He returned to the Thousand Households Office, gulped down several bowls of water, and spoke to Su Fei, panting for breath.
"Marquis Su, th-these small gangs and thieves seem to have gone mad. They're causing trouble everywhere."
"We arrest one batch, and another springs up. There's no end to them! If this keeps up, our men won't be able to hold on much longer!"
Su Fei sat in the seat of honor in the main hall, his expression calm, toying with a jade pendant as he listened to Zhang Jing's complaints. He had actually been following the situation in Cool Prefecture all this time, and he had some suspicions about who was pulling the strings behind these incidents.
He had long since seen through it: this was most likely a scheme by the Heavenly Dao Alliance. He simply had not expected them to move so quickly or use such despicable methods.
Su Fei spoke slowly.
"These people may seem disorganized, but their goal is clear. They want to throw Cool Prefecture into chaos and wear us out running from one crisis to the next."
Zhang Jing asked anxiously.
"Then what should we do, Marquis Su? We can't keep letting them dictate our moves, can we?"
A smile appeared on Su Fei's face.
"Let them dictate our moves? I, Su Fei, have never just sat back and taken a beating. Since they want Cool Prefecture in chaos, we'll first silence the people causing trouble."
He rose, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
"Thousand Households Commander Zhang, have the captured gang members and thieves interrogated separately. Focus on finding out who ordered them to do this. Offer them leniency, and someone will talk."
"Also, have our patrols change their strategy. Rather than putting out fires everywhere, concentrate on watching the lairs