FBC – Chapter 357 Entering the City

At this time, Gongzhou was still battered by a heavy downpour.

Under the city gate, three or four officials were shouting hoarsely, trying to get the gate opened. They were soaked through, having worked non-stop for days. Exhaustion weighed on them, their voices hoarse, barely able to shout.

Magistrate Du Fangzhou was among them, and seeing this, he was filled with anxiety. He turned to look behind him.

About fifty meters away, a dozen or so Black Armored Guards on tall, fine horses stood silently. Amid the torrential rain, they exuded an intense, lethal aura.

The soldiers on the city gate shrank back in fear, not daring to show their heads.

“What do we do now? The Black Armored Guards are here—how can we not open the gate? If Prince Yong blames us, even the prefect won’t be able to take it!”

A city guard spat. “Open the gate, and we die; don’t open it, and we die. We might as well play deaf and mute. They haven’t announced themselves—who knows they’re the Black Armored Guards? The one who can’t hold out is the prefect, not us. Let him come first, then we’ll see.”

The officials outside, shouting for the gate, were furious. “Open the gate! Open it now! We are Gongzhou officials, just back from the river embankment emergency. Why won’t you open the gate?”

The soldiers inside trembled. “They’re officials from the prefecture too… what if there’s trouble later?”

A guard sneaked up, but didn’t dare stick his head out. Hiding behind the battlement, he shouted hoarsely, “Honorable sirs, please be patient. I’ve already reported to the prefect. You know the prefect strictly forbids strangers from entering the city. There’s a group of unknown people behind you—what if they’re enemy spies? We dare not open the gate.”

The officials and Magistrate Du outside were furious, but without the Black Armored Guards’ approval, they didn’t dare reveal their identities.

Du Fangzhou looked back at the Black Armored Guards standing proudly behind him.

At the front, Chiyan raised his cold, impassive face.

He nocked, drew, and released an arrow in one fluid motion.

Whoosh!

The arrow tore through the rain like a shooting star, cutting a sharp line of water in its path.

In an instant, it struck the rope on the mast precisely. With a sharp snap, the rope was drawn up.

The officials and soldiers hiding under the battlements gawked as the Gongzhou flag slid down—landing precisely at their feet.

The city guards shivered.

Everyone stared in horror at the red-and-black arrow—emblematic of the Mu Family Army’s Black Armored Guards…

A soldier stammered in panic: “The… Black… Black Armored Guards are attacking the city!”

The commander on the battlement jumped in fright, waving his arms. “A misunderstanding! Didn’t expect it’s Prince Yong’s Mu Family Army visiting!”

He kicked a nearby soldier and bellowed, “You bunch of idiots! Go open the gate for the Black Armored Guards! Hurry up and welcome them into the city!”

The soldiers scrambled down, shouting as they rolled: “Open the gate! Open it now! Welcome the Black Armored Guards into the city!”

Jiang Qifu arrived at the gate just in time to see this scene.

Feeling his authority insulted, his original purpose was thrown aside. Instinctively, he shouted, “You idiots! I haven’t spoken yet—who dares open the gate!”

Then he realized something was wrong—he had come to welcome the Black Armored Guards. But the words were already out; he would have to find a way to save face.

A guard, holding the fallen city flag, stumbled down the battlement. “M-Master, the Black Armored Guards shot it down!”

Jiang Qifu’s face turned pale, but in front of his subordinates, he couldn’t show weakness.

He had no choice but to salvage the situation and shouted stiffly, “Who goes there?”

“It’s us, Master Wu. We just came back from the river embankment—the breach is sealed, and we’re soaked through. Please open the gate so we can return home.”

It was Cao Li, the record officer.

Jiang Qifu felt his temper flare. This guy was a subordinate of Du Fangzhou—he had kindly kept him on, and now he dared to defy him?

“How dare you disobey my orders, leave the city on your own, meddle in affairs, and now demand the gate be opened! Since you went out, don’t come back!”

Flood relief considered meddling? The chief official inactive, other officials actively rescuing considered leaving their posts?

Du Ming, already weak, had endured eight grueling days in the rain. Hearing this outside, he trembled with anger, his vision darkened, and he collapsed.

Several officials caught him, shouting, “Master Du!”

“We must get inside quickly! If we stay out, not only will Master Du fall ill, we will too.”

Cao Li was burning with fury.

He ran forward, banging on the gate: “Master Jiang! The people of Gongzhou are your subjects. You sit idly by and refuse us? Master Du would have arranged this early and personally rescued people! If local officials abandon the people and cause major disaster, the court will punish them severely! Open the gate, Master Wu—Master Du has collapsed!”

Jiang Qifu was furious. Dare they mention Du Fangzhou? Collapsed? Better if he were dead!

Used to arrogance, he couldn’t tolerate open defiance.

“Then you and he can all die outside! He’s a criminal and dared to escape exile—that’s one crime too many. I certainly won’t open the gate!”

He glared around viciously. “Whoever opens the gate will be executed!”

The city guards dared not make a sound.

An aide whispered urgently: “Master, you’ve forgotten your purpose. Cao’s words are reasonable. If the court finds out…”

“Out!”

Jiang Qifu shoved him away. “I, Jiang Qifu, fear no one! Even Prince Cheng must respect me. A mere criminal and some Black Armored Guards? What are they?”

He didn’t notice the sudden silence among everyone.

The aides, worried, thought he had gone mad. They served Jiang Qifu for wealth, not for death.

One tried again: “Master, don’t be foolish. The Black Armored Guards are Prince Yong’s guard. If they arrive, the prince himself is coming. Higher officials can overpower others; imagine a first-rank prince!”

Jiang Qifu felt invincible—he contributed tens of thousands of taels to Prince Cheng every year. Soon, he’d even be promoted to a third-rank capital official. What could Mu Junyan do to him?

He waved his arm, turning, shouting with full force: “Even if Prince Yong comes, I—”

Before he could finish, a huge figure dropped from the sky. Looking up, he met a cold, expressionless face.

Eyes radiating a deadly gaze.

Jiang Qifu’s legs went weak. He collapsed to the ground, instinctively kowtowing. “Your servant greets you, Master.”

Everyone: …

Hmm?

The aides were speechless.

Even the wealthiest merchant in Gongzhou, used to arrogance, habitually kowtows to officials. Those below him, he treats arrogantly. Those above him, he grovels.

Chiyan looked up and coldly ordered, “Open the gate.”

Jiang Qifu regained his senses, about to speak—but when he met those icy eyes again, he fell silent.

Chiyan: “A good dog doesn’t block the way.”

Then, Jiang Qifu was grabbed by the collar and thrown out like a rag, landing heavily on the cobblestones and rolling twice before stopping.

The heavy city gate finally opened. The Black Armored Guards dismounted, supporting the officials, and strode in confidently.

The city’s people had gathered after the long commotion.

Seeing the soaked officials of the prefecture being carried in by the formidable Black Armored Guards, they were all stunned.

Cao Li waved his hands, his voice hoarse as he called to the people: “Master Du is back! The river embankment is sealed! We’re saved!”

“Master Du is back! Really back!”

“Heaven! We’re saved!”

“Let us out! My brother is still outside!”

“Let us out!”

For a moment, the people’s anxiety and anger over their families couldn’t be contained—they surged toward the gate.

The city guards no longer dared interfere, quickly pulling aside the barricades, letting the frenzied citizens rush out.

Outside, the mud stretched endlessly, the scene desolate.