Chapter 852
Let's keep working after the rain stops
"Let them come," Zheng Yi said calmly. "I want to see just how many people are in the Li family."
"But sir, you are all alone."
“Young Master Guo, have you forgotten we’re allies?” Zheng Yi interrupted him. “Your business is my business. If the Li family wants to harm the Guo family, it’s the same as harming me. I won’t let them succeed.”
“Sir.” Guo Tianyou’s eyes were a little moist.
"Alright, that's enough." Zheng Yi waved his hand. "The most important thing now is to figure out what the relationship is between Guo Tianen and the Li family. Do you know how they got in touch?"
Guo Tianyou shook his head.
"I don't know either. My third brother has always been very secretive; there are many things about him that I don't know."
“Then send someone to investigate,” Zheng Yi said. “The Li family is a major clan in the northern part of Tianyuan Domain, far from Hongyun City. How did Guo Tianen get in touch with them? There must be some hidden story.”
“Alright, I’ll send someone to investigate right away,” Guo Tianyou said.
At this moment, Elders Guo Shouzhen and Guo Xiong hurriedly entered.
"Tianyou, I heard that the Li family is causing trouble?" Guo Shouzhen asked anxiously.
"Don't worry, Third Uncle, he's already been driven away by Mr. Dark Night," Guo Tianyou said.
"They're gone?" Guo Xiong glanced at the black-clad thugs lying on the ground, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Mr. Dark Night, you've got impressive skills!"
"A trivial matter, not worth mentioning," Zheng Yi said. "Elders, the Li family has come to collect a debt with a contract, saying that Guo Tianen, on behalf of the Guo family, borrowed 300,000 taels of silver from the Li family, and now that the loan is due, they want to use land in the north of the city to settle the debt. Are you aware of this?"
"What?" Guo Shouzhen and Guo Xiong both changed color at the same time.
“I’ve never heard of this before!” Guo Shouzhen said. “When Chongshan was alive, he never mentioned borrowing money from the Li family. This Guo Tianen actually did such a thing behind our backs!”
“Third Uncle, what’s done is done, and there’s no point in pursuing it now,” Guo Tianyou said. “The most urgent thing is to find out the relationship between Guo Tianen and the Li family, and the true purpose of this contract.”
“Tianyou is right,” Guo Xiong nodded. “I will send people to investigate immediately. The Li family is in the northern part of Tianyuan Domain, several hundred miles from Hongyun City. I must find out how Guo Tianen got involved with them.”
"Thank you for your trouble, Fifth Uncle," Guo Tianyou said.
"Oh, right," Zheng Yi suddenly remembered something, "where is Guo Tianen being held now?"
“He’s locked up in the city lord’s dungeon,” Guo Tianyou said. “Does the master wish to see him?”
“Yes,” Zheng Yi nodded. “I want to ask him myself what his relationship is with the Li family.”
"Very well, I will take you there, sir."
Guo Tianyou led Zheng Yi to the dungeon behind the city lord's mansion.
The dungeon was located deep underground, dark and damp, with a musty and rotten smell permeating the air. On both sides of the corridor were rows of cells enclosed by iron bars, where prisoners were held.
Guo Tianen was locked in the innermost cell.
Zheng Yi walked to the cell door and saw Guo Tianen inside through the iron bars.
Guo Tianen huddled in the corner of the cell, his brocade robe filthy, his hair disheveled, and his face covered in stubble. His eyes were vacant, as if they had lost their former sparkle.
“Guo Tianen,” Zheng Yi called out.
Guo Tianen slowly raised his head, saw Zheng Yi, and a trace of fear flashed in his eyes.
"It's you." His voice was hoarse and trembling slightly. "What are you doing here?"
“I have a few questions for you,” Zheng Yi said. “If you answer well, maybe I can spare your life. If you answer poorly… hmph.”
Guo Tianen's body trembled slightly.
What do you want to ask?
What is your relationship with the Li family?
Guo Tianen's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.
"What Li family? I don't know any Li family."
"Still trying to deny it?" Zheng Yi sneered. "Today, the Li family's steward came with a contract demanding payment, claiming that you, on behalf of the Guo family, borrowed 300,000 taels of silver from the Li family. The contract bears your signature and fingerprint; do you still want to deny it?"
Guo Tianen's face turned deathly pale.
"They...they've arrived?"
“Yes, they came,” Zheng Yi said, “but I chased them away. But I’d like to know, how did you get involved with the Li family? And why did you sign this contract?”
Guo Tianen remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.
