Chapter 799 - 557: Formulating the Plan!
Inside the government office discussion hall.
Brother Wu bowed and stood at the hall below, his tone carrying some gravity:
"Magistrate, you instructed me to patrol the outskirts; I observed that Daoist preaching, fearing he may have the intent to gather crowds, and as time goes on, it will surely become a hidden threat."
Lu Zhao sat upright in the main position, his fingers lightly tapping the table, giving him a deep glance, and slowly added:
"That Daoist is currently eating and living within the disaster shelters, refusing even to enter the city."
A single sentence revealed the key—no matter how orderly the disaster shelters are, they are ultimately shoddy huts, far less comfortable than the mansions within the city.
The fact that he doesn’t step even one foot into the city is evidently due to some consideration, fearing government authorities...
Brother Wu’s face changed suddenly upon hearing this, his lips moved yet he was momentarily tongue-tied.
Observing his form, understanding his intent!
That Daoist’s behavior clearly suggests that he is secretly accumulating power; his treacherous intentions are as clear as day, only Brother Wu doesn’t know how to express the deep-seated unease within him.
Beside him, Magistrate Zhang noticed the situation and laughed heartily, rising to mediate, his tone carrying some scorn:
"Brother Wu, you’re worrying unreasonably."
"Just a mere trickster, relying on a few deceitful words to bewilder the crowd, bewildering a few desperate disaster victims, what storm can he possibly stir up?"
"Those disaster victims only gather around him because of the porridge he provides; do they really dare to rebel with him?"
He changed his tone, his eyes glinting with a hint of ruthlessness:
"If you are truly worried, why not capture the leader to capture the group?"
"We can send a squad of guards into the disaster shelters under the guise of comforting disaster victims, and face-to-face execute that trickster, then publicly announce his plot to rebel, the rest of the disaster victims will be leaderless and naturally disperse and flee."
Brother Wu was shaken upon hearing this, quickly waving his hand in disapproval:
"No! By no means!"
"That Daoist is not ordinary, certainly not a common street charlatan; I’m afraid capturing him will not succeed, and might instead completely provoke him, making the situation unmanageable!"
Magistrate Zhang remained unconcerned, laughing again:
"Let him rebel! What is there to fear?"
"Even in the worst case, if that Demon Dao really coerces all the disaster victims, it’s still not worth worrying."
"We have long prepared, can organize thousands of village braves in advance to directly suppress them by force. These vagrants are unarmed and unorganized, can’t stir up anything big."
He patted Brother Wu on the shoulder:
"Brother Wu, you seem off today. In the past, you were also a fierce character leading village braves, going out of the city to annihilate bandits, why now are you being so hesitant in front of a group of disaster victims?"
Brother Wu shook his head repeatedly:
"It’s different, it’s different!"
The scene witnessed at the outskirts during the day now surged in his mind like a tide.
The startling thunder that exploded under clear skies, the fierce wind that sprang up from flat ground, the crimson talisman light swirling within a bronze cauldron, and the nearly fanatical fervor and devotion in the eyes of those disaster victims.
Each scene exudes a strange non-human atmosphere, causing the unease in his heart to grow like vines.
Lu Zhao, beside him, seeing Brother Wu’s loss of composure, instead became somewhat curious.
Since the last patrol of the outskirts discovering that Daoist gathering crowds to preach, with considerable momentum, he had secretly instructed his adviser to gather more information, increasingly firm in his intention to "eliminate early."
Only he continued to have doubts, for with that Demon Dao were not just disaster victims, but also many local nobles from the city.
The situation is exceedingly bizarre!
He is fundamentally an outsider official, without roots locally, relying entirely on the grand justice of the court to suppress the nobles, securing the position of magistrate.
If the local nobles are truly colluding with that Demon Dao, even cultivating him to gather crowds particularly, he is utterly powerless to resist.
Acting rashly might lead to a pointless loss of life!
If those local nobles disregard rules, even overturning the table to rebel, the most he can do is turn a blind eye and do his best to pacify.
And discretely use the power of his mentor, apply for reassignment early to avoid a major incident during his tenure, safeguarding his future.
Sending Brother Wu to patrol was his test!
