Chapter 483: 446 The Old Man Says All Can Be Killed

Chapter 483: Chapter 446 The Old Man Says All Can Be Killed

“Clan Uncle, where does this claim come from? We simply want to prevent Marquis Jing’an from taking things too far, not to make an enemy of him!” Luo Changsheng clearly hadn’t grasped the seriousness of the situation yet.

Indeed, they didn’t want to make an enemy of Yang Zhenshan; they merely wished for a piece of the pie in the Liaodong grain trade.

But Yang Zhenshan’s current actions are nothing short of monopolizing the market.

Ship after ship of grain is transported to the Tenglong Guard, then hauled to Chongshan Pass, and they can only watch helplessly, unable to do anything.

No choice, Yang Zhenshan is indeed domineering in the grain purchasing arena.

He had six major agents in Jiangnan bind the grain and glass trades together; Jiangnan isn’t short on grain, so the profits from grain trading aren’t great, and even if prices skyrocket in Liaodong, the price of grain in Jiangnan would only fluctuate slightly.

Compared to grain trading, the profits from the glass trade are much greater.

As long as the merchants in Jiangnan aren’t fools, they know how to choose.

So even if the Luo family of Jizhou raises grain prices in Jiangnan, they still can’t secure a large amount of grain.

Moreover, the waters off Liaodong are under the jurisdiction of the Tenglong Guard Navy, so even if they manage to buy grain, they would have to transport it back with the Navy’s approval.

“Too far! Do you even comprehend what you’re saying?”

Luo Shang was utterly enraged; he stood up abruptly, pointing at Luo Changsheng’s nose and cursing, “Idiot, do you realize how seriously the Marquis takes the grain purchasing!”

“And now you’re still saying you don’t want to make an enemy of the Marquis! Fuck!”

Yang Zhenshan hadn’t explained to Luo Shang the purpose and reason behind his extensive grain purchasing, but Luo Shang was very aware of its importance to Yang Zhenshan.

What a joke, Yang Zhenshan had mobilized all available forces in the grain acquisition.

The six major agents and the Tenglong Four Guards were all purchasing grain for the General Mansion.

Isn’t the implication clear?

It goes without saying that Luo Shang understood!

Luo Changsheng was startled by Luo Shang’s outburst, but his face quickly turned grim.

“Clan Uncle, are you aware of whom you’re speaking to? I am the Clan Leader of the Luo family!” Luo Changsheng felt his dignity challenged.

“Bullshit Clan Leader! You’re only the Clan Leader because I give you face, and without it, what can you do, expel me from the family register?” Luo Shang was doing more than challenging; he was outright dismissive and humiliating.

The Luo family was originally a minor household; his ancestors had already established their own family register a long time ago, meaning their branch had separated from the Luo family of Jizhou.

If it hadn’t been for Luo Shang’s rise to power, his name would not even appear in the Jizhou Luo family register.

“You, you, you’re insane!” Luo Changsheng was infuriated.

“It’s you who’s insane!” retorted Luo Shang.

Just then, a voice sounded from outside the door, “Master, a messenger from the Marquis Mansion says that the Marquis requests your presence!”

Upon hearing this, Luo Shang’s angry expression paused; then he took a deep breath and looked at Luo Changsheng with an indifferent gaze.

“You really are an idiot!”

Luo Changsheng’s face became extremely somber, but he had also heard the voice from outside, so instead of continuing to argue with Luo Shang, he asked, “What do you mean by that?”

Luo Shang straightened his clothes and coldly said, “Just wait. You better pray that the Marquis hasn’t yet harbored the intention to kill, otherwise—”

He didn’t finish his sentence, because he too didn’t know the consequences of provoking Yang Zhenshan.

It seems that many will die!

Opening the door, Luo Shang exited with a somber expression, not sparing another glance at the stunned Luo Changsheng.

After Luo Shang’s figure disappeared, Luo Changsheng finally came back to his senses.

The anger and annoyance in his heart vanished, replaced by trepidation and unease.

Luo Shang made his way hurriedly to the Marquis Mansion; Yang Zhenshan was still waiting for him in the study.

“Paying respects to the Marquis!”

“Take a seat,” Yang Zhenshan said blandly.

He was standing at his desk, wielding a brush as thick as a finger, writing with abandon.

Luo Shang’s heart skipped a beat, internally cursing his luck.

