Chapter 4 Confrontation

  Since the defeat of Dongtu Mute, people with foresight have seen that the business landscape in Zhangjiakou is about to be reshuffled. Zhai Zhe just didn't expect that the first one to make a move would be Fan Yongdou from Dashenggui. Fan Yongdou's ancestral home was also Jixiu, but he had been doing business in Zhangjiakou for several generations and had always been low-key and cautious with small capital operations. Although his generation had made some progress, his actual strength could only rank among the top five in this circle.

  "Some of the merchants in Zhangjiakou are waiting and seeing, while others are secretly contacting the Chahar tribes. Da Shengkui even dared to establish contact with Liaodong." Zhai Zhe pondered for a moment, turned his head and whispered a few words into Xiao Zhishen's ear, then went downstairs.

  Two groups of people were shouting at each other, their swords drawn and bows taut. One side was cursing while the other was pushing forward, but neither dared to actually take action. The management of each family's business was very strict, if a real fight broke out on the street, everyone would probably have to become bandits.

  Di Zhe squeezed into the crowd and shouted loudly: "Everyone, please put away your weapons first. This matter should be handled by the masters themselves. Absolutely do not use force." His loud voice actually calmed down the street a bit.

  Xiao Zhiyan went downstairs and entered a large hall, which was empty at the moment. The remnants of food were scattered all over the floor, and the tables and chairs were in disarray. A man lay on the ground with a patch of blood on his chest, groaning in pain. Xiao Zhiyan straightened up a stool and sat down beside him to take a closer look. Just then, the loud voice of Di Zhe was heard from outside the door. He wondered why Di Zhe would intervene in this matter, as it had nothing to do with the Di family, and Di Zhe wasn't someone who liked to get involved in other people's business.

  "When can you be in charge of things here?" Ge Feng obviously didn't take the young Di Zhe seriously.

  Di Zhe leaned in close to Ge Feng's ear and whispered: "Aren't you afraid that person will die?"

  "He can't be dead!" Ge Feng's face changed slightly as he said stubbornly.

  "I don't know where you hurt him, but if that person dies, not only will the Fan family not keep you, no one in this village will keep you either." Zhai Zhe sneered.

  This is the rule among the Zhangjiakou bosses, never allowing the employment of guards who collude with thieves and commit arson and murder. In doing business outside, it's all about friends; the Shanxi people can dominate Zhangjiakou because they stick together. Each boss secretly hinders others based on their abilities, but if the open rules are not followed and one offends everyone, then this business will come to an end.

  Ge Feng's expression was hesitant.

  Di Zhe continued in a low voice: "Don't the Lu family hate you? If I were a member of the Lu family, that person would not be alive."

  Ge Feng's face changed greatly, and he put away his long knife, saying: "This is the second master of the Wangshun Pavilion, Zhai family. In consideration of his face, I won't bother with you today. Hurry up and ask a doctor to treat that little guy."

  That yellow-faced guard was still shouting non-stop, but Ge Feng's side didn't say another word. Someone hastily went to find a doctor.

  Under the crowd's gaze, Di Zhe walked into the wine shop with a calm and unhurried pace, exchanging a glance with Xiao Zhiyan, knowing that the person on the ground was not in danger of losing his life.

  The yellow-faced man walked over and was about to help the person on the ground when Ge Feng stepped forward and blocked him, saying: "You can't move him, I injured him, and I'll ask a doctor to come and treat him."

  The several guards of the Lu family were furious, and they all drew their swords, but Ge Feng had been their leader for many years, doing things with a ruthless hand, and under his accumulated prestige, they did not dare to act rashly.

  Ge Feng's eyes locked onto Di Zhe and Xiao Zhongyan, and he sneered: "The second master of the Di family and Brother Xiao are both renowned figures in this gathering. If you don't trust me, I'll trouble the two of you to bear witness." He was now also secretly blaming himself for acting rashly, fearing that this might be a trap set by the Lu family. He tightly grasped Di Zhe's arm, refusing to let go. Although Di Zhe had prestige, his words carried more weight than those of these drunken guards.

