Chen Sheng listened quietly as Yang Hu bared his soul, not rushing to state his position.
He could clearly sense it. Beyond the palpable hatred, an undisguised ambition surged in Yang Hu's words. The tempering from these past few months in the gang had clearly Transformed him.
Although Yang Hu maintained his former deference on the surface, subtle details betrayed an indescribable distance, even a faint hint of disdain for his "old master's" current strength.
Sure enough, after a moment, Yang Hu changed the subject, his tone becoming exceptionally "sincere":
"It's just a pity that I'm still not quite there yet. If... and I'm just saying if, Young Master, you can remember any clues about that 'Treasure,' I implore you to lend me a hand. That way, I'll have a better chance of avenging the master."
Evidently, in Yang Hu's mind, Chen Sheng was still that weak, scholarly young master, utterly powerless and in need of protection. Matters of vengeance, of blood and fire, were naturally not something he should or could be relied upon for.
"If I remember anything, I will naturally help you."
Chen Sheng agreed readily, a gentle smile on his face as he nodded.
He had only just reunited with Yang Hu today; it was impossible to immediately speak his mind. He certainly wasn't about to expose his own strength and trump cards just to earn the other man's respect.
'I'll have to wait and see what hints the Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil Celestial Book gives me before deciding on my next move.'
Of course, even if Yang Hu were to go and snitch to the Seven Stars Gang right now, Chen Sheng felt no fear.
The so-called four major gangs of Changshan County were, in his eyes, nothing more than a bunch of local Jianghu thugs with ruthless methods. Ultimately, they were small-time players who couldn't contend on a real stage.
The ones who truly controlled the lifeblood of Changshan County were, and always had been, those few deep-rooted, powerful Noble Families.
Tonight's banquet was a testament to that—the so-called major gangs didn't even have the right to a seat at the table.
As far as he knew, that usurper, Vice Leader Ma of the Seven Stars Gang, had a Cultivation only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, the Bone Forging realm. If they were to truly fight, Chen Sheng reckoned that while he wasn't guaranteed a victory, he certainly had a fighting chance.
After a bit more small talk, during which he learned more details from Yang Hu about the Seven Stars Gang's recent activities and the city's power dynamics, Chen Sheng politely declined the other's attempts to make him stay and rose to leave.
On the way back to the Military Preparation Camp, Chen Sheng's fingers unconsciously toyed with the smooth Warm Jade he kept close to his body, his expression thoughtful.
He had inspected this heirloom Warm Jade many times since he'd transmigrated, but no matter how he looked at it, it just seemed like a piece of decent quality, an ordinary Warm Jade that could weakly nourish one's qi and blood. There was nothing supernatural or extraordinary about it.
'Could it... really be related to that so-called "Treasure"?'
Upon returning to the Military Preparation Camp, Chen Sheng had intended to continue his cultivation, but he learned that Wu Kuang had already sent a messenger with orders for him to go to the rear quarters of the Government Office immediately upon his return.
Chen Sheng didn't dare to delay and set off at once.
In the study of the Government Office's rear quarters, candlelight flickered.
Wu Kuang had changed out of his formal banquet attire and was wearing only a loose, common robe, the lingering smell of alcohol still on him. Seeing Chen Sheng enter, he rubbed the bridge of his nose and asked casually:
"The banquet wasn't over. Why did you leave early?"
"Sir," Chen Sheng replied respectfully. "I am originally from Changshan. Now that I've returned to my homeland, I couldn't help but feel nostalgic, so I took the opportunity to visit my old home."
"Oh? I didn't think to ask before. Is there anyone left in your family?" Wu Kuang asked casually.
"My parents passed away long ago. Now... I am the only one left."
Chen Sheng's voice was low, tinged with a perfectly measured desolation.
Wu Kuang nodded, his tone softening slightly. "In that case, you should marry and start a family soon. Settle down, continue your bloodline. Find an opportunity to take a few wives and concubines."
"You are right, Sir. I will keep that in mind."
"SIGH..." Wu Kuang sighed, pressing his fingers hard against his temples, a worried expression returning to his face.
"You saw the situation tonight. This is how things are in Changshan County now. If it weren't for the strict orders from my superiors, I would never want to clash head-on with these local tyrants. But..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.
How could an old hand at officialdom like him not see through tonight's tactics—the initial cold shoulder followed by warmth, a carrot-and-stick approach? The meaning of the local magnates was clear: either cooperate for mutual benefit, or they would obstruct him at every turn, making it impossible for him to make any headway in Changshan County.
"Sir, please forgive me for being blunt."
Chen Sheng took a step forward, his voice even lower. "At the banquet tonight, it seemed they were respectful toward you, but in reality, their words were barbed. There was an undercurrent of threat, and they didn't truly place you... on an equal footing with themselves.
Meanwhile, the strict orders from the Prefecture City are for you to clean up the region. If we merely feign compliance, I fear the consequences will be dire when our superiors hold us accountable later."
"Do you think I don't know the intricacies of this situation?"
