The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 38 The Li Family and the Zhang Family
While Jiang Han and others were busy planting wheat, the atmosphere inside the Yan'an government office was completely different.

Inside the government office, the lights were bright, and wisps of smoke rose slowly from a bronze incense burner in the hall, reflecting the uncertain expression on the face of Prefect Zhang Nian.

He sat upright in the grand chair, his fingers gently stroking the jade pendant, listening carefully to the news brought by the servant.

Two people stood respectfully to the side—Li Shichang and his second son, Li Lihui.

"At this time, Lord Yang is stationed in Yansui Town, directing the encirclement and suppression of Wang Jiayin, the King of Hengtian, and Gao Yingxiang, the King of Chuang. He is too busy to be in two places at once."

The servant glanced cautiously at Zhang Nian, who sat upright at the head of the table, his tone extremely careful.

"But Lord Yang said that Jiang Han from Ansai and his men are very likely to be border troops from Yansui Town."

"Lord Yang told us not to act rashly and to try our best to appease them."

Zhang Nian nodded after listening, then turned to look at Li Shichang:

"What has Jiang Han been up to lately? Has he attacked the county seat or openly rebelled?"

Li Shichang quickly shook his head and cupped his hands in greeting:
"Reporting to Lord Zhang, Jiang Han has not made any unusual moves recently. He has neither attacked the county town nor openly raised the flag of rebellion."

He paused, a hint of pain flashing across his face.
"But... but this scoundrel previously extorted a lot of money and goods from us in Anse, and some of the losses were yours and the Prince Qing's Mansion's."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Nian expressionlessly picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said calmly:
"This loss is yours, not mine, and certainly not the Prince Qing's mansion's."

Upon hearing this, Li Shichang immediately realized that he had misspoke:

"Yes, yes, I was just being silly. Don't worry, sir, not a penny will be missing this month's tax payment."

Zhang Nian nodded in satisfaction, stroked his long beard, and pondered:

"Since Jiang Han hasn't raised the flag of rebellion yet, let's put him aside for now."

"Don't provoke him, lest you cause more trouble."

Zhang Lian had no desire to get involved in this mess. As long as that Jiang fellow didn't openly raise the flag of rebellion, it had nothing to do with him.

At present, Shaanxi is short of troops. The remaining soldiers are all engaged in suppressing several major bandits in Yansui Town and cannot be spared. The other garrison soldiers are just grateful if they can hold the city.

As for the losses? The Li family wouldn't dare to shortchange themselves and the Prince Qing's mansion.

But Li Lihui, who was standing to the side, immediately became anxious after hearing this and interrupted:

“Lord Zhang, this Jiang fellow has just returned to Ansai. His foundation is unstable and his supplies are insufficient.”

"Why don't we take this opportunity to wipe them out in one fell swoop!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Nian's face darkened abruptly, and he rebuked Li Lihui without any politeness:

"Who do you think you are, to teach me how to do things?"

"Get out!"

Li Lihui trembled with fright at the angry rebuke, his face turning deathly pale. He dared not utter another word and slunk away towards the door.

Upon seeing this, Li Shichang quickly grabbed his son and repeatedly apologized:
"Please calm down, sir. My child is ignorant and speaks without thinking."

Zhang Nian snorted coldly and glanced at Li Shichang:

"Someone raises them, but no one teaches them!"

The usually aloof and arrogant Master Li dared not refute these words, and could only keep smiling and apologizing.

He knew very well that in the eyes of the prefect, the Li family was nothing more than a dog he kept, doing dirty and tiring work for him to amass wealth.

Although the Zhang and Li families were nominally related by marriage, the Li family was only asking for the hand of a concubine's daughter.

No, to be precise, the woman was originally a maid in the Zhang household, but Zhang Nian adopted her as his goddaughter and married her off to the Li family.

Even so, the Li family was more than happy to accept it and welcomed the Zhang family's "adopted daughter" back with great pomp and circumstance.

Outside the government office, Li Shichang glared at his second son with a look of utter disappointment:
"You unfilial son, have you lost your mind? How dare you spout nonsense in front of the Prefect!" "Even your elder brother doesn't dare to talk back to Magistrate Zhang, where did you get the guts?!"

Li Lihui pouted resentfully and muttered under his breath:

"My elder brother is still hoping to climb the social ladder by relying on the Zhang family's maids, how could he dare to speak up for our Li family?"

"Father, I did all this to help the Li family!"

Li Shichang sighed helplessly:

"You scoundrel, the biggest help you can give to the Li family is to not cause trouble."

Li Lihui, however, was unconvinced and gritted his teeth, saying:
“In the eyes of the Zhang family, our Li family is nothing more than an obedient dog. They dump all sorts of dirty and tiring work on us every day.”

“Now that our Li family has suffered losses, Zhang Nian not only refuses to help us, but also helps that Jiang family to suppress us.”

"I simply cannot swallow this insult!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shichang's expression changed drastically. Even though Li Shichang doted on his second son, he couldn't help but become serious at this moment and warned him in a deep voice:
"Let me tell you, being able to serve the prefect's dog is a blessing our Li family has accumulated in our past lives! Do you think just anyone can climb the social ladder to the Zhang family?"

"If it weren't for the fact that we did a decent job, the prefect could easily replace us with a more obedient dog!"

"I'm warning you, I don't want to hear these complaints and grumbles again!"

Li Lihui was rendered speechless by the scolding. On the surface, he dared not talk back, but in his heart, he secretly made up his mind to go back and discuss countermeasures with his elder brother, Li Liyuan.

Upon returning home, Li Lihui eagerly went to find his older brother, Li Liyuan, looking extremely anxious.
"Brother, please help me think of a way. I really can't swallow this insult."

Li Liyuan frowned and asked:
"Any news about this guy surnamed Jiang?"

Li Lihui quickly responded:

“I have already sent people to investigate. That guy surnamed Jiang has taken over Majia Village and Baijia Village.”

"Just after the start of spring, he planted the land in both villages and recruited many displaced people to come and cultivate the land."

Upon hearing this, Li Liyuan raised his hand to interrupt him, and asked in confusion:

"Our Yan'an Prefecture has suffered from severe drought for years. Does this guy surnamed Jiang still dare to farm? Isn't he afraid that a severe drought will result in a complete crop failure?"

Li Lihui quickly explained:
"Brother, you don't know, that guy surnamed Jiang dug more than a dozen large ice cellars in Majia Village and had people collect all the snow from the surrounding area."

"Then they used cement to build a lot of pipes that went straight into the ground."

"Since this guy surnamed Jiang is making such a big move, he must be quite confident."

Upon hearing this, a glint of greed flashed in Li Liyuan's eyes, and he pressed for an answer:
"What kind of cement is this? Is it really as miraculous as you all say? That it can build a city in three days?"

Li Lihui nodded vigorously.

“Absolutely true! Brother, if we hand over the cement formula, why will we have to put up with the Zhang family’s attitude anymore?”

"Perhaps, our Li family can transform from a merchant family into an official family."

"At that time, even that unruly maid in your family, elder brother, might be replaced by a proper daughter of an official."

These words struck a chord with Li Liyuan.

His "official wife," whom he married in a grand procession from the Zhang family, turned out to be a former maid.

It's a great humiliation that my family and I have to take such good care of her every day.

This matter had always been a thorn in his side, and now, after hearing his brother's words, he couldn't help but be somewhat moved.

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(End of this chapter)