On normal days, Yang Zhenshan was quite amiable and treated him closely; whenever he visited, Yang Zhenshan would greet him as an old friend, but now Yang Zhenshan’s demeanor was clearly not that of someone greeting an old friend.

Luo Shang cautiously approached the desk, and upon seeing the characters Yang Zhenshan was writing, his face instantly paled a few shades.

‘The disloyal may be killed! The unfilial may be killed! The unkind may be killed! The unjust may be killed! Those lacking propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness…’

Yang Zhenshan paused briefly after writing the last line before picking up his brush again and writing, “This old man declares all shall be slain!”

These were some lines from Zhang Xianzhong’s ‘Seven Kills Poem,’ but of course, Yang Zhenshan could not write ‘Great Western King says kill, kill, kill,’ so he slightly modified it.

Regardless of whether the modification was good or not, the characters he wrote—

Although the study was not necessarily impressive, the writing was certainly majestic, with each stroke bold and assertive, spirited and aggressive, much like his spear—the epitome of ferocity, broad strokes, and striking openness.

And each written word ‘kill’ seemed to be surging with murderous intent; at a glance, one felt a chill rise from the depths of their heart, creating a sensation of dread.

“Marquis, the Jizhou Luo family has nothing to do with me!” Luo Shang said tremblingly.

He was genuinely terrified!

Yang Zhenshan’s lips curled slightly, “I know, you’re not that stupid!”

Hearing this, the panic in Luo Shang’s heart eased significantly.

Yang Zhenshan placed his brush on the holder, glanced at the not yet dry ink, and said, “For your sake, I’ll give the Jizhou Luo family a chance.”

“No need, no need, the Marquis can deal with them however you wish, don’t waste my face!” Luo Shang hastily shook his hand and said.

He had a friendship with Yang Zhenshan, but he understood that this friendship was not to be squandered.

Yang Zhenshan offering a chance to the Jizhou Luo family because of him would be depleting the friendship between him and Yang Zhenshan.

He was reluctant to let this hard-earned goodwill be wasted on the Jizhou Luo family.

Seeing his reaction, Yang Zhenshan couldn’t help but smile wryly.

“The Luo family from Jizhou is still of use; let’s just warn them this time. Send this letter to them!”

Just now, Yang Zhenshan truly harbored a killing intent, but now he has calmed down and instead began weighing the pros and cons.

The Luo family from Jizhou, though distasteful to him, were useful to both him and Luo Shang.

Since they were useful, there was no harm in keeping them around for now.

“This…” Luo Shang hesitated for a moment, “Luo Changsheng is currently at my house!”

Yang Zhenshan was slightly taken aback.

“He just arrived today, and I have only just learned what they have been up to!” explained Luo Shang.

“Oh!” Yang Zhenshan snorted coldly, “What does he want you to do?”

“What else could it be? Naturally, he wants me to persuade the Marquis to stop buying grains from Jiangnan!” Luo Shang said.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly, “Send it to him! This time, I intend to carry out a massacre in Ping Yuan Province, let them hide a little farther away.”

Though his killing intent had quieted, it had not disappeared.

The severe drought in Liaodong was a matter of life and death for nearly ten million people. Although Yang Zhenshan could not manage Ping Yuan Province, since they had provoked him, they could not blame Yang Zhenshan for being ruthless for the sake of the people in Liaodong.

“Yes!” Luo Shang’s hands trembled slightly as he gathered the papers from the desk.

“Go back now, I have some matters to attend to, so I won’t keep you here!” said Yang Zhenshan.

“Yes, sir!” Luo Shang, as if granted amnesty, cradled the letter and bowed as he exited the room.

Although Yang Zhenshan subsequently showed a smile and his attitude became much warmer, he still felt a chilling trepidation.

After Luo Shang left, Yang Zhenshan pondered in his study for a long time.

He indeed harbored a killing intent toward those salt merchants and grain merchants of Ping Yuan, and he planned to carry out a massacre. But how and in what manner he should kill required careful consideration.

He couldn’t possibly direct his soldiers to slaughter each family directly.

That was clearly not appropriate.

“Nobility, nobility, what is nobility?”

“Isn’t it that nobles can kill with just a word?”

Yang Zhenshan muttered under his breath.

Ning Dongsheng needed to be dealt with, and those salt merchants and grain merchants needed to be dealt with as well.

