Thief Emperor

Chapter 31 Suppress the bandits!

In the past, the main business of Cangshan Village was naturally robbery.

However, Li Yun's father, the village chief, was considered to be a relatively moral person among the bandits, and basically did not rob passers-by.

After all... these common people can't actually steal anything good.

The main customers of Cangshan Dazhai are actually passing merchants and caravans. Occasionally, there are landlords passing by who are moving, and Cangshan Dazhai will also try to get a piece of the pie.

In addition to the income from regular robbery, over the past twenty years, some escort agencies have become familiar with Cangshan Dazhai. When veteran escorts from these agencies pass by here, as long as they greet each other, the veteran escorts from the agencies will take the initiative to give some money, usually around fifty strings of cash, as a toll.

However, the old village chief is very loyal. As long as he accepts the money from the escort agency, nothing will happen again on this escort trip within the influence of the entire Cangshan Village.

Because of this, the original Cangshan stronghold had many conflicts with nearby strongholds.

Because of this, Li Yun's father actually has a good reputation in the Cangshan area.

but…

This traditional robbery business is still too traditional.

First, the money comes slowly, second, it requires taking huge risks, and third...

The ceiling is too low, making expansion difficult.

And now, if Master Li wants to become bigger and stronger, he must... innovate!
We need to develop a brand new copycat model!

For example... ahem... putting on official uniform!
Because the Great Zhou has not been peaceful in recent years, there are countless people who have become bandits in various places. There may be dozens of villages in this state alone. As long as the leader Li can "annihilate" them one by one, the power of the Cangshan Village will expand instantly.

to be honest.

What Li wants to do now is to unify the "gangster forces" of the entire Qingyang County and even the entire state by using the official name and power.

To put it another way, it is called unifying the green forest.

As long as the integration of the underworld forces can be completed, whatever Li wants to do next will go much more smoothly.

Even if it's just business, it can be said to be easy. When the time comes, I can build a big farm outside the city and marry two little beauties. Isn't it wonderful...

Just as Li Dutou was imagining the future, County Magistrate Xue, who was standing beside him, looked up and down at the young man in front of him.

After a long while, Master Xue sat back in his seat and asked, "You... can control the gang of bandits on Cangshan Mountain, right?"

Li Yun quickly shook his head.

"County Master, how is this possible? Not to mention that I'm wearing official clothes now, even if I'm not, I haven't been in Qingyang for so many years, and the people in the village don't recognize me. How can they listen to me?"

"My brother, when he saw me, he didn't even want to call me brother!"

Master Xue touched his chin and frowned, "So, you didn't kidnap these two people from the Gu family?"

Li Yun stood up directly, filled with righteous indignation: "I am a righteous man, how could I do such a thing!"

Magistrate Xue frowned and said, "Don't say that. You had no involvement in the uncle and nephew being captured by bandits."

"That's right, County Lord."

Li Yun smiled and said, "I have heard a lot about the bandits in Qingyang these days. I accidentally found out that some time ago, the Gu family seemed to have hired people to beat up Erlong Village and caused great damage to its vitality."

"So, I revealed their whereabouts..."

Magistrate Xue stroked his beard and looked up at Li Yun: "You... don't look like someone from the underworld."

Li Yun asked, "Why did the county lord say that?"

"You have too many tricks up your sleeve, just like a lotus root."

Master Xue said silently: "How can ordinary people in the martial arts world have so many thoughts as you?"

"People in the underworld are not necessarily unintelligent."

Li Yun smiled and said, "It's just that they don't have the rank of county master. If given the chance, people in the martial arts world may not be stupider than the nobles in the court."

Magistrate Xue stood up and walked to Li Yun. He sighed and said, "In recent years, the court has become more and more lax. In addition, local governments have frequently increased taxes, so bandits have sprung up everywhere. It's rare that you have such courage and strength. Since you want to contribute to the country, I won't stop you."

Village Chief Li clasped his fists.

"Don't worry, County Master. I will do my best to make sure there are no more bandits in Qingyang!"

………………

The next day, after being thanked by the uncle and nephew of the Gu family, Master Li remained calm and after lunch, he went to the Qingyang County School to read.

He sat on a bench, flipping through a book in his hand that recorded the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty and its official system. He was reading it very seriously. It was not until someone sat down opposite him that Li Dutou came to his senses and looked at the person in front of him.

"Miss Xue."

Li Yun closed the book and said with a smile, "Do you have something to ask me?" Xue Yun'er looked at Li Yun and whispered, "My mother said today that Gu Cheng was beaten and his face was disfigured. After recovery, he will probably have scars."

She lowered her head.

"thank you."

Li Yun coughed and shook his head, saying, "Ms. Xue misunderstood. I didn't do this."

Xue Yun'er looked at his serious expression and suddenly found it funny, so she chuckled and said, "You bad guy, you can fool them, but you can't fool me."

"It's useless to act like it."

Li Yun smiled awkwardly.

In Qingyang County, the only person who knew his identity clearly was Miss Xue. In front of her, many lies were indeed untenable.

After a pause, he whispered, "Don't tell anyone about this."

Xue Yun'er was a little unhappy when she heard this, and frowned, "Who should I tell?"

Li Yun smiled awkwardly and immediately changed the subject.

"The Gu family's matter is settled. What are Miss Xue's plans for the future?"

"What else can you plan?"

Xue Yuner stood up, looked at Li Yun, and complained: "Because of you, I have no choice but to become a monk and practice Buddhism."

After saying this, she stood up, turned and left.

Chief Li also stood up, but didn't know what to say. After watching Xue Yun'er leave, he was stunned for a while before sitting back in his seat and continuing to read the national history book in his hand.

He knew so little about this country and this era. All he knew was that it was the third year of Xian De.

This is the fourth reign title of the current Emperor of the Great Zhou and the twenty-second year of his reign.

Although Li Yun had never been to the capital and knew nothing about the political situation, he knew from what he had seen and heard over a period of time that the current emperor was by no means a wise ruler.

At best...he is a mediocre ruler.

It might even be a stupid thing or a bad thing.

However, since Chief Li had no intention of becoming an official in the imperial court, there was no need for him to have an in-depth understanding of the current emperor. He only needed to know the general idea.

In this way, Chief Li sat in the county school, carefully and seriously flipping through the national history book in front of him.

He is much more serious than any other student in the county school.

………………

The next morning.

Miss Xue took small steps and returned to her study from outside, holding a wooden box in her hand.

After opening the wooden box, there were several thread-bound books inside. One or two were printed from woodblocks, and the rest were all handwritten.

In fact, most books of this era are handwritten.

This is also the reason why aristocratic families are still able to control social resources, because they have achieved cultural monopoly to a certain extent.

After flipping through the books, she picked out two and handed them to the maid Dong'er, saying, "Go and deliver them to Li Dutou."

Dong'er smiled and took it.

"I understand, ma'am."

Miss Xue glared at her and said, "Go ahead, you're so smiling."

Dong'er responded and left in small steps.

But not long after, she came back with the book in her hands.

"Miss, Captain Li is no longer in the county government office."

Xue Yun'er was also flipping through a book at the moment, and upon hearing this, she asked nonchalantly, "Where did he go?"

"I heard someone say."

Dong'er thought for a moment and said, "It seems like he took people out of the city to suppress bandits."

Upon hearing this, Xue Yun'er gritted her teeth in anger and sneered.

"Suppress the bandits...Suppress the bandits..."