Starting from 1618 of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 65 Rising Fame

The first ray of sunshine after the Battle of Jinan did not bring that poetic warmth, but rather a sense of exhaustion from surviving a catastrophe.

The air was still thick with the smells of lime, gunpowder, and the acrid stench of burning corpses, but for the people of Jinan at that time, this smell was the most comforting "human touch." Because it meant—they were still alive, and the city had not yet fallen.

Meanwhile, at the main branch of Lu Ji Carriage and Horse Shop in the south of the city, a lively scene unfolded, a stark contrast to the general desolation throughout the city.

The long line of carriages and horses at the gate was not for transporting goods, but for delivering gifts.

"This is five hundred bushels of white rice sent by Master Zhao from the east of the city, said to be for the brave men to make porridge!"

"These are two hundred bolts of coarse cloth sent by the Liu family by Daming Lake, to make clothes for the brothers!"

"This is wound medicine sent by Huichuntang. The manager said that the Lu family's people will not be charged a penny for the medicine!"

Fan Fu stood at the door, his hands almost bursting with the gift list. His usually shrewd and calculating face was now beaming like a blooming chrysanthemum, and even the bruises on his lips from the beating he received from the Weishui Gang couldn't hide the genuine sense of triumph he felt.

Once upon a time, the Lu family was just a nouveau riche from out of town, a pushover easily manipulated by local powerful families. But after last night's battle, seeing those usually arrogant and haughty butlers of wealthy families bowing and scraping as they handed over the gift lists, Fan Fu felt that his life had been worthwhile.

"Write them all down, and we'll make a register later."

On the second-floor terrace, Lu Yan held a cup of tea, not going downstairs to enjoy the vain attention he was receiving. He wore a loose Taoist robe, his expression indifferent, as if watching a spectacle that had nothing to do with him.

"Master, aren't you going down to see them?" Hu Jingshui stood behind him, looking at the grand scene downstairs, her tone somewhat excited. "This is a great opportunity to win people's hearts. The heads of those powerful families have all come in person and are waiting in the side hall."

"I'm not going."

Lu Yan blew on the tea foam, his tone calm to the point of indifference, "Going down now would be 'showing favor.' My refusal to see them would be 'maintaining authority.' Let them wait. The longer they wait, the deeper their awe of Lu's will grow."

Hu Jingshui was stunned for a moment, then gave a thumbs up: "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

Just then, a noisy gong suddenly came from the end of the street, rudely interrupting the order at the entrance.

"Get out of the way! Everyone get out of the way! This is an investigation by the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner; bystanders, get out of the way!"

The crowd was roughly pushed aside, and a group of bailiffs dressed in black uniforms and carrying fire and water sticks stormed in aggressively. Leading them was a commander of a thousand men dressed in the uniform of a fifth-rank military officer, with a face full of scars, greedy eyes, and the goose-feather saber at his waist clattering loudly.

This man was Sun Desheng, a commander of the Imperial Guard under the Provincial Surveillance Commission.

Normally, he was a big shot in Jinan Prefecture, but these past few days, seeing Lu Ji making a big splash, especially after hearing that Lu Ji had a batch of powerful "divine weapons," his mind started to wander.

"Who's in charge? Call Lu Yan out here!"

Commander Sun stood at the bottom of the steps, his nostrils flared, pointing his riding whip at the gate. "The Provincial Inspector has ordered that Lu Ji is suspected of possessing prohibited military equipment! That batch of repeating muskets, and those thunderbolts that can explode in a wide area, must all be handed over! These are weapons of the state, how dare you commoners take them? Hand them over!"

Upon hearing this, the once bustling entrance instantly fell silent.

People have come to pick peaches.

Moreover, it was outright robbery.

Everyone present knew perfectly well that this wasn't for the sake of the imperial court at all; it was clearly because they saw how powerful Lu's firearms were and wanted to seize them for themselves under the guise of the government.

Hu Jingshui on the second floor changed her expression: "Master, this Commander Sun is a confidant of the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, this..."

Ignore it.

Lu Yan didn't even turn around, still looking at the distant city wall, and even had the leisure to take a sip of tea.

Sure enough, before Commander Sun could even step onto the steps, a towering figure blocked the entrance.

Zhao Changying.

He wasn't wearing armor today, only a black, close-fitting outfit with the sleeves rolled up high, revealing his strong forearms. Holding the goose-feather saber, still stained with blood, he casually stood at the door, and an aura of murderous intent that seemed to have rolled out from a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood forcefully suppressed Commander Sun's arrogance.

"stop."

Zhao Changying's voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like a muffled thunderclap.

"How dare you!" Commander Sun felt a chill run down his spine under that gaze, but relying on his official position, he still shouted sternly, "Who are you? How dare you block my path? I am here on official business..."