However, he needed someone else to do this, rather than stepping into the fray himself.

As the Marquis Jing’an, would it not be demeaning to personally take action against a bunch of wealthy merchants?

As for who should take action!

Yang Zhenshan contemplated the officials of Ping Yuan Province and finally thought of a very suitable candidate.

Ping Yuan Supervisory Imperial Censor An Ruhui.

An Ruhui was a new Jinshi graduate from the year thirty-five of the Chengping era. He did not have much association with the Yang family, but he was connected to Lin Zhan.

An Ruhui’s mentor was Du Shanyue from Bashu Province, a great Confucian scholar who had a close friendship with Liu Yuanfu. Lin Zhan, while traveling with Liu Zhe, had once visited Du Shanyue.

Du Shanyue, although not an official, was the headmaster of Shanyue Academy. For decades, he taught and apprenticed countless students in the land of Bashu.

Due to his exceptional scholarship in Confucianism, he was acclaimed as the Beidou of Bashu Confucianism.

An Ruhui was a Direct Disciple of Du Shanyue, studying under him for twenty years.

When Lin Zhan visited Du Shanyue with Liu Zhe, he stayed in Shanyue Academy for three months, discussing the Confucian classics daily with An Ruhui, and they developed a deep friendship.

Moreover, both were Jinshi from the year thirty-five of the Chengping era and did not interact in the Capital City during the imperial examinations.

Later, after both were listed on the golden roll, Lin Zhan joined the Ministry of War as a principal clerk, and An Ruhui joined the Imperial Examination Hall as the Ping Yuan Supervisory Imperial Censor.

For this reason, Lin Zhan specially asked Yang Zhenshan to look after An Ruhui.

However, instead of taking care of An Ruhui, now Yang Zhenshan needed to ask An Ruhui for his help.

According to Lin Zhan, An Ruhui, being young and astute with an abhorrence for evil, was exactly the character Yang Zhenshan needed at this moment.

After deciding, Yang Zhenshan summoned Ding Qiu and instructed, “Take some men with you to Ping Yuan again and collect evidence of Ning Dongsheng and those salt merchants and grain merchants committing crimes.”

Before finishing his sentence, Yang Zhenshan pondered for a moment, then added, “Have Luo Jingsong take a hundred soldiers from the Personal Guard Camp with you!”

“Gather as much evidence as possible against them, preferably evidence that could lead to their entire families being executed!”

In Chongshan Town, if Yang Zhenshan wanted to deal with a group of wealthy merchants, it wouldn’t be so troublesome, but in Ping Yuan Province, he had to be more tactful.

It was best to resolve these people through official channels. If not possible, then more drastic measures would be used.

“After the evidence is fully collected, deliver it to Ping Yuan Supervisory Imperial Censor An Ruhui!” Yang Zhenshan said.

As for whether An Ruhui would cooperate, Yang Zhenshan had no doubt.

Putting aside An Ruhui’s character, he was an Imperial Censor who enjoyed investigating significant cases and making a big impact.

Yang Zhenshan was using An Ruhui, but he was also giving An Ruhui an opportunity for merit.

Any somewhat ambitious person would not refuse the gift Yang Zhenshan was offering to him.

As for why Luo Jingsong was to accompany Ding Qiu, first, Luo Jingsong had high cultivation and would be capable of dealing with danger. Second, Luo Jingsong was a Jianghu Martial Artist; such tasks naturally shouldn’t expose the identity of the Marquis Mansion or the General Mansion, and using Jianghu forces could avoid many troubles.

After receiving Yang Zhenshan’s orders, Ding Qiu immediately went to find Luo Jingsong.

And when Luo Jingsong received the command from Yang Zhenshan, he couldn’t express how delighted he was.

After joining the Personal Guard Camp for over a year, he could finally help Yang Zhenshan with matters. Although this time he was not joining Yang Zhenshan in a military expedition, the fact that Yang Zhenshan entrusted him with such a task was also a sign of trust.

Of course, he was happy to be trusted by Yang Zhenshan.

The following morning, Ding Qiu and Luo Jingsong, along with a hundred soldiers from the Personal Guard Camp and several guards from the Marquis Mansion, left Chongshan Pass.

Naturally, they did not carry the gear of the Personal Guard Camp but dressed as merchants or Jianghu Martial Artists, dispersing as they left Chongshan Pass.

Their purpose was to cloak their true intentions.