Chapter 33: Parting on Bad Terms

  Zhen Yan's face was stern, with a bitter expression. "Sir, the Zhen family is not a money-making machine, where can we get so much money? Not being in charge doesn't mean you don't know how expensive it is to live, the Zhen family has such a large household to support, and daily expenses are countless, this isn't a small amount."

  A sigh seemed to indicate that Zhen Yan was in a dilemma.

  Wang Lei snorted, saying in a deep voice: "The master of the Zhen family speaks lightly, but if today this official had not stopped Zhang Yan, the Black Mountain bandits would have entered the city and looted. According to Zhang Yan's demands, he wanted one million dollars, one thousand sets of armor, one thousand steel knives, and countless grains of food. Faced with the powerful Black Mountain bandits, the master would probably have had no choice but to hand them over in order to avoid even greater losses."

  "Sir, you are wrong," said Zhen Yi, shaking his head. "The Zhen family will definitely fight to the end."

  Wang Lei said: "The Hei Shan bandits are not the first to attack Wuji County, and the Zhen family can stand firm without falling. Every time they have to fight to the end, it's another scene." After a pause, Wang Lei continued: "The Hei Shan bandits will return empty-handed, and next time they will come again. When the Hei Shan bandits appear, I don't want to accept the support of the Zhen family master, but instead lead the troops to meet them head-on. The same thing can happen once, but not twice. Next time it must be a real battle with real swords."

  Zhen Yan's face changed, and his expression became solemn.

  Guo Jia took a sip of wine, let out a long sigh and advised: "Master Zhen, as the county magistrate of Wuji County, your responsibility is to protect the territory and maintain peace among the people. When something happens, it's only natural that you take the lead for the Zhen family, but in order for you to take on this task, the Zhen family must also provide support, allowing you to build a powerful force to defend Wuji County."

  One sings red face, one sings white face, making Zhen Ni's heart difficult to manage.

  Dian Wei interrupted loudly: "A real man, a big husband, is nagging and fawning, not like a man at all."

  Zhen Yan glanced at Dian Wei, a plan forming in his mind. He smiled and said: "Sir, this good fellow has just arrived in Wuji County today, he must be one of your men. If you are willing to lend him to the Zhen family to serve us, I will agree to all your demands."

  In an instant, Wang Lei's face changed color.

  Dian Wei reached back and felt for his large iron halberd, but saw Guo Jia lightly shaking his head.

  This is between Wang Lei and Zhen Yan, just sit back and watch.

  Of course, Guo Jia still had a thought in mind, wanting to see how Wang Lei would respond. Dian Wei was not a slave or vassal of Wang Lei's, but a free man; if Dian Wei was unwilling, Zhen Ji could not force him, nor could Wang Lei.

  Zhen Yan continued: "If the county magistrate agrees, I can immediately mobilize grain and fodder, weapons and so on."

  Wang Lei suddenly burst out laughing, his anger disappearing.

  At this moment, Wang Lei became even calmer and said in a low voice: "Master Zhen's suggestion is not bad. Let Dian Wei protect the Zhen family too. But there is one prerequisite condition: the Zhen family must fully support this official, and all the money, grain, and labor needed by the county government will be borne by the Zhen family. All the servants and guards recruited by the Zhen family will be transferred to the county government to accept Dian Wei's leadership. When protection is needed, Dian Wei will naturally lead people there."

  Dian Wei chuckled and thought to himself, "This remark is really vicious!"

  Guo Jia nodded his head in approval and also praised Wang Yue's response.

  In fact, Zhen Yan's anger had already surged. His good wine and food treatment of Wang Wei did not mean that the Zhen family was afraid of Wang Wei. Don't forget, the Zhen family is not only a powerful force in Wuji County, but also a powerful force in Zhongshan State.

  Zhen Yan thought for a moment and smiled: "County Magistrate Wang is joking!"

  In the end, Zhen Yan still chose to compromise. After all, Wang Xue was the county magistrate and the parent official of Wuji County. It is often said that the county official is not as good as the current manager, and the Zhen family also needs Wang Xue to guard Wuji County, they cannot afford to make the relationship tense, otherwise it would be the Zhen family who would suffer in the end.

