“These rich and heartless merchants’ families are still funding the local gangs to do their dirty work for them. Although these gangs are also hoodlums, they have already become powerful enough to bully the city. For example, if someone reports it to the officials, these gangs will find trouble with this person’s family as revenge.

Or the rich families in the city took a fancy to a certain property and wanted to lower the price. However, the owner of the property was unwilling, so they got the gangs to harass and smash it until the other party gave in…

For example, the rich families in the south of the city, such as the Lu, Chen, He, and Huang, heard from the people that they wanted to expand their houses a few years ago, but their neighbors were unwilling. They used this method to buy the surrounding land at a low price.”

Zhou Jing raised his eyebrows and asked, “Then Guo Haishen got sentenced into the prison because he provoked the local merchants?”

Xiang Tianjie immediately nodded before continuing in a deep voice,

“That’s right! Brother Guo passed by this place and happened to encounter a gang bullying the people, so he helped. After that, he asked for the reason behind it and single-handedly overturned several local gangs that caused trouble. He ruined many of the local merchants’ businesses, and the An Family praised his righteous deeds.

However, this also incurred the hatred of the local merchants. They wanted to make an example out of him, so they bribed a few people and set up a trap for Brother Guo. These few people had caused Brother Guo to drink too much wine one day, and they deliberately said some local injustice to provoke Brother Guo and ask him to seek justice from the government. Then, they said that the local magistrate would ignore them.”

“Unfortunately, Brother Guo was not clear-headed after drinking, and trouble came from his mouth. In a fit of anger, he said that if the local magistrate doesn’t care, he would find the county magistrate to seek justice. If the county magistrate doesn’t care, he would escalate to a provincial governor. If the governor doesn’t care, he will go to the capital to report to the emperor.

However, he didn’t expect a large number of officials to ambush him early and immediately send him to the government. The magistrate quickly sentenced him to commit a groundless crime of madness, disrespecting the saints, not knowing his status, and having the intention to rebel. He was beaten 50 times in court and detained in the prison camp… Brother Guo has basically been punished for his words.”

Everyone was furious when they heard this.

“This son of a b*tch magistrate and the f*cking merchants are all jackals of the same tribe!” Fang Zhen was furious.

Gao Yun slammed his staff on the ground, creating a pit. He said angrily, “Officials and merchants colluded and bullied the people. They really deserve to die!”

“Indeed, they should be killed.”

Zhou Jing narrowed his eyes.

However, to be honest, putting aside the fact that he had been schemed against, Guo Haishen was not all innocent as well.

In such a feudal era, it was fine if no one heard him speak rudely to the Emperor. However, if others wanted to go against him, the person who spoke would be severely punished.

The local authorities typically used this reason to punish those who spoke rudely. This was also akin to “governmental reform”. Whoever dared to plead for mercy would be labeled as “disrespecting the Emperor”. Those who pleaded would also be in trouble.

The current world was like this. It had always been a place where those with powers could do what they wanted, but the others could not tattle on them. State officials could set fires, but for the villagers, not to mention lighting lamps, even complaining about not having enough lights at night would be considered a crime. It would affect their futures as well.

As for the people in the Green Forest, most of them were resentful towards the Imperial Court and were used to scolding the officials. They never respected them when they spoke, so if they were provoked by someone, they might suffer.

Zhou Jing crossed his arms and spoke decisively,

“I really can’t stand such a filthy world! I’m definitely going to save this Guo Haishen. Leaders, feel free to speak your minds. We’ll work together to save this good man!”

Fang Zhen immediately echoed, “That’s right! What Brother said is also my intention!”

Xiang Tianjie was overjoyed and immediately cupped his hands, “With the help of the three of you, I’m more confident in my plans!”

Hearing this, Zhou Jing remembered Li Chun and the other two. He blinked a bit before adding,

“By the way, I still have three Green Forest Brothers on my side. They’re also here to visit Guo Haishen, so they probably won’t stand by and do nothing. Why don’t we talk to them about this first and gather together before we discuss how to save him?”

“Brother Chen makes sense!” Xiang Tianjie agreed.

…

In a certain luxurious restaurant in the city, five people were drinking in a private room. They were Li Chun, the Lu siblings, and two unfamiliar faces.

Of these two, one was from the government and sat at the head of the table, while the other was the middleman.

The cups and plates on the table were in a mess. Clearly, they had almost finished eating and the matter was basically settled.

Li Chun stood up and cupped his hands at the official at the head of the table, “In that case, I’ll have to trouble Lord Zhang to prepare the goods when the time comes.”

“Hehe, of course. Brother Li, you have to prepare the money too.”

The official also smiled happily, as if he had made a good deal.

Only then did Li Chun bid farewell and leave the restaurant with the Lu siblings.

On the street, Lu Xinniang snorted coldly and could not help but say, “To think that the government is so corrupt. Someone actually really dares to sell military weapons in private, aren’t they afraid of losing their heads!”

Li Chun shook his head helplessly and sighed,

“This Lord Zhang is not a high-ranking official. There must be someone behind him who instructed him to do so. I wonder if he’s collecting money for his superiors, setting up a trap for his political enemies, or if he received a transfer order to transfer to another state capital and hence is taking the chance to earn a sum of money before leaving.

After all, the chaos in the south is not as serious as in the north. The territory of Jing State is even more stable. These military weapons are piled up in the warehouse to collect rust, but they can’t be converted into children or money… Sigh, it’s annoying to see officials scheming against each other, but in the end, it will benefit us.”

Lu Yunzhao was quite excited, “If we buy this batch of weapons, we can refine a few teams of elites.”

Hearing this, Li Chun also smiled and relaxed, a burden off his shoulders.

“The biggest matter of this trip has been completed. Next, we’ll go back to look for Brother Chen Feng and visit the famous Guo Haishen in the prison camp. Then, we’ll invite Brother Chen Feng to our stronghold to rest. This trip will be complete and we’ll have gained a lot!”