Stillborn (Seeking Recommendations!)

Zhou Binglin walked through the corridor to the study. Before he reached it, he saw several people carrying something out, covered with a white cloth, with blood dripping down.

"What's going on?"

He frowned and stopped a steward to ask.

The steward shivered. Seeing it was Zhou Binglin, he reported, "It's a maid from Fourth Madam's courtyard! Master is worried about winter relief, and Third Madam was harassing this girl, saying she had sticky fingers. Later, it was confirmed she had bad luck, so she was beaten to death..."

Zhou Binglin also shivered. He arrived at the study and gently knocked on the door, "Father!"

"Is that Binglin? Come in!"

Zhou Binglin stepped lightly into the room, bowed respectfully, and didn't dare to breathe too loudly.

"How did the matter go?"

Even though he had just beaten a servant to death, Zhou Tong'an's face was calm, full of scholarly demeanor, like a great Confucian scholar.

"It's been settled. Third Uncle's family paid fifty taels of silver, and the land goes to Fourth Aunt's family, with an additional stone of grain paid annually!"

Zhou Binglin said softly.

"One by one, they're disregarding their ancestors for land and money!"

Zhou Tong'an snorted coldly, "They're all relatives, yet they can turn red-eyed over it. Truly not acting like proper human beings!"

"There are many trivial matters within the clan. Other prominent families can't escape this either. It's thanks to Father's commanding presence and strategic planning that our Zhou Family can maintain stability!"

Zhou Binglin bowed. He spoke sincerely, knowing that the larger the family, the harder it was to be fair to everyone. Each branch and lineage was like a wolf.

If not for his father's exceptional methods, it would indeed be difficult to manage.

"Alas... it's good that both sides have agreed!"

Zhou Tong'an asked about the situation in detail. Zhou Binglin answered one by one, and only then did he heave a sigh of relief, "You handled this task well, but you're still a bit short on experience..."

After giving a few more pointers, he continued, "Now that winter is here, pay attention to firewood and grain for each branch, don't let there be any shortages. Keep an eye on the household servants too, don't let them go without meals. The County Magistrate is new, and if there are any incidents of freezing or starvation at this time, it won't look good for anyone!"

"Of course. We confirmed the supply of money and grain early on... But, what about the accounting department?"

Zhou Binglin hesitated slightly.

"Let's wait a bit longer. Martial Master Song should arrive in the next couple of days. Once their silver is escorted here, things will be easier..."

Zhou Tong'an also sighed.

Others might think the Zhou Family is a wealthy household, living in luxury, with piles of gold and silver. They don't know that this large family, with over a thousand clan members, plus household servants and maids, has expenses that are truly like mountains and seas. Not to mention having to support two officials.

They are all currently hoping for Zhou Tongren and Chief Clerk Hu to advance further, so naturally, they cannot neglect the customary offerings to their superiors.

Speaking of officials in the Great Zhou, if one wishes to serve peacefully and live a leisurely life, being diligent and without fault, they can accumulate a considerable fortune by old age.

But if one wants to climb higher, they must first offer proper tribute to their superiors, not exploit their subordinates too harshly, and occasionally win over the populace. This consumes a great deal, and it all relies on the Zhou Family to support it.

"Speaking of this, I'm a bit uneasy. Go ask again..."

Just as Zhou Tong'an was speaking, hurried footsteps approached. "Master, something terrible has happened!"

A person entered. Zhou Binglin recognized him as Old Zhou, the steward most trusted by his father, holding a letter.

Although he really wanted to see it, Zhou Binglin didn't dare to move, fearing it would be seen as proof of his coveting the family head's position. He felt a sense of sadness in his heart.

"You scoundrel!"

BANG!

Zhou Tong'an took the letter. After reading a few lines, he was furious. He slammed his hand on the table, sending cups and saucers crashing to the floor, leaving a mess.

"Father, please calm your anger!"

Zhou Binglin and Old Zhou both knelt. At this point, he could ask, "What happened?"

"Look at this... look at this... This brat from the Wu Family is simply audacious!" Zhou Tong'an threw the letter, and it slapped Zhou Binglin's face, causing a sharp pain.

He couldn't worry about that now and quickly read it, his heart filled with dread. "They actually dared to do this..."

As a scion of a prominent family, he felt a sense of fear towards such methods of flipping the table at the slightest disagreement. "Can we explain the situation and ask the authorities for help in suppressing them?"

"Nonsense!"

Zhou Tong'an roared, then pointed at Old Zhou, "You tell him!"

Old Zhou smiled bitterly, "Young Master, that won't work! The Wu Family's Township Inspector's office has already reported to the county yamen, claiming they ambushed Fierce Bandits at night and wiped out Jie Tianfeng's group of over fifty men. Even the County Magistrate is requesting commendations for them... As long as they insist the goods were seized from the mountain bandits' stronghold, and we have no evidence, there's nothing we can do..."

"Wu Ming..."

Zhou Binglin was somewhat surprised. In his memory, this person was just a dissolute young master. He didn't expect him to show such true colors now, being so decisive, ruthless, and sharp to the extreme.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Zhou Tong'an sneered, "You think our Zhou Family is a sick cat just because the tiger isn't showing its claws... Old Zhou, go give the order. Let Black Tiger and Rolling Dragon make a move. All our martial arts instructors are to be incorporated into the teams. Order the Grand Steward, the Second Steward, and several honored guests to go. Open the armory and pick the best weapons... Hmph! In terms of elite forces, does your Wu Family have more than our Zhou Family? I will make sure he has nowhere to be buried!"

