Chapter 39: The Rampant Human Trafficker (Seeking Recommendations)

  Yang Meng arrived at the Yiliang County government office, Jiang Yuange had already finished a day's work. Since the county clerk was imprisoned, there were fewer things to do in Yiliang County, and the people below him did their best to keep their positions.

  Not mentioning the filial piety he received in these few days, just the peaceful and serene Yiliang alone made Jiang Yuanguo so happy that he couldn't find his way north.

  Mr. Yang Sanlang has arrived, and Jiang Yuangui naturally went out to welcome him with inverted shoes. If it weren't for the third master of the Yang family, how could he control Yiliang? The case of the county historian will be reported up, and I'm sure Governor He Lao will take a different view, cutting off one of Yiliang's poisonous tumors, this achievement is absolutely not small.

  "Third Master, what's the matter that requires your presence?"

  Mr. Yang and the governor have some connections, Jiang Yuangui wants to further improve their relationship, if the Yang family can give a push, it will be perfect.

  "Zhou Shiqing's matter, that old thing, arrived in Kunming last night, stubbornly wanting to sell the land, the old master couldn't withstand his entanglement, so I was forced to bring the money and goods, rushing to Yiliang overnight. The Zhou family's affairs have been settled more or less, just waiting for Lord Jiang to use his seal."

  Yang Meng said this, and Jiang Yuangui's face was somewhat unbearable. The transfer of land property had always been the main owner going to the government office to ask for a seal, but he had never heard of the government office going to the main household to use a seal. This matter involved official authority and prestige, and if not handled properly, it would be easy to be criticized by others.

  Although I have something to ask of the Yang family, I am not a servant of the Yang family. If I were to be a servant, it would be a servant of the great Qing emperor.

  "This..."

  Directly refusing would only make Yang Sanlang act recklessly, and going to the Zhou family's estate is also impossible. If this matter gets out, Jiang Yuangui will become a laughing stock.

  "I knew you'd be troubled, sir. But that old scoundrel Zhou Shi Qing broke his leg last night and is now lying at home groaning in pain! If he came, I'm afraid he'd die on the way. However, since the land deed needs to be transferred, it won't do without him being present. So Yang San has come with a thick face, hoping that you'll take pity on Zhou Shi Qing's past position as an imperial official and make a trip to the Zhou family estate."

  This saying is quite right, this week the big pig, before didn't take himself seriously, now wants to roll away, still has to let himself come and serve, what a ruthless guy!

  "In that case, it's not impossible either. Zhou Shi Qing was originally an official, and even if he leaves his post, he will still take care of the gentry!"

  Taking advantage of the speaking time, I carefully weighed it and found that Yang Sanlang and I were putting on airs, which was making trouble out of nothing. It's better to take a step back and give him some face.

  "And then there's the matter of the transfer tax..."

  Yang Meng had two concerns: one was the financial loss, and the other was to make Jiang Yuanji believe that he was doing business with Zhou Shi Qing, whose family's assets were astonishing, and the more secretive the matter was handled, the better.

  "This one..."

  It's up to Yiliang himself, and this matter can be used to give Yang Sanlang some face. After all, Yiliang's tax revenue is sufficient, and he doesn't lack this bit of tax, these taxes are collected, and not many can fall into his own pocket.

  "Ten Thousand Hawks!"

  "Tax-free scholarship!"

  Yang Meng had people carry in a wooden box, while Jiang Yuangi brought along the book official and official seal, instructing the attendants to prepare the sedan chair.

  Yang Meng took the lead in leaving the county government office and returned to the Zhou family's estate, where he found nearby Baojia to serve as witnesses. He also wanted to see Zhou Shiqing's emotions, lest this old fellow suddenly change his mind and release his own pigeon.

  Zhou Shiqing knew that the situation was already over and didn't want to get entangled again. He still didn't know about the bloody scene that had occurred in the Zhou family's estate, but his inconvenient movements, pain, and loss made him not have much mood to care about these things. As long as his own family was safe, he didn't plan on taking many others with him.

  The old folks from the nearby village of Baojia, hearing that Zhou Daxiang was going to roll out, Kunming Yang Foye took over his business, all came with great enthusiasm to help.

  Zhou Shiqing occupied countless good fields, and the grain price in Yiliang was his call. The nearby Baojia didn't eat less secretly, while the opium in Zhou's mountain fields was digested locally, and the rural elders who were full of complaints didn't dare to offend Zhou Daxiang.

  When they arrived at the house where Zhou Shi Qing was temporarily staying, the joyful expressions of the village elders made Zhou Shi Qing even more depressed and his mood worsened. When Jiang Yuan Ji, the county magistrate, arrived, Old Zhou's mood sank to an all-time low.

