Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 378 Disposal
He took a deep breath and quickly regained his balance, the anger in his heart growing stronger.

"Damn it!" Wei Xian cursed inwardly, his eyes flashed, and he quickly moved sideways, successfully avoiding the opponent's second attack.

Without hesitation, he raised his foot and kicked the servant in the crotch. The servant was caught off guard and screamed in pain. He lost his balance and fell to the ground. The wooden stick flew out of his hand and hit the ground with a crisp sound.

"Bah, bastard!" Wei Xian snorted coldly, moving swiftly and finishing the man off with a single blow. The servant fell to the ground, bleeding like a fountain. Wei Xian wiped the blood from the blade and calmly looked at the remaining man.

At this time, the stabbed servant had stood up and was holding the wall in pain. It was obvious that he had not yet recovered from the blow. Seeing that his accomplice had been killed, he was so scared that he turned around and tried to escape.

"Run?" Wei Xian sneered, then quickly walked towards the wooden stick on the ground. The moment he grasped the stick, he raised his hand and smashed it towards the fleeing servant. Unfortunately, the stick arced in the air and ultimately missed its target, hitting a wooden pillar in the corridor with a dull sound.

When the servant heard this, he suddenly panicked and hurried his pace, almost running for his life. Just as he was about to disappear around the corner, Wei Xian's eyes flashed with a cold light and he rushed over quickly.

He shouted loudly, "Stop!" Then he rushed forward, grabbed the other's neck, and quickly inserted the dagger into the servant's back. Blood gushed out like a fountain, splashing the wall with blood.

The servant's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to shout, but only let out weak groans. His body gradually lost control and he finally fell heavily to the ground.

Wei Xian stood beside the fallen servant, the dagger in his hand still dripping with blood, his eyes cold and determined. He reached out and picked up the wooden stick from the ground, waved his arms, and relaxed the tension brought by the fierce battle just now.

However, the situation was still deteriorating and had completely gotten out of control. Wei Xian could hear the sound of footsteps approaching from a distance, accompanied by the shouts of Li's soldiers. It was obvious that the servants had discovered the presence of his uninvited guest.

Despite this, Wei Xian remained remarkably calm, his face devoid of any sign of panic. Instead, he analyzed the situation more clearly. He lowered his head, pondered for a moment, and then decided to leave the area quickly, not wanting to expose himself.

Wei Xian immediately turned and swiftly made his way through the nearby woods. His steps were light and swift amidst the intertwined branches and leaves, the darkness obscuring all traces. His mind raced, planning every next step—whether it was to evade capture or find a better way out.

At this time, the sky above Zhangzhou City was filled with stars, the night sky was deep, and a cold wind with a little moisture blew over the top of the city, whimpering and tearing the silence of the night.

This night seemed much like any other, as if everything was still peaceful and tranquil. But in reality, Zhangzhou Prefecture was plunged into unprecedented chaos. Several city gates had been sealed, and over 600 soldiers under Zheng Hongkui, along with hundreds of yamen runners and the six clerks within the county government, had been urgently mobilized.

The light of the torches danced in the darkness like ancient fire snakes, illuminating anxious faces. They were searching house by house, and as the search deepened, an atmosphere of tension and panic permeated the entire city.

"Has Lord Wei still not been found?" Zheng Hongkui roared loudly in the cold night wind in front of the government office: "Where the hell did this guy go? Damn it!"

His wolf-like eyes swept over his subordinates, anxious and angry. Although he was extremely anxious about Wei Xian's whereabouts, he still didn't dare let others see too much anxiety.

"General, that guy...that guy, I really don't know where he has gone. I can't find him at all!" The general was already exhausted and panting, with his hands on his knees, and his forehead was covered with sweat.

"What are you guys doing there?" Zheng Hongkui was furious. Seeing several soldiers still whispering to each other, he was furious and shouted mercilessly, "Go catch the spy!"

He glared at them fiercely, his tone revealing an irresistible majesty. At this moment, he had only one thought in his mind - no matter what means, Wei Xian must be found out tonight, otherwise his entire plan would completely collapse.

