96: Chapter 96 Arrival in Jinhe County

Bai Qicheng suddenly understood, his eyes lighting up. "Clan Head, I see what you mean. As long as we confirm Pei Qingyun is personally escorting the shipment, we can inform him of the truth. At that point, Pei Qingyun will have no choice but to cooperate with us. With a three-party Alliance, even the Liu Family will be no match for us."

"Once the Liu Family falls, the remaining Liu Family forces in Jinhe County will certainly be no match for my Bai Family. We can take this opportunity to seize the Liu Family's industries and lay the foundation for my Bai Family to become a Great Family."

A deep look appeared in Clan Head Bai Qihua's eyes. He picked up the hot tea on the table, took a light sip, and then said, "Broadly speaking, that's the plan. However, we cannot inform the Pei Family so soon. We must wait until other forces make their move, and then the Bai Family will use the opportunity to assist. Only then will the Pei Family have no way out."

However, Bai Qicheng still felt somewhat worried. "What if the Ma Family and the Liu Family join forces? Then our plan will fail."

"There are no 'what ifs' in this matter. In Jinhe County City, aside from Great Chieftain Wu Dalong, the one who wants the Liu Family dead the most is definitely the Ma Family. Do you really think the Ma Family doesn't want to take a step further? Although the Ma Family has two Five-Viscera Martial Artists, they are ultimately just an ordinary third-rate Family. If the Ma Family wants to grow stronger, the Liu Family and the Wen Family will inevitably stand in their way."

"They would love nothing more than for us and the Liu Family to fight to the death. It would best suit their expectations if we both perished together."

Upon hearing this, a deep chill welled up in Bai Qicheng's heart. If he were the Clan Head, let alone seeing the Bai Family promoted to a Great Family, he wouldn't even know how they were played to death.

Bai Qicheng lowered his head, now completely won over by Clan Head Bai Qihua. "Clan Head, I know what to do."

Back then, when Clan Head Bai Qihua made a Breakthrough to the Five Viscera Realm and succeeded the position of Clan Head, he had always thought the man was just lucky.

Looking at it now, he was the foolish one.

In terms of schemes, he was far behind.

On the other side, the Black Wind Stronghold also received the Bai Family's invitation. Upon learning it was to deal with the Liu Family, Great Chieftain Wu Dalong readily agreed.

Just as Clan Head Bai Qihua had predicted, Great Chieftain Wu Dalong's hatred for the Liu Family was extraordinary.

Inside Wuyang County City.

The Pei Family's grain transport convoy had already set out.

Although the journey would be arduous, the members of the Pei Family convoy were all in high spirits.

This was simply because of the old man sitting in the carriage, Pei Qingyun.

With their Old Ancestor overseeing things, all petty scoundrels would be nothing more than stepping stones for the Pei Family.

Inside the carriage, Pei Qingyun leaned to one side, lightly slumbering.

The journey to the Commandery City was long; it would take an hour just to leave the Wuyang County borders.

There was no danger along the way, so Pei Qingyun thought he might as well take a short nap first.

In the blink of an eye, an hour passed.

Perhaps because the Demons had been cleared out not long ago, the road was very safe, and Pei Qingyun didn't even encounter many bumps.

Until a voice woke him from his slumber.

"Old Ancestor, we've reached the Jinhe County border," the speaker was the coachman.

"Reached Jinhe County..." Opening the carriage curtain, Pei Qingyun looked outside.

Tonight's moon was not quite round, but it wasn't dim either. Through the bright moonlight, Pei Qingyun's gaze traveled forward until it was blocked by a hilltop several hundred meters away, at which point he slowly withdrew his gaze.

Unlike Wuyang County, the Jinhe County region was mountainous and widely spread. The Pei Family grain convoy encountered a mountain almost every mile they traveled.

However, the mountains in Jinhe County had a characteristic: they weren't high, less than a hundred zhang, and they didn't form a continuous mountain range.

It was precisely this terrain that made Jinhe County unsuitable for large-scale farming. But this same terrain brought benefits to Jinhe County; the wilderness resources here were very rich, and there were many types of exotic beasts.

In comparison, the exotic beasts in Wuyang County were somewhat monotonous, and the vast majority had to be farmed to meet the needs of the city's Martial Artists.

Furthermore, these scattered small hills provided a strong barrier for the existence of strongholds.

Therefore, there were many bandit strongholds in Jinhe County.

Some merchant caravans suffered miserably from being robbed.

However, these strongholds would not 'drain the pond to catch the fish'.

Usually, if the merchant caravans were willing to pay a certain amount of money, the bandits of the stronghold would let them pass.

Even so, most merchant caravans would only choose some secluded small paths to try and avoid being robbed by the strongholds.

Only some Great Family forces might choose to take the main road. After all, the main road was not only clear but also fast and convenient.

Before Pei Qingyun decided on this plan, Pei Tianrong and the escort masters had discussed taking small paths appropriately to avoid risks.

But with the implementation of Pei Qingyun's plan, the route was changed to the main road. What he wanted was to be completely open and above board; if they took small paths, how would they be discovered?

However...

Pei Qingyun didn't know that the various major forces in Jinhe County all thought the Pei Family had taken some small path. Their scouts were searching incessantly among the many small mountains, but there was no sign of the Pei Family.

This made them doubt for a moment whether the news was actually fake.

