Chapter 383: First Volume, Chapter 383: Layouts of All Sides

First Volume, Chapter 383: Layouts of All Sides

Li Zhang's eyes darted, then he reached out: "I hear your merchant house's candy has become the new favorite of Jiangnan literati? And the confectionery industry is moving north? My brother and I are heading to Beixi County now—probably won't get to taste any. Let me take this chance to ask Brother Qin for a few pieces."

That was overly polite.

Qin Feng gritted his teeth: "You're truly good at seizing every opening!"

Li Zhang shrugged: "Aren't I just learning from Brother Qin?"

Pfft! Shameless!

Reluctantly, Qin Feng pulled out a small box containing one hundred assorted candies; the Li Family Brothers immediately beamed with delight.

Truly, no profit, no early rise—what a piece of trash!

After seeing off the Li Family Brothers back to Fuyun County, not long after, the two brothers departed Fuyun County directly for Tangqi.

Clearly, they'd been cooped up in Fuyun County too long—couldn't wait to get out and run wild.

The moment they left, Qin Feng brought the Ming Prince's entire family into Tianji Camp.

There weren't many of them—the Ming Prince's consort had long passed; only the Ming Prince and a few loyal household retainers remained.

That night, the Ming Prince insisted on drinking with Qin Feng.

On their first meeting, the Ming Prince had clamped Qin Feng's head under his armpit and twisted it hard twice—nearly crushed him to death.

Damn it, this Ming Prince's whole family are beasts!

The Ming Prince sat lazily on a Tengyi Chair Chair Chair Chair Chair Chair Chair Chair Chair Chair Chair Chair Chair Chair, clutching a glass cup, staring at the wine inside, his eyes filled with gratitude.

"Qin Feng, I've long wanted to meet you, but the Emperor's will is unpredictable, so I had to avoid suspicion. Now that we've met, you're even more… despicable than the rumors said."

Hahaha, the old bastard knows how to compliment!

Qin Feng sneered, then sarcastically flattered: "Likewise, likewise."

The Ming Prince grew fonder of Qin Feng with every sip, squinting through the alcohol: "Nephew, you've got eyes and hands reaching straight to the Heavenly Court. Can you find a way to let me go out for a few rounds? I've been stuck in Fuyun County half my life—I'm bored out of my mind."

Shit… Qin Feng quickly stepped back two paces, raising his hands in surrender: "Your Highness, don't scare me. Getting Li Zhang and Li Lang out was already me exhausting every trick—I had to stake my own life and fortune just for that. Please, Your Highness, just calm down and don't drag me into this."

The Ming Prince feigned disappointment but didn't press further.

After chatting with the old prince for a while, Qin Feng excused himself under the pretense of needing to urinate.

But as soon as he returned to the Qin Residence, Shen Qingci intercepted him: "Qin Feng… Xiao Xiangxiang has woken up."

Hearing this, Qin Feng froze, then rushed back to the back courtyard without hesitation.

When he saw Xiao Xiangxiang lying on the bed, dazed and confused, the heavy stone that had weighed on his heart finally dropped.

She's awake—thank goodness she's awake!

Qin Feng sat beside the bed, gently cradling Xiao Xiangxiang's hand; though he had a thousand things to say, he held them all back.

Xiao Xiangxiang had awakened, but after such a severe injury, she remained drowsy—sometimes clear, sometimes foggy.

At this moment, rest was most important.

Qin Feng still couldn't hide his joy—he dismissed the servants to beat drums and play music, celebrating Xiao Xiangxiang's recovery from her grave illness.

The deafening drumming and music seemed to echo throughout Jingdu…

…………

Lin Residence.

Lin Taibao sat upright in the DaTang, holding a tea cup, stroking his beard: "Rumors say Qin Feng Xiao'er acts recklessly—I thought it was just self-preservation. But now it seems his conduct truly is extraordinary. For the sake of a mere maid, he's thrown Heaven into chaos. Hmph—a son of the Supervisor of War, yet obsessed with such trivial sentimental matters. What a waste."

