Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 277 Displaying Power in Public
In short, if anyone claims that the Zhang family hired someone to commit murder, they must at least provide a reason why they would do such a thing. If the matter is to be investigated by the authorities, how should the incident of the North Gate officer breaking Zhang Shuo's grandson's leg be dealt with?

Moreover, the Wang family owed the Zheng family 30,000 strings of cash as a dowry. Could it be that the Zheng family, unable to contain their anger, hired someone to kill them?
The reason they are dragging their feet on giving an explanation is because they know Zhang will feel ashamed and won't take the matter to court. He will likely have to endure it and suffer in silence.

Now, you can continue to drag it out, but you're risking your own life. Let's see if your comrades in the North Gate are really that loyal, and see if Wang Maozhong and Ge Fushun are truly that intimidating. In the end, the only price you'll pay is your life.

"The one who started this will surely have no descendants! We must be cautious."

Gao Lishi felt that this matter was still somewhat risky, and immediately advised against it again.

"They outnumber me and have the power. If they wanted to harm me, why would they need to hire someone? Besides, what they've bought is only the life of Wang Chongjun. It's not the sons of the Huo or Geng families, and it's a generous reward for the Northern Gate disciples. Which family in the Northern Gate would be my sworn enemy?"

If Wang Maozhong and Ge Fushun really went all out and used underhanded tactics, even Gao Lishi couldn't withstand them, let alone Zhang Dai.

Therefore, his target was very clear: Wang Chongjun alone. Thirty thousand strings of cash was by no means a small amount. The generals and officers of the Northern Gate were probably eager to make a fortune from such an opportunity. They would not hate Zhang Dai or fight the Zhang family to the death because of this.

"Then how will you gain people's trust? Thirty thousand strings of cash is no small sum!"

Gao Lishi initially thought this method was a bit strange, but after hearing Zhang Dai say it, he couldn't help but find it interesting and asked again.

"That's simple. Several holes are dug in Beimang to bury money, one hundred strings of cash per hole. First come, first served. This is the way to go."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai added, "Let's take the ancient meaning of 'moving a tree to establish trust'."

He wasn't really going to spend 30,000 strings of cash to buy a life; he was just using it to put pressure on the Wang family and make them suspicious. Besides, if Wang Chongjun were really killed, things would be harder to handle.

"It's possible, it can be done. Don't worry, I'll have someone spread this news and give those Northern Gate slaves some trouble!"

After a moment's thought, Gao Lishi nodded and said. He had been relentlessly pursued all the way to Bianzhou, and he was filled with bitterness and anger. Of course, he wouldn't let go of the opportunity to cause trouble for the North Gate.

Moreover, Zhang Dai had just done him a great favor, and now that he was asking for help with this small matter, he felt obligated to lend a hand.

Although there was often discord between the eunuchs and the Northern Imperial Guards, their work and living spaces largely overlapped, providing ample opportunities for contact and interaction, which facilitated the spread of rumors.

Otherwise, given the closed system of the Northern Government, it would be difficult for personnel information to spread out, and it would also be difficult for news from the outside to get in.

At Gao Lishi's command, his followers and their followers spread the news. They didn't even need to deliberately spread rumors; just casually discussing it in public or private was enough for the sharp-eyed soldiers of the Northern Army to overhear.

In other words, Zhang Dai's insurance business has only been operating for a short time and is currently only developing between Xiyuan and Shangyang Palace. After some more time, Zhang Dai will not even need to ask Gao Lishi for help anymore, as he will have his own channels to stir up trouble.

Chengfu Lane on the south bank of Xintan, a famous scenic spot in the city, has always been bustling and lively, filled with many tourists day and night.

Ge Yanchang, son of Ge Fushun, was devastated when his marriage proposal failed at the beginning of the year and his bride eloped. He then turned to brothels and rented a house in Chengfu Lane to live there permanently, using the pleasures of the night to numb himself.

However, in the past few days, Ge Yanchang has shaken off his previous dejection and held a grand banquet in the courtyard he rented, inviting a group of prostitutes from the neighborhood to entertain his friends, especially Wang Chongjun, who had given him a good scolding a few days ago.

"Wang San, tell me again how you broke Zhang Yangong's grandson's legs like a pig or a dog that day!"

It was still early morning, and Ge Yanchang was already drunk. He had a beautiful maidservant on each side of him at the banquet, and then he looked at a young man at the banquet and asked him with a loud laugh.

Among the newly arrived courtesans at the banquet, all were astonished upon hearing this. One of them couldn't help but whisper, "Isn't Zhang Yan Gong's grandson the famous Zhang Liu Lang, who topped the imperial examination this spring? His leg was actually broken?"

"You whore, what do you know about right and wrong! Zhang Liu is nothing but a bastard son of the Zhang family, while the one being beaten like a pig and a dog is the legitimate grandson of Lord Yan!"

Ge Yanchang first cursed angrily, then pointed at the young man and shouted, "Wang San, speak quickly!"

Wang Chongjun was also in his twenties. Upon hearing this, he laughed and said, "Listen carefully, Ge Lang. That Zhang family thought his family was a very respectable one, and he thought I would definitely respect his family. But he didn't expect to be knocked down by my punch after introducing himself!"
He tried to struggle, but I ordered my men to hold him down. At first, he still had the courage to curse, but after I struck him with my staff, all he could do was cry and wail. I asked him if he knew what crime he had committed. Had he not heard that we men of the Northern Gate valued our spirit above all else? Having offended Ge Lang, he was now an enemy of all of us from the Northern Gate!
From this day forward, the Zhang family must learn to be careful. If they ever encounter another righteous young man from the Northern Gate, it won't just be a matter of breaking his leg; his life might be in danger!