When several soldiers heard Zheng Hongkui's scolding, they immediately stopped talking and did not dare to hesitate any longer. Holding torches, they quickly rushed into the streets and began to search in an intensified manner.

Zheng Hongkui paced anxiously, his mind in a mess. He knew that if he couldn't even catch Wei Xian tonight, then not only would the pursuit fail completely, but he himself would also be in danger.

You have to know that Wei Xian is no ordinary person. The power and threat he represents are enough to make anyone pay a heavy price.

Suddenly, Zheng Hongkui's helmet tilted to one side. He quickly straightened his helmet, touched his head with his hand, and sighed deeply: "If Wei Xian gets into trouble, my escape route will be cut off."

He knew very well that if something happened to Wei Xian in his territory, he would no longer be able to count on Zhu Cilang's trust.

At this moment, in Zhangzhou City, only Wei Xian's personal guards, his confidants and a few others knew the truth of the matter - the reason they launched this search was not because of the pirate spies, but because Wei Xian was missing.

However, everyone else, including the soldiers, yamen runners and clerks who were eager to participate in the capture operation, still believed that this was an operation to capture pirates and spies, and they searched enthusiastically and without hesitation.

To prevent yamen runners, militia, and soldiers from accidentally injuring Wei Xian, Wei Xian's personal guard captain Zhang Zhizhong specifically issued an order through Zheng Hongkui: "The spy must be captured alive. If you see a suspect, immediately surround him and wait for the soldiers to arrive."

However, despite the chaos in the city, Zheng Hongkui and his men found nothing. Not even a trace of Wei Xian could be found, despite their thorough search. The crowd was filled with impatience and anxiety, and the night was filled with shrill shouts and the glow of torches. By this time, Lieutenant General Li had begun to sense something unusual. A cunning glint flashed in his eyes, and he had his own plans in mind.

Although he didn't fully understand the whole situation, he could sense that the situation had gradually deviated from its original track, and the fact that Wei Xian was being treated as a pirate spy seemed to give him an unexpected comfort. At least, in such a chaotic situation, he could quietly deal with Wei Xian in the name of "pirate" without even worrying about anyone holding him accountable.

With this in mind, Lieutenant Li continued to feign indifference, humming a leisurely tune as he walked towards his residence with his two servants. As he walked among the yamen runners and militiamen running around the streets, he couldn't help but frown and curse inwardly, "These chaotic people are such a nuisance."

Although he tried hard to appear indifferent on the surface, he was secretly thinking in his heart: Tonight, everything seemed to be developing in the direction he expected.

Lieutenant General Li walked home with a brisk pace, feeling quite cheerful. It had been a wonderful evening, and he had been prepared to relax and enjoy a moment of peace and pleasure in his private room at Cuihua Tower.

However, things happen unexpectedly. Suddenly, several soldiers rushed into the room, followed by a group of yamen runners. The entire Cuihua Tower suddenly became chaotic. Everyone was driven to the patio downstairs and underwent strict inspection.

Lieutenant General Li's good mood was completely dashed. Normally, as a deputy general, he held military power, spoke with audacity, and rarely paid attention to anyone else. Those seemingly powerful soldiers and menial servants didn't even dare to raise a finger at him.

However, today, he chose to keep silent because of the hidden guilt in his heart. After all, if the matter were exposed, everyone would know that his career in this life would probably end here.

However, Lieutenant General Li knew that if he could successfully resolve this situation, his future would be as promising as he had hoped. Lieutenant General Li spent a few taels of silver to bribe a yamen runner, allowing him to escape the sudden raid. Seeing that things had calmed down for the time being, he quietly slipped out of Cuihua Tower with two trusted servants.

The night deepened, the streets becoming sparsely populated. Occasionally, the cries of vendors drifted through the air, but he paid no attention, striding home with his head held high. He hummed a little tune, feeling incredibly happy, completely forgetting the recent commotion. As long as he could successfully transfer to Nanjing and become a member of the Beijing Camp, his future would be much smoother.

