Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 56 It’s all over

"Did Deacon Yang really say that?"

Young Master Zhang asked in a trembling voice, his face extremely pale. Xiao Tan nodded vigorously.

Zhang Zhuangzhu was detained by Yang Can on the grounds that his subordinates had committed embezzlement and other illegal acts.

He said he was assisting with the investigation, but everyone knows that this is just a euphemism before his crimes are officially announced.

The Yunyi Pagoda, already teetering on the brink of collapse due to Yang Can's series of brick-removing actions, has now completely crumbled in the hearts of the people of Feng'an Village.

Young Master Zhang brought a generous gift to see Yang Can, but Yang Can, who had always been polite to him, refused to see him at all.

However, the Zhang family was not subject to any control despite Zhang Yunyi's detention.

Taking advantage of the situation, the Zhang family began to quietly move their valuables outside the fortress.

Just when Zhang Shao was completely lost, he received a message from Xiao Tan, a message that filled him with despair.

Young Master Zhang slumped into a chair, his face ashen.

Yang Can dared to do this because he probably already has a lot of dirt on my family, right?
If that's the case, what difference does it make if my family's wealth is transferred out of the fort?

As long as we Zhang family members cannot escape our family's territory, won't we ultimately be at the mercy of others?
But right now we can only pull some small tricks in Feng'anzhuang. If we try to escape now, will we still have a chance?
"I... understand, Xiao Tan. You did a great job. The Zhang family will not forget your contribution, and I will reward you handsomely."

Young Master Zhang casually made a promise to Xiao Tan and then waved her away.

As soon as Xiao Tan left, Young Master Zhang paced back and forth in the room like an ant on a hot pan for a long time before finally stamping his foot and walking out quickly.

……

Zhang Xiaomi is Zhang Yunyi's uncle, and the most senior member of the Zhang family.

Young Master Zhang and this great-uncle usually didn't have much contact.

But now that disaster is imminent, the only elder in his family he can consult is this great-uncle.

After all, we're all in the same boat.

"This Yang Can is a ruthless guy!"

Zhang Xiaomi coughed twice and muttered, "Now I understand!"

This Deacon Yang is trying to taint his reputation with the blood of my Zhang family in order to intimidate the six major estates.

Young Master Zhang said irritably, "Grand Uncle, is it any use saying these things now?"
"What to do? What should we do now? What should we do about the Zhang family? That's the most important thing."

Zhang Xiaomi remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "You just said that Steward Yang lives in the east wing, next to the granary?"

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

A fierce glint flashed in Zhang Xiaomi's eyes, and she said coldly, "We burned down the east wing and blamed it on a natural disaster!"

Young Master Zhang's eyes widened suddenly, and he exclaimed in horror, "Then...what the hell...what's the use?"
"Aren't we still going to die?"

Zhang Xiaomi shook her head and said viciously, "Burn down the east wing, implicate the granary, and burn all the managers locked up inside to death!"

Young Master Zhang was horrified and stammered, "Grand Uncle, my...my father is also locked in the granary."

Zhang Xiaomi slowly lowered her eyelids, looking old and frail, as if she hadn't heard what he said at all.

Young Master Zhang suddenly understood; his great-uncle was about to…

Young Master Zhang shrank back into the chair and nervously began biting his fingernails.

This is a habit he developed from childhood.

Zhang Xiaomi said slowly, "If only Yang Can died, then we will not be able to escape responsibility."

But if all those stewards in the estate were to die, it would be an unexpected natural disaster, a sign of drought and devastation.

In the Hetao region, the prevailing winds in spring are from the southwest and northwest.

In this way, once a fire starts in the east wing, the barn area outside the east wing will naturally be easily spread by the wind.

Zhang Xiaomi said, "If so many people die all at once, how many widows and orphans will there be? Will they not make a fuss?"
Our Feng'an Village has been ruined by that Yang fellow; we can forget about a good harvest this autumn.

"What do you think the other five great estates might do, given their shared sense of unease?"

There was one more thing Zhang Xiaomi didn't say explicitly.

If Zhang Yunyi also died in this fire, without any evidence, who would dare to accuse the Zhang family of setting the fire?
Once Zhang Yunyi is burned to death, the Zhang family will become the victims, and they can use this to their advantage to escalate the situation.

Moreover, they could use this fire to burn away much of the evidence that was detrimental to the Zhang family.

With no witnesses, no physical evidence, and no investigators, what can you do?
To avoid further trouble, the tycoon will most likely choose to downplay the incident.

After all, for the lord, the death of a steward is nothing; consolidating his rule is the most important thing.

Young Master Zhang's expression was unpredictable as he sat there blankly, without uttering a word.

This not only challenges the lord's bottom line, but also goes against it.

At least, he never thought of killing his father.

Zhang Xiaomi paused, tapping her cane, and asked in a deep voice, "The situation is already extremely urgent. Have you thought it through?"

Young Master Zhang stammered, "I...should I discuss this with my mother and a few brothers?"

Zhang Xiaomi sneered: "Can you mobilize the guards in Feng'an Fort?"

Young Master Zhang puffed out his chest slightly: "My father isn't here, so I'm in charge. Of course I can make the decisions."

Zhang Xiaomi said, "Isn't that enough? If you insist on making it so that everyone knows, how can you hide it from the gossip of the masses?"

Young Master Zhang lowered his head and weighed the options repeatedly.

