"We’ll do as you say!"
After a brief mont of deliberation, Wu Kuang made a firm decision.
He praised him silently in his heart. ’It was worth waiting for Chen Sheng to co out of seclusion. The young man’s every word has hit the nail on the head, and his proposed strategy is exactly what I had in mind.’
He felt increasingly fortunate for having promoted him back then. Although he had initially accepted so silver coins, he had long since returned it through other ans after realizing Chen Sheng’s outstanding abilities and comndable loyalty, and had supported him ever since.
Looking back, it was undoubtedly a wise choice.
"My Lord, you are the master strategist who commands from the tent. I have only done my small part. How could I dare claim any credit?" Chen Sheng said humbly.
"You... always so cautious..."
Wu Kuang shook his head and chuckled. Before he could finish, a clamor arose from outside the hall. County Magistrate Lin Shou had sent soone to summon him, saying he needed to appear personally to address the public outcry.
"Co, accompany to et these people. When the ti cos, you will answer on my behalf."
Wu Kuang straightened his official robes and rose to his feet. His intention was to build up Chen Sheng’s prestige, making it clear to everyone present that this young man was his most trusted confidant.
Chen Sheng understood imdiately. He nodded in agreent and followed closely behind Wu Kuang into the main assembly hall.
...
The mont they stepped into the hall, the clamor imdiately died down.
Everyone inside—be they officials, gentry, or rchants—turned their gazes in unison toward Wu Kuang and bowed in greeting.
Even County Magistrate Lin Shou rose to welco him. With a solemn expression, he invited Wu Kuang to take the seat of honor. The core of today’s discussion was suppressing the bandits, a matter falling under the County Captain’s jurisdiction. Lin Shou was more than happy to hand this hot potato entirely over to Wu Kuang.
Wu Kuang didn’t refuse. He sat in the seat of honor, his expression calm. Chen Sheng stood at his side, his gaze like a torch as it slowly swept over everyone in the hall.
The assembly was indeed impressive. Not only were there more than ten influential rchant representatives, but the Governnt Office’s important officials were also gathered—the County Magistrate, the Deputy Magistrate, the Chief Clerk, the Chief Constable, and even the Grand Commander of the Military Preparation Camp, Chuyue Mountain, were all present.
When Chuyue Mountain saw Chen Sheng’s gaze pass over him, he even offered what appeared to be a friendly smile.
If Chen Sheng hadn’t already learned the truth of his collusion with the local magnates through the Celestial Book, he might have actually been fooled for a mont.
The mont everyone was seated, the rchant representatives, who had clearly co prepared, couldn’t wait to start pleading their case.
"County Captain Wu, when will the Governnt Office dispatch troops to suppress the bandits?"
"My Lord, please understand! Our stolen goods are still in the hands of the water bandits. Our losses are catastrophic! The Governnt Office can’t just stand by and do nothing!"
"Please give us a definite answer, My Lord, so we can have so peace of mind and not spend our days running around in a panic."
"If the water bandits aren’t eliminated, how can Changshan County ever know peace?"
Aside from the elders sent by the Huang, Gao, and Yang families—who sat calmly and watched the events unfold—nearly all the other rchants spoke in one voice, their words earnest and even tinged with grief and indignation.
Although the representatives from those three families did not speak directly, their very presence was a form of silent pressure.
Wu Kuang’s expression remained unchanged. He raised a hand to quiet the crowd’s clamor. Instead of responding directly to the rchants, he turned his gaze to the line of officials on the other side and asked in a deep voice:
"Gentlen, what are your thoughts on this matter?"
"County Captain," the Deputy Magistrate was the first to step forward, cupping his hands. "In my humble opinion, the suppression of the bandits concerns the people’s stability and the Governnt Office’s prestige. It should be done sooner rather than later. Any delay might lead to further unrest in the city and destabilize public morale."
"I second that."
The Chief Clerk followed close behind. "The Qinglin Water Bandits have been a scourge for a long ti. It is ti for a thunderous strike to destroy them, restore peace to the people, and demonstrate the might of the court."
"I... dare not speak rashly. I will defer to the County Captain’s judgnt," said another, more cautious official, his words evasive.
However, the vast majority of the officials expressed their support for an imdiate campaign against the bandits.
Wu Kuang sneered inwardly but showed no trace of it on his face. He turned to the ever-silent Chuyue Mountain. "Commander Chu, as the Grand Commander of the Military Preparation Camp, you are in charge of the troops. What is your opinion on this?"
Chuyue Mountain imdiately rose, clasped his fist, and bowed, his tone exceptionally deferential and loyal. "This subordinate awaits your command, My Lord! If you say we attack, I will ready the troops for battle at once, without a second thought!"
Although Wu Kuang found the man’s sudden change in attitude a bit strange, he was pleased to hear his declaration of support. ’It seems this fellow finally knows what’s good for him,’ he thought.
"AHEM..."
