Chapter 74

The news of the Wang family in Chengyang being stripped of their property and exterminated spread like wildfire. After the initial shock and disbelief, it eventually became clear—Heaven, it was actually true!

Then.

After a day and a night of fermentation, by the second day... things had turned sour.

Death is like the extinguishing of a lamp; friendship is something to be seen but not eaten. However, the Wang family's vast and intricate business network could be eaten! And it was incredibly tempting, making many people eager to reach out...

Wu Fan said he would not interfere with the Wang family's business, and he meant it. Everything would be handled by the county assistant, Qi Zu'an. Wu Fan had other important matters to attend to.

First.

He paid respects to the former hundred-man commander of the Chengyang Yingyang Guard, Zhou Ling, and the Yingyang Guard who was beaten to death when Wang Jiao led people to storm the hundred-man commander's office. The latter was minor, but the former was the main focus.

Although Wu Fan had no prior relationship with Zhou Ling, it was not hard to notice from various rumors that the hundred-man commander Zhou was quite popular among the Chengyang Yingyang Guard. Wu Fan's act of paying respects was not without the intention of winning over the hearts of the people.

Holding Wang Jiao's head, leading nearly a hundred Yingyang Guards, Wu Fan walked into Zhou Ling's home.

Wang Jiao's head... it had already been used once after the initial offering to the other Yingyang Guard, but that Yingyang Guard's death was indeed caused by Wang Jiao. Now, Wu Fan was using Wang Jiao's head to pin the blame. There was no choice; it was a matter of mutual benefit. Zhai Rang helped him, so he had to exonerate Zhai Lingling. How to exonerate? No one knew that Zhou Ling was killed by Zhai Lingling, so pinning it on Wang Jiao was just right! Wang Jiao already had countless crimes on his head, so one or two more didn't matter.

A hundred Yingyang Guards... a performance needs an audience! Without an audience, what kind of performance is it!

Arriving at Zhou Ling's home.

It was hard to imagine that despite Zhou Ling's greed, his home was in such a dilapidated state, not much better than the small, shabby house Wu Fan used to live in in Luoyang...

"Why? Conceal wealth? Even if you conceal wealth, it shouldn't be like this! It's a waste!"

Wu Fan was puzzled, but he did not show it on his face.

However...

"Madam Lan greets the honorable officials~~~"

With a hint of a sob, the woman in the memorial hall bowed in fear.

When she raised her head, Wu Fan understood what "a woman in mourning is most beautiful" meant! The woman, dressed in white mourning clothes, bowed gracefully. Her face, slightly lifted, revealed a beautiful and delicate appearance. Her eyes, like clear spring water, gazed around, and a wooden hairpin was inserted into her hair, making her look pure and charming. Her plump figure and skin that seemed to glisten with moisture... what a waste!

After a brief moment of shock, Wu Fan quickly regained his composure and bowed, saying, "I am Wu Fan, the new hundred-man commander of the Chengyang Yingyang Guard, here to pay respects to my comrade Zhou! Madam, please do not be too formal!"

Turning around and waving his hand, Wu Fan ordered, "Bring the three offerings!"

Immediately, the Yingyang Guards carried a pig, a fish, and a chicken, each tied with a white cloth, and placed them on the altar in the memorial hall. Two jars of wine were also placed there.

In fact, it had been three days since Zhou Ling's seventh day, so there was no need for such a grand ceremony. However, Wu Fan had many plans, so he made a big show of it.

Placing Wang Jiao's head on the altar, lighting three incense sticks, Wu Fan looked at Zhou Ling's memorial tablet and loudly said, "Brother Zhou! Although I have never met you, I have heard of your noble character, praised by all the brothers in the hundred-man commander's office. I regret not having the chance to meet you! Now that you have met with misfortune, I have investigated and found that you were killed by a villain! The villain's head is now before your memorial tablet, may your spirit rest in peace! I, with sorrow, pay my respects!"

After three bows, Wu Fan turned around, looked up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, his eyes slightly red, a tear circling his eye, stubbornly turning, and finally flowing down...

