If you traveled back to ancient times, while others ate Guanyin clay, you would actually have giant

"Rely on? Salt? Didn't the people sent to Qingyang County last time say that the Hu people's caravan was carrying away salt?"

Lu Zhengpeng seemed to remember something and quickly asked the person in front of him.

"Yes, patriarch, we have already sent people to Qingyang County, but so far we have not found any useful clues."

"It must be, it must be! Our Emperor must have found the salt and set a trap for us."

"What? Then we've fallen into a trap?"

"Heh, so what if they fell into the trap? So what if they found the salt? My Lu family is one of the eight great families. Do you think we're afraid of these peasants?"

In this era, powerful families held absolute authority. Dynasties may change, but these families persisted—that was the nature of powerful families. Having existed for hundreds of years, these families had seen it all and simply didn't care about ordinary people.

Although he already knew it was a setup, Lu Zhengpeng was not afraid and continued to do as he pleased, until the public's anger reached its peak.

. . . . . .

More and more people are being driven out of the general store every day, and more and more people are going hungry for salt. The news about the epidemic in Dazi is as unpredictable as the weather.

The spies mingling in the crowd were already stirring up public sentiment.

"If the powerful families won't give us a way out, we'll fight them."

"Salt rush!"

"The pandemic is here~~~"

“Go~~~”

Countless people rushed into the general store, looting and robbing. The few shop assistants and the manager were no match for them. The smart ones, seeing things were getting out of hand, quickly ran away. Then, the enraged crowd stormed directly to the Lu residence.

"This is the Lu family mansion. They're taking advantage of the situation to raise prices so that everyone can't afford salt. The mansion is now overflowing with money, all earned with our blood and sweat. Let's charge!"

The vermilion gates, a testament to the house's opulence, were now crammed with simply dressed commoners, who were scrambling to loot inside.

The servants didn't dare to stop them. Didn't they see that the servants who had tried to stop them were now lying on the ground, their fate unknown, after being attacked by the enraged villagers?

"Stop! Stop! Stop it! These are all members of the Lu family! Where are our people?!"

"Master, our people are outside the city; it will take some more time."

It's an open secret that powerful families maintain numerous private armies to protect their safety and property. However, most of these armies are outside the city and are simply too late to come to their aid.

"Report to the authorities! Quickly report to the authorities and have them bring troops to kill all these troublemakers."

Lu Zhengpeng, the patriarch of the Lu family, never imagined that he would one day take the initiative to report to the authorities. However, he did not know that the government had already discovered everything that had happened in the Lu family. However, the higher-ups had issued an order that all soldiers and yamen runners in the capital were not allowed to go out on the streets for the next few days.

At this time, the entire capital was filled with the Imperial Guards led by Gu Xinyuan and the Qingyang Army led by Zhou Wu. Gu Xinyuan even deliberately arranged for the Qingyang Army to be stationed near the Lu residence.

"Listen up, everyone! His Majesty has decreed that a curfew will be imposed earlier than scheduled today. Anyone who disobeys will be arrested, and those who resist will be executed."

"Yes~"

The three thousand soldiers of the Qingyang Army had been cooped up on the ship for several days, and now they could finally get off the ship and breathe some fresh air. Moreover, the fact that their trip to the capital was by imperial decree boosted the morale of the Qingyang Army.

The curfew bell rang ahead of schedule, echoing throughout the capital. Everyone was startled at first, and then began to pack their things and hurry home.

"Is there another war?"

An old man who ran a stall was puzzled. Since the founding of the Great Dragon Kingdom, there have been very few instances of early curfews, and each time it was due to war. Could it be that another war has broken out?

Regardless of the reason, no one stopped working; they quickly packed up, closed the shop, and carried their loads home.

Soon there wasn't a single pedestrian left on the street.

"Ten people per group, each patrolling their own area. We must do as His Majesty requires, no matter who the other party is. I will take responsibility if there are any problems."

"Yes."

In the capital, there are bound to be people with special status, but today, no matter how special their status is, they must all make way.

Zhou Wu personally led several teams of men to the outskirts of the Lu residence. The people, who were already in a frenzy of looting, paid no attention to the curfew bells.

However, Zhou Wu simply led his troops to watch from a distance, showing no intention of going up to help.

"Big brother, when are we going up?"

"No rush. We'll make our move after we've looted enough. But we must send our brothers to retrieve the money that the common people have stolen. It's all His Majesty's money."

"Brother, don't worry."

Lu Mansion.

"Master, there are soldiers outside."

"They've finally arrived, haha. Whoever leads the troops, tell them that as long as they arrest these troublemakers and get the money back for me, I will reward them handsomely."

Upon hearing the master's order, the servant immediately went to find the Qingyang Army outside.

"Which army are you from, and who is your commander?"

For a servant to dare speak to the army so arrogantly shows that he is used to being arrogant.

As darkness fell, a clap of thunder suddenly rang out.

"No one is allowed to wander the streets of the capital during the curfew. Those who disobey will be imprisoned, and those who resist will be beheaded."

Zhou Wu looked at the little scumbag in front of him with disdain, while Niu Er's voice was as loud as a bell in the downpour.

"Do you know that I am from the Lu family..."

"Men, tie him up."

Before the man could finish speaking, Niu Er ordered his men to tie him up. The servants of the Lu family, who were not far away, were terrified when they saw this scene and went inside to report the news.

"Master, something terrible has happened! Those soldiers have kidnapped our people!"

"What? How dare you! Who is leading this army?"

"That person was a complete stranger, and the soldiers' uniforms didn't look like those of the capital's army."

"What?! It's not the army from the capital. It seems our Emperor has put some thought into dealing with the Lu family."

Lu Zhengpeng felt a chill run down his spine.

At this very moment, the private army that the Lu family had been keeping outside the city had entered the capital and was now in a standoff with the Qingyang Army.

“Those who wield weapons in the capital shall be whipped twenty times; those who resist shall be beheaded. All shall lay down their weapons.”

These assassins are brainwashed and trained from childhood, and have no concept of royal authority or law; they only have their own lord.

"kill"

Their master's house was right in front of them, being robbed by a mob, while they themselves were being blocked by government soldiers. They had no choice but to fight back.

"Array."

This was the first time Zhou Wu had ever seen someone so reckless; it turned out that wealthy and powerful families really did have such people as suicide squads.

Because this trip to the capital involved street fighting, the Qingyang Army abandoned their horses and instead used shields. The first two ranks of soldiers raised their shields to form a defensive line, while the third and fourth ranks of soldiers raised their crossbows and aimed to fire.

A rain of arrows felled a large number of soldiers on the spot. The other assassins were also highly skilled, leaping left and right and scattering to the rooftops. Zhou Wu's side was unable to do anything to them for the time being.