"Good Wang San, truly admirable in his righteousness! What is Zhang Yan Gong anyway? When he was in charge of the Southern Province, we still respected him to some extent. Now that he has stepped down, how can his family members have any place to be arrogant in the capital!"

Upon hearing this, the young men from the North Gate present applauded and cheered.

Another courtesan, puzzled, asked in a low voice, "What did the Zhang family do to offend Young Master Ge? Two months ago, that Sixth Master Zhang came to the brothel and made quite a show of himself..." "Silence, you prostitute! Don't ask questions you shouldn't. Just focus on serving the wine!"

Seeing Ge Yanchang's expression suddenly turn cold, a young man from the northern gate slapped the courtesan across the face and shouted angrily.

Ge Yanchang gritted his teeth in hatred at the thought of Zhang Dai, and upon hearing the courtesan's words, he angrily shouted, "All of you courtesans here are well-known in the neighborhood. Today I'm telling you all, if anyone dares to entertain that dog Zhang Liu in their home again, don't blame me for not letting you off the hook!"

Upon hearing this, the courtesans readily nodded in agreement. They naturally dared not get involved in the petty squabbles of these spoiled young men. Then, one of them, not without jealousy, maliciously said, "It is said that Zhang Liu went to Song San Niang's house before and even redeemed one of her courtesans, and recognized Song San Niang's family as his godparents."

"That scoundrel stole from me... and he still has the nerve to frequent brothels! How hateful!"

Upon hearing this, Ge Yanchang became even more furious. Coincidentally, there were two adopted daughters of Song San Niang serving wine at the banquet. He immediately ordered them to be dragged up and tied up under the eaves, and then ordered everyone present to use the two women as arrows for the game of pitch-pot.

When Song San Niang learned that her daughter had been subjected to such difficulties, she naturally dared not slack off and hurriedly came here to beg for forgiveness.

Ge Yanchang had several jars of wine brought over and said to Song Sanniang, "I heard that you, Song Sanniang, have become Zhang Liu's new mother-in-law, so I brought these wines to congratulate you! You and your daughter won't be leaving the house today until you've finished all these wines!"

“Ge Lang is too kind. We are lowly women of the night, how could we dare to hope for your magnanimity and continued favor? Perhaps Ge Lang has some unresolved grudge with Zhang Liulang, how could we possibly inquire about it? Lord Dou Bi has entrusted this matter to me, and I will personally undertake it…”

While Song Sanniang was still pleading and smiling, Ge Yanchang glared at her and shouted angrily, "You old whore, do you think I'm afraid of you trying to scare me with Master Bi? I'll keep these two prostitutes tied up here forever, and I won't release them until Master Bi comes!"

"A man should draw his bow and throw arrows with unrestrained joy! Bring Ge Lang a bow and shoot these shameless prostitutes!"

Wang Chongjun and the others clapped and laughed as they joined in the fun.

"Ge Lang, please calm down, please calm down, I'll drink, I'll drink..."

Upon hearing this, Song San Niang's expression changed drastically. She quickly knelt down, stepped forward, picked up the wine jar, and began to drink the wine.

The men and women around burst into laughter upon seeing this, and Ge Yanchang was especially overjoyed.

Just then, someone rushed in, glanced around briefly, and then hurriedly walked to Wang Chongjun's side, whispering in his ear, "My lord, something terrible has happened! Rumors are circulating at the North Gate that someone is hiring someone to murder you. The lord wants you to go home immediately..."

"What nonsense are you spouting! Who wants to kill me? Who dares to kill me?"

Wang Chongjun didn't care at all when he heard this. He had the good fortune to be accompanied by two courtesans he had long admired, so he was reluctant to leave.

"It's true, no joke. It's all over the North Gate. Someone is offering a reward of 30,000 strings of cash for Ah Lang's life. Any soldier from the North Gate or any member of the Five Guards who kills Ah Lang will receive the 30,000 strings of cash!"

The servant spoke again in a hurry, and when Wang Chongjun heard the number "thirty thousand strings of cash," his expression changed drastically, and he immediately asked in a hurry, "Is it the Zheng family or the Zhang family?"

"Wang San, stop talking nonsense. It's your turn to raise a glass and drink. You can't be worse than this old prostitute!"

Ge Yanchang had already sat back down at his seat and pointed at Wang Chongjun, speaking loudly once more.

"Ge Lang, I...I...Something terrible has happened! Someone wants to harm me!"

Wang Chongjun was already panicking. He didn't care that there were others at the table. He immediately looked at Ge Yanchang and said, "My servant reports that someone is offering a reward of 30,000 strings of cash for my life!"

"Wang San is drunk. Your little life isn't worth 30,000 strings of cash. If there were really such a fool as to spend money so lavishly, wouldn't all of us brothers be rich?"

The group of friends at the table thought Wang Chongjun was just joking, so they all started laughing and teasing him.

When it came to his own life, Wang Chongjun couldn't laugh. With a mournful face, he trembled and said, "This, this is probably true... A few days ago, my father-in-law's family came to ask for 30,000 strings of cash, which caused that incident. Now someone else is offering 30,000 strings of cash to buy my life."

I heard that Zhang Liu has gone to the capital, is it him...? Even Wang Dalang of the Huo family was defeated by him, Ge Lang, you must protect me!

(End of this chapter)