Thief Emperor

Chapter 82: Li Dutou, the pioneer in suppressing bandits!
After arriving at the door of Master Xue's study, Li Dutou knocked politely and said, "Your Excellency, Li Zhao requests to see you."

Not long after he said this, the door suddenly opened, and Xue Song, who was dressed in a robe, pulled Li Yun in, then turned around and closed the door.

After closing the door, County Magistrate Xue turned around and looked at Li Yun with a very ugly expression.

"What's going on in Shiwangzhai? What have you been doing these days?"

Master Xue took a deep breath, his tone was not very good: "What on earth are you going to do!"

Li Yun coughed and said, "The county magistrate asked three questions at once. Where should I start answering?"

“Are those three questions?”

Master Xue looked at Li Yun with a sharp gaze: "This is clearly a problem."

"you…"

Magistrate Xue looked at Li Yun steadily and said, "You are not honest!"

Li Dutou sorted out his words and then said, "County Master, after you left Qingyang, in order to save time, I immediately took the brothers of the anti-theft team to Shiwangzhai to suppress the bandits. As a result, the bandits in Shiwangzhai were still strong. We fought hard all night but failed to defeat them."

"The next day, Marshal Yang from the state arrived at Lingyang Mountain."

At this point, Li Yun smiled and said, "Calculating the time, the county lord had just arrived in Xuanzhou to meet with Cao Sima, and Cao Sima immediately sent people to Lingyang Mountain. He had no sincerity in talking to the county lord at all."

"Don't try to sow discord."

Master Xue snorted, "He is the Sima of Xuanzhou, in charge of the military affairs of the state. Suppressing bandits is also among his duties. I talked to him about the anti-bandit team, which does not prevent him from sending troops to suppress bandits."

"besides."

Master Xue looked at Li Yun and snorted, "Your excuse is full of loopholes!"

"In previous times when we suppressed bandits, you always brought a group of militiamen to help. But this time, when we are attacking a village as big as Shiwangzhai, you don't have any militiamen? Are you only going to be able to defeat bandits with your anti-bandit team of twenty or so people?"

"I went to ask the members of the anti-theft team, and oh! More than 20 people said the same thing. You, Li Zhao, are really capable. It's only been a few months, and the anti-theft team has really taken your surname Li!"

Master Xue sat back in his seat, slammed the table and said, "As soon as I returned to Qingyang, Dianshi Jiang came to me to complain, saying that he could no longer control the anti-theft team and wanted to sue you for insubordination!"

Seeing that Master Xue had been talking so much, Li Yun remained calm and said, "Everyone is saying the same thing, which means that what they said is true."

"As for why I offended Dianshi Jiang, it was because Dianshi Jiang, as an official of Qingyang, did not respect the orders of the county lord, but obeyed the orders of Cao Sima who was far away in Xuanzhou. This was really abominable."

"The county lord was no longer in Qingyang at the time, so I had no choice but to take his anger out on his behalf."

"As for what the county magistrate said about me monopolizing power in the anti-theft team."

Li Yun looked at Xue Song and said with a smile: "Then the county magistrate can relieve me of my duties as the captain. Anyway, the bandits in Qingyang have been almost wiped out, and there is only one Ten Kings Camp left, and the state does not allow the elimination of this Ten Kings Camp."

"I have nothing else to do, so why don't you let me go home?"

Li Dutou had a faint smile on his face: "During the past six months as Dutou, I have handled donations from many merchants. I embezzled some of it and returned to my hometown to buy a few acres of land to live on."

Mr. Xue slammed the table hard.

"How dare you say you want money in front of this old man!"

Li Dutou was not in a hurry, still smiling and said: "Isn't it that I haven't been greedy yet? Since the county magistrate doesn't allow it, then I won't be greedy."

"With my ability, I can find a escort agency to be an escort. After working for a few years, I can have enough money to buy land."

"Stop smiling so frivolously!"

Master Xue snorted angrily and looked at Li Yun: "Sit down and talk."

Li Dutou sat down with a smile: "Don't be so angry, County Master. Let's talk about it nicely."

"You must have done something else behind my back."

Master Xue whispered, "Most likely, it's just like your thief brother. Maybe the Ten Kings Village has been taken over by your thief brother!"

Li Yun was stunned, then looked at Xue Song with some surprise.

This little old man is really amazing.

With just these few clues, we were able to figure out the outline of what happened.

And it was obvious that he had already guessed who those "village militia" who had followed Li Yun to fight bandits in the past few months were.

"Originally, this matter was full of loopholes, and anyone could have found out the flaws. Fortunately, I don't know what tricks you used to make everyone in the anti-theft team keep their mouths shut."

Mr. Xue took a deep breath.

"There is still room for this matter to be turned around." If Li Yun had verbally instructed the members of the anti-theft team at that time, asking them not to talk nonsense, then this matter would have been spread long ago.

