Chapter 749: The Lord is Very Busy

At the Prefecture Governor's office in Xiang Rong Commandery, Governor Zhuang Zhong was drinking wine and admiring plum blossoms with several close official friends and literary companions. Naturally, they could not do without composing poems to liven the mood. Yet today, everyone was somewhat lacking in spirit; after only three rounds of poetry, many were already exhausted of ideas.

A local veteran scholar still couldn't hold back and spoke first: "Governor Zhuang, what exactly is the background of this Southern Military Secretariat? How is it that they are collecting taxes even from us? A few days ago, their people came to the door, and I gave them the cold shoulder, but those people left behind some harsh words before they departed. This—this doesn't look like official conduct; it looks more like bandits and barbarians!"

Zhuang Zhong stroked his beard and said slowly: "Brother Zhang, there is no need to worry. This Wei Yuan is merely a powerful minister, greedy for wealth and lust. The King appointed him as the Minister of the Southern Military Secretariat, but in truth, it was just to reward him for presenting the elixir of immortality, giving him a little sweetness."

"Ever since Lord Li Weisheng proposed that 'the court be filled with upright men,' the imperial court has been promoting scholars on a large scale. Now, the entire court is filled with us, the pure stream. This Wei Yuan is just a barbarian military officer; what is there to fear? I reckon he just wants to scrape some land. Hmph, what 'levying military funds'? Isn't it just to stuff his own pockets?!"

Another official said: "Since he only seeks wealth, then... how about we give him a little to send him away? I hear this Lord Wei does not follow the rules and will do anything. Not giving him any face at all might be somewhat inappropriate."

Zhuang Zhong pondered for a moment before saying: "I hear that basically no family has given him face, so he should already know that those tactics won't work in my Xiang Rong Commandery. This is fine; let him hit a wall first, then gather a million taels for him, and release those people detained in the prison. Let this matter end here, and let him go scrape elsewhere."

Another official said: "A million taels! That's too cheap for him! In my opinion, fifty thousand taels is the most."

The scholar hurriedly said: "My family property is meager; if I must contribute, I can offer five thousand taels."

The officials also spoke up one after another: "This humble official is clean-handed and has been eating pickles at home; I really cannot take out more. How about I donate three thousand taels?"

"This humble official can offer more, seven thousand taels!"

There were nine people in the warm pavilion, and in the end, they gathered a total of thirty thousand taels. This result left Zhuang Zhong speechless. Giving this thirty thousand taels was worse than not giving it at all.

Just as the atmosphere became somewhat awkward, the steward ran over quickly and whispered a few words into Zhuang Zhong's ear.

Zhuang Zhong was both shocked and furious; he stood up abruptly and said: "There is such a thing?!"

The steward said: "Not just the Second Young Master, but Lord Liu, Mr. Wang, Mr. Yu... have all been taken away."

Some of these people were Zhuang Zhong's sons, others were nephews, his father-in-law, his wife's younger brother, and his brother-in-law, plus two illegitimate sons—a total of eight or nine people, all related to Zhuang Zhong.

The officials looked at each other in dismay. To make the deep-scheming Zhuang Zhong lose his composure like this, something major must have happened. These people all had significant influence locally, but judging by the steward's tone, they had all been arrested?

Zhuang Zhong suppressed his anger and said to everyone: "This Wei Yuan is truly unscrupulous! Just now, the servants reported that Wei Yuan sent people to collect military funds from various wealthy families. If there was any disagreement, they would resort to violence. My relatives have all been captured by him; it is said they are now all locked up in the Southern Military Secretariat camp."

"Southern Military Secretariat camp?" Everyone had never heard of such a place.

"Wei Yuan personally brought a large army over and is stationed at the border with Huang Ping Commandery, establishing the Southern Military Secretariat camp."

An official hurriedly asked: "Then how many troops did he bring this time?"

Zhuang Zhong hesitated for a moment, and after synthesizing the information from all sides, said: "About one hundred thousand."

The group of officials all changed color.

Just at this moment, an official runner ran over and shouted: "Governor Zhuang, it's bad! After the Second Young Master was taken away, the manor was empty. Suddenly, a wave of mountain bandits rushed in, claiming to be from Black Wind Stronghold. They ransacked the manor, and nothing was left!"

