Chapter 92

Yang Shouwen smiled and said softly, "Why should Father waste his mind on these matters? I think what Lu Yongcheng is after is, first, the three hundred martial guards under Father’s command, and second, to replace all the officials in Changping with his own people. As for what he truly intends to do, I don’t think we need to worry too much. The current situation is very unfavorable for you, so it might be better to take a step back. With Father’s previous methods, I doubt Lu Yongcheng would dare to push too hard."

Yang Chenglie had already shown his firmness, so Lu Yongcheng might not dare to make any more moves. Summoning Li Shi to force Yang Chenglie out of Changping was likely his final move. At this point, continuing to oppose Lu Yongcheng would not be a wise choice. Sometimes, when it’s necessary to take a step back, one should do so. Yang Chenglie, who had served as the county magistrate for over a decade, understood this principle. After hearing Yang Shouwen’s words, he nodded gently.

Although he was reluctant, the situation left him no choice.

"Since that’s the case, you should immediately have Abusi try to contact the old army and tell them to be more cautious. Lu Yongcheng, having driven me out of the county, might very well start a purge. He still has the three hundred troops from the governor’s office, so we can’t be too complacent."

"I understand, Father."

The three hundred troops from the Youzhou governor’s office were likely Lu Yongcheng’s main force. However, what did he truly intend to do? Yang Shouwen felt that Lu Yongcheng’s plans were not simple and might even involve the Fan Yang Lu family behind him.

Based on Yang Shouwen’s understanding of Lu Yongcheng, he was not highly regarded in his family. This was evident from the fact that he had been a chief clerk for twenty years. In fact, there were many people like Lu Yongcheng in the noble families. They lacked talent and background, and the resources of the aristocratic families were only invested in those with talent and potential. How could Lu Yongcheng receive any attention?

However, to ensure the family’s interests, the aristocratic families would still send some ordinary descendants to serve in the government. Once these people entered the government, the family would no longer pay attention to them. This was merely to provide for the livelihood of the family’s descendants and to strengthen the family’s influence in the region, but they were not highly valued.

Lu Yongcheng, relying on his family’s influence, entered the bureaucracy and, after twenty years, had achieved some success. However, as a mere chief clerk in Changping, he would never be taken seriously by the family. Lu Yongqiang’s return to Ji County at the family’s summons was itself problematic. Perhaps the Fan Yang Lu family had given Lu Yongcheng some special mission?

Thinking about the assassins who had attacked the county office, Yang Shouwen felt that the situation was very complex. He also believed that Yang Chenglie would not fail to see this. The father and son tacitly avoided discussing this matter, wanting to see what the Fan Yang Lu family was truly up to.

Yang Shouwen wrote a letter and handed it to Abusi Jida, instructing him to deliver it to the old army inn that night. Although there was a curfew, it was not a problem for Abusi Jida, so Yang Shouwen was not worried.

The night grew deeper. A bright moon hung high in the sky, casting its light over the courtyard. Perhaps sensing the heavy atmosphere at home, You Niang and Qing Nu did not pester Yang Shouwen for stories but went to bed early.

Yang Shouwen sat alone on the porch, leaning against a pillar and gazing up at the sky. The stars twinkled, forming a Milky Way that spanned the night sky. The moon was cold, the wind was lonely, adding a touch of desolation to the autumn night.

Bodhi lay quietly by Yang Shouwen’s side, allowing him to stroke its head. Yang Shouwen actually preferred this kind of life—quiet and peaceful, without the noise and intrigue.

Unfortunately...

Yang Shouwen’s lips curled into a wry smile. People often say that nine out of ten things in life are unsatisfactory. He should be grateful that he had been given a second chance at life. Why should he wallow in self-pity?

He wanted to see what Lu Yongcheng was truly up to.

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The next day, Yang Shouwen stayed at home and did not step outside the door. However, he was well-informed about the situation in the county. Yang Shi and Old Hu would gather information, keeping him updated on what was happening outside.

Yang Chenglie did not continue to oppose Lu Yongcheng but left the county early in the morning with the civilian guards and martial guards. Outside the city, the number of refugees had grown to several hundred and was still increasing, with the potential to reach a thousand. The camp originally built by Wang He was no longer sufficient to accommodate so many people.

Therefore, the refugee camp needed to be expanded, which required a large number of workers. The refugees themselves were a mixed bag, and there were bound to be troublemakers among them. In just a few days, there had been several conflicts in the camp, and one incident even involved a knife-wielding assailant. Fortunately, Guan Hu was on patrol that day and managed to subdue the assailant. Nevertheless, the situation in the camp was far from ideal.

Changping was in a difficult position. Accepting these refugees would require a significant amount of money and grain, and no one in the city was willing to provide the support. Moreover, there was a risk that the refugees might include spies from the Tujue. When Wang He established the refugee camp, he was concerned about potential trouble during a conflict.

But not accepting them... the number of refugees was increasing, and the weather was getting colder. The city’s relief supplies were also running low, and if the situation persisted, the refugees might cause trouble, leading to even more problems.

With Wang He missing and Lu Yongcheng’s lack of interest, the camp was becoming increasingly chaotic. Yang Chenglie’s efforts to calm the situation could, to some extent, deter the troublemakers. However, without the support of the county office, it would be difficult for Yang Chenglie to continue.

"Find County Magistrate Li? Since he drove you out, he should be the one to deal with the problem."

That night, Yang Chenglie returned home, his mood heavy. After hearing Yang Shouwen’s words, he sneered, "What use is that old man? He’s just a puppet in the office."

"Whether he’s a puppet or a marionette, he’s the county magistrate and the highest official in Changping. He drove you out of the city, so you should complain to him. If he doesn’t care, be more forceful and say you want to return to the city. Eventually, he will have to consult with Lu Yongcheng. Father, if things go well, it’s your achievement; if they go wrong, it’s Li Shi’s problem. It’s a win-win situation, so why worry too much? Just go and make a fuss."

Yang Chenglie’s eyes widened, and after a moment, he hesitated, "But isn’t that a bit too much like a bully?"

"Father, at this point... they drove you out of the city, and you’re still thinking about them? Don’t worry, if you go and make a fuss, they will definitely back down. At this moment, Lu Yongcheng might not want to offend you."

In his heart, Yang Shouwen silently wondered: I also want to know where Lu Yongcheng’s limits lie.