Chapter Thirty-Six: Yielding at Last?

"Open it!"

At the entrance to the Bureau's armory, Yang Ye addressed the keeper standing guard at the door.

The keeper, face taut with anxiety, replied, "Inspector Ye, to use the weapons inside the armory, you need Director Luo's approval."

"Director Luo isn’t here. Right now, I’m in charge! Open it!" Yang Ye's tone was icy.

Faced with Yang Ye’s fierce demeanor, the keeper had no choice but to unlock the door.

As the alloy door swung open, Yang Ye led his men inside.

Racks within the armory brimmed with weapons.

Beyond the abundance of alloy-forged blades and swords, there were also firearms loaded with bullets.

None of the fifty-one men held back; each selected a weapon that suited them. Some hefted high-powered sniper rifles, rocket launchers, and the like.

Once they had armed themselves, Yang Ye proceeded to the vehicle depot to requisition three large trucks.

“What a coincidence! It turns out we’re going to the Jiang family!”

Settling into the sedan, Yang Ye casually pulled out an account book, flipped through a few pages, and grinned.

The Jiang family of Xiajing was the most illustrious clan in all of China—unsurprisingly, it was also the family with the largest tax arrears.

The account book covered an eighteen-year period, during which the Jiangs had racked up 13.5 billion martial coins in debt!

"With a tax rate of only one percent, that’s already quite low. If their back taxes over eighteen years total over a hundred billion, their actual income must have reached at least a trillion!"

Yang Ye couldn’t help but marvel.

"Xiao Qing, to the Jiang estate!"

Opening the navigation app on his phone, Yang Ye gave the order to Long Xiaoqing.

Long Xiaoqing started the car immediately, heading toward the Jiang family’s estate on the outskirts of Xiajing.

The three trucks carrying the fifty-one men roared to life, following closely behind the sedan, brimming with murderous intent as they drove toward the Jiang family.

"That Ye guy, carrying a thick stack of ledgers, is out collecting debts. Who knows which family he’s hitting up first?"

"Wherever he goes, I doubt he’ll get anywhere!"

"Let me give you a heads-up! That Ye fellow brought fifty-one late-stage planetary prisoners back from Xiajing Prison. They even opened up the Bureau’s entire armory!"

"So what? Does he really dare use force?"

"Ye is a madman—best be careful around him!"

…

No sooner had Yang Ye set off than word spread within the Bureau through a WeChat group: Yang Ye had departed to collect debts.

The news caused a sensation; as it was forwarded from group to group, WeChat exploded with excitement.

A number of wealthy young heirs, eager for drama, immediately jumped into their cars to tail Yang Ye’s convoy.

Before they had even left the city, dozens of luxury vehicles of every make had lined up behind Yang Ye’s procession.

Yang Ye, upon learning this, merely smiled faintly.

If these people wanted a spectacle, he would give them one. Their gossip would be the perfect way to spread the news. Once the Jiang family capitulated, collecting debts from other families would be far easier.

All these debtor clans were flush with cash; the taxes owed were but a drop in their vast ocean of wealth.

Yang Ye couldn’t understand why they even bothered to evade taxes—was owing money to the state, tax evasion, truly something to boast about, a sign of a family’s prowess?

Half an hour later, Yang Ye's sedan pulled up at the gates of the Jiang family estate.

"Damn! It really is the Jiang family! Livestream time! Everyone, take a good look—Ye’s headed straight for the Jiangs!"

"Has Ye lost his mind? He’s picking the toughest bone to chew first."

"Place your bets! I say Ye will fail; if Ye manages to collect, it’s double or nothing!"

"All right! I’ll take the underdog—ten million on Ye’s success!"

…

Yang Ye stepped out of the car, ledger in hand, and walked with Long Xiaoqing to the estate’s main gate.

"Stop right there!"

A black-clad guard strode up and blocked Yang Ye’s path, voice cold.

Yang Ye halted, his tone unruffled. "I am the newly appointed Inspector of the Martial Bureau. Notify your master that I am here to collect the Jiang family’s outstanding taxes."

"Our master isn’t at home. Move along, move along!" the guard said impatiently, waving him off as if shooing a fly.

The guard knew full well what the Jiang family represented in China. Not even the Bureau's director could see the master without an appointment, let alone a mere inspector.

To these great houses, the Martial Bureau was already a toothless institution.

A crisp slap rang out.

Yang Ye raised his hand and struck the guard hard across the face. "You dog, bullying others by flaunting your master’s power! Run your mouth in front of me again, and I’ll treat you as obstructing official business—and end you on the spot!"

"Courting death!" The black-clad guard, unfazed by the threat, clutched his cheek and snarled at Yang Ye.

With a dull thud, Long Xiaoqing, who had been standing beside Yang Ye, lashed out and kicked the guard square in the chest.

The guard was lifted off his feet, crashing to the ground with a heavy thump.

His breath left him—he was dead.

Long Xiaoqing, enraged, had killed the man with a single kick.

There was more than one guard at the entrance.

As soon as one of their number fell, a whole crowd of black-clad guards surged out, blocking Yang Ye’s way.

Their leader, face dark and severe, approached. "Inspector Ye, our master truly isn’t home. Perhaps you should return another day. As for your having killed our colleague, we will be sure to pursue the matter with the Bureau."

Yang Ye smiled. "It seems your master already knows what’s happening, or you wouldn’t speak so cautiously. Since he refuses to come out, I have no choice but to force my way in. If flowers or the landscaping suffer in the process, don’t blame me for using force."

The guards’ leader glanced at the three large trucks Yang Ye had brought, his expression full of disdain. "Inspector Ye, you’re welcome to try."

Yang Ye’s eyes narrowed. With a wave of his hand, the fifty-one men—already restless—leapt from the trucks and surged forward, facing off against the dozens of guards at the gate.

They waited only for Yang Ye’s command to storm the estate.

Seeing Yang Ye truly intended an assault, the guards’ leader grew grave. He picked up his radio and reported the situation.

A moment later, an elderly voice crackled through the radio. "Let the inspector in."

"Yes, sir!"

The leader gave the order, and the guards at the gate stepped aside.

Yang Ye pointed a finger at the leader, then, together with Long Xiaoqing, stepped through the gates into Jiang family territory.

The leader shivered involuntarily under Yang Ye’s icy gaze.

"This way, please," said a servant, coming forward and gesturing politely for Yang Ye and Long Xiaoqing to follow.

"Big news! The Jiang family’s actually backing down!"

"Look, Ye’s being ushered inside!"

"The Jiangs backing down? Don’t kid yourself—let’s wait and see what happens!"

"I can’t get in. Anyone here from the Jiang family? Livestream what’s happening inside!"

"I’m in the estate, but I don’t dare…"

…

The WeChat groups were in an uproar once more.