  Di Zhe didn't take it kindly and said: "Ge Feng, you shouldn't be arrogant after hurting someone. This matter needs to be discussed and handled by all the masters together."

  With such a commotion, the sounds of fighting and shouting had already alarmed nearly half of the village. The location of the Lu family's business was at the center of the village, with guards and warehouses nearby. In less than half an hour, dozens of people rushed over, armed with knives, guns, clubs, and sticks.

  For many years, the Lu family's status in Zhangjiakou has been a transcendent existence among all business households. Due to their relationship with the Mongolians, every year the largest merchant caravan entering the grasslands was always led by the Lu family. In Zhangjiakou, being able to bring wealth to everyone meant having status. Now, someone from the Lu family has actually been stabbed with a knife - this is truly a great shame.

  Angry guards rushed into the tavern, wielding batons and beating people indiscriminately. Ge Feng and a dozen others were squeezed into a small corner, using tables and chairs to defend themselves. Fortunately, no one drew their knives.

  After a while, Di Zhe saw that the situation was getting more and more chaotic, so he jumped to a high place and shouted loudly: "The master is coming!"

  This shout was more effective than anything else, and everyone stopped what they were doing.

  Di Zhe cupped his hands and said, "I've already sent someone to invite Lu Dongjia and Fan Dongjia here. Everyone, please calm down! Don't let anyone really lose their life, this is a gathering, not the grasslands." As he spoke, the doctor who had been summoned finally arrived, trembling with fear, and was led in from the street. He opened the clothes of the injured man lying on the ground and applied some golden wound medicine to stop the bleeding from a knife wound below his left ribs.

  Ge Feng was disheveled, but the long knife in his hand was unsheathed, and there wasn't a hint of fear on his face. It's unclear whether it was due to his long-standing grudge against the Lu family or if that was just his nature.

  It's said that the master of the house is about to arrive, and the emotions of the guards have slightly calmed down, but the curses in their mouths can't stop for a moment.

  Less than a moment later, the shouting and cursing outside gradually subsided, followed by footsteps, several burly men escorted a pale-faced middle-aged fat man into the wine house. Zhai Zhe took one look and it was Lu Fuyou, the master of the Lu family.

  "Everyone, get out!" Lu Fuyou's face was as cold as frost. For more than a year now, he had been worried and troubled every day. The defeat of the Eastern Tartars had temporarily left him without support, and his attempts to lead two trade caravans to the grasslands had ended in failure, with all their goods being plundered by the Chahar people. The Chahar people were deeply estranged from the Han Chinese, unlike the Tumet people who had been living peacefully with them for decades. If they could obtain wealth through plunder, they would not use their own warhorses to trade. When everyone else was at a loss, Lu Fuyou could still catch his breath, but now it was clear that the Lu family's status was being challenged, and Da Shengwei's reckless consumption of goods from various families made him feel like he had a thorn in his back.

  Most of the merchants' attention is currently focused on the Chahar people, and Lu Fuyou did not expect that the real threat actually came from Dongxian's female Zhen. Da Shengkui's Fan Yongdou led the merchant team to return smoothly from Liaodong this month, with swift actions. Since the Longqing Treaty, this gathering has witnessed the rise and fall of many wealthy merchants, and this time it was Lu's turn.

  "Ge Feng, you're quite bold!" Lu Fuyou's tone was ominous.

  Lu Fuyou is still the president of the Shanxi Chamber of Commerce in Zhangjiakou, Ge Feng dares not to be presumptuous again, puts away his sword and says: "Master!"

  "I'm no longer your master, now it's you who killed me." Lu Fuyou's voice was flat and made people's hearts tremble.

  "This is my fault, but he also scolded me for a whole night, and everyone in this tavern can be a witness."

