Chapter 173 Lu River

Lu River, An Prefecture’s capital, within the Prefectural Governor’s office.

The Prefectural Governor was conversing with the regional commander who oversaw the military.

"This Chen Feng injured the Anlin Prefectural Governor, disappeared for several months, and now has resurfaced. We must capture him and bring him to justice this time."

The Prefectural Governor's tone was serious.

The tale of Chen Feng single-handedly flattening Ershan Mountain had spread, alarming the officials of Lu River.

They had been pursuing him for months, and now that they finally had news, they immediately made plans.

The regional commander frowned upon hearing this, saying, "But Chen Feng appears and disappears like a ghost, leaving no trace. It will be difficult to capture him."

The Prefectural Governor said sternly, "Since Hongyun Mountain received Chen Feng's assistance, they are accomplices. Now they are expanding recklessly, and we must suppress them to uphold the court's dignity."

"This… Hongyun Mountain has swallowed Tiger Head Mountain and Huangdang Mountain. They currently have twenty to thirty thousand people. The bandits are powerful, and our prefecture's soldiers alone may not be enough to defeat them." The regional commander hesitated.

"Such a large bandit group has emerged within Lu River. Other prefectures will send troops to suppress them as well. An Prefecture can send six thousand men, which I will temporarily place under your command. Merge with the forces of the other prefectures and crush the bandits in one fell swoop."

The Prefectural Governor was solemn.

The regional commander bowed in response, saying with a serious expression, "I will not disappoint the Prefectural Governor!"

...

Lu River, An Prefecture territory.

Ten thousand miles of cloudless sky, the red sun blazing, the world like a steamer.

Zhou Jing and his party of ten walked along the road, each wearing a straw hat.

Apart from Zhang San and his five close followers, as well as the prisoner Lin Song, the other four were all strong and muscular men, looking like they were not to be trifled with, causing passing travelers to avoid them.

"Brother, Wen Shui County is just ahead."

Hong Dingxian pointed ahead.

Zhou Jing looked towards the distance, where the outline of a county town faintly appeared.

Wen Shui County was located in a remote corner of Lu River, not far from Jiangchun.

After leaving Hongyun Mountain, the group had traveled on and off, crossing several prefectures and counties before arriving here.

Zhou Jing turned back and looked at the group, saying, "This place is Brother Hong's hometown, and he knows it best. Eldest Brother is mature and prudent. Take Brother Hong into the city to scout out the situation."

"What about you, Second Brother?" Guo Haishen asked curiously.

Zhou Jing stroked his chin, "Lu River is after me everywhere. My appearance is too eye-catching, and I'll easily be recognized by the soldiers. It's better for me to wait outside… And although Brother Hong is from this place, he's been away for many years and might be able to slip in."

Hong Dingxian touched his bald head, "When I left my hometown after committing the crime, I still had hair. I only shaved my head later to conceal my whereabouts. The county soldiers probably won't recognize me."

"That's even better." Zhou Jing smiled, then instructed, "Go into the city and find out if the county magistrate and the county commandant are still Brother Hong's old enemies. Also, visit the common people and ask if there are any bullies in this county who are engaging in unfair business practices."

"Second Brother wants to take them all down together?" Fang Zhen was very interested.

"Since we're here, we might as well get rid of them all."

Zhou Jing nodded.

A small county town didn't have enough manpower to stop him from moving freely.

Moreover, the low walls of the county town were like nothing to him. He could sneak in silently at night without going through the city gates, so he didn't plan to swagger into the city during the day.

After the group finished discussing, they split into two groups. Guo Haishen and Hong Dingxian entered the city first, while Zhou Jing and Fang Zhen took the rest of the group to rest at a tavern by the road outside the city.

There were no other customers in the tavern. Zhou Jing and Fang Zhen and the others sat down, put two tables together, ordered food and unfiltered wine, and ate casually.

Although Lin Song was a prisoner, apart from having his hands tied with hemp rope, he hadn't suffered any humiliation on the road, and his complexion was still good at this time.

"Hero, are you really going to take me back to Wu Mountain Sect?"

He looked at Zhou Jing and hesitated to speak.

Zhou Jing held his wine bowl and glanced at him, "Do you think I'm lying to you? I said I'd take you to their door to ask for money, and I always keep my word."

Lin Song's expression was subtle.

When he was taken away from Tiger Head Mountain by Zhou Jing, he was quite flustered and didn't know what Zhou Jing was doing with him.

Later, when he heard Zhou Jing's plan on the road, he was dumbfounded.

—This strongman was actually going to tie him up and go to Jiangchun, back to the Wu Mountain Sect, to ask for ransom.

Lin Song had never seen such an arrogant kidnapper, directly dragging the hostage to other people's homes to negotiate terms.

If it were an ordinary family, it would be fine, but their Wu Mountain Sect was a major sect in the martial world, a veritable dragon's pool and tiger's den.

Although he knew that Zhou Jing's martial arts were extraordinary, this behavior was too arrogant. It simply didn't put their Wu Mountain Sect in their eyes. He had asked repeatedly along the way, but still couldn't believe that a normal person could do such a thing.

