https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-374-The-Current-State-of-the-Bandit-Camp/13031283/
Chapter 375: Dominance
Chapter 375: Dominance
September 25, 2017
After more than a year, Lu HaiKong has successfully cultivated some leadership qualities.
For instance, when he gives an order, his underlings scurry to fulfill his every word.
To establish the market in Qiang Yin as Lu HaiKong envisioned, it was a massive and tedious task.
Upon taking on this endeavor, Li Xiong's first step was to reach out to the aristocratic families of Qiang Yin.
There were originally five notable families in Qiang Yin, but after the Zhang family was eradicated, only four remained, with the Zhao family, who had the earliest contact with Lu HaiKong, taking the lead. Zhao Xie is currently the head of the Zhao family.
He was the one who led his troops to Lu HaiKong's mountain stronghold, only to be thoroughly defeated, and was also the first to initiate cooperation with Lu HaiKong.
During the Aristocratic Family Alliance incident, Zhao Xie was suppressed for siding with Lu HaiKong.
However, the Aristocratic Family Alliance soon crumbled, and Lu HaiKong's influence grew stronger. With the mountain stronghold's business thriving, Zhao Xie, who had been on the fringes of the Zhao family, seized the opportunity to cling to Lu HaiKong once more, rising again to become the head of the family.
As the most prominent and closest family to Lu HaiKong in Qiang Yin, Li Xiong wasted no time in contacting Zhao Xie, asking him to gather the heads of the remaining four aristocratic families.
...
Zhao Family.
The heads of the four families—Zhao, Wang, Li, and Sun—assembled, awaiting Li Xiong's arrival.
Among them, only Zhao Xie maintained a calm demeanor, while the other three were visibly nervous.
As Zhao Xie remained silent, the other three heads were unsure why they had been summoned by Lu HaiKong.
Were they about to face retribution? During the court's crackdown on Lu HaiKong, these three families had harbored some ill intentions, which was understandable given the circumstances at the time. No one believed Lu HaiKong's mountain stronghold would survive, so having some doubts was normal.
However, these families had restrained themselves and didn't do anything out of line. Surely, the mountain stronghold wouldn't seek retribution now?
This situation alone demonstrated the stronghold's formidable influence. Without saying a word, Zhao Xie's message was enough to bring the three families together, anxiously awaiting their fate. This showed the extent of Lu HaiKong's power.
Half an hour later, Li Xiong finally arrived, accompanied by a group of Bandit Bodyguards.
With Lu HaiKong's mountain stronghold thriving, Li Xiong's escort had grown in strength and grandeur. Originally Bandit Bodyguards, they were now Bandit Elite Guards, followed by fifty more guards, each adorned in Superior Armor. Though less than a hundred, they exuded the pressure of a thousand troops.
The aristocratic heads, already tense, were further terrified by Li Xiong's display, their faces paling in fear, worried they would be punished.
Indeed, Li Xiong had no intention of being kind to these families.
Usually, Li Xiong was not one to lose his temper, but this time, he arrived with a cold expression.
Escorted by dozens of Bandit Elite Guards, Li Xiong's presence became even more imposing.
Without any pleasantries or introductions, Li Xiong arrived and immediately demanded in a commanding tone that the aristocratic families hand over ninety percent of their properties and shops in Qiangyin to the Mountain Stronghold or to Lu HaiKong.
Among the four aristocratic families, only Zhao Xie remained unfazed, having been prepared for this, while the other three heads of the families paled in shock.
Even with Li Xiong's powerful aura, the three family heads couldn't help but want to argue.
"Mr. Li, or should I say, Chief Li, this is a bit overbearing, isn't it? Our Wang Clan has always cooperated happily with you, and now you're asking for our properties and shops. You should at least give us an explanation."
The Wang Clan's head hesitated for a moment before stepping forward.
As soon as he did, Li Xiong's gaze fixed on him, cold and detached, as if looking at a corpse, causing the man to break into a cold sweat.
It was then that the Wang Clan's head realized for the first time that the usually amiable Li Xiong could have such a terrifying gaze, and he regretted speaking up.
"I recall that your Wang Clan seems to have a good relationship with bandits and has done quite a bit of business with them. Are you still up to something with the bandits? Zhao Xie, have someone search the Wang Clan thoroughly. If they find anything they shouldn't have, you know what to do."
At Li Xiong's words, the faces of the three family heads drained of color.
In the 1619 book, it is written without error!
Their hearts seethed with resentment towards the Mountain Stronghold and Li Xiong, feeling that this was too domineering and brazen. Just because of a question, they wanted to push others to the brink. How powerful was this Mountain Stronghold?
Despite their inner curses, what could they do at this moment? With the Mountain Stronghold's current influence, not only did they have the backing of the eunuch Zhang Ran, but even without it, no one would speak up for them if they were killed in the remote Bingzhou.
Li Xiong swept his gaze over the three men, a cold smile on his face.
"I'll be blunt with you. Don't think we're unaware of your previous schemes."
"You've enjoyed the benefits of our Mountain Stronghold, and now you want to jump ship at the slightest breeze? Now that we've grown stronger, you want to cling to us again? Is there such a good deal?"
"I'll give you a chance. Within five days, transfer all your properties and shops to us, and then get out of Qiangyin."
"You can choose not to comply, but I hope you can bear the consequences. Get out!"
As Li Xiong's words landed, the three family heads eventually left the Zhao Clan with their heads hung low in defeat.
Watching their departing figures, Zhao Xie felt a twinge of worry.
"Just let them go like that? I doubt they'll willingly hand over their assets."
Li Xiong smiled, "Willing or not, the result will be the same. If the situation weren't just stabilizing, I wouldn't have bothered meeting them at all."
Upon hearing Li Xiong's words, Zhao Xie couldn't help but think of the Shi Clan and the Ghost Shadow Guard, causing him to shudder.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
