novelaction Chapter 305 Negotiation
Chapter 305 Negotiation
Chapter 305 Negotiation
Beijing.
Wang Qiang received the news of Liu Rushi's kidnapping on the very night of the kidnapping.
Wang Wenzhou's journey to Liaodong was a secret one, and he did not inform the local officials along the way. Moreover, to maintain secrecy, Wang Wenzhou did not contact any local officials, but only kept in touch with Zhu Youjian through the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Wang Qiang knew that Wang Wenzhou wouldn't know about this unless he reported it to the Emperor. Wang Qiang thought, "They're just a bunch of petty thieves. There's no need to disturb the Emperor. Besides, the young master said that the sisters-in-law must keep their distance from the Emperor and must never let him see them."
Thinking of this, Wang Qiang disregarded his injuries, immediately mounted his warhorse, and rushed to Mu County overnight.
At the same time, Sheng Lan and others in Hanshan also received this news.
After discussing it, Wang Wenzhou's children, though they might have secretly wished that Liu Rushi would be killed by the bandits as soon as possible, outwardly all agreed that Liu Rushi and her children must be rescued alive.
At this time, Sheng Liang, the young charioteer in Hanshan, was dispatched by Wang Wenzhou's children to handle the matter. Sheng Lan's instructions were that no matter how much money it cost, Liu Rushi and her child must be rescued alive.
Sheng Liang immediately led 3,000 special forces men to Mu County overnight.
In Jinan, Shandong, Governor Li Maofang received an urgent official document from the magistrate of Mushan County.
Li Maofang, still half-asleep, asked the messenger with annoyance, "What is it that you had to wake me up?"
The constable hurriedly said, "Reporting to Your Excellency, Madam Wang and her son have been kidnapped by bandits in Mou County. Lord Ma sent his men to deliver this message overnight. Lord Ma's order is that the official document must be handed to you personally."
Li Maofang shook his head with a wry smile. This Magistrate Ma, relying on his age and seniority, never puts his superiors in the same light. It's just a mother and child being kidnapped, why does he need to report this to me?
Li Maofang took the official document and said irritably, "I understand. You may go back now."
Li Maofang casually placed the official document on the table, intending to go back to sleep.
But just as Li Maofang reached the bedroom door, it suddenly occurred to him that, logically speaking, Magistrate Ma wouldn't have informed him of the kidnapping of a mother and child, given that he was the Shandong Governor and the Prefect of Kaifeng under him. Could the mother and child be someone special? Madam Wang? Could she be the wife of some high-ranking official? With this thought, Li Maofang turned back to his study.
Li Maofang picked up the official document and his expression changed. It turned out to be the wife and children of that idiot Wang Wenzhou!
Li Maofang was unlucky; when Wang Wenzhou was purging the officials, he happened to be back in the capital reporting on his duties, so he was also present.
Thinking of Wang Wenzhou, Li Maofang felt a burning hatred. He had wet his pants three times, developed heat rash all over his body, and soiled his pants more than ten times.
"Haha!" Li Maofang laughed loudly, "Serves you right! Evil people will be punished by other evil people. It's good that your wife and children are dead, Wang Wenzhou!"
No! Li Maofang suddenly realized that with Wang Wenzhou's reckless and fearless nature, if his wife and children died in Shandong, Wang Wenzhou would definitely cause him trouble. Li Maofang really didn't want to be tormented by Wang Wenzhou, and besides, Wang Wenzhou was currently enjoying the Emperor's favor; what if the Emperor blamed him?
Thinking of this, Li Maofang quickly wrote a letter and sent someone to Beijing overnight to deliver it to Qian Qianyi, asking him how to handle the matter. Li Maofang was also a member of the Donglin Party, and he had to inform Qian Qianyi about this matter no matter what.
Subsequently, Li Maofang dispatched men to gather elite troops from the vicinity of Jinan and led them to Mou County overnight.
Wang Qiang, Sheng Liang, and Li Maofang's three groups headed to Mu County at the same time. Sheng Liang arrived in Mu County first, and it was already noon the next day.
