Chapter 361: Chapter 331: Fighting Five Hundred Alone

After Lin Qianxuan left, the aristocratic families also realized what was happening.

The person responsible for this within the Guo Family was named Guo Jingfu, a member of the collateral branch.

It was only the collateral branch that would be arranged to handle such matters.

After all, these matters involve risk.

Guo Jingfu looked around and came to a conclusion.

“None of the items have been tampered with; it’s not about robbing money, it’s the court’s people.” Guo Jingfu confirmed Lin Qianxuan’s identity, then said, “The means are indeed clever, but even if he knows the items are with us, so what? Does he really have the guts to come?”

In fact, if it wasn’t for Lin Qianxuan appearing.

They really wouldn’t dare to act recklessly.

The aristocratic families were united, and the essence of this incident wasn’t really about the relief grain funds, but rather that the court wanted to take resources from the families in Xiaojiang Prefecture.

This kind of thing is beneficial for the country, but not for the aristocratic families.

It wasn’t only the families in Xiaojiang Prefecture that were involved; outsiders were watching too.

Even in the civil unrest in Qi, they had a hand in it.

Essentially, this was still a power struggle dominated by the upper echelons of society.

If the court openly and forcibly pursued this, the result would most likely be unfavorable.

So under normal circumstances, this matter would drag on for a while, and then they would just find a scapegoat to conclude the case. The court’s related personnel would also be dealt with.

This means that Du Fuchen would be in trouble.

If it weren’t for this, Lin Qianxuan wouldn’t have come to help.

In his view, this matter didn’t require intervention at all.

No matter who won, as long as there was no complete reform, the common people would still suffer.

Even if the court won, the country might take a brief sigh of relief, but the families wouldn’t just take the loss lying down; they would find ways to recover from the populace.

In other words, it would ultimately be the lower class bearing the cost.

Class conflict cannot be reconciled; from a broader cyclical and macro perspective, the only way for ordinary people to live a better life is to increase productivity.

As long as it is not an extraordinary society, the amount of material energy a person can absorb is limited.

When productivity reaches a certain level, subtle changes occur in civilization.

The surplus resources produced, even if a small amount is dispersed, would be enough for the lower class to have their basic needs met and to pursue their own dreams.

Such a society, although still stratified, at least becomes slightly friendlier to ordinary people.

Lin Qianxuan returned to Du Fuchen’s mansion and explained the situation, confirming Du Fuchen’s suspicions.

The next day, Du Fuchen released a statement saying there had been progress in the Jichang case.

For a while, everyone, including the Guo Family, became vigilant.

They were waiting for the court’s reaction.

Next, a direct confrontation was likely to occur.

It wouldn’t just be verbal sparring, but real physical conflict.

Indeed, this is what happens in societal changes during the cold weapons era.

What about the court?

When the distance is too far, sending troops to suppress is a joke.

Moreover, the costs don’t match the benefits; even if successful, it won’t achieve the desired effect and will instead cause issues elsewhere.

Especially in a court that has become increasingly bloated, this holds even more true.

Many times, when facing the existence of the aristocratic families, official violence organizations are useless.

Lin Qianxuan seriously doubted whether the current Yong Country could even organize a large-scale battle with over a hundred thousand people.

After two days of preparation, Lin Qianxuan borrowed a hundred soldiers from Du Fuchen, planning to search the docks.

Du Fuchen wanted to send more people with Lin Qianxuan, but Lin Qianxuan refused, telling him to keep people at the mansion as a guard.

Currently, the entire Xiaojiang Prefecture had only six hundred usable soldiers; the court’s quota allowed for fifteen hundred, but more than half were relatives of the aristocratic families, with others receiving pay without work.

The current six hundred was already due to Du Fuchen’s efforts.

Before leaving, Du Fuchen poured Lin Qianxuan a glass of wine.

“Brother, leave this wine for now, we’ll drink it when I return,” Lin Qianxuan joked.

Narrating certain events also becomes a record.

If he could leave a colorful mark in history, wouldn’t that be a significant milestone in life?

So giving oneself some storyline is also necessary.

“Alright, we’ll drink it when you return, my brother,” Du Fuchen said.

….

As Lin Qianxuan led his troops towards the dock, members of the Guo Family also reacted.

At the docks, Guo Jingfu sneered, “Bringing so few people and thinking they can make us submit? This Prefect Du is getting more naive. Gather the men, let’s meet them.”

Soon, nearly five hundred armed private soldiers gathered around the dock area.

The court does not permit the maintenance of private armies, but this is just talk to the aristocratic families.

They even use the court’s money to maintain their own people.

The local officials could only turn a blind eye as long as society remained stable, and some money was sent to the national treasury. That would make them good officials.

As for the common people?

In reality, no dynasty ever managed to cater to the lower class completely.

It’s not that they didn’t want to, but they couldn’t achieve it.

It’s the limitation of the current societal structure.

When Lin Qianxuan’s people arrived at the dock, someone immediately stopped him.

“Sir, we are all legitimate businesses here; you must have come to the wrong place, right?”

“The wrong place? I have a message saying that your Guo Family killed the court’s Grain Protection Officer and stole official silver, now hidden in your dock’s warehouse, and you call this legitimate business?” Lin Qianxuan retorted.

“How could we dare? It must be a misunderstanding!”

The man said this while taking out a money pouch, trying to bribe Lin Qianxuan.

He was clearly trying to test whether Lin Qianxuan was in cahoots with Du Fuchen.

