“...” Lan Ruo Ting was speechless: *And you call me two-faced? You, who slipped the medicine to Feng Ru Nan?*
He had only just hesitated when Shu Qing returned and immediately asked:
“Lord Lan, why did you ask Lord Dao not to speak of the treatment method?”
“Well, the issue isn't really about the treatment method. Lord Lan simply wants the Prince and Princess to share the bed more often....” Niu You Dao immediately replied.
Shu Qing smiled bitterly. So, these men only thought of such things. However, she did not condemn them and immediately asked:
“Lord Dao, your methods on the battlefield are very useful. I wonder, would it be convenient for you to teach us?”
Niu You Dao immediately waved his hand and said: “It's nothing special. If you want, ask Monkey. He understands it better than I do.”
Such an important teaching. Shu Qing had been worried whether Niu You Dao would teach them. After all, it was a crucial technique. Yet, he had agreed so simply and quickly. This made her immediately reply joyfully:
“Good! Shu Qing thanks you on behalf of the general!”
On the battlefield, such a method would indeed be advantageous. But to Niu You Dao, it meant nothing. He replied with a smile:
“It's a trifle, so there's no need to thank me. By the way, you should talk about this with Lord Lan. After all, he wants your sister-in-law to share the bed with your brother!”
Upon hearing this, Shu Qing blushed again, but nodded her head.
That evening, Feng Ru Nan noticed people who had come from Cang Wu County. The guards stopped them. The people said that they were Chao Zong's men. After Chao Zong's bodyguards identified them, they entered Chao Zong's tent and spoke with Lan Ruo Ting and the Prince. Their lamp burned late into the night.
The monks also noticed this. Once Yuan Gang learned of it, he later informed Niu You Dao as well.
The next day, the group continued their journey, and by afternoon, they had already reached their destination. They arrived at Cang Wu County.
The county head, Ling Mao, assembled the common people and the county's gentry to greet the Prince.
Everyone respectfully greeted the Prince. Sitting atop his horse, the Prince, with a stony face, gazed intently at everyone.
And then, Chao Zong spoke in a cold tone:
“Clearly, you have violated the laws?”
Everyone immediately froze. Even Feng Ru Nan and Niu You Dao didn't understand what was happening.
County Head Ling Mao, folding his hands in surprise, said: “I don't know what the Prince means by that?”
Chao Zong: “As an imperial official, you take bribes. As county gentry, you fraudulently seize land, and bully men and women. Is this not a violation?”
Ling Mao humbly replied: “Prince, these are bad people slandering us.”
Chao Zong did not wish to argue with them and, waving his hand, said:
“Seize them!”
A group of bodyguards immediately dismounted their horses and subdued the county head and his subordinates. The county gentry dared not do anything, seeing the fierce bodyguards. All immediately knelt down submissively.
Such a thing happened so suddenly. The people who had come to greet the Prince were seized. Several cultivators responsible for gathering spiritual herbs in this area were startled and flickered away, fleeing. Chao Zong did not pursue them.
Feng Ru Nan and the others watched with interest how Chao Zong would govern here. Although Cang Wu County was land bestowed upon the Prince, ever since the collapse of the Wu Kingdom, when chaos reigned everywhere, in each kingdom, everything was primarily managed by officials appointed by the imperial house. And princes who were granted lands merely collected certain taxes but did not interfere in their affairs and had no right to govern those lands.
Ling Mao, struggling with all his might, cried out:
“Prince, even if we are guilty, we should still be interrogated by imperial officials. This is not within your authority!”
Chao Zong replied indifferently:
“I will report you to the imperial house! There is no place for pests like you on the lands granted to me. You are not even worthy of death!” — he waved his hand and said:
“Behead them!”
Several bodyguards immediately drew their swords. A shriek of terror rang out, and fresh blood flowed from several people.
The remaining gentry and minor officials were scared to death and now conducted themselves cautiously.
Immediately, Chao Zong placed some people under arrest, and led others towards the county center.
When they reached the county town, Feng Ru Nan, Niu You Dao, and the others finally understood why Chao Zong was doing all this. It turned out he hadn't just removed the county head for the sake of peacemaking. He was also conducting a thorough purge of the imperial court's people. He was eliminating the imperial power, not hesitating at all, but acting decisively.
As soon as they arrived at the county town, he had over a thousand men at his disposal. He had long had a prepared roster and list. Chao Zong had people who pointed out and showed the way to everyone. He began inventorying and seizing the property of all implicated and guilty parties. Although they had just arrived, even along the way, bodyguards were immediately dispatched to deal with the culprits. Clearly, it was not in vain that Ning Wang had sent veterans here during his lifetime, just in case. This was the very case for which they proved useful.
