Chapter Fourteen: Eliminating Bandits

  "Suppress bandits?" In the county office of Fan Township, Wu Rui thought he had misheard.

  Along the Yangtze River, in the mountains and forests, lakes and wetlands, there are indeed many bandits. Since he took over as the ruler of this region, there have been campaigns to suppress bandits, but later he found that most were just poor families struggling to make a living. Therefore, as long as they did not seriously affect local security, he had always turned a blind eye.

  It can be said that each county is like this, and the imperial court doesn't ask much about it. But as soon as spring began, why did the imperial court suddenly order Jiangdong to suppress bandits?

  "Yes, sir. The Left Camp Commandant of Lujiang Garrison, An Tong, has led 5,000 soldiers to station in the northeast of Pengli Lake. The imperial court has ordered us to prepare for grain and fodder supplies." County Commandant Chen Kui reported truthfully.

  Wu Rui was puzzled and asked: "Oh? Has the army been mobilized?"

  "Yes, sir. According to the news from Xianyang, it's Zhao Xiang's intention. Therefore, An Xiujun didn't dare to slack off. Zhao Xiang also said that as long as we assist in eliminating the bandits with all our might, he won't hold us accountable for our poor governance."

  "Prime Minister Zhao? When did Great Qin have a Prime Minister Zhao?" Wu Rui was somewhat surprised.

  "Your Majesty, the documents from Xianyang have arrived. The former Prime Minister Li Si has been beheaded in Xianyang for deceiving and plotting against you. By Your Majesty's sacred decree, Zhao Gao, the Commandant of the Imperial Chariots, has succeeded him as Chancellor."

  "What? Li Xiang was beheaded?" The words were like a thunderclap on a clear day, and Wu Rui was stunned for a long time before saying: "Zhao Gao succeeded him? How can an eunuch become a prime minister? Isn't this the biggest joke in the world?"

  Chen Kui's heart tightened, and after a moment of hesitation, he said: "Your Excellency, please be careful with your words! This is the Emperor's decree, and as his subjects, we can only follow orders."

  No wonder, no wonder. One day the emperor, one day the minister, Li Si is gone, and this policy may have changed. Wu Rui's mind was stirred for a moment, and upon hearing Chen Kui's straightforward words, he immediately regained his composure. He said: "The official has lost his demeanor, so let's leave the matter of providing grain and fodder to the great army to you!"

  "Good!" Chen Kui quietly withdrew, a hint of a sly smile hanging at the corner of his mouth, no one knew what he was thinking.

  After Chen Wei left, a young man walked out from the back hall. It was Wu Rui's eldest son, Wu Cheng. "Father, Qin Ting is getting more and more outrageous. In those years, Li Si promised that you would be appointed as Fan Jun, governing Fan Yi, suppressing Bai Yue, without having to pay taxes and labor to Xianyang, everything was up to you."

  Wu Chen was furious and continued: "But what about now? First, the county magistrate was sent, and then there were taxes and labor services. Our Pingyi was originally rich in goods and people, with a peaceful life, but now it's also struggling to survive. Those bandits are mostly forced by officials to rebel. Now you want to deploy troops to roam around Pengze, claiming to suppress the bandits, but our Pingyi people will inevitably suffer, and we still have to provide food and supplies. What is this all about?"

  Wu Rui let out a soft sigh and said: "Does Father not know? Now that Prime Minister Li is no longer here..."

  "Yes! In the past, there was still a bit of Qin Shi Huang's majesty and Li Si's courtesy, but what is left now?"

  Facing her son's questioning, Wu Rui said lightly: "Child, you are still young, remember to learn a word of endurance! This matter will not be spoken again, go back and study well!" After finishing, she left the house and went out.

  Wu Chen looked at his father's somewhat despondent back, his eyes flickering, speechless.

  ……

  The water and sky meet, the misty waves are vast and remote, the Pengli Ze Lake is sparkling, the waves are majestic.

  On a small hill by the lake, military tents are connected in a piece.

  A man stood on the hilltop, gazing far into the distance. His golden armor gleamed in the light, matching his tall stature perfectly. In his thirties, with a thick beard and a ruggedly handsome face that was characteristic of men from the northwest.

  He was the Left Colonel of Lujiang, An Tong, a native of Guanzhong, who was said to have a kinship with the Qin royal family and had been appointed as the governor of Lujiang due to his ancestral influence. A few days ago, he suddenly received an edict from Xianyang, ordering him to eliminate the bandits in Pengze after the spring, An Tong set out on an expedition without hesitation.

  Mo Jiang saw Xin Gang, who was 25 years old and from the northwest border of Xiangyang Prefecture. He had recently been transferred to defend Lujiang due to his exceptional martial arts skills, earning him a special look from An Tong, who appointed him as the captain of the personal guard.

  "Hmm!" An Tong did not turn around and said lightly: "Has Lord Yan's instructions been investigated clearly?"

  Xin Gang respectfully replied: "Fortunately, I did not disappoint your orders! After investigation, it was found that the group of thieves handed over by Yan Daren had more than 100 people, and the leader was called Yin Xu, who was less than 20 years old."

  "Oh?" An Tong said with a hint of surprise: "Is he just a young whippersnapper?"

  "Yes, but this person seems to have some means, is very strict with his subordinates, and has a good reputation in this area."