Lieutenant General Li would soon be able to go to Nanjing and become a part of it, gaining both fame and fortune, and getting promoted and making a fortune. He had also heard that the current Emperor was actively recruiting talents from all over the world, especially the new army organization of the Beijing Camp, which was already expanding on a large scale.

As long as one could enter the Beijing Camp, they would basically gain the favor of the emperor, and eventually enter the court, obtaining a high position and generous salary. This was not only a personal honor, but also meant the rise of the family. Lieutenant General Li secretly thought in his heart that since he was going to Nanjing, he had to establish connections in the officialdom as soon as possible.

Only by establishing connections in the officialdom can he help other members of the family in the future. He already had a comprehensive plan. It was just a matter of how many gifts to give, who to find, and which connections to use. It was not a big problem.

He had secretly arranged several "chance encounters" with those key figures in the court, catered to their interests, and promised them various future benefits, thus gaining the favor of many people.

Lieutenant General Li knew this very well, especially in this era full of opportunities and turmoil. If he could take advantage of the good situation of the new dynasty and win over some relatives and brothers to serve as officials in the court, his family would inevitably become a force that could not be ignored in the court.

After all, officialdom relies on relationships, and no relationships are as reliable as the relationships between brothers, uncles, and nephews in the clan. From now on, the Li family will no longer be bandits!

"As long as I can gain a firm foothold in Nanjing, the road ahead will be much easier." Lieutenant General Li thought to himself, "Then I'll be able to trample all merchants and landlords under my feet. No one will dare to speak frankly in front of me. Even those insignificant yamen runners will have to bow down before me!"

No matter whether you are a businessman or a landlord, if there is no official in your family, you can't be tough. Even a small yamen runner dares to bully you. But if you become an official, or an official in Beijing, then the situation is completely different.

Lieutenant General Li walked through several streets, two servants cautiously following behind him. Although he maintained his head high and chest out, appearing confident, he was still a little worried. The sudden incident had left him feeling uneasy. Although he tried hard to appear normal, his anxiety was growing deeper and deeper.

Tonight, he had to return as quickly as possible to deal with those troubles. Otherwise, if he was tracked down, all his plans, all his wealth and glory would be ruined, and even his life would be in danger. Thinking of this, Lieutenant General Li's anxiety instantly turned into a strong pressure, causing him to quicken his pace.

The surrounding streets were remarkably quiet in the moonlight, with only the occasional bark of a dog piercing the night sky. Though the servants appeared obedient, they knew deep down that there was more to the night than meets the eye. They could sense their master's inner unease, and though he didn't show it outwardly, the pervasive sense of oppression lingered.

"Master, we have to hurry." One of the servants urged in a low voice, with a hint of urgency in his tone.

Lieutenant General Li nodded slightly, glanced ahead with a serious look, and quickened his pace. He was very worried at this time. He had to go back as soon as possible to deal with the matter, otherwise he would surely die.

Lieutenant General Li was filled with restlessness. Turning the corner, he could see his home, and his excitement grew. However, he also felt a subtle sense of unease—an uneasiness that stemmed not only from his anticipation for the future, but also from the potential dangers he was well aware of.

Although no accidents have occurred so far, he knows very well that even a little carelessness may cause big trouble or even cost the lives of his entire family.

"Hey, General, why is Butler Yang there?" Just as Lieutenant General Li was about to walk quickly to the door of his house, a servant suddenly stopped and pointed at a group of people at the corner of the street with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Lieutenant General Li instinctively looked over there, and sure enough, Steward Yang came into view, surrounded by a dozen yamen runners and soldiers. The scene looked quite tense. His heart skipped a beat, wondering how Steward Yang, who usually acted calmly, could be entangled with these yamen runners?
However, he was so anxious that he had no time to care about these trivial matters, so he strode over. As he approached, Lieutenant General Li heard the voices of Yang Guanjia talking with a middle-aged man in official uniform - in fact, Zhang Zhizhong, the captain of Wei Xian's personal guard.

(End of this chapter)