Chapter 514: Enemies Meet Again (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"Since we've already implemented a scorched-earth policy, why leave them out?"
Shen Tang glanced at the trembling bandits.
He was weighing his options in his mind: how should he deal with them?
Chu Yao said indifferently, "He probably has his own considerations."
Shen Tang revealed a rare hint of sarcasm, her brows furrowing in displeasure. She retorted with a series of questions: "Considerations? What considerations? Overestimating their own abilities? Or do they think that the offerings they make daily are enough, and the accumulated goodwill they've built up will be spared from being crushed by iron hooves?"
Chu Yao's expression remained indifferent.
He said, "As long as they can't find fault with us, that's good."
The fertile land already cultivated in Longwu County was all in the hands of wealthy households and gentry, leaving Zhao Feng and his group of brave warriors with no choice but to cultivate wasteland in unclaimed areas. These newly cultivated lands were located in remote areas, and careful nurturing was required to increase soil fertility.
There aren't enough to go around.
That's secondary; the most troublesome issue is the difficulty in collecting land taxes.
The fertile land was all in the hands of these people, and the common people had no choice but to become their tenant farmers in order to eat. The yield of the land and the number of tenant farmers were all closely related to the prefect's tax collection. If they concealed the figures, the prefectural government would not be able to collect the full amount of taxes.
With the Zheng Qiao royal court completely indifferent to the fate of the prefectures and counties under its jurisdiction, the operation of the prefectural capitals, the military pay for the troops stationed at Yonggu Pass, and the repair and reconstruction of Longwu County all depend on this harvest. To put it bluntly, this has seriously threatened Shen Tang's lifeline.
Previously, when Shen Tang led his troops deep into Shiwu, he and Qi Shan had dealt with these wealthy households and gentry in order to raise troops and provisions. These cunning and treacherous old foxes were not afraid at all, and either pretended to be deaf and dumb or used delaying tactics.
Several parties joined forces and communicated with each other.
That attitude, treating the prefectural government like a poor beggar begging for money, even made someone as good-natured as Chu Yao a little angry.
Appeal to their emotions and reason with them?
It doesn't work at all.
If they truly possessed this sense of national responsibility, they wouldn't have committed so many heinous acts that angered both heaven and man, leading to the extermination of entire families.
These local bullies and rulers are used to being arrogant and domineering! If the Ten Crows invade, it will only be a matter of changing allegiance.
Now one of them has suffered a terrible loss...
Heh, Chu Yao really couldn't muster any sympathy.
Not applauding or cheering is already a sign of excellent self-control.
Sensing the displeasure in Chu Yao's words, Shen Tang could only sigh, saying with a mixture of helplessness and regret, "Although we can't really find fault with them—ultimately, this is their own doing, disregarding wartime regulations—as the head of a prefecture, allowing bandits to run rampant on this land is also a dereliction of duty. Wu Hui, just tie these bandits up and take them back to quell public anger..."
Chu Yao hesitated: "My lord, shall we not kill them?"
"Killing is necessary, but not now."
Chu Yao then stopped asking questions.
Gu Chi had been feeling unwell ever since the battle at the capital of Shiwu, and even the dosage of his nourishing pills had been increased by three-tenths. Now, riding in the carriage—even though Shen Tang had specially arranged for thick animal hides to be laid out to reduce the jolting—he still suffered quite a bit. When he noticed the army had stopped, he lifted the curtain to watch the commotion for a while, then lowered it, clicking his tongue in disapproval.
Kang Shi and Gu Chi rode in the same carriage.
With nothing to do, he kept his eyes closed and pretended to sleep.
Hearing his teasing tone, she asked bluntly, "Why are you being so sarcastic?"
Gu Chi laughed and said, "What do you mean by being sarcastic? Isn't this praising our lord for having over eight hundred cunning schemes?"
Chu Yao and Chu Yao are truly a perfect team, working in perfect harmony.
"What do you mean by that?"
Gu Chi said meaningfully, "The captured women were all maids and servants; there wasn't even a concubine."
These families have a complex and intertwined web of relationships.