At that moment.

Many Yingyang Guards were moved, remembering Zhou Ling's good qualities, and were deeply saddened.

One by one, the Yingyang Guards came forward to offer incense and pay their respects, taking a long time.

When everything was over, Wu Fan gently wiped his eyes and said, "Take Wang Jiao's head away, don't scare Madam! " Turning to Lan, Wu Fan bowed and, taking out several dozen silver taels from his pocket, presented them with both hands, saying, "Brother Zhou met with misfortune, if Madam has any difficulties in the future, please feel free to speak up, the brothers will surely help! Please do not refuse!"

Lan, with tears in her eyes, wiped her tears and, after much reluctance, accepted the silver.

Leaving Zhou's home.

Wu Fan frowned and turned to ask, "As far as I know, Commander Zhou is quite old, and this..."

Lin Xinshan, the chief flag bearer, with a knowing look, whispered, "That's Commander Zhou's new wife! His first wife passed away from illness three years ago! This one, he married three months ago! Tsk tsk! Her appearance, her figure, what a pity, isn't it?"

Wu Fan rolled his eyes and said, "Get lost! Don't think I'm so dirty!"

Perhaps knowing that Wu Fan would not blame him for such matters, Lin Xinshan jokingly asked, "What are you thinking, then?"

Wu Fan pouted and said, "I'm thinking... a weak woman, seeing a bloody head, wasn't scared at all, isn't that strange?" After saying that, Wu Fan did not give Lin Xinshan a chance to ask more and directly said, "I have a few tasks for you. First, send someone to deliver my letter to the Luoyang thousand-man commander's office, to have them take over the Wang family's property. Second, don't relax the supervision of the Grand Canal, send people to continue patrolling, and if anyone dares to cause trouble... remember! You are the emperor's personal army, deal with them! Third, repair the hundred-man commander's office, it's in a terrible state!"

Lin Xinshan nodded solemnly and was about to leave.

Wu Fan quickly pulled Lin Xinshan back and said, "Why the rush? Wait! I have more to say!" Pinching his chin, Wu Fan said in a low voice, "Do you know who knows about the 53,000 taels of silver dug up from the Wang family's backyard?"

Lin Xinshan's expression changed, and he said, "About five or six people, but... but I'm afraid they might have already spread the news!"

Wu Fan nodded silently and, after a long pause, said, "Think of a way to handle this, and get the silver! This silver is not for my personal use. If I wanted it for myself, I wouldn't say this! This silver, I plan to use as the private property of the hundred-man commander's office. We are Yingyang Guards! We all risk our lives, and no one knows when they might die. What about their families? Right? We need to leave a way out for the brothers, understand?"

Lin Xinshan's eyes reddened, clasped his hands, and said solemnly, "Your high virtue! I will speak on behalf of the brothers, thank you!"

Wu Fan waved his hand and said, "Go, go! Do a clean job, I have other important matters these days and may not be in Chengyang, so you need to take more responsibility!"

"Understood!"

Lin Xinshan took a deep breath and bowed.

"Winning over the hearts of the people! You have to strike while the iron is hot. After this series of actions, they will probably all be grateful to me. They are so easy to deceive!"

Muttering to himself, Wu Fan glanced at Wang Jiao's head and, raising his eyebrows, called out to Lin Xinshan, who was already several paces away, "Take this back too!"

Seeing Wu Fan throw the head, Lin Xinshan quickly caught it and left.

Wu Fan looked at the sun in the sky, looked down at his own Yingyang Guard uniform, and thought it was not suitable for mingling with the outlaws. He needed to change his appearance.

...

PS1: Request for collection, recommendation votes, likes, and red packets, anything... thank you all for your strong support, I am very grateful.

PS2: Thank you to Jun Xinxin Xile Kang for the 588-point red packet, to Weimeng Lao Shu and Jinse Chengzi for the 100-point red packets, and to Dan Wan Qiwen for the three update votes. Thank you all.

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