Chapter 448: Selling

These words were really just a diversion, meant to spare Feng Shaoxian from embarrassment. Feng Jinfa gave a bitter laugh and shook his head. "You lot—after so many years of peace, you've gone soft in the head. Oh, the moment you think of making an enemy, you want to involve the officials; the moment you think of using underworld methods, you want to deploy large numbers of men. If getting things done were that easy, back in the day, Big A and I wouldn't have needed to set fire to other families' salt boats or fight their dogs to the death."

At this, both Feng Da and Feng Shaoxian were a bit confused. Official channels had their taboos, and their own large forces weren't allowed to be used—just how were they supposed to act?

Feng Jinfa shook his head, his smile fading. "Why go to so much trouble? Just kill that Zhao Jin, and isn't the matter settled once and for all?"

Feng Shaoxian froze, then couldn't help but slap his own forehead. Laughing dryly, he said, "Truly a case of darkness under the lamp—how did I not think of that!"

The festive atmosphere of the entire first month of spring reached its peak in the three days around the Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival was a three-day revelry, and anywhere in the realm that wasn't too impoverished would hold it accordingly, with officials and commoners celebrating together.

After the Lantern Festival, the yamen reopened, shops resumed business, and the common folk had to busy themselves with spring plowing and making a living—everything returned to normal.

Many prominent households in Pi Prefecture had not enjoyed a good New Year. In the twelfth month, they had been mobilized by the Feng family to pursue Zhao Jin, only for Zhao Jin to return safely. None of those who had participated could set their minds at ease.

People elsewhere might not be familiar with Zhao Jin, but Pi Prefecture bordered Xu Prefecture, and stories about Zhao Jin had long been circulating—how could they possibly not know? The moment they realized they had offended such a fiend, they truly lost their appetite and sleep.

Yet when it came to going and begging forgiveness, no one took action either. After so many years in Pi Prefecture, all anyone ever heard about was the Feng family's power and prestige. Zhao Jin's name might be resounding, but when you added it up, it had only been a year. By comparison, everyone feared offending the Feng family more; their feelings toward Zhao Jin were more a matter of worry.

Besides, local bullies only swaggered on their home turf—once they left their own territory, they were nothing. That Zhao Jin might have a mighty reputation, but in the Pi Prefecture area, hadn't he still fled for his life? If everyone was just careful, surely he wouldn't dare come here.

That Master Li of the Feng family had long ago promised that he would one day lead everyone to strike into Xu Prefecture, kill Zhao Jin, and divide up his family's property. Xu Prefecture was a poor, bitter place—when you reckoned it up, only that distillery was worth anything. The liquor business at Yutou Town by Luoma Lake was visibly booming for all to see. If they could seize that distillery, it would be an enormous source of wealth.

Considering the Feng family's prestige, and coveting the distillery's fat profits, while everyone remained cautiously on guard, each of their hearts was also burning with eagerness, waiting to get rich alongside the Feng family.

When Zhao Jin retreated, he had received help from the Sun Family Trading Company outside Pi Prefecture's city walls. As soon as Zhao Jin left, everyone wanted to carve up the Sun Company. An outsider doing business in Pi Prefecture—had they eaten a bear's heart and a leopard's gall, daring to help an outsider, and one who was the Feng family's enemy at that?

Just as everyone was rubbing their hands, eager to make a move, the Sun Family Trading Company actually hired Pi Prefecture's government troops as guards. What's more, runners from the yamen frequently came by to look around, and their attitude was exceedingly polite. Only after some inquiries did they learn that the trading company's backer was not only Zhao Jin, but also unexpectedly a censor from the capital. Once that card was shown, officials like the Prefect and the Battalion Commander were all eager to curry favor.

With that level of involvement, no one dared to make a rash move. They could only stay at home, carefully on guard, and then look forward to the day they would strike into Xu Prefecture.

Local natives and outsiders always looked at each other with disdain, but there were only a few such cases around—the Lai family, near Suining County, was one.

Those familiar with the channels knew that the Lai brothers were hereditary bondservants of the Feng family, stationed here to hold the gateway for Huai salt entering Fengyang. Although they were manor heads in name, they actually did the work of patrol inspectors and salt smugglers, and they prospered greatly.

In just a few years since arriving, they had already built a huge manor estate, with over a hundred stout men at their command and more than thirty mounted riders, running roughshod over the entire area.

"A mere servant of the Feng family, yet here he counts as a prominent household," everyone remarked, half sourly, half enviously.

The Lai Family Manor was not particularly large. The able-bodied men they kept were all for the work of moving and inspecting salt; few were actual farmers. During the first month, even salt smugglers and salt traders had to celebrate the New Year, so the Lai household was also at leisure.

Because they were likewise subordinates of the Feng family, Li Dajin had specifically reminded this Lai family to be careful before he left. As a result, the Lai family did not celebrate with great fanfare during the New Year, keeping a low profile all the way until the sixteenth day of the first month.

After holding back for over half a month, they truly couldn't stand it anymore. On the seventeenth day of the first month, the Lai household slaughtered pigs and sheep and bought over a dozen jars of fine wine, preparing to have a proper rowdy celebration.

"Scaring ourselves for nothing—we didn't even have a good New Year. That Zhao Jin's prestige only counts in Xu Prefecture. Our Feng family is a major power in the entire Jiangbei region. I'd say Zhao Jin is probably even more afraid than we are, too scared to leave his house!" Lai the Elder said in a gruff voice.

Two tables were set up inside the house—the two Lai brothers by blood, four cousins, and a group of headmen all gathered there drinking and eating meat. Outside, every area was also fully spread with wine and meat.

