Chapter 415: Own Respective Plans

Lei Sitong lived in a manor in Pingxi City near the Plum Gardens, the very same one that Sun Bingchen stayed in when he was in Pingxi City last time.

When Yan Liqiang’s four-wheeled carriage entered Pingxi City, Lei Sitong, the newly-appointed Prefectural Governor Wang Jianbei, and Military Governor Liu Yucheng were seated near a fire stove while they conversed in the manor’s study.

The exquisite metal stove was burning lotus root briquettes inside it. The study’s window was open, so there was no need to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning. It was freezing outside and there were also signs of snowfall. However, the study was still rather warm thanks to the little stove.

Lei Sitong was a fit man dressed in his official Provincial Governor robe. He sported a mustache, a beard, and a sharp nose as well as long eyebrows that reached his temples. He was only sitting by the fire, yet he was oozing with pride and a powerful aura. Sitting to his left was the newly-appointed Pingxi Prefectural Governor Wang Jianbei and on the right was also the newly-appointed Military Governor, Liu Yucheng. Wang Jianbei was a graceful and refined man in his forties. He looked quite like a teacher. He had a pair of narrow eyes that shined brilliantly.

On the other hand, Liu Yucheng was much younger than Wang Jianbei. He seemed to be in his thirties and was dressed in a silver half-body scale armor. He was a man with a masculine physique with a parted black mustache above his lips. He had broad shoulders and his biceps were as thick as the average person’s thigh. One would know he was a valiant man at first glance for he was overflowing with aura akin to that of a ferocious tiger.

“I wonder why my lord fancies that young man named Yan Liqiang so much. I heard he is only sixteen years old, a mere child. Let me know if you wish to meet him; I will have my subordinate bring him to you. Your words are absolute in Gan Province and I do not believe anyone else can possibly take them otherwise. That Qiyun Protectorate is nothing to me. If he dares to leave White Stone Pass, the Shatu people will serve his head on a silver platter within three days…!” The newly-appointed Pingxi Prefecture’s Military Governor Liu Yu Cheng spoke roughly. As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Wang Jianbei smiling while shaking his head. He glared at him and asked indignantly, “What? Did I say something funny?”

Wang Jianbei smiled and pointed at the exquisite metal stove and lotus root briquettes at their feet, “Can you make this thing?”

“No.” Liu Yucheng shook his head.

“If you were in the Imperial Capital, would you be able to make His Majesty pick you as the Crown Prince’s mentor in archery?”

“No.” Liu Yucheng shook his head again.

“Can you earn the respect of the best engineer in the world?”

“No.” Liu Yucheng continued shaking his head but then retorted, “So what? I can just lead my troops and crush my enemies! I don’t need to know everything!”

Wang Jianbei’s smile widened. “How can you be so sure that Yan Liqiang doesn’t know how to lead a troop? I believe you’ve heard that the Blackwind Bandits have yielded and disappeared without a trace over the past year. Lord Lei must have his own reasons to think so highly of Yan Liqiang…”

“Ugh…” Liu Yucheng was immediately rendered speechless.

“I met Yan Liqiang once last year when he was still Sun Bingchen’s attendant. I didn’t pay much attention to him back then. Little did I expect for him to be so lucky to rise to fame while serving Sun Bingchen in the Imperial Capital after such a short amount of time. That was indeed my oversight!” Lei Sitong shook his head and sighed ruefully. “Pity, what a pity! If I had noticed him earlier, he would’ve been very useful to me…”

Wang Jianbei’s eyes gleamed. He was still smiling as he spoke to Lei Sitong, “If Yan Liqiang served Sun Bingchen in some capacity back then, he can also do the same for you now that he has returned to Gan Province. At the end of the day, his Qiyun Protectorate General title is nothing but an empty husk. So what if he has a weaponsmiths quarter with a few hundred craftsmen of all ages directly under his command? If my lord wants to make him lower his head, I naturally will find a way to get it done!”

