Published at 22nd of September 2020 7:15 am

Chapter 42: Failed

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Zhou Binglin walked through the corridor and before he came to the study, he saw several people walking out and carrying something. It was covered with a white cloth and was dripped with blood.

"What happened?"

He frowned and stopped a steward to ask.

Steward Ji Ling shivered but recognized Zhou Bingli, so he told: "It's the maid of the fourth wife's courtyard! The lord is upset about the winter relief, and the third wife grabbed the woman again, saying that this woman's hands and feet are dirty. Later, she was out luck and was found to be so, and was directly killed…"

Zhou Binglin also shuddered and came to the study, gently knocking the door: "Dad!"

"Is Binglin? Come in!"

Zhou Bingli stepped lightly and as he entered the door, respectfully bowed, not daring to take a breath.

"How is it going?"

Although he had just killed a servant with a stick, Zhou Tongan had a calm face, full of bookishness, and seemed embodied the Confucian virtues.

"It has been agreed that the third uncle's family will pay fifty taels of silver to the fourth aunt's family, supplemented with one more stone of grain added every year!"

Zhou Bingli whispered.

"One by one, for the land and money, even the ancestors are ignored!"

Zhou Tongan coldly snorted: "If you're both relatives and fight red-eyed, then you are not the son of man!"

"There are many chores in the family and other Great Households can't escape. Now that my Zhou family can maintain stability but it is all thanks to Father's centralization and strategizing!"

Zhou Bingli was full of sincerity, knowing that the bigger the family, the more difficult it is to maintain the bowl of water balanced. Every branches are like wolves.

If it wasn't for his father's means, it would be difficult to support it.

"Oh… it's good if both sides have approved it!"

Zhou Tongan asked about the situation in detail, and Zhou Bingli answered one by one, before sighing out of relief: "You've done a good job, but it's not enough…"

After mentioning a few more words, he went to say: "In the cold winter, you should pay attention to firewood and rice in every house. Don't have a shortage. You should keep an eye on the family's piece and don't stop cooking. When everyone's cold and hungry, their faces aren't good!"

"Naturally, it has been confirmed early. The supply of money and rice… only, the accountant?"

Zhou Binglin hesitated.

"Let's wait a little longer, Master Song should be here in two days. When the silver is escorted, it will be easy…"

Zhou Tongan also sighed.

Others think that the Zhou family, as a Great Household, is rich in clothes, food, and piles of silver and gold but they didn't know that the family had thousands of clansmen plus children, slaves, and servants. The expenses are like mountains and seas, not to mention, there are two officials to support.

At this time, they are still counting on Zhou Tongren and Official Registrar Hu to go further. Naturally, they were not respectful of their boss.

It is said that for an official of the Zhou Dynasty, if he wants to be peaceful, he can be idle and in the same dust, have no experience. When he's old, he can save up enough to build a small family business.

But if you want to continue climbing up, the boss must first be filial and must not be too aggressive towards the next. From time to time, he would need to invite people to win the people's hearts. This consumes a lot and depends on the Zhou family.

"When it comes to this, I feel a little worried, you can ask again…"

Just as Zhou Tongan was speaking, a rush of footsteps was heard: "Master, there's a bad event!"

When the person came in, Zhou Bingli recognized him as Steward Zhou, the steward most trusted by his father, who held a letter in his hand.

Although he really wanted to see it, Zhou Bingli didn't dare to move his head, for fear that it might be taken as evidence that he was coveting the Patriarch's position and felt a little sad.

"Right!"

Boom!

Zhou Tongan took it, and after a few lines, he was immediately furious. When he slapped the table, the cup fell to the ground and it was a mess.

"Lord Father, please calm down!"

Zhou Bingli and Steward Zhou knelt down and then asked: "What happened?"

"Look at… Look at this… This Wu family kid is so daring!" Zhou Tongan flicked the letter to Zhou Binglin's face, it was so painful!

At this time, he didn't care and quickly looked at it; his heart turned cold: "How dare you…"

He was the child of the family and had a fear of this method of lifting the table if he didn't agree: "Can you explain and ask the government's help?"

"DARN!"

Zhou Tongan shouted angrily and pointed at Steward Zhou again: "You tell him!"

Old Zhou smiled bitterly: "Young Master, this can't be done! The Wu family Township Inspection Office has been in the W county, saying that it was a night attack on bandits and annihilated Jie Tianfeng's group of more than 50 people, they must be asking the county magistrate for merits… As long as they bite the goods to death in the bandit's stockade, we can't think about it without any evidence…"

"Wu Ming…"

Zhou Binglin was a little surprised. In his memory, this person was just ordinary and he didn't see his true colors at this time. It's really a decisive killing and was very ruthless.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Zhou Tongan also sneered: "The tiger does not show off his might. When my Zhou family is a sick cat… Old Zhou, you go and order the Black Tiger and the Rolling Earth Dragon to move. All the warriors and instructors are all to be assigned to the team. The chief deacon and second deacon will go forward with the ceremonies to open the arsenal and pick up the goods… humph! In terms of elites, his Wu family is as good as my Zhou family? I want him to die without a burial!"

