inspire-indiana Chapter 31 I have a plan that might help us get rid of the wolf and devour the tiger.
Chapter 31 I have a plan that might help us get rid of the wolf and devour the tiger.
Zhang Yuan nodded, his expression remaining calm: "I see. Then welcome, Brother Xiao."
He didn't engage in conversation, exchanged a few simple pleasantries, and then took his leave.
Back home, Zhang Yuan brought up the matter with Zhang Gu.
The old servant nodded upon hearing this and sighed, "Young master is right, there is indeed such a distant relative. The first wife of the Xiao family is indeed related to the madam's family."
"It's a pity...they're all unfortunate people. Master Xiao is away managing his business most of the year, and the second wife is in charge of the household. That second wife..."
"Hmph, how mean! They make things difficult for Young Master Xiao Yang, let alone us, who are practically unrelated relatives. We haven't had any contact for years."
He shook his head, his tone filled with sympathy for Xiao Yang's situation.
"That child may look glamorous, but his life probably isn't easy."
Zhang Yuan remained silent.
Xiao Yang's cowardice when facing the thugs that day, and his move away from his family home to seek peace and quiet, have been given a deeper explanation.
In this world, everyone has their own hardships.
One afternoon, as usual, Zhang Yuan waited quietly in the study of the Chen residence.
Chen Wenyuan hurried in, and just as he opened the book "On Learning" on the table, preparing to teach Zhang Yuan the next chapter, hurried footsteps came from outside the study.
A constable dressed in a black robe practically rushed in, his face filled with anxiety. He clasped his hands in a fist and said urgently, "My lord! Something terrible has happened! A large band of bandits has plundered Tanjia Ridge, thirty miles west of the city, and several villages have been ravaged!"
"Your Excellency requests that you come to the county government office immediately to discuss countermeasures!"
"Tanjialing?" Chen Wenyuan abruptly stood up, his brows furrowed, a cold glint in his eyes. "This place is only thirty li from the county seat, and it has always been peaceful. When did such a formidable bandit emerge here? Where did they come from?"
The constable was intimidated by Chen Wenyuan's sudden and fierce aura, and took a half step back, bowing his head and stammering, "Reporting to, Your Excellency, I don't know... I only know that the bandits are quite fierce, and some villagers risked their lives to escape and report the news. Many people have been killed or injured..."
Chen Wenyuan's expression was grave as he muttered to himself, "Thirty li... this is no longer a minor ailment; it's closing in on the city..."
His gaze swept over the books spread out in front of Zhang Yuan, then looked at the anxious yamen runner. After a moment's thought, he decisively said, "Qingyang, it seems your studies will be delayed today. You will come with me to the county yamen, where I will handle official business. You can stay in the side hall and focus on your studies and calligraphy practice. Don't waste your time."
"Yes, teacher." Zhang Yuan immediately stood up, quickly tidied up the books, writing materials, and placed them under his arm.
He understood that the situation was urgent and the teacher was overwhelmed.
Only then did the yamen runner notice Zhang Yuan, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes, but he dared not ask any more questions and quickly led the master and apprentice to the county yamen.
The side hall of the county government office was dimly lit.
Zhang Yuan sat alone at a desk, opened a book, and began to practice calligraphy with ink.
The pen tip moved slowly across the white paper, outlining steady strokes. Although still somewhat immature, they already hinted at strength and power.
He tried to calm himself and focus on the words on the paper, but the hurried footsteps of the yamen runners outside the window and the faint sounds of discussion in the distance reminded him of the tense atmosphere inside the county government office.
The footsteps approached from afar and stopped at the entrance of the side hall.
Zhang Yuan looked up and saw a middle-aged man in a blue seventh-rank official robe, with a refined yet dignified appearance, walk in. It was Wang Mingyuan, the magistrate of Fengming County.
Wang Mingyuan's gaze fell on Zhang Yuan, filled with scrutiny and a hint of barely perceptible emotion, as he asked, "You're Zhang Qingyang, the son of Commandant Zhang Zhenshan?"
Zhang Yuan immediately put down his pen, stood up, bowed deeply in a standard disciple's salute, and said in a clear and steady voice, "Student Zhang Qingyang greets Your Excellency. I am very grateful to Your Excellency for saving my life at the Green Bamboo Gang that day, and I am also very grateful for the money and provisions Your Excellency provided later to save my life. I will remember this kindness in my heart."
An eight-year-old child can give such a proper answer.
Wang Mingyuan looked Zhang Yuan up and down, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
"Hmm," Wang Mingyuan said with a gentle smile. He stepped forward and gently patted Zhang Yuan's slightly thin but straight shoulder.