Zhuang Zhong was shocked and furious, saying: "Were there any casualties?"

"I haven't heard of any; only a few servants suffered minor injuries. The Second Young Master and his family were taken away a step earlier and didn't encounter the bandits."

Zhuang Zhong frowned and said coldly: "The bandits raided, and only a few servants suffered minor injuries? There was no resistance at all? The master of the house is in trouble, yet the servants are fine—this is outrageous! You take people there now, arrest all these servants, and interrogate them with torture to see who exactly colluded with the mountain bandits!"

The runner accepted the order and left. But not long after, more runners arrived one after another, all with news of looting by bandits in various places. Without exception, after the masters of the houses were captured by Wei Yuan, bandits from all paths emerged and ransacked their homes.

The bandits had many names: the Joyous Sect, the Yin-Yang Sect, the Joyous Faction, the Five Poisons Cult, the Wind and Rain Tower... and so on.

Seeing Zhuang Zhong's face turn livid, an official said: "Governor Zhuang, in the current situation, we must let General Wang send troops to protect each family. Those retainers and guards are no match for Wei Yuan. We must first ensure the safety of each family."

This General Wang was a Mobile Corps Commander who led the Xiang Rong Commandery official troops and was naturally Zhuang Zhong's confidant.

Zhuang Zhong had just nodded when he suddenly saw a Captain hurry over. As soon as he entered the warm pavilion, he said: "Governor Zhuang, it's bad! General Wang has also been captured by Wei Yuan, who said he failed to govern his territory well and allowed soldiers to disguise themselves as bandits to loot!"

Zhuang Zhong could no longer hold back and said: "How could General Wang be captured? What about the guards? What about the personal guards?"

"At that time, the Rear General Cui Yu personally came to the door. General Wang did not suspect anything and went out of the camp to welcome him. Who knew Cui Yu would strike on the spot? General Wang was no match and was captured. Then Cui Yu set up cannons to bombard the camp, and the entire camp of official troops... surrendered."

With a 'clack', Zhuang Zhong smashed his wine cup on the ground and said angrily: "Is this Wei Yuan trying to rebel? Openly attacking a military camp and kidnapping a commanding officer?"

But Zhuang Zhong was no fool. After venting his anger, the more he thought, the more terrified he became. In just one day, Wei Yuan had struck everywhere. Every family that had captured Wei Yuan's people and thrown them into prison that day had suffered disaster, without exception. This was clearly revenge!

Zhuang Zhong narrowed his eyes and said: "Submit a memorial to the imperial court to impeach Wei Yuan!"

Afterward, he entered his study, wrote a letter each to the Left Minister and several cabinet elders, and sent people to deliver them urgently to Jindu. Then, at dawn the next day, Zhuang Zhong packed up and set off. He did not take a carriage or ride a horse, but only brought a few capable attendants and headed at full speed toward the Southern Military Secretariat camp to meet Wei Yuan.

When he arrived at the military camp, it was already near noon. Zhuang Zhong announced his identity. The gate-guarding soldiers looked Zhuang Zhong up and down and said: "So you're the Governor? You look human enough, but you don't do human things!"

Several attendants were furious and shouted: "How dare you speak to Governor Zhuang like this! The crime is punishable by death! Someone, take him down!"

But after calling for someone, the attendants looked left and right, only then remembering that there were no official runners or soldiers.

The soldier crossed his arms, looked at them sideways, with the expression of 'I'll see how you take me down'.

Zhuang Zhong's face was naturally extremely ugly. He had come in a hurry, bringing only a few attendants, and this was at the gate of the opponent's camp, which contained one hundred thousand troops. If they really started fighting, they would be dead for sure.

Fortunately, an officer appeared at this time. The attendants finally found their backbone and stepped forward to complain.

The officer heard the whole story and scolded the soldiers: "How are you talking to Governor Zhuang? I've taught you so many times, and you still haven't learned how to speak. Get lost and have someone else come over."

The soldier walked away with a grin.

The officer smiled all over his face and said to Zhuang Zhong: "Governor Zhuang, follow me. Lord Wei hasn't woken up yet, so please wait a moment."

Zhuang Zhong nodded and followed the officer to a tent, where he sat and waited.

This wait lasted until evening, and there wasn't even a cup of water in between.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 750 =====