A life of two souls traveling through time

Chapter 273 Changing Generals Before a Battle Is a Big Taboo in Military Strategy

"The Shen family of Yaocheng?"

In the study of the Li Mansion, Mu Liang looked incredulous after hearing what Lao Zhou said.

He had heard of the Shen Family Cloth Shop in Yaocheng, and he had also heard his adoptive father mention that the head of the Shen Family, Old Lady Shen, was a resolute and respectable person who dared to act and take responsibility, and was also highly respected in the Jiangnan business community. Therefore, Mu Liang did not quite believe that the person behind Village Chief Ma was Old Lady Shen, but Lao Zhou saw Village Chief Ma enter the Shen Family Villa with his own eyes, so the Shen Family was not immune from the matter anyway.

"Well, I saw that the people sent by Magistrate You also followed to Shen's Villa and returned early. I believe that Magistrate You must have known about it by now." Old Zhou sat in front of Mu Liang, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan and continued.

It was the hottest day of the year and Lao Zhou came back from outside in a hurry. He felt extremely hot. Fortunately, there were ice stones in the study to cool him down. After drinking a pot of cold tea, the heat in his body gradually dissipated.

Li Yunye, who had been sitting silently under the window, was shocked when he heard the news brought back by Lao Zhou. He then realized that the reason why he had disappeared for a few days was because he was sent by Brother Mu Liang to keep an eye on the village chief Ma.

Although he said he would wait and see, he was secretly acting. His brother Muliang was always like this, thinking deeply but not showing it, always taking everything on himself first. Fortunately, Li Yunye was now used to his habit of acting first and asking for permission later. After all, it was for the sake of the Li family, so he had to turn a blind eye.

As for the Shen family in Yaocheng, their reputation in the Jiangnan business community is not bad. When Li Yunye first took over Jiangnan Mingli, he learned from Mu Liang that most of the cloth shops in Jiangnan were just healthy competitors with Jiangnan Mingli and often had friendly exchanges. However, they did their own business with the Shen family cloth shop and never interfered with each other. There was no fierce competition between the two families. After all, Jiangnan Mingli did not set up a branch shop in Yaocheng.

Therefore, Li Yunye couldn't understand why the Shen family targeted the famous Li from Jiangnan. The two families had no grudges and were not competing for business in the same place. Could it be that the Shen family was no longer satisfied with doing business only in Yaocheng? But even if that was the case, they could have competed with the famous Li from Jiangnan in a fair and square manner. Why did they steal the skills and secretly open a Shuiliu cloth shop? They even slaughtered an entire village and then turned around to blame others.

"Thank you for your hard work. I hope the people sent by Prefecture You didn't find you?" Mu Liang first glanced guiltily at his brother who was thinking about something under the window. Seeing that there was no anger on his face, he continued to ask Lao Zhou with relief.

"If I, Old Zhou, don't want anyone to find out, then no one would have found out." Old Zhou sneered complacently and drank the herbal tea in front of him. Then he turned his gaze to Li Yunye standing beside him with a joking look: "Thanks to my greatness, Old Zhou. Now, Prefect You will know that Manager Mu has been playing tricks behind his back..." Old Zhou deliberately dragged out his tone but did not continue.

"What? Do you still want to inform on the matter to Prefecture You? Don't forget that your indenture contract is still in the hands of Brother Mu Liang." Without waiting for Mu Liang to speak, Li Yunye raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled at Lao Zhou.

"Brother Yunye, please don't make fun of Lao Zhou. He would never sell out his master for fame and fortune." Mu Liang then waved the folding fan in his hand, first smiled dotingly at Li Yunye, and then looked at Lao Zhou provocatively.

"Hey, what are you doing? Are you guys bullying an old widower like me?" Seeing the couple in front of him flirting with each other again, Old Zhou couldn't help but make fun of them.

"Since the government has found out that the people behind the village chief Ma are the Shen family from Yaocheng, can Ma Ming be released? The government has cleared his name, and we, the famous Li family from Jiangnan, don't have to be scolded anymore." After hearing what Lao Zhou said, Li Yunye felt his ears burning. He quickly took a sip of cold drink to clear his throat, and then turned the topic back to the business.

"We only saw Village Chief Ma enter the Shen family villa, but there is no evidence to prove that the culprit behind this is the Shen family." Mu Liang shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"That village chief Ma took the trouble to travel all the way to Yaocheng, and chose to go to the Shen family instead of anywhere else. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the Shen family is involved." Li Yunye disagreed and wondered why Brother Mu Liang hesitated about such an obvious fact?

"Although everyone knows that Village Chief Ma has contact with the Shen family in Yaocheng, we do not have any evidence to prove that the Shen family has a direct connection with the massacre and burning in Majia Village. Village Chief Ma can make an excuse to say that he has relatives and friends working in the Shen family villa. After all, I have not seen him having secret talks with the Shen family." Old Zhou also agreed with Mu Liang's words. After explaining to Li Yunye, he changed his mind and smiled: "Why don't I go to the Shen family villa tonight? If there is really something wrong with the Shen family, I will definitely be able to find some clues."

"No." Old Zhou had just finished speaking when he was shocked by the two brothers in front of him who rejected his idea in unison, which was a rare moment.