  More than 20 years of hard work, and it's sold so cheaply. He really can't bear it! But the situation is stronger than people, not selling means there's no way out. As for Jiang Yuange, he didn't have a good impression either, with an angry look on his face, which naturally made Jiang Yuange unhappy.

  "Now that you've reached an agreement, the Yang family has produced the goods and you've verified them to be correct, this county is going to use its seal!"

  Zhou Shiqing didn't want to see Jiang Yuangui, and he wasn't in a good mood either. If it weren't for giving Yang Sanlang face, he would have had to let this Zhou's family property be snatched away.

  Zhou Shiqing's legs and feet were inconvenient, his mood was bad, and he didn't have the heart to check the goods. He silently nodded, which was considered as approval. Jiang Yuange and a group of village elders also had no mood to help Zhou Daxiang inspect the goods, so this box of lead blocks just passed by like that.

  Jiang Yuanyi used the seal, did a good job of preparing the documents for Yang Meng and Zhou Shiqing to sign and draw, this Zhou family estate is now officially changed hands. After finishing the formalities, Jiang Yuanyi didn't linger, took his men and returned to Yiliang County government in a huff.

  And a group of Ba Jia villagers were taken to the county town of Yiliang by Yang Meng's men to have dinner, while Zhou Shiqing, who was about to call for help, was kicked to the ground by Tang Mei.

  "Are you a Zhou? Do you remember Tang Gui from twenty years ago at Gongmu Village? And Mei Yi Lao Shi? Also, the women and children you slaughtered?"

  This kick and this voice of inquiry, like a thunderbolt, exploded in Zhou Shiqing's ears.

  "You're surnamed Yang, you're bullying me!"

  This week, Shi Qing also woke up, Yang Sanlang was not here to do business, he wanted to exterminate the entire Zhou family.

  "What's the use of being an official? You're still standing there like a fool, Zi Xi. Let Tang young lady see your skills."

  Qin Zixi listened to the instructions and slowly took out a set of golden needles. It was only after Yiliang Dianshi had tried his golden needles that he became known as "Straight Tube".

  "Haha! Old Master Zhou, where is the silver vault in your house? Zi Xi advises you to hurry up and say it's good. Yi Liang's Dian Shi Da Ren, who also comes from a military background like you, will confess everything within an hour. Although you were a general, you can't withstand the golden needle in Zi Xi's hand!"

  Ominous laughter, blatant threats, but Zhou Shiqing didn't take it seriously. Now that he knew he was doomed anyway, telling them where the silver vault was would only get him killed faster.

  "Kill if you want to kill, what's the point of talking nonsense! The remnants of Gongmu Village have colluded with the Yang family, and your Yang family is not far from being exterminated either! I'll wait for you on the road to the underworld!"

  The desperate situation also triggered Zhou Shiqing's innate ferocity, having been a prison guard and a deputy general, he had seen many life-and-death situations, whether to stretch his neck or not was just one knife, even if he became a ghost, he wouldn't give in to Yang the fool.

  "Zi Xi, it's up to you now!"

  Yang Meng didn't get angry or worried, pulled over two chairs and arranged them neatly, letting Tang You sit beside him, calmly waiting to see Qin Zixi's moves.

  Qin Zixi was not in a hurry, and cleared the table that had just witnessed the change of ownership of the Zhou family. He took out his tools and nailed down several leather straps on it, then with the help of Knife Hand, he leaned the table against the wall at an angle, while Zhou Shiqing was tied to the table.

  "Others use a desk to read, write and paint, but Zixi uses it to manipulate people. Old Master Zhou! This is your only chance, don't miss it! You're not a hero among men, nor can you be a ghostly warrior. Later on, you'll wish you were dead!"

  Determined Zhou Shiqing, who couldn't listen anymore, spat a mouthful of phlegm at Yang Meng, but it was caught halfway by Qin Zixi. "Master Zhou! Zixi has done his best to be kind and righteous, you're being unreasonable now, it's all said that one doesn't cry until they see the coffin, you're also muddled! What's the point of coming here!"

  Qin Zixi spoke in a soft and gentle voice, her hands not idle, two golden needles were stuck on Zhou Shiqing's cheek, Zhou Shiqing's mouth could no longer be closed, one by one, the golden needles coated with medicine slowly pierced into Zhou Shiqing's body.

  A blood-curdling scream, a heart-chilling scream, came out of Zhou Shiqing's mouth. His face turned red, white, purple and green, changing constantly, and his eyeballs were also completely covered with bloodshot eyes.

