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

Chapter 47 Three Families Collude
Upon hearing Prefect Zhang Nian speak up to mediate, Li Shichang felt as if he had heard heavenly music. He immediately crawled on his knees at Zhang Nian's feet, kowtowing repeatedly.

Zhang Nian glanced down at him and offered a few words of comfort:

"Don't panic, get up and speak."

Eunuch Wang narrowed his eyes and said coldly:
"Lord Zhang, what is the meaning of this?"

"This little brat from the Li family was being rude; I'm just teaching him a lesson on behalf of his father."

Zhang Nian didn't tolerate him and replied:
"This is my Yan'an Prefecture. The Li family is, after all, related to me by marriage. It's not your place to lecture them!"

A sinister glint flashed in Wang Gonggong's eyes as he threatened:
"Alright, Lord Zhang, even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake."

“I’ll go back and tell the Prince right away that everyone in Yan’an Prefecture has colluded to embezzle the Prince’s property and has also colluded with bandits to wreak havoc on the village.”

He paused, his tone dismissive.
"You need to understand this: this empire belongs to the Zhu family. Our prince's lineage will last for ten thousand generations. At most, he'll just get a reprimand from the emperor. But it's a different story for you."

"Prefect Zhang, at best you'll lose your post and be exiled; at worst you'll be imprisoned and your head will be on your hands!"

Zhang Nian's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and his tone softened:

"Eunuch Wang, let's talk this out."

"The Li family and my Zhang family have some connection. How about we allow him to make amends? Let him live, so he can work even harder in the future."

Eunuch Wang didn't want to offend Zhang Nian too much, since Zhang Nian had come all the way from Yinchuan to reclaim the royal family's allowances, not to kill someone and establish his authority.

After a moment's thought, Eunuch Wang nodded and agreed to Zhang Nian's proposal.

But this kid surnamed Li still needs to be punished a little.

Eunuch Wang casually gave an order to the guard beside him:

"Fine, let him go this time, break his legs, and throw him in jail."

"We will only release them when the Li family has paid off their share of the royal estate's expenses!"

Zhang Nian nodded, then looked at Li Shichang kneeling beside him and sighed:

"I've done my best, that's all."

Despite his reluctance, Li Shichang could only grit his teeth and nod.

He dared not disobey Zhang Nian, for if he angered Zhang Nian again, his son would truly be left without protection.

The guards stepped forward and roughly dragged Li Lihui out.

A moment later, a muffled thud and a heart-wrenching scream came from outside the door. Upon hearing his youngest son's scream, Li Shichang felt dizzy and almost fainted.

But Eunuch Wang grabbed him and sneered:

"Master Li, don't faint yet. You haven't answered me. When are you going to hand over the monthly allowances for the past few months?"

Li Shichang knelt on the ground, trembling like a leaf:

"Eunuch Wang, it's not that I'm refusing to give it! That bandit surnamed Jiang is truly hateful; he's blocked the Li family from any way out!"

"The thieves kept a close watch on the directions of Ganquan and Ansai, while the convoy coming from the direction of Mizhi was intercepted by another bandit leader, Buzhanni."

"My Li family are just honest businessmen, and we don't have any soldiers to fight the bandits. We are really powerless to do anything about it!"

Seeing Li Shichang's appearance, Eunuch Wang was also in a dilemma. The prince had given a strict order that he must bring money back with him on this trip.

Otherwise, you'll end up in serious trouble yourself.

Just when the situation reached a stalemate, Zhang Nian, who was standing to the side, came up with an idea:
"Gentlemen, I have an idea. Please listen to it and see if it's feasible."

Upon hearing this, the two people inside the room immediately looked at Zhang Nian.

Zhang Nian calmly took a sip of hot tea and slowly began to speak:

"Let the Li family provide the money and supplies to invite Commander Zhao to take action."

"Have Commander Wu bring out the border troops from the Jingbian Camp, along with the commanders of several surrounding garrisons, to jointly besiege Majia Village!" Eunuch Wang's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands in approval.
"That's interesting, I think it's feasible!"

Li Shichang, however, looked worried and said in a trembling voice:

"But those thieves are very strong; we are no match for them with fewer people."

“He wiped out the bandits who were entrenched in Yangta Mountain, and even captured their leader Lu Tao alive.”

Zhang Nian was naturally aware of this matter; without the prefect's tacit approval, the Li family would not dare to fund a group of bandits outside.

He's held a grudge against the Li family for acting without his knowledge.

Today is a good opportunity to teach that dog Li a lesson, lest he become an ungrateful wolf cub.

Zhang Nian smiled slightly, glanced at Eunuch Wang, and asked:

"I've heard that the Prince Qing's manor has a royal estate upstream of the Jinming River. I wonder if we could borrow it?"

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Wang stared at Zhang Nian with a wary expression:

"What are you going to do?!"

Zhang Nian lowered his voice, his tone somber:
"I plan to use Wangzhuang to completely wipe out this band of thieves!"

"Isn't that guy surnamed Jiang fond of robbing caravans? Let's send out a few more caravans and deliberately let him rob them."

Li Shichang was stunned, and interjected:
"Lord Zhang, what is the meaning of this?"

Zhang Nian ignored him and continued to explain:
"Have the caravan head towards Wangzhuang and spread the word that there is a large amount of grain and military equipment in Wangzhuang that is to be transported back to Yan'an Prefecture."

"That scoundrel surnamed Jiang is greedy by nature and will surely lead his troops to Wangzhuang!"

Eunuch Wang became anxious:

"No way! That's Qingfan's territory. No one is allowed to lay a finger on Wangzhuang!"

Zhang Nian waved his hand, signaling him to calm down:
"Please don't be in a hurry, Eunuch Wang, let me finish speaking."

"As long as we deploy a large force in Wangzhuang and have the guards hold the fortifications and refuse to come out, those little thieves will definitely not be able to break through!"

"Besides, if he goes to attack Wangzhuang, he must leave some men behind to guard his old stronghold, Majiacun, right?"

"As long as he divides his forces, we can attack him from both sides!"

Wang Gonggong suddenly realized, a glint of excitement flashing in his eyes:
"In this way, we can have the commander lead two groups of men, one to hold Wangzhuang and not come out, and the other to rush to Majia Village to wipe out the bandits."

"Once we've wiped out the bandits in Majia Village, we'll immediately head north to Jinmingchuan and join forces with the garrison in Wangzhuang to launch a pincer attack! We'll completely annihilate these bandits!"

But he still hesitated. Wangzhuang in Jinmingchuan was the richest estate in Yan'an Prefecture owned by the Qing family. If something went wrong, he would lose several heads.

Eunuch Wang frowned and asked:
"Is there no other way? This is really a bit risky."

Seeing Wang Gonggong's expression, Zhang Nian understood his concerns and thus offered some advice:

"Eunuch Wang, this is the only way to deal with this band of bandits for now."

“The forces in northern Shaanxi are limited. Most of the elite troops in Yansui Town have fled on the road to defend the emperor, and the rest are in Jiang Han’s hands. The remaining combat-ready troops are in Fugu to besiege those two big bandits.”

Wang Gonggong lowered his head and pondered for a long time, but hesitated to nod easily.

Seeing the eunuch's dawdling manner, Zhang Nian felt a surge of irritation. He turned to Li Shichang, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Your Li family should pay for more border soldiers to guard Wangzhuang well; if any losses occur, your Li family will bear the responsibility!"

Li Shichang's face turned ashen, but he dared not refute, and could only bow his head in agreement:

"Yes, I will take care of it right away."

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(End of this chapter)