Lai the Second gulped down a big mouthful and shouted, "After drinking that Xu Prefecture liquor, the stuff here just tastes wrong. Once we follow Master Li and strike into Xu Prefecture and divide up that distillery, we'll drink this fine wine every day!"

A roar of approval rose from below. Everyone loved the mellow intensity of Hanjing Famous Liquor. Someone nearby said in a dazed, muddled voice, "Listening to the folks from Xu Prefecture, this Zhao Jin is truly something else—killed over a hundred men by himself, led over a thousand men to kill a hundred thousand roving bandits…"

Beside him, a cousin of the Lai family slammed his bowl down hard and said with a thick tongue, "Bullshit. We've all trained in martial arts—one man beating three is still…"

Before he could finish, they suddenly heard a clamor and uproar from the courtyard, even screams. Someone who had drunk too much couldn't help but curse, "Drink a few catties of cat piss and you want to start a fight—has someone been beaten bloody again!"

"Master! The Xu Prefecture men are attacking!" someone screamed from outside. This time, everyone sobered up.

Almost simultaneously, the door was kicked open. Several masked men wielding blades, axes, and spears charged in with battle cries. Lai the Elder, seated at the head table, had already drunk quite a bit; his eyes widened.

He could already see a large number of unfamiliar men flooding into the courtyard, every one of them looking utterly vicious. What was going on? In broad daylight, bandits dared to come and attack? Did they not know the Lai family had been sent by the Feng family?

Fortunately, after these past few years of fighting and killing, he knew what to do even when drunk. With a shout, he violently flipped the table in front of him, blocking the few men charging straight in, and scrambled on all fours toward the back door. Lai the Elder could already hear his younger brother's agonized screams; he felt the hot blood of some cousin splatter onto him, but he could care about nothing else—he just fled desperately, using both hands and feet.

That group was charging in with battle cries; the rear courtyard probably hadn't been reached yet. There was a small gate by the firewood shed—he could just climb over and escape.

In moments of crisis, a person's potential is often unleashed. This Lai the Elder actually managed to shake off the pursuit behind him and exit the manor through the firewood shed's small gate.

The moment he was out of the manor, just as he breathed a sigh of relief, Lai the Elder stood frozen. Over a dozen large men were chatting idly, and several corpses lay before them. It seemed more than one person had tried to escape through the firewood shed.

"This man is Lai the Elder!" He heard someone say. One of the large men flipped his hand, grabbed a pole blade, and walked toward Lai the Elder.

Seeing this scene, Lai the Elder felt he could run no more. Only when the blade-wielding man was a few steps away did he react, shouting hoarsely, "I am from the Feng family…"

"Master Jin sends his regards!" The large man laughed once, raised the pole blade, and hacked down.

Lai Family Manor suddenly suffered a fire on the seventeenth day of the first month. There were no other dwellings around the manor, so no one tended to the blaze when it ignited. It was only discovered several days later; the corpses inside the manor were all burned beyond recognition.

Compared to the Lai brothers, who looked down on Zhao Jin, Pi Dazui of Pi Prefecture was all too clear on Zhao Jin's methods. Ever since Zhao Jin returned to Xu Prefecture, Pi Dazui had already changed his place of residence three times, and even many of the men under him had scattered and fled.

The Lai brothers and the Cheng family were propertied local strongmen—they had their own manors, local connections, or outside backers. Pi Dazui, on the other hand, made his living in the outlaw world of the greenwood, usually leading his men in capital-less business or selling their lives for money. Now that he had offended Zhao Jin, and the Feng family showed no intention of extending a hand, he suddenly found himself with nowhere to go.

Pi Dazui had not had a good New Year either. The things the Feng family had promised never materialized; he spent every day in mortal fear and anxiety. His men had begun to desert, and his capital was dwindling.

Just when Pi Dazui was at a complete loss, the Cheng family reached out to him, inviting him to come and regroup. The person the Cheng family sent made it very clear: the Cheng family was also worried about the threat from Zhao Jin's side. If they joined forces, their strength would be greater, and self-preservation would be more assured. When the Feng family eventually moved against Zhao Jin, being combined would also let them claim a larger share and earn more than others.

Pi Dazui, who was hesitating and had no plan, was naturally willing to go. Because of this, even several of the men who had secretly run off came back.

The Cheng family proved true to their word. When Pi Dazui arrived with his forty-odd men, they immediately vacated a large compound on the manor. The men had wine and meat, the horses had fodder—everyone was hosted most satisfactorily. Only the Cheng family's head, Cheng Qiangqi, was said to have business in Pi Prefecture city and could not come out to entertain them.

When under someone's roof, one must bow one's head. Pi Dazui understood this principle well. From now on, he would inevitably have to call Cheng Qiangqi "Master Cheng" or "Big Brother Cheng"—he had nothing to say about that.

Because of that one risk taken, they hadn't had a proper New Year at all. Now that they were settled at Cheng Family Manor, with wine and meat before him, Pi Dazui drank a few extra cups. He had no idea where the Cheng family had gotten so much liquor—every single man could actually drink his fill. By the time he realized this, Pi Dazui was already dead drunk, groggy and unable to resist the drowsiness.

That peaceful sleep did not last long. Pi Dazui was jolted awake by a basin of cold water. When he opened his eyes, he found himself bound up tight, still in that same courtyard, surrounded by bright torchlight. Pi Dazui also saw that all his men had been tied up as well.

Cheng Qiangqi, who was supposedly in Pi Prefecture city on business, was right there in the courtyard. The Cheng family's able-bodied men and a group of unfamiliar men were watching them coldly.

"Cheng Qiangqi, you bastard, may lightning strike you dead…" By now, Pi Dazui understood what had happened, and he began cursing furiously.