Chapter 43 Murder
"Lord Lu, you've arrived just in time. As the commander of the garrison, I can't expect you to do my work all the time. I'll personally train the garrison from now on." Dewey said, "Take these men back with you. The military camp is a strategic location, and we shouldn't leave any outsiders here."
Lu Chenyang stared at Du Wei and said, "General Du, we agreed on this at the beginning. Are you planning to go back on your word now?"
"What did we agree on? This general doesn't remember what I agreed on with you. I only know that I am the commander of the garrison, and the garrison in Yanquan County should be dispatched by this general. Lord Lu is overreaching!" Dewey said bluntly.
Lu Chenyang sneered, "Du Wei, after you came to Yanquan County, you neglected your duties, causing the Dongyi people to repeatedly offend the people of Yanquan County. You accepted bribes and colluded with local merchants, causing bandits to run rampant in Yanquan County. How dare you call yourself the commander of the garrison?!"
Du Wei's face was gloomy: "Sir Lu, you are just a county magistrate, you have no right to control this general!"
Lu Chenyang said expressionlessly, "I was the one who found the food and fodder for the garrison, and it was Coach Yan who oversaw their training. Now the garrison shoulders the important task of defending Yanquan County, and I will not allow anyone to sabotage it!"
Du Wei slammed the table and said, "Lu Chenyang! You're just a mere county magistrate, and you're way too arrogant. Do you really think this general wouldn't dare touch you?"
Lu Chenyang narrowed his eyes: "So you think I don't dare to touch you?!"
Dewey was shocked. He was a military general and he had already felt the murderous intent emanating from Lu Chenyang.
He wants to kill him!
Dewey couldn't believe it. How dare Lu Chenyang?!
Dewey became alert and quickly called for help.
Soldiers rushed in, and Du Wei pointed at Lu Chenyang and Yan Xing and said, "Quick, throw them out for this general!"
Dewey has been doing business in Lingnan for many years and has many confidants of his own.
However, the changes that Yan Xing brought to the army were too great and too obvious. Moreover, most of the soldiers who were exiled to Lingnan were exiled because they offended their superiors, and they still had passion for justice in their hearts. Therefore, during this period of time, most of the soldiers recognized Yan Xing more.
So the soldiers did not move, looking at each other, wondering why their Coach Yan was suddenly about to be captured?
Lu Chenyang and Yan Xing looked at each other, and in a moment, they rushed forward.
Lu Chenyang took out a silver needle and shot it directly at Dewey's face. Dewey turned his head to dodge, but was kicked by Yan Xing and fell to the ground.
Lu Chenyang pulled out the long knife from the soldier next to him without hesitation and stabbed it into Dewey's chest.
All this happened in just a moment, and everyone was stunned. Even Yan Xing didn't expect that Lu Chenyang would actually dare to kill Du Wei!
Dewey didn't react either. He just stared blankly at the long knife in front of his chest with his head down, not reacting at all.
Dewey slowly fell down, and Lu Chenyang drew out the knife expressionlessly.
Blood dripped slowly down the blade, and everyone looked at him, the kind and easy-going top scholar in their eyes.
They thought he was a civilian official, and he was usually not arrogant, playing with everyone. After getting to know them, some brave soldiers even put their arms around his shoulders. He always smiled and never blamed them.
He killed the garrison commander with a single blow of his sword, and it was the same man.
Yan Xing was also deeply surprised and looked at Lu Chenyang deeply.
Lu Chenyang turned around, his handsome face still calm: "Du Wei accepted bribes, colluded with bandits, and was arrested and killed!"
The matter was concluded immediately.
Lu Chenyang's eyes swept over the soldiers who rushed in. They rushed in following Dewey's words and were considered Dewey's confidants.
"Coach Yan, make Dewey's crimes public. Anyone who objects will be treated as an accomplice!" Lu Chenyang said coldly.
Yan Xing was not annoyed by Lu Chenyang's order and nodded slightly.
Lu Chenyang continued, "Collect the body of the criminal and send it back to the Du Mansion." He stared at a soldier and said, "Find someone else to read out Du Wei's crimes along the street!"
The soldier hesitated.
Lu Chenyang's voice was cold: "Do you have any objections?"
The soldiers shook their heads repeatedly: "No, no, Sir Lu, what are you reading?"
Lu Chenyang was silent for a moment: "Then I will write a document for you."
The soldier was even more embarrassed: "Your Excellency, I cannot read."
Lu Chenyang: “…”
Alas, I still need to learn to read and write.
Lu Chenyang and Yan Xing joined forces to take control of all of Du Wei's remaining troops.
In fact, it is not that difficult. Dewey is not a person who sympathizes with his subordinates. He feels desperate as a leader, so he does not manage his subordinates well and just gives them some small favors.
These were not enough to make his subordinates fight for his revenge, so everything went on in an orderly manner.
This incident made everyone realize Lu Chenyang's thundering methods.
If he disagrees with something, he will really kill someone.
Even Yan Xing doesn't have his courage.
The garrison carried Dewey's body through the streets, which was also a warning Lu Chenyang wanted to give to the Shen family.
As the commander of the garrison, Dewey can die at any time, so the others should think about it.
Regardless of what the Shen family thought, the merchants who went to the Shen family to ask Shen Shiqian for advice had made a decision in their hearts.
They should still pay the tax in the spring of next year.
Those who can survive and do business in Yanquan County all have some sense. They know that County Magistrate Lu is not someone they can afford to offend.
They still know which is more important, money or life.
Shen Shiqian also heard about this at the first time. He had just met Du Wei yesterday. Du Wei accepted his benefits and vowed to take back the military power.
His greedy face is still vivid in my mind, and he died the moment he turned his head.
Shen Shiqian felt that the Shen family was not a good family. In order to expand their territory and monopolize the business over the years, they had used a lot of shady means. But when he thought of Lu Chenyang saying that he would kill people, he still felt a little scared.
Du Wei was still a court official after all, and Lu Chenyang could kill him at will. What's more, their Shen family was just a business family.
Lu Chenyang's danger is still increasing.
The Shen family, the local tyrant, was finally suppressed.
The effect of Lu Chenyang killing Dewey was very significant. The garrison seemed unusually well-behaved, and even the training was more rigorous than usual, and no one complained.
The impact on the people was also significant, with some merchants even coming to the government office to pay taxes. They felt that there was no need to wait until spring; as citizens of Yanquan County, paying taxes was their duty and they wanted to support Lord Lu.
Xu Zhenghui felt mixed emotions when he saw this situation. Lu Chenyang had been here for more than three months, and these cunning merchants had become so obedient. He had never seen this in decades.
Lu Chenyang expressed great satisfaction.
Xu Zhenghui's attitude towards Lu Chenyang became increasingly respectful. "Sir, we've already done as you said. All the merchants who came to pay taxes have been persuaded to go back." After a pause, he asked cautiously, "Why don't you accept their taxes?"
Lu Chenyang was also feeling distressed at this time. No matter how small a mosquito was, it was still meat, and he wanted to collect it.
"We agreed that the spring will come next year. I won't do such a thing as going back on my word," said Lu Chenyang.
He has now made his attitude clear: he will not collect taxes from anyone in advance. No matter who tries to show goodwill, it will be useless. This is just a declaration of his attitude.
When taxes are paid in the spring of next year, he will treat everyone equally without any discrimination.
This is also an opportunity he is giving to all parties.
It is a Chinese tradition that even Lu Chenyang is no exception, which is to talk about it after the Chinese New Year.
No matter what happens, he hopes that the people can have a good New Year.
This is Lu Chenyang’s first year in Lingnan.
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