Zhou Binglin'spirit was lifted. The Black Tiger and Rolling Earth Dragon are all well-known criminals in Peaceful Cloud County but even they are only his family dogs!

It was apparent that his father had no intention to do the official way and was ready to take down Wu Ming by force!

At this time, Zhou Tongan pointed to Zhou Binglin again: "To ensure peace, the prosperous times rely on literary talents and the troubled times rely on force. This time, go for it! Be sure to bring the child's head back!"

"As you bid!"

No matter if he was willing or not, there was no room for Zhou Binglin to refuse and he could only kneel and accept.

But immediately, another deacon quickly came to report, holding a bamboo tube in both of his hands: "Dao Institute's swift letter passing, highest level!"

"Get it!"

Zhou Tongan took it, a ring on his hand gleamed, and the bamboo tube automatically split and a roll of ancient paper emerged.

"This…"

After reading a few lines, Zhou Tongan's soul seemed to seep away from his body, lying limp on the chair. It was only after a long time before he sighed: "This operation is temporary canceled!"

It seems like an illusion but Zhou Binglin suddenly felt that when Zhou Tongan crouched, he seemed to be a bit old.

……

Ladle Mountain, within the Mountain Stronghold.

Wu Ming, who was already prepared, knew what it means to say 'Man proposes, heaven disposes.'

"Huh? Sister's letter?"

Without waiting for the Zhou family's revenge, it was Wu Qing's letter that was waiting, which made Wu Ming feel a little confused. After opening up, he was a little stunned.

"Elder Sister says that she had crushed the Zhou family and made suffer a dumb loss… Of course, she had done a little too much so in exchange, it's impossible for the Dao Institute to include me anymore. I don't have to worry as she will find another way…"

Wu Ming collected the letter and put it in his arms. He touched his nose, a little awkward.

The feeling of being sheltered by his elder sister under her wings would be reasonable for the former dude but he felt a little uncomfortable.

"Actually, I can solve it!"

Unfortunately, there is no way to tell others about this.

'If it went according to my plan, I would lure the enemy deep to the mountains, battle by battle, enough to wipe out the Zhou family's elites! When the time comes, the Zhou family would be a tiger with its teeth pulled out. Rubbing them on the ground, I could practice my soldiers to become elites!"

The original idea was that during the Zhou family's revenge, with the food, medicine, and items provided by the Overgod Palace, the Zhou family's dark forces will be wiped out in one fell swoop.

As a result, the Zhou family, with no military forces, will become a huge piece of fat. If they did not perform well, it would be broken up and be brought to its knees.

That is extermination, to eliminate the roots from top to bottom, leaving them with no power to retaliate.

Of course, Wu Ming also knew that he would be brought back for questioning if he had no reason to explain the provision's change. However, although there are Daoist items like mustard bags and space rings in this world, they are extremely rare; not accessible to even Great Households in the county. It's a non-issue, it can be covered by this reason.

Even after finishing this matter, he will secretly contribute his forces to Wu Qing and it would be considered as repaying her favor. After this karma settled, you would be able to advance, attack, retreat and defend.

No matter how bad it is, you can go away with style. With the Overgod Palace, there's no place under the Heaven that you can't go!

But now, karma is deepening.

"Oh… beauties' favors is not something I can pay with body, what should I do…"

Wu Ming headed far away, as if he wanted to throw away some unhealthy thoughts: "Come here! Tell Feng Han, let's go back!"

As for the letter that says that he couldn't enter the Dao Institute, it was directly ignored by Wu Ming.

It's only a county-level Dao Institute, and Wu Ming, who already had a Dao secret arts, was naturally not concerned.

Although it was a pity that he couldn't get a steady stream of secret arts from the Dao Institute, it's just a little more Merit Points. Wu Ming, who was determined to become the master of Overgod Palace, didn't care much about it.

……

For the tenants of the Zhou and Wu family, these few days have been calm.

Even the festive atmosphere of the New Year had its ups and downs, and when Wu Ming came back, the atmosphere reached its peak.

"Young Master, we've harvested 5000 taels of silver, 15 pieces of fine jade, fine iron, pure salt, and even other various gifts. A conservative estimate of all of these would be 15000 taels of silver!"

Zhao Song was excited and said to Wu Ming.

"Well! I have promised in advance that there will be 20% as a pension, which is 3000 taels, 100 taels for every person who is disabled or killed and the family shall get a subdivision of five acres!"

As soon as Wu Ming said this, he saw Zhao Song's face blooming with excitement, kneeling down, and said: "Patriarch is wise, I am willing to die for the family!"

The dispatch this time was not particularly dangerous but the harvest was plentiful so there was nothing to say.

After all, at best, it was just robbing a caravan which is not a big deal at this time so the following was quite satisfying.

To be honest, this is what Wu Ming previously considered.

Even if the Zhou family's elites are exhausted, the dark forces from both sides would still fight to the death. As long as no leaders are killed, on the bright side, it is only an accidental bandit injury, at the level of two villages fighting.

If it succeeds in one fell swoop, it would wipe out the secret and potential power of the Zhou Family. How long can they last with only two officials?

Unfortunately, the plan could not catch up with the changes at all!

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