I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 600: Driving the tiger away from the mountain

Chapter 600: Lure the Tiger Away from the Mountain

In the evening, Wang Wenzhou learned that Zhang Jingxin had arrived in Fujian, and he quickly took his two babies to meet her.

Zou Weilian introduced, "Lord Wang, this is the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Zhang Jingxin, Lord Zhang."

Wang Wenzhou cupped his hands and said, "Lord Zhang is indeed a man of great talent. I have heard of him before. With your good looks, you must have slept with many beautiful girls, right?"

"Pfft..." Zhang Jingxin was completely dumbfounded. Mad Dog Wang Wenzhou, you are now the Governor-General of Fujian, what are you saying?

Chen Yuanyuan's face turned red to her neck. Going out with her nemesis was bound to be embarrassing, a fact that all the sisters agreed on.

Chen Yuanyuan quickly said, "Please forgive me, Lord Zhang. My husband was seasick and drank some wine on the boat. After we docked, he knew you were coming, so he didn't think much of it and came to see you as soon as possible."

Zhang Jingxin smiled and said, "It's alright! These two must be Madam Wang, right?"

Wang Wenzhou hugged his two babies, kissed each of them, and said proudly, "Old Zhang, what do you think? Aren't my babies beautiful?"

"Hmm!" Zhang Jingxin nodded with a wry smile. It seemed that Mad Dog Wang Wenzhou was really drunk.

Zou Weilian quickly said, "Lord Wang, ladies, please have a seat. Someone, bring tea."

"Okay!" Wang Wenzhou nodded, sat down in the chair, and then pulled the two babies onto his lap.

"Pfft..." Zhang Jingxin was stunned again. Mad Dog Wang Wenzhou, this is not a brothel!

Zhang Jingxin said, "Lord Wang, I have come here by invitation to discuss strategies for suppressing bandits with you."

Wang Wenzhou put his arm around Chen Yuanyuan and took a sip of tea from her mouth.

"Pfft..." Zhang Jingxin looked at Zou Weilian, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Zou Weilian said softly, "Lord Zhang, please don't be angry. You'll get used to it in time."

"Yes!" Zhang Jingxin nodded with a wry smile.

Wang Wenzhou thought for a moment and then asked, "Old Zhang, how many troops and how many warships do you have in Guangdong and Guangxi?"

Zhang Jingxin replied, "The naval forces of Guangdong and Guangxi are no longer of great use, and there are not many warships left that are truly capable. As you know, Lord Wang, the garrison soldiers are also of little use. All told, the number of combat-ready troops in Guangdong and Guangxi is only a little over six thousand."

"Pfft..." Wang Wenzhou spat out a mouthful of tea.

Chen Yuanyuan and Li Mei quickly helped Wang Wenzhou wipe his mouth.

Wang Wenzhou said with a wry smile, "Old Zhang, two provinces! And only six thousand soldiers who can go to the battlefield?"

Zhang Jingxin said helplessly, "Lord Wang, as you know, it was only after you entered the court that the national treasury of our Great Ming became full. Before, even the soldiers on the front lines were in arrears with their pay, let alone those of us in provinces where there was no war."

Wang Wenzhou nodded and said, "I knew it. If you two were capable of dealing with the pirates, the Emperor wouldn't have sent me here."

Wang Wenzhou hugged his two babies, kissed each of them, and said proudly, "Babies, you see? Without your little master, nothing big can be accomplished!"

Zhang Jingxin and Zou Weilian exchanged glances. "Mad dog Wang Wenzhou, stop making sarcastic remarks. If you're so capable, why don't you do it yourself!"

Zhang Jingxin asked, "What strategy does Lord Wang have to quell the rebellion?"

Wang Wenzhou thought for a moment and then said, "I was just telling my sister-in-law that whether it's a fight between two people or a war between two countries, you have to use your brain. Only a fool would use brute force!"

Sister-in-law? Zhang Jingxin looked at Zou Weilian with a puzzled expression.

