Our family has been rebelling for generations, and you've become the top scholar in the imperia

canal.

Near the ferry crossing where goods are loaded and unloaded.

There were many simple tea stalls and taverns.

Inside one of the tea stalls.

Duke Ma's face turned ashen. He slammed the cup on the table to the ground and cursed through gritted teeth:

"Damn it, how dare he? He's just a lousy county magistrate, what right does he have not to investigate?"

Once the first batch of timber arrives, even though some areas are not yet fully planned, the timber tracks can be laid along the canal, allowing workers to get started and saving a lot of time later.

But... I never expected this.

The timber was halfway through its journey, almost reaching the capital, when it was robbed.

Not only was the timber lost, but several servants who were in charge of overseeing the transport also died.

the most important.

Now we don't even know who did it.

Moreover, when they passed through Sanyi County, they sent someone to report to the authorities, but the yamen simply sent a few constables to take a look around and then did nothing more.

"This matter cannot be left unresolved. The canal is laid with wooden rails, and the timber can only pass through Sanyi County. If it can be robbed once, it can be robbed a second time. If the timber cannot be transported, our business will be unable to continue."

"No doubt about it, it was done by bandits from the surrounding area. The Sanyi County government doesn't want to get involved, probably because they're afraid of having to go up the mountain to suppress the bandits!"

"Afraid and then just ignore it? Is that how an official behaves? Duke, why don't we do it ourselves? Go back to our hometown and call for help. I don't believe that bandits can be that difficult to deal with."

"..."

The nobles sitting around him also had gloomy faces and were cursing angrily through gritted teeth.

The loss of some timber is within acceptable limits.

However, that's not the main point.

What should be done next?

If we can't deal with these bandits, we won't be able to transport any more timber from here. What if they rob us again?

"What nonsense are you spouting? What are you trying to do? Rebel? How many people are you gathering to go up the mountain? What if so many people go to Sanyi County and the matter is reported to the capital?"

Duke Ma glared at the other party and said irritably:

"This matter requires the government to intervene. We need to find out the background of the magistrate of Sanyi County and see if there is anyone in the capital who can put in a good word for us."

It's truly the end for Hoongui to have fallen to this level.

Even a county magistrate can easily manipulate them.

Even with the prestige of the Duke's mansion, they wouldn't even grant us a meeting.

The timber track business must be made. If they can't work with Qin Feng this time, they, as nobles, will never have a chance to rise again.

The titles of nobility decreased with each generation.

Sooner or later, their title will be completely stripped.

"What I fear most is that it might be someone from the Nanlin Party, or other court officials... Can we find anyone like that? Unless Lord Qin intervenes for us..."

Upon hearing Duke Ma's words, the others wore expressions of helplessness.

It's easy to say.

To be honest, it was extremely difficult to find an official in the capital who would speak up for them. Scholars disliked them, the eunuch faction completely ignored the Xun Gui, and military officers wouldn't even glance at them.

Now, the only person willing to deal with them is Qin Feng.

but……

Everyone knows the other party's situation in the capital.

Apart from holding an official position, their situation was similar to that of other nobles.

"Don't worry, finding Lord Qin might really help. Don't forget, he has hundreds of secret police officers under his command. Although he doesn't hold a position in the secret police, he still has people under his control. If the eunuch faction is willing to step in, this county magistrate will have to deal with it even if he doesn't want to."

"No way!"

After thinking it over, Duke Ma shook his head.

The idea of ​​the timber track business was originally proposed by Qin Feng. To put it bluntly, bringing them into this business is no different from giving them money away.

Anyone you can recruit in Beijing can get things going in the future.

Now that something has gone wrong, what will people think if Qin Feng is asked to handle it again?

So all those nobles are completely useless.

How can we cooperate in the future?

"Let's think of another way. If all else fails, I'll have to personally return to the capital and beg for help from those people back then..."

As they were talking.

Several horse-drawn carriages hurriedly approached from a distance, kicking up clouds of dust.

"Duke!"

The carriage was parked by the roadside.

Qin Feng came down from inside, dressed in coarse cloth clothes.

Duke Ma was deeply moved and hurriedly got up to go out and greet him.

"Lord Qin, why did you come in person? It's all my fault. I've made you come all this way for such a small matter. It's really..."

"Please sit down, everyone!"

He glanced at everyone.

Qin Feng pulled out a chair and sat down, gesturing for everyone else to sit as well.

"We're all on the same side, Duke, please don't be so formal. How's the situation now? Have you figured out who stole the timber?"

Is timber valuable?

This thing isn't valuable, but it won't fetch much money.

While they may not be worth much, they can still be sold for some.

Moreover, the logs they used to lay the wooden tracks were all straight, round logs suitable for building houses.

On the way, Qin Feng pondered this question. His village had been bandits for generations, and they had robbed countless people and seen all sorts of goods.

They could steal wood, but ordinary bandits would never do that.

The biggest reason is that we have no use for this stuff if we take it back. Are we going to use it to build a house in the mountains?

As for selling, finding a market is a major problem.

"There were absolutely no clues. When I arrived with my men, the body hadn't even been recovered. The local county government only sent two constables to take a look, ask a few perfunctory questions, and then there was no further activity!"

"Um!"

Qin Feng took a deep breath and nodded.

The local county government is indeed finding it difficult to deal with bandits. If they lead men to attack, the county government doesn't have enough constables, and if they notify the local military, they'll have to pay them.

There's another problem here.

Once they're wiped out, everything will be fine.

If we fail to wipe them out and instead lose the battle, then the problem will be much bigger.

Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, some county governments in the Great Zhou Dynasty would at most turn a blind eye to bandits, and as long as they didn't go too far, they would usually not launch a major campaign to suppress them.

"Given the recent military campaigns by the imperial court, I can understand the county government's actions... since the county government is of no use!"

Qin Feng stroked his chin and thought for a moment.

"Then do it yourself."

"Do it yourself?"

Duke Ma suddenly raised his head, his face filled with disbelief.

"But there are so many people involved, what if the higher-ups investigate..."

"A few hundred men are enough. If the higher-ups inquire, I will find a solution. I am in charge of the Xishan Coal Mine, where bandits dared to raid it at night and steal coal..."

Qin Feng didn't finish his sentence.

The nobles around him couldn't help but brighten up.

That's a good reason!

Qin Feng was in charge of the coal mine, but the order came from the Emperor himself, and even more than a hundred guards were dispatched to accompany him.

They certainly had the authority to gather manpower to deal with the bandits in Sanyi County.

"However, whether it was done by bandits or not still needs to be investigated. The fear is that if it wasn't done by bandits..."

"That means someone is jealous of this business and is secretly sabotaging it; we can't let this opportunity pass us by!"

"Just look it up!"

Qin Feng waved his hand, calling Liu Tu and the others over.

"Send men to find out who did it, get the facts straight, and send the information over as soon as possible!"

After giving the instructions.

Qin Feng stood up, looked at the many nobles, and said in a solemn tone:

"Gentlemen, cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents. Whether this was done by thieves or someone is just jealous of the timber track business, we must take drastic measures. Otherwise, even if the timber tracks are laid, the business won't last!"

After a moment's thought, everyone's expressions turned solemn, and they nodded hastily.