“There’s no need to do that!” Lei Sitong waved it off and smiled indifferently. “We have more talented people than carps in the rivers. Yan Liqiang has offended Lin Qingtian in the Imperial Capital and was chosen by His Majesty. If I am to snare him, I may end up losing more than what I can gain. Not only will I fail to get him on my side, but I may even be inviting trouble upon myself. Yan Liqiang must be a smart person. He never visited both of you when he returned to Pingxi Prefecture not because he’s rude, but he was merely trying to avoid me. For this reason, it makes me want to meet him even more and figure out the real intention behind His Majesty’s new appointment for him!”

“Lin Qingtian takes pride in the protection he provides to the Shatu Seven Tribes. It won’t be easy for His Majesty to lay a finger on them!” Liu Yucheng said while rubbing his chin before his voice turned sinister. “If you would allow me, I wish to make a move against the Shatu people in Pingxi City. These Shatu people come and go from this city as though this is their place. They are arrogant and tyrannical. Wretches like them should die…!”

“Three feet of snow doesn’t just pile up in a day. Getting rid of the Shatu people in Pingxi City requires lengthy consideration. If we act rashly, we’d just be giving others an opportunity to grab onto something that can be used against us to ruin Lord Lei’s great plans!” Wang Jianbei told Liu Yucheng with a solemn face.

Lei Sitong squinched his eyes and said, “I am actually looking forward to Yan Liqiang doing something outrageous upon returning this time. We may not be able to move recklessly against the Shatu people, but if he takes charge of that, then we can naturally…”

Wang Jianbei’s eyes suddenly lit up and he carefully asked, “My lord, you mean to say…”

Lei Sitong only responded with a smile. Wang Jianbei and Liu Yucheng exchanged glances with each other, having seemingly caught onto something…

When the trio was conversing in the room, a clamor suddenly emerged outside the manor. It took only a moment for the noise to increase in volume, and it seemed to be gradually drawing closer toward the manor.

Lei Sitong creased a frown and ordered the attendants standing outside the room, “Go see what is going on!”

“Yes, my lord!” One of the attendants quickly left.

In just less than half a minute, the attendant returned with a strange expression on his face.

“What’s all that ruckus out there about?” Lei Sitong asked.

“T-There’s a strange four-wheeled carriage outside and it has attracted a crowd in town…!”

“Four-wheeled carriage?” Lei Sitong was briefly stunned. “What’s so strange about it?”

“I-I can’t put it into words. It’s just totally different than all the other carriages! It’s wide and spacious, almost like a moving house! A-And… it’s rather impressive!”

Any typical official would only ask for more details in most cases like this. They would be too embarrassed to personally go out for just a horse carriage. However, Lei Sitong was Lei Sitong. When he heard about an interesting four-wheeled carriage out there, he immediately stood up and spoke without a second thought. “Let’s go out and see which prominent and worthy personage has arrived in Pingxi Prefecture for his carriage to be causing such an uproar in the city…!”

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Wang Jianbei and Liu Yucheng were curious too. When they saw the Provincial Governor going out there to take a look, both of them naturally followed behind him.

As soon as Lei Sitong and the other two went outside, a black carriage had slowly pulled up to the manor’s entrance under the gazes of a big group of Pingxi Prefecture officials and squires. Not far away, a dark mass of Pingxi Prefecture citizens was being blocked by soldiers who were standing guard outside the manor. They were the source of the noise and their gazes were fixated on that black four-wheeled carriage.

When Lei Sitong saw the carriage, his eyes lit up and shone sinisterly…

“Greetings, Provincial Governor, Prefectural Governor, and Military Governor…!”

The officials and squires outside were shocked by the trio’s appearance as they hurriedly bowed to them in greetings and moved out of their way.

The carriage had come to a stop now. Hu Haihe nimbly jumped off from his coachman seat and opened the door from outside before standing obediently at the side.

Old Master Lu was naturally the first to alight the carriage.

He was shocked at the sight of Lei Sitong and the other two, and quickly greeted them.

Just when Lei Sitong was wondering who this old man was to afford to ride a carriage like this, Yan Liqiang finally alighted the carriage, looking handsome in his white fox fur coat.

Yan Liqiang swept his glance around and immediately spotted Lei Sitong who was standing nearby staring at him.

