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

Two hours later.

Qin Feng led the group up the mountain.

Liu Tu came down to report that the entire bandit group in Sanniu Mountain had been brought under control, and he also subtly reminded them that the bandits were very unprofessional.

The group entered the mountain village.

It's called a mountain stronghold, but it's just that some trees were cut down, a large area of ​​land was leveled, and the houses built inside are all thatched huts. The environment looks very harsh.

Along the way, you can see many corpses lying haphazardly on the ground.

"Sir, they're all here. This man is the leader of Sanniu Mountain. They weren't really after the timber; they were after the silver the caravan was carrying. But the timber looked good, and they were thinking of using it to build houses when they got back."

"Finished looting?"

Qin Feng asked in a low voice.

"They've looted everything. There's not much stuff, maybe three hundred taels worth at most, which they transported down another route."

In Daliu Village, the division of labor for this kind of work is very clear.

There were people in charge of controlling others, and others in charge of looting; the whole process was kept orderly.

"Since they're just ordinary bandits..."

Qin Feng turned around and looked at the terrified Duke Ma behind him. There were at least dozens of corpses lying on the ground around them.

The other party had never seen such a scene before.

In the capital, at most there are fights and bloodshed, but who would dare to actually kill someone?

But Qin Feng's men stormed into the mountain stronghold and actually killed so many people.

Moreover, judging from their expressions, they seemed to have no burden at all, as if they had just killed a chicken.

"Duke, these bandits are yours to handle."

"Ah? Lord Qin, what do you want with these bandits? They're useless to me."

Duke Ma was taken aback and hurriedly waved his hand.

There are still over a hundred people left. What are they here for?

Are you suggesting we force them to lay wooden tracks?

These people are all thieves and bandits.

"Duke!"

Qin Feng's lips twitched. He thought to himself that these nobles in the capital had been living a good life for too long and didn't even understand basic social etiquette.

How big is the business of laying wooden tracks?

The timber will pass through Sanyi County again, and these bandits will be of great use to it.

It was inevitable that we would have to deal with the county government, since the canal ferry terminal was located there.

There's no way to get around it no matter how you try.

As the saying goes, "It's easier to appease the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings." In business, you have to take care of every aspect of things.

In addition, the timber will pass through other counties in the future. What if there are bandits there as well?

By using these bandits from Sanniu Mountain, we must make an example of them to deter others.

This is what happens to timber sellers who dare to steal business from timber tracks.

"Duke, you sent these bandits to the county government in the name of your mansion... Please don't be hasty, let me explain..."

Duke Ma listened very carefully.

I dared not miss a single word throughout the entire process.

After listening.

He couldn't help but give Qin Feng a thumbs up, completely admiring his thoughtfulness.

Yes!

These bandits were sent to the county government office, which was a free achievement. It was of little use to them, but for the county government office, it was a political achievement.

"I have learned a lot. To be honest, Lord Qin is right. We are here to do business and make money, not to make enemies of anyone. It is best to make money peacefully. That makes sense."

"I will immediately send men back to gather the servants from each household."

So many thieves were sent to the county government office.

Don't think about it.

Even if the magistrate of Sanyi County is difficult to talk to, we will maintain a good relationship with them in the future.

What's wrong with scholars?

Every official wants to climb the ranks.

Hundreds of bandits—if they were sent up, they would surely be rewarded.

Qin Feng ordered his men to tie up all the bandits and hand them over to the servants of the Duke's mansion.

"Father, thank you for your help tonight!"

Seeing that Qin Dali was standing at the entrance of the mountain stronghold, Qin Feng ran over and whispered something to him.

"These are all minor matters. However, this place is a good place, but these people are doing a terrible job. There are two paths up the mountain, and they can fight or walk. They've ruined a perfectly good mountain stronghold like this."

Qin Feng: "..."

No wonder he spent his whole life as a thief.

I've been staring at the door for so long, and it turns out I was thinking about this question.

It seems!

When I get back, I need to give these people a proper training; their mindset must be changed.

Otherwise, even if you try to clear your name in the future, it will still be easy to be exposed.

"Father, you go first. I'll take a carriage later. We need to find a way to get some horses for the coal mine so it'll be more convenient for you to ride them!"

A group of people walked in and walked back.

Qin Feng stroked his chin and muttered something softly.

but.

Xishan Coal Mine needs transportation services and has a quota for purchasing horses, although they can only buy the inferior kind used for hauling goods.

It can't compare to a proper warhorse.

But... at least it has four legs, which makes it much faster than two legs.

Thinking about how to buy horses, Qin Feng followed the others down the mountain and got into the carriage, preparing to return to the capital overnight.

If these nobles can't even handle the "gift-giving" matter properly, then he really should consider replacing them.

We can't expect him to handle everything.

"Sigh, when will I get a promotion?"

Sitting inside the carriage.

Qin Feng couldn't help but sigh.

If it weren't for Xishan Coal Mine, these people from the village would never have been able to come here.

"If I could become the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, or some other powerful position, with people from the village under my command, it would be much more convenient."

He shook his head slightly.

Qin Feng leaned against the carriage and quickly closed his eyes and fell asleep.

……

The Imperial Palace.

Inside the Imperial Study.

The atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Even though it was the middle of the night.

Grand Tutor Wang, along with all the cabinet officials and some military officers, knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe.

Their faces were all terrifyingly gloomy.

We lost!

I can't figure out how I lost, no matter how hard I try.

The problem is that the soldier who returned with the news died right after he finished speaking. Now, apart from knowing that Duan Zhenjiang was defeated and killed and that the First Fortress was lost, everyone knows nothing about the situation at the border.

We can only keep waiting.

Waiting for the battle report from the border to be sent back.

Why didn't Gu Ningzhi, as the military supervisor, send back any news?

He simply doesn't understand how to lead troops in battle.

They should have stopped Duan Zhenjiang from leading his troops out to pursue them. Now they have suffered a crushing defeat and lost the first fortress. What should they do now?

The wild boars of the grasslands will definitely continue their attacks.

Then... the imperial court will have to continue to gather troops, build a second line of defense, and continue to fight against the wild boar.

However, no one dared to think about what would happen if they lost another match.

Continue playing?

Paying money?

No matter the reason, even members of the Nanlin Party could not accept it.

Just then.

With the documents held respectfully in both hands, Eunuch Miao walked past the many ministers and glanced back at the cabinet ministers at the very front.

He said through gritted teeth:

"Grand Tutor, the battle report is back! What a Gu Ningzhi! One died, one surrendered—is this what you call the integrity of scholars? There were still nearly ten thousand soldiers in the city, and he actually opened the gates and surrendered!"

Upon hearing this...

Grand Tutor Wang and several cabinet ministers couldn't help but widen their eyes.

Her body went limp, and she almost fell to the ground.

Gu Ningzhi surrendered?

How dare he!

Behind the desk.

Zhou Zhengde remained calm as he took the battle report and read it carefully, a vein throbbing on his forehead.

He squinted and gave the order:

"Go and fetch Qin Feng!"