Chapter 34: Rumors Spread Like Wildfire

  After returning to the county government office, Guo Jia carried out the plan according to the previously agreed strategy.

  Wang Lei sent someone to invite the old soldier to the hall, inquired about the specific situation of the gentry and merchants in Wuji County, and then took Tian Wei to visit them one by one. Wang Lei personally visited them, giving enough face to the gentry and merchants. These people warmly received Wang Lei, and they all agreed to his request. After a round of visits, Wang Lei collected 1,000 stones of grain, tens of thousands of dollars, and a small amount of military equipment.

  For a county as large as Nuo Da, it was just a drop in the bucket, but it also quenched his thirst. Returning to the county government office, Wang Lei hadn't even had time to rest when Xiao Hao informed him that Lao Ye Zi had summoned him.

  Arriving at Lao Yezi's courtyard, Wang Lei directly sat down.

  "Going to Zhen's house for a banquet? How is it?"

  Wang Lei revealed what had happened at the Zhen family's place, saying viciously: "I had just taken office in Wuji County, and the Zhen family didn't take me seriously. In the end, it was because my power was insufficient. I have already discussed with Feng Xiao, preparing to suppress the Zhen family's arrogance."

  The old man nodded and said, "Lacking strength is not scary, what's scary is lacking the strong will to overcome thorns. The Zhen family doesn't give in, you take action to suppress them, this point you've done very well."

  "I understand!"

  Wang Lei chatted with Lao Yezi for a while before bidding farewell and leaving.

  The old man looked at Wang Lei's back as he walked away, opened his mouth, but the words that came to his lips were suppressed.

  ……

  The next day, at the tavern in the west of the city.

  In the hall, there were a lot of guests, people coming and going, bustling with excitement.

  In the corner of the hall, a middle-aged man wearing a coarse linen robe picked up a bowl of wine and drank it down. His eyes were dim, his face flushed with excitement, as he chatted with friends while drinking, their conversation eventually turning to the county government office.

  The man patted his chest and said loudly, "Brother, I got a message from the old uncle in our county government that the county magistrate has just caught two scouts of the Black Mountain bandits. After interrogation, it turned out that the Black Mountain bandits are eyeing us covetously again and are preparing to attack Wujixian County."

  "It's impossible, the Black Mountain bandits have just been repelled by the county magistrate, how can they come again."

  Another person shook his head in denial, disbelieving.

  "What did I deceive you for? Every time the Black Mountain Bandits come to Wuji County, they return with great gains. This time being defeated by Lord County Magistrate, the Black Mountain Bandits will definitely not be willing to admit defeat and will attack Wuji County again, which is normal."

  "It makes sense, Hei Shan Zei is extremely evil and won't give up."

  "We are just incidental victims; the main targets of the Black Mountain bandits are the wealthy and powerful families within the city."

  "In my opinion, the Zhen family is most likely to be implicated."

  "Every time the Black Mountain bandits come, it's always the Zhen family who pays to settle them down, that's for sure."

  Two people talked, and the surrounding villagers heard about it later and gradually joined in to discuss. As they say, three people make a tiger, and after a piece of news has been spread by countless people, it quickly changes into an impending fact. It involves the Black Mountain bandits, and the news spreads like a plague, with incredible speed.

  The news spread in Wuji County and caused panic.

  The common people all hid in their homes, and the gentry of Wuji County were even more sensitive, with successive runners inquiring about news, discovering that the county government had indeed captured several scouts from the Black Mountain bandits, becoming even more tense.

  The mountain bandits have arrived, who is most worried? Undoubtedly it's the rural gentry.

  The Zhen family also received the news.

  In the study, Zhen Yi and his staff sat opposite each other.

  Zhen Yan's expression was worried, and he said: "The Black Mountain bandits are about to attack, what does sir think?"

  "It seems true and false, hard to distinguish."

  Zhen Yan furrowed his brow and asked: "What does it mean?"

