Yongxin Hou pondered for a moment and nodded, "It seems to make sense. Then today we'll take Hao Wei away first. Three days later, the Hao family can go find Xie Jiang and have a good talk, asking Xie Jiang to repent and surrender himself to the yamen."
Fang Yuchun's forehead wrinkles deepened, "Marquis Yongxin, why are you adding to the chaos!"
Was it possible for the Hao family to go to the Nanhai Marquis's mansion to fight in three days? It would be good enough if the Hao family's guards didn't kneel when they saw Xie Jiang in the future, let alone expect them to fight Xie Jiang after being so terrified.
But the Hao family were civil officials.
Resolving matters with real swords and guns was something a fool like Hao Wei would do.
Civil officials had always been those who killed without drawing blood.
Then it would be another mess.
Who would ultimately bear the consequences of provoking the Emperor's wrath?
In any case, Shuntian Prefecture, caught in the middle, would definitely not fare well!
Marquis Yongxin said indifferently, "Isn't it just letting Hao Wei spend three more days in prison? He stirred up all these consecutive incidents. He's not wronged by spending three more days in prison."
Was this simply a matter of spending three more days in prison! Could this matter be so clearly and completely resolved without any loose ends! The more it was pulled, the more uncontrollable the situation would become! And then Shuntian Prefecture would still have to clean up this mess!
"Whether it was Hao Wei causing trouble at the Xie residence..." Fang Yuchun couldn't follow Xie Jiang's lead and insist that Hao Wei was going to assassinate him. Even if Hao Wei was indeed going to assassinate him, it was ultimately an unsuccessful assassination attempt, so it was best to downplay the matter.
"Or the Nanhai Marquis assaulting a court official and forcibly demolishing a court official's residence, the impact is extremely severe and must be punished according to the law as a warning to others!"
"How can you let the two families run amok! Making a scene at the Hao residence today, and then going to the Nanhai Marquis's mansion to fight tomorrow, what do you think this looks like!"
Fang Yuchun glared at Marquis Yongxin. It was one thing for the Patrol Battalion to refuse to get involved, but how could they stir up trouble in the process. "I must take Hao Wei away today, and the Nanhai Marquis must also accompany me!"
Xie Jiang stroked his chin with his finger, as if considering.
Fang Yuchun continued to wink at Xie Jiang, assuring him that it was just a formality and that the treatment could be discussed, as long as the matter could be resolved quickly.
The sooner it was resolved, the better.
Because he suddenly remembered something crucial: the delegation from Lan Yong would be arriving in the capital in a few days.
Anyone could see how much the Emperor valued the allegiance of the four southern continents!
The anticipation for the Lan Yong delegation's arrival was like rain after a long drought!
If Xie Jiang and the Hao family caused an unresolvable situation at this time, delaying the Emperor's achievement in assimilating the four southern continents, all eighteen generations of the Hao family's ancestors would be ground to dust! And everyone in Shuntian Prefecture would also suffer a terrible fate!
The Patrol Battalion would also not escape blame!
Fang Yuchun gave Marquis Yongxin a death stare.
Marquis Yongxin seemed to understand and looked at Xie Jiang, saying, "How about you, kid, go with them?"
Fang Yuchun quickly said, "Go with them, go with them, you must go with them!"
Xie Jiang said indifferently, "Then I'll go."
Magistrate Huo hurriedly urged the soldier carrying Hao Wei to leave quickly, quickly!
The soldier immediately left with Hao Wei. If they lingered any longer, it was unknown if they would still be able to leave.
"Nanhai Marquis, please." Fang Yuchun wished he could call in a few more soldiers to carry Xie Jiang away.
"No hurry, wait until Da Chui and the others finish demolishing the back courtyard before leaving." Xie Jiang said.
"What?!" Fang Yuchun's nostrils flared with smoke.
"Since we're going to face legal sanctions anyway, demolishing one more room is a gain." Xie Jiang said.
Fang Yuchun: "..."
This logic actually had no flaws!
Old Master Hao had just cursed, "Arrogant villain!" and then coughed, unable to speak.
"Such depravity and heinousness, sooner or later you'll be struck by lightning and die a terrible death..."
Old Madam Hao wanted to curse again, but Luo Tie chillingly reminded them, "Do you still want your mouths gagged?"