Wu Kuang gave a bitter laugh, his smile filled with helplessness. "It's precisely this dilemma that's giving me a headache. I came here to have a comfortable life and make a little profit on the side, not to fight to the death!"
'Fighting to the death against rebels in a military camp was one thing, but if I have to worry about this stuff every day as a local official, didn't I buy this position for nothing?'
"Sir, if you look at it from another angle, this might not be a bad thing," Chen Sheng said, suddenly changing his tone.
"Hm? What do you mean?"
Wu Kuang looked up at Chen Sheng, his eyes filled with surprise and suspicion.
"As the saying goes, 'fortune favors the bold.' Sir, just think, the three great families of Changshan County have been entrenched here for a century. They are powerful and well-established. The wealth they've accumulated must be a staggering amount.
If you handle this correctly, Sir, and find an opportunity to... 'legally' and 'reasonably' fleece them, the profits would far exceed any ordinary gains. Your trip here would not have been in vain."
"Easier said than done!" Wu Kuang shook his head instinctively, but his eyes lit up slightly.
"Sir, you hold strict orders from your superiors and the authority to mobilize troops throughout the Changshan County Region!"
Chen Sheng's tone was firm, a sharp glint in his eyes. "If it really comes down to it, Sir, you can always request reinforcements from above. Now that Yunzhou has been pacified, the higher-ups are clearly aware of how dangerous these rebels can be. That's why they've transferred personnel from the military to thoroughly purge the regions and intimidate the troublemakers.
As long as these few great families dare to make a move—even the slightest hint of one—we can seize the opportunity to mobilize troops and suppress them in the name of 'quelling a rebellion'! Whether they are actually rebelling might require evidence, but for you to *say* they are 'rebelling,' sometimes all you need is a pretext and a battle report sent to the Prefecture City!"
"But... how can I be certain they are actually rebelling?"
Wu Kuang asked instinctively, his body unconsciously leaning forward.
Chen Sheng smiled faintly, a chilling edge to his expression:
"Sir, you are the County Captain, responsible for maintaining peace and suppressing unrest. Here in Changshan County, whether they have rebelled or not... isn't that often just a matter of your word?"
Hearing this, Wu Kuang was stunned. He stared at Chen Sheng for a long time, sizing him up as if seeing him for the first time. Then, he let out a low chuckle that grew louder and louder:
"Heh! Good kid! I never saw it back in the camp, but you're a goddamn natural-born official! Sharp-witted and ruthless enough. Keeping you in the military would have been a waste of your talents."
The two men exchanged a look, and everything was understood without words. Tacit laughter filled the study.
In Chen Sheng's view, Wu Kuang had clearly been shackled by the conventional mindset of officialdom, always feeling that a newly appointed official needed to be cautious and maintain a balance between various factions, which tied his hands.
But Chen Sheng saw things more clearly—the reason their superiors had transferred people from the military to bolster the local government was precisely for this 'unruly' ruthlessness and ability to execute orders, to shatter the entrenched power of the local magnates!
As long as they didn't provoke a large-scale popular uprising and cause the situation to spiral completely out of control, the higher-ups would likely turn a blind eye to the process, and might even be pleased with the outcome.
And as for the so-called great magnates, while they seemed to hold absolute power in Changshan County, they were ultimately just local tyrants confined to one corner. This world, in the end, still belonged to the court.
He couldn't quite see the higher levels of power yet, but it was clear that these county-level magnates were in no position to oppose the Government Office.
This was a point that Wu Kuang, being in the thick of it, might not have grasped. But Chen Sheng, who came from another world, was not bound by such mental shackles.
In fact, he was inwardly looking forward to a conflict between the Government Office and the powerful families. Only when things descended into chaos and the waters were muddied could he take advantage of the situation and find the perfect ladder to climb higher!
Of course, while the idea was good, the actual execution still required careful, step-by-step planning.
Wu Kuang obviously still had many concerns. Whether it was smoothing things over with the Prefecture City or building up his own power, it all required time. After careful consideration, he decided to first make a move to, on one hand, demonstrate his attitude and ability to his superiors, and on the other, to test the reactions of the various factions.
In the end, Wu Kuang assigned the task of "firing the first shot" to Chen Sheng, telling him to choose a position from among the four Military Preparation commanderships—East, South, West, or North City—and achieve some results as quickly as possible.
"Sir, I wish to serve as the North City Military Preparation Commander!"
Chen Sheng did not hesitate, solemnly clasping his fist as he requested the assignment.
North City was precisely the territory of the Seven Stars Gang, and the place where his old grievances and grudges lay.
"Good!"
Wu Kuang slammed his hand on the desk, his eyes gleaming with expectation.
"Do a good job! As long as we can produce results and get support from our superiors, the two of us, as brothers, can make a killing here in Changshan County! As long as you don't let me down, I guarantee you a life of splendor and wealth!"
His gaze was intense as he stared fixedly at Chen Sheng.
Chen Sheng met his gaze and replied, his voice firm and resolute, word by word:
"I would go through hell and high water for you, Sir, without hesitation!"