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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 152 Luo Kou Warehouse
Zhai Rang remained kneeling and trembling, too afraid to speak, let alone offer any objections, while Xu Shijie tightly gripped the hilt of his sword, yet hesitated to draw it.
Li Jian Cheng bent down and patted Zhai Rang: "This is just a small lesson for you. Get up."
Zhai Rang bowed deeply three times before rising, feeling as if his waist had been broken in half. Xu Shijie, realizing that he likely wouldn't have to die, loosened his grip on the sword, feeling somewhat at a loss.
“Mao Gong, I am greatly comforted that you were able to persuade Zhai Rang to come here.”
At these words, Xu Shijie trembled. He was only on the verge of adulthood next year, and everyone thought he had yet to receive a name. In truth, his father had given him one when he turned fifteen, a secret known only to his closest family.
Moreover, the fact that they knew he was the one who persuaded Zhai Rang to come was alarming; those people were all Zhai Rang’s Confidants, and they were already dead.
A chill ran down Xu Shijie's spine. No wonder Zhai Rang was so afraid to meet; it all made sense now.
“What about Wagang Stronghold?”
Zhai Rang cautiously replied, “Reporting to you, my lord, there are over ten thousand soldiers and more than a thousand horses in the stronghold.”
Li Jian Cheng nodded: “It's a bit lacking, but that's fine. If they were to recruit soldiers in large numbers, the court would surely order me to lead an army to suppress them. That would be troublesome.”
Qin Shubao and Dan Xiongxin, wielding their long knives, approached and silently stood behind Li Jian Cheng. Both Zhai Rang and Xu Shijie felt unable to meet their gaze.
The hundred or so men were formidable wherever they went; Zhai Rang had secured his position as the leader of Wagang thanks to them. Yet in front of these two, he felt like a lamb awaiting slaughter.
With a smile, Li Jian Cheng introduced Xu Shijie: “These are my two trusted Confidants, Dan Xiongxin and Qin Shubao.”
Xu Shijie, regaining his composure, clasped his hands in respect: “I have heard of General Shan's reputation since my youth and even made a special trip to your residence to pay my respects. Unfortunately, my brother had gone to Chang'an, and I missed the chance to meet him.”
Dan Xiongxin was somewhat surprised, but since his Lord had specifically introduced him, and this person was also from the local area, he returned the gesture with a respectful bow.
"I have heard of General Qin's great name for the first time. I, Ji Yin, pay my respects to Xu Shijie."
Qin Shubao nodded earnestly, showing none of the fierce and domineering demeanor he had earlier.
Both of them were still exhilarated; during their time under Zhang Suduo, they had heard of the reputation of Wagang Stronghold. They never expected it to be part of their Lord's early arrangements.
What noble family would take the trouble to support someone in occupying strategic locations? It must be a matter of great importance to them.
Li Jian Cheng invited Zhai Rang and Xu Shijie aboard to take their seats. The tea suited Li Jian Cheng's taste, though it was not quite to the liking of the current generation. Nevertheless, both men drank it down in one go, ignoring the scalding bitterness as if they needed to prove how much they revered Li Jian Cheng.
Li Jian Cheng skillfully prepared the tea, finding some amusement in this world that often felt dull.
Although they did not fully understand it, both men found it quite pleasing to watch, which only deepened their respect. They could still be considered local heroes with substantial family assets, but compared to families of three generations of nobility, they undoubtedly felt lacking in confidence.
Li Jian Cheng only prepared a cup for himself; these two were not yet worthy of him personally brewing tea for them.
"Has Yang Xuangan sent anyone to contact you?"
"Yes, even the decree appointing me as General of the Southern Town has been conveyed. However, without my Lord's intentions, I dare not act on my own or seek others."
Li Jian Cheng praised, "Good, I knew Brother Zhai was someone I could trust."
Since they had already been reprimanded for past matters, there was no need to delve into them further. Zhai Rang's tense body finally relaxed.
He still couldn't quite understand why Li Jian Cheng suddenly decided to take action. He had originally thought that by coming over in a low-profile manner and presenting generous gifts, he could smooth things over.
But it didn't matter anymore. Without those Confidants, his position as the Wagang Stronghold Leader depended entirely on Li Langjun's continued support for him to maintain stability.
What he hated most at this moment was the fact that Xu Shijie had not been eliminated as well.
Little did he know that Li Jian Cheng had never intended to kill anyone. Zhai Rang was merely a person content with a modest life. With Li Jian Cheng regaining power, a little pressure would have kept him in line.
It was simply his own foolishness for wanting to bring so many gifts, which resulted in an excessive number of escorts. Li Jian Cheng had no intention of raising a banner of rebellion; how could he allow so many people to witness his meeting with Zhai Rang?
Many things could remain unshaken as long as they were not witnessed firsthand; mere rumors wouldn't threaten Li Jian Cheng's position. However, with so many people from the martial world involved, it was inevitable that word would spread far and wide.
Once the emperor decided to investigate, he could easily catch a few culprits, making the situation difficult to handle. Thus, not killing was not an option.
After briefly discussing the current situation of Wagang, Li Jian Cheng assigned them a task: to continue hiding and avoid drawing attention. With so many claiming kingship across the land, the court would first target those who made the loudest noise.
Next, they began plotting for Xingyang, aiming to develop their forces and win over local powerful figures.
The plan for Xingyang was naturally aimed at the Luo Kou Warehouse. With grain in hand, they would have the means to recruit soldiers and expand rapidly in a short time.
However, this area was currently under Yang Xuangan's control. Even now, they were still able to recruit soldiers continuously, thanks in large part to this warehouse.
After all, it had been specially constructed by the emperor, containing a total of three thousand granaries, each capable of storing eight thousand stones of grain. A significant portion of the rice transported from the southeast was stored here.
From this location, grain could be shipped westward to Luoyang and Chang'an. When deploying troops in Liaodong, grain could also be transported across the Yellow River and through the Yongji Canal to reach the front lines.
He left Xu Shijie with a way to contact him and then ordered both of them to return. Zhai Rang's three ships filled with gifts were accepted by Li Jian Cheng, which finally put Zhai Rang somewhat at ease.
After the others left, Li Jian Cheng looked around with great interest; it could indeed be called a generous gift. Zhai Rang had not wasted these years plundering wealthy merchants along the Bian River.
Li Jian Cheng kept two ships for himself and awarded the other ship to the two generals and the accompanying Guardians, who all knelt down in gratitude.
Even Qin Shubao couldn't help but rub his hands together in delight. A man of great ability would inevitably face times of financial need, and there were always family members at home who required money to get by.
As they returned, Dan Xiongxin suddenly thought of something and said to Qin Shubao, "Since we are involved in this matter, Luo Yi must know about it. Shouldn't we give him a share of this treasure?"
Qin Shubao shook his head and replied, "That wouldn't be appropriate. Rewards should come from above. I know you want to win over Lord by helping Luo Yi, but this is not something we should take upon ourselves.
Moreover, this treasure is not just for us; these Guardians all bear the surname Li. While we need not fear them, it would still be unwise to distribute wealth without their consent and offend them."
Dan Xiongxin quickly nodded in agreement. "I got carried away with excitement. Lord is meticulous and will surely reward Luo Yi."
He then nudged Qin Shubao playfully. "See? Listening to me was the right choice! Lord has grand ambitions, and as long as we follow him, wealth and honor will surely come our way!"
Qin Shubao clasped his hands in acknowledgment to Dan Xiongxin, and everything was understood without further words.
……………
(End of Chapter)
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