“It was someone from the Poison Sect who introduced me,” he said in a low voice. “The Poison Sect has a cooperative relationship with the Li family. When I wanted to get rid of my father, I needed a lot of money to bribe people and buy poison. That's how the Poison Sect introduced me to the Li family.”
"The Li family agreed to lend me money on the condition that I would give them the land in the north of the city after the deal was done. At the time, I was focused on seizing the position of family head, so I agreed."
"So, this contract was a trap you set from the very beginning?" Zheng Yi asked.
“Yes,” Guo Tianen nodded. “The Li family has long coveted the northern part of Hongyun City. The north is close to the Eastern Wilderness, boasting an excellent geographical location and immense potential. If they want to gain a foothold in Hongyun City, the north is the best entry point.”
“I needed money at the time, and they needed the land in the north of the city. So we quickly reached an agreement and signed the contract.”
"To seize the position of family head, you actually betrayed the Guo family's assets," Zheng Yi said coldly. "You are truly a sinner of the Guo family."
"I know I was wrong," Guo Tianen said, lowering his head, "but it's no use saying anything now."
“There’s one more thing,” Zheng Yi asked. “Does the Li family have any other accomplices in Hongyun City? Besides you, is there anyone else in contact with the Li family?”
Guo Tianen hesitated for a moment, then said, "Yes. Second Brother... Second Brother also has connections with the Li family."
"Guo Tianci?" Zheng Yi frowned.
“Yes,” Guo Tianen said. “When the Li family approached me, they also approached my second brother. Although my second brother didn’t sign a contract with the Li family, there were some private deals between them.”
"What transaction?"
“I’m not entirely clear on the details,” Guo Tianen said, “but I heard that the Li family agreed to help my second brother deal with my eldest brother on the condition that my second brother would give the Li family some benefits in the future.”
Zheng Yi's heart sank upon hearing this.
Guo Tianci. It turns out he also has connections with the Li family.
No wonder Guo Tianci sided with Guo Tianen when he made trouble. It turns out that both of them were colluding with the Li family.
"Is everything you're saying true?" Zheng Yi stared into Guo Tianen's eyes.
“It’s all true,” Guo Tianen said. “I’m a prisoner now, there’s no reason for me to lie to you.”
Zheng Yi remained silent for a moment, then turned and left the dungeon.
Guo Tianyou was waiting for him outside the dungeon.
"Sir, did you find out anything?" "I found out some things." Zheng Yi told Guo Tianyou what Guo Tianen had said.
Guo Tianyou's face turned very ugly after hearing this.
"Second brother... Second brother is also colluding with the Li family."
"Young Master Guo, where is your second brother now?" Zheng Yi asked.
"He's still in the Chamber of Commerce in the east of the city," Guo Tianyou said. "After I succeeded as the head of the family, he outwardly accepted my leadership, but he has remained stationed in the east of the city and hasn't moved back to the city lord's mansion."
Do you think he's trustworthy?
Guo Tianyou remained silent.
“I…I don’t know either,” he said. “My second brother and I have always been at odds, but I never imagined he would collude with outsiders and betray the Guo family’s interests.”
"The facts are now clear," Zheng Yi said. "Your second and third brothers are both connected to the Li family. Their alliance against you isn't just about vying for the position of family head, but also about cooperating with the Li family to seize the Guo family's assets."
"Then what should I do?" Guo Tianyou asked, somewhat bewildered.
“First, you need to keep your second brother calm,” Zheng Yi said. “Don’t alert him before you have concrete evidence. Let him think you don’t know about his relationship with the Li family.”
"Secondly, we'll have someone secretly monitor his every move. If he has connections with the Li family, he'll definitely take action. Then we'll be able to find incriminating evidence against him."
"Finally, strengthen the construction and defense of the northern part of the city. The north is the Li family's target, and we must develop it as quickly as possible to thwart their conspiracy."
“Alright, I will do as you say, sir.” Guo Tianyou nodded.
The two emerged from the dungeon and returned to the council chamber.
Elders Guo Shouzhen and Guo Xiong were still waiting there.
"So? Did you get anything out of them?" Guo Shouzhen asked.
Zheng Yi relayed Guo Tianen's confession to the two elders.
After hearing this, the two elders' expressions turned very ugly.
"That Guo Tianen is a traitor to the Guo family!" Guo Xiong said angrily. "He actually colluded with outsiders to betray the Guo family's assets!"
“Tianci also has problems,” Guo Shouzhen sighed. “I always thought he was just at odds with Tianyou, but I never expected he was also colluding with the Li family.”
