Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 55 The Most Cool Mission

Li Damu, the accountant, was undoubtedly the most dashing person in this turmoil.

Even Young Master Zhang has lost his carefree and relaxed mood.

He was the one who most hoped his father would return later, but now he couldn't wait to send someone to Phoenix Manor to look for Zhang Yunyi.

But Accountant Li was extremely carefree and at ease.

His most important task now is not to keep accounts, but to fool around with Miss Xiao Tan.

This was the task Yang Can had given him, and he really liked it.

After another arduous journey, Accountant Li, his legs weak, floated out of the room.

He felt he had been working too hard lately and should rest tomorrow.

"Ah, Qingmei girl."

Suddenly, Xiao Qingmei walked over from the opposite corridor with a bitter face, and Accountant Li quickly greeted her with a smile.

This girl has been in Deacon Yang's bedroom, so she cannot be neglected.

"Oh, it's Mr. Li."

Qingmei reluctantly agreed.

Dealing with those farmers who talk nonsense and can't stop talking about their ancestors for three generations is really tiring.

She rubbed her aching cheeks and shook her little hands, which were cramping from writing.

Accountant Li was slightly surprised by her actions. Was Steward Yang really that strong?
Look how tired that childhood sweetheart is.

"What are you looking at?" Xiao Qingmei asked in surprise, her eyes narrowing.

"Oh, it's nothing, it's nothing. Cough, Qingmei... you've worked hard."

"Hey, you don't need to tell me, of course I've worked hard."

Even though they volunteered, Deacon Yang can't treat them like livestock.

The little green plum complained sullenly, making Accountant Li's heart pound with fear.

Such rabid and insolent words are not something one can utter casually.

You dare to say it, but I don't dare to listen.

Li Damu now holds Yang Can in the highest esteem.

This Deacon Yang is too cunning; he can't beat him.

If you can't beat them, just join them and become their lackey.

This is Mr. Li's principle of conduct.

……

At present, there are no important figures in Feng'an Village who have been invited by Yang Can for tea except for members of the Zhang family and Kang Zhengyang, the head of the troops.

Feng'an Village is a large estate, capable of mobilizing approximately five hundred soldiers.

The title of "Buquzhang" originally referred to a position in the army of the previous dynasty. It was adopted by the Eight Clan and became the title for the leaders of the private armies of powerful clans.

Because the detached troops have the characteristics of an army, they cannot be commanded by the lords of a manor or the leaders of a town or fortress.

Therefore, it is directly controlled by the lord and the heads of each branch.

The appointment, dismissal, and daily management of the sergeant commanders were all decided by them.

However, the retainers served as soldiers in wartime and as civilians in peacetime.

Therefore, from another perspective, they are still subject to the control of the estate owners.

As a result, the head of the detachment would inevitably have to deal with the estate owners frequently.

Moreover, wars rarely occurred between the various clans, which made the relationship between the chieftains and the lords even closer.

Sometimes, the retainers would act as henchmen for the manor lord, doing his bidding for his evil deeds.

But no matter what, the soldiers and leaders of the detachments were still the people in the village who were least influenced by the lord.

At this moment, the troop leader Kang Zhengyang was smilingly stroking "Yang Canli".

His expression was just like when he was in his early twenties, stroking his wife's smooth skin.

This is the second "Yang Canli" body he obtained.

He managed to acquire two of these new plows when they were in high demand, all thanks to his position as a battalion commander.

The Kang family consists of three brothers and four sisters, making it quite a large family.

After using this new plow, even if each household in the Kang family can only spare one able-bodied laborer, they can work together to do something.

Kang Zhengyang had already planned it out: he would gather the people vacated by his relatives and friends, and also recruit some of the families of his close comrades and soldiers.

In this way, he could use the Kang family members as the core to form a small caravan.

At that time, the Kang family will raise funds to do some business with the Xianbei tribes.

They purchased iron pots, salt, tea, and cloth from Tianshui City and sold them to the Xianbei tribes.

They then traded felt blankets, honey, beeswax, and even medicinal herbs such as angelica and astragalus from the Xianbei tribes, which they then sold to Tianshui City.

The round trip won't be too far, with Feng'anzhuang as the connecting point, making it possible to earn money.

He was just about to have his son call over his brothers and brothers-in-law to discuss his plans when an uninvited guest arrived at his home.

The newcomer was none other than Leopard Head Cheng Dakuan.

Cheng Dakuan and Kang Zhengyang were very familiar with each other. They were the two most capable fighters in Feng'an Village and had known each other since childhood.

More than 20 years ago, the two competed for the position of squad leader in the corps, and Kang Zhengyang eventually won.

In a fit of anger, Leopard Head went to Phoenix Manor and became a guard.

After years of hard work, Leopard Head's business once surpassed Kang Zhengyang's.

But now, he has been reduced to his original form and is still subservient to Kang Zhengyang.

But he sat cross-legged on the kang (heated brick bed) in the Kang family's house, without any sense of shame or embarrassment.

On the contrary, Kang Zhengyang, who was sitting opposite him, looked very serious.

“The one surnamed Kang, our Master Yang doesn’t want much.”

As long as you outwardly appear obedient to Zhang Yunyi after he returns to the manor, and secretly follow the orders of our Master Yang.

In this way, everything you have will be safe; Master Yang will never touch you.

Kang Zhengyang remained silent, his face grim. Leopard Head curled his lip: "Kang, your kung fu is no match for mine."

How did you climb to the position of team leader in the first place? After all these years, you must have figured it out by now.

The man surnamed Zhang thought you were easier to control than me, so he strongly recommended you to our commander at the time.

