I am collecting entries in reincarnation

Chapter 15 Father and son’s night talk
Li Ming walked past Zhang's father's study. As a martial artist with sharp ears and eyes, he could vaguely hear his father's melancholy voice.

"The Great Qi ruled for four hundred years. Could it be that it truly lost the Mandate of Heaven? Otherwise, why would there be disasters every year? If the people could afford to eat, why would it be like this? Why would it be like this?"

"Alas," Li Ming sighed imperceptibly. His father in this life was good in every way, but unfortunately he was a little too idealistic, as if he had been influenced by the ideas of orthodoxy and was limited in his vision. Otherwise, with his secret help over the years, Hanyang County would have been governed well and the people would have been harmonious, and he would have been able to move up a level. However, he only cared about the lives of the people under his rule.

It's not that he's bad, but he's a bit pedantic. Now that the Great Qi is about to end, maybe his father is the one who died for his country. I really don't know how he got the position of county magistrate. Oh, my grandfather, his father is the governor of the state, so that's okay.

"Father, I have something to report."

"Come in," the voice said with a hint of fatigue.

Li Ming sighed slightly in his heart and just pushed the door open and walked in.

"Father went to borrow grain today. What was the result?"

Zhang's father shook his head, a look of resentment on his face. He slammed the table and said, "Each family is only willing to give out a thousand dan of grain to send away beggars? I see them training the guards day and night, most likely they have ulterior motives. It's a pity that the imperial army is busy suppressing the Yellow Ghost Bandits in Xihe, so they have no time to withdraw, otherwise they will be in trouble!"

"Father, the noble families in the city are headed by the Li family. Their influence in the local area is complicated and deeply rooted. It is difficult to move them!" Li Ming also shook his head helplessly.

"How could I not know?" Zhang's father sighed. "The Li family has been operating in Hanyang County for a hundred years. They have connections in the court, and the county magistrate is a die-hard Li family loyalist. We are alone and weak, what can we do?"

Li Ming said in a deep voice: "Father, the world is now in turmoil. It is no longer the time to rule the country with civility. The most important thing is..."

Father Zhang raised his eyebrows, a serious expression on his face as he slowly said, "You mean County Lieutenant Wang Zhi? He's certainly not on good terms with the County Secretary, and he has three thousand elite soldiers at his command, but can he be trusted?"

Li Ming chuckled. "Hanyang County's civil and military officials have always been at odds. Wang Zhi and Xiao Fei have deep resentment, which is why Xiao Fei has completely turned to the Li family for self-protection. Wang Zhi has offended the Li family many times. Even if the Li family is willing to accept Wang Zhi now, would Wang Zhi dare to surrender?"

Zhang's father shook his head and said, "You're thinking too simply. In troubled times, military power is paramount. Even if there were some conflicts in the past, as long as Wang Zhi is willing, there's no doubt that the Li family will accept him. Besides, the Li family has been rooted in this area for a hundred years, so there's no guarantee that there won't be some of their men among the soldiers."

Li Ming knew that his father had been the county magistrate for so many years after all, and that he could sit firmly in this position not just because of his father's halo. He was a bit pedantic, but his words also showed his vision.

Li Ming laughed heartily and said, "Dad, you don't know this. Wang Zhi is a man of many talents. He knows full well that the Li family is trying to sabotage the army. That's why we are his only choice. The Li family has many military experts. If things change, there will naturally be someone to take his place. He is just a puppet that can be replaced at any time. On the other hand, we only have a few hundred men under our command. They rely heavily on him, and his position as a partner is irreplaceable. What do you think he will choose?"

"Oh?" Father Zhang held his beard and groaned, but he still looked embarrassed.

"Father, I know you are worried that the situation will become too serious to be eradicated, but rebellion may happen at any time. We must quench our thirst even if it means drinking poison!" Li Ming pleaded sincerely.

"Forget it!" At the critical moment, Zhang's father showed determination. He walked to the table, took a pen and wrote a secret report. He took out his official seal, stamped it without hesitation and put it in an envelope.

Then he turned to Li Ming and said, "My son, you were born extraordinary. You possess both literary and military wisdom within your heart, truly surpassing the average person. Since you are interested, I will lend you a helping hand one last time! You have come to persuade me today, so I believe you already have a comprehensive plan. This secret letter is to offer you a great cause, and there is only one great cause I can offer you."

Li Ming solemnly took the secret letter and replied with a serious face: "I will ensure that the Zhang family will prosper forever!"

Half an hour later, at the gate of the barracks in the county town.

"I request to see the county lieutenant!" After Li Mingtong arrived, he was led into the military camp by the guards. He glanced around and immediately sensed a heavy and uneasy atmosphere in the camp. He knew in his heart that the Li family might take action in the next few days.

"War is a daunting task, and sages resort to it only when they have no alternative. Although I am no sage, I am unwilling to act rashly, but the current situation compels me."

Li Ming was thinking secretly in his heart. When he came to the lobby, he saw the county lieutenant Wang Zhi, a burly man wearing armor, sitting behind the desk, with a dark complexion and a calm expression.

Li Minglai stood upright in front of the camp without saying a word.

The generals on both sides were about to attack, but they saw Wang Zhi smile slightly, waved his hand to dismiss his attendants, and after confirming that there was no one around, Wang Zhi stepped forward and saluted.

"Meet the General!"

"Just call me Young Master." Li Ming said indifferently.

He dared to go here alone, of course he had someone to rely on, not just out of sheer courage. Li Ming believed that he would not do such a thing unless it was absolutely necessary, and his reliance had to start with Wang Zhonghan.

From the first day of learning martial arts in the martial arts gym, Li Ming had already seen that the foundation of Wang Zhonghan's martial arts was actually the White Tiger Claw among the White Tiger Claw, Azure Dragon Spear, Vermillion Bird Leg, and Black Tortoise Power that he had taught him. The so-called Black Tiger Palm was just some of his personal understanding imposed to cover it up, but the root was still in his White Tiger Claw.

That's why he was able to master the Five Tiger Palm in one go, and those who knew this skill were all his personal guards back then.

Li Ming found an opportunity to reveal his identity. Of course, he just said that he was the reincarnation of Zhu Chang. Wang Zhonghan naturally didn't believe it at first, but Li Ming was a real reincarnation, and he convinced Wang Zhonghan in a few moves. Only then did he know why he had left the army.

When Li Ming retired and returned to his hometown, some of his close confidants naturally scattered like monkeys when the tree fell. Some of them climbed up the ladder, some were imprisoned, and some were beheaded. Wang Zhonghan's real name was Wang Xiang. Fortunately, he was just an ordinary guard at that time. Unable to bear the storms in the dark, he changed his name and hid himself from the world, and finally ended up here.

The reason why he settled here is very simple. The county lieutenant here, Wang Zhi, is his brother and Li Ming's right-hand man in the past.

It was just that after Li Ming left, he was marginalized, so he only got the position of a county lieutenant.

The two sides are naturally connected, so Li Ming vowed that he could win over the county lieutenant.

However, Li Ming knew in his heart that they might not believe in the theory of reincarnation completely, but the situation was like that. As long as he showed enough ability, he would not have to worry about them being dissatisfied.

"Sir, are you visiting me at night?" Wang Zhi asked.

Li Ming nodded and said, "Not bad, look."

Wang Zhi took the document, read it over, and said excitedly, "Sir, I have three thousand elite soldiers under my command, and I am willing to die for you!"

"Haha, you are willing, but some people may not be willing." Li Ming sneered, "Let's do this and that."

Wang Zhi smiled when he heard the voice.

(End of this chapter)