Chapter 83: One Gamble (Third Update)

From Fang Xu’s point of view, he was no saint, nor was he ignorant of the ways of the world.

But he understood one thing clearly: when he looked at the wretched villagers before him, he knew his choice had been the right one.

Seeing the villagers clutching the heavy loads of gold, silver, and jewels in their arms, and the faint smiles that had finally appeared on their faces, Fang Xu had Old Wu and Gu Bei lead their men out of the village. After all, what they were able to do had already been done; the rest would require him to put forth a little more effort.

On the road to the county magistrate’s residence, neither Old Wu nor Gu Bei showed any sign of a smile.

Fang Xu, on the other hand, had a trace of amusement on his face, though anyone familiar with him knew it was not because he was in a good mood.

“Young Master, once we get into that county office, do we strike first, or...?” Old Wu, following behind Fang Xu, asked with some uncertainty. Seeing his expression, Fang Xu naturally knew Old Wu had also been angered.

After all, what those villagers had shown was enough to stir anyone’s fury.

“Old Gu, what kind of man is this county magistrate?” Fang Xu did not answer Old Wu at once, but turned to ask Gu Bei, who was standing beside him.

Hearing the question, Gu Bei recounted all the clues he had gathered earlier to Fang Xu and Old Wu.

It turned out that the county magistrate here was actually a favored disciple of the governor of Danyang Commandery. Upon hearing this, the corners of Fang Xu’s mouth could not help but curl upward.

“It seems this governor of Danyang treats his prized disciple very well,” Old Wu and Gu Bei could both hear the suppressed anger in Fang Xu’s tone, and even those last few words were bitten off with unmistakable force.

By now, Fang Xu finally understood why the county office here dared to openly collude with bandits.

So this place fell under the jurisdiction of Danyang Commandery. If the governor of Danyang Commandery wanted to suppress it, it would indeed be an easy matter.

Even General Bai Qi of the Southern Commandery might never learn of these things, after all; there were plenty of ways to seal off the truth.

In Fang Xu’s view, both General Meng Tian and General Bai Qi were members of Qin Suwen’s household, and naturally would consider everything from the standpoint of Qin Suwen’s interests.

If they did learn what had happened, then in Fang Xu’s opinion, General Bai Qi should hardly be able to simply do nothing, should he?

After all, the title of Bai Qi, the God of Slaughter, was not merely for show.

“Young Master, do you intend to move against this governor of Danyang?” Gu Bei, clearly sensing Fang Xu’s expression, could not help but offer a warning.

“Old Gu, is there some hidden matter here?” Old Wu asked curiously, looking at Gu Bei. In Old Wu’s view, if Fang Xu truly intended to take action against a mere governor of Danyang, then there was really nothing he could not do. But Old Wu knew Gu Bei must have his own concerns.

“Old Wu, you do not know this, but the father of this governor of Danyang is none other than Zhang Chang, the favored disciple under the present Grand Secretary Zhang, and also the worthy holder of one of the Nine Ministers’ posts, the Grand Minister of Ceremonies,” Gu Bei said with worry.

It was obvious that Gu Bei was truly concerned for Fang Xu’s safety. In his eyes, although Fang Xu clearly had some backing, even if he did, could it possibly surpass one of the Nine Ministers, the Grand Minister of Ceremonies?

Gu Bei had never once heard of any official among the Nine Ministers as young as Fang Xu.

Moreover, even if Fang Xu did not fear the Grand Minister of Ceremonies, Grand Secretary Zhang was an existence he could not shake.

But if Gu Bei knew that the existence he believed unshakable had been driven speechless by Fang Xu not long ago, he truly would not know what to say.

“So that is how it is. A descendant of one of the Nine Ministers, the Grand Minister of Ceremonies, and he actually resorts to such base and underhanded deeds? No wonder the common people are crying out in anger.”

“Indeed, when the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too,” Fang Xu muttered through clenched teeth, his anger plain to see.

What Fang Xu had not expected was that he had truly underestimated this little county office. Who could have guessed the web of connections behind it would be so extensive?

If it were anyone else, they might have simply chosen to turn a blind eye.

Setting aside whether they could even deal with the Grand Minister of Ceremonies, Grand Secretary Zhang was not someone they could reach in the first place. Naturally, it would be wiser to avoid trouble.

But in Fang Xu’s view, this meddling was something he was absolutely going to handle.

If the Fang Xu of his previous life had encountered this, he would probably only have vented his dissatisfaction by pounding away at a keyboard.

There was no helping that. The Fang Xu of his past life had been little more than a worthless nobody.

But now that he actually had the power to intervene, how could he choose to stand aside and do nothing?

Besides, in Fang Xu’s opinion, Qin Suwen allowing him to travel south was surely not because he was meant to be like everyone else.

“Old Gu, if you do not wish to accompany your young master in stirring things up, I will not blame you,” Fang Xu said earnestly to Gu Bei, fully aware that Gu Bei’s hesitation was only natural.

“Yes, yes! Old Gu, you should go keep the little Daoist company! I’ll go with the young master! I’ve been aching for a chance to vent!” Old Wu said with a smile. Who would have guessed that Gu Bei would grit his teeth and stamp his foot.

“Then I’ll do it! Since I have chosen to follow the young master, I was already prepared for this! I will go through fire and water without the least hesitation!” Gu Bei cupped his fists and spoke solemnly.

Fang Xu’s lips lifted slightly.

At first, he had thought Gu Bei was the sort who read the wind and changed with it, but now it seemed he had underestimated him.

At the very least, Gu Bei still possessed the blood and spirit a man of Great Qin ought to have. On that point, Fang Xu was not disappointed.

“Good. Since that is the case, and since we will only be facing those local tyrants later anyway, what is there to fear about a mere Grand Secretary Zhang compared to them?” Fang Xu could not help but say with a laugh.

Hearing Fang Xu’s words, Old Wu and Gu Bei immediately lost what little worry they had left. In their eyes, that was indeed the case.

Compared with those local tyrants, was Grand Secretary Zhang really all that frightening?

No matter how formidable Zhang might be, could he possibly be more terrifying than those tyrannical local rulers? Clearly not.

Only now, Old Wu and Gu Bei truly did not know whether they should laugh or cry.