My Nascent Soul Ran Away Again-Chapter 166 - : A Man Is Born Between Heaven and Earth, How Can He Live Under Others Forever?
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Chapter 166: A Man Is Born Between Heaven and Earth, How Can He Live Under Others Forever?
I ranstator: endlessyantasy Iranstatlon Editor: endlessyantasy I ranstatlon
Lu Xuan wore a meaningful smile.
That night.
โMy lord, people from the Gu family have arrived, and theyโve brought a horse-drawn carriage, โ Li Ming reported.
โTake the brothers, count the amount of silver, and move it all to the warehouse,โ Lu Xuan ordered.
โRemember, verify the amount clearly before letting them leave. This is military pay, and no mistakes are allowed.โ
โYes!โ
Li Ming left with his men.
After a while, people from the He family also arrived.
Similarly, a horse-drawn carriage brought fifty thousand taels of silver.
After counting the amount, both families left in succession.
However, the Bo family had not yet arrived.
Lu Xuan was not in a hurry. He and Cheng Lingzhu stood at the entrance of the yamen, waiting quietly.
Near curfew, a carriage leisurely arrived at the entrance of the yamen. The driver of the carriage was the steward of the Bo family, Bo Kai.
โMagistrate Wu.โ
Bo Kai got out of the carriage and respectfully saluted Lu Xuan. โThis is the military pay from our Bo family.โ
Lu Xuan nodded and gestured to the yamen runners behind him. โMove it all back. โ
โYes!โ
The yamen runners responded and began to unload the shiny silver ingots.
While the yamen runners were busy, Bo Kai quietly approached.
He held a black box, about the size of an adult manโs palm.
โMagistrate Wu, since your arrival in Qingxian City, you have broken your heart for the peopleโฆ This is a small token of appreciation from our family head.โ
Bo Kai presented the box with both hands.
Lu Xuan took the box and felt its weight in his wrist.
He opened the box to find neatly arranged gold bars, packed tightly. Lu Xuan smiled, โTell Master Bo that I have received his kind intentions.โ
โYes, my lord.โ
Bo Kai took his leave.
That night.
โBo Chang really is generous,โ Cheng Lingzhu said as she played with the gold bars and teased the little fox. โIt seems the fake dossier we prepared worked.โ
โIndeed,โ Lu Xuan nodded. He leaned back in his chair, holding a letter in his hand, examining it in the light. โAnd with the existing rift between the Bo and Gu families, now that patricide has been confirmed, Bo Chang can no longer tolerate it.โ
So, he approached Lu Xuan.
What Bo Chang was interested in was the militia under Lu Xuanโs command.
A box of gold bars was the opening gambit, and the letter inside the box was an invitation for Lu Xuan to discuss secrets at the Bo residence the following night.
The content of the letter was sincere and calm.
Bo Chang analyzed the situation of both parties, clearly telling the magistrate that their only way out was to cooperate against the Gu family.
Lu Xuan folded the letter and placed it in the drawer.
The next morning.
In the yamen.
Lu Xuan, drinking tea, said, โLi Ming, continue recruiting strong men today. Post our military pay conditions and announce them loudlyโฆ Also, when selecting people, try to choose bachelors, those who will go unnoticed if they disappear.โ
โYes.โ
โAnd, when you and the brothers are collecting military fees, give a discount to wealthy families who are willing to enlist.โ
Lu Xuan added another instruction.
โThisโฆโ Li Ming hesitated for a moment. โDo you mean only the family members can enlist, or can they send servants too?โ
โIt doesnโt necessarily have to be a son, an old man is also fine, but no servants, it must be from the masterโs family,โ Lu Xuan said. โOtherwise, whatโs the point of the tax reduction?โ
โMy lord, many of these rich young masters have been drained by wine and women, Iโm afraid their physical conditionโฆโ
Li Ming tentatively said.
โWe need those who have been drained by wine and women,โ Lu Xuan nodded.
โReject those in good health for some reason, prioritize those who are short, thin, too old to pull a bow, or seem frail at a glance.โ
Who builds a militia specifically with the least capable?
โAlso, keep these thin and strong men separate, forming an independent unit, and equip them with the worst gear,โ Lu Xuan instructed. โAs for the training of this armyโฆ I will make arrangements later.โ
โโฆYes,โ Li Ming nodded.
That night.
A carriage left the yamen, drove around the alleys of Qingxian City for a while, and then arrived at a courtyard from the opposite direction.
โMy lord, we have arrived,โ Lu Ping whispered softly.