Since everyone lives together, there must be quite a few female relatives.
Kang Shi felt a slight stirring in his heart and understood.
But he still said, "Perhaps he escaped with the other men, under the protection of the servants..."
If the master of the house fled, even if he took the maids and servants with him, they would only take the top-ranking maids who served him personally. The maids and servants below them were left to fend for themselves. It's normal that they weren't all wiped out by the bandits.
Gu Chi just chuckled and said, "Your cousin..."
Kang Shi's face darkened.
He gets a headache just hearing the name "Qishan," worrying about what kind of big battle Xun Zhen's encounter with Qishan would trigger, and even more worried about how many unknown enemies Qishan has waiting to come knocking on his door to collect debts! This cousin of his, just one look at him makes his heart ache.
Feigning ignorance, he asked, "What about Yuanliang?"
Gu Chi smiled faintly and asked a question in return.
"Guess why he's called 'Evil Scheme'?"
It's no exaggeration to say that praying for good deeds invites hatred.
It's not that Qi Shan personally got involved, but whether he turned a blind eye or fueled the flames, he was almost certainly involved!
Outsiders can't find any fault with it.
Because the troops in Longwu County were severely depleted.
How could Qi Shan possibly have the energy to attend to every detail?
Kang Shi: "..."
An unsettling silence fell over the air. After a moment, Kang Shi asked in a low voice, "Will this affect the lord's reputation?"
Gu Chi tightened the furry fox scarf around his neck.
Leaning back further to find a comfortable position, he laughed and said, "Isn't this a case of 'hero saving the beauty' for our lord? It's fortunate that there aren't any respectable women here, otherwise our lord would have used someone else to do his dirty work and caused an accident."
Because there is none, the rescue can be generous.
If this family has a legitimate heir alive—even if it's just a daughter—there's no legitimate excuse to take back the land they've swallowed up over the years, let alone release the hidden tenants. They'd also easily be criticized for dereliction of duty.
Although it's not serious, it does tarnish his reputation.
This situation is different from Lin Feng's back then.
Gu Chi said lazily, "Do I not know Qi Yuanliang well? If we find something deadly in this house, hehe, let alone making an example of him, he could even use a single chicken feather as an excuse to lash out..."
Kang Shi: "..."
Gu Chi laughed and said, "Do you think you can find it or not?"
Kang Shi: "..."
The answer is yes.
It can even save the effort of pleading good intentions and framing others.
Because of the deeds of these local bullies in Longwu County, not only the newcomers Shen Tang and his group, but even the common people at the bottom of society had heard of them, but they were powerless to do anything about it. Even these local bullies probably didn't realize that they had truly bitten off more than they could chew this time.
This iron plate is full of ruthless people.
After briefly calming the group of women who had been forcibly taken captive, Shen Tang and his men continued their journey, arriving at the capital, Ruyao, before the sun set. Qingniao, who had arrived first, had already delivered the message to Qishan, and Shen Tang spotted the young man at the foot of the city wall from afar.
After not seeing her for nearly two months, Qi Shan had lost a lot of weight, and the clothes that used to fit her now seemed a bit loose.
"Yuan Liang!"
She waved from a great distance.
Qi Shan led a group of minor officials from the administrative office to welcome her. His usually indifferent expression finally showed a hint of joy. When he saw the troops appearing in his sight, he was also excited, and his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. He stepped forward and bowed: "Congratulations on your triumphant return, my lord."
Shen Tang leaned forward to look at him, almost pressing her body against the motorcycle's neck, and asked with a hint of boastfulness, "Have you been injured lately?"
Qi Shan took the reins of the motorcycle.
Under Shen Tang's expectant gaze, he smiled and praised her, "You were not injured, which means that your strength has improved again."
Shen Tang wanted to give herself a thumbs up.
"That's natural!"
Unfortunately, she didn't even know her own level of cultivation. She became stronger when facing stronger opponents, which is probably the downside of cultivating both literary and martial arts.
Qi Shan's gaze was clear and gentle, even somewhat so.