Zhou Binglin shivered. Black Tiger and Rolling Dragon were both notorious fierce bandits in Yunping County. Even he only now realized they were dogs raised by their own family!

And now, it was clear his father had abandoned any official approach and was preparing to take down Wu Ming by force!

At this moment, Zhou Tong'an pointed at Zhou Binglin again, "To ensure safety, prosperous times rely on literary talent, but chaotic times rely on martial strength. This time, you will go too! You must bring me that brat's head back!"

"Yes, sir!"

No matter how unwilling he was, Zhou Binglin had no room to refuse at this moment and could only kneel and speak.

But then, another deacon quickly came to report, holding a section of bamboo in both hands: "A flying letter from the Daoist Academy, it's the highest level!"

"Give it here!"

Zhou Tong'an took it, and a ring on his hand emitted a light. The bamboo tube automatically split open, revealing a roll of ancient paper.

"This..."

After reading a few lines, Zhou Tong'an seemed to have his backbone removed, slumping onto the chair. After a long while, he sighed: "This operation is temporarily canceled!"

As if it were an illusion, Zhou Binglin suddenly felt that Zhou Tong'an's hunched body seemed to have aged a few more years.

Spoon Mountain, inside the mountain stronghold.

Wu Ming, who had already made preparations, now knew what it meant to be outsmarted by heaven.

"Hmm? Sister's letter?"

He didn't wait for retaliation from the Zhou Family, but instead received a letter from Wu Qing, which left Wu Ming somewhat bewildered. After opening and reading it, he became somewhat enlightened.

"Sister wrote that she has already subdued the Zhou Family and made them suffer in silence... Of course, I also went a bit too far. In exchange, the Daoist Academy will not be able to accept me anymore. She told me not to worry and that she would find another way..."

Wu Ming put away the letter and placed it in his embrace. He touched his nose, feeling a bit awkward.

This feeling of being protected under his sister's wing was natural for the former prodigal son, but he felt an uncomfortable sense of owing a debt.

"Actually, I could have solved it myself!"

Unfortunately, this was something he couldn't tell anyone.

'If it had gone according to my plan, this time we would lure the enemy deep, fight to sustain the fight, and wipe out the Zhou Family's elites! By then, the Zhou Family would be a toothless tiger, at my mercy, and I could also train a surprise force, an elite army!'

The original plan was to eliminate the Zhou Family's hidden forces in the deep mountains when they retaliated, using the food, medicine, and even talismans provided by the Main God Hall!

Once that was done, the Zhou Family would have no military power to protect them. They would be a huge piece of fat meat, and might even be destroyed and fall into decline.

This was the ultimate plan to cut the grass and eradicate the roots, to drain the pot and remove the firewood, leaving them with no power to retaliate.

Of course, Wu Ming also knew that his sudden appearance of supplies would inevitably arouse suspicion. However, in this world, Daoist items similar to mustard seeds or spatial rings were not unheard of, they were just extremely rare, and households at the county level wouldn't have access to them. He could use that as an excuse to cover it up.

Even after completing this, he could secretly exert his strength to capture all the forces targeting Wu Qing, thus repaying her kindness and resolving the Karma of this physical body. Then, he would have a wide-open future, able to advance or retreat.

At worst, he could just leave freely. With the Main God Hall, he could go anywhere in the world!

But now, the Karma had deepened.

"Alas... Such great kindness from a beauty, and I can't even offer myself in return. What should I do..."

Wu Ming shook his head, as if trying to shake off some unhealthy thoughts: "Someone! Inform Feng Han, we're going back!"

As for what the letter said about not being able to enter the Daoist Academy, Wu Ming completely ignored it.

It was merely a county-level Daoist Academy. Wu Ming, who already possessed many Daoist Incantations, naturally didn't care much about it.

Although it was a pity that he couldn't obtain an endless stream of incantations from the Daoist Academy, it only meant that he would need more merit points. Wu Ming, who aspired to be the master of the Main God Hall, didn't really care about it.

For the tenant farmers of the Zhou and Wu families, these past few days had been calm and peaceful.

There was even a festive atmosphere akin to the New Year, and when Wu Ming returned, this atmosphere reached its peak.

"Young Master, this time we harvested a total of five thousand taels of silver, fifteen pieces of beautiful jade, as well as fine iron, green salt, and various gifts. Conservatively estimated, that's another fifteen thousand taels of silver!"

Zhao Song reported to Wu Ming with excitement.

"Yes! I promised two-tenths as compensation beforehand, which is three thousand taels. One hundred taels per person, and disabled or fallen warriors will also receive five mu of land for their families!"

As Wu Ming spoke, he saw Zhao Song's face light up with extreme excitement, and he knelt down and said: "The Patriarch is wise, we are willing to die for the Patriarch!"

This expedition was not particularly dangerous, but the harvest was abundant, so there was nothing to complain about.

After all, at most, they had just robbed a merchant caravan, which was not a big deal at this time, so everyone below was quite satisfied.

To be honest, Wu Ming had considered this before.

Even if the Zhou Family's elites were all dispatched this time, and the dark forces of both sides fought to the death, as long as no important leaders died, from the surface perspective, it would only be accidental casualties from suppressing bandits, or even at the level of a clash between two villages.

If it had succeeded, it would have uprooted the Zhou Family's hidden and potential forces. How long could they be protected by just their Official Status?

Unfortunately, plans can never keep up with changes!