That night, in the study of the County Magistrate's residence:
"Gu Yang, the head of the Gu family, fifty-two years old. A ruthless man with considerable cunning..."
"He Youde, the head of the He family, forty-nine years old. Known for his explosive temper..."
"Bo Chang of the Bo family... Only twenty this year? So young?"
Lu Xuan meticulously organized the information he had gathered.
At noon, Lu Xuan kept a few yamen runners for questioning. Only then did he understand the public's reaction when he ordered the restoration of the Mingyuan complaint drum at the yamen's entrance. The drum, a symbol of communication between the yamen and the common people, was removed by the Qingxian Society. Without it, the yamen couldn't hear the people's grievances.