Lin Song was really curious about Zhou Jing's purpose, and perhaps because he felt that Zhou Jing was quite easy to talk to on the road, he couldn't help but ask:

"Hero, I don't understand. You just want money, why put yourself in danger?"

Zhou Jing smacked his lips and said casually, "It doesn't matter if I tell you. I want to challenge the world's experts and win the title of number one in the world. Your sect leader is famous, and I want to spar with him. It's that simple… As for the many disciples of your Wu Mountain Sect, heh, they're just chickens and dogs."

Lin Song couldn't help but get a little angry, "You're so arrogant, be careful of capsizing in the gutter."

"You're quite interesting, calling your own sect a gutter and worrying about us kidnappers."

Fang Zhen clicked his tongue in wonder.

Lin Song's expression turned gloomy upon hearing this, and he said sullenly, "I have a request. When you take me back, can you not publicly mention my affair with the sect leader's daughter?"

"Oh? Didn't you tell us yourself?"

Everyone raised their eyebrows, quite interested.

Lin Song said helplessly, "I originally wanted to write a letter and give it to the sect leader, so that only one person would know. But you're taking me back with great fanfare. If you publicize this matter, it will damage the reputation of the sect leader's daughter and be ridiculed by others in the martial world."

"Strange, what are you afraid of? Since you have an affair, then you should marry her properly in the future. Could it be that your sect leader looks down on you?" Fang Zhen asked curiously while cracking peanuts.

The corner of Lin Song's mouth twitched, and he hesitated, "Actually, the sect leader's daughter is engaged. Her husband's family is a wealthy family in Ning Tian Prefecture. She doesn't want to marry him, and I originally wanted to find an opportunity to elope with her… If only the sect leader knew about the affair, there would still be room for maneuver. But if it gets out of hand, it will become a laughingstock, and I'll definitely be in trouble."

"Hmph, so you're adulterers!" Fang Zhen said contemptuously.

Zhang San scratched his head, "I think it's mutual affection, a bit like what the storytellers say… What was it called again, talented scholars and beautiful women?"

"I don't know if she's a beauty, but this guy is definitely not a talented scholar. At best, he's a pretty boy with no ink in his stomach."

Zhou Jing joked happily.

Lin Song's face twitched, but he didn't dare to retort.

At this time, Zhang San asked curiously, "I wonder if we'll be able to see the rumored Royal Wind Master on this trip to Jiangchun… Young man, you've been talking about the Royal Wind Master all the way, is that person's ability real or fake?"

Lin Song perked up and nodded, "Of course it's real! Everyone in Jiangchun knows that the Royal Wind Master can summon wind and rain, concoct elixirs, and is a true lord who descended from the Thunder Department of the Divine Firmament, seeking out the secrets of heaven and purifying demons!"

He had been pulling tiger skins and waving flags on the road, constantly saying that the Wu Mountain Sect had an old relationship with Ling Fengzi, wanting to intimidate these kidnappers, but it didn't work very well.

Guo Haishen and other heroes of the green forest believed more in the weapons in their hands and were skeptical of Ling Fengzi's deeds.

Zhou Jing was even less likely to be afraid of himself.

"It's all just exaggeration, how can there be such methods in this world?"

Fang Zhen's tone was disdainful. He had never believed these rumors.

After all, this matter sounded outrageous, and upon closer inspection, it was indeed a bit outrageous.

Zhou Jing glanced at him and said, "That's not necessarily true. There's an ancient saying in the martial world that there are no undeserved reputations. Since this Royal Wind Master has such a great reputation, he must have some ability."

Fang Zhen was surprised, "Second Brother, don't tell me you actually believe this nonsense about the Thunder Lord descending to earth?"

Zhou Jing asked in return, "If you hadn't seen my martial arts, wouldn't you also think that my rumors are nonsense?"

Fang Zhen was immediately speechless and muttered, "Second Brother, you're different. High martial arts can always be traced, but these mysterious so-called immortal arts are mostly just pretenses…"

At this time, Lin Song's eyes rolled, and he said, "Hero, if you want to compete for the title of number one in the world, why not pay a visit to this Royal Wind Master? If you can defeat such an enlightened master, who else in this world can be your opponent?"

Zhou Jing smiled noncommittally:

"Do you think you're very clever? Someone as clever as you should go to the palace to serve the emperor. I'll castrate you now, and your sect leader might even be happy to give more rewards."

"No, no… I'm still useful."

Lin Song was covered in cold sweat, quickly shut his mouth, and bowed his head to eat.

...

On the other side, Guo Haishen and Hong Dingxian easily entered Wen Shui County through the soldiers' half-hearted inspection.

The two walked on the street, Hong Dingxian looking around.

"How long has it been since Brother Hong returned to his hometown?" Guo Haishen asked from the side.

"It's been at least five or six years." Hong Dingxian shook his head and sighed, "Things have changed…"

He was a bit emotional, but quickly adjusted his mood and searched everywhere with Guo Haishen.