“Get lost!”

Lin Qianxuan reached out and pushed him away several feet, leading the group straight inside.

They hadn’t gone far when Guo Jingfu appeared, with many people standing behind him, at least three hundred or more, and more were still gathering.

“Who are you?” Guo Jingfu asked, pretending not to know.

“You don’t know?” Lin Qianxuan smiled, displaying a search warrant stamped with a seal, and said, “Here is the search warrant. We suspect the Guo Family is related to the Jichang case.”

“You bandits are truly audacious, daring to forge a search warrant in broad daylight, impersonate prefect soldiers, and attempt to rob our money and grain!” Guo Jingfu proclaimed loudly.

With these words, he directly labeled Lin Qianxuan’s side as robbers and bandits.

“Is the Guo Family planning a rebellion?” Lin Qianxuan asked with a smile.

Seeing Lin Qianxuan remain composed, Guo Jingfu also smiled and said, “This is our place to begin with. What talk is there of rebellion or not?”

In the eyes of the Aristocratic Families, the place is their country.

The court, to put it simply, is their leader, acknowledged as the elder brother.

Each Aristocratic Family is like a tribe, similar to the enfeoffed princes.

When the elder brother is strong, they can provide stable tributes.

And when the leader shows weakness, they will not acknowledge his rule.

“Everyone retreat,” Lin Qianxuan said to the prefect soldiers behind him.

“Sir, you are truly wise and discerning.”

Guo Jingfu laughed, about to have someone offer Lin Qianxuan a bribe.

However, Lin Qianxuan said at this moment, “These worthless beings, I alone am enough.”

With these words, Guo Jingfu’s expression froze.

He was puzzled.

How dare Lin Qianxuan?

Does he intend to confront the Guo Family’s five hundred private soldiers alone?

These are five hundred armed and armored men, not animals waiting for slaughter!!

Guo Jingfu’s anger surged instantly.

It was the anger of being overlooked and despised.

He even laughed in anger.

Thinking Lin Qianxuan was a fool.

Lin Qianxuan was holding a refined iron rod two meters three in length, weighing about fifty pounds.

This was something he had just had crafted for him.

Not exactly handy, but better than other weapons.

Holding the iron rod, in the presence of countless witnesses, Lin Qianxuan stepped forward.

Seeing this, Guo Jingfu’s fingers moved slightly.

“Charge!”

Upon this command, several people rushed out, charging straight at Lin Qianxuan.

“Bang bang bang~! Clang~! Crack~!”

The sound of the rod hitting bodies, the clash of weapons, the breaking of long blades, all occurred almost simultaneously.

Lin Qianxuan moved his body, looking at the few people lying on the ground almost lifeless after being thrown back, muttering, “Still used a bit too much force, must be gentler; labor is quite scarce now!”

“Go, all go!” Guo Jingfu shouted.

“Kill~!”

Upon hearing this, the private soldiers, who were startled, rushed out in unison, charging straight at Lin Qianxuan.

Lin Qianxuan, holding the iron rod, swung it with slight force, sending several people flying. As he moved, incoming weapons were directly dodged.

With a lift, a smash, a sweep… Lin Qianxuan wielded the iron rod, breaking weapons upon contact and sending close opponents flying with just a touch, with no match in sight.

Fighting to his heart’s content, he thrusted the rod into the ground, leapt over ninety feet high, and landed with a smash, leaving Guo Jingfu unable to utter another word as he turned into a pulp.

In an instant, the scene fell silent. Lin Qianxuan took a step forward, and the remaining private soldiers surrounding him also retreated, not daring to approach.

“Whoosh~!”

An arrow flew out, Lin Qianxuan tilted his head slightly, reaching out to catch it in his hand.

Lin Qianxuan turned his head, seeing an archer hiding on a nearby rooftop, and threw the arrow backhanded.

“Whoosh~! Pshaa~!”

The arrow shot directly through his eye socket, piercing his entire head.

“Ridiculous!” Lin Qianxuan shook his head with a smile.

He actually didn’t care much.

Even if that arrow hit him, it might just scratch the skin at most.

The body that could bear his divine power was no longer an ordinary flesh body.

His muscles and skin, even if cut with a knife, might at most leave a white mark.

“Scram, all of you! Anyone blocking me will be deemed accomplices! Beneath this iron rod, no one will be spared!” Lin Qianxuan shouted loudly.

His voice still carried a touch of immaturity, after all, his body was only nine years old, with underdeveloped vocal cords.

But this immature voice carried unimaginable deterrent power, and no one dared to linger.

All fled in fear.

They even collided with each other, causing weapon injuries among their own.

Lin Qianxuan turned back, looking at the group of prefect soldiers with eyes full of fervor, and said, “Follow me! Begin the search!”

“Lord Xu has ordered, search the warehouses!”

The leading prefect soldier conveyed the message, and the rest quickly took action.

At this moment, compared to before when the prefect soldiers merely obeyed orders reluctantly, it was a completely different matter.

Now, with Lin Qianxuan’s command, things were much, much easier, and calling it “obeying orders without fail” wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

This is the benefit brought by outstanding personal charm.

[System Tip: You have completed a battle against five hundred opponents by yourself and won. You have received the ’One in a Thousand’ level milestone [One Against Five Hundred].]

[One Against Five Hundred: In battles facing an opponent more than five hundred in number, Combat Power +5. (Note: When you find one-on-one a bit difficult, try facing a hundred alone.)]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep