A thunderous sound of hooves echoed through the long street, reaching all the way to the gate of the Northern Garrison Commandery.
Two Jin Yi Wei guards on duty looked intently, only to see several fast horses galloping towards them from afar, reaching the gate in a flash.
The leading figure wore a Jin Yi Wei uniform and a flying fish robe, with a brocade-embroidered spring-leaf sword hanging from his waist, his sword eyebrows and star-like eyes as sharp as a dragon, it was none other than Chen Ran!
Behind him were Shen Lian, Lu Jian Xing, Jin Yi Chuan, and Ding Xiu.
The five riders on five fast horses didn't even stop at the gate of the Northern Garrison Commandery, but rode straight through!
The two Jin Yi Wei guards were stunned and their faces turned pale.
“Is this Chen Ran too arrogant?!”
“Exactly, he's just a hundred-household captain, how dare he ride his horse through the bustling market, and even refuse to dismount at the gate of the Northern Garrison Commandery!”
Chen Ran didn't even hear their words, he continued galloping directly into the hall of the Northern Garrison Commandery.
A group of Jin Yi Wei were shocked and their faces changed dramatically upon seeing Chen Ran riding straight in.
The Northern Garrison Commandery had strict ranks and hierarchy. Although Chen Ran was a hundred-household captain, there was still the Left Thousand-household Captain in charge of the Northern Garrison Commandery above him. If the Left Thousand-household Captain were to get angry, he could easily charge Chen Ran with disrespecting his superiors and breaking the law, stripping him of his hundred-household captain position at any time!
“Has Chen Ran gone mad?”
“A dry sky invites rain, a reckless person invites disaster, this kid's hundred-household captain position is coming to an end!”
“Yes, he’s only been a hundred-household captain for a few days, and he’s already so arrogant, he doesn't even put the Left Thousand-household Captain in his eyes!”
The Left Thousand-household Captain, with a gloomy face, walked out from the hall, his eyes icy as he looked at Chen Ran:
“Chen Hundred-household Captain, you dare to ride your horse straight into the Northern Garrison Commandery, do you still have any respect for me as a Thousand-household Captain, or for the laws of the court?!”
He roared in anger:
“Bring men, knock these five reckless fools off their horses, and arrest them immediately!”
As soon as the Left Thousand-household Captain gave the order, the Jin Yi Wei eagerly prepared to surround them.
Chen Ran sneered and roared:
“Who dares?!”
He pulled out Han Kuang's warrant and Thousand-household Captain badge from his sleeve:
“By order of the Grand Secretary Han, I am now acting as the Thousand-household Captain of the Northern Garrison Commandery. All Jin Yi Wei on duty are to immediately follow my orders!”
The Left Thousand-household Captain's face turned pale with shock.
He was the Thousand-household Captain of the Northern Garrison Commandery, but how come he was suddenly pushed aside without knowing it?!
If Chen Ran was acting as the Thousand-household Captain of the Northern Garrison Commandery, then what was there left for him to do?!
Chen Ran retrieved the warrant and badge, and roared again:
“All Jin Yi Wei listen up!”
Seeing this, the Jin Yi Wei hurriedly responded in unison:
“Yes!”
“Guard the Left Thousand-household Captain, leave a few here to stand guard, the rest of you follow me to capture the Jurchens spies and the traitor Zhao Jing Zhong!”
The crowd was struck by lightning.
Zhao Gonggong, who was in charge of the East Factory and the Northern Garrison Commandery, was a traitor who colluded with the enemy?!
No wonder they had to guard the Left Thousand-household Captain!
He was the Thousand-household Captain in charge of the Northern Garrison Commandery under Zhao Jing Zhong, and with Zhao Jing Zhong's downfall, he was bound to be implicated!
And now Chen Ran was acting as the Thousand-household Captain of the Northern Garrison Commandery, it seemed like he was going to become the actual Thousand-household Captain!
Thinking of this, the Jin Yi Wei went from fear and suspicion to respect and obedience:
“Yes! We obey Chen Thousand-household Captain’s orders!”
Several Jin Yi Wei immediately stepped forward, disarmed the Left Thousand-household Captain, grabbed his arms, and dragged him to the detention room.
Chen Ran turned to Shen Lian:
“Shen Lian, Lu Jian Xing, you two take a hundred Jin Yi Wei to Tianfu Fragrance Restaurant and arrest the Jurchens spies!”