Lu Xuan was slightly surprised. โYouโre speaking so fluently this time?โ
โReplying to my lord,โ Lu Ping smiled, โAll I needed to do was take it slow, not rush, and thereโs no problemโฆโ
โNot bad,โ Lu Xuan nodded in approval.
โWhen talking to people, think first and then speak slowly. Not only can it overcome stuttering to some extent, but it also makes one seem very steady.โ
Inside the courtyard.
Lu Xuan and Cheng Lingzhu met with the head of the Bo family, Bo Chang. Bo Chang was very cautious about this secret meeting.
Tea was already poured in the quiet room. Lu Xuan, sitting across from Bo
Chang, asked, โI wonder why Bo Chang has invited me here today?โ
โOf course, itโs to discuss a business deal with the County Magistrate,โ Bo Chang said evenly.
โWhat kind of business?โ Lu Xuan feigned ignorance.
โA business that will lead to promotion and wealth for you,โ Bo Chang said.
โHow to get promoted, how to get rich?โ Lu Xuan continued, โElder Bo might as well make it clear.โ
โBuilding a militia, exterminating the Black Lotus heretics, thatโs for promotion; slaughtering pigs and eating meat, thatโs for wealth,โ Bo Changโs eyes glinted.
โIn my opinion, there must be people in Qingxian City who have joined the Black Lotus Sect. Such treacherous actsโฆ the Magistrate cannot let them off.โ His reference to โtraitorsโ was clearly not meant for the County Magistrate.
To seek cooperation, Bo Chang immediately labeled Gu Yang as the villain.
Since Gu Yang was a Black Lotus heretic intending to rebel, annihilating his household was justifiable.
โThe pig to be slaughteredโฆ Has quite a bit of strength,โ Lu Xuan noted, looking at his cup.
โSo the Magistrate needs an ally,โ Bo Chang suggested.
โWho might this ally be, according to Patriarch Bo?โ Lu Xuan looked up.
โMagistrate Wu has already fallen out with Gu Yang. You slapped his face; such a grudge, he will never let go,โ Bo Chang said calmly.
โAs for He Youde, not only is he impetuous, but heโs also on the same side as Gu Yangโฆ He is not suitable.โ
โSo, it seems only Patriarch Bo is the Magistrateโs friend,โ Lu Xuan remarked
aryny.
โOf course,โ Bo Chang said, โTwo-thirds of the cityโs guards are controlled by them. They have many people and great strength. To win, the Magistrate only has the option of cooperating with me.โ
โHow do you plan on having us cooperate?โ Lu Xuan asked.
โIโll provide the money, and the Magistrate will provide the manpower,โ Bo Chang stated simply.
โI know, like previous magistrates, the militia is just a pretext to gather money, and training troops is just for show. But this time, I hope the Magistrate makes it real.โ
Bo Chang paused, then continued, โThe fifty thousand silver taels given earlier are for military expenses. In addition, Iโll add another fifty thousand.โ
โGood,โ Lu Xuan nodded heavily.
โOnce successful, Magistrate Wu will label Gu Yang a Black Lotus heretic, and his property will be divided equally between you and me.โ
Bo Changโs eyes shone, โIn addition, I will give Magistrate Wu another hundred thousand silver taels as a pre-celebration of your promotion!โ
To persuade the magistrate to join him in toppling Gu Yang, he spared no expense.
โWith Patriarch Bo speaking so frankly, how could I be unappreciative?โ Lu Xuan raised his eyebrows, โLetโs do as Patriarch Bo says!โ The two clinked their cups and drank the tea.
Thinking of the future plans, Bo Chang felt exhilarated.
He didnโt hesitate to spend money on the troops because he knew the newly formed militia was stationed in Qingxian City.
Once the magistrate left, the troops would fall into his hands. fr(e)ewebn(o)vel
By then, having swallowed Guโs assets and holding the militiaโs power, the Bo familyโs influence would peak.
Taking down the He family also seemed feasible.
โA man born between heaven and earth, how can he languish under others!โ Bo Chang declared.
Lu Xuanโs expression was subtle, deciding to add fuel to the fire, โPatriarch Bo is spending money and effort, I canโt just reap the benefits. I must consider Patriarch Bol s purseโฆโ
Bo Changโs face showed curiosity, โWhat does the Magistrate mean?โ
โI have a plan, not only to strike against Gu Yang but also to subsidize Patriarch Bo,โ Lu Xuan said.
โPlease tell me,โ Bo Chang sat up straight.
After a momentโs contemplation, Lu Xuan said, โHas Patriarch Bo ever heard
ofโฆ. Indulgences?โ