Chapter 35: The Zhen Family Yields

  County government office, backyard.

  Wang Lei and Guo Jia sat opposite each other, with Du Qi sitting beside them.

  At this time, Du Ji was checking the list of gifts sent by the wealthy and powerful families of Wuji County. After Guo Jia spread the news that the Black Mountain bandits were about to attack Wuji County again, the wealthy and powerful families of Wuji County were frightened, and they came to the county government office one after another to visit Wang Lei, giving him money, armor, weapons, etc., and asking if Wang Lei could stop the Black Mountain bandits.

  For the merchants of Wuji County, Wang Lei's value lies in his ability to block a single attack by the Hei Shan bandits. Having succeeded once, the merchants would rather spend money to let Wang Lei continue to resist and become their first line of defense.

  Even if Wang Lei didn't block it, the merchants would only lose a little money. Or even if the news was false, the money and food that merchant Mei Ken gave to Wang Lei could still form a good relationship with Wang Lei.

  A hundred benefits and no harm, businessmen will naturally not give up the opportunity.

  After Du Kuiqing finished checking, he had a joyful expression and excitedly said: "Sir, this time Feng Xiang spread the news, the effect is very good. I calculated that we gained nearly 10,000 dan of grain, nearly one million coins, as well as clothes, armor, and weapons, enough to equip an army of 1,000 people. Unfortunately, for now they are all infantry, and there isn't any equipment for cavalry."

  Wang Lei smiled and said, "Brother Bo Hou, this is just the beginning, don't worry, give me half a year's time, I will definitely be able to build a strong team, that's when we can truly establish ourselves."

  "What is currently lacking is time, we need enough time to grow ourselves."

  Wang Lei suddenly changed his tone and said, "Unfortunately, Zhen Yan hasn't arrived yet."

  Guo Jia didn't take it to heart and smiled lightly: "If Zhen Yan comes, Your Excellency can gain a large sum of money and grain. But if Zhen Yan doesn't come, we still have a plan to deal with it. Has Your Excellency gone soft?"

  Wang Lei smiled lightly and shook his head, saying calmly: "If the Zhen family does not take the initiative to surrender, it will be self-destruction, and I won't blame myself. If I want to control Mouji County, there can't be anyone who doesn't obey me. As the first merchant in Mouji County, the Zhen family has assets of over 100 million, with countless wealth, and I believe Zhang Yan is very willing to cooperate with us. In front of interests, even enemies can become friends."

  Kuo Chia smiled, his eyes full of expectation.

  Du Kui disagreed with Wang Yue and Guo Jia's plan, but the feeling of counting money until his hands cramped was quite good, so he acquiesced.

  "Adult!"

  Fu Bo walked in big strides and reported: "Reporting to Your Excellency, Zhen Yan has come to the door seeking an audience."

  "He's actually here!"

  Wang Lei's face broke into a smile as he instructed, "Please go to the living room, I'll be right there."

  After Fu Bo left, Wang Lei did not intend to move.

  Du Qi asked: "Zhen Yan has arrived, shouldn't you go out to greet him?"

  Wang Lei's mouth curled up with a hint of a smile, and he said slowly: "Let Zhen Yan come to the door, grind his patience, and let him know the dignity of both sides. If I don't make him suffer a little, he will always think that I am an ignorant little kid."

  Guo Jia nodded, secretly nodding in his heart.

  Du Qixing said you are just a doll county lord, but your style of doing things and age are seriously inconsistent.

  In a twinkling of an eye, Wang Lei slowly walked towards the living room.

  Zhen Yan waited in the living room, initially thinking that Wang Lei would arrive immediately to see him. However, after waiting for a while and finding that Wang Lei had not arrived yet, he felt somewhat impatient. As the master of the Zhen family, with assets worth over 100 million, someone who could make the entire county of Wuji tremble with just a stomp of his foot, was now being made to wait here, his mood was unbearable. He first felt angry, but slowly, his heart turned icy cold.

  This county magistrate is really unbearable, with a thick skin and a black heart, skilled in suppressing people's means, and doesn't seem like an 18 or 19-year-old young man at all, giving Zhen Yan the feeling of being an old fox.

  After sitting quietly and thinking for a while, she put aside her disdain in her heart, and her mind gradually calmed down.