“Yes!”
Shen Lian and Lu Jian Xing responded, and then they led a hundred elite Jin Yi Wei towards Tianfu Fragrance Restaurant in the eastern city.
Chen Ran turned to Jin Yi Chuan and Ding Xiu:
“Yi Chuan, Ding Xiu, you two come with me to arrest Zhao Jing Zhong!”
“Yes!”
Jin Yi Chuan and Ding Xiu responded, then they led over a hundred elite Jin Yi Wei towards Zhao Jing Zhong’s residence.
The capital was once again in turmoil.
From time to time, large groups of people rushed out of the Northern Garrison Commandery, shocking the surrounding citizens.
“What kind of chaos is this?!”
“I don’t know, probably just catching another eunuch!”
Soon, Chen Ran and his group arrived at the gate of Zhao Jing Zhong’s residence.
Han Kuang, riding a fast horse, had also arrived with the Emperor Chongzhen’s decree.
Chongzhen, who was usually indecisive and prone to change, had no hesitation this time after receiving Han Kuang’s secret report, and immediately ordered him to arrest Zhao Jing Zhong.
Han Kuang saw Chen Ran and smiled:
“Chen Ran, you’re pretty quick!”
Chen Ran bowed and said:
“I dare not delay, after obtaining the Northern Garrison Commandery’s troops, I immediately led them here!”
Han Kuang nodded, turned to Han Chen and others guarding Zhao Jing Zhong’s gate and said loudly:
“By the Emperor’s order, arrest Zhao Jing Zhong immediately!”
“Yes!”
Han Chen responded and led a group of Imperial Guards into Zhao Jing Zhong’s mansion.
Han Kuang looked at Chen Ran and said with a slight smile:
“It’s just an eunuch, Han Chen and his men can handle it.”
Chen Ran knew that Han Chen was the Thousand-household Captain in charge of the capital’s Imperial Guards, and was also Han Kuang’s confidant. Han Kuang would inevitably want Han Chen to get some credit for arresting Zhao Jing Zhong.
However, in Chen Ran’s opinion, Han Chen might not be able to get this credit!
As expected, after entering for a while, Han Chen ran out quickly:
“Report to my lord, Zhao Jing Zhong is nowhere to be found in the mansion! He has disappeared!”
Han Kuang’s face changed dramatically upon hearing this.
They had already obtained all the evidence, Chen Ran had also captured the Jurchens spies, and all that was left was to capture the traitor Zhao Jing Zhong.
But he had escaped?
If he really escaped, and took with him the defense map of the Beijing area and the manufacturing methods of the red-clothed cannon, Emperor Chongzhen would definitely be furious!
Han Chen quickly said:
“My lord, don’t worry, I have ordered everyone to strictly guard all the city gates and thoroughly inspect all those leaving the city. I believe Zhao Jing Zhong won’t be able to escape!”
Han Kuang’s face was slightly blue as he gritted his teeth and said:
“Immediately search the entire city and make sure you capture Zhao Jing Zhong!”
“Yes!”
Han Chen bowed and accepted the order, then he led a group of Imperial Guards to start a city-wide manhunt.
The whole thing was actually within Chen Ran’s expectations.
Seeing Han Kuang’s rage, Chen Ran said:
“Lord Han, Zhao Jing Zhong is a cunning rabbit with many burrows, he must have other hiding places. I will go and search immediately!”
Han Kuang nodded, his eyes filled with hope and approval as he looked at Chen Ran:
“The Jin Yi Wei are experts at capturing criminals, I’ll rely on you for this matter. Make sure you bring back Zhao Jing Zhong, the defense map of the Beijing area, and the manufacturing methods of the red-clothed cannon. After you succeed, I will report your merits to the Emperor!”
“Then I’ll guarantee you become the Thousand-household Captain of the Northern Garrison Commandery!”
“Let’s put the matter of merit aside for now, I only want to relieve the Emperor and you, my lord, of your worries. If I fail to capture Zhao Jing Zhong, I will voluntarily die for my sins!”
Chen Ran’s words were firm and powerful, righteous and noble, moving Han Kuang’s heart.
Watching Chen Ran’s resolute figure leave, Han Kuang couldn’t help but sigh:
“Loyal and righteous, he is a true loyal and righteous servant of the Great Ming!”