  Wang Lei smiled and replied: "The master of Zhen's family is really good at joking, haha!"

  It's as if the unpleasantness from just now never happened.

  Wang Lei took a bite of the dish, stood up and said: "If Master Zhen is really unwilling to support, Wang Lei will not force it. The wine has been drunk and the meat has been eaten, Wang Lei bids farewell. I only hope that under Master Zhen's leadership, the Zhen family can flourish."

  He swung his sleeve and walked out.

  Guo Jia and Dian Wei followed closely behind him, striding outwards in big steps.

  Zhen Yan sat in the hall with a gloomy face.

  This newly appointed county magistrate is too arrogant, his actions are infuriating.

  Seeing Wang Lei, Dian Wei and Guo Jia leave without hesitation, Zhen Yan hesitated, but after Wang Lei and others left, he still did not come forward to persuade them. He wanted to get Wang Lei's support, but didn't want Wang Lei to be arrogant, so he prepared to suppress Wang Lei's arrogance, letting Wang Lei know who was the real boss.

  Wang Lei and his party left Zhen's house and took a horse-drawn carriage back.

  In the carriage, Wang Lei looked at Guo Jia and said slowly: "Feng Xiao, it seems that our weight is not enough. Otherwise, how could a small Zhen Yan refuse our request?"

  "Sir, without food and weapons support, we are indeed in a difficult situation."

  Wang Lei said: "Even without the Zhen family, I can still persist."

  Guo Jia smiled wryly and said, "Let's not talk about distant things, just the imminent ones. The 300 guards of the Zhen family belong to us, but we have no food, how can we sustain ourselves?"

  Wang Lei thought for a moment, then said with a hum: "I don't believe that a living person can still be suffocated to death. Zhen Yan is arrogant, I must make Zhen Yan come to me himself. After returning to the county government, I will find the old soldiers of the county government and confirm the major merchants of Wuji County. With my identity as the county magistrate, I will personally visit them and ask for their support in terms of grain, money, and other resources. It shouldn't be difficult to solve the current problems first, and then deal with Zhen Yan. I believe that more than one person wants to see the fall of the Zhen family."

  Guo Jia smiled lightly and said, "It's actually not difficult to make Zhen Yi come on his own initiative."

  "Hurry up and say it."

  Wang Lei's eyes lit up, full of expectation.

  He was the county magistrate of Wuji County, but he was looked down upon by Zhen Yi, and he was quite unhappy in his heart.

  Guo Jia slowly spoke, and Wang Lei listened to the end, then hesitantly said: "Feng Xiao, your plan is good, but what if Zhen Yan doesn't play by the rules again? After all, we've already experienced his style once, and it's not pleasant to go through it again."

  Guo Jia's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he said in a low voice: "If Zhen Yan doesn't cooperate, the adults have another trump card in their hands. They will adopt the strategy of plotting against the tiger to take its skin, thoroughly taking down the Zhen family. A merchant's household is not worth worrying about."

  Wang Lei's eyes widened in astonishment, with an incredulous look in his eyes.

  He obviously understood the meaning of plotting against someone's life.

  Guo Jia took a deep breath and said calmly, "The specific decision is entirely up to the lord's thoughts. I am just an advisor by the lord's side, I can only provide strategies for the lord, whether or not to adopt them depends on the lord's courage."

  He seemed calm and composed on the surface, but in reality he was also quite anxious.

  At least, Guo Jia hoped to meet someone who could get things done.

  Wang Lei didn't hesitate at all, saying: "I'm not a good person, nor am I law-abiding. If there's a good plan, why not adopt it? We're struggling outside, if we don't use some tricks and strategies, we might as well go home and have kids early. We've just arrived in Wujixian County, unfamiliar with the local situation and lacking prestige, many people are not convinced. Taking down the Zhen family is the best way to establish our authority, I hope the Zhen family won't disappoint me."

  "It's done!"

  A sharp and decisive voice came from inside the carriage.

  PS: A new day has begun, let's have some fresh flowers, hey! Asking for flowers.