“Elders,” Zheng Yi said, “what’s done is done, and there’s no point in pursuing it now. The most urgent task is to prevent the Li family from further encroaching on the Guo family. I suggest we immediately send people to monitor Guo Tianci’s every move, and at the same time strengthen the defenses in the north of the city.”
“Mr. Dark Night is right,” Guo Shouzhen nodded. “I will make the arrangements immediately.”
The two elders left the council hall to make arrangements for related matters.
Zheng Yi and Guo Tianyou remained in the council hall to continue discussing countermeasures.
"Sir, will the Li family send more people?" Guo Tianyou asked worriedly.
“Very likely,” Zheng Yi said. “Their manager went back in disgrace today, and the Li family certainly won’t let this go. They will likely send stronger people, and might even resort to force.”
"So what should we do?"
“I’m not afraid,” Zheng Yi said. “The Guo family isn’t pushovers, and I’m not one to be trifled with either. If the Li family really wants to resort to force, then let them. I want to see just how much strength they really have.”
"But sir, the Li family is a powerful clan in the northern part of Tianyuan Domain. If they really go all out, can we withstand them?"
"Young Master Guo, don't boost others' morale while diminishing your own," Zheng Yi said, looking at Guo Tianyou. "No matter how strong the Li family is, they are not one of the nine great families. I'm not afraid of the combined forces of the nine great families, why would I be afraid of a mere Li family?"
"Furthermore, we're not fighting alone. I still have people in Qingyun City; if the situation becomes urgent, I can call them over for support."
Guo Tianyou felt a little more at ease after hearing this.
“You are right, sir,” he said. “With you here, I am at ease.”
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore." Zheng Yi stood up. "Construction in the north of the city can't stop. I need to go back and check on the construction site."
"I will accompany you, sir."
The two left the city lord's mansion and headed north of the city.
The afternoon sun was bright and warm, casting a golden glow on the streets of Hongyun City. The streets teemed with people, the shouts of vendors and the haggling of customers blending together to create a lively symphony of everyday life.
Passing through the bustling commercial district and entering the northern part of the city, the surrounding scenery gradually changed.
Although the northern part of the city is still relatively desolate, it has improved significantly compared to a few days ago. The roadbed of the main road has been basically paved, and workers are laying bluestone slabs on it. A wide and flat avenue is stretching out from this wasteland.
Zheng Yi felt a surge of relief as he watched all this.
Although the Li family's affairs had brought him some trouble, the development of the northern part of the city could not be halted. Only by developing the northern part of the city as soon as possible could the Li family's conspiracy be completely thwarted.
"Young Master Guo, the construction in the north of the city must be accelerated," he said. "Strive to complete the main road and market square before winter."
“I understand.” Guo Tianyou nodded. “I will allocate more funds and manpower to fully support the construction in the north of the city.”
"Also, we need to recruit some guards specifically to protect the safety of the north of the city," Zheng Yi said. "Since the Li family has their eyes on the north of the city, they are very likely to send people to cause trouble. We must be prepared."
"Alright, I'll arrange it right away."
Three days later, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky in the early morning.
The rain, fine and misty, gently sprinkled down the streets and alleys of Hongyun City. The bluestone pavement became wet, reflecting the shop signs and the figures of passersby. The air was filled with the fragrance of earth and the freshness of the rain, bringing a touch of coolness.
Construction at the site in the north of the city has been temporarily suspended.
Zheng Yi stood in a makeshift shed, looking at the drizzle outside, his brows furrowed slightly.
“This rain couldn’t have come at the wrong time,” he murmured.
Xiao Tianxing stood beside him and said, "Sir, according to the older generation, this kind of autumn rain can last for several days. We may be delayed for a while."
"There's nothing we can do, the weather's just not cooperating," Zheng Yi sighed. "Let the workers rest for a few days. They can continue working once the rain stops."
"Yes."
Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar.
Zheng Yi turned his head and saw a rider wearing a straw raincoat galloping from the direction of the north entrance of the city. His horse's hooves splashed water on the wet road.
The rider arrived at the shed, dismounted, took off his raincoat, revealing the city guard uniform underneath.
"Mr. Dark Night!" he said breathlessly, "A large group of people has arrived outside the city gates; they look like they're here to cause trouble!"
"Here to cause trouble?" Zheng Yi frowned. "Who are they?"
"They seem to be from the Li family," the rider said. "They brought several hundred men and blocked the city gate. The leader is an old man in a black robe; he has a very imposing presence and is clearly a master." (End of Chapter)