  The sound of footsteps came, and Wang Lei strode over.

  Wang Lei's face was filled with a warm smile, as if he had seen an old friend after many years. He said enthusiastically: "Master Zhen has come to visit, but I, the official, was delayed due to some personal matters, causing Master Zhen to wait for a long time. Sorry."

  Zhen Yan also smiled and replied: "Waiting for a while won't hurt."

  He smiled on his face, but secretly cursed the little fox in his heart.

  Your trick is too common, I used it years ago.

  The two sat down, and Wang Lei asked: "Master Zhen has come in person, what's the matter?"

  Zhen Yan took out a folded paper from his sleeve and respectfully handed it to Wang Lei, saying: "The Black Mountain bandits have declared that they will attack Wuji County, with great fanfare. As a member of Wuji County, the Zhen family has an unshirkable responsibility. The Zhen family is willing to provide 500,000 coins, 500 sets of armor, 500 steel knives, and 10,000 arrows, as well as a certain amount of grain."

  Wang Lei carefully sized him up and was shocked in his heart.

  This time, the Zhen family suffered a huge loss, giving him a great advantage. Wang Lei put away the white paper, with a grateful expression on his face, and smiled: "When will the master send it over?"

  Zhen Yan's face turned red with anger, this is unbelievable!

  However, Zhen Yan thought that the person in front of him was someone who would sell his face for money, so his anger dissipated, and he replied: "All the things will be delivered within half a month. The grain and money will be sent first, and the weapons and armor need to be purchased, so the time is slightly delayed."

  Wang Lei shouted in delight, praising: "The county of Wuji has a master like Zhen who is willing to serve the country and the people. I am delighted! Please rest assured, Master Zhen, that I will definitely train an invincible army within a short period of time and wipe out the Black Mountain bandits."

  "Wait..."

  Zhen Yan had just spoken when he immediately regretted it in his heart.

  Wang Lei smiled and asked: "Does Master Zhen not want to exterminate the Black Mountain bandits? Are you in contact with each other?"

  Zhen Yan hastily shook his head and said with a serious face: "Your Honor, the Zhen family and the Black Mountain bandits have absolutely no connection. I spoke out to stop you only because I hope that the county magistrate will carefully consider this matter, after all, the Black Mountain bandits are not something that can be dealt with in just one or two years."

  Wang Lei smiled and said: "Thank you for your concern, Master Zhen. I'm aware of it."

  Zhen Yan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, thinking it was a close call. He wasn't worried about Wang Wei's safety, but rather genuinely didn't want Wang Wei to send troops to attack the Black Mountain bandits. Although Zhen Yan smiled and spoke with Wang Wei, in his heart he wished for Wang Wei to die. What Zhen Yan was worried about was that when Wang Wei went to war, the amount of money and food needed would be enormous, and eventually they would come looking for the Zhen family again, and what he was worried about was the wealth of the Zhen family.

  As soon as Zhen Yan finished what he had to do, he stood up and bid farewell.

  Wang Lei saw Zhen Yan off and returned to the backyard with a smile. He showed the list sent by Zhen Yan to Guo Jia and Du Ji, who smiled and said: "Sir, with the money, food, and weapons sent by the Zhen family and Wuji County, we can make a big move within half a year and build our own strength."

  Wang Lei nodded and ordered, "The Zhen family has already surrendered, let's suppress the news that the Hei Shan bandits are about to attack Wu Ji County. It won't do us any good if it gets out."

  Kuo Chia nodded and replied: "Understood!"

  Then Guo Jia set out to deal with the scattered news.

  The government came out to clarify, and within a day, the news was completely controlled, and no one mentioned it again. Those with discerning minds carefully pondered and understood what had happened. After Zhen Yan received the news, he even let out a cold breath.

  It's obviously aimed at the Zhen family.

  The staff member's face was filled with joy, and he said: "Master of the house, this time the rumor is aimed at you. If you don't take the initiative to show weakness, I'm afraid the county magistrate will do something even more outrageous. This county magistrate is a ruthless person, we must be careful in dealing with him."

  Zhen Yan nodded and said, "I understand. From now on, I won't underestimate him again. The previous county magistrates were scholars who acted in a rigid and stubborn manner. Even if they were greedy for wealth, it was within our control. This county magistrate is not simple-minded and we can't be careless."