He said, "My lord, are you tired from the long march? The government has already ordered a meal to be prepared, and the victory celebration will be held tomorrow."
Shen Tang rubbed her stomach: "It would have been better if Yuan Liang hadn't mentioned it, but now that you've brought it up—hehe, I'm actually a little hungry."
Living in Shiwu, exposed to the wind and sun, and nocturnal, she desperately missed her own shabby doghouse. Right now, she had a strong urge to eat her fill, take a shower, and get a good night's sleep. Even if the sky were to fall, she would wait until she had a good night's rest before discussing it.
Qi Shan was very tolerant of Shen Tang's occasional childishness.
All things considered, she is only fourteen.
It's only the fifteenth of the lunar year after the start of the new year.
Both the martial artist and the scholar possess keen senses; though their voices were not loud, their conversation was clearly audible to those who were paying attention. Xun Zhen, sharpening his sword intently, was the most focused and also the most astonished. It took him a while to come to his senses.
He looked at Jiang Sheng and lowered his voice.
"Xian Deng, are you sure this is Qi Yuanliang?"
The face was unfamiliar, but that wasn't surprising—Qi Shan's ability to disguise herself was such that anyone could be fooled—but Qi Shan's gentle tone almost made Xun Zhen waver. He almost wondered if this Qi Shan was not the same Qi Shan as before, and if he had mistaken her for someone else?
"Yes, it's him." Jiang Sheng added fuel to the fire, "If you don't believe me, go down there now and see how he reacts?"
Xun Zhen: "..."
Just as an ugly daughter-in-law must eventually meet her in-laws, enemies are bound to meet sooner or later. Kang Shi and Gu Chi alighted from their carriages one after the other. He and Jiang Sheng couldn't just hide away like sheltered young ladies. Besides, he had nothing to be ashamed of.
As Xun Zhen alighted from the carriage, he overheard his lord saying to Qi Shan, "This trip has been very fruitful; the prefecture's expenses for the next two or three years are no longer a concern. Oh, and by the way, we've gained a capable member. Yuanliang, let me introduce you..."
Qi Shan asked, "A capable person?"
Shen Tang suppressed her pain and said, "We were able to achieve a great victory at Yonggu Pass thanks to him. With you all here, it's only a matter of time before Longwu County returns to its former glory." How could she not make good use of Xun Zhen's labor and repay the money she had taken?
That's a full five thousand taels of gold!
It was gone before I even had a chance to touch it.
She grabbed Qi Shan's wrist, beaming as she walked toward Xun Zhen's carriage, as if she couldn't wait to show off.
He said, "My lord..."
As soon as he finished speaking, he stopped walking.
Shen Tang realized she couldn't pull him, so she turned to look at him.
At some point, Qi Shan's face turned ashen, her eyebrows trembled slightly from the effort, and her eyes, which had been gentle and calm just moments before, now held a menacing and sinister look. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her facial muscles were tense—small details of her suppressing her emotions.
And his gaze—
Shen Tang followed the gaze and found it focused on Xun Zhen, whose fingers were stroking the hilt of his sword. The atmosphere became tense.
All she could hear was the sound of flags fluttering in the wind.
My heart skipped a beat in my chest.
This scene—
The atmosphere—
How familiar it is!
Before she could say anything, Qi Shan laughed emotionlessly: "My lord, Shen Youli, you really are—"
Shen Tang: "..."
Good heavens!
The long-lost murderous aura, the long-lost "Chen Youli".
It's clear that Qi Shan is truly furious this time.
She muttered, "I...I don't know either..."
Qi Shan took a deep breath, barely managing to suppress the buzzing in her head, and said helplessly and with a wry smile, "How come you've managed to find all your enemies scattered across the country?"
He harbored the idea of "national essence" in his heart.
How many times is this already?
He admitted that he had killed seven lords in the past!
So, as retribution, does this lord really have to create seven enemies for him to achieve balance? The thought of his subordinates being enemies sent shivers down Qi Shan's spine...
He thought blankly, "This lord cannot be allowed to live."