  The staff explained: "The Hei Shan bandits besieged Wu Ji County yesterday, although they were blocked by the county magistrate, but after careful consideration, it can be found that the Hei Shan bandits could actually attack the county city, but for some reason they withdrew. The reason is not clear to anyone, but the Hei Shan bandits suddenly withdrew and may suddenly come back. However, after the Hei Shan bandits suddenly withdrew, it is also possible that they encountered important things and will not come again in a short time. It is precisely because of this that it is difficult to distinguish."

  Zhen Yan took a deep breath and expressed his own views, "Yesterday, I invited Wang Lei to dinner, Wang Lei asked for the support of the Zhen family, I rejected Wang Lei's request. I'm worried that the news might be an action by the county magistrate against the Zhen family. Such things have happened before."

  The staff member sighed lightly: "Master, the people do not fight with officials. You and the county magistrate are arguing, which is not good in itself. Especially since you dug a corner of the county magistrate's wall, isn't this deliberately provoking the county magistrate?"

  Zhen Yan hummed and said, "Wang Lei's heart is too big and his face is too thick. He opens his mouth and wants tens of thousands of dollars, thousands of stones of grain, and hundreds of sets of steel knives. This is completely a lion's big open mouth. Otherwise, how could I have stimulated him?"

  The staff thought for a moment and said: "Suppose the news of Heishan bandits attacking the city is spread by the county order, what does the master plan to do?"

  "Exposed!"

  Zhen Yan said without hesitation.

  The staff shook his head and said, "Master, this is pushing the Zhen family to the brink of disaster!"

  "Alarming words!"

  The staff officer chuckled twice and said, "The county magistrate has just taken office and temporarily doesn't have the power, but after all, he is the head of a county. If the county magistrate occasionally investigates the Zhen family, checks their goods, it's easy to create some trouble for them. Moreover, the county magistrate can use various things to hold back the Zhen family, creating problems for them. In short, you and the county magistrate falling out will only make the other businessmen in Wujixian secretly excited, letting the fisherman gain benefits."

  He paused, and the staff continued: "Suppose the news of Heishan thieves attacking the city was spread by the county magistrate. The intention of the county magistrate is to force the Zhens to surrender, as well as to let other businessmen contribute money and materials. If you expose it, you will push the county magistrate into a dead end. If Wang Lei really cooperates with Heishan, and they respond from inside and outside, what do you plan to do?"

  "Inside and outside cooperate? Impossible."

  Zhen Yan swallowed her saliva, worried about this situation.

  The staff member continued: "The master of the house and the county magistrate had a brief encounter. What kind of person do you think he is?"

  "Greedy and insatiable, thick-faced and black-hearted, utterly shameless."

  The staff continued: "That's right, at a young age, the future is unpredictable. An official like Wang Lei has no scruples and will resort to tricks. It's not wise for you to be on bad terms with him. As the saying goes, 'it's better to offend a gentleman than a petty person.' A gentleman is bound by rules and regulations, but a petty person is hard to deal with. Master, please forgive me for speaking bluntly, I implore you to put aside your disdain for County Magistrate Wang's youth and treat him as a cunning old fox deserves. Without any condescending thoughts, Master should know what to do."

  One sentence from the staff member hit Zhen Yan's weak point.

  In the end, Zhen Yan was because Wang Lei was young and vigorous, thinking that you were a person who hadn't even grown a hair yet, being arrogant in front of me, and still tender. If Wang Lei had been over thirty, Zhen Yan wouldn't have been like this now.

  Zhen Yan let out a soft sigh and said, "Alright, I'll personally go to their doorstep to apologize."

  The staff said: "For the host and for the Zhen family."

  Zhen Yan waved his hand to let the attendants go, and he sat alone in the study, his face changing with uncertainty. To make him bow his head to a young whippersnapper, Zhen Yan found it hard to accept.

  Things have come to this, he had no choice but to go.

  As his staff said, once things get out of control, the Zhen family will be in danger.