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Chapter 52: Ruthless
Chapter 52: Ruthless
September 25, 2017
"A mere group of raiders, offering fifty thousand gold without batting an eye. Since when have even a bunch of brutes become so powerful?" Zhang Li looked at the departing figure of the second-in-command with a meaningful gaze and a cold smile.
"It seems these fellows must be up to some shady business behind the scenes!" A loud voice echoed, and a middle-aged man entered, wearing armor and bearing a resemblance of about seven to eight parts to Zhang Li.
This man was named Zhang Ke, Zhang Li's younger brother from the same mother. He was also the one who simultaneously controlled the Zhang family's private army and a large portion of the county's troops in Shanwu County, making him a powerful figure in the county. Within the Zhang family, he held the second highest position, just below Zhang Li. As for the family head above them, he was merely a figurehead, with all the real power already in the hands of these two brothers, or more precisely, in Zhang Li's hands.
"Shady business? Such a profitable venture must be kept under wraps, or others would have snatched it away long ago."
It seemed Zhang Li's intentions towards Dark Wind Fort were not simple. It was likely he had his eyes on them for a long time, and even if Lu HaiKong hadn't caused any trouble this time, the Zhang family would still have sought out Dark Wind Fort.
"Should I stop them and interrogate them?" Zhang Ke, well aware of his brother's character, asked.
"Interrogate? What's the point of interrogating? This is Pingzhou. If these raiders aren't doing business with the aristocracy, where else could they have gotten that money from, other than the foreign tribes beyond the pass? Stopping them would be pointless. There are some things we know are highly profitable, but we can't touch them. That's the game the aristocracy plays!"
Zhang Li had already conducted a thorough investigation into Dark Wind Fort. He knew their strength was not typical of ordinary raiders. They rarely looted, but when they did, they were brutally cruel, often slaughtering entire villages. However, upon closer inspection, it was evident that they only targeted impoverished and remote small villages, which had little to offer.
Moreover, while ordinary raiders might fear the aristocracy, they were not intimidated. They often raided aristocratic caravans, which was rare for Dark Wind Fort, who seemed particularly wary of the aristocracy. For instance, this time, the Zhang family didn't even have to threaten them, and Dark Wind Fort came running.
They claimed it was to make amends, but Zhang Li clearly felt that it was more of an appeasement.
Dark Wind Fort was trying hard to convey to the aristocracy that they were honest folk. It was evident that Dark Wind Fort feared a confrontation with the aristocracy. In truth, if it came to a fight, Dark Wind Fort might not fear the Zhang family, and they might even be slightly stronger in terms of raw power.
However, Dark Wind Fort didn't want trouble, and the reason was simple. They had a lucrative business in their hands, and if they clashed with the aristocracy, their trade would suffer.
Dark Wind Fort focused more on procuring expensive items like tea, wine, and silk, even in Pingzhou. They also acquired many iron weapons, which they secretly transported through their channels to several Xianbei tribes beyond Yanmen Pass for trade.
This was a highly profitable venture, explaining how a small raider group could maintain a few hundred raiders. Among all military units, cavalry was the most expensive to maintain, yet Shanwu County couldn't afford it, while Dark Wind Fort could. The reason for their five thousand gold compensation was simple: they had money.
Once money started piling up, it became difficult to hide, especially from those who were paying attention, and Zhang Li was one such observant individual.
Regarding the wealth of the Dark Wind Fort, Zhang Li was envious. Even though the Zhang family was the top noble clan in Shanwu County, their assets likely couldn't compare to the Dark Wind Fort. However, Zhang Li also knew that they couldn't handle a force like the Dark Wind Fort. Just those few hundred raiders were enough to make him wary, let alone the potential involvement of the Xianbei tribes behind them, which would be a tragedy.
"The Dark Wind Fort matter can wait; I'll plan it carefully. But those few petty bandits who robbed our caravan should be found as soon as possible. Shanwu County cannot tolerate such an unstable factor!" When mentioning Lu HaiKong and the others, a hint of darkness appeared on Zhang Li's usually refined face.
Although they hadn't found Lu HaiKong and his group, with the feedback from the powerful Zhang family and the Dark Wind Fort, Zhang Li had basically pieced together the sequence of events.
The leader of the petty bandits had encountered the third-in-command of the Dark Wind Fort in a small mountain village called 'Niujia Village'. A conflict arose, and the bandit leader, using both cunning and strength, managed to kill eleven raiders, including the third-in-command of the Dark Wind Fort, single-handedly. Only one raider managed to escape.
Soon after, the Zhang family's caravan was robbed. According to the Zhang family's coachman and the sole surviving raider, the physical descriptions of Lu HaiKong and his group were consistent. It was almost certain that they were the same group.
What concerned Zhang Li the most was that when Lu HaiKong first dealt with the Dark Wind Fort, he was alone, but when they robbed the Zhang family's caravan, he had two companions. Zhang Li feared that Lu HaiKong had accomplices, which was not good news for the Zhang family, especially with the recent surge in extraordinary individuals. If an extraordinary person appeared in Shanwu County, it would be extremely detrimental to the Zhang family's development.
"Go and spread the news that the Dark Wind Fort is about to slaughter Niujia Village. The faster, the better. Then, make way for the Dark Wind Fort on the official road, and send some men to keep an eye on the area around Niujia Village. If you encounter any suspicious individuals, capture them immediately." Zhang Li instructed.
"Okay, I'll send someone to take care of it right away." Zhang Ke nodded, turned to leave, but suddenly stopped as if he had remembered something. He tilted his head and asked, "Should we notify the Dark Wind Fort and ask them to put on a show? Just to cooperate a bit?"
"Cooperate? What's there to cooperate about? No need, let them do as they please." Zhang Li's lips curled into a bloodthirsty smile. Zhang Ke couldn't help but shiver, understanding what Zhang Li meant by 'doing as they please'.
"After all, it's the lives of hundreds of people. If we just stand by and watch the Dark Wind Fort slaughter them all, it won't look good for me as the County Magistrate." Zhang Ke hesitated, his conscience prompting him to add, "It's not right to just let it happen."
(End of Chapter)
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