Chapter 96

It took some time and arrangement to temporarily put aside the trivial matters within the fief and fully integrate, absorb, and digest the resources and information brought by the two old acquaintances, Chu Bo'ai and Cai Liao.

The things and people they brought earlier were only responsible for setting the stage. As a prelude to the large-scale expressions of support and alignment from the vassals and nationals, there were still a considerable amount of money, supplies, and manpower waiting for my command and use, which was also a speculative and exploratory move within the fief.

If I needed it, these two could also leverage their networks to gather and mobilize more sources and channels for me. Of course, these resources were not so easy to use and were not free; they required corresponding guarantees and returns.

Moreover, this was based on a rather optimistic view of my prospects. This change in attitude was reportedly due to the fact that as soon as I returned, I publicly eliminated that unfortunate relative who had tried to control the Heavenly Craft Workshop, showing the decisiveness and courage that a fief heir should have. My predecessor had been too lenient with them.

After all, there is no love or hate without a reason in this world. If I couldn't satisfy them, they would only have one option: to chase me to Guangfu and bite me.

Despite this, I still included these two in my peripheral plans, letting them handle auxiliary organization and planning. As one of the former three managers and an old vassal, Cai Liao, or as a senior from my maternal uncle's family, Chu Bo'ai, had considerable experience and skills. It would be a waste not to use this free labor.

Through them, I also gained some understanding of the bottom lines and basic situations of the vassals and nationals.

The Luo family, one of the Eight Leaves of the South Sea, although the lowest profile and least conspicuous, still had a few hundred years of heritage in Fuyuan Prefecture and Western Borneo. This was not reflected in the liquid assets on the books but in the production of various goods and a large number of cheap human resources.

I even suspected that if I could come up with a financial management project that looked promising and could provide regular dividends, I might be able to win over a large number of people, thereby binding them to my chariot and then seize the opportunity to confront the old man.

However, the conditions were not yet ripe, so I could only proceed gradually.

Amidst the vague and obscure official announcements and the rumors flying around, the news that the Qingyuan rebels had broken through the third district had a direct impact. The prices of daily necessities related to people's livelihood soared to another level.

At this time, the few ships of supplies that Chu Bo'ai and others had brought in advance, as well as the promised subsequent shipments of supplies and personnel by sea, were invaluable.

Of course, as I put it to them, this was also an opportunity for the Luo family's influence to take root in Guangfu.

If the Guangfu authorities were not as reliable as they seemed, their losses would only be measured in ships of ordinary supplies. But if they succeeded, it would mean a vast prospect and space for the various factions backed by the Luo family to buy land and property in Guangfu and settle a large number of their own fief's offspring.

With this in mind, my carriage clattered through the streets in the early morning, but was frequently blocked. Various accents and dialects of curses and complaints echoed around.

The most immediate feeling was that the number of idle people on the streets within the city walls had suddenly increased. Most of them had come from the outer districts, visiting relatives or friends or staying in inns, aimlessly wandering the streets or trying to gather information.

As a result, various inns and guesthouses, as well as related homestays, were doing a booming business, with a high demand. Some families even rented out their stables and warehouses or set up makeshift shelters in their courtyards or under the walls to attract customers. After all, the climate in Guangfu was not cold enough to kill people; a little shelter from the rain was enough.

Thus, various illegal constructions sprang up like mushrooms after the rain, appearing in various neighborhoods, even near my home.

Additionally, the recruitment efficiency of several porridge stalls increased several times, and they had to put up signs to direct literate people to report themselves.

This somewhat alleviated the frustration and depression of the mysterious creature who had been trying to clean up a pile of bad debts from the family business but had nowhere to vent his anger.

Guangfu was so large, with a vast and mixed population in the five cities and twelve districts. Given the current chaotic situation, if one wanted to hide, it would take some time to achieve any results.

Her attention could only temporarily shift to other aspects.

