293: Chapter 206: Full of Mischief (Please Subscribe)_2 293: Chapter 206: Full of Mischief (Please Subscribe)_2 “A twisted melon is not sweet.”
Chu Xisheng also shook his head, “However, we cannot just let this matter rest.
Our West Mountain Hall will not be humiliated lightly.
Liang Chen, you will take some men into the mountains these days, slaughter those who proposed sending our gang members’ families to the Sheen Family, and hang their heads at the entrance of First Line Gorge to show the public.”
Zhou Liangchen raised an eyebrow, “Liang Chen obeys the command!”
Zhou Liangchen had inherited his father’s decisiveness and acted swiftly.
He decided to lead men into the mountains later to settle this matter as soon as possible.
The members of the hall, having heard this, finally felt somewhat appeased.
Though still displeased, they weren’t as upset as before.
Chu Xisheng continued, “Furthermore, this matter of the families has indeed been a hidden danger while staying in West Mountain.
Issue an order for all our gang members from West Mountain to quickly bring their families here and settle them in the Sheen Family’s nearby mansion.
Master Lu will oversee this, and it must be done well so that no family member suffers any hardship.
The other gang members who wish to bring their families here can also be assisted by the hall.
If there are any difficulties, public funds can be used for subsidies to treat all gang members equally.”
The so-called Sheen Family’s mansion was located in West Mountain Town, next to the Chu Mansion.
Liu Dingtang had built the town walls of West Mountain Town and, to curry favor with the Sheen Family, had also built them a mansion in the town.
After the West Mountain Hall destroyed two of the Sheen Family’s manors yesterday, Chu Xisheng conveniently took over this Sheen mansion as well.
The mansion was quite large, even grander than the Chu Mansion, with hundreds of rooms.
With a slight expansion, it could easily accommodate two hundred fifty households.
Apart from that, Chu Xisheng also held numerous house deeds, all located on the outskirts of West Mountain Town.
These were previously residences of Haiqing Gang members, now uninhabited and of little value.
Just as the various vice altar masters and hall masters thought that the matter of the West Mountain Hunters was settled, Chu Xisheng then smiled at ‘Dan Character Altar Master’ Dan Chiling in the corner, “Dan Altar Master, have your people already withdrawn from the gorge route?”
Dan Chiling had been daydreaming, lost in his thoughts.
He had received a token from Chu Xisheng at noon today, summoning him to participate in the meeting.
Despite being a fifth-Grade master, he felt demeaned serving as a mere alter master under West Mountain Hall and yet could not refrain from attending.
Dan Chiling, with intentions of merely going through the motions, did not consider himself part of West Mountain Hall nor paid much attention to its affairs, hence his distraction throughout the meeting as he planned how to dissociate himself from West Mountain Hall.
Only after hearing ‘Dan Altar Master’ did he realize Chu Xisheng was addressing him and snapped back to reality, regaining his energy, “The troops were withdrawn at the fourth watch today.
Last night, my family’s reconnoitre cavalry spread out and discovered that the forces from Jiudoo Dock and White Cloud Village had retreated deep into West Mountain.
There were no bandits within thirty miles and with our house soldiers exhausted, I took the liberty of ordering the withdrawal back to the manor.”
This was another matter that irked him.
Last night, Chu Xisheng had celebrated lavishly in the hall, where everyone enjoyed fine food and drinks and received lots of Silver Coins, while Dan’s people were enduring the night and cold winds at the gorge.
His Dan Character Hall, after all, was part of West Mountain Hall; such disparity was too great.
“You withdrew without orders, and this is what you call obedience and loyalty as willing as a dog or horse?”
Chu Xisheng’s face darkened, a cold laugh escaping him as he stared icily at Dan Chiling.
The concealed fifth-Grade master’s face turned red, at a loss for words.
Just as Dan Chiling was inwardly embarrassed, considering whether to defy the consequences and flip the table, Chu Xisheng’s expression softened, “Considering it’s your first time in West Mountain Hall and you are unaware of our rules, let’s let this go.
Everyone in our hall must follow orders without exception!
Dan Altar Master, should there be a next time, do not blame me for not showing leniency!
Additionally, the brothers guarding the gorge route have had a hard time; you must properly console and reward them, ensuring they do not suffer any grievances.”
Dan Chiling felt a suffocating sensation in his chest, as if he might vomit blood.
It was not because Chu Xisheng scolded him like a subordinate, but the latter’s last remark.
‘Properly console and reward’?
Such ease in saying it; would you provide the money with just those words?
Was he implying that the Dan Family would have to pay?
Yet, Chu Xisheng suddenly changed the subject, “In recent years, bandits led by Jiudao Dock and White Cloud Village have repeatedly come down from the mountains to raid and torment the people, causing severe harm, making the area around Lingshan barely livable, with people fleeing and farmlands abandoned.
“Since our West Mountain Hall has taken Peace Money from the people, we cannot ignore their plight.
These two forces are our mortal enemies and cannot be allowed to grow unchecked.
Dan Altar Master, effective immediately, your Dan Family must establish outposts at First Line Gorge on the East Slope of West Mountain, Wild Wolf Pass on the South Slope, and White Cloud Gorge.
Each outpost must not have less than three hundred men and must completely seal off all passages through West Mountain to prevent any bandits from moving southward, otherwise, you alone will be held accountable.”
Dan Chiling secretly scoffed, thinking, Why should I?
I’m merely an altar master without a fraction of pay or reward, yet you command my entire Dan Family.
Just as he was pondering how to tactfully refuse, he heard Chu Xisheng’s calmly spoken words, “I grant your family the right to replace the Sheen Family and West Mountain County Army in collecting tolls at these passages, consider this a subsidy for your family’s troop deployment.”
Dan Chiling immediately swallowed the words that had reached his lips.
His eyebrows lifted, his expression one of surprise, “Altar Master, are your words true?
This might be inappropriate, against the court’s laws.”
Chu Xisheng couldn’t be bothered to respond, his eyes bearing a mocking look as he regarded him.
Dan Chiling knew that his question was redundant.
The Peace Money of West Mountain Hall was similarly against the court’s laws.