Li Qingchen had yet to bring the armored soldiers back. In fact, on the very day he left, the situation in Huankou Town had already begun showing signs of slipping out of control.
There was no helping it. The order of the martial world had held sway in Huankou Town for five or six years. Suddenly replacing it with the court's order, even temporarily, was bound to provoke resistance and conflict. And this was undoubtedly the responsibility of Zhang Xing, Zhang White Ribbon. He had to bring the situation under control as quickly as possible. Otherwise, with so many martial-world figures crowded into this place, never mind unrest-even his own life as Zhang Sanlang would be in danger.
Thus, on the second day after Li Qingchen's departure, despite having far too few Brocade-Clad Cavalry under his command, and with the Zuo Brothers still commanding overwhelming military strength in Huankou Town, Zhang Xing walked out of the three-story pavilion the Longwhale Gang had arranged for him. Formally and publicly, in the name of an imperial envoy, he demanded that the Longwhale Gang cease all activities, seal its buildings, surrender its account books and warehouses, and provide a list of every member of the gang.
His exact words were:
"The court has received reports from public-spirited citizens alleging that the Longwhale Gang has committed grave offenses, including colluding with the bandits of Mount Mangdang, stealing what it was entrusted to guard, trafficking in illicit salt, and smuggling goods to Dongyi and Demon Island. By command of the Southern Office, the matter has been transferred to the Jing'an Directorate for investigation. Lord Cao, Intendant of the Jing'an Directorate, has issued a further command assigning the Second Patrol Team to investigate exclusively. Now that the Patrol Group has arrived, all public and private business