Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

"Young Master Zhang, I didn't break the rules. Every time before the army sets out, there is an announcement that caravans and cavalry must give way!" said the flag-gathering officer righteously.

The merchant argued, "This is a huge injustice! There were no notices posted at the Yunzhou government office, the Chamber of Commerce, or the Guild Hall. Furthermore, the official road was in disrepair, which is why the car broke down. We weren't blocking them for no reason!"

Ji Fubao quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.

"Alright, alright, since my son-in-law doesn't want to pursue the matter anymore, then forget it. Just pay the fine and leave the goods to them!"

Seeing that the general's superior had come to smooth things over, Zhang Jingwei did not make a big fuss about it. After all, the businessman also accepted the punishment.

He had only taken two steps when he heard another quarrel behind him.

"One hundred taels! This trip alone doesn't even make a profit of one hundred taels. Sir, please be kind and lower the price a little more!"

The flag-gatherer grabbed the merchant by the collar and yelled, "You old man, you're so shameless, aren't you?" He raised his fist and was about to hit the merchant in the face.

Just as his fist was about to hit the businessman in the face, Zhang Jingwei stopped him.

The businessman was terrified and burst into tears.

He cried out, "I am also a citizen of the Celestial Empire, and you are its soldiers. Why are you making things difficult for me..."

Zhang Jingwei was so angry that he gnashed his teeth and muttered, "This is too much! This is too much!"

After being stopped, the chief flag officer looked at Zhang Jingwei in surprise. This skinny young master from a wealthy family could actually stop him.

Zhang Jingwei continued, "Let's be merciful when we can. Why are you pressing us so hard?"

The flag officer's eyes widened in anger. He had not expected Zhang Jingwei to meddle in other people's affairs to such an extent, so he said viciously: "This is my duty. I hope Master Zhang will not interfere."

Zhang Jingwei was not afraid. He stood up straight and responded, "Your duty is to protect your country, not to bully the people!"

When the surrounding soldiers saw this scene, they began to whisper to each other. They obviously felt that the general had gone too far.

At this time, Ji Fubao quickly stepped out to smooth things over. He said to the general flag officer, "Sir, calm down. This general flag officer didn't break the rules. How about we both take a step back?"

The general thought about it and felt that it would not be good for him if the matter was made bigger today, so he agreed.

Finally, the fine was reduced to fifty taels, and the merchant thanked the merchant profusely and was ready to pay the fine.

Zhang Jingwei stopped him and said, "Let me tell you what the rules are."

"Yunzhou's land and water transportation is under the jurisdiction of the Tongpan. Now our Yunzhou Tongpan has fled and his whereabouts are unknown."

"If the merchant was unaware of the situation, what crime has he committed?"

"This punishment is ridiculous!"

Ji Fubao held his forehead with one hand and rubbed his temple lightly, then took out a horsewhip and whipped the general flag officer.

"How do you do things! My uncle's orders are military orders. You must do what my uncle says. If you continue to talk nonsense, you will be punished according to military law."

The flag officer who was whipped looked innocent and had to retreat silently.

Zhang Jingwei angrily ordered Mu Tou: "Did I let you go? Mu Tou, bring him back to me."

Mu Tou rushed forward without saying a word, grabbed the general flag officer and brought him in front of Zhang Jingwei.

"Uncle, what are you..."

Ji Fubao was also helpless, looking at the tall and strong wooden man, but if he didn't say something, he was afraid that his men would suffer today.

Ji Fubao patted the wood with a smile, then said to Zhang Jingwei: "Not really, not really, it's not a big deal."

Zhang Jingwei became even angrier after hearing this. "Ji Fubao! You're a seventh-rank military commander appointed by the imperial court, and yet you're still saying it's no big deal!"

At this time, Gao Fei rode over on horseback and looked bewildered at the scene. Zhang Jingwei told him the whole story.

Gao Fei frowned and said, "This penalty...penalty...isn't...much!"

"Even you...Okay, okay, fine, you think this is the normal rule, then I will show them what my rules are!"

Zhang Jingwei took a stick from the car and walked towards the general with a menacing look.

"Hold it down!"

Mu Tou obediently pressed the general flag officer to the ground.

The organ was unwilling to obey and wanted to resist, but the wood was very strong. All resistance was futile, and Ji Fubao was still persuading it.

"He didn't break any rules, sir. Punishing him like this is tantamount to beating him!"

"Hey, you are right. I am going to beat him today. There is no reason. If you are not satisfied, just go and sue me!" After Zhang Jingwei said this, he started beating him with a stick.

The young master from the rich family was weak and the beating didn't hurt at all. He was beaten in front of so many people. The general was so ashamed that he fought back desperately.

But no matter how it resisted, the wooden body remained motionless.

Mu Tou didn't let go of the general until Zhang Jingwei was exhausted.

The general officer got up from the ground, dusted himself off, looked at Zhang Jingwei with resentment in his eyes, and said viciously: "I will remember this beating today!"

Zhang Jingwei was not afraid of him at all. He pushed him to move the carriage away and asked him to put the goods on the horse.

The flag officer did as he was told without saying another word.

The businessman stood by trembling, and after finishing everything, he thanked the master repeatedly.

Zhang Jingwei looked at the businessman walking away, feeling a lot of emotions in his heart. He was wondering how many such things had happened and how many would happen in the future.

Ji Fubao was also a little unconvinced and said, "Son-in-law! I will definitely report this matter to the Marquis!"

Zhang Jingwei threw away the stick, clapped his hands, ignored them and turned back to his carriage.

……

At night, the entire army rested.

After a day's journey, the soldiers were exhausted. Following the instructions of their officers, they found a vacant lot and set up temporary tents.

Zhang Jingwei's tent should have been guarded by guards, but Ji Fubao was angry and deliberately did not arrange any guards, so Gao Fei volunteered to guard outside the tent.

Mu Tou was making the bed in the tent, and from time to time he reminded Zhang Jingwei: "Young Master, you beat that guy today, and I guess you'll be retaliated tonight!"

"Shouldn't he be beaten?" Zhang Jingwei put down the book in his hand and rubbed his eyebrows in annoyance. Reading for a long time under the dim oil lamp made his eyes hurt.

Mu Tou's eyes were full of approval. "I think... Young Master did the right thing! If Young Master hadn't stopped him, the merchant would have probably had all his belongings stolen!"

"When I used to hunt with hunters, I often stayed in the mountains for several days. I wasn't afraid of wolves, tigers, or leopards. But once I got off the mountain, I was most afraid of the government hunters."

Zhang Jingwei was puzzled: "Why? Did you hunt some protected animals?" Are there any nationally protected animals in this era?

Mu Tou shook his head and said, "No, if we encounter them, we will have to starve for a few days. Hunters will not only have to pay additional taxes, but they will also be skinned before entering the city!"

Zhang Jingwei sighed, "This is truly... a tyrannical government is more ferocious than a tiger!"