Hong Dingxian's uncle and aunt had passed away, but they had left behind a cousin. However, the cousin had already sold the house and moved to another county town. The original house was now occupied by another unfamiliar family.

The wealthy man who had been killed on the street by Hong Dingxian had already fallen into decline. His wife and concubines had remarried, and his children were profligate, selling off much of the family property.

However, another wealthy family had seized the opportunity and filled the vacant position, becoming the new local bully of Wen Shui County, colluding with the county magistrate to engage in forced sales and substandard business practices.

As for the county magistrate and the county commandant, they were still the original two people, but according to rumors, the county magistrate had spent money to get connections and would soon be promoted and transferred away from Wen Shui County.

It was common for the local county magistrate to be corrupt and plunder the people's wealth. As long as there were no major incidents, no one in the court would care. The people here were used to it.

Things were about the same everywhere in this world. Local bullies and corrupt officials were everywhere. To be a law-abiding citizen, one had to live tremblingly with them, praying that one would not provoke such people one day.

As long as they could make a living, without a knife to their necks, even if they were bullied on weekdays, the people here would rather endure it silently and resign themselves to fate.

The two scouted around and gradually it was evening.

"We came at a good time. If it had been a year or two later, your enemy would have been transferred away." Guo Haishen said in a low voice.

"Perhaps it's the will of heaven, wanting me to avenge this."

Hong Dingxian exhaled.

The two didn't delay any longer, quickly left the city, found Zhou Jing who was waiting, and told him what had happened.

After listening, Fang Zhen said hatefully, "These local bullies and wealthy men, after we get rid of one batch, another batch grows out, how hateful!"

Zhou Jing's expression didn't change, "These rascals, it's only natural that we can't kill them all, but if we meet them, we can kill as many as we can, that's all we can do."

He had a plan, looked at Guo Haishen and Hong Dingxian, and said:

"Brothers, find some cloth and charcoal pens, and write down the crimes of this county magistrate and wealthy men, write more copies."

"What does Brother plan to do?" Hong Dingxian asked curiously.

Zhou Jing narrowed his eyes:

"This trip is to avenge the brothers, but killing these people is also 'acting on behalf of heaven', there must be a justifiable cause…"

...

The time of one night quietly passed in the dreams of the people in the county town.

During the day, the yamen runner who was on duty came to the prefectural yamen and found a terrifying scene, so frightened that he collapsed on the ground.

The headless county magistrate was sitting upright on the high platform, blood flowing all over the ground, and several large characters were written on the wall behind him in blood:

"Chen Feng, the killer of the dog official!"

Wen Shui County was alarmed, and it was then discovered that not only the county magistrate had died, but the local county lieutenant and the wealthy men who often ran rampant in the county had also had their heads chopped off in the dark of night and died a tragic death.

Next to the corpses, in the downtown area, and even on the official bulletin boards, there were rags full of writing, and gold and silver jewelry were scattered next to them.

The rags wrote about the usual evil deeds of the county magistrate and others. These gold and silver were copied from their homes and thrown directly on the street for people to take for themselves.

At the end of the rags, there was the same sentence.

"Vowing to slaughter all corrupt officials and tyrannical bullies in the world!"

Such a major event happened in the small county town, and it immediately spread throughout the county, and everyone knew about it.

The people were extremely shocked, and at the same time of fear, when they saw the usually high-ranking and domineering officials die tragically, they had an unspeakable sense of pleasure in their hearts.

The yamen was in chaos, and the runners were searching everywhere, but they were like headless flies, with no target at all.

At the same time, Zhou Jing and his party had already left Wen Shui County and were swaggering towards Jiangchun.

He had already made up his mind to use the banner of "killing corrupt officials and slaughtering tyrannical bullies" to kill all the way in a high-profile manner.

Every time he passed a place, he would have people scout out the local corrupt officials and tyrannical bullies, and then use his increasingly strong skills to eliminate them and publicize it widely.

At first, it would naturally cause panic, but as he killed more and more corrupt officials and tyrannical bullies, in addition to those who should be afraid and angry, some people would gradually wish that he would visit the local area.

The great cause of rebellion needs soil. Although he is not starting an incident for the time being, he can already indirectly create momentum, evoke popular indignation, and create a situation.

The Great Xia Dynasty has lasted for nearly two hundred years, and the contradictions are becoming more and more acute.

The powerless can only endure everywhere, daring to be angry but not daring to speak out. When an external force that can break the situation appears, many people do not reject it, and even hope that someone will carry out a violent catharsis on their behalf.

Although their families are still poor and their lives have not improved, they are happy to see the people who usually ride on their heads and act wantonly suffer, and they are happy to see it happen.

People who are poor and even have nothing dare to fight the most, because they have nothing to lose, and when they get something, in order to prevent it from being taken away, they will become extremely fierce - which is also the most direct source of manpower for rebellion.

Starting an incident requires the support of this group. The current situation is not yet mature, but we can already try to gain preliminary support.

Sharpening a knife does not delay cutting firewood. On the way to travel around and challenge experts, it is a good time to further make a name for yourself in the field of "acting on behalf of heaven".

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