Chapter 35: Grasping at Straws

  This Sun family's eldest son is quite miserable, Yang Meng thought to himself that his own methods didn't have such great intimidating power, smelling the burnt smell in the room, he felt like he had created a malevolent spirit.

  The remaining five brothers of the Sun family were left to deal with it, Qin Zixi recorded that the evil deeds of Yiliang Dianshi had been exposed by the Sun family, and even the eldest brother was like that but still didn't die. None of these five brothers wanted to try, so they just gave up.

  The Sun family's floating wealth is not small, with gold and silver alone worth around 40,000 to 50,000 taels. The wing room also has a lot of goods piled up, and the stables in the backyard have 40 to 50 Dian horses. These can be considered unexpected gains!

  Yang Meng had originally wanted to return the house to its rightful owner, but when he asked around, it turned out that there was no one left - the entire family and their servants had all been buried in the backyard.

  "Get some people from the other side of Tianzhuang to come over, move away all the valuable and worthless things here, find a good spot to bury the family in the backyard, invite some Taoist priests and Buddhist monks to hold a ritual to help them ascend."

  Yang Meng believed in ghosts and gods, without them he couldn't be reborn, since there was no master of the house, things couldn't be left to the government, this mansion couldn't be moved away, if it could be moved away, Yang Meng wouldn't have stayed behind.

  Bring the Sun brothers back to Tianzhuang and lock them up, Yang Meng led the knife hands, straight to Ma Street's Ma Quezi's house, tomorrow this matter will be settled, overthrowing Yiliang Dianshi, and there are still things to do!

  Ma Quezi was even more incompetent, and before Qin Zixi made a move, he had already confessed everything, betraying his master completely, including the location where Dian Shi hid his silver.

  Ma Quezi is not an outsider, but a close relative of the Yiliang Dianshi family. He knows many secrets and his family has more wealth, including tens of thousands of taels of gold and silver, as well as 500 dan of top-grade Yun soil, which is worth 50,000 jin!

  A knife-sharpener's monthly salary of five taels of silver is already a joyful windfall, but this excellent assistant, just one opium deal alone is worth 200,000 to 300,000 taels of silver, the gap between rich and poor is quite enormous.

  According to Ma Quezi, this official also made a fortune in recent years. The opium business was his way of making a fortune. In Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan and Guizhou, many of the opium goods were from this official.

  This time the deal was not a loss, Yiliang Dianshi had hidden quite a bit of gold and silver there. After overthrowing him, it wouldn't be cheap for the imperial court either, so it's better to get it into one's own hands.

  If he just gives Jiang Yuanguo a little more benefits, he probably won't bother with this matter anymore.

  Besides, if he knew that his family had such a large business, he would have taken action long ago, and there wouldn't be any chance for himself to get rich.

  With the evidence against Qin Zikui in hand, Yang Meng decided to go find Jiang Yuangji that night and have Yi Liangdian Shi arrested and thrown into prison the next day. Then, at dusk, he would launch a surprise attack on the Zhou family's estate, taking advantage of Jiang Yuangji's confusion to get things done.

  At dawn, Yang Meng quietly broke into the Yiliang County government office and had just arrived at Jiang Yuange's residence when he heard something that shouldn't be heard. This Jiang Yuange was in high spirits and even started playing with firecrackers.

  However, Jiang Yuanyi's physical condition is obviously not good, and he will be exhausted in a short while. With this physical condition, what else can he do?

  Coughing, startled Jiang Yuangui, Yang Meng quietly waited in the yard, after a while, Jiang Yuangui walked out refreshed and clear-headed, Yang Meng didn't waste words, directly handing over the indictment.

  "What a talented killer! You've done all sorts of evil deeds, you really deserve to die!"

  Dianshi was a big shot, and he could be considered as a model of evil deeds. His evil actions were all participated by the Sun brothers and Maquezi. These things, one after another, really shocked Jiang Yuangui.

  He himself is not a good official, but as a result of comparing with his own family's history, he has become a fair and just elder.

  "What to do? Should we report to the prefecture or capture that beast first?"

  Yang Meng said this to boost Jiang Yuanguo's morale. Reporting it up would inevitably lead to complications, so it's better to act first and report later. Once the case is settled, no one can intervene.

