Chapter 28

New book first recommendation, two more updates, please click, please vote, please collect to boost the rankings.

...

...

If you want something to remain unknown, you must not do it yourself.

Kidnapping Daoist Master Baiyun is difficult but can be done, even if Baiyun is eliminated.

However, if it is discovered, the two crimes combined will be severe. Do not underestimate Baiyun; this stinky Taoist has a significant influence in Yan Prefecture. At that time, your family will be in trouble.

Zhu Huan changed his mind and personally went to the Zhao family to apologize.

Although the Zhao family had not refused the marriage proposal, they were clear about it, and the news had spread, damaging the reputation of Zhao's fourth daughter. The two families were at an impasse.

Rather than this, it would be better to take the initiative to apologize and then use the combined strength of both families to find out who had bribed Baiyun to sabotage the marriage. With the annotations from the famous monks of Qinglong Temple and Daci'en Temple in Jingzhao, and by using some resources, the two families could work together to tarnish Baiyun's reputation. Once his reputation was ruined, it would be the right time to act. This is the art of open strategy.

The effect was good.

The Zhao family, of course, did not know that a young man was behind this, so they considered the Zhu family's attitude commendable.

Zhu Huan personally brought his son to apologize and stood at the main gate, saying that the Zhu family was wrong. With so many people watching, Zhao Sheng, the head of the Zhao family, felt honored. Since the two families were engaged, and their previous relationship was good, he laughed and said that the clouds had cleared and the moon was visible.

Of course, the Zhao family hated Daoist Master Baiyun even more, as it was their daughter's reputation! Who would marry a woman who brings bad luck to her husband?

Zhu Huan and Zhao Sheng talked for nearly two hours before parting.

The next day, both families sent people to spread rumors in the city that Daoist Master Baiyun had plotted to ruin the reputation of the Zhao family's fourth daughter, even threatening to sue him.

You may be famous, but are you as famous as the high-ranking monks from the famous temples in Chang'an? Moreover, due to the Western Xia, Yan Prefecture has many merchants from all over, including wealthy merchants from Jingzhao, who might recognize these high-ranking monks. The Zhu family dared not falsify this matter.

However, when Daoist Master Baiyun heard this, he remained calm and said, "Heaven knows if they have changed the birth dates. If you do not listen to this poor Taoist, you will suffer in the future." He did not say more, but the implication was a vicious curse.

Zhao Sheng was so angry that he wanted to bring his subordinates to beat this Taoist.

This matter caused a great stir, almost overshadowing the impact of the Black Bee Bandits' downfall.

Zhu Huan, however, had no such thoughts.

"Right at this time, Yan Prefecture captured a deputy commander, who was also one of the leaders of the Black Bee Bandits."

The Song military system was based on battalions, armies, commands, and units. However, due to the rotation system, battalions and armies gradually became nominal, and commands became the basic unit of the army. A command (camp) had a commander and a deputy commander, followed by unit leaders and deputy unit leaders, who were like battalion and deputy battalion commanders. Each unit had ten officers, including ten lieutenants, adjutants, and sergeants. In Weilin Fort, a deputy unit leader was a significant officer, and if he was involved, he must have been a leader.

In fact, the Black Bee Bandits had more than three leaders, about a dozen, but due to the Western Xia army's actions, half were killed, and only eight escaped.

"Could they actually be brought to Yan Prefecture?" Wang Ju asked in surprise.

Think about it, private merchants need to open many channels to bring goods in and sell them. The same applies here. The former, though illegal, can still be considered a gray area, but the latter is a serious crime.

"Let's not mention it. Cheng Gong has already arrested several clerks, and it was the Imperial City Office that took action."

"The Imperial City Office?" Wang Ju almost shouted.

Zhu Huan also knew about the Imperial City Office, and his face twisted.

"Cheng Gong quickly extracted many secrets from him, involving countless soldiers, officials, and gentry."

Actually, it cannot be investigated; once it is, the matter will become serious.

"However, Cheng Gong uncovered an important piece of intelligence. Song Ji is very cunning and has been the mastermind behind the Black Bee Bandits' activities for years, which no one discovered. But after the last incident, he was constrained step by step. One night, Song Ji gathered the leaders and said, 'The other side has a high-level expert, not inferior to Old Zhong. If we continue to fight, we won't know how we will die.'"

"A high-level expert?"

Zhu Huan couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Young Master, you are indeed remarkable, and I can't help but admire you."

"Alright, continue," Wang Ju said. It wasn't that he was "high," but that he remembered the knowledge, which was a kind of power. This power might not change the country's situation, but it could crush Song Ji and his group if used correctly.

"Song Ji is also very capable. He had already set up a manor, so the authorities couldn't find them for a long time. Then, he used the rumor of a treasure to attract the tribes and mountain people, inciting them to fight each other. If he succeeded, Yan Prefecture would be in turmoil. Then he planned to collude with the Western Xia army to invade Yan Prefecture, using this achievement to gain wealth and status in Western Xia."