"No one knows what the situation is in the Shen family villa. What if they have an ambush, wouldn't you be walking into a trap? Jiangnan's famous Li is already in a passive position, so you'd better not cause trouble at this time." Li Yunye was the first to frown and warn Lao Zhou.

"Mr. Li, please don't underestimate me, Old Zhou." When Old Zhou heard what Li Yunye said, he immediately snorted with displeasure on his face.

"I'm not looking down on you, I'm just worried about your safety. Besides, Magistrate You has sent people to keep an eye on us at Shen's Villa, so there's no need to do anything unnecessary." Seeing this, Mu Liang smiled and tried to smooth things over for his brother. Anyway, he already knew about the relationship between Village Chief Ma and the Shen family, so he had a general idea in his mind.

Li Yunye lowered his eyes guiltily. He was indeed just worried that Old Zhou's skills were not as good as others and he would be caught by the Shen family and the famous Li from Jiangnan would be implicated. That was all.

"Well, I might as well stay at home to avoid the heat during this hot summer." After hearing Mu Liang say this, Old Zhou naturally laughed.

"You can escape the summer heat, but don't go to the wine shop every day." Li Yunye glanced at Lao Zhou and couldn't help but remind him, although he knew he was wasting his breath.

"Mr. Li, this is the only hobby I have in my life. Are you going to be so cruel as to deprive me of it?" As expected, it is harder for Zhou to quit drinking than for a sow to climb a tree.

Li Yunye rolled his eyes speechlessly, and Mu Liang also laughed silently beside him.

"Thank you, brother Yunye."

When Old Zhou yawned and left the study, Mu Liang suddenly smiled gently at Li Yunye.

"What are you thanking me for?" Li Yunye didn't react for a moment and asked immediately.

"Thank you for your magnanimity towards me." There was a hint of tenderness in Mu Liang's eyes like stars in the night.

"You won't change your bad habits, what can I do to you?" Brother Mu Liang's gentle smile made Li Yunye's heart ripple slightly, but he quickly put on a stern face and said in a displeased manner.

Mu Liang couldn't stop smiling, still grateful for his brother's tolerance towards him.

It was another moonlit night, and Yan Qiao walked into the dim side hall again. This time, without any instructions, Eunuch Qin took the initiative to close the door and stood guard outside.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

The figure hidden in the dark corner walked out and knelt down towards Yan Qiao who was sitting under the window.

"Well, but is there any movement from Hong Ah?" Yan Qiao's majestic yet gentle voice sounded slowly.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Hong Ah has now sent Yan Yu to the Southern Frontier to set up a branch of the Shadow Clan. He has also instructed me to move to the Southern Frontier with the four elders by the end of the year."

"Oh? You let Yingmen go south, are you trying to get rid of my control?" Yan Qiao was not angry after hearing this, but instead sneered lightly. However, he also admired Hong'a's courage.

"Your Majesty is wise. That's exactly what Hong Ah planned. He planned to let Yan Yu build a branch in the southern border first, and then find an excuse from your Majesty that the Shadow Clan wants to expand in the southern border so that I and the four elders can go there to take charge. After the southern border is stabilized, he will gradually withdraw the three major gates from Xiyue Kingdom secretly."

"Hmph, so smart, he thinks Shadow Sect can get rid of me?" Yan Qiao sneered again, then calmed down and suddenly handed over a black medicine bottle, and continued to instruct: "You have gained Hong Ah's trust now, find a way to replace his secret medicine Gu Heart with this, it's time to wake up Youmei and clean up the sect for me."

"Yes." The black shadow took the medicine bottle with both hands and responded.

"Is things going smoothly in the south of Jingsong Kingdom?" Yan Qiao continued to ask.

"Your Majesty, everything is going according to plan. Jiangnan Mingli is now caught in a whirlpool of public opinion. Master Shen has also bribed a shopkeeper of Jiangnan Mingli and is using him to cooperate with the outside world."

"Very good, I finally heard some satisfying news." Yan Qiao's voice finally relaxed.

"However, Jiuhe previously massacred a village on behalf of Master Shen Shi, causing quite a bit of trouble." The black shadow continued nervously.

"Nonsense!" This news made the usually calm Yan Qiao angry: "Who told them to act on their own?"

Although the Jiuhe killer organization originated in the south of the Yangtze River in Jingsong State, it was secretly gathered by Yan Qiao three years ago. Five years ago, Jiuhe destroyed the wharf escort agency and provoked the government. They spent two whole years searching for them and were forced to hide in the mountains. After two months of food shortage, the situation outside was still tense, but the nearby beasts and birds had been almost eaten by them. When an internal conflict was about to break out, the boss of Jiuhe had to secretly ask for help from the head of Yingmen and bowed to Yan Qiao through Youmei.

"Perhaps Jiuhe misunderstood Your Majesty's order at the beginning and thought he had to obey Master Shen Shi." Seeing His Majesty's rage, Heiye hurriedly bowed his head to the ground and replied cautiously.

"He massacred the village and is so impatient. It seems that this Master Shen may not be a man who can accomplish great things." Yan Qiao suppressed his anger and sighed worriedly.

"In that case, should we look for someone else?"

"Changing generals in the middle of a battle is a big taboo in military strategy. This is not a business. If it doesn't work out, just change to another one." Yan Qiao couldn't help but sneer.

"I am a stupid servant, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"Send more people to keep an eye on them, and make Jiuhe behave itself."

"Yes, Your Majesty."