After inquiring about the situation, Sheng Liang went to the front of the mountain stronghold and shouted, "Let Jiang Hongbao come out and tell him that I'm here to negotiate."
The bandits guarding the gate hurriedly went inside to report.
Jiang Hongbao came out with a smile, but when he saw Sheng Liang, he was stunned. What was going on? There was a group of officials outside the village, the highest-ranking of whom was the prefect of Kaifeng. Why was a young boy sent to negotiate?
"Who are you? Can you make the decision on this matter?" Jiang Hongbao asked.
Sheng Liang nodded and said, "My sisters-in-law sent me here to take full responsibility for this matter. I'll give you the money, but you have to let me see my sisters-in-law first, and let me know that neither they nor my nephew have been harmed."
"Oh!" Jiang Hongbao nodded. So he was the woman's brother-in-law. It seemed this woman must come from a noble family. Otherwise, the officials present wouldn't have let a young boy take the lead in the negotiations.
Jiang Hongbao ordered, "Bring the hostages here."
In no time, Liu Rushi, carrying the child, arrived at the entrance of the mountain stronghold under the escort of several female bandits.
"Auntie, are you alright?" Sheng Liang asked hurriedly.
"Pfft..." Jiang Hongbao was completely dumbfounded. How come your noble family's house is so messy? Why is she calling me sister-in-law one minute and aunt the next?
Sheng Liang was originally Wang Wenzhou's nephew, but Wang Wenzhou always made him call him "elder brother." So in front of Wang Wenzhou, Sheng Liang always called him "elder brother" and "sister-in-law." But in front of Wang Wenzhou's children, he would follow the order of Sheng Lan and call Wang Wenzhou's children "aunt."
"Xiao Liang, you're here? Where's Wang Wenzhou? Does he know about this?" Liu Rushi asked.
"Madam, please be careful and don't go any closer! Otherwise, if you and the young master get hurt, don't blame me!" Jiang Hongbao said hurriedly.
Liu Rushi nodded with a wry smile, not daring to take another step forward.
Sheng Liang replied, "I don't know if my elder brother knows about this. I came from Hanshan, and my aunt entrusted me with full responsibility for this matter."
Liu Rushi nodded. Wang Wenzhou was in the capital, and perhaps this nemesis would arrive soon.
“Alright, Madam, please return!” Jiang Hongbao said.
Liu Rushi nodded and, escorted by the female bandit, returned to the mountain stronghold.
Sheng Liang said, "Just name your price. As long as my sister-in-law and nephew are safe, money is no problem."
"Haha!" Jiang Hongbao laughed loudly, "Your family relationships are really messed up. One minute you're calling her sister-in-law, the next you're calling her aunt. In short, there are two of you. Each of you is owed five million taels of silver. If you're short even a penny, you can just wait to collect your corpse."
“Okay!” Sheng Liang nodded, turned around and ran back. He had the token given to him by Sheng Lan, which allowed him to immediately notify the Hanshan Banks in various places to transfer silver to Mou County.
"Sigh..." Jiang Hongbao was about to stop Sheng Liang, but Sheng Liang had already run far away. Jiang Hongbao shook his head with a wry smile. Was this young man out of his mind? Didn't he know how to bargain? I know your family is rich, but can you really come up with ten million taels of silver? Damn! Are you afraid you have too much silver and want to just attack the mountain?
Jiang Hongbao turned pale with fright. "Couldn't your family send someone more experienced to handle this? This greenhorn is unreliable and too impulsive! I did ask for ten million taels, but I was waiting for you to haggle! I didn't really want ten million taels!"
Thinking of this, Jiang Hongbao's expression changed, and he hurriedly ordered his men to shout, "Please invite Young Master Sheng over. Please don't be impulsive. Let's talk this over properly."
Upon hearing the bandits' shouts, Sheng Liang frowned and cursed inwardly, "You bandits are too greedy! Ten million taels of silver isn't enough? Fine! My aunt said she'd save Aunt Liu no matter how much silver it costs, so I'll go and talk to them again."