  "It seems that the person who can make Yan Gong and even Zhao Xiang unforgettable is indeed a bit of a genius." An Tong sneered: "However, no matter how capable he is, a few hundred mobs are no match for the 5,000 elite troops of the imperial court."

  Xin Gang smiled and echoed: "That's right, especially since it's the master himself who is taking action." A thousand schemes and a myriad of plans can be pierced through, but flattery cannot be.

  An Tong was delighted and laughed: "Send out scouts to investigate, find the bandits' hideout, and quickly send troops to wipe them out."

  "Hello!"

  ……

  Hundreds of miles away, a slender and elegant purple-robed girl sat alone on the top floor of a pavilion, with distant lake lights and mountain colors shimmering in the distance.

  People are different, and so are their tastes. Lakes are also different. In front of a young girl, the scenery is infinite, and the legendary Dongting Lake is moving, not Pengli Lake.

  Zhenze, also known as Taihu Lake, is located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, near Wuxi and Suzhou. Legend has it that Fan Li once sailed on the lake with Xi Shi, and the beautiful scenery and charming atmosphere have captivated people for centuries.

  "Fan Qing has seen Miss." A martial artist in a suit of armor halted behind the girl and bowed respectfully.

  "What's up?"

  "There's news from Lao Ye's side."

  The girl in purple immediately turned around and asked anxiously: "How is Father's side? Is everyone all right?"

  Miss, don't worry, the old master has been helped by General Li You and escaped from Wei territory, and has safely arrived in Dingtao. The young master temporarily gave up his business with the Eastern Hu and went to meet with the old master, so you don't have to worry, Miss. The old master sent someone to pass on a message saying that he will return after some days to reunite with Madame and Miss.

  "That's good!" The girl smiled lightly and asked again: "Is there any news from Shangjun and Xianyang?"

  "Hmm..." Fan Qing hesitated for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "General Meng's family was completely slaughtered, and Prime Minister Li was beheaded at Xianyang."

  "What?" The young girl's body trembled, and after a moment of silence, she asked: "How did General Li You react?"

  "General Li You did nothing because Crown Prince Ziyu was in Xianyang."

  The girl's heart skipped a beat and she asked: "Is Ziyu in Xianyang? Didn't they escape?"

  Fan Qing sighed: "General Li's men and Mr. Dengling only rescued Miss Ziye, while Crown Prince Ziyu was captured in Xianyang, and the rest of the children followed Fusu to his death."

  "General Li You is also helpless!"

  "Excuse me for speaking bluntly!" said Fan Qing: "General Li You had a great disagreement with Prime Minister Li on the matter of Fu Su Gongzi, could it be..."

  The girl shook her head and said, "It won't happen, Li Yu is not that kind of person, because he is loyal to the Great Qin." She paused for a moment and sighed, "Now I only wish that Ziyu's siblings can be safe!"

  Fan Qing said, "Don't worry too much about this. Zhao Gao just killed ten princes and princesses in Duyang last month, and the accusations are still ongoing. In any case, Prince Ziying is the eldest grandson of the First Emperor, so Zhao Gao should not dare to do anything to him, especially since he wants to use him to control General Li Yu. As for Princess Ziyue, she is safe in Sanchuan County."

  The girl in purple clothes sighed softly and said: "I hope so!"

  He immediately thought of something and asked: "By the way, has that young master's identity been investigated?"

  Fan Qing replied, "I've found out that the young master who came to our rescue is named Yin Xu, courtesy name Donglai, from Fan County. It seems he killed government soldiers at a construction site on the Zhuxi Road and escaped to gather a crowd of bandits. The rumors in Kuaiji are vague, but it's said they mainly 'rob the rich to help the poor', punishing evil tyrants and corrupt officials, with a pretty good reputation locally."

  The girl nodded slightly, seemingly a little satisfied, or perhaps it was in line with her conjecture.

  "But they seem to be a bit of trouble..."

  "Oh?" The girl's eyebrows furrowed again as she asked, "What's wrong?"

  Fan Qing recalled: "The servant returned and said that a court army of several thousand people had gone to Fan Township, and after inquiring, it was learned that they were going to suppress bandits. The subordinate suspected that Yin Gongzi might be involved."

  The girl's eyebrows furrowed, revealing a few points of solemnity, and after a long time, she said leisurely: "It is very likely that the thieves in Jiangdong are rampant, but the imperial court has always turned a blind eye. Why did they suddenly send troops to suppress the bandits this time? Isn't it because of our affair, which angered Zhao Gao and implicated Yin Gongzi and others?"

  "We suddenly withdrew, leaving him to fetch water with a bamboo basket, which must have made him furious. Now that he has the power in his hands, he doesn't dare to openly and uprightly move against my Fan family, but instead shifts his anger to the wicked Yin Gongzi is very likely."

  Fan Qing also frowned and said: "That's right, Miss is absolutely right."

  The young girl walked back and forth, thinking for a moment before saying calmly: "Pay close attention to Peng Ze's situation. If possible, try to give him some help. After all, he is implicated because of us. If necessary, you can use Father's name to seek help from Wu Rui, the county magistrate of Fan County. His younger brother, Wu Ben, is a disciple of Mr. Xu Fu and has a good relationship with my father."

  "Miss, don't worry, I will make proper arrangements."

  Watching Fan Qing's departing back, the girl whispered softly: "I can only do this much for you, the rest is up to you..."