Chapter 44: Walking on Thin Ice

Inside the Pei County military camp, Liang Xiao publicly introduced Zhuo Zifang to all the soldiers.

“When war breaks out, I will remain on high alert and personally take action if necessary! Zifang is well-versed in military affairs. If I enter the battlefield, he will assume overall command. All department commanders, captains, and signalers must obey his orders without exception!”

The crowd below looked at Zhuo Zifang with curiosity; even Liang De and the others who once served as guards for the Liang household were no exception. This man appeared scholarly and was about the same age as the county magistrate—could he truly lead troops into battle?

Fortunately, since taking office, Liang Xiao had always been a man of his word and commanded great respect from both the military and civilians alike. Therefore, the soldiers were willing to place their trust in him and readily expressed their support.

“All orders received!”

Zhuo Zifang remained composed outwardly, but inside he felt an unprecedented weight pressing down on him.

He followed Liang Xiao and had full confidence in his own abilities, yet Liang Xiao faced an extraordinarily complex crisis.

Since arriving in Pei County, everything seemed to go smoothly on the surface, but in truth, it was like treading on thin ice, leaving no room for carelessness.

Not a single link in the chain could be allowed to fail!

Pei County’s future hinged on the success of its military-led farming initiatives.

And whether those farming efforts could be effectively expanded depended entirely on whether the bandit threat could be eradicated this time.

The reason there were still many barren fields and wastelands outside Pei County was fundamentally the inaction of previous officials; the bandit problem was the direct cause.

If this battle were lost, the Black Cloud Bandits would grow rampant, pillaging and burning throughout Pei County and its surroundings with even greater impunity. The county’s soldiers and civilians would no longer dare to work the fields outside the city walls, and the farming project would become nothing but a pipe dream.

Like Liang Xiao, Zhuo Zifang fully understood the severity of the situation but chose not to show it, not wanting to add more pressure to Liang Xiao, who had already done more than anyone else and never once backed down.

That day, Liang Xiao suspended the recruitment of new soldiers, entrusting Zhuo Zifang with their training, while he himself took a group of constables to inspect the terrain in the northern part of Pei County and formulate a strategy.

As Zhuo Zifang had predicted, the Black Cloud Bandits could strike north of Pei County as soon as the next day. The bandit threat was grave, leaving no room for relaxation.

Inside the main hall of the Zhongli family estate, Wu Wenting paid another visit to Zhongli Xiu and made his position clear.

“Master Zhongli, this ten thousand mu of fertile land is priced at seven thousand taels—that’s our bottom line. Under no circumstances can it be sold for less!”

Zhongli Xiu sighed. “Master Wu, my family still has ninety thousand dan of stored grain. Even if we offer you forty wen per dan, would you buy it?”

“What do you mean, Master Zhongli? Our family supplies your household with considerable grain every year. Have you ever lacked food?”

Wu Wenting responded with displeasure and silently cursed.

This old rascal, selling land and now trying to peddle grain to me?

It was like trying to sell combs to a monk about to take vows and shave his head...

“Master Wu, how could you not know? With Gou Ming dead, the Black Cloud Bandits will never spare the new county magistrate, yet he stubbornly insists on leading his men out of the city to hunt the bandits. Is he out of his mind?” Zhongli Xiu scolded the man he had intended as a worthy son-in-law without batting an eye or losing his temper.

Wu Wenting was taken aback but sneered coldly, “Those who fail to be tactful are doomed to self-destruction...”

Only then did Zhongli Xiu reveal his true intentions.

“The Black Cloud Bandits number in the tens of thousands. If they attack, Pei County’s ragtag militia of newly recruited men will surely be defeated! When that happens, our estates in Pei County will suffer collateral damage—you understand the consequences!”

“Surely, Master Wu, you are considering this, which is why you are so eager to sell the fertile fields, yes?”

Wu Wenting was left speechless.

In fact, the old man guessed correctly...

On his way to the Zhongli estate, he had heard that Liang Xiao was determined to confront the Black Cloud Bandits outside the city. In his eyes, Liang Xiao’s proactive strike was tantamount to marching to his death—utterly foolish!

The Black Cloud Bandits, numbering over ten thousand, had no regard for anything. Even if Wu had good relations with Master Gou, there was no guarantee the bandits could be restrained from burning and pillaging.

By then, the ten thousand mu of fertile land might be completely ruined!

Zhongli Xiu sneered. “Master Wu, if you treasure this ten thousand mu of land as a family heirloom, then just don’t sell it. I’ll transfer all my profitable shops under the Zhongli name to you instead!”

Wu Wenting raised an eyebrow, nearly kicking Zhongli Xiu on the spot.

Is the Zhongli family planning to run away too?