this number, his heart tightened, and then anger followed.

Damn it! Using four hundred people to attack a Hundred Household Office, was the East Depot trying to crush me?

"Brothers, don't be nervous! Your task today is to protect the safety of the people, and the rest is to shout loudly!"

"Now everyone, blow the whistle!!!"

The officers, hearing the order, no longer hesitated, and took out the whistles they had prepared in advance, raising them to the sky and blowing them loudly.

For a time, the sound of whistles rose sharply, alarming countless people...

The sharp and melodious whistle sound traveled farther and farther... The nearby group leaders, hearing the whistle sound, quickly blew their whistles as well!

At the same time, they began to run to the street, knocking on doors one by one.

Seeing the lights getting brighter and brighter, they put down their whistles and began to shout loudly: "The East Depot is coming to exercise the Embroidered Uniform Guard! Hero Meng is about to be attacked, hurry out! Come out and protect Hero Meng!!"

Many people had been waiting for this news! They hadn't even taken off their clothes, and they rolled out of bed and hurriedly ran outside!

There was no danger, so why not join in the fun! With so many people, was I still afraid of being beaten?

One family, two families, three families... The residents near the Hundred Household Office began to push open their doors and flock to the street...

Li Yuanzhao's side was running wildly with his men. The Embroidered Uniform Guard's scout had already ridden back quickly to report!

It was just a pity that they hadn't brought horses in order to keep the noise down and prevent disturbing the people!

But it didn't matter. There were still three hundred meters to go, and the people in the Hundred Household Office had no chance to escape! Although the whistles everywhere made him feel a little uneasy, nothing could go wrong now that they had reached this point! Victory was in sight!

"Quick! Quick! Quick! Everyone, speed up for me! Take down the Hundred Household Office in one breath and capture Meng Weimin alive!" Li Yuanzhao shouted loudly at this time.

The two hundred men behind him responded in unison!

Three hundred meters... two hundred meters... one hundred meters...

The torchlight was limited, and when the two hundred-man team was only a hundred meters away, Li Yuanzhao suddenly stopped.

He looked at the scene in front of him in surprise.

Groups of civilians were appearing on the street in clusters of three or five, and a large number of civilians were constantly pouring in from nearby.

Among them, someone was shouting loudly: "Someone is attacking the Embroidered Uniform Guard, protect Hero Meng!"

Li Yuanzhao had no time to think, and said in exasperation: "The imperial court is handling affairs, clear the way for me!"

The civilians were instinctively about to dodge, when suddenly a group of people rushed out of the Hundred Household Office, holding torches and walking out in groups.

Sharp-eyed civilians immediately screamed: "Hero Meng is here!!!!"