"No need for formalities. Like father, like son; your composure is no less than that of your father back in the day."
He paused, his tone approving.
"I've also heard that you killed a bull with three punches in the Li family with your bare hands? Well done! You've got your father's style!"
"The Zhang family is loyal and valiant, and their descendants have a worthy successor. Study hard in both literature and martial arts, and do not fail the legacy of your fathers, nor the expectations of Counselor Chen and us."
"I will certainly keep your teachings in mind and study diligently without ceasing." Zhang Yuan bowed again.
Just then, Chen Wenyuan, holding a scroll in his hand, strode into the side hall with a solemn expression.
He first nodded slightly to Wang Mingyuan, then glanced at Zhang Yuan and whispered to Wang Mingyuan, "Sir, I have roughly figured out the origins of those bandits after reviewing past files and combining them with a secret report from a neighboring prefecture that I just received."
He gestured for Wang Mingyuan to move to the window in the corner of the side room, lowering his voice even further, but with Zhang Yuanyuan's extraordinary hearing, he still managed to catch some key information intermittently.
"They are about a hundred elite soldiers from the Pingyang Prefecture next door, who were routed in the mutiny last month. They are well-equipped..."
"The leader is a centurion named 'Liu Heita,' who is exceptionally fierce... Pingyang Prefecture is currently locked in a stalemate with the troops of Hexi County, and is in a state of chaos, so they have no energy to pursue these fleeing soldiers..."
"Alas, in the twenty-one prefectures of the Great Yu Dynasty, the emperor is working hard to restore order to the court, and the Zhenwu Guard is arresting officials who disobey orders everywhere. The atmosphere is tense."
"Besides the thirteen prefectures of Jiangzuo being in complete chaos, which of the other prefectural governors wasn't trembling with fear?"
"Furthermore, many are probably plotting to nurture bandits to enhance their own power, deliberately delaying the suppression of the bandits under the pretext of insufficient troops and local unrest, in order to buy time and evade the court's questioning..."
"My lord, County Commandant Lin has led most of the county's elite guards to Heishui Ferry, and it will be difficult for them to return to provide reinforcements in the short term."
"With the remaining manpower of the county government and local militia, it would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock to wipe out those hundred or so well-equipped, blood-tested rout soldiers. Forcibly conscripting them would likely result in heavy casualties and further unrest among the people..."
Wang Mingyuan stroked his short beard, his brows furrowed: "Then, in Wenyuan's opinion, what should we do? We can't just let them run rampant in the Tanjialing area and threaten the county town, can we?"
A glint flashed in Chen Wenyuan's eyes, and his voice was deep and clear: "This humble official has a plan that may be able to drive the wolf out of the tiger."
"Oh? Tell me quickly!"
"Although the Green Bamboo Gang has been destroyed, its leader, Xu Changhe, still holds more than a hundred former Green Bamboo Gang bandits who have surrendered in his hands."
"These people are familiar with the waterways and are fierce and daring, but they are still a thorn in our side. Keeping them around costs money and food, but killing them might discourage other potential allies. Moreover, the threat of them plundering the rivers remains."
"In addition, Zhao Hengjiang of the Guzhu Hall, after escaping with He Dashan and dozens of his trusted core members, set up his own gang in the 'Old Dragon Bay' area and regrouped dozens of fugitives."
"Two days ago, they secretly sent someone to the county government to deliver a message, expressing their willingness to 'atone for their crimes through meritorious service,' only asking the government to show leniency and give them a way out."
"This time," Chen Wenyuan's voice carried a hint of cold calculation, "why not summon these two forces in the name of the government?"
"Tell them that whoever can wipe out the bandits of Tanjialing and bring back the head of their leader Liu Heita will be recognized by the county government, their past transgressions will be forgiven, and they will be allowed to legally live and work in Fengming County!"
"Let those two vicious tigers tear apart that pack of routed wolves!"
Wang Mingyuan's eyes gleamed, and he clapped his hands, exclaiming, "Brilliant! Using one tiger to devour another, letting dogs fight each other!"
"This solves the immediate crisis and also weakens these remnants of the martial arts world—a win-win situation! Excellent! Wen Yuan, you are in charge of handling this matter; make sure it is done well!"
"Your humble servant obeys!" Chen Wenyuan bowed and accepted the order.
Standing beside the desk, Zhang Yuan's fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the brush. When he heard the names "Zhao Hengjiang of Guzhutang" and "He Dashan," his heart skipped a beat.
The image of Wang Ziteng struggling and screaming on the boat instantly appeared before my eyes!