The steward whispered beside him: "Though he is a wastrel and erratic, he possesses real talent. Because of one maid, he sent troops to retaliate against the Di, killing or wounding over ten Di generals, launching stealth attacks to destroy seven or eight Di granaries, and even had Xu Mo lead Tianji Camp Guards in continuously ambushing over a thousand enemy reinforcements."

"Moreover, earlier, when Qin Feng entered the palace, he verbally tore apart Zhang Xiuye—the newly appointed Director of Internal Affairs—leaving him humiliated, unable to lift his head."

"To us, this seems like overreaction. But… now the streets whisper that Qin Feng is loyal and righteous—that anyone who stands by him will enjoy lifelong prosperity. If this continues, Qin Feng's reputation will spread across Shedynasty, and talented scholars will flock to his side."

Lin Taibao narrowed his eyes and nodded: "You have a point. But it doesn't matter—Qin Feng is surrounded on all sides, barely able to save himself. Besides, that old useless Zhang Xiuye was merely placed in Li Zhan's position to give Qin Feng a Downward Warning—and instead, Qin Feng turned the tables on him. From now on, Zhang Xiuye will likely avoid Qin Feng entirely."

The steward pondered: "Master, Zhang Xiuye is still Director of Internal Affairs, serving the Emperor directly—could he truly fear Qin Feng?"

"Hah." Lin Taibao chuckled, his tone dripping with contempt. "Since our Shedynasty's founding, we've learned from past dynasties: no eunuch shall hold power. Whether Zhang Xiuye or Li Zhan, no matter how high their position, they remain nothing but Maids. Li Zhan served three emperors and is one of the Four Great Experts of the Capital—yet if the Emperor wished to kill him, it would take only one word."

"Don't believe the rumors! The more martial the Emperor, the more insignificant the eunuchs become. Only when the ruler is foolish and corrupt do eunuchs become wolves in service. Qin Feng long saw this clearly—his friendship with Li Zhan was merely personal preference, not tied to any real interest."

"Send my command: Qin Feng's candy business may currently show no harm, but we must still guard against it. The best method is to block its commercial expansion—no merchant in Tangqi shall lease out shopfronts to outsiders! Second, that scoundrel Qin Feng, exploiting the war with Di in Beixi County, holds military authority and is forcibly purchasing grain from Jiangnan at military rations prices—a move that severely harms Jiangnan."

"All grain merchants in Tangqi must be extremely cautious in the coming days—do not let Qin Feng Xiao'er find another excuse to crush grain prices!"

The steward had served Lin Taibao for years, absorbing his wisdom—he was already shrewd and calculating.

Yet he still failed to see this layer.

He cautiously asked: "Master, you just mentioned… military authority? Qin Feng is merely a minor ten-household commander—where does he get military authority?"

"Hmph!" Lin Taibao snorted, his tone grave. "That's precisely why you all underestimate Qin Feng's power. Though young, his methods are far more ruthless than those of court ministers. Today, Qin Feng holds two great tools: first, the Emperor's verbal grant of authority to investigate and rectify official corruption; second, absolute control over Beixi County."

"The former is manageable—if the Emperor says one word, he can revoke it."

"But the latter… even the Emperor now deeply regrets having granted Qin Feng full control over Beixi County."

After Lin Taibao's explanation, the steward finally understood—thinking of Qin Feng's methods, he felt a chill crawl down his spine.

In short:

As long as the war in Beixi County rages one more day, Qin Feng can use the pretext of war to continue expanding without restraint.

The Liang Emperor, however, is both skilled and bold—he granted Qin Feng these two authorities precisely to execute the "Tiger to Devour Wolf" strategy: use Qin Feng's strength to eliminate other evils of Shedynasty, then deal with Qin Feng himself later…