What a lucky world!

Chapter 287 My Lord, do you have the ambition to conquer the world?

Xuan Ji sat on Zhang Mu's shoulder, and Ye Hanzhou led Zhang Mu's horse. The two of them and the cat entered Wan'an County.

What came into view was a scene of ruins, with broken walls and collapsed houses and signs of burning everywhere.

"The White Lotus bandits committed widespread burning, killing, and looting after entering the city; these are all their doing," Ye Hanzhou said softly.

Zhang Mu nodded.

It's sad to say, but in Zhang Mu's mind, most of the peasant uprisings in the feudal era were inseparable from burning, killing, and looting.

Were those uprising leaders really so deeply influenced by peasant mentality, or simply beyond their control?
Do not!
They did it on purpose!
Historical records often describe it as killing officials and rebelling.

What's an official position worth anyway?
It's at most a starting pistol.

What lies hidden beneath the veiled criticism of historical writing is harm to the people!
They need everyone to have blood on their hands, and they need everyone to experience the complete unbridled indulgence of humanity when there is no law.

This family has grain? Let's rob them!

Is this family rich? Let's rob them!

This guy has a beautiful woman in his house? Let's steal her!
Perhaps at first those participants just wanted to survive, but suddenly they discovered that there was another way to live!

As these people lay dying, they said they could never turn back.

No, they're just addicted!
They're addicted to killing, addicted to looting, addicted to XX!
Putting aside everything else, just take those gangster bosses. They take you out to kill people. At first, you might be scared or guilty, but then you find that no one is arresting you. When you come back, the boss throws a bunch of US dollars in your face and takes you to a club for a full-service experience. When you wake up in the morning, you find the white moonlight you've always wanted to lick lying next to you.

What else can you say?
Brother, you have to call me next time!
It's mainly for the sake of brotherhood!
Death? When a person dies, their X faces the sky; if they don't die, they live for ten thousand years!

That's the truth.

Fortunately, Lei Wenying's troops were only a remnant of the White Lotus forces, and they needed to be reorganized and replenished, so they restrained themselves and did not kill Wan'an County.

Otherwise, a few days would be enough to turn this place into a ghost town.

At this time, most of the people in the county town who were disturbed closed their doors and dared not go out. Occasionally, a few riders on white horses could be seen patrolling.

"Have you received the money and supplies?" Zhang Mu asked, turning his head to the side.

Ye Hanzhou nodded: "For now, they will all be transferred to Yuanwei Escort Agency, where we have arranged for a hundred loyal guards to protect them."

Zhang Mu glanced at Ye Hanzhou but said nothing.

"A total of 4,677 White Lotus bandits were captured, and about 2,000 escaped," Ye Hanzhou said, pretending not to see Zhang Mu's gaze.

Zhang Mu sighed. He wondered who these two thousand people would harm this time.

However, there was no other way. The White Horse Cavalry only had 650 men in total. They were good at charging, but capturing several thousand people would be a bit difficult for them.

"What about people?"

"He was imprisoned in the granary north of the city, where 350 militiamen were stationed and 1,000 civilians were hired to assist in guarding him."

"Meow!" Xuanji called out.

Ye Hanzhou smiled, a rare occurrence, and said, "Yes, and Xuan Ji also brought the Rat Army to help."

Xuanji was satisfied and wagged her tail.

Zhang Mu patted Xuan Ji's head and said, "Let the brothers work a little harder. Mr. Wei's thousand soldiers will arrive soon, and they will take over then."

The fate of these bandits had already been decided by Zhang Mu.

Previously, Qianyuan Mountain was the site of the Tianji Mountain Sect. The Tianji Sect is a Taoist sect that emphasizes the unity of heaven and man. Therefore, the interior of Qianyuan Mountain actually contains many mineral veins, and the green-haired turtle even drew a map of them.

However, Zhang Mu was reluctant to let the residents of Qianyuan Martial Village go mining, and since the village didn't have any shortage of resources for the time being, the matter was put on hold.

Now look what's happened! We've gained over six thousand strong laborers for free!

Zhang Mu chatted with Ye Hanzhou about other issues after entering the city, and before they knew it, they had arrived at the entrance of the county government office.

Five or six members of the White Horse Guard stood guard at the entrance of the county government office. Upon seeing Zhang Mu, they all bowed and greeted him as the chieftain.

Zhang Mu waved his hand and stepped into the county government office.

……

The county government office was still the same as before, with the main hall right inside the entrance, above which hung a plaque that read "Justice Remains in the World".

Zhang Mu walked around the courtroom, and behind it was a courtyard. At this moment, a man dressed in a scholar's robe was waiting outside the hall. When he saw Zhang Mu approaching, he quickly bowed and said, "Former seventh-rank county magistrate of Dayun, the unruly scholar Wen Lang greets the master of Qianyuan Mountain!"

Zhang Mu sized up the man, who was about thirty years old, with a fair complexion and long beard. He did look somewhat familiar, so he cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Greetings, Lord Wen."

"Chief, you flatter me. I have already resigned from my post and am no longer the magistrate of Dayun County."

Zhang Mu raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "Don't worry, I've investigated you. You're a good official. I won't kill you!"

Na Wenlang gave a self-deprecating laugh: "When the city fell, I sacrificed my life for my country. My will to die could reach the heavens. Now that I am still alive, it is my personal fortune. I have repaid the kindness of the dynasty, and I have nothing more to do with the dynasty."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Mu looked Wen Lang over again and said, "Mr. Zhao said we were old friends, but I wonder where we are friends?"

With that, Zhang Mu walked into the main hall and sat down directly in the head seat.