“Greetings, Provincial Governor…” Yan Liqiang saluted to Lei Sitong. However, he didn’t bow like he was greeting his superior. He merely cupped his fists to Lei Sitong as though he was greeting his peer.

When the group of officials and squires standing at the manor’s entrance saw Yan Liqiang’s ‘haughtiness’, their eyes twitched. Although your Qiyun Protectorate General is a high ranking title, it is only an empty husk! How dare you place yourself on the same level as the Provincial Governor! Preposterous!

“Hahaha, I was just wondering who caused such a huge commotion with just a carriage. It turns out to be the Protectorate General…!” Lei Sitong laughed loudly, seemingly not bothered. His gaze flickered to the carriage and his smile became broader. “Just paying a visit here is enough, Protectorate General. You don’t have to go out of your way to bring me such a sophisticated and expensive gift! I shall gracefully accept it since it would be impolite to refuse. Someone, take the four-wheeled carriage away, do not damage the Protectorate General’s gift…!”

Hu Haihe’s eyes immediately widened when he heard the latter and glared at Lei Sitong from beside the carriage.

Yan Liqiang seemed like he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the situation either. He didn’t expect a dignified Provincial Governor to be this shameless to be asking for his four-wheeled carriage as soon as he spoke. Where was his integrity?

Still, he had to give face to Lei Sitong since they were in public. Yan Liqiang could only treat gifting Lei Sitong his carriage as an advertising fee.

“Hahaha, good to know that the Provincial Governor likes it…!” Yan Liqiang said and gestured to Hu Haihe with his eyes. “Haihe, bring carriage into the manor for the Provincial Governor…”

Since Yan Liqiang had spoken, Hu Haihe could only lead the carriage away glumly with Lei Sitong’s two attendants.

“Come, come, come! Let me introduce you. This is Pingxi Prefectural Governor Wang Jian Bei and this is Pingxi Prefectural’s Military Governor Liu Yucheng. I think the Protectorate General has never met them before!”

“Greetings, Prefectural Governor and Military Governor…” Yan Liqiang greeted the other two officials of Pingxi Prefecture by cupping his fists like they were his peers too. Seeing Yan Liqiang repeating the same gesture again, the other officials and squires around them were once again in shock. However, this time, they no longer thought that Yan Liqiang was arrogant. They thought he was neither servile nor overbearing, and was graceful and poised instead. Quite a few of them were even secretly praising Yan Liqiang in their hearts.

Wang Jianbei and Liu Yucheng carefully sized up Yan Liqiang before cupping their fists to him to return the greeting. The Provincial Governor addressed Yan Liqiang as the Protectorate General and also frankly accepted his greeting. This was tone he had set for Yan Liqiang’s status in Gan Province. Hence, both of them would have to comply and go with the flow…

“This is my uncle, the head of the Lu Clan in Huanglong County. Since he was also invited here, I came together with him today…” Yan Liqiang calmly introduced Old Master Lu and had him show his face to Lei Sitong.

After they exchanged greetings at the entrance, Lei Sitong entered the manor while chatting pleasantly with Yan Liqiang.

The Pingxi Prefecture officials and squires at the manor were shocked at the unfathomable scene of Yan Liqiang walking side by side with Tiger Lei despite his young age.

As soon as Yan Liqiang walked through the manor’s door, he felt a strange gaze on him from behind. It felt different than other people’s gazes. In the coldness, it carried a bone-chilling murderous intent like a sharp arrow flying toward him…

Yan Liqiang pretended to not notice. As soon as he walked around the screen wall facing the entrance directly, he glanced into the distance without making it seem obvious.

Several hundred meters away from the Plum Gardens, a green figure flashed across one of the windows at the top of a tall tower…

That was an expert archer and he seemed to be after Yan Liqiang…

Less than half a minute of walking through the manor, Yan Liqiang got the strange feeling of being watched again. He inadvertently glanced to the sky and saw a gray falcon hovering in the air above Pingxi City. From several thousand meters above the ground, it appeared as a mere black dot in the sky. It gave Yan Liqiang the same feeling of being watched by the Blackwind Bandits when he left Gan Province with Sun Bingchen back then…

F*CK!

There are two parties?!

Yan Liqiang’s eyelids twitched as he cursed inwardly…