"Speaking of which, have you thought about how to deal with Pang Tong's fifty thousand troops?"
"Why would I need to deal with them?" Wen Mohan's smile faded slightly. "Jiangzhou is too vast for me to swallow alone. Someone else will surely come to share the spoils."
"Can you bear to let them?"
"This is not a question of bearing to let them," Wen Mohan said slowly. "From what I know of him, he would never act without purpose. If he wants Jiangzhou's troops, there must be a hidden reason. Otherwise, why do you think I would willingly take on this hot potato?"
"You came to Jiangzhou for her!"
"Yes, I came for her. But isn't he doing the same?" Wen Mohan harbored a vague suspicion. His room to maneuver in the capital was too limited, but the outside world was different. He also needed to increase his leverage to remain competitive with Nangong Yu.
"Fine. Whatever you wish to do, I won't pry. If you need any help, just ask." Cen Yu said no more. All he could do was offer his silent support.
"Right, we're short on medicinal herbs. The weather is getting warmer, and many people are falling ill. We're using up medicine quickly, and we don't have enough."
"Don't worry. A batch of medicinal herbs I procured is already on its way. It should arrive in Jiangzhou in a few days."
"Brother Cen, I can't thank you enough."
"We're brothers, no need for thanks." Cen Yu finished his tea. "Just don't forget to let me have a share of the profits."
"Jiangzhou is suffering greatly from this disaster. It will take time for the market to recover. Do you plan to expand the Cen family's business?" Wen Mohan inquired.
"Naturally." Cen Yu's eyes held a playful charm, and his tone was gentle. "After such a severe blow, fresh blood is needed. Before, Jiangzhou was controlled by the Jiangzhou Chamber of Commerce. Now, they likely can't hold on, making it a prime opportunity for us to enter. Otherwise, why do you think Shangguan Jin left the capital to come to this region?"
"Are you blaming me for cooperating with him?"
"His family is in the grain business. Disaster-stricken areas need grain the most, so cooperating with him is naturally the most beneficial. However, I heard you bought grain from Jiangzhou merchants for seven hundred thousand taels?"
"That seven hundred thousand taels of silver was for the Shangguan family head." Wen Mohan said softly. "He revealed the situation in Jiangzhou to me. He will also deliver the grain as promised, along with some medicinal herbs and stone materials at a fair price. As for the silver, he can fight Pang Tong for it himself. For me, I got ten thousand dan of secretly hoarded grain from Pang Tong and his ilk without spending a cent, and bought another ten thousand dan of grain along with countless medicinal herbs and stone materials from the Shangguan family head. It's a win-win situation, so why not?"
"Young Master, I've returned." Wei Feng arrived, travel-worn and disheveled.
Seeing him, Wen Mohan frowned slightly. "Why do you look so disheveled?"
"Your subordinate tried to enter Zhang County to investigate but couldn't find a way in, which is why I look so disheveled." Wei Feng wiped his face with his sleeve. "There's something wrong with Zhang County."
"Isn't that obvious? If there wasn't something wrong, would your Young Master have sent you to investigate?"
Wei Feng blushed slightly. "When your subordinate arrived at Zhang County, I found the city gates shut tight, with heavy troops guarding them. No one was allowed in or out. I disguised myself as a villager visiting relatives but was still turned away."
"And then?"
"Then I thought I'd sneak in under the cover of darkness that night, but I was discovered and chased by the guards, which is why I'm so disheveled."
"Do you have any idea about the situation inside the city?"
"The situation inside the city is likely dire." Wei Feng hesitated. "I observed that after nightfall, there wasn't a single light within the city, as if the entire Zhang County were a dead city. However, faint cries could be heard."
"Damn it!" Wen Mohan slammed the table in anger. "What are Zou Yang and the others trying to do? Are they planning to trap all the citizens to death within the city?"
"I fear Zhang County is hiding a formidable secret!" Cen Yu said casually. "Perhaps a secret that costs lives."
"Investigate further. We must find out what's happening in Zhang County."
"Yes, Young Master."
The bandit lair on Yalíng Ridge had a new set of occupants. Nangong Yu, looking at the daily reports, curved his lips into a smile. "This girl is quite greedy. Isn't she afraid of pushing the other party to a corner where they'll fight back?"
"She's not greedy, she's black-hearted!" Si Ye chimed in.
Nangong Yu glanced at him, offering no comment. She had taken six million taels from Pang Tong and his group, including seven hundred thousand taels in disaster relief funds. Wen Mohan had used seven hundred thousand taels to buy twenty thousand dan of grain, a sure profit!
"My Lord, why are we hiding here?"
"Do you think Pang Tong is an idiot? With so many of us appearing in Jiangzhou, would he not notice?" Nangong Yu said coldly. "It's just that I didn't expect her to clear obstacles for Wen Mohan all the way... it makes me a little unhappy."
"My Lord is jealous," Si Chen said with a smile.
"Stop the nonsense. Have you found anything unusual?"
"Only one place, Zhang County, which is quite remote." Si Chen handed a piece of information to Nangong Yu. "Our people can't get into Zhang County, and no news is coming out from inside. Outside, Pang Tong has heavily guarded it, forbidding entry and exit."
"Was Zhang County affected by the disaster this time?"
"Yes, and quite severely. Strangely, the Jiangzhou prefect has neither sent aid nor opened the city gates, as if intending to trap the people inside Zhang County to their deaths."
"Leak this information to Wen Mohan and have him find a way to investigate Zhang County. Our people should not act rashly."
"The information has already been leaked to him, but it won't be easy for him to enter Zhang County." Si Chen frowned. "Pang Tong cares deeply about Zhang County. If Lord Wen tries to force his way in, it might provoke Pang Tong."
"The people in the capital care so much about Jiangzhou, which means Jiangzhou has something extraordinary. Besides being a major grain producer, Jiangzhou must have other enviable aspects, yet we haven't discovered them. Could it be in Zhang County?"
"If it's in Zhang County, shouldn't they be saving people?"
"Perhaps they're afraid of their secret in Zhang County being leaked." Si Ye pondered. "For example, a gold mine. Once leaked, this gold mine would belong to the imperial court, so they'd rather let the people inside the city die than allow the news to spread."
"Is that really the case?" Nangong Yu always felt things weren't that simple. "Investigate Pang Tong and his associates for any unusual movements. Perhaps we can find some clues."
"Yes, your subordinate obeys."
Nangong Yu let out a long sigh and touched the pendant around his neck. That day, when Xiao Man went berserk, she seemed to calm down upon seeing this pendant. Could this pendant hold some special secret?
"Jiangnan, Jiangzuo, and now Jiangzhou. Man'er, what exactly are you trying to do?" Nangong Yu was filled with deep confusion. He had a feeling that Xiao Man was not just seeking revenge!