Lin Run was right. The Xu brothers were behind the incident in Suzhou.

The reason is very simple.

The governor of Yingtian, together with the military governor of Susong, led two thousand officers and soldiers and came in a menacing manner. Everyone knew that this time they were going to have a real fight.

The Xu family had only two options: either they let Lin Run take advantage of them and spend money to avoid disaster, or they had to take the initiative and try to drive Lin Run away.

Obviously, the former would make people think that the Xu family is no longer the same as before and has become soft! At that time, anyone would dare to come and cut a knife on the Xu family's head. Who could bear it?

The latter will make officials all over the world continue to be in awe of the Xu family.

Therefore, no matter what the final choice is, it is necessary to show the Xu family's muscles and fight with Lin Zhongcheng.

In this case, it is better to act sooner rather than later. Xu Fan asked Xu Ying to instruct the tenants to delay time, while he himself incited the civil unrest in Suzhou.

Of course, without sparks, no matter how strong the wind is, it won’t create a fire.

It was because Suzhou had already reached a point where citizens had no jobs and were filled with resentment that Xu Fan was able to fan the flames so easily.

~~

Seeing that everything was going smoothly and developing according to his plan, Xu Fan felt a long-lost sense of pleasure in his heart.

He seemed to have returned to the time when he was in the cabinet, calling the shots and arranging all the affairs of the world.

At that time, my father was still the Prime Minister, and I was a third-rank official. All officials were extremely respectful, including Zhang Juzheng. I don't know where the kid surnamed Zhao was feeding...

Everything is so pleasant.

Just by recalling the past, Xu Fan felt a little drunk.

Xu Ying bowed and poured another glass of wine for Xu Fan, then picked up his own glass and said with a guilty look on his face:

"Before, I was the ignorant younger brother, always wanting to compete with the older brother. Now I realize that compared to my older brother, it's like Mr. Neng meeting Mr. Xiong, there's a huge gap."

"Hehehe..." Xu Fan glanced at Xu Ying and couldn't help laughing: "I am just older than you and have been with father longer. Let's put aside the past. After all, you are my brother."

"Come on, big brother, do it."

"Dry."

As they talked, they clinked glasses, as if all their grudges were gone.

"By the way, where is Zheng Yuanshao? Did he go back with us?" Xu Fan put down his wine cup and continued to ask.

"No, he is still at the headquarters." Xu Ba replied hurriedly.

"Where are the two thousand Taicang soldiers?" Xu Fan asked again.

"It looks like half of them were taken away." Xu Ba said, "There are still many people in the barracks. Only one of the two captains left."

"Hiss..." Xu Ying couldn't help but frown. "What does this mean? Are you keeping something in reserve?"

"You still don't want to give up." Xu Fan snorted, "If we withdraw all the people, how can he have the nerve to come back for a while? Let Zheng Yuanshao lead his men to pin him down in Songjiang, just to make a surprise attack."

"Humph, he has to clean up the mess in Suzhou first." Xu Ying sneered, "Those unruly people won't be so easy to deal with this time."

"Yes, if he wants to solve it quickly, he has to come up with several million taels of real gold and silver. But does he have it?" Xu Fan laughed disdainfully.

"Of course not." Xu Ying laughed and said, "Unless he distributes the autumn grain to those unruly people. The question is, does he dare to do it?"

"Of course he doesn't dare. Misappropriating imperial grain is a capital crime." Xu Fan said decisively:

"But we can't just sit and wait. Let's make an appointment with Zheng Yuanshao tomorrow. I'll treat him to a drink."

"What does big brother mean?" Xu Ying's heart moved, as if he understood something.

"That's right, bring him over to our side." Xu Fan seemed to be playing with the white porcelain wine glass in his hand, and smiled faintly:

"Zheng is just a juren, and he has no connections with the higher-ups. His career will end at the rank of 4th-rank deputy censor. He may not be as stubborn as Lin Run."

"Yes." Xu Ying rubbed his hands excitedly and said, "How many fools are there like Lin Run? They are rare. Aren't most people still traveling thousands of miles to become officials just for money?"

"It doesn't matter if he's not after money. I have a reason he can't refuse." Xu Fan then took a sip of the wine in the glass and put it down steadily.

~~

Xu Ying drank with Xu Fan until dark before returning to his own Afang Garden.

He had planned to take advantage of the alcohol to have some fun with the beautiful women.

But he saw Xu Liu waiting for him in the garden, looking around.

"What are you doing here again?" Xu Ying asked unhappily, "You can't get your job done, but you still have the nerve to hang around in front of me. Are you looking for a fight?"

"Third Master, it's over." Xu Liu said with a sad face, "Our arrangements in Chongming are all over."

"What do you mean it's all over?" Xu Ying couldn't help but widen his eyes.

"Meikawa Ichifu's gang was wiped out by the Chongming County Gunners. Guo Donglin and his brother's gang were all killed by the Sand Boat Gang. Now Madam Shen is the gang leader."

Xu Liu reported bravely, "Our informants said that she buried her dead husband yesterday and vowed to live and die with Sansha. It is said that Magistrate Jin and that kid surnamed Zhao also showed up at the funeral."

"Fuck your ancestors!"

Mr. Xu San kicked Xu Liu hard on the thigh and cursed him viciously: "What do you do for a living?!"

Xu Liu was kicked to the ground, and couldn't help but say aggrievedly:

"Before I left, I told Guo Donglin to be careful not to provoke the man named Zhao. I also told him to tell Meichuan Yifu not to show his face during this period."

"But who knew that the Zhao guy was going after the Sand Boat Gang? Who could have survived that?" Xu Liu said with tears in his eyes, "It's really hard to guard against, Third Master."

"This is fucking evil!" Xu Ying stamped her feet in anger, cursing, "I didn't provoke him this time, did I? How come he's in the salt and the sauce? I can't do anything in Chongming without him getting in the way?!"

The omnipresent Master Zhao was like a ghost hovering over the Xu family. It made people furious, yet helpless!

"Master, we have to think of a solution." Xu Liu reminded Xu Ying who was only concerned with losing his temper, "The most urgent thing is to confirm whether Meichuan Yifu is dead or alive. If he is still alive and they pry his mouth open, the consequences will be disastrous."

The biggest consequence is that he will be betrayed...

"Where is he now?" Xu Ying asked with a dark face.

"I don't know." Xu Liu shook his head and said, "I don't see him alive or dead."

"Investigate, investigate thoroughly!" Xu Ying shouted, "If he's still alive, kill him at all costs!"

After a pause, he glanced at Xu Liu fiercely and said, "Otherwise, just end your life!"

"Oh, yes, I got it." Xu Liu shuddered.

"What else?" Xu Ying asked again.

"Also, what about the Sand Ship Gang?" Xu Liu said weakly, "After two years of planning, in the end, they just helped the Zhao family?"

"What's the point of saying this now?" Xu Ying kicked Xu Liu fiercely again and spat, "I'm already in a mess with just Lin Run, and now I want to provoke a guy named Zhao? Do you want me to be attacked from both sides?"

"We can talk about Chongming later. Clean your butt first!"

ps. This is the fourth update, please give me monthly votes. My eyes can still bear it today, so I will write another chapter.