Fortunately, on the main road, dozens of carriages were speeding along; such a long dragon of a convoy was exceptionally conspicuous.

In Jinhe County, some people accidentally noticed the situation of the Pei Family convoy.

The bandit strongholds in particular were the first to discover the Pei Family's team. Due to the large size of the Pei Family convoy, these ordinary strongholds didn't dare to harbor any designs on them.

Soon, the news of the Pei Family merchant convoy arriving via the main road reached the ears of the major forces in Jinhe County.

Inside the Bai Family courtyard.

A scout ran in hurriedly and reported, "Reporting to the Clan Head, a transport convoy has been discovered on the trade route near Jinhe Town. There are over three hundred carriages in total, and the number of people is about three hundred."

Clan Head Bai Qihua's expression changed, and he stood up abruptly. "What is being transported on the carriages? Did you see clearly?"

"These carriages are all covered with black cloth, so your subordinate couldn't see the situation inside. But judging by how deep the wheels are sinking into the ground, these hundreds of carriages are all fully loaded with things, and the weight is not low. Each carriage should be over ten thousand catties."

Clan Head Bai Qihua's expression shifted, his face showing shock. "Go now and notify the Great Chieftain of the Black Wind Stronghold. Pass this news to him and have him gather at Qingshan Ridge immediately."

From the scout's description, he could basically confirm it. The news that had spread in the restaurant a few hours ago was true.

"Over three hundred carriages, at least seventy thousand dan of grain. This Pei Family is truly too bold, actually daring to transport such a large amount of grain at once, and openly taking the trade route. Should I say the Pei Family's courage is commendable, or their audacity is startling?" Clan Head Bai Qihua took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart.

Although Clan Head Bai Qihua had previously speculated that the Pei Family transporting grain might be true, even if it were, he estimated this batch of grain would be around forty thousand dan.

Looking at it now, he hadn't just underestimated it; he had vastly underestimated it.

It had to be said that the temptation of seventy thousand dan of grain was immense.

At this moment, even though Clan Head Bai Qihua had planned everything in advance, he couldn't help but feel an impulse to target this batch of grain.

It was too tempting!

This was more enticing than ten beauties standing naked before him!

In just an instant, Clan Head Bai Qihua snapped back to his senses.

For him, this was actually not a good thing.

No matter how much grain there was, his Bai Family couldn't possibly get it. Instead, because of the massive amount of grain, other unstable factors were increased.

If it were forty thousand dan of grain, the Ma Family might directly abandon the Liu Family after the three parties joined forces.

But if it were seventy thousand dan, or even more...

It was hard to guarantee the Ma Family wouldn't be tempted.

Even Great Chieftain Wu Dalong might harbor designs on this batch of grain; the three-party Alliance might not be stable.

"Whatever, there's no turning back. Since the Bai Family wants to take the seat of a Great Family, how can we not take a little risk? If things become impossible, at worst we leave Jinhe County. I'm a Five-Viscera Martial Artist; where can I not survive while leading the Bai Family?" Thinking of this, Clan Head Bai Qihua's gaze became sharp.

"Before that, I must stabilize Great Chieftain Wu Dalong. As long as Great Chieftain Wu Dalong doesn't change his mind, the matter can be considered half-successful."

Before long, the news also reached Great Chieftain Wu Dalong.

Hearing this, a flash of greed appeared in Great Chieftain Wu Dalong's eyes. But he also knew that he couldn't be swayed by greed at this time.

After taking down the Liu Family, he might not be unable to target this batch of grain.

Inside the Liu Family courtyard.

Liu Qingyuan had naturally also received the news that the Pei Family grain convoy had arrived near Jinhe Town.

Liu Qingyuan stood up straight, excitement unable to be hidden in his eyes. "It seems this news is true; Heaven is truly helping me. With this batch of grain, I'll have enough resources to Breakthrough to the Mid stage of Five Viscera Realm, and perhaps even further. At that time, my Liu Family will have the chance to push for becoming a Veteran Third-Rate Great Family."

Since succeeding as Clan Head, Liu Qingyuan had thought about taking the Family a step further every single moment.

An ordinary third-rate Great Family was considered top-tier in a single county. But in the Commandery City, it was nothing.

In the Commandery City, in the eyes of some ordinary third-rate Great Families, although the Liu Family was also a Great Family, they were just country bumpkins.

Only by breaking through to the Late Stage of Five Viscera could his Liu Family squeeze into the circle of Commandery City Great Families. Only then would the Liu Family have the possibility of going further.

"Fortune has truly turned. I must set out immediately. If anyone dares to target this batch of grain, I can deal with them all at once." Thinking of this, a ruthless look flashed in Liu Qingyuan's eyes.

Immediately, Liu Qingyuan began to gather the Family's men.

...

On the trade route.

Pei Qingyun sat leisurely inside the carriage.

It had been half an hour since they entered the Jinhe County borders, and nothing had happened as he had expected.

This made him feel a bit bored.

In fact, even if no force came to plunder the Pei Family grain convoy, it wouldn't be much of a loss for the Pei Family; at most, he personally had made a trip for nothing.

However, the Pei Family logistics plan he had formulated would have to be delayed.

After all, such a large order was not common; it was hard to come by even once in several years.

"These guys can't be lacking the guts, right? With such blatant profit, can everyone really resist the temptation? Or did someone see through my plan? That should be impossible," Pei Qingyun thought fiercely.