Yang Ge didn’t care how his name was spread through the Jianghu.
But Yang Tiansheng did care greatly!
He was involved in the affairs of Lu Ting and Yangzhou, and he knew exactly what had happened.
Now the incident was twisted beyond recognition right in front of his eyes, how could Yang Tiansheng possibly tolerate it?
’When I do misdeeds, you slander me, and even when I do good deeds, you still slander me. Do you really think I’m made of mud?’
With all guns blazing, Yang Tiansheng, utilizing the power of the Ming Sect in the Jiangzhe region, made sure the entire course of the corruption case in Yangzhou was widely circulated, clearly stating his stance—if anyone came to Yangzhou to stir up trouble at this time, they would be nothing but the lackeys of those corrupt officials!
Benefiting from the might of the Ming Sect...
The Jiangzhe martial world, already abuzz with the departure of Lianhuan Fort’s protector "Eight-Armed Arhat" Dong Ping to become an independent sect leader, was utterly ignited by his fierce moves!
Nearly everyone with a decent understanding of the martial world secretly wondered... how could the Ming Sect collude with the imperial court?
Could it be that Ming Sect was finally giving up on the grand undertaking of rebellion to devote itself to the new task of building a better society in Wei?
That would indeed be a groundbreaking piece of news that comes once in a century!
Thanks to him, Yang Ge’s bold proclamations had also spread throughout the Jianghu alongside his new alias "Yang Erlang."
Th𝗲 most uptodate novels are published on ƒгeewёbnovel.com.
Many now knew that an imperial guard captain named Yang Erlang had single-handedly taken down the Changfeng Gang and a significant portion of the corrupt officials in Yangzhou Prefecture.
In no time, a myriad of spectators heading to Hangzhou to join the excitement changed course, making a beeline for Yangzhou.
They wanted to see if there really were those willing to become the lackeys of corrupt officials and traitors to the cause.
They also wanted to see if that imperial guard captain named Yang Erlang was as tough as he claimed to be.
Just in time, Emperor Xiping appointed Yang Ge as an imperial envoy to oversee the corruption case in Jiangzhe—a decree that had already been expedited to Yangzhou.
Behind him was the noisy procession of the imperial envoy, majestically marching out from the capital towards Yangzhou...
A massive shake-up from top to bottom was sweeping towards the officialdom of Yangzhou.
Two storms were about to converge!
...
In the eye of the storm.
Yang Ge only felt an unusual tranquility.
He knew it was the calm before the storm...
But ever since he threw caution to the wind, he hadn’t felt the slightest bit of anxiety.
After all, the worst-case scenario would simply be the complete eradication of the corrupt officials in Yangzhou.
This outcome...
Was much better than the best scenario he had envisioned upon his arrival.
With this mindset, he diligently handled the tasks at hand each day—preparing defenses where necessary, patrolling where needed, practicing martial arts, and reading.
Of course, there was still pressure.
And it was substantial!
Yet, this pressure had somehow turned into a kind of driving force, boosting his fearless will derived from that stroke above the Bian River, swelling ceaselessly!
Every day, he could clearly sense that he had become stronger than the day before!
Of course, he understood.
This false sense of strength, without the support of experience and foundation, was like an inflated balloon—prick it, and it bursts, unable to withstand a single blow.
But before he swung that stroke.
Before he failed...
This strength was real!
He was just waiting for a fortunate audience member.
...
On the twentieth day after Yang Ge took over Yangzhou.
An unlearned middle-aged scholar arrived at the Yangzhou Prefecture office, holding a visiting card in the name of Yuan Bo, the Left Provincial Administration Commissioner of Jiangzhe, requesting an audience with Yang Ge.
Yang Ge, who was in charge of the Prefecture office, received the report and met him.
"Scholar Zheng Shiquan bows before Lord Yang!"
The stout, refined-looking scholar with a congenial smile, wearing a washed-out azure scholar robe and a white jade pendant on his belt, respectfully greeted Yang Ge.
On the platform, Yang Ge, clad in an official embroidered robe and leaning back in a Taishi Chair, set aside the "Eight-Gate Swordplay" manual and glanced at the middle-aged scholar, saying indifferently, "Sit."
"Thank you, Lord Yang!"
The middle-aged scholar seemed to overlook his disdain, maintaining a respectful demeanor.
Once seated, Yang Ge asked softly, without even raising his head, "Are there any directives from Yuan Bo that bring the scholar here?"
The middle-aged scholar clasped his fists: "To Lord Yang, this scholar here is on behalf of my master to make your acquaintance."
Yang Ge’s attention remained on the swordplay manual in his hand. Not detecting the underlying significance in his words, he replied with a light chuckle, "The scholar jests. I, a mere military man, what merit or capability do I have to befriend Minister Yuan."
The Provincial Administration Commission, officially called the Chengxuan Provincial Administration Commission, was the administrative center of a province. Both the Left and Right Ministers of Provincial Administration were second-ranked officers, real power-holders with territorial commands.
And even though the imperial guards were considered to hold significant power despite their low rank, Yang Ge, as a fifth-rank imperial guard captain, remained several insurmountable peaks away from a Minister of Provincial Administration.
Under normal circumstances, even if imperial guards were to be deployed to investigate a Minister of Provincial Administration, it would have to be personally overseen by the Commandant.
A mere captain had no business even speaking with a Minister of Provincial Administration.
The middle-aged scholar spoke with a smile: "Lord Yang is too modest, but... my master is not Minister Yuan."
Yang Ge furrowed his brows and put down the swordplay manual to look at the obsequious man below, saying coldly, "If the scholar has something to say, he may speak freely. I have pressing affairs and have no time for word games."
Seeming to casually pick up the jade pendant from his belt, the middle-aged scholar replied with a smile, "Forgive me, Lord Yang. It is not that I wish to play games, but it is difficult and daring to say!"
Yang Ge fixed his gaze on the jade pendant in his hand and noticed that the carvings... were of dragon patterns!
After a moment’s hesitation, he simply asked bluntly, "Are you an emissary from His Majesty?"