That tattered underpants were still emitting a noxious odor nearby, forcing Old Madam Hao to swallow her words.
Xie Jiang said to Fang Yuchun, "If you have something to do, Lord Fang, go ahead and attend to it. I'll be there after sitting here for a while longer."
Fang Yuchun tiptoed and looked towards the back courtyard. Apart from the sounds of 'bang bang bang' and 'kuang kuang kuang', all he could see was the dust swirling in the air.
"I think it's almost done..." How big was the Hao residence in total? Did they really intend to leave nothing behind?
It wasn't that he was worried about the Hao family being left homeless if all the houses were demolished. Families like the Hao family, besides this residence, had properties and estates in other places.
Xie Jiang ordered the demolition of the houses simply to vent his anger and to insult the entire Hao family. After demolishing so many courtyards of the Hao family, he still wasn't appeased? The insult was already enough.
There was no need to demolish them so meticulously, was there?
Xie Jiang called a subordinate to check on the progress of the house demolition.
After a while, the subordinate returned and reported that only two small courtyards were left.
Only then did Xie Jiang leave the Hao residence under Fang Yuchun's veiled urging.
As he walked to the门口, he even told Nie Tong to instruct the kitchen to prepare good wine and meat upon returning to the mansion to reward everyone for their efforts.
How infuriating.
Before leaving, Fang Yuchun specifically comforted the old couple of the Hao family, lest they become even more upset after they left and something untoward happened.
Although the incident today was a major one, fortunately, no lives were lost. But if anything were to happen, it would be another troublesome matter.
Fang Yuchun instructed the servants of the Hao family to take good care of Old Master Hao and Old Madam Hao, and sent people to invite nearby doctors.
The male members of the Hao family had all been beaten quite badly today. The only ones still able to stand were the servants in the back courtyard.
Fortunately, the third and fourth masters of the Hao family, several young masters who had been assigned duties, and the young master who had gone to school, probably because they hadn't received the news yet, didn't return in time today, which could be considered good luck.
Otherwise, given Xie Jiang's arrogant and overbearing nature, he would have definitely beaten them all up. Just thinking about the scene of all the male members of the Hao family being beaten without exception.
Fang Yuchun was now also somewhat looking forward to the allegiance of the Lan Yong Xie clan.
If the Xie clan's capital was not substantial enough, how could Xie Jiang dare to act so recklessly.
Gradually, residents from the vicinity, or pure busybodies, came to watch and inquire about the situation inside the Hao mansion.
The Patrol Battalion and Shuntian Prefecture's soldiers dispersed wave after wave of onlookers.
When Xie Jiang and his entourage emerged from the Hao residence, it was relatively quiet outside the Hao residence, with only a few people peeking from afar.
The group mounted their horses.
Marquis Yongxin took the soldiers of the Patrol Battalion and left halfway.
As they neared the Shuntian Prefecture yamen, Fang Yuchun discovered that the young dandies were still following.
"Why are you following us to Shuntian Prefecture? Are you all accomplices? Are you all on Xie Jiang's side?"
Han Zhao was about to admit it, but Xie Jiang stopped him with a look. Why would he get involved in such a matter?
Ruan Ziji really wanted to be imprisoned with Xie Jiang. The opportunity to spend time together day and night was not something that came along often, but seeing Xie Jiang's look, he obediently changed his words.
"Our attendants are waiting outside. What can we do? Lord Fang, you've seen it yourself. We're just following to watch the excitement. Is watching the excitement also illegal?"
Lou Yue asked, "We are good friends with Xie Jiang. Wherever Xie Jiang goes, we want to follow. Is Xie Jiang going to be imprisoned? Can we go together then?"
Fang Yuchun said impatiently, "The Shuntian Prefecture prison is very spacious. If you want to go in and squat, we will definitely reserve a spot for you, but once you go in, you will be accomplices!"
Lou Yue pouted and rolled his eyes.
They arrived at the Shuntian Prefecture yamen.
The group of young dandies watched Xie Jiang enter, and after a long while, they looked at each other and reluctantly prepared to leave.
Unexpectedly, as soon as they mounted their horses and rode a few steps, they saw dozens of people, grandly heading towards Shuntian Prefecture.