Wen Lang followed him in, a smile on his face, and said, "Two years ago, at the South City Restaurant, the Silver Tide Discussion."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Mu thought carefully for a moment, then looked at Wen Lang again and immediately recognized him: "So it was you!" (See Chapter 57 of Volume 1 for details)
"It is indeed me," Wen Lang said with a light laugh. "I never expected that our reunion after so long would be like this."

Zhang Mu's expression softened slightly as he said, "Back then, you were supposed to come here to take over as county magistrate, weren't you?"

Wen Lang shook his head: "At that time, I was sent by Chief Minister Zhang to collect information and travel around the Grand Canal to understand the national economy and people's livelihood under the new law, and to form a report for the reference of national policy."

"Then what happened next..." Zhang Mu wanted to ask how he became the magistrate of this place. Wen Lang looked at Zhang Mu strangely and said, "The previous magistrate suddenly died, and the subsequent investigation involved powerful families, so Wan'an County became a hot potato."

"The field surveying envoy was originally a reserve county magistrate appointed by Chief Minister Zhang."

"So the appointment from the Ministry of Personnel came into my hands."

Zhang Mu nodded upon hearing this, and then asked, "What do you wish to discuss with me?"

Wen Lang stood up and bowed again: "I have three questions."

"Firstly, do you intend to occupy the county seat permanently?"

Zhang Mu shook his head: "I originally came to save people, but since I'm here, I might as well save this city as well."

"I'm leaving now that the rescue is complete. This city still belongs to Dayun, and so does your official position!"

Wen Lang's expression remained unchanged as he asked again, "Has the chieftain returned the silver and grain looted from this county by the White Lotus bandits?"

Zhang Mu snorted: "I robbed the White Lotus Sect, what does that have to do with the common people?"

Wen Lang's expression changed: "You can take the money, but the grain is the lifeblood of the entire city. If you don't return it, the city will have been saved in vain."

"Thirty percent, thirty percent is enough."

"What do you plan to do if I don't return it?" Zhang Mu said coldly.

Wen Lang's face paled, and he said with a wry smile, "I am powerless to even kill a chicken, what can I do?"

"The nation's kindness has been repaid, but the people's respect and admiration have yet to be returned."

"I have no face to face them."

After saying that, Wen Lang actually pulled a dagger out of his pocket and stabbed it into his heart.

This change, which seemed like a matter of life and death to ordinary people, was an incredibly long process in Zhang Mu's eyes. With a flick of his sleeve, Zhang Mu sent the teacup flying, which hit Wen Lang's arm where it was numb. Wen Lang's hand holding the knife trembled, and the dagger clattered to the ground.

"Lord Wen, are you bullying me?" Zhang Mu asked.

Wen Lang was about to bend down to pick up the dagger when Ye Hanzhou stepped forward and grabbed him, rendering him unable to move. He angrily said, "How have I bullied you?"

Zhang Mu said, "You didn't dare ask the White Lotus Sect for the grain they stole. Why do you dare ask for it back after I stole it, and even threaten to die if I don't give it to you?"

"Who are you trying to impress by dying?"

Wen Lang looked at Zhang Mu with some disdain: "The White Lotus bandits are exhausted and their horses are tired. They are bound to brainwash and proselytize, recruit soldiers and buy horses. The common people still have a way to survive by becoming bandits."

"Of course I don't need to ask them for it!"

“With Qianyuan Mountain as your base, if you don’t return it, the people will truly be left with no one to turn to.”

"Of course I'll ask you for it."

"I was surprised to see that your men were disciplined and did not commit any offenses after entering the city. I thought you cared about your hometown and had a heart that loved the people, so I humbly requested an audience."

"Since you are so heartless, I have no face to live any longer."

Tell me, who bullied whom?

Zhang Mu chuckled as he listened, "I heard you woke up in the coffin earlier and had been pretending to be dead. Why are you so fierce now?"

"What do you know!" Wen Lang said disdainfully. "If I regain my senses, the White Lotus Sect will definitely force me to join the sect, in order to enhance their prestige and use my name to bewitch the people."

"Although I am not afraid of death, I still have an elderly mother and a virtuous wife at home. How can they bear my burden?"

"Moreover, how can a true man live between heaven and earth bear the stigma of being a traitor!"

"Now that I see your face, how am I any different from the White Lotus Sect? Release me at once and let me die!"

"Hahahaha..." Zhang Mu laughed, then said, "You probably won't believe me if I change my mind now, Han Zhou, go ahead and say it."

Ye Hanzhou, who was holding Wen Lang, said, "Mr. Wen, the chieftain was just testing you."

"The stronghold had already decided that it would only take 30% of the money as a reward for this military expedition. The remainder would be managed by designated personnel to support the orphans and widows in the county."

"As for food... my stronghold has no shortage of food, leave it all here!"

Upon hearing this, Wen Lang's eyes widened in disbelief. He turned to look at Zhang Mu, who nodded.

Suddenly, Wen Lang shouted, "No! We can't leave them all behind!"

This confused Zhang Mu, who asked, "What do you mean? I can't even keep them all?"

With that, Zhang Mu waved his hand, signaling Ye Hanzhou to release Wen Lang.

Wen Lang straightened his body, looked at Zhang Mu with a meaningful gaze, and after a moment, straightened his clothes that had just been rumpled, and said, "I will explain this matter to the chieftain later."

"Please allow me to ask my third question, Chief."

Zhang Mu nodded: "Go ahead and ask."

Wen Lang took a deep breath, then exhaled, his gaze suddenly sharpening as he stared directly at Zhang Mu—

"I observe that the great fortune is nearing its end, and the deer will soon be lost."

"My lord, do you harbor ambitions to conquer the world?"

(End of this chapter)