The Bully General's Spiritual Husband

The messenger sent by Li Zhe handed the secret letter to the personal eunuch of the Yan Emperor.

The chief eunuch presented the letter.

After reading it, the Emperor of Yan immediately ordered the Minister of Revenue: "Lord Wang, the northern regions are in dire need of grain. Prepare 300,000 shi of grain and send it to the northern regions immediately."

Wang Shen respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will go and make the preparations immediately."

When Prime Minister Zhao He heard the letter from the Northern Region, a dark glint flashed in his eyes. Had Li Zhe returned to the Northern Region?

He sent people to the southwest to inquire, and according to the news that came back, Li Zhe had killed Yu Ming. This good pawn in his hands had been destroyed by Li Zhe.

It's outrageous that a country bumpkin from humble beginnings could rise to the position of a general. Killing Yu Ming is tantamount to slapping Zhao He in the face.

I need to teach him a lesson.

After the court session, outside the palace gates, Zhao He's servants quietly relayed a message to Wang Shen: "Lord Wang, the Prime Minister has something to discuss with you and invites you to his residence for a gathering."

When Wang Shen heard that Zhao He was looking for him, he paused, realizing that he still needed to prepare grain for the Northern Region! Three hundred thousand shi was no small amount; it represented one-third of the grain in the granary.

As the Minister of Revenue, I must keep a close watch on things at all times. What brings the Prime Minister to me now?

Qian Cao'er and her husband Luo Shi, who were still greedy and unwilling to give up, were extremely envious of Zhang Cui and the others making money. They secretly hatched a wicked plan and came to the mountain forest that Yin Baicai and the others had contracted under the cover of night.

Qian Cao'er whispered, "This is it, but the fence is so high, how are we going to get in?"

Luo Shi set up the wooden ladder he had carried over, saying, "Watch me, I'll go up first, you hold it from below."

Qian Cao'er held the ladder for Luo Shi, reminding him, "Be careful!"

"Don't you know your own capabilities as a man? Just watch, I saw Zhang Cui and the others come up the mountain to chop firewood yesterday. They won't be able to come and collect the charcoal until tomorrow morning. Let's sneak some back and sell it somewhere else without getting caught. We'll make a fortune and have a good New Year."

Luo Shi, who had climbed over the wall, grinned. Now he could earn some money for drinks.

He jumped down, and before he could even feel smug, he yelled, "Ah—!"

Qian Cao'er hurriedly asked, "What happened? Did you sprain your ankle?"

She heard no reply and became extremely anxious. She shakily climbed the stairs and, by the moonlight, saw Luo Shi lying unconscious in the pit.

He was horrified: "Master... wake up!"

Then she remembered that Zhang Cui had said in the village that they had set up hunting traps behind the wall, and if someone secretly came to steal something and fell in and died, it wouldn't be their fault.

Fearing Luo Shi was dead, the distraught Qian Cao'er immediately ran frantically down the mountain, shouting all the way, "Help... someone's dead—"

The villagers, who had just rested, were awakened by the cries. Upon hearing that someone had died, they hurriedly got up, still dressed, to see what was happening.

Seeing Qian Cao'er shouting and yelling like a madwoman in the village, he immediately grabbed her and asked, "What happened?"

"Help! Please help me save my husband! He's fallen into the pit..." Qian Cao'er's sobbing voice broke the tranquility of Peach Blossom Village.

The group lit torches and followed Qian Cao'er up the mountain.

Looking at the direction Qian Cao'er was leading, the group asked in confusion, "Why are we going to that mountain? Isn't that the forest that Ke Renjing and his gang have taken over?"

Despite their doubts, everyone went along anyway.

The firelight illuminated the entire mountain forest.

When Wu Maoshan and Zhang Cui's husband, who had followed them, saw the stairs leaning against the wall, they immediately understood: the couple must have fallen into the hunting pit behind the wall while trying to steal something.

Qian Cao'er cried out, "Save my husband! He fell in there, waaaaah..."

The villagers understood immediately, especially the wooden ladder on the wall; everyone knew exactly what was going on.

Wu Maoshan unlocked the gate to the forest, and the group followed him inside. They saw Luo Shi lying at the bottom of the pit, his fate unknown.

"Hurry up and carry him out, what are you standing there for?" Two strong young men jumped into the pit and checked Luo Shi's breathing. "He's breathing, he's still alive."

"Drag him up, quickly."

"Come on... lend a hand."

……

The people of Peach Blossom Village spent a sleepless night.

Luo Shi was taken to a livestock doctor in Baihua Village. There were no oxcarts in the village at night, let alone a way to take him to town.

The livestock doctor examined him and said, "He's fine, he'll wake up tomorrow. He was knocked unconscious by a stone."

When the villagers heard that everything was alright, they all went back to the village. After all, they had already helped rescue the person. What business was it of theirs if Qian Cao'er and her husband were greedy?

This lively night deterred many villagers from trying to steal charcoal from Zhang Cui and her family, just like Qian Cao'er and her husband.

Qian Cao'er and her husband didn't dare to make a big fuss, after all, Zhang Cui and the others had warned them long ago that it was their own greed that had ruined them.

Wang Shen went to the Ministry of Revenue and instructed his subordinates to quickly prepare the grain and fodder to be sent to the Northern Region. After all, this matter was of great importance, and he could not bear the heavy responsibility if the border defense was lost.

As night fell, Wang Shen rode in a carriage to the Prime Minister's residence.

The steward of the Prime Minister's residence immediately led him into Zhao He's study.

Wang Shen bowed to Zhao He before him, saying, "Your Excellency, Prime Minister."

Zhao He nodded. "Sit down. Has the 300,000 shi of grain ordered by His Majesty been prepared properly?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, preparations will be completed within the next two days."

Zhao He's eyes darkened for a moment, "Lord Wang, you'll have to put in a lot more effort. Also... I have a favor to ask of you?"

"Please give your orders, my lord, and I will do my utmost to help you achieve them," Wang Shen said obsequiously. He had only become Minister of Revenue because of the Prime Minister's recommendation, and his wife was a distant cousin of the Prime Minister's wife.

"Come here with your ears."

Wang Shen approached, and after hearing Zhao He's words, he was stunned. "May I ask, sir, why did you do this?"

Zhao He's expression was displeased, but his authority was palpable. "You don't need to know. Just do as I say."

Seeing this, Wang Shen dared not ask any more questions. After bowing, he left the Prime Minister's residence.

When the coachman saw him come out, his face was solemn, and he said cautiously, "Sir."

"Go back to your residence! Remember, don't let word of our visit to the Prime Minister's residence today leak out."

"I understand." The coachman was genuinely puzzled as to what had happened to warrant such a grave expression from his superior. However, he dared not ask, for the less he knew, the better.

Sitting in the carriage, Wang Shen's hands, hidden in his sleeves, were clenched with sweat. What on earth had this mighty general done to offend the prime minister? Otherwise, why would he treat him like this?

These two men, one the head of the civil service and the other the head of the military, should theoretically have no connection whatsoever.

But who cares? I'm on the Prime Minister's side, so I'll just do as he says.

If this matter comes to light, it's uncertain whether the Prime Minister can protect himself. Even if it's a capital offense, he has to carry it out, otherwise the Prime Minister could take away his official hat with a single word.

After all, you can't fight city hall.

Zhao He was also afraid that the news of his meeting with Wang Shen today would leak out, so he immediately ordered people to hide the fact that Wang Shen had come to the Prime Minister's residence.

Li Zhe, I'm going to teach you a lesson. You killed Benxiang's money bag, so this is just a small lesson for you.