Wang Ju was speechless. Without people like Zhang Pu and Zhang Yuan, could Western Xia have successfully established a country?

Learning from history, the same would continue...

"Song Ji usually considers himself very high, often comparing himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi."

"Him?" Wang Ju's face turned black.

However, Song Ji did have some skills. After the interrogation, even Cheng Kan had to admit that he was a top strategist. But Wang Ju, the "high-level expert" hidden in the shadows, only needed to act twice, and Song Ji's group fell apart. The more Song Ji thought about it, the more he feared, which was why he immediately disbanded the remaining members and fled.

"Cheng Gong summoned me and said, 'Zhu Huan, hand over that high-level expert from your family.'"

"Ah!"

"Perhaps you have also moved Cheng Gong, and he wants to use you as a retainer."

"Cannot agree."

"I did not agree, but Cheng Gong said, 'I went to Heao Ridge and observed for a long time. If someone carried the goods from Qingzui Mouth on that day, it must have been through Caoping Stream.'"

Perhaps Zhu Huan acted too hastily, offering help without a reason, which made Cheng Kan suspicious. He went to examine the local terrain and began to suspect Zhu Huan.

Wang Ju shook his head: "He is bluffing you."

Zhu Huan, of course, refused to admit it.

However, this was a problem.

Cheng Kan's implication was clear: "I won't pursue your responsibility if you hand over that high-level expert. I don't want to punish him but use him. Don't you agree?"

But if Wang Ju really stood up, Cheng Kan might not believe him. Even if he did, he might be angry and, for the sake of his face and to set an example, make the Zhu family and Wang family suffer, and Wang Ju would suffer even more.

Wang Ju walked back and forth, feeling both angry and amused.

He was a weak young man, part of a disadvantaged group, yet he had to confront powerful figures like Cheng Kan, Sima Guang, and Empress Cao.

What kind of situation is this?

"Let's do this. Tell Cheng Gong that although there has been no large-scale war between Song and Xia, the border people often suffer from Western Xia invasions. Where are the officials? This is not mentioned. The people of Song live in such misery, yet they bear heavy labor and military service, and the taxes are no less. Why do the people live like mules with no way out?"

"Little Master, I dare not say that."

"Just say it's me. I hope he resolves this matter soon. Once he does, I am willing to hand over the technology for the Xia sword to him."

"The Xia sword?"

"Not the Xia sword, but a new steel-making technique. If the court values it and continues to research it, the country will produce a lot of good steel, real steel, not iron."

"Then..."

"The government won't extravagantly make Xia swords, and even if they do, they won't produce many high-quality ones. We only make high-quality ones, so we won't be affected."

...

"The Xia sword?"

"It is a replica of the Xia sword, but the difference is minimal. Cheng Gong, please look." Zhu Huan had the bailiffs bring up two Xia swords.

One was a genuine Xia sword, and the other was a second batch of replicas. With the arrival of the skilled blacksmiths Zhong and Sun, Wang Ju had refined the technique further, and with a real sample, the replica was almost identical to the genuine Xia sword.

"Its true cost, excluding the scabbard and decorations, is only a dozen strings of cash." Zhu Huan didn't know why Wang Ju insisted he say this.

But Cheng Kan's heart was stirred.

Zhu Huan didn't know, but Cheng Kan did.

The Song Dynasty had never been able to uncover the technology for the Xia sword, but they knew the cost. A high-quality Xia sword, without labor costs, would cost one or two hundred strings of cash, which is why production was low and the swords were expensive in the Song Dynasty.

This meant that the technology in Zhu Huan's hands was more advanced than that of Western Xia.

The Xia sword itself was not important, but if this technology were applied to all weapons, what would be the result?

Zhu Huan played his trump card, and Cheng Kan had to hesitate. This technology, if used well, could strengthen the country, but what about the "high-level expert"? Cheng Kan was conflicted.

...

"The Xia sword?"

"It is a replica of the Xia sword, but the difference is minimal. Cheng Gong, please look." Zhu Huan had the bailiffs bring up two Xia swords.

One was a genuine Xia sword, and the other was a second batch of replicas. With the arrival of the skilled blacksmiths Zhong and Sun, Wang Ju had refined the technique further, and with a real sample, the replica was almost identical to the genuine Xia sword.

"Its true cost, excluding the scabbard and decorations, is only a dozen strings of cash." Zhu Huan didn't know why Wang Ju insisted he say this.

But Cheng Kan's heart was stirred.

Zhu Huan didn't know, but Cheng Kan did.

The Song Dynasty had never been able to uncover the technology for the Xia sword, but they knew the cost. A high-quality Xia sword, without labor costs, would cost one or two hundred strings of cash, which is why production was low and the swords were expensive in the Song Dynasty.

This meant that the technology in Zhu Huan's hands was more advanced than that of Western Xia.

The Xia sword itself was not important, but if this technology were applied to all weapons, what would be the result?

Zhu Huan played his trump card, and Cheng Kan had to hesitate. This technology, if used well, could strengthen the country, but what about the "high-level expert"? Cheng Kan was conflicted.