knife

Chapter 414 Being a herdsman is not actually difficult

"Brother Lu, what's going on?" Su Qi looked at Li Dachui in front of him with a blank expression.

Li Dachui waved his hand and whispered, "Brother Su, let's talk inside!"

Once the two entered the tent, Li Dachui said, "Brother Su, it's fortunate we didn't make a move. Do you know how many troops are currently in Yongxing City?"

“We’ve investigated thoroughly. There are only five hundred armored soldiers. The rest are private soldiers from powerful clans. These men are skilled, but they’re not much of a threat when it comes to fighting to the death,” Su Qi said. “We’ve faced them before, and they were easy to defeat!”

"The key isn't them!" Li Dachui shook his head: "Brother Su, do you know about the Tianluo Inner Guard?"

Su Qi's expression immediately changed: "How could there be Tianluo Inner Guards in Yongxing City?"

"The reason is simple: the Tianluo Inner Guard is also investigating the Lin family!" Li Dachui said with a wry smile, "I happen to know the person in charge of this investigation. After asking around, I learned that there are actually a hundred Inner Guard knights in the city!"

As one of the high-ranking members of the Demonic Sect, he was very familiar with the Heavenly Guards. Having dealt with them frequently, he naturally knew how terrifying they were.

However, the Tianluo Inner Guards rarely appeared outside Danyang, the capital of Chu, so Su Qi never dreamed that he would encounter them in this small place.

“The Imperial Guards originally came to investigate the Lin family, but after you arrived, they realized that the Lin family is ultimately part of the imperial court, so they have joined forces. They were originally planning to launch an attack on you today!” Li Dachui pointed outside and said, “One hundred Imperial Guard knights will launch a surprise attack, five hundred armored soldiers will follow, and finally, the private soldiers of those powerful clans will sweep through! Brother Su, do you think you have even the slightest chance of winning!”

"And now?" Su Qi asked with a bitter tone, "Did Brother Lu persuade them not to fight us?"

Li Dachui nodded: "The Lin family must have run into a big problem this time, so when I approached them, the head of the inner guard actually agreed. He even said that as long as the people outside were willing to disperse, they would be willing to give each person a penny of money and grain."

"Is there such a thing?"

"Anyway, this money and grain belong to the Lin family and those powerful clans, and they don't have to pay a single penny!" Li Dachui said. "This leader of the inner guards doesn't want to cause any trouble. He just wants to seize leverage over the Lin family and then go back to report. He's not enthusiastic about suppressing the rebellion!"

Su Qi cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Brother Lu, for your mediation. If the Heavenly Net Inner Guards were really here, we would all be throwing our lives away in vain. I am not afraid of death, but if we sacrifice so many people and still cannot rescue Banner Master Zhan, it would be a classic case of losing both the wife and the army. But Banner Master Lu, what will happen to Banner Master Zhan in this case?"

"If the Lin family really runs into serious trouble, can Lin Hong still hold onto his position as the Prefect of Yong'an?" Li Dachui laughed. "We'll see how things go then and see if we can rescue Master Zhan."

“That’s true. If Lin Hong falls, Yong’an County will surely be in chaos. We can try to break him out of prison!” Su Qi said to himself.

Li Dachui immediately broke out in a cold sweat. Wasn't this black guy from Hou Tu Qi? Why were his ideas so violent?

Is it so easy to rob a prison in a prefecture?
"Brother Su, don't worry. I'm just helping those people in the city cause trouble for the Lin family. Once I've made some more contact with that head of the Imperial Guard, maybe I can get Brother Zhan out of here."

"is it possible?"

"Nothing is impossible!" Li Dachui smiled and pointed to the distance, where rice grains were bubbling in boiling water in a large pot, and a fragrant aroma was wafting in the wind.

“At this point, I think you should send someone to maintain order. Don’t fight over things; everyone should have some!” Li Dachui said.

The efficiency of government services within the city is extremely high.

This was also because Lin Rong was captured by Tian Luo, and in Tian Luo's hands, Lin Rong didn't even last an hour. He spilled everything he knew.

He also revealed a lot of information that even Tianluo didn't know.

As a result, the Lin family's manor in the city, which occupied most of the street, was immediately confiscated.

When everyone saw that even the patriarch of the Lin family had been taken away by the fierce imperial guards, they all understood that the Lin family, this great tree, was definitely about to fall.

At this time, they clung tightly to Tianluo's coattails, doing whatever Tianluo wanted without daring to utter a word, hoping to avoid being implicated by the Lin family in the future.

Even if there are some unresolved issues, considering our relationship today, we might be able to resolve them peacefully.

Therefore, when Luo was about to distribute food and money to the rioters outside, everyone responded immediately, contributing money, food, and labor.

On the city wall, Jiang Ping quietly watched the people outside the city lining up to receive their food.