Zou Weilian whispered, "That's just how Mad Dog Wang Wenzhou is. He never speaks properly. You'll get used to it after a while."

Wang Wenzhou continued, "I do have a solution, but I'll need your help."

Zhang Jing thought for a moment and then said, "I would like to hear Lord Wang's plan."

Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "You should immediately issue orders to officials in Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian to arrest the relatives of the pirates on charges of colluding with bandits."

Zou Weilian quickly said, "Lord Wang, you are unaware that while most of the pirates are indeed from Fujian and Guangdong, their relatives are all on Lamma Island."

“Our immediate family members are all on Lamma Island, but we also have extended family members, friends and relatives!” Wang Wenzhou quickly said.

"Ah!" Zhang Jingxin hurriedly said, "Lord Wang, no! Not only do we have no evidence, but it also violates the laws of the court."

Wang Wenzhou said irritably, "Old Zhang, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures and extraordinary achievements, requiring extraordinary people. What are we facing now? Pirates colluding with the foreigners! Pirates are minor; we can wipe them out sooner or later. But the foreigners are foreigners! How can our mighty Celestial Empire allow barbarians to bully us?"

Zhang Jingxin was about to retort.

Wang Wenzhou immediately said, "Let me finish. Evidence and such are minor matters. If you want to find fault, you can always find a pretext. This isn't the first time I've done something like this!"

"Pfft..." Zhang Jingxin and Zou Weilian were completely dumbfounded. Mad dog Wang Wenzhou, only you dare to say such treasonous things in front of the two of us.

Wang Wenzhou continued, “If you’re afraid to take responsibility, I’ll take it! I know I have a bad reputation in official circles; people either call me a mad dog or a traitor! But when it comes to matters of principle, I’m a man! What you dare not do, I dare to do! As long as it’s for the Ming Dynasty and for the people!”

"Oh my!" Chen Yuanyuan rolled her eyes at Wang Wenzhou. Her nemesis was up to his old tricks again.

Zhang Jingxin frowned and glanced at Zou Weilian, who also looked deep in thought.

Wang Wenzhou said in a serious tone, "There are two reasons for capturing these pirates' relatives and friends. First, to squeeze some silver out of them. Damn it, each prisoner of war costs 100 taels of silver, which cost me 500,000 taels of silver! Add the compensation, and it's almost 2 million taels of silver! I'm so poor now that I can hardly afford to eat!"

"Pfft..." Zou Weilian was both amused and exasperated. Mad Dog Wang Wenzhou was truly ruthless. These pirates' friends and family were all law-abiding citizens. How could you, an official of the imperial court, do such a thing? Isn't this forcing the people to rebel?

Wang Wenzhou continued, "Arresting so many people will definitely lead to resistance. We should avoid killing them if possible. If they want to escape, let them escape."

"Huh?" Zhang Jingxin was very puzzled. What exactly did Mad Dog Wang Wenzhou want to do?

"Before capturing them, all the troops from Guangdong and Guangxi were assembled in Fujian. During the march, the flags were raised and the momentum was made so that everyone would know that the troops from Guangdong and Guangxi were all training in Fujian, preparing to attack Lamma Island," Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.

"Hmm?" Zhang Jingxin suddenly realized something. Could it be that Wang Wenzhou was trying to use a feint?

Wang Wenzhou continued, "Think about it, if the pirates' friends and family are bullied by the government, the pirates will definitely be angry! Moreover, the troops from Guangdong and Guangxi have all been drawn away, leaving only a few yamen runners. If you were pirates, wouldn't you take this opportunity to attack Guangdong and Guangxi?"

"Ah?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Jingxin hurriedly said, "Lord Wang! You mustn't! Once the pirates breach the city, there will be widespread devastation!"

Wang Wenzhou said irritably, "Old Zhang, do you think I'm that stupid? You have to understand, in the hearts of the people, I am Wang Qingtian, who is wholeheartedly for the people! How could I watch innocent people suffer?"