He didn't really have any feelings for his father, but the thought of patricide was terrifying.

Zhang Xiaomi said, "I'll send your three cousins ​​to help you."

Zhang Xiaomi has three grandsons, which means they are now completely tied to him.

The mounting pressure, like drawing bricks from a well, coupled with the constant shifting of windfall gains, has fostered a desire to escape.

With Zhang Xiaomi's encouragement, Young Master Zhang finally made up his mind.

He slapped his thigh hard and said through gritted teeth, "Yang Can, you forced me to do this!"

……

April 18th, night.

It's windy tonight. A northwest wind.

Young Master Zhang mobilized more than ten Zhang family guards whom he believed he could completely trust.

Carrying kerosene, the group quietly approached the east wing guest room where Yang Can and his party were staying.

This is Zhang's territory; they are naturally most familiar with every blade of grass, every tree, every brick, and every tile.

So they approached quietly without attracting the attention of the guards in the courtyard.

The Zhang family originally kept a vicious guard dog, but since the person who came was a member of the Zhang family, the dog naturally didn't bark.

In those days, even in Longshang, most wealthy families built their houses using wood.

With a wind tonight and kerosene in hand, setting a fire to a predominantly wooden building would be easy.

……

Yang Can stood on the high granite base of the barn area, gazing at the small building where he should have been sleeping.

This is the granary furthest from the east wing in the granary area, and it still contains half a granary of old grain.

Yang Can had just come up; he left in a hurry, still wearing his bathrobe.

The wind blew his bathrobe, causing the hem to sway constantly.

When Young Master Zhang summoned his guards to prepare for action, Yang Can received a warning and then quietly left.

He knew the Zhang family would definitely take action, and that under his constant pressure, morale would be crushed.

He was just unsure how the Zhang family would act.

Now, he knows.

"Pong!"

The wind fanned the flames, adding fuel to the fire; the outcome was predictable.

A giant torch quickly appeared in the night sky.

The evening winds in Longshang are very strong.

From here, you can clearly see the tongues of fire striving to lick the sky.

The flames, affected by the strong airflow at high altitude, were forced to bend over and roll towards the storage area.

The flames were very powerful, and Yang Can was standing downwind, so even from a distance, he could still feel the intense heat of the flames.

Zhang Yunyi's two thumbs were tied together with a piece of cooked beef tendon, and he stood next to Yang Can.

His face looked terrible, extremely terrible.

The fire was so intense that it could probably melt even steel.

The flames had already licked the first barn.

The barn's foundation and above were made of flammable materials, and it immediately caught fire.

If there are people inside, after this fire is over, I'm afraid there won't even be any ashes left.

Zhang Yunyi is a person with a strong sense of family. In the first half of his life, he fought his way to a bright future with his own life and a knife.

In the latter half of his life, he devoted himself to expanding the Zhang family. He wanted the Zhang family to flourish and firmly establish its roots in the Longshang region.

Therefore, as long as he can protect the Zhang family that he built up, he is willing to die if necessary.

However, his willingness to die and being killed by the family he so desperately wanted to protect are two different things.

This is the greatest betrayal. All his efforts and sacrifices have become a huge joke in this fire.

As soon as the fire started, the Zhang family members began to make a fuss.

The Zhang family members, unaware of the situation, panicked and shouted for their servants and guards to rush to the east wing to put out the fire.

But the fire was raging so fiercely that it was impossible to get close.

Deep within the barn area, on a granite base, Yang Can sat down, his legs dangling naturally in the air.

The distant firelight flickered on his face, carried by the wind.

Yang Can looked at the firelight and said to Zhang Yunyi, whose face was ashen, "Master Zhang, did you see that?"
This...this is the Zhang family you've been so devoted to protecting!

Yang Can shook his head and sighed, "Over the years, you've probably only fostered their complacent enjoyment of wealth and glory, haven't you?"
Each and every one of them has a warped mind.

"Whoosh..." Before the small building collapsed, the upper part of the barn, which was the first to be set on fire, had already begun to collapse.

The collapsing burning debris sent up countless sparks, which were blown up by the strong wind, creating a dazzling, star-like spectacle.

"Master Zhang, I have a very good suggestion. Would you like to hear it?"

Yang Can suddenly turned his head and looked at Zhang Yunyi with a smile amidst the "starlight" flying all over the sky.

His smile was dazzling in the starlight.

Beneath the granite base, which is over ten feet high, are the stewards of Feng'an Manor, who are supervised by two stewards, two matrons, and guards.

The managers were dumbfounded.

The barn that was originally used to guard them had just collapsed and turned into a sky full of stars.

Qingmei looked at the collapsed barn with lingering fear, then suddenly turned her head to look at the tall stone base.

Yang Can sat on the edge of the stone base, the firelight illuminating his face, making him appear as if he were carved from granite.

"Thump!" Zhang Yunyi, whose hands were bound, suddenly knelt down before Yang Can.

Because his hands were bound, he couldn't kneel down slowly, and his knees hit the hard granite.

His knees hurt, but his heart ached even more.

Yang Can looked at the deeply bowed, gray head in front of him.

Zhang Yunyi's shoulders were shaking violently; he was wailing silently.

Yang Can said leisurely, "Master Zhang, I guarantee you won't regret your choice today!"

The little girl looked up at the scene with her head tilted back, her eyes filled with admiration.

(End of this chapter)