"This is Lu Ji's main camp, a strategically important military location."

Zhao Changying interrupted him without even glancing at him, "The master is resting and has no time to receive guests. As for firearms... those are our possessions earned with our lives, not something you can just take as you please."

"You...you're going to rebel?!" Commander Sun was furious, his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Believe me or not, I'll punish you for resisting an official!"

"Clang!"

The thirty guards behind Zhao Changying stepped forward simultaneously, each brandishing half of their blades. The synchronized metallic scraping sound was more convincing than any words.

Commander Sun's legs went weak, and he subconsciously took a step back.

He then remembered that these men were ruthless characters who had slaughtered thousands of bandits the night before. Compared to them, his few dozen constables, who only knew how to bully ordinary people, would be no match for them.

Just as he was caught in a dilemma, the previously silent crowd suddenly became agitated.

"Lord Sun, isn't that a bit unreasonable of you?"

A well-dressed silk shopkeeper couldn't help but speak up. He had personally witnessed how Lu's shop had defended the south gate last night, and now, mustering his courage, he said, "When the bandits attacked the city last night, why didn't anyone from the Provincial Surveillance Commission come out? Now that Scholar Lu has repelled the bandits and saved the lives of everyone in the city, what do you do? Not only do you not reward him, but you also want to rob his weapons?"

"Exactly! This is so shameless!"

With someone taking the lead, the emotions in the crowd were instantly ignited.

"If it weren't for Scholar Lu's musketeers last night, our heads would have been on the flagpole by that scoundrel Xu long ago!"

"You officials are more eager than anyone to collect taxes during normal times, but faster than anyone to run away during wartime! Now you want to steal other people's good stuff? Have you no shame?"

"Get out! You're not welcome here!"

Someone shouted, and then rotten vegetable leaves, clumps of mud, and even a few rotten eggs that seemed to have flown from nowhere rained down on Commander Sun and his constables.

"Rebellion! Rebellion!"

Commander Sun was hit on the official hat by a rotten egg, and the yellowish-white egg liquid flowed down his cheeks, making him look utterly disheveled. He brandished his whip, wanting to strike someone, but found himself surrounded by angry eyes—not only ordinary people, but even several local gentry and wealthy landowners who usually treated him like a brother, were now looking at him coldly, their eyes filled with contempt.

This is the will of the people.

In this time of collapsing order, whoever can save their own life is the boss. Lu Yan's battle last night was not just about repelling the enemy; it was about becoming a pillar of strength in the hearts of the people of Jinan. More importantly, with their firearms taken away, who will protect them?

Before this divine needle, the usually domineering Provincial Surveillance Commissioner was nothing but a joke.

"Let's go! Let's go! Let's go find the prefect to settle this!"

Looking at the indignant crowd and then at Zhao Changying, who stood like a god of death at the door, Commander Sun finally chickened out. He knew that if he dared to act forcefully again today, these agitated people would tear him apart without Lu Yan even lifting a finger. Moreover, the law does not punish the masses, and the Provincial Inspector might have to use him as a scapegoat to appease public anger.

Amidst boos and curses, Commander Sun and his men fled in disgrace, not even catching a glimpse of Lu Yan, before slinking away from the street.

"good!"

A thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd.

On the second-floor terrace, Lu Yan watched this scene, and a faint smile finally appeared on his lips.

"Did you see that, Lao Hu?"

Lu Yan put down his teacup, his voice soft and gentle, "This is 'power.' Before, we had to bribe these brats and act like subservient just to get some peace. But now..."

He pointed to Zhao Changying, who was still standing tall downstairs, and then to the people who were spontaneously maintaining order.

"Now, we are 'peace' itself."

"In this Jinan Prefecture, unless I give my approval, even if the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner comes in person, he will have to wait at the door."

Hu Jingshui watched Lu Yan's retreating figure, her heart filled with overwhelming shock.

He suddenly realized that his employer was no longer just a shrewd businessman or a resourceful scholar.

He has become a "valve".

A warlord, who controlled violence, money, and even popular support, was able to set the rules in this chaotic world.

"Master, shall we still meet with those wealthy people who brought gifts downstairs?" Hu Jingshui asked cautiously.

"not see."

Lu Yan turned and walked back, his steps light. "Tell Fan Fu to accept all the gifts and remember the names. Then spread the word: Lu's Group is preparing to expand the 'safe zone' and take over the wartime transportation business of major businesses in the city."

"Shipping costs have tripled."

Lu Yan pushed open the door, and sunlight shone on his back, casting a long, sharp shadow.

"Now that we've made a name for ourselves, it's time to reap the rewards."