Just yesterday, they were sharpening their knives, preparing to storm the city and loot and vandalize!

That's what they did all along the way. The wealthy families who didn't have time to escape, or those mansions that thought they could resist the refugees with their high walls and deep fortifications, all became victims on their path.

"Look!" Jiang Ping pointed to the people below, then to the distance where those who had received grain and silver were carrying their goods away from the county town. Judging from their cheerful appearance, they must be on their way home. "He Han, the so-called herdsmen are not so difficult, are they? Their demands are not high. Just a dozen or so catties of grain and a string of cash are enough for them to go home."

“The common people have never been greedy; they just want to survive. In fact, Miss, unless absolutely necessary, which ordinary person would be willing to risk their life to rebel?” said a tall, thin, white-haired old man standing next to Jiang Ping.

"So, the reason why there have been so many uprisings in our Great Chu over the years is actually because they couldn't survive?" Jiang Ping asked rhetorically.

He was answered by silence.

"Why did you never tell me these things before?"

“You have always focused on high-level, strategic matters, major directions, and grand strategies. I believe these are matters for the prime minister, and if they are not handled well, it is the prime minister’s responsibility.” He Han said with a smile, “You should investigate the prime minister’s problems, and the prime minister should then investigate the responsibilities of the prefects, magistrates, and so on below.”

Why didn't you say these things to me before?

“Miss, I am the Commander of the Inner Guard! These matters are not within my jurisdiction!” He Han shook his head and said, “Those who are not in a position should not concern themselves with its affairs. Moreover, given my status, I need to be even more careful about this. I don’t want those people in the outer court to commit another crime when they attack you.”

Jiang Ping laughed loudly: "I don't care about them. Speaking of which, it's a real pity that someone like you, with such talent, has to be a palace official."

“There’s nothing to regret. And it’s very simple.” He Han smiled and held up a stack of files in his hand: “Miss, the matter concerns Lin Hong’s affair with General Xiang. The evidence is irrefutable. What do you plan to do?”

Jiang Ping was silent for a moment before saying, "Lin Hong is a very capable person."

“But he’s too greedy. He’s not only greedy for money and fame, but he also tries to play both sides. Miss, do you still intend to use someone like that?” He Han’s face showed disgust: “Besides being capable and efficient, Lin Hong has nothing but flaws!”

“That’s precisely why I’m a little reluctant to let him go!” Jiang Ping smiled and said, “So, I’m willing to give him another chance if he handles it properly. He Han, sometimes I judge people differently than you do. You value loyalty more, which is determined by your position, while I value his ability to complete the tasks I assign him.”

"You're waiting for him here?"

“Last night, someone came looking for Zhang Yuan!” Jiang Ping glanced at the captain who was arranging things over at the city gate. “It should be Lin Hong’s men. After asking Zhang Yuan some questions, they left.”

He Han suddenly realized: "You're waiting for Lin Hong to make a decision."

“Give him a choice. If he chooses correctly, then let him return to Danyang to serve as the Vice Minister of Revenue. All the sins of the Lin family will be borne by Lin Rong, and will have nothing to do with Lin Hong!” Jiang Ping said calmly. “If he chooses incorrectly, then the Lin family will cease to exist!”

“Miss, Yong’an County has 20,000 troops stationed there, and the surrounding counties can also gather several thousand more troops!” He Han said with some concern.

Jiang Ping smiled but remained silent.

He Han didn't ask any further questions.

The two of them watched Li Dachui, who was busy in the distance.

"Afterwards, they actually released Zhan Zhao? That guy has always been like a rock in a latrine, both smelly and stubborn. They finally caught him, and releasing him like that is like letting a tiger return to the mountains."

“By killing the leader of the Thick Earth Banner, the Blazing Fire Banner has truly forged an irreconcilable enmity with them!” Jiang Ping said, “In recent years, we have killed too many members of the Divine Cult, and the higher-ups of the Giant Wood Banner are already very dissatisfied with us. We cannot push them out. Even the leader of the Flood Banner hinted last time that I should not be too ruthless to the disciples in the cult!”

"Disputes over policy directions are always a matter of life and death!" He Han said with dissatisfaction, "How can we be soft-hearted!"

“That’s different for Ruijin Banner, Houtu and Jumu are different!” Jiang Ping said. “Ruijin Banner has changed a lot now, and they know to cooperate with other forces. They made a very good choice. He Zudao is truly a perfect match for them!”

"If they gain power, they will be the first obstacle we face when we launch our Northern Expedition!"

"It doesn't matter. Whether they're roadblocks or troublemakers, anyone who stands in our way will be crushed into dust sooner or later!"

"Including that one?" He Han smiled and pointed to the figure in the distance.

"I hope he's the last one!" Jiang Ping giggled. "But maybe he's the first!"

He Han raised an eyebrow and remained silent.

(End of this chapter)