At the start of the You Hour.
Funan County's magistrate and county deputies had arrived at the gate tower to receive orders, bringing seven or eight minor officials with them. Several military commanders under Wang Shantang had come along as well.
Aside from these local officials, more than thirty unfamiliar faces sat in the main hall. They merely drank tea and conversed quietly, while Li Yan and his three boy attendants sat near the entrance.
The magistrate and the others did not know any of these people, but according to Wang Shantang, these thirty-odd strangers had come expressly from the Capital to carry out the emperor's orders, capture criminals, and search for Prince Huai.
In truth, this pretext was rather strained. Judging by their appearances, habits, physiques, and so on, these people looked nothing like "Capital officials." They had neither presented documents nor communicated with the local officials, instead gathering around Wang Shantang to await orders. All of this was highly irregular.
Still, even a small pond could harbor great trouble. These wretched officials of Funan County were all old hands operating in a bandit-ridden region. Though the magistrate sensed something was wrong, he dared neither ask nor say much.
Dozens of people crowded the hall, some seated, others standing.
Wang Shantang stood in the center with his hands behind his back, surveying the officials as he declared in a strong voice, "By imperial command, I am to capture the criminals who infiltrated Immortality Mountain and locate Qingliang Prefecture's Little Prince Huai within one day. Half that time has already passed, yet we have found nothing. If I fail to fulfill my orders, you may all face His Majesty's punishment as well."
Everyone remained silent.
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures." Wang Shantang raised his eyebrows and said sternly, "Meng