Chapter 48: Shaking Wutai

In less than an hour, the rear hall of the Wutai County Government Office was packed with people.

Though called a rear hall, this place was not actually a main hall, but rather a small room of a more private nature.

After all, the rear hall's purpose was simple: it served as a place for the County Magistrate to privately mediate conflicts between opposing parties, and to provide him with a space for handling paperwork and resting.

And so, when every influential figure in Wutai County gathered here, the place seemed exceptionally... cramped.

"Old Lu, calling us all here so suddenly — is there something important?" The first to speak was a man who looked like an easygoing, affable gentleman.

Yet just sitting there, he was like an invincible spear — restrained, yet bold.

This man was Li Shou's father, and also the head of the Li Family — one of Wutai County's three great powers, on equal footing with the Lu and Cui families.

Hearing this, Lu Xianling smiled and shook his head, handing over the already-opened envelope in his hand. "Don't rush — this is the reason."

The Li Family Head had not yet realized its importance; he merely took the envelope and joked:

"What letter is worth you taking so seriously? Surely Baishan Jun isn't promoting you... Could there really be such good fortune!?"

He had only glanced roughly at the letter's contents when he could not help crying out in astonishment.

Hearing this, the people around did not wait for the Li Family Head to pass the letter to them, but crowded around him all at once.

And then came a long silence.

After a long while, until the crowd gradually recovered from this tremendous shock and returned one by one to their seats, the Li Family Head finally set down the letter in his hand and said with feeling:

"When I watched the martial gathering, I already thought that Feng Zi, being so resolute with himself, would surely achieve extraordinary things in the future.

"But I never imagined... that this boy had only just left Wutai County when he employed such thunderous methods and far-reaching stratagems to achieve such tremendous results!"

In response to this sentiment, Lu Xianling added: "Now that things have come to this, I won't hide it from you all—

"When Hanwen and Li Shou left Wutai County, Brother Li and I secretly entrusted them to form closer ties with the surrounding settlements.

"As for the reason... I think you all already know it well in your hearts; I need not repeat it unnecessarily.

"Of course, those two children have yet to send a reply, so presumably they have not yet achieved any reliable results."

After hearing Lu Xianling and the Li Family Head's explanations, a white-bearded elder pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke:

"That Feng Zi... I have also heard of him — a promising young talent. But looking at it now, is this boy really just the son of a farmer?"

The elder who raised this question was a clan elder of the Cui Family, and also a veteran Martial Master who had watched over Wutai County for over a hundred years.

Unlike the Lu and Li families, the Cui Family's main duty was to represent Wutai County in communicating with Baishan Jun, and even further up, with Zhenbei Dao.

And so, although the Cui Family was also one of Wutai County's three great powers, it hardly participated in the county's governance, and rarely appeared before the common people.

Regarding this elder's attitude, Lu Xianling did not dare be careless, and hurriedly asked: "Please, elder, speak."

The elder pondered, choosing his words carefully: "So decisive, so ruthless — once a decision is made, he would not hesitate even to wipe out an entire clan;

"At the same time, his manner of handling affairs is so thorough and so smooth — not only did he consider the matters of law and evidence, he even provided effective follow-up measures...

"Such a person — not to mention Baishan Jun, even looking across His Highness Prince Yong's royal court, would be a dazzling child of heaven! Is he really just a farmer's child?"

At this question, Lu Xianling and the Li Family Head shook their heads helplessly.

The two exchanged a glance, and Lu Xianling answered:

"I have already thoroughly checked the household registration of Feng Zi and his parents and kin — this boy is indeed a local, and his origins hold nothing unusual."

At this answer, the elder thought for a moment, then smoothed his brow: "Such a remarkable person truly cannot be cultivated by human effort.

"Fortunately, he still remembers his homeland. That our Wutai County has such a junior is truly a great blessing."

Then, the Li Family Head added: "Wait — before we divide the benefits, we must not forget one thing—

"Martial Master Feng Zi swept away the local powers and threats alike, and handed us a Daishan County that is like 'a blank sheet of paper.' We must not fail to show our gratitude."

Hearing this proposal from his old friend, a trace of relief and approval flashed through Lu Xianling's eyes, and he agreed:

"Brother Li speaks most rightly. Everyone — the Feng family has made such a contribution; we must properly discuss a reward that shows our sincerity."

Lu Xianling's stance was extremely important:

Even though Feng Zi's only relatives were his parents, and the so-called "Feng family" at this point consisted of only two farmers, by virtue of Feng Zi's contribution, their standing in Wutai County would never be what it once was!

At this stance, everyone present expressed their agreement one after another.

After a not-too-heated discussion, they reached a generous "reward" for Feng Fu and Feng Mu.

As for the recompense for Feng Zi himself, Lu Xianling noted it down himself, to be delivered all at once upon his return home.

After that came the "main course" everyone had been looking forward to—

Regarding this, the Li Family Head was the first to declare: "I won't mix into your scheming — too tiring, too troublesome.

"Let me state it first: my Li Family will dispatch one Martial Master skilled in combat, and five peak Martial Artists, to protect the people of Daishan County and our own people.

"If anyone shares my thinking, they may also join the Li Family's escort — we welcome all comers."

This stance seemed to ask for nothing, but in reality, the Li Family Head had already taken the first slice of Daishan County's "defense rights."

But considering that the Li Family's role in Wutai County had always been as the local "private soldiers" responsible for defending the area, no one objected.

On the contrary, some ambitious figures also stepped forward to "invest" in the Li Family's defense force.

Seeing that everyone was gradually reaching agreement on defense rights, the Cui Family's clan elder said casually:

"The Cui Family's focus is not on our homeland, so we won't mix into your affairs — as always, we are only responsible for liaison matters between Wutai County and various places.

"Let me think... the Cui Family will select five capable personnel to ensure smooth communication between the various places."

No one was surprised by the Cui Family's "detached" attitude.

But since the Cui Family rarely participated in handling specific matters, some people eager to "establish connections" with the jun city also began to declare their stance one after another.

This was the local ecology of Wutai County:

The three great powers led the distribution of benefits, while other prominent families, by virtue of their own strength, claimed their own cup of porridge in this arrangement.

Until all other matters had been discussed, Lu Xianling finally smiled and claimed the last — and largest — piece of benefit for himself:

"As for rebuilding the County Government Office, my Wutai County Government Office will take full responsibility. If anyone is interested in rebuilding order in Daishan County, they may take this opportunity to speak up."