  "Capture him first! Those runners in the yamen are mostly not loyal people, Third Master, you see..."

  Jiang Yuangui wanted to directly release the prisoners, but there were not enough people. In Yiliang, from top to bottom, except for his attendants, it was hard to tell who wasn't a prisoner.

  "I'll go and do it, you just focus on reviewing the case!"

  Yang Mengba cannot do this, listening to Ma Quezi's meaning, there is no shortage of floating wealth in the Dianshi family, it's just right to take advantage of it and seize it, killing two birds with one stone.

  Dian Shi's residence was most familiar to Qin Zi Xi. Yang Meng and his group arrived at the gate of Dian Shi's house when the sky was just getting bright.

  "Go knock on the door and tell him Third Master is looking for him with something urgent!"

  The name of the tyrant of Yunnan is indeed useful. Before long, Yi Liang Dian Shi, who was not dressed properly, arrived at the door.

  "His Excellency has arrived, sorry for not welcoming him from afar!"

  "No nonsense, I have something to discuss with you, let's go inside and talk!"

  Yang Meng put on a fierce appearance, and this Yi Liang Dian Shi, instead became at ease, respectfully leading Yang Meng to the main hall.

  "What brings Third Master to look for me?"

  This big shot is still dreaming, thinking that since he saved Yang Meng last time, he's here to repay the favor. If he can climb up the Yang family tree, his prospects for promotion may be slim, but making a fortune is within reach.

  The Yang family horse team is the largest in Yunnan, but they only do their own business and don't take on other people's goods. If they can also transport some opium for themselves, then the Yang family will be something else - within three to five years, they'll surpass him.

  "You're going to pay with your life!"

  This shocked Tian Shi Da Jun silly, before he could react, Yang Meng rushed up and knocked him down.

  "Qin Zixi, take action! Don't leave any external injuries, let him say what he needs to say clearly!"

  This Qin Zixi is absolutely a personal talent. On the way, Yang Meng asked him, where did he learn that skill of forcing confession? The answer from this Qin Xiucan also surprised people.

  Since his beloved wife was humiliated by Dian Shi, and he himself was brutally beaten by Dian Shi's subordinates, Qin Zixi's mentality changed. In these years, he has not studied anything else, but the cruel punishments of past dynasties, which is the direction of his hard work.

  The dazed and confused Yiliang Dianshi was taken to the inner house, while Yang Meng sat in the main hall, waiting for news. People from Tianzhuang had already arrived and rented a house nearby, but the things in this house couldn't be taken out of the city yet, at least not until the rumors died down.

  Inhuman wails kept coming from the inner room, Yang Meng waited for a whole hour before Qin Zixi came out with tears all over his face, and the white paper in his hand was written densely.

  "Get the people of Tianzhuang Village to hurry up and work, whoever is slacking off will be killed directly! Can't he just die?"

  Looking at the history of Yiliang which had a beginning but no end, Yang Meng was afraid that Qin Zihui would be furious and in a moment of anger he killed him.

  "It won't kill you in three to five days, but it's not going to make you feel good either!"

  Qin Zixi's voice was hoarse, but it had cleared up a lot and didn't seem as depressed as it did yesterday.

  "Go! I'm leaving this matter in your hands, make sure you do it well!"

  As for looting, Yang Meng was very strict and absolutely did not allow any private appropriation. I can give you things, but you cannot take them yourself. You still have a long way to go on your own path, and this rule must not be broken.

  "I finally understand!"

  Qin Ziqi said this while half-kneeling, it seems she really wants to be a slave.

  "Never mind! Maybe I'll find a good girl next time. One can't live their whole life in hatred."

  Qin Zikui was tapped, Yang Meng and ten knife hands, pressed down on Yiliang Dianshi, and rushed straight to the county government.

  This guy has already been tortured by Qin Zikui for more than half his life, and it's a big deal to get him to confess quickly. If this guy can't hold on and dies in his own hands, he'll be charged with the crime of killing an official, and he'll have to take responsibility himself.

  At the county government office, Yi Liang Dian Shi, who had been tortured by Qin Zi Xi and was now in a daze, confessed to all his past misdeeds like a bamboo tube spilling out beans, signing and affixing his seal with utmost ease.

