Ahead, a group of refugees were being assigned jobs; they would be placed as laborers under Lu Ming's command. Their specific duties would need to be determined later.
"Sir, please, give me back my son!" A woman's cries for mercy rang out, causing a commotion. However, the surrounding people remained unmoved, seemingly afraid of the man.
"Heh heh, alright, as long as you submit to me, I'll give him back to you!" The burly man grinned, his eyes filled with greed as he looked at the young woman before him.
Lu Ming frowned and strode over. He hadn't expected anyone to pull this stunt on his turf. Niu Kui, seeing this, was secretly pleased; so this troublemaker had been caught red-handed!
"Let her go. Niu Kui, who is he, and what does he do?" Lu Ming snorted. It seemed necessary to deal with him. How many scoundrels had sneaked in while he was away?
"Niu Kui, you want to stick your neck out? Don't think I'm afraid of you just because you brought one person." Gao Bang said with a sneer, still holding the woman's arm, completely disregarding Niu Kui.
Niu Kui was the village head appointed by Lu Ming, managing his own farmland and servants; he was the most powerful person there.
"Watch your mouth! Kneel down!" Lin Rong rushed out from behind, drawing his sword and pointing it at the man. He had never seen anyone so fearless.
"Gao Bang, this is the Governor. This entire field belongs to his family. You came here to freeload, relying on your relationship with him, and I didn't make things difficult for you. But today you've gone too far, harassing women. Countless people have complained to me, and I've told you this time and again, but you show no remorse!" Niu Kui finished speaking and bowed deeply to Lu Ming. "My lord, it's my fault for not handling things properly. This Gao Bang claims to be your relative, a distant relative of County Commandant Dong Huang."
"What distant relative? His wife's brother?" Lu Ming frowned. He didn't get along with Dong Huang; this cousin had always looked down on him.
Moreover, he always thought Gao Bang was just flattering him, and sometimes he didn't pay much attention to Dong Zhuo. Because Dong Zhuo had no sons, Gao Bang was Dong Zhuo's nephew, the natural heir, and therefore lawless, bullying men and women was commonplace.
His maternal grandmother doted on this grandson, so she indulged him.
When Dong Zhuo was around, he didn't dare to act recklessly, but after Dong Zhuo left, he revealed his true colors. Gambling, drinking, carousing, dog fighting—he was proficient in all of them.
Didn't Dong Huang know this was his territory? Or did he still disregard him? Hmph, it seems I'm the governor, but some people don't even know I'm the governor!
A show of force?
Lu Ming's heart sank. "Lin Rong, break his arms and legs. Niu Kui, send someone to lead the way and arrest all his relatives. Anyone within three generations who is here, arrest them all!"
This...this is wiping out his entire family!
"You dare! Do you know who I am! Ah! I'm Dong Huang's brother-in-law, you dare arrest me! Ah!" Gao Bang had barely finished speaking when Lin Rong led the charge, breaking his arm, followed by his other hand.
Then, with a turn, he kicked Gao Bang's ankle, then smashed it down with the scabbard!
Crack! A sickening sound of bones breaking rang out, sending chills down everyone's spine.
The pretty young woman was trembling with fear. Lu Ming went over and helped her up. "Don't be afraid, I am Lu Ming, the governor of Liangzhou. Whatever your problem, I can help you."
Upon hearing this, the young woman looked up at Lu Ming, her eyes filled with surprise and hope. Forgetting about the governor title, she stammered, her voice trembling with tears, "My son...he...he kidnapped him! He said he wanted...for me to marry him as a concubine...and then he'd let my son go...Waaah...Sir...please, please help me!"
"Alright, I understand. Where are you from? What's your name?" Lu Ming helped the kneeling woman up again, sizing her up. She was only in her early twenties, but had already given birth; she was more mature than a young girl, yet much younger than a mature woman.
Her beauty was striking; she was considered a top beauty in the village.
Lu Ming's wives and concubines were all stunning beauties, and occasionally there were pretty women, but they were all mature women with elegant demeanors and excellent figures, which is why he took them in.
The young woman before him, however, possessed an air of scholarly refinement, suggesting she wasn't just an ordinary peasant woman, hence his question.
"My name is Hu Zhen, and I come from Xiji City. My husband recently passed away, and I only have one son left. My lord, please, I beg you, help me find my child! I'll do anything for you!" Hu Zhen said, about to kneel again. She knew that only by clinging tightly to Lu Ming's leg could she have a chance of survival.
"Hmm, don't worry, I will help you find your child. Niu Kui, take her to find the child and ask Gao Bang where he's hiding. Arrest all the scoundrels and ruffians around here!" Lu Ming had originally planned to go out for a stroll, but this unexpected turn of events had completely ruined his mood!
Since he'd already encountered this, he wouldn't run away. He needed to pacify the internal situation before dealing with external threats; he'd have to catch the big rats in his own house first!
As for Dong Huang, hmph, he'd have to find a way to get rid of him.
This lawless spoiled brat, he definitely knew about this.
He sent someone to his place to freeload without even a greeting; did he really think he could bully him?
To kill someone, you don't need to strike directly; you create an opportunity, let him suffer a social death, and then slap him hard.
He'd already figured out his plan; now it was up to Dong Huang to see if he'd changed his ways.
As for the consequences?
Heh, the Dong family didn't have much connection to him; only Dong Zhuo had ever helped him.
Even his grandmother's help was minimal. He'd served her for so many years; what was wrong with giving her a little attention?
Those who aspire to great things don't concern themselves with trifles!
Soon, pairs of soldiers received the order and set off from the camp. Arresting local ruffians didn't require such a large-scale operation.
But Lu Ming wanted a show, a completely new show.
To tell the people of Tao County that he, Lu Ming, had returned!
And not as a vassal of the Dong family, but as the governor, a powerful regional official!
The wandering knights knew how to deal with other wandering knights. Zhou Cang led the team, personally arresting all the hooligans and ruffians in Tao County and imprisoning them all.
Anyone who dared to cause trouble was immediately beaten until their teeth were knocked out.
Those who disobeyed were killed without mercy!
Seeing blood, the ruffians immediately became docile and stopped babbling.