Chapter Forty-One: Starting the Job

"My name is Yang Huanchang. May I ask what yours is, brother?" A youth of eighteen or nineteen years, grinning cheekily, sauntered over.

"Qin Feng," Qin Yi replied.

"So it's Brother Qin! To have reached the third stage at such a young age—truly a model for us all," Yang Huanchang declared, his face full of admiration.

Qin Yi only smiled, offering no further reply.

It was clear Yang Huanchang was one of those naturally sociable types, chattering away without pause. The other newcomers also gathered round, eager to make acquaintances.

Soon after, several more people entered. The middle-aged man spoke: "You few, come with me. You’ll be assigned temporarily to the Twelfth Squad. I’ll take you to meet your captain!"

The group followed him into the rear courtyard.

Before long, they arrived at a yard where over thirty burly men in constable attire were busy practicing their martial arts.

"Is Captain Lei here?" the middle-aged man called out.

Soon, two men emerged from the building—one in his thirties with a square jaw, the other about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, a long scar marking his face.

"Ah, if it isn’t Inspector Yuan. Our captain has gone to a meeting and hasn’t returned yet. Have you brought us new recruits?" The square-jawed man, Ding Wanhao, greeted him with a cupped fist.

"Yes. Since Captain Lei isn’t here, I’ll leave them in your care. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave," Yuan Chuanfu replied coolly.

"Safe travels, Inspector Yuan—we won’t see you out," Ding Wanhao said politely.

With Inspector Yuan gone, Ding Wanhao surveyed the eight newcomers, his voice stern. "My name is Ding Wanhao. Beside me is Cheng Dong. We are both vice-captains of the Twelfth Squad. Now that you’re with us, you must obey orders absolutely. Otherwise—hmph! I trust none of you wish to learn the consequences of insubordination. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal clear!" they replied in unison.

"Introduce yourselves, and state your martial rank! You first," Ding Wanhao indicated Yang Huanchang.

"Yang Huanchang, second stage."

"Next."

"Liu Qiang, first stage."

"Li Tengyun, second stage."

Soon, it was Qin Yi’s turn.

"Qin Feng, third stage."

"Third stage? Not bad!" Ding Wanhao and Cheng Dong exchanged glances of mild surprise.

Some of the veteran constables in the yard also looked over with interest.

"Very well. Little Wang, take them to collect their uniforms and sabers!" Ding Wanhao called out.

"Yes, Vice-Captain Ding," Wang Xishan replied with a nod. "Follow me!"

They trailed after Wang Xishan toward the storeroom.

On the way, Yang Huanchang sidled up to him. "Brother Wang, what’s the name of our squad captain?"

"Our captain is Lei Yongyuan," Wang Xishan replied.

"Brother Wang, could you tell us a bit about the constabulary here in the county seat?" someone else asked.

"Of course," Wang Xishan replied with an easy smile. He seemed a genial sort.

"Our county constables are divided into twenty squads, numbered one through twenty. We’re the Twelfth Squad. Each squad is ideally fifty men strong, with one captain and two vice-captains.

"A few months ago, we only had ten squads. But with rebel forces cropping up throughout the county and security in town growing tense, the magistrate created ten more squads.

"The Chief Constable and two Deputy Chiefs oversee everything. Beneath them are ten Division Captains, each currently managing two squads…" Wang Xishan explained patiently.

"Brother Wang, who’s the Division Captain over our Twelfth Squad?" Yang Huanchang asked, his curiosity piqued. The others all listened intently.

"That would be Captain He Xiongjian."

"What about his strength? And our three squad leaders?" another inquired.

"Captain He is said to be at the seventh stage. Captain Lei is sixth stage, and the vice-captains are both fourth stage," Wang Xishan answered.

"What about the Chief and the Deputy Chiefs?" Yang Huanchang pressed.

"They rarely reveal their strength, so I can’t say," Wang Xishan replied, shaking his head.

"I see…"

Soon, they had collected their constable uniforms, along with standard-issue sabers and badge pendants.

Returning to the courtyard, they found the constables of the Twelfth Squad assembling in neat lines.

"That’s our Captain Lei," Wang Xishan murmured quietly.

As Ding Wanhao spotted Qin Yi and the other newcomers, he barked, "Quickly, fall in line!"

"Yes, sir," they replied, hastening to join the ranks, mimicking the veterans.

Once over forty men stood assembled, Lei Yongyuan spoke in a deep voice: "Hear this—everyone is to follow me to Vermilion Bird Street in the southern city, to cooperate with the City Guards! Move out now!"

He strode out first, the two vice-captains urging the others to follow.

"Seriously? We get a mission the moment we arrive?" Yang Huanchang muttered under his breath.

Qin Yi, following at the rear, thought to himself, "If we’re assisting the City Guards, this must be no trivial matter…"

Exiting the courtyard, they saw another group pouring out from the neighboring yard. The two squads merged, led by a stern middle-aged man, heading toward Vermilion Bird Street.

"Who’s that?" someone in the crowd asked Wang Xishan.

"That’s Captain He Xiongjian, Division Captain for both the Eleventh and Twelfth Squads," Wang Xishan replied.

Arriving near Vermilion Bird Street, Qin Yi saw the entire street surrounded by soldiers in City Guard armor. From within, faint shouts and sounds of battle could be heard.

"Captain Lei, Captain Liu—you are to take your squads and seal off Huarong Street next door. Arrest anyone suspicious. If they resist, show no mercy!" He Xiongjian commanded.

"Yes, Captain!"

With that, He Xiongjian dashed toward Vermilion Bird Street.

"Twelfth Squad, with me!" Lei Yongyuan led the way quickly to Huarong Street, the others following close behind.

On Huarong Street, Lei Yongyuan gave orders: "Seal off the entire street. The residents are to remain indoors for inspection—no one is to wander about!"

Order after order was issued.

Soon, it was Qin Yi and the other newcomers’ turn.

"Wang Xishan, take these eight newcomers and guard the exit to that alley," Ding Wanhao instructed.

"Yes, sir. You lot, follow me," Wang Xishan said, leading Qin Yi and the rest to the mouth of a small alley.

Nearly a hundred constables soon had the entire Huarong Street under lockdown.

"Brother Wang, who are we after with such a big operation?" Yang Huanchang asked in a hushed voice, eyeing the scene.

"I don’t know either. With a deployment like this, everyone had better be on guard," Wang Xishan replied, worry on his face.

At that moment, the shouts and clashes from Vermilion Bird Street grew ever louder.