Testing the depths of that Demon Dao, testing the relationship between the city’s nobles and the Demon Dao: whether truly colluding or merely deceived by the Demon Dao.
From the current test results, he was somewhat satisfied.
Perhaps it won’t get to the point of needing reassignment.
The nobles still show loyalty to the nation; that Demon Dao has merely bewitched some family members of the nobles, using the pretext of disaster relief to gathering hearts.
Lu Zhao put down the tea cup in his hand, his tone carrying a trace of pursuing questions:
"What exactly is Brother Wu concerned about? If that Demon Dao truly gathers to cause chaos, it will surely harm the area; by then, the ones suffering the most will be our Ning City’s people and the various nobles!"
His words hit the nail on the head.
Hurting the area, the biggest losses always fall upon those nobles rooted locally.
This is also why, whenever vagrants rebel, before the authorities can react, the nobles would proactively organize village braves to suppress them—They cannot allow their property and foundations to be ruined by vagrants.
Brother Wu instantaneously responded.
The two people before him had also patrolled the outskirts, yet only saw that Daoist as a trickster, had never truly witnessed his "Divine Techniques."
Only he had personally witnessed that breathtaking anomaly.
In his eyes, this is not merely a trickster, but a person with supernatural powers; such a person, he truly dared not offend lightly.
He heavily exhaled, suppressing the panic within, recounting everything seen at the outskirts during the day, item by item, thoroughly and entirely without missing any detail.
Upon hearing his words, before Lu Zhao could speak, Magistrate Zhang instantly laughed heartily, his tone full of disbelief.
Although his exam capabilities were average, he loved miscellaneous books, prided himself on being well-read and knowledgeable, and never believed in any Immortal arts, Divine Techniques or Daoist Techniques.
"Brother Wu, do not be deceived by that Demon Dao!"
"There are no miraculous Divine Techniques, just some street trickery, sleight of hand! In simple terms, they are exploiting the ignorance of disaster victims, playacting as sorcery."
His tone carried some disrespect yet also conveyed certain conviction:
"To speak a rebellious word, if there truly existed Immortal arts in this world, capable of calling wind and rain, with great Divine Techniques, then the one sitting on the throne should be Bodhisattvas or Daoist Monarchs, not the current Your Majesty."
"That Demon Dao is merely putting on an act; once faced with blades and soldiers, stripping away his disguise, he would cry for his parents, no match for anyone!"
Lu Zhao, hearing his words, turned to look at Magistrate Zhang, eyes revealing some admiration, internally holding him in higher regard.
Magistrate Zhang’s ability to suppress Brother Wu in Ning City relied not just on family background; this transparency and courage were indeed commendable!
Listening to these words, Brother Wu’s panic gradually dissipated, thinking carefully, he even believed it made sense.
Yes, what real Immortals could there be in this world?
Perhaps it was truly just him being deceived by the Demon Dao’s sleight of hand and making too big a fuss over it.
Once he demystified the Immortals, his cowardice quickly shed away, recovering the arrogance unique to local nobles.
He decisively nodded, his tone firm:
"Then according to Brother Zhang’s plan, capture the leader! But, the guards won’t suffice; better use our household retainers, each robust and capable, swift in action."
Magistrate Zhang immediately nodded, his face revealing pride:
"Perfect! Recently, my house needs to escort birthday treasures, specially invited a martial artist from the State Mansion, a master of swordsmanship, his skills extraordinary, a hundredfold stronger than my retainers, just right for the task, taking charge of the assassination force, certainly able to succeed in one strike."
Lu Zhao, listening to their arrangements, immediately displayed a smile.
Indeed, these local nobles value local order more than he does, and are more decisive in their actions.
He stood and bowed, his tone sincere:
"Since both of you have a comprehensive plan, I await your good news. This matter is of great concern, I urge both of you to be cautious, swift in resolution."
Both of them responded simultaneously, hearts filled with resolve!
Brother Wu wanted to prove he was not cowardly, merely momentarily deceived; Magistrate Zhang sought to demonstrate his strategy and strength, Lu Zhao hoped to thoroughly eliminate this hidden danger.
The three parties harbored personal agendas yet reached consensus: act swiftly to avoid leaks, proceed at once.