[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-197":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Lord of the Proles",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2290495,4478,"Chapter 197: The First Battle of Fengqing","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-197",197,"\u003Cp>“Fifth Master, someone broke into our warehouse—shelves overturned, goods scattered everywhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The cash register was broken into too—all the cash is gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu rubbed his forehead; having just woken up, hearing all this made him feel as if his home had been ransacked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking about it, it really was like a home invasion—thieves had slipped into his and Li Banfeng’s ten-li territory, turning every key spot upside down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of Ma Wu’s men would do something like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hunters who regularly did business with him wouldn’t dare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then who did it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need to ask—it’s definitely Lu Xiaolan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sent people into the territory last night, and Ma Wu knew nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she had moved to kill last night, would Ma Wu have been prepared?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting on the edge of the bed, Ma Wu stared blankly, sweat pouring down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d slept with Aqin last night—still safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From now on, except for Yanzi and Aqin, he wouldn’t stay overnight with anyone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng returned to the ten-li territory, entered his wooden house, and found it ransacked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who did this? They nearly pulled up my floorboards…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRASH!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng nearly sank into the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several floorboards had indeed been pried up—and then put back exactly as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell are they trying to do? Tear down my house?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the desk, Li Banfeng found a letter. He opened it—only three lines written on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First line: What you owe must be repaid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second line: What you owe in life must be repaid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third line: Lu Xiaolan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You know what? Lu Xiaolan’s actually polite—she even signed her name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But you come all this way, bring nothing, and demand things from me—is that fair?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You say I owe you something—do you mean the Red Lotus?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When you say “repay,” do you mean give it back to you, or to He Jiaqing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it doesn’t matter—no matter who it is, Li Banfeng had no intention of repaying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What does “owe a life” mean? Do you mean I owe you my life?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That makes no sense—back then, you were the one who tried to kill me. If anyone owes, it’s you who owes me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pondered, Ma Wu entered the room: “Someone came to the territory last night—I suspect it’s…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the state of Li Banfeng’s room, Ma Wu knew he didn’t need to explain further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s Lu Xiaolan,” Li Banfeng waved the letter. “She even wrote me a note saying I owe her my life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu gritted his teeth: “What the hell does this bastard want? Old Seven, burn the letter right now—can’t keep anything from a Peeping Cultivator. There might be a hook on it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng burned the letter, returned to his quarters, and cleaned the dust from his wife’s phonograph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently, his wife had been a bit resistant to engine oil—but routine dusting was still acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hssss~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife hummed two notes: “Hey, husband, you use a duster and brush for dusting—what are you using back there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng answered solemnly: “A brush!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huff~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife snapped: “Are you bullying me? We don’t own a brush that size—and you’re using so much force—are you upset about something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng nodded: “One of my men is a traitor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife understood deeply: “Day and night vigilance, but family traitors are hardest to guard against. They’re the most hateful. Husband, any leads?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Precisely because I have no leads, I’m frustrated. Wife, have you ever encountered a traitor before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have. They’re hateful—but also interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s interesting?” Li Banfeng didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Find the traitor and kill him—that’s boring. Find him, then don’t kill him—that’s interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not killing him is interesting?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very interesting. Keep him around and play with him slowly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng couldn’t grasp it: “What if I can’t find the traitor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you can’t find him, it’s less interesting—but you can still give him a taste of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was dissatisfied: “Wife, stop speaking in riddles—I don’t understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My opponent is a Peeping Cultivator. She might have hooked the traitor. If I don’t find him, every move I make is under her eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A Peeping Cultivator? Now it’s even more interesting—it depends on where the hook is placed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng leaned forward, hugging the phonograph: “Wife, explain clearly—what do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“H-h-husband… put the brush down first… the… the place… isn’t right…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inventory the warehouse, rebuild the cash register, inspect every corner of the territory—destroy any unfamiliar or suspicious objects to prevent Peeping Cultivator hooks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a full day of chaos, Ma Wu returned to the meeting hall, sat down, and drank sour wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chuanzi brought another newspaper—Ma Wu saw his own news again, on page two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu chuckled bitterly: “Goods won’t move, and now our territory’s been breached. By the time we go bankrupt, we’ll make the front page.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Lu family mansion, Monkey Qiu read the newspaper in his small pavilion, with Lu Yuan Shan and Lu Yuan Hai beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, Lu family meetings were held in the main house—but Monkey Qiu now spent most of his time in the pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan Shan said: “Ma Wu’s been getting a lot of attention lately—they say his business in Lanyang Village is growing fast!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monkey Qiu nodded. “What does Lu Maoxian say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan Shan blinked. “Why ask about Uncle Maoxian all of a sudden?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monkey Qiu set down the paper. “Aren’t these news stories written for him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan Shan was confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan Hai nodded repeatedly—he was in charge of gathering news on Lu Maoxian: “Uncle Maoxian complained to relatives this morning, saying we two brothers gave Lanyang Village’s business to Ma’s family, and that we’re ruining the Lu family’s ancestral legacy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monkey Qiu sneered: “The old man’s panicked. He used to curse me—now he dares to curse you directly. He’s forgotten his place. No matter how high his seniority, he’s not the Lu family’s true line.