Even through the tall and thick city walls, one could still see the gray clouds on the horizon, the smoke from the rice fields, sugarcane fields, and orchards that had been burned in the name of clearing the fields and fortifying the walls, still rising.

In just over ten days, countless families and immeasurable wealth had been destroyed in this turmoil. And I was still considering how to maximize profits by taking risks in the fire. Was this a matter of recklessness or audacity?

The carriage stopped again, as a crowd had gathered on the street. A large store that looked like a rice shop had been smashed to pieces, with a desolate and empty interior, only a few bloodstains and scattered grains of rice remaining.

"Another one."

"This time, there was bloodshed..."

The murmurs of the crowd reached my ears, and I couldn't help but sigh. The violent incidents of theft and assault outside the city walls had spread to the left city.

As the officials arrived to seal off the store and clear the road, we continued on, but with a different mood.

Passing through the city gate, we entered the lower city. After a short while, the carriage jolted and stopped again, somewhat abruptly.

"Master, please step back a bit..."

A voice reminded me.

I was usually accompanied by at least four mounted guards, as required by Lady Chen. Additionally, there were two drivers, one in front and one in back, trained in combat, who could take turns driving. Under their seats, there were weapons within easy reach.

This combination was sufficient to handle most sudden security incidents or temporarily escape from a difficult situation and call for help.

Looking at the shadows of people peering out from the cold and quiet streets, I suddenly felt a sense of unease.

In the middle of the street, a beautiful sedan chair had fallen, with only a few bloodstains and scattered footprints, but no bodies of the bearers or attendants.

The fresh, uncoagulated blood in the air was still strong.

"Slowly back up and turn around..."

I ordered.

It looked like a kidnapping and murder had taken place, and the security in the lower city had seriously deteriorated.

I was about to retreat to a more crowded place to report to the authorities when the people in the alley, as if stimulated by something, rushed out.

A group of people, brandishing sticks and knives, and throwing small axes, came charging at us, but their aim was poor, and the weapons clattered to the ground.

"Engage..."

Without waiting for my command, the guards, who were accustomed to such duties, acted decisively. They stopped, turned, and raised four pre-loaded pistols.

With a series of sharp reports, the lead balls hit the two leading attackers, spraying blood in all directions.

Then, the crossbows of the cavalry were drawn from their saddles, and they calmly loaded and fired into the crowd. Three more figures fell, tripping a circle of people, clearly chosen targets.

A moment later, the two drivers, one of whom was unarmed, lifted the seat boards and pulled out two repeating crossbows from hidden compartments, firing rapidly.

By this time, the carriage had completed its turn and was trotting away, regaining some distance.

I joined them, picking up another crossbow, and with a firm push, loaded the bolts. I aimed at the remaining attackers and fired all five bolts in quick succession.

Finally, when they turned to chase us, only a dozen bodies or groaning bandits remained on the ground, and a few scattered figures were cut down or killed by flying darts as they fled.

However, the four guards did not leave me too far behind. They returned, as my safety was their top priority. Additionally, the narrow and crowded streets were not friendly to cavalry.

This thrilling encounter lasted only a few breaths but perfectly demonstrated the zero-casualty kite-flying tactic against unarmored short-range targets.

The bodies of the bandits were briefly searched, and the living were dragged to one side. Two of the least injured were left alive, while the rest were beheaded.

We then searched the alley entrance, the yard, and the room where the bandits had emerged. It was an abandoned small dyeing workshop with rotten beams and eaves, covered in dust. The only signs of life were the footprints and fresh mud on the walls, clearly left by a fugitive.

At this moment, a slight noise came from behind a pile of firewood. One of the guards, alert, thrust his saber into the pile, but no attacker was found.

Then, we discovered the bandits' "gift" — a mother and daughter, dressed in fine clothes, bound and gagged, looking at us in terror, their eyes full of tears.

I couldn't help but feel a headache. What had I gotten myself into? This didn't seem like a simple kidnapping case.