However, since the matter involved traitors and everyone in the anti-theft team had received benefits, and since it concerned their lives and property, naturally no one dared to say anything.

Master Xue closed his eyes and was silent for a while before he spoke: "Be quiet and don't make any more trouble. Sima Cao said that the imperial court has already decided on the recruiting envoy, and he will come to Xuanzhou after the New Year and next spring."

"At this time, bandits are rampant all over the country, and Xuanzhou is also full of bandits. Only in the past six months, Qingyang has been free of bandits. When the recruiting envoy arrives, I will recommend you, and you will definitely be hired."

He opened his eyes and looked at Li Yun, saying earnestly: "You have a lot of courage and strength, which can be put to good use in this world. Maybe you can accomplish something."

"As for the rest that are irrelevant, we should cut them off when necessary."

This is to persuade Li Yun to cut ties with that "thief brother".

It’s a pity that Li Zhao and Li Yun are one and the same and can no longer be separated.

However, it must be said that what Xue Xianzun said was quite sincere, and he was considering Li Yun from beginning to end.

If Li Yun was really Li Zhao, he might have listened to him, but unfortunately Li Yun himself was the thief.

Moreover, he has also started his own career in the green forest.

What Mr. Li didn't know was that County Magistrate Xue was not just considering him, but also his precious daughter.

After giving Li Yun a lecture, Master Xue continued, "Come with me to see Cao Sima later. If you can keep quiet, do so."

"I'll help you reject it. From now on, you should just work honestly in Qingyang."

Li Yun smiled and nodded in agreement.

…………

Half an hour later, Sima Cao was invited to the county government office. He and Magistrate Xue sat on the main and guest seats, one on each side, while Captain Li stood next to Magistrate Xue.

After the two exchanged a few polite words, Cao Sima looked up at Li Yun and said with a smile, "A few days ago, I heard from the brigade commander that Captain Li only brought 20 men to fight against hundreds of bandits in the Ten Kings Camp for a whole night, but he was not at a disadvantage."

"In the end, only two people were injured. They were truly heroic and unparalleled."

There is something sarcastic about this statement.

Master Xue said calmly, "Sima Cao may have misunderstood the information reported by his subordinates. I have already asked Li Zhao, and he said that there were only dozens of bandits in the Ten Kings Camp that night, not much more than them."

Sima Cao lowered his head to drink tea and said with a smile: "That is also very remarkable."

At this point, he sighed and said, "To be honest with you, Brother Yue Ji, I have been the Sima of Xuanzhou for two terms, a full five years."

"Shiwangzhai, as a major fortress in Xuanzhou, has always been a thorn in my side. However, the bandits in Shiwangzhai are extremely vicious and entrenched in Lingyang Mountain. It is really difficult to wipe them out in a short time. Today, I met Captain Li and finally saw the light."

He looked at Li Zhao and said with a smile, "Captain Li, I would like to ask you to lead the Qingyang Anti-Theft Team to work with the state's troops to wipe out the Ten Kings Camp. Do you agree?"

Xue Xianzun lowered his head to drink tea, put down the teacup and was about to speak when he heard Li Zhao beside him happily agree: "Okay."

His face darkened, and when he turned around to glare at Li Yun, he heard his captain say with a smile: "Sima Cao, I went to the Ten Kings Camp the other day and found that it is indeed easy to defend but difficult to attack. In addition, there are so many bandits. If you want to take down a camp like this in one fell swoop, you must have a large number of people."

"I heard that there are more than a thousand officers and soldiers under Sima Cao. Li does not need a thousand men. Sima Cao will give me eight hundred men. Li will lead them and I will definitely take down the Ten Kings Camp for Sima within three days!"

"Otherwise, Li will bring his head to Sima."

Cao Rong's face darkened and he suddenly looked up at Li Yun.

Li Dutou was a little puzzled and asked doubtfully, "Is Sima Cao worried about the issue of food and wages? To be honest with you, Sima Cao, the gentry in Qingyang donated some money to suppress the bandits. As long as the state's official troops arrive, all expenses will be paid from this money."

Li Dutou was very generous, patting his chest and saying: "After all, this Ten Kings Village is within our Qingyang territory."

Cao Sima took a deep breath and said angrily, "The officers and soldiers under my command are responsible for maintaining the public security and order of the state. How can they all go to Lingyang Mountain?"

"What Sima said makes a lot of sense."

Li Yunshen agreed. After thinking about it seriously, he said, "Then, you can give me 500 people."

Li Dutou took on the responsibility and said, patting his chest.

"I have five hundred men. I will take Lingyang Mountain for Sima within five days!"

Cao Rong still lowered his head and drank tea without saying anything.

Li Yun glanced at him and sneered in his heart.

This guy really got paid for nothing!
　Currently, it is tentatively scheduled to release one chapter at 8 am, one chapter at 12 noon, and then another chapter in the afternoon~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)