Looking at Shen Tang, she first opened her almond-shaped eyes with a wronged expression and pouted. Her bewildered and innocent look extinguished the fire in his heart.
Qi Shan: "..."
He sometimes wondered if his lord was doing it on purpose. How could anyone be so precise, picking on only his enemies?
I went out and picked up an enemy.
Never miss a chance!
Most importantly—
Qi Shan pointed at Xun Zhen, whose thumb rested on the hilt of his sword, which was slightly drawn from its sheath: "Do you know his way of the scholar?"
Shen Tang muttered, "I don't know, but it'll cost me money."
She has accepted the reality of being poor.
Shen Tang realized that Xun Zhen was probably a "collector" of all sorts of strange and unusual literary figures. Even without Xun Zhen, there would be another Xun X.
Since she couldn't resist, she simply resigned herself to her fate.
Let's see just how tough my life really is!
Qi Shan said, "Quick thinking comes from a moment of crisis."
Shen Tang muttered, "...It sounds familiar..."
It's because it sounds familiar.
Back when she was in the capital of Luxia County, she happened to pass by and overheard Jiang Sheng mention this way of the scholar. At the time, she lamented why it was always the lord who suffered, never imagining that the lord who would be harmed would be herself? If she remembered correctly—
[Quick thinking in a crisis] This is the way of the scholar...
Probably, perhaps, possibly...
It will make the lord's mind not work very well.
She suddenly remembered her embarrassing moment riding the rocking horse that day, and after calculating the time, it turned out to be exactly when Xun Zhen was displaying his prowess at Yonggu Pass? Therefore, her inexplicable transformation into a three-year-old child who liked rocking horses and singing nursery rhymes was not because she was sick.
The root of the problem lies with Xun Zhen?
Shen Tang almost fainted.
When it comes to ruthlessness, Xun Zhen is the most ruthless.
If he doesn't make a move, he doesn't make a move at all; but once he does, he inflicts two intractable debuffs on her at once—lower intelligence and financial loss?
but--
The money's already been spent, so we can't stop using this person!
Shen Tang gritted her teeth, determined not to lose too much!
What exactly is the grudge between you two?
If they were mortal enemies, she would definitely favor Qi Shan.
Qi Shan did not answer, and Xun Zhen chuckled: "This is a long story. Back then, Qi Yuanliang was trying to escape a revenge killing..."
He stopped halfway through his sentence.
Xun Zhen gripped his sword sheath tightly, glanced around, and said loudly to Qi Shan, "In this public place, I'll give you some face. Let's settle our past grievances privately, shall we?"
Qi Shan said with a dark face, "Alright."
Shen Tang: "..."
The gossip ended abruptly after I'd only heard the beginning of it, leaving me feeling incredibly frustrated.
But this place is certainly not a good place to settle scores. Putting aside everything else, it wouldn't be a good sight to see these two draw their swords and fight, giving many people something to watch and become the subject of gossip. Maintaining an eerie and stiff atmosphere, they returned to the administrative office.
During her absence, the administrative center has been almost completely renovated, with the main structure finished and the rest left to be meticulously crafted.
Inside the brand-new government affairs hall.
Fearing Qi Shan would be taken advantage of, Shen Tang silently sided with him, sitting in the best spectator seat watching the drama unfold. Only after Xun Zhen finished speaking did she finish her saga, her mind now occupied with only one thought—
Is this even possible?
Xun Zhen suppressed the urge to draw his sword and kill, and said in a deep voice: "...Several years ago, Qi Yuanliang disguised himself as a young girl in distress to escape being hunted down, and was rescued by my son..."
Shen Tang: "..."
ヾ(ω`)o
It's unusually long and thick today.
The shiitake mushrooms, after being scrambled to eat, are now going to sleep.
P.S.: Actually, I could have just used the title "[Situation]" instead, but to echo the previous chapter title "[Enemies Meet Again]", I'll change this one to "[Enemies Meet Again]". Next time Tang-mei gathers another enemy, it'll be "[Enemies Meet Twice Again]", "[Enemies Meet Twice Again]", and so on. Hehe.
(End of this chapter)
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