  This made Jiang Yuangui overjoyed and beyond his expectations. He had thought that there would still be some twists and turns, but unexpectedly things went so smoothly.

  While feeling happy, Jiang Yuangui also dreaded Yang Meng. The means of this Yunnan-based tyrant were extraordinary! What kind of person was Dian Shi? As a colleague, Jiang Yuangui was very clear that he had been subdued by Yang Sanlang's hands, and if it were himself, he would be even more miserable.

  The news of the arrest of Governor Dian Shi spread quickly, and as a protective umbrella, this person also had some skills. Many officials from Yiliang came to plead for him, thinking that it was County Magistrate Jiang Yuanji who wanted to squeeze out Governor Dian Shi, without realizing what crime he had committed.

  In the crowd, Yang Meng saw a person who was his main target, Yi Liang Zhou Shi Qing. This man, whom he had only seen in rough pictures before, now looked like a fifty or sixty-year-old with quite a spirited head.

  "You must be Old Man Zhou!"

  Yang Meng didn't avoid him either, and walked straight over, calling out a greeting.

  "Yang San Ye, I wouldn't dare call you 'old master' in your presence! What can I do for you..."

  He inadvertently offended Yang Sanlang, and Zhou Shiqing secretly cursed his bad luck! He had seen Yang Meng's portrait before, this infamous Yunnan tyrant was not someone to be trifled with. If he said something wrong, they would end up fighting, and the unlucky one would still be himself.

  Zhou Shiqing was also quite confident in his own abilities, and the tyrant of Yunnan Province, who was a giant in others' eyes, was just a silly little kid to him.

  "This is a good opportunity to get rid of him, selling opium and murdering good families, it's been exposed at the governor's office, now they've sent down an official document to deal with him, I heard about it and came over to see the commotion."

  Yang Meng spoke with Zhou Da Shu Kou, also with a purpose. As long as he agreed, he would be able to drive him away later.

  "Selling opium and murdering good families, I never thought he was a beast in disguise. I've made a mistake by coming here, Third Master, let's part ways from now on!"

  As soon as he heard about the opium trade, Zhou Shiqing's face changed. The new governor He Changling strongly advocated for the prohibition of opium, it seems that Yunnan is going to be rectified, so I'd better go back and prepare!

  That bastard Yi Liang Dian Shi, I had warned him to be careful before, but he still messed up. And now I've got 500 dan of good cloud soil stuck with him too! This time it's all because of him that I'm dragged down as well.

  Looking at Zhou Shiqing who was leaving in a hurry, Yang Meng's smile on his face was very bright. He came to Jiang Yuangui's side and whispered:

  "Mr. Jiang, I just spoke with Old Master Zhou from Yiliang about this matter, and unexpectedly he said that he wants to return to his hometown. He asked if the Yang family can take over his estate, what do you think?"

  This is Yang Meng's foreshadowing, I didn't expect Zhou Shiqing to really come, now there is a reason.

  "Hum! Return to the countryside? I think you want to escape, don't you! Most of Yiliang's opium comes from the Zhou family. He is selling his estate because he fears being investigated by the authorities. However, the Zhou family's good land is not bad, and the yield is among the best in Yiliang. This deal is a good one. From now on, we can also get closer to each other. Third Master, hurry up and tell Yang Lao Ye this good news!"

  What Yang Meng said, Jiang Yuange had not the slightest doubt. The source of opium in Yiliang was clear to him, but Zhou's family had many good fields and he needed Zhou's support to stand firm in Yiliang. Now that he had relied on the Yang family, the Zhou family didn't matter anymore.

  Furthermore, Zhou Shiqing has always been close to Dian Shi, and Yi Liang's power was divided in half by Dian Shi, which is not unrelated to Zhou Shiqing. Now that he wants to leave, Jiang Yuanki is naturally delighted.

  "Then I'll head back to Kunming first!"

  Yang Meng didn't say much, slightly clenched his fist and walked out of the county government office.

  "Ride back quickly and have our brothers prepare, we'll launch a surprise attack on the Zhou family today!"

  Now is just the right time, Yiliang is about a hundred miles away from Kunming, and the knife-wielding men are coming from Kunming, perfect!