Beside the Prince of Northern Liang's Residence.
There was a teahouse here, and those seated inside had a clear view of the residence's main gate.
Quite a few people had gathered here, all watching for movement from the residence, because word that the heir had awakened had long since spread. Everyone knew one thing: now that he was awake, the heir would certainly make a move.
The heir was Northern Liang City's notorious little tyrant. This time, someone had tried to assassinate him, and he would never let the matter rest. This could well affect the situation in Northern Liang City, so they all wanted to see what the heir would do next.
But after a long wait without any movement, they grew bored and could not help discussing it.
"If you ask me, those people were just asking for trouble. What did the heir ever do to them? Our heir might not be wise and capable, but he's never harmed the common people."
"That's true. Sometimes the heir even upholds justice. Why would those damned bastards try to assassinate him?"
"Hmph, I heard the heir's already awake. He'll definitely take revenge. They're all dead."
"Revenge, my ass. I heard even the Northern Liang Guard hasn't found out who the assassins were. Even if the heir's furious, he has nowhere to vent it. If you see him today, don't get on his bad side, or you'll get caught up in it."
"What? They still haven't caught the assassins? Then someone tried to kill the heir and they're just getting away with it?"
Hearing this inside information, everyone froze for a moment. They still had not found the assassins even now. Would the heir have to swallow this grievance?
Just as everyone was waiting for an outcome, the residence's main gates suddenly swung open. A fully armed force charged out, heading straight for the eastern part of Northern Liang City.
Their murderous air made it clear that they were going to kill someone.
The people waiting here were stunned by the sight. What was going on? Why had they sent out troops straightaway? Wasn't this a little excessive?
"What's going on? The residence has sent out troops?"
"Isn't that obvious? Someone tried to assassinate the heir. With his temper, do you think he'd just put up with it?"
"The heir repays every slight. I wonder who tried to assassinate him this time. They really had some nerve!"
"Whoever it was, the heir looks truly furious this time. Those troops were enough to fight a small battle, yet they're being used to catch assassins. You can imagine how angry the heir is."
Everyone speculated about whom this cavalry force was targeting.
With a cavalry force of that size charging in, probably no one could withstand it. Northern Liang City was bound to descend into turmoil.
Inside the prefect's residence!
Huang Yuntao, who had just returned from outside, was utterly bewildered, stunned by the news his deputy prefect gave him.
"What? You're saying the heir sent out troops?"
He truly had not known about this. Over the past few days, he had been doing everything he could to track down the assassins, leaving him mentally and physically exhausted. He had been agonizing over how to account for this, only for the prince's residence to send out troops directly.
Had they already identified the culprit?
He could not help frowning. "Zigao, what exactly happened? Why has the Prince of Northern Liang's Residence sent out troops?"
"Prefect, earlier, the residence sent over the heir's written order, asking us to join forces to wipe out bandits. But you weren't here, so I only sent a hundred or so men. The rest are still investigating the assassins," Ji Zigao explained.
"The heir ordered us to join forces to wipe out bandits?"
Huang Yuntao was slightly taken aback by this request. What bandits?
Wait!
He quickly realized something, and his expression abruptly changed. "This is bad. Something seems wrong. How many men did the residence send out this time?"
He instinctively sensed something amiss. The heir probably was not after the assassins, but had another objective.
After all, Han Song had been asking him to investigate the assassins earlier, which meant they did not know anything about them either. How could they suddenly have information? Something was clearly wrong.
"Nothing seems wrong. Apparently, over a thousand cavalry set out. They seem to be heading east," Ji Zigao said with a frown, not understanding what the prefect meant.
East?
Huang Yuntao's pupils contracted. The Heavenly Eagle Guard had been active there before. Was the heir sending over a thousand cavalry against the Heavenly Eagle Guard?
Or were the assassins members of the Heavenly Eagle Guard?
No, the Heavenly Eagle Guard wasn't worth such a massive operation. The heir probably had something much bigger in mind.
At this thought, he gritted his teeth. "Recall everyone hunting the assassins. Send them all to support the heir. Don't leave a single man behind!"
"What do you mean? We're not investigating the assassins anymore?" Ji Zigao paused, looking puzzled.
"Investigate, my ass!"
Huang Yuntao glared at him and said gravely, "The heir isn't trying to catch the assassins at all. He's clearly going to wipe out everyone under suspicion. That way, who the assassins actually are won't matter anymore."
"What? The heir's going to kill them all?"
Hearing this, Ji Zigao could not help staring, dumbfounded. Did this mean the assassins had angered the heir, so he would wipe out anyone under suspicion?
Heavens!
That was far too insane!
If he did that, impeachment memorials would probably pile up at court. He would practically be making an enemy of the entire world.
"Hmph!"
Huang Yuntao glanced at him and sneered. "So what? This is Northern Liang. Someone tried to assassinate the heir of Northern Liang, and he's not even allowed to catch the assassins? Even the emperor can't interfere!"
Northern Liang was the Prince of Northern Liang's territory. Even the emperor had to yield somewhat here. Killing a few people was nothing.
Unless the emperor resolved to kill the Prince of Northern Liang, no one would dare trouble the heir over this matter.
Rather than earn the heir's resentment, he might as well go along with him.
As the prefect of Yongzhou, he was one of the Prince of Northern Liang's men. If he did not make a gesture now, he would offend the future Prince of Northern Liang. That would be true stupidity.
News soon arrived, leaving both men dumbfounded. The prefect had guessed correctly.
[The Heavenly Eagle Guard's base was wiped out, with over two hundred killed.]
[Snow Cloud Manor outside the city was wiped out. Its owner was reportedly a barbarian.]
[The tavern by the city entrance was destroyed. The Northern Liang Guard killed over a hundred people.]
[Blue Flower Brothel was wiped out. It was reportedly a force from the Western Regions.]
[Over two thousand bandits were wiped out in total.]
Ji Zigao could not help drawing a deep breath. He smiled bitterly. "What an heir of Northern Liang. Probably no one could have imagined he'd suddenly launch an operation this big!"
The scale was simply terrifying. He was purging Northern Liang City!
"Hahaha! Now that's the heir of Northern Liang!" Rather than becoming angry, Huang Yuntao laughed. Someone so decisive in killing was a worthy heir of Northern Liang.
This was a place where people lived on the edge of a blade. Only someone like this could inherit Northern Liang. Otherwise, Northern Liang would probably be finished.
For some time to come, however, he would have to help clean up the heir's mess to prevent any lingering trouble.
In fact, it was not just the prefect's residence that was stunned. Everyone else in Northern Liang City was dumbfounded too.
Those who had been preparing to enjoy the spectacle turned deathly pale. Anyone who was not a fool could see that the heir was purging Northern Liang City.
If so, they too might be among those facing the purge.