He also borrowed men from Feng Ru Nan and immediately sent them to impose order throughout the county, to seize the assets and lands of the gentry who were found guilty.
His men gave no chance whatsoever for the gentry on the list to explain anything, much less allowed them to escape. Everything had already been meticulously planned.
In the following days, the entire Cang Wu County seethed with activity. The purge continued. The new county head, Wu Fa, was not appointed by the imperial house, but by Chao Zong. Chao Zong had no intention of enduring the Emperor's pressure any longer. Thus, the new head was now under Chao Zong's control and support. The people were immediately appeased. The wealthy lands of the gentry were divided and distributed to the common people. Provisions were also given to the needy and refugees. Chao Zong's number of subordinates here immediately increased, and he now had over a thousand followers. Thus, he instantly established order in Cang Wu County.
After Bai Yao understood Chao Zong's scheme, he sent word to the Heavenly Jade Sect, so that they would prepare a batch of disciples to receive spiritual herbs here.
As soon as he had settled everything in the county and the county town, Chao Zong moved his main forces out of the city.
Not far from the county town, in the mountains, lay a new manor, which Ning Wang had built for himself not long ago. It could easily accommodate over ten thousand people. However, the most important thing was that it could be easily held and defended. Every day, an official came from the county town for important matters. For now, they decided not to seal off the county. It was still unclear what would happen with Qingshan County.
Along the way, Niu You Dao saw a succession of supply wagons. He approached Lan Ruo Ting and asked:
“Is all this from the gentry families?”
Lan Ruo Ting replied with a sigh:
“The common people lack food. Yet these wealthy gentry hold so much riches. We cannot always rely on Kuangai County. We must start procuring and feeding ourselves. Currently, supplies will only last for a year. Once everything settles, we can establish a tax and make ends meet.”
Niu You Dao clicked his tongue and said: “You certainly found money quickly.”
Lan Ruo Ting replied with a bitter smile:
“There's nothing else to be done. It's unclear how much imperial power has infiltrated here, so we had to immediately eliminate all potential enemies. Only then can we firmly establish ourselves.”
Niu You Dao: “It seems you've thought everything through long ago!”
Lan Ruo Ting: “Not that long ago. If the marriage hadn't been successful, we wouldn't have dared.”
Niu You Dao: “Cang Wu County is behind Qingshan County. With enemies on three sides, aren't you afraid of the imperial house?”
Lan Ruo Ting: “They already tried to attack along the way. It didn't work. Now Feng Lin Bo and the Heavenly Jade Sect are watching over us. The imperial house wouldn't dare act rashly.”
After his words, he saw that Niu You Dao forced a smile, as if understanding him.
Niu You Dao quietly said: “Still, this isn't the place for talk. We'd better discuss this later.”
Niu You Dao's gaze indicated Feng Ru Nan and Bai Yao, who were riding not far away.
A manor stood on the mountain. Perhaps because Ning Wang's veterans were here, or someone had planned it long ago, although the manor was slightly ruined, it had been swept and tidied.
As soon as the troops arrived, they settled in. Fodder and provisions were well distributed. And when dusk fell, everyone went to eat. After eating, Lan Ruo Ting summoned Niu You Dao and the others to the basement, into a stone room.
Inside the room, a map was already hung on the wall. Lan Ruo Ting, Chao Zong, and Shu Qing suddenly approached Niu You Dao and Yuan Gang together. They bowed simultaneously.
Niu You Dao and Yuan Gang exchanged bewildered glances.
Niu You Dao asked with a smile: “Gentlemen, what is the meaning of such a ceremony?”
Chao Zong replied gratefully: “We merely wanted to thank you. Before, when I left the capital, I never imagined I could begin matters like this. We are truly grateful to you!”
Niu You Dao laughed: “It's nothing.” — looking at the wall of the stone room, he asked: “Surely, gentlemen, you didn't invite us here just to express thanks?”
Lan Ruo Ting: “Along the way, Lord Dao asked me why we were in such a hurry to establish order everywhere. And it's all because Lord Dao gave us an idea. Lord Dao said that Feng Lin Bo was merely a puppet of the Heavenly Jade Sect. And as long as they need the Prince, they won't abandon him. That's why we devised a new plan.” — Lan Ruo Ting turned and tapped the map at the location of Qingshan County.
“We plan to capture Qingshan County, and then we will be like Feng Lin Bo. Once we seize that place, the Heavenly Jade Sect will hardly want to abandon this juicy morsel. And it won't matter whether the Prince has a hundred-thousand-strong army or not. They will still protect the Prince!”