  Regardless of Zhou Shiqing's roar, Qin Zixi slowly fiddled with it for half a time, and finally pulled out the golden needle on his cheek.

  "There are two secret rooms behind the bookshelf in my house, one hiding knives and the other hiding silver. After the tiger cannon is lifted, there is a silver cellar underneath, and in the warehouse where millet is stored, there are two silver cellars under the plum blossom bricks. The second salt cellar has a silver cellar, right at the entrance, kill me! Kill me!"

  Qin Zixi finished writing, handed the paper to Yang Meng, and then covered Zhou Shiqing's mouth! What needed to be said had been said, and he also had to prevent him from biting his tongue to death.

  "Not bad! Don't do this kind of thing too much in the future. Same old saying: find a good girl later on!"

  He patted Qin Zixi's shoulder, and Yang Meng took Tang Mei away. The quiet torture he had just witnessed made his heart feel a little numb. This Qin Xiuzai was indeed abnormal! Extreme pain was the best key to extorting confessions.

  Arriving at Zhou Shi Qing's house, Yang Meng opened the first secret room, which was filled with small boxes. After checking a few, they were all filled with gold bricks. Opening the second secret room, Tang Mei Yi burst into tears. The room had over ten knives and swords, but what caught the eye most were the three long knives on the wall.

  "This is Gongmu Village's tribal knife, this was my father's dagger, this was Uncle Mei's dagger."

  With tears in his eyes, he stroked the three treasured swords of the Gongmu stockade. These were the unyielding backbone of our ancestors. Without these swords, the Lisu people would have been forced to leave their ancestral land. Twenty years ago, a defeat at the hands of the Qing army broke the backbone of the Gongmu stockade. With the treasured swords, the young men of the Gongmu stockade also regained their spirit.

  "Pick it up!"

  The pear blossoms were accompanied by rain, which was the most enticing thing. Yang Meng let out a sigh and quietly left the secret room.

  They checked all those silver vaults one by one and indeed found nothing. It seems Zhou Shiqing is worthless now.

  "Qin Yu'ying!"

  Still at beck and call, Qin Yu'ying appeared in front of Yang Meng.

  "Everyone has chosen their own, now ready to set off, remember to leave a way out!"

  Cen Yu Ying left, and Yang Meng also instructed the knife holders to load the bodies of Zhou's family guards onto the horse carriage.

  The next day, nearly a hundred horse-drawn carriages, carrying the wealth and people of the Zhou family, slowly set off on their journey home.

  Yang Meng led the way, starting to clear out the Zhou family's belongings. The Yang family home in Kunming was still their old nest, and gold and silver items were still being sent over. Some were left at the Yang family martial arts school, while some were sent to the cave on Xishan Mountain.

  Grain does not need to be moved, there are too many opium, they must be transported in batches, and the Zhou family's estate is their military camp for the recent period.

  The slaves of the Zhou family, as well as various tenant farmers and hired laborers, work hard together. Those who smoke opium and are lazy can just fend for themselves!

  Helping smokers quit, Yang Meng had this idea, but now he has the heart but not the strength, and most of those who smoke heavily are not poor men. Now thinking about them, Yang Meng doesn't have that thought or ability. If he wants to help, he should help those struggling on the brink of death, but they can't even eat their fill, who would go play with that thing?

  This time the surprise attack on the Zhou family, although it was a complete victory, still lost more than 30 people. This is with armor protection, if not, I don't know how many would have died!

  These thirty-odd people, except for over a dozen who died, all the rest are disabled. These people also need to be resettled.

  After arranging his own affairs, Yang Meng took the 5,000 silver taels and arrived at the Yiliang County government office again. There were many barren lands in Yiliang County, although they could no longer be cultivated, but building a horse farm or a mansion was still feasible.

  Yiliang is a good place, known as the granary of Dianzhong. It's not far from Kunming, with waterways and roads connecting to Kunming, making it an ideal base. Keeping people here won't draw attention, and if something happens at the Yang family in Kunming, rescue can arrive quickly from here.

  Jiang Yuangji naturally didn't have a problem, symbolically accepted some silver, and the wasteland around Yiliang County was easily transferred. Just as the two were handling the land deed, another big case broke out in Yiliang!

  Zhou Shiqing and his family were ambushed and killed by human traffickers near Yiliang. Jiang Yuanguo couldn't understand why the officials were so sure it was done by human traffickers, as this kind of case could lead to severe consequences if not handled properly, losing one's official position would be a minor matter, but if things went wrong, he himself might also be implicated and thrown into prison.

  "Quickly send someone to catch those rampant human traffickers! Don't let them get away!"