Cai Liuyang is truly too incompetent. Jin Feng is not even in Jinchuan, yet this grand county magistrate cannot even deal with a single village!
As usual, Fat Xu was the first to burst into curses.
In truth, this matter cannot be entirely blamed on Cai Liuyang.
The goat-bearded man said helplessly: After all, Jinchuan is Marquis Qing’s fief and Jin Feng’s stronghold. Cai Liuyang has been in Jinchuan for too short a time. He probably has not even fully gained control of the county office yet, so naturally he lacks the strength to act.
In fact, the goat-bearded man was also very dissatisfied with Cai Liuyang’s performance. However, the families backing Cai Liuyang were also his own supporters. The two sides were on the same camp, so the goat-bearded man could only try his best to speak up for Cai Liuyang.
Without comparison there is no harm.
Previously the powerful families all thought Xie Xiguang was useless. Now, with Cai Liuyang as a contrast, Xie Xiguang suddenly appeared very capable.
The Xie family naturally would not miss the chance. They immediately began to stir the pot.
No matter how much you say, it still comes down to Cai Liuyang being useless. My third brother went with him and still had to manage an entire prefectural city. Yet he managed to drive Jin Feng’s escort agency and Jinchuan influence out of Guangyuan City, didn’t he?
Things have already come to this. What is the use of talking about it now? You had better hurry up and think of a solution!
The chief eunuch sitting in the head seat slapped the table and said: This servant has received news that the five divisions of the Zhen Yuan Army have suddenly changed direction again. They could take action at any moment. If you keep arguing for a few more days and the grain gets seized, do not blame this servant for not warning you!
After the Zhen Yuan Army’s first bandit-suppression operation, the powerful families immediately ordered the bandits along the army’s advance route to pack up their grain and move.
Time was short, and finding new granaries on the spot was impossible. They could only tell each bandit to carry as much as possible.
Those with carts used carts to haul it. Those without had to carry it on their shoulders.
Fearing that gathering together would still allow the Zhen Yuan Army to surround and wipe them out, the various bandit chiefs ordered their men to break into small groups, scatter into the mountains with the grain, and evade the army.
However, Zhang Liang’s experience in suppressing bandits was truly too rich. He had long guessed they would do this.
After marching for two days, he suddenly changed direction, then marched at full speed and launched a surprise attack on several other bandit lairs that were not on the original return route.
Those bandits were caught completely off guard and were uprooted by the Zhen Yuan Army.
While cursing Zhang Liang furiously, the powerful families ordered the bandits who had fled earlier to return to their lairs with the grain.
Recently grain prices across Sichuan had been steadily rising. They were very worried the bandits might run off with the grain.
Their worst fear had already come true.
Quite a few bandits disappeared with the grain after leaving and never came back.
Even the group that lost the least still lost nearly one-tenth of the grain. The worst group lost more than three-tenths.
When the powerful families learned of this, they were so angry they jumped up and down.
But what enraged them even more was that Zhang Liang then turned around and struck again.
Those bandits who had just fled back had not even caught their breath before the Zhen Yuan Army wiped them out.
The powerful families had tried sending people to negotiate with Zhang Liang, but Zhang Liang completely ignored them.
Jin Feng had once told him that a soldier’s duty is to fight. There should be no retreat, no weighing of gains and losses. Everything must serve the completion of the strategic objective above all else.
Most importantly, there must be no compromise.
Because once you compromise once, you will compromise a second time.
Zhang Liang had kept that conversation firmly in mind.
He knew that if Jin Feng were here, he definitely would not allow any compromise either.
Moreover, he trusted Tang Dongdong and Zheng Fang. He believed they could hold West River Bay.
So Zhang Liang paid no attention to the powerful families’ warnings. He continued suppressing bandits strictly according to his own plan.
With no other options, the powerful families had sent Xie Xiguang and Cai Liuyang to find fault.
Yet both men’s plans had failed.
The powerful families present came from several major houses. Even in the capital they could stir up storms. Yet now, facing a mere baron and a small mountain village, they actually felt a sense of complete helplessness.
You were all arguing so heatedly just now. Why has everyone suddenly gone quiet?
The chief eunuch snorted coldly, then turned to the goat-bearded man: Lord Zhou, do you have any good strategy?
Your Grace, Jin Feng’s businesses are all conducted openly and above board. All procedures and documents are complete. It is truly impossible to find any major fault.
The goat-bearded man said helplessly: We cannot just send troops to attack Jinchuan directly, can we?
This was precisely the benefit of Jin Feng establishing a legal department. It had preemptively closed off most vulnerabilities.
Xie Xiguang and Cai Liuyang could only nitpick at minor details, and Guan Xiaorou easily dealt with them.
Hearing the goat-bearded man speak this way, all the powerful families fell silent.
Only one thin, tall middle-aged man standing behind Fat Xu showed a thoughtful expression.
A moment later, he leaned down and whispered something into Fat Xu’s ear.
At first Fat Xu’s expression remained normal. But the more he listened, the brighter his eyes became.
Finally he slapped the table hard and said loudly: Master Chen, your idea is brilliant!
The other powerful families were startled by Fat Xu’s sudden outburst and all turned to look.
Lord Xu, do you have a countermeasure? the chief eunuch asked.
Fat Xu greatly enjoyed the feeling of being the centre of attention. He said smugly: I think what Lord Zhou said earlier is wrong. Why can we not send people to attack Jinchuan?
Fat Xu, have you gone mad? a Xie family member sneered. Attacking Jinchuan without any reason? The Ninth Princess would not even need to return. The Zhen Yuan Army would wipe you out directly, and even His Majesty would have nothing to say.
You surnamed Xie, listen properly when someone is talking!
Fat Xu said: I only said send people to attack Jinchuan. I did not say send troops!
If not troops, then what can you send? Do you think you can send bandits to attack?
The Xie family member glanced at Fat Xu with disdain.
Why not? Fat Xu said. Last autumn Jin Feng sent Zhang Liang to wipe out all the bandits around Guangyuan. Tell me, do the bandits near Guangyuan hate Jin Feng or not?
Now the Zhen Yuan Army is suppressing bandits like mad. Tell me, are the bandits along the route from West Sichuan to Guangyuan afraid or not?
If we promise them some benefits, do you think they would be willing to attack West River Bay?
Hearing Fat Xu’s words, the expressions of the powerful families gradually grew serious.
Yes. They could not directly send troops to attack West River Bay, but bandits could.
After all, bandits were already desperate outlaws. As long as the rewards were good enough, they would even be willing to rebel.
After the attack they could simply scatter, and even the Ninth Princess would be unable to do anything.
Thinking of this, the powerful families’ eyes grew brighter and brighter.
I think Lord Xu’s method is feasible!
I second it!
I second it!
The powerful families voiced their agreement one after another.
Since everyone agrees, let us settle on this for now.
The chief eunuch nodded slightly: However, this matter is of great importance. We must plan it carefully and come up with a foolproof strategy before taking action. We absolutely cannot fail again like Xie Xiguang and Cai Liuyang, only to become a laughingstock!
Correct. If we do not act, fine. But once we act, we must uproot Jin Feng completely! Fat Xu quickly nodded.
Lord Xu, I see the advisor behind you is quite clever. How come I have not seen him before?
The chief eunuch had already noticed the tall thin man behind Fat Xu and asked curiously.