At that mont, County Magistrate Lin Shou coughed twice, drawing everyone’s attention. He scanned the hall and summarized in a slow, deliberate manner, "This matter of bandit suppression is indeed a grave threat to our Changshan County. It concerns the livelihood of the people and the stability of the state, so it cannot be taken lightly, nor should we act with excessive haste.
However, I trust in County Captain Wu’s talent. As a veteran of the battlefield, he is skilled in leading troops and has even cultivated a young hero like Commander Chen. He must have extraordinary thods at his disposal. We can perhaps look forward to a swift and total victory, eradicating the bandit nace in one fell swoop. Of course, the specific course of action still requires County Captain Wu’s careful consideration and thorough planning."
His speech was grand and eloquent but ultimately full of empty words. The core ssage, however, still leaned toward dispatching troops to suppress the bandits. Hearing this, the rchants below imdiately started clamoring again with their petitions.
Wu Kuang’s face showed a thoughtful expression, as if he were weighing the pros and cons, but he secretly shot Chen Sheng a aningful glance.
Chen Sheng understood. He imdiately took a step forward, his gaze sweeping across the hall as he announced in a clear voice:
"The County Captain is aware of everyone’s intentions and already has a plan in mind."
"So, are we suppressing the bandits or not?"
The elder from the Gao Family suddenly spoke up. His voice wasn’t loud, but it reached everyone’s ears clearly, carrying a hint of interrogation.
Chen Sheng shot him a sharp glance, his voice steady, powerful, and admitting no doubt:
"We suppress them! The Qinglin Water Bandits run rampant on the waterways, plundering rchants and harming the common people. How can such a cancer be allowed to remain? Of course, the bandits must be suppressed! We have no other choice! Failing to do so would be failing to pacify the people; failing to do so would be failing to uphold the governnt’s authority!"
"Commander Chen is absolutely right!"
Soone imdiately chid in loudly, attempting to solidify the decision. "I was on my boat, eating and drinking, when the water bandits suddenly robbed ! It’s as if they have no regard for the Governnt Office’s authority at all."
However, Chen Sheng’s tone suddenly shifted, his voice rising a few notches:
"However—"
He paused deliberately. Only when everyone’s attention was fixed on him did he continue:
"However, suppressing bandits is a major military affair. It concerns the lives of many soldiers and the safety of Changshan County. We absolutely cannot be rash or reckless. Otherwise, if our plans are inadequate and we suffer a defeat, we will lose n and commanders, the bandit threat will only intensify, and it will be too late to turn the situation around."
"So, in the end, are we suppressing them or not?"
Soone, confused by the turn of events, couldn’t help but ask.
"We suppress them! Of course we suppress them!"
Chen Sheng’s tone was decisive as he laid out his strategy. "But the way to suppress bandits is to act only after a plan is set. Therefore, this campaign cannot be about speed; it must be about stability. We need to suppress them slowly, thodically, and optimally. We must do it with rhythm and in stages. More importantly, we must do it with thorough planning and complete preparation.
Only in this way can we gather our full strength for a single, lethal strike to truly wipe out the bandits’ lair and eliminate this problem for good!"
"This..."
Hearing this, the people in the hall looked at each other and began to whisper among themselves.
They felt that his words made so sense, yet sothing seed off. For a mont, though, they couldn’t quite put their finger on what it was.
Chuyue Mountain’s eyes, however, flashed with a keen light, as if he had seen through Chen Sheng’s delaying tactics.
He feigned a grave and puzzled expression and asked, "According to Commander Chen, the County Captain’s intention is, ultimately, still to suppress them?"
"Commander Chu, your words touch upon the very key."
Chen Sheng imdiately picked up the thread, his gaze sweeping over the rchants present. "Suppression is inevitable. However, as you all may have heard, in recent years, the Military Preparation Camp’s armants have been neglected. Equipnt is old and damaged, the soldiers are poorly trained, and their combat readiness is worryingly low.
To reorganize the army and build a capable fighting force in a short ti, we must invest a dedicated ’Piracy Suppression Silver’. Unfortunately... the Governnt Treasury is currently empty. We are stretched to our limits and simply cannot afford it."
Chen Sheng put on a troubled expression, his tone heavy.
Hearing this, Lin Shou’s brow furrowed slightly, and he couldn’t help but look at Wu Kuang.
Wu Kuang remained expressionless. He covertly made a hand gesture, hidden by his sleeve. Lin Shou’s gaze flickered. After a mont’s thought, he gave a barely perceptible nod, tacitly approving the matter.
"Piracy Suppression Silver?"
The rchants below were instantly in an uproar. "Is the Governnt Office expecting us to pay for this?"
"That’s impossible."
"Exactly! We already pay a significant amount in official taxes. We can’t bear another heavy burden!"
The rchants all started talking at once, their faces showing a mixture of difficulty and reluctance.
Seeing this, Chen Sheng’s expression suddenly darkened. A look of displeasure crossed his face, and his voice grew colder:
"If you don’t provide this Piracy Suppression Silver, are you expecting the Governnt Office to? You all need to understand—this silver isn’t for the Governnt Office. It’s to suppress the bandits. It’s to ensure your own safety."
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