Chapter 1619 – Conquering Nan Sheng, Killing An Huan (31)
No one expected Yang Tao to arrive so quickly, leaving no time for anyone to react.
A few nimble ones had already packed their belongings and fled the city with their families, but unfortunate for them, they were intercepted midway by Qian Su and others.
The remaining households, moving more slowly, found themselves in disarray when hundreds of soldiers burst into their doors. Some had hastily packed, while others still had piles of unorganized items. House servants were busy scurrying about, and in the back courtyard, the noblewomen remained utterly unaffected by the chaos outside, standing firm as mountains. According to Yan Lin’s orders, anyone who dared to resist midway, regardless of their identity or gender, would be killed without mercy.
At first, a few house servants drew their swords, but after only a few fell, the rest didn’t dare to move.
The male head of the household stood pale in the main hall, while several important noblewomen were brought in, trapped in the same vicinity.
These soldiers did not physically assault anyone; a couple of them occasionally slipped items into their sleeves and bosoms.
Jiang Pengji maintained a management style with her soldiers that was strict yet loose. Such behavior was frowned upon but not outright forbidden.
With a lack of education, she could only insist that they refrain from making fundamental mistakes and disturbing the people, while other areas could afford to be somewhat lax.
Yang Tao, donned in armor, charged into the estate, causing the old clan leader to turn white with anger, his beard shaking like a little electric tail.
“Absolutely outrageous—”
The old clan leader, in his fifties, had numerous children and grandchildren, with twenty-five of them now under his watchful eye in the hall.
The oldest, like this clan leader, was in his forties, while the youngest had just turned three months old, crying loudly in his mother’s arms.
The sounds of the child’s wailing tugged at one’s heartstrings but were also incredibly annoying.
At that moment, the clan leader lost any interest in doting on his grandchildren. No longer did he find that particular grandson appealing because he now felt disheartened and found the child unbearable. The child’s mother, his daughter-in-law, caught a glimpse of her father-in-law’s fierce and impatient gaze, which frightened her into lowering her head. She tried to hush her crying son, but to no avail, making the hall even more chaotic.
“Everyone seems to be here.”
Yang Tao placed his hand on his weapon at his waist, smiling as he looked at the old clan leader.
“Who permitted you to intrude into their household without invitation?”
The old clan leader’s grizzled beard trembled with his harsh rebuke.
Yang Tao didn’t respond; instead, Yan Lin, following him, mocked with a smirk.
“Of course, it’s permitted by the ‘might of the masses’.”
The old clan leader fumed, and his elderly wife hurriedly steadied him.
“Rogue!”
Yan Lin replied, “The wheel of fortune turns. In the past, you were ruthless and ungrateful, betraying us first. Did you not foresee today’s fate? Don’t think that just because you can talk a good game, all the reasoning in the world is on your side. Old fool, you brought this upon yourself.”
How could An Huan argue that these people abandon Yang Tao?
Aside from Lü Zheng’s silver tongue, which unearthed these people’s vulnerabilities and fears, their greed and hypocrisy played a major role too.
Investments carry risks; entering a trade requires caution.
There is no such thing as risk-free investment in this world.
These noble clans intended to weather the storm of chaos, even to advance with it, naturally needing to bear corresponding risks. They thought to withdraw their support when things turned dire; Yan Lin didn’t blame them, but to turn back and kick a man when he was down was too much.
The seeds sown then bore this fruit today.
Accusing others of being rogues; why not check a mirror and see what kind of person you are?
Even if Yang Tao didn’t hold a grudge, Yan Lin certainly did.
These people captured Yan Shuyao, Yang Roujia, and two young children to threaten Yang Tao, nearly leading him to his doom. She couldn’t just forget that!
Others could clearly see Yan Lin’s hostile intent, not to mention the old clan leader, who was no stranger to cunning schemes?
He was so furious he could hardly breathe, his wrinkled cheeks turning purple with rage.
“You’re but mere dogs acting tough. If you kill us today, so what? At the end of the day, you’re just running dogs under Liu Xi, a mere stray dog.” The old clan leader knew well that Yan Lin probably didn’t want their lives but wouldn’t let them off easily either.
If they robbed them of all their wealth, only to claim it was the doing of marauding bandits in the end, they wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.
Without years of accumulated depth, how could they rise again later? With so many branches and members, while the family became a burden themselves, if their riches were wiped out clean, they’d be left with a bunch of mouths to feed; external forces wouldn’t need to step in to drag them down.
Yan Lin just sneered in response.
Yang Tao said in a serious tone, “Shaoyang, why are you talking so much nonsense with them?”
Yan Lin composed himself and asked, “In Zheng Ze’s view, how should we handle these people?”
Yang Tao casually replied, “Just a bunch of prisoners. Are we supposed to treat them like Bodhisattvas and worship them?”
The old clan leader and others turned ashen, their foreheads throbbing with veins, but only Yan Lin beamed with a smile.
“Zheng Ze is right; there’s really no need to waste breath on such people. Just capture them.”
After he said that, the old clan leader saw a group of soldiers working in unison, carrying box after box out, making his eyes nearly pop out in fury. These boxes contained the gold, silver, financial documents, and rare books they had already packed—over two hundred boxes in total.
“Bandits! The epitome of shamelessness!”
After cursing, the old clan leader even fainted, startling his children and daughter-in-law.
Yang Tao snorted coldly and waved his hand, “Keep all these people under tight surveillance to prevent them from colluding with An Huan… Now, let’s head to the next house.”
Jiang Pengji had the intention to plunder these wealthy families but couldn’t just go ahead and do it without some justification.
As they left, Yang Tao worriedly queried Yan Lin.
“Liu Lanting actually dares to do this. Is she planning to rob one right after the other?”
Yang Tao felt Jiang Pengji was being excessively bold; offending the entire noble circle of Nan Sheng was a glaring risk.
Yan Lin’s indifferent gaze held no emotion as he replied coldly, “So what? Liu Xi’s roots lie in Dongqing, not Nan Sheng. Most of the Nan Sheng nobility has aligned with An Huan; they harbor no good intentions toward her. Liu Xi doesn’t see them as enemies; does she treat them like ancestors to be worshipped? The victors are kings, the losers bandits. She isn’t exterminating their entire family, merely taking a bit of property—that’s still considered merciful? Besides… she’s been fighting for two years now. While her troop numbers hold steady, her supplies are running low. If she doesn’t find a way to replenish, what will she do when food runs out? Turn corpses into meat patties to stave off hunger? Sometimes, it’s just unavoidable…”
Yang Tao was taken aback.
“Short on food…”
Yan Lin added, “I’ve heard that since Liu Xi started her uprising, she has been farming every year without rest, and the soil’s fertility has declined year after year. Now, she’s at a dead end. After two years of war, feeding four hundred thousand troops is no small feat.”
Nan Sheng is a ripe lamb ready for slaughter. If we don’t butcher them, who else shall we?