Kang Zhengyang was getting a little embarrassed and said in a deep voice, "Why are you telling me this?"
What, are you going to bring up old grievances with me?

Leopard Head said, "I'm just telling you that Zhang Yunyi has done you no favors."

The Zhang family is in dire straits right now, so don't make a mistake for yourself.

Otherwise, if Zhang Yunyi falls from power, can you really escape unscathed?

Kang Zhengyang sneered, "What are you implicated in? Just like you, you've been completely stripped of your position?"

“You…” Leopard Head’s hair and beard bristled, and he was furious.

However, he suddenly thought of something, sneered, and sat back down.

"If you don't know what's good for you, then when Zhang Yunyi falls from power, the person who will take your place as the commander will be me, Leopard Head."

Kang Zhengyang ignored his threat, pondered for a moment, and slowly said, "So, you mean that taking down Master Zhang was not the clan leader's intention?"

"Of course not. If it were, why would I come to you?"
However, do you think that now that things have come to this, and with the young mistress of the Suo family backing him up, the patriarch will protect Zhang Yunyi?

Of course not. It is in the interests of the clan lord to deal with these estate managers who bear the mark of the second wife.

How could he possibly protect Zhang Yunyi?
Zhang Yunyi was like a local tyrant in Feng'an Village, but in Phoenix Manor, he was nothing more than a scheming rich man.

After a long silence, Kang Zhengyang finally raised his head.

"You came today without telling me beforehand."

Therefore, I will not entertain you further; we can do it next time.

Although Leopard Head had never been to school, he still understood what Kang Zhengyang meant.

"Hahaha, you little brat, you may not be as good as me in terms of fists and feet, but your brain is definitely more quick-witted than mine."

"If I had your brains, I wouldn't have spent so many years climbing to the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards."

Kang Zhengyang, with a stern face, stabbed him in the heart: "You were the former commander of the imperial guards, but now, you're nothing."

……

The day after Kang Zhengyang agreed to cooperate with Yang Can, Zhang Yunyi, the head of the Zhang family estate, who had been eagerly awaited by all the managers in the granary, finally "returned."

There were two armed forces in Feng'anzhuang, which Yang Can dared not ignore.

Zhang Yunyi, having reached a dead end, might not be afraid to turn against him.

People from the Central Plains can flee to Longshang, so why can't people from Longshang flee to the Central Plains?
If he dares to ignore it, he might very well end up in a mess.

Now, the troops under Kang Zhengyang's command have sided with him.

He now controls the most powerful armed force in Feng'an Village.

The other armed force in Feng'an Village consisted of martial arts guards personally selected and trained by Zhang Yunyi.

Yang Can had no intention of recruiting them, and on the surface... he didn't take any precautions against them.

Zhang Yunyi was brought back in public and stuffed into the barn in front of the guards and martial arts masters.

As the head of Feng'an Manor, Zhang Yunyi has special privileges.

For example, he was the only person in the barn where he was imprisoned.

"Mr. Li, what's going on? Why was the Master of the Manor brought back by Steward Yang?"

Could it be... could it be that the patriarch is going to deal with our manor lord?

Miss Xiao Tan turned pale and grabbed Li Damu's sleeve in a panic, her eyes brimming with tears.

She didn't have any feelings for Zhang Yunyi, even though she had slept with Master Zhang.

However, everything she relies on for survival now comes from the Zhang family.

Once the Zhang family falls, what will become of her, a mere woman?
Li Damu's face turned ashen, and he gritted his teeth as he said, "That Yang Can, that Deacon Yang, he even fooled me!"

Li Damu patted Xiao Tan's hand and comforted her, "Don't be afraid. This isn't the lord wanting to harm Master Zhang. If it were the lord wanting to harm him, there wouldn't be so much trouble."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tan exclaimed with delight, "Then... can we send someone to complain to the clan leader?"

Li Damu sneered: "The manor lord brought twelve experts, but they still couldn't get to Phoenix Manor."

He's a prisoner now, do you think anyone else can climb Phoenix Mountain?

Xiao Tan's expression changed: "Mr. Li, what should we do?"

Li Damu said with a sullen face, "This is clearly a trick played by the eldest son's wife."

As you can see, the people that Steward Yang used were all sent by the young mistress.

These people used to pretend to be farmers or plow makers, ugh!

However, you shouldn't worry too much.

Li Damu pulled Xiao Tan close, embraced the petite woman, and softly comforted her:
"Even if something happens to the Zhang family, I, Li, will protect you."

"You're just a lowly maid; surely Steward Yang wouldn't deliberately make things difficult for you."

Xiao Tan suppressed her nausea, kissed Li Damu on the lips, and said affectionately, "Well..., I'm counting on you, sir."

"Don't worry, don't worry."

"But Mr. Li, is our lord really gone just like that?"

"Fall? That's more than that!"

Li Damu looked fearful and said slowly and deliberately, "Xiao Tan, you don't know this."

Judging from Yang Can's character,
He appears gentle and refined like a gentleman; yet his heart is that of a viper and a wolf.

It conceals its claws and sharpness like a silent, profound scholar; it seizes its prey and devours them until death is inevitable.

His attacks were thunderous and terrifying, each move capable of destroying hearts and souls;
When they are determined, they become sinister and ruthless, eliminating all threats and problems at the root.

Though poison is not as dangerous, though hemlock is less cruel.

They treat human life as worthless as grass, and discard the principles of Heaven like worn-out shoes.

Xiao Tan turned pale upon hearing this and exclaimed in shock, "Mr. Li, what do you mean by that?"

Accountant Li said grimly, "Zhang Yunyi is dead! The Zhang family is finished!"

(End of this chapter)