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan Shan licked his lips: “But letting him keep cursing isn’t an option. How about I go tomorrow and talk to Ma Wu—get him to pay more tribute?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monkey Qiu lit a cigarette: “No amount of tribute will help—even if he pays 95%, the old man will still say it’s too little.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if we take back Lanyang Village and drive Ma Wu out, the old man will still call you wastrels.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’ll ask why we didn’t reclaim Baiyue Men. He’ll ask why we didn’t take back every business Lu Dongjun sold off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan Hai nodded: “It’s exactly as Qiu Uncle says. Uncle Maoxian’s said all this to relatives—repeats it constantly. In his eyes, we’re not fit to run this family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan Shan sighed: “No matter what we do, we can’t shut him up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monkey Qiu took a deep drag: “The old man’s mouth isn’t even his own—how can we shut it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But there’s one thing he won’t mention—he won’t let us reclaim the Hai Chi Ling business.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan Hai thought about recent events—it matched Monkey Qiu’s words exactly: “Uncle Maoxian never brings up Hai Chi Ling!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monkey Qiu took another drag: “Because the Hai Chi Ling business was stolen by the Ling family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan Shan suddenly understood: “Uncle Maoxian has ties with the Ling family—his mouth is attached to them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monkey Qiu crushed his cigarette. “Yuan Shan, earlier I told you to run the newspaper office—how’s it going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan Shan looked troubled: “Qiu Uncle, it’s not easy. My papers have been suspended too long—reviving them won’t happen overnight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, the Ling family is growing bigger. Just in Lüshui City, their paper sells for fifty cents and never runs out. Mine sells for thirty cents—and they still won’t buy. If I lower the price further, we make no profit. We simply can’t compete.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monkey Qiu smiled: “So you’ve already given up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan Shan sighed: “A paper that’s been suspended loses its reputation. Long-term subscribers think we’re untrustworthy—that’s the biggest taboo in this business.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monkey Qiu sipped his wine: “What if the Ling family’s paper got suspended too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could their paper be suspended? They publish daily…” Lu Yuan Shan paused, then understood Monkey Qiu’s meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He straightened his clothes and stood to leave. Monkey Qiu called out: “Don’t do it yourself—don’t ruin your reputation over this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dirty work needs specialists. Zhang Xiuling of Baihua Gate has always wanted to connect with the Lu family. Give her a chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the meeting hall, the phonograph played a graceful waltz. Ma Wu played chess with Li Banfeng. Ma Wu was distracted; Li Banfeng played with intense focus, studying every move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near the end, Li Banfeng checkmated. Ma Wu resigned: “Old Seven, I want to talk to you—next shipment, I’ll escort it myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng frowned: “If you escort it yourself, won’t Lu Xiaolan still rob you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’ll definitely try. So I’ll throw myself out as bait—bring Yanzi, Aqin, Xianxian, and Qiaocui. I won’t believe I can’t kill her!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Zuo Wu Gang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bringing him. I still don’t trust him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng held his piece, studying the board: “In the New Territory, these people are useful—but what if we leave the New Territory? I don’t know about Aqin, but the Cloak Mo Lady can’t leave the New Territory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qin can’t leave Xin Di either—she’s bound by a contract with Qiuluo Ye,” Ma Wu also realized this, “and Lu Xiaolan is still wanted by the Lu family; I doubt she’d dare leave Xin Di.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If she dares move against us outside Xin Di, I’m done—I’ll just admit I’m crazier than she is!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng placed the piece back on the board and nodded: “That’s actually a good plan. I’ll go with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu froze, then shook his head: “You can’t go. Lu Xiaolan mustn’t know you’re here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shook his head and smiled: “Old Five, you’ve gone addled. She wrote me a letter—she definitely knows I’m here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu rubbed his forehead; he really had been confused: “If you go, who’s left to guard our territory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are two masters here—we need someone who can spill blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng put the pieces back in the box, lit a cigarette, and looked at Ma Wu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This territory was won by us brothers together—if you fall, what’s the point of keeping it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As long as we brothers stand united, we’ll kill Lu Xiaolan—whether inside Xin Di or outside, who have we ever feared?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu clenched his fist and nodded: “Fine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Li Banfeng kept arranging pieces on the board: “Brother, one more game?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What else is there to do? Pass the time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few moves, Li Banfeng kept jumping his horse—but never moved his chariot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu chuckled: “Your moves aren’t looking so good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng raised an eyebrow: “We’ll see how it plays out—who wins in the end?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu froze, staring at the board for another moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing was listening to a live broadcast in the hospital, and as he listened, he smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s still just as crazy—only provoked him twice, and now he’s ready to die for it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another voice came through his earpiece: “I’ll send a few fighters from Tieyang Mountain—this time, we kill Ma Wu outright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if Tieyang Mountain’s fighters are strong, can they beat Madam Suo’e? Ma Wu has three Suo’e under his control.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then fight outside Xin Di—they won’t escape alive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How big a commotion would that make outside Xin Di? Are you trying to tell everyone what we’re looking for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what do you suggest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He and Ma Wu have prepared thoroughly, just waiting to fight you—why force a direct clash?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Their territory is already empty—only Zuo Wugang remains, a man without willpower. Isn’t he easy to handle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wipe their territory clean—burn every house, every shipment. Kill a few hunters, warn them never to come here again to do business. That’ll destroy their entire livelihood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let Tieyang Mountain’s bandits handle it—that’s what they’re good at.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean let Lu Xiaolan go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long has Lu Xiaolan been on the mountain? She’s not capable. Tell the Big Boss to send the Three Heroes of Tieyang—they’ve done this before, and best at it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After it’s done, have Lu Xiaolan go to my friend for the item—he won’t dare refuse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: The first battle between Ban and Qing has begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2065,"2026-06-20T03:43:13.043Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1aa66793c2fb91b422753b6a470c4ae0d90a13c36e76c9c6a4189f088a97aaa9","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-198","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-196",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]