  Lu Fuyou pointed at the wounded man on the ground and said to his guard, "Take him back!" Then he glanced at Ge Feng and said, "If he dies, I will have your life in exchange."

  Ge Feng hastily stepped forward and intercepted, saying: "Please ask this doctor and the people present to be witnesses, his injury is not fatal." He was really anxious now, if the injured person was carried back to the Lu family and died, with the ability of the Lu family, he would not be able to stand in Zhangjiakou again. At that time, except for going out of the pass as a bandit, he had no other way to go.

  Narong Zhong looked up and glanced at Lu Fuyou. Under his intimidation, he stuttered and couldn't speak.

  "Take it away!" Lu Fuyou made a decisive statement, and no one dared to object again.

  At this moment, the streets were lit up with torches, and another group of people came to the entrance of the wine shop. A dark-faced man wearing a calabaza hat walked in, just as Lu Fuyou was about to leave, and bowed his hands, saying: "Lu Dongjia!"

  "Fan Dongjia, you're just in time!" Lu Fuyou pointed at Ge Feng and scolded: "Your new subordinate has done a great job!"

  Di Zhe hid behind the crowd and carefully observed the approaching person. Fan Yongdou, the master of Dasheng Quan, was always low-key in this gathering. Di Zhe had been here for three years and had only seen him a few times. This person really didn't look like the owner of a large business, he was simple and unpretentious, his clothes were also very plain, and there was no difference between him and an ordinary peasant. It was rumored in the gathering that Fan Yongdou's father had failed in business and left behind a large debt, and when he was young, he had indeed done farm work.

  Fan Yongdou had already heard others' accounts outside the door, and bowed his head to admit his mistake: "Lu Dong's family teachings are that Ge Feng is acting rashly and deserves punishment! I will give you an explanation for this matter."

  Lu Fuyou sternly rebuked, "What's the point of explaining? Someone like this can't stay in our group!" Ge Feng's face changed color on the side. As Xiao Zhiyan said, Zhangjiakou wasn't a good place, but it had its charm. No matter if you were a partner or a guard, people with skills could always find a way out here. At worst, it was still better than returning to the countryside to farm or becoming a bandit in the mountains. Here, the weak were preyed upon by the strong, but at least there was still a glimmer of hope.

  Fan Yongdou nodded and said, "Ge Fengsui is a big man under my command. If he really committed the crime of murder, I will be the first to spare him." He turned his head and ordered the people behind him: "Come on, tie up Ge Feng for me!"

  Several black-clad men walked up from behind him and stood beside Ge Feng, who stole a glance at Fan Yongdou. In the darkness, the torches cast a crimson glow on Fan's dark face, revealing no abnormalities.

  Ge Feng hesitated for a moment, then stretched out his hands and let the guards of the Fan family bind him tightly.

  Di Zhe had been watching from the side with a cold eye, seeing such a scene, even Lu Fuyou was secretly surprised. This one tie is completely handing over his life and death to Fan Yongdou's hands, Ge Feng has only been relying on the Fan family for a month, and Fan Yongdou can actually make this unruly person obey orders, it is indeed a sufficient means.

  Fan Yongdou continued: "This person was injured by our Dashengkui, and Dashengkui is responsible for the treatment! Please rest assured, Mr. Lu Dong."

  Lu Fu's friend refused flatly and said: "How can a person from Lu's family fall into your hands?"

  Fan Yongdou didn't get angry, saying: "Then please stay for a moment, when I came, I had already invited all the masters to come here and discuss the matter together. It will arrive soon." With that, Lu Fuyou really couldn't leave alone.

  Fan Yongdou made a circular motion with his hands and said: "I also ask everyone present to bear witness!"

  Ge Feng turned around and saw Di Zhe standing in the corner, saying loudly: "The second master of the Di family is also here, he is most familiar with this matter." What Di Zhe had just said he remembered clearly, the Wangshun Pavilion of the Di family was also a well-known business among the collections. Of course, it would be best if the second master of the Di family could testify.