Han Mo had already spoken, and whether Lü Ying was willing or not, he had no room to retreat at this moment.
Turning, he drew his saber from his horse and walked swaggeringly towards the man who looked like a steward.
"County Lieutenant Lü, why have you come!"
As the county lieutenant of this Neihuang line, the steward-like man immediately stepped forward as Lü Ying walked into the crowd, a fawning smile appearing on his face.
"Don't try to get close to me, you old bastard. Lin Laosi, your case is here. The Master has ordered that you and your ilk have oppressed the common people, fleeced the villagers, extorted and usurped property, and taken people's land. You will accompany me to the county office!"
Han Mo was still watching from behind, so Lü Ying spoke with utmost arrogance.
"County Lieutenant Lü, you can't be joking with me, can you?"
Hearing Lü Ying's words, Lin Laosi was stunned.
In past years, they hadn't done things like this, just not so openly or on such a large scale.
The reason for such a grand display today was entirely because Li Bangyan had ascended to the position of Grand Minister.
When one person achieves success, even their pets ascend to heaven, let alone his father-in-law!
The entire Lin family, at this moment, was truly rising with the tide.
They were already considered a prominent family in Jun County, and now with a son-in-law who was a minister, they were even more lawless.
"Who has the time to joke with you? Do you want me to take action, or will you come with me yourself?"
"County Lieutenant Lü, perhaps you are unaware of your position as our son-in-law? Let me tell you, our son-in-law is now the Grand Minister of the court!"
"Are you saying that everything you have done was at the instigation of Prime Minister Li? Did he teach you to act like tyrants in the countryside and oppress the villagers? Did he teach you to seize farmland and disregard the lives of the common people?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Han Mo spoke out loudly.
"Bold of you! What kind of dog are you, that you are qualified to comment on my Prime Minister?"
Lin Laosi was instantly enraged. He hadn't wanted to escalate the matter, but now it seemed unavoidable.
"Guards! Drag this scoundrel who tarnishes Prime Minister Li's reputation and insults court officials away, and give him fifty lashes!"
As soon as he said this, Han Mo flew up and kicked him directly in the stomach.
Han Mo was naturally strong, and now he acted with hatred, showing no mercy.
Although he kicked him in a non-vital spot, after this blow, Lin Laosi lay on the ground, unable to get up for a long time.
"Rebellion! Rebellion! What are you all standing around for? Attack!"
Although Lin Laosi was merely a steward, he had led the Lin family's retainers and guards to act with impunity throughout Jun County for years.
Even the constables from the county office would show him deference when they met him.
Now that Li Bangyan was the Grand Minister, they naturally had no fear.
Although from the conversation, Han Mo was clearly also an official, they still picked up their cudgels and rushed forward.
"Jiang Yan, where are you?"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Anyone who dares to resist arrest will be treated as bandits and killed without mercy!"
For such a grand occasion today, if too few people came, they wouldn't be able to subdue the villagers. Therefore, before coming here, Lin Laosi had brought almost all of the Lin family's retainers.
Now, with his shout, over forty retainers immediately surrounded them.
Seeing their unfriendly faces, Han Mo sneered and said to Jiang Yan.
"Yes!"
Jiang Yan let out a low chuckle, untied the saber at his waist, and with a few leaps, charged into the crowd.
He was a trained assassin from the Zhe family, so naturally, he had no pressure facing these rabble.
Seeing him make a move, his companions who came with him, except for a few who stayed to protect Han Mo, all rushed forward and plunged into the crowd.
Although Lü Ying had long known that these people were skilled, as the saying goes, there's no first in literature, and no second in martial arts.
He had always thought that his martial arts, even if there was a gap between them, it wouldn't be too large.
However, after watching them in action, Lü Ying realized that compared to them, he wasn't even worthy of carrying their shoes.
When Jiang Yan and the others made their moves, there were no flashy movements or exaggerated reactions.
These people were as mechanical as wooden figures, using one part of their strength when they could have used two.
Their attacks were always aimed at the throat, the ribs, or the joints of the body.
Basically, every time they made a move, a retainer would fall.
Moreover, all those who fell either had broken bones or dislocated joints, and very few could get up on their own.
In less than the time it takes for a cup of tea to brew, dozens of retainers were all lying on the ground.
At this point, the villagers who were watching the excitement couldn't help but start cheering.
"The Master has ordered that this scoundrel be dragged out and given fifty lashes!"
After dealing with all the retainers, Jiang Yan slowly walked up to Lin Laosi, kicked him to the ground, and then two burly men stepped forward, holding ropes, and tied him up securely.
"You damned scoundrels, you're dead! I'm telling you, you're dead! The Prime Minister won't spare you, my son-in-law won't spare you!"
Fifty lashes were not easy to endure, especially when the executioner was Jiang Yan's companion.
These people were all well-trained and knew exactly where on the body the pain was greatest. After fifty lashes, almost every one made Lin Laosi's whole body twitch uncontrollably.
In the beginning, he could still curse vehemently, but after ten lashes, Lin Laosi could only gasp for breath.
By the time fifty lashes were finished, he was almost unconscious.
"Take all these people back. I want to see if they have the guts of a bear or the spirit of a leopard! Also, send a notice to Jun County, telling that old man Lin to personally come to the Neihuang County office to redeem them!"
"Master, this fellow has received his due punishment. If not..."
Although Lü Ying knew that he shouldn't say such a thing, he was still the family of the current Prime Minister Li. At this moment, he was truly afraid that Han Mo would cause trouble for him.
"Alright, I have my own plans for this matter. Just do as I say!"