C30 To Capture Everyone in the City

"I can hardly believe we've secured such a victory, to be able to walk into the Embassy Area with our heads held high like this..."

Liu Shaan and his men were brimming with excitement. In their wildest dreams, they hadn't imagined that the armies of the major powers would withdraw, leaving all the sentry posts under our control.

"There's so much more that's hard to fathom. From now on, this will be our brothers' turf. We've got to do what needs to be done and make sure the word gets out: everyone must follow the rules and regulations. If anyone is caught breaking the law, I'll be just as harsh with them as I am with any foreigner."

Gao Shaoyi was equally thrilled. This was a resounding triumph, and while he had initially thought the six great powers might have some tricks up their sleeves, it turned out he had given them too much credit. Once they realized they stood no chance, the decision-making power was all Gao Shaoyi's.

Of course, this wasn't going to be the end of it. The opposition would surely stir up trouble elsewhere, but that was a problem for another day. For now, victory was ours.

"Marquis, rest assured, I'll keep a close eye on these rascals. There's no way I'll let them get away with any wrongdoing," Liu Shaan declared with confidence.

These veterans of the King Protector Army knew all too well the hard-fought nature of their victory. How could they possibly squander what they had achieved?

"Besides us, no one else is to speak of this agreement, particularly the details of the compensation," Gao Shaoyi added, remembering another crucial point. If word got out, the compensation would be out of his hands. There were plenty waiting in the wings for a chance at the coffers. If they caught wind of this windfall, they'd descend like locusts.

"We'll keep it under wraps. We all know the stakes. But what about the foreigners? Could they spill the beans?" Liu Shaan asked, his concern for the cunning of the foreigners evident.

"Don't worry about them. They won't talk. After the heavy losses they've suffered at our hands, and having to shell out hundreds of thousands of imperial silver coins for their soldiers' medical expenses, they have their reasons to stay quiet. Do you understand why?"

Discussing the matter, Liu Shaan found it exceedingly odd. He wasn't sure of the value of the medical kits Gao Shaoyi had produced, but they certainly weren't worth five hundred imperial silver coins. Yet, the foreigners didn't bother to bargain, readily allowing the entry of one thousand five hundred soldiers into the King Protector Army's barracks for medical treatment.

"Please enlighten me, Marquis."

As he spoke, Liu Shaan could feel his cheeks flush with heat. He was supposed to serve as Gao Shaoyi's chief strategist, yet here he was, unable to grasp some underlying reasons, which was quite humiliating.

"Once this incident escalates, their nation will surely respond. Our lives will be far from easy, but remember, they will face dismissal and investigation. There's a significant shortfall now, but it's still within their capacity to rectify. Clinging to life is preferable to a noble death, and these Envoys are no fools..."

Gao Shaoyi's insight sparked a revelation in Liu Shaan, who couldn't help but admire him. Our young master had thoroughly deduced their motives. Besides, with our robust military, who else but them stands to lose?

"Still, we must remain vigilant about a few matters. We've dealt with the foreigners, but there are those three Security Teams. They may ostensibly serve the Imperial Court, but in truth, they're the foreigners' lackeys. What's your plan for handling them?"

Liu Shaan reflected on the three Security Teams responsible for the area's law and order, over which Gao Shaoyi nominally presided.

"They're nothing but jesters. Propped up by foreign support, they strut around the capital city as if they matter. Without that backing, they're rootless, ephemeral. The King Protector Army's Second, Third, and Fourth Battalions will assume direct control of the Security Teams. Any resistance will be met with immediate execution."

A steely resolve shone on Gao Shaoyi's face. He harbored no sympathy for these turncoats. "When you side with foreigners to oppress our people, you should anticipate retribution. This also serves as a stark warning to all the nation's traitors about the King Protector Army's stance towards them."

"Yes, sir, I will comply!"

Liu Shaan wasted no time in making arrangements. They had long been fed up with these people who, bolstered by foreign powers, lorded over the common folk with impunity. Now, it was time to see if they still had the gall.

Gao Shaoyi had previously made it clear to the foreign Envoys that the Security Team was an official arm of the Qian Empire and unrelated to them. If they wished to avoid trouble, they'd best shut their doors and stay out of it.

In the past, such defiance would have provoked a swift and harsh response from the Envoys. But having recently suffered a significant setback at the hands of Gao Shaoyi, they were now less inclined to challenge him. As long as Gao Shaoyi didn't turn his wrath upon them, the fate of their underlings would be quickly forgotten, much like the abandoned Lee Mingshan.

As night fell, the embassy district and its neighboring commercial areas saw a sweeping wave of arrests.

Officers of the King Protector Army, astride their majestic steeds, charged through the embassy district. Gao Shaoyi had commanded all Security Team personnel to assemble by 7 p.m. Anyone absent would be deemed a fugitive, and the soldiers were already on the hunt for deserters.

Many believed that by not reporting to the Security Team, they effectively resigned, thinking they could live comfortably on their ill-gotten gains. But was life ever that simple?

At Prince Kang Mansion, the eastern part of the capital had been echoing with gunfire all day, and Prince Kang had remained in his garden throughout.

The Jiangnan maidens had been singing their delicate tunes all afternoon. With the gunfire now ceased, Prince Kang maintained a facade of composure, yet inside, he was as anxious as ants scurrying across a heated pot, eager for news of the outcome.

"The Chief Butler has returned..."

The announcement reached Prince Kang's ears, and any pretense of calm evaporated. He rose swiftly from his seat and hastened out of the garden, eager for news.

"Ouch, my fault, entirely my fault."

The Chief Butler collided with Prince Kang in a full embrace.

"Enough with the nonsense, is the kid dead?"

Prince Kang's face was etched with keen anticipation, yearning for news of the young man's demise. Yet, observing the Chief Butler's troubled expression, he couldn't help but wonder—had the boy actually succeeded?