My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 117 Deliberation

"Is this how Master Jiang treats his guests?!"

Lin Ziping had never faced so many weapons before. Although he was a little flustered, he still maintained a calm demeanor.

Jiang, the head of the household, looked Lin Ziping up and down.

Lin Ziping remained silent, maintaining the demeanor of a reclusive sage.

This is a psychological battle. The bandit gang hasn't figured out Lin Ziping's background yet. The calmer Lin Ziping appears, the more they think he has something to rely on.

"What instructions do you have, sir?" Jiang asked suddenly.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ziping breathed a slight sigh of relief. Looking at the weapons laid out around him, he realized that his actions had piqued the interest of Chief Jiang, and his life was no longer in danger.

"Is Boss Jiang sure you want me to say this here?" Lin Ziping looked around and said, mimicking the manner of a big shot in a TV drama, "Besides, it's not very convenient for me to be like this right now."

Jiang, the head of the household, was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly: "In that case, I, Jiang, have been negligent. Men, untie the official and please move to the council hall."

After he finished speaking, someone immediately stepped forward and untied the rope from Lin Ziping's hands.

"Please." Chief Jiang gestured for them to enter.

Lin Ziping rubbed his wrists and followed Jiang Dangjia without looking to the side.

Upon entering the council chamber, a tiger skin was laid out on the main seat, its eyes wide open, looking quite frightening. In the center was a long table, similar to a modern conference table, the original color of which was no longer visible on the surface, and there were even patches of black spots in some places.

Jiang, the head of the household, sat down in the main seat, and then several other people whom Lin Ziping did not recognize arrived.

Seeing the serious expressions of these people, and their constant scrutiny of Lin Ziping after they entered, it was clear that they were the leadership of this mountain stronghold.

Ah Da and several others dressed in the same uniform as him did not come in with Jiang Dangjia. Instead, they stood at the door, staring intently at Lin Ziping.

“These men are all leaders of the stronghold. Sir, you can speak now.” Jiang, the leader, looked at Lin Ziping with an inscrutable expression.

"Master Jiang, I'm afraid your business won't last long." Things have already progressed to this point, and Lin Ziping can no longer afford to back down. He looked steadily at Master Jiang and said.

"Oh—why didn't my business last long?" Boss Jiang asked.

Lin Ziping found a chair, moved over and sat down: "People have already gathered down the mountain and are preparing to come up and surround you."

"Haha—" The council chamber erupted in laughter.

"The government has besieged us so many times, what can they do to me?!" Jiang, the head of the household, laughed loudly.

Lin Ziping continued, unconcerned, "But this time it's government troops. Captain Xiao is leading 5,000 men, determined to wipe out Cat Mountain."

Jiang, the head of the household, shook his head: "Sir, we know all that you're talking about. Ha, the Xiao family, weren't they also bandits like us? They were just lucky to be recruited by the government and that's how they got their current official positions."

Lin Ziping laughed and said, "Master Jiang also said that was in the past. Now things have changed. He is an official, and you are a bandit. That's the difference!"

"Master, I think this man is spouting nonsense. I'll behead him and show him to the world to deter the villains. Let's see if the court dares to send anyone again!" A burly man with a thick beard, sitting at the lower end of the table, slammed his hand on the table and pointed at Lin Ziping.

"Second brother, sit down!" An old man who had been resting with his eyes closed opened his eyes and said calmly to the head of the household.

Lin Ziping silently gave himself a thumbs-up, thinking, "This is a sure thing!"

Although Jiang Dangjia's tone was sarcastic, Lin Ziping could still detect a hint of sourness in it.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. Even the 180 heroes of Liangshan in "Water Margin," who were so powerful, eventually accepted the imperial pardon. Those who were forced to join Liangshan were just ordinary peasants.

The establishment of official positions is the ultimate goal, especially in this era, where being an official means having power!

However, it's not so easy to enter the scholar-official class. For some people, becoming a bandit is just a means to an end, and their ultimate goal is to change their path!

Those people sitting here are the same people.

"Young man, according to you, the county government already has soldiers here. So what brings you to our mountain stronghold?" the old man asked.

"I've come to rescue people. I'll also see if I can coordinate with the soldiers from the inside to wipe you out," Lin Ziping said.

Perhaps not expecting Lin Ziping to be so honest, the group looked at each other in bewilderment, and even Chief Jiang was stunned and didn't know what to say.

"They are the owners of the carriage you used to pick people up, two men and a woman, one of whom has a broken leg." Lin Ziping blurted out the purpose of his visit.

The people inside looked outside, presumably to verify the truth of the matter with those around them.

After a while, Ah Da came in and spoke to Boss Jiang in a low voice.

“Master Jiang, let’s just say it in front of everyone. These are all family, and the government has already confirmed this matter. They’re right here with you,” Lin Ziping added. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent me.”

Lin Ziping didn't know if the authorities had confirmed it, but when he was captured by the bandits, he had tested them, and there was also the carriage. All signs indicated that there was a 90% chance that Gao Chi and his group were here.

“Master, that young man is too arrogant. Let me teach him a lesson!” Another young man stood up. “The mountains are high and the forests are dense. It’s not surprising that a few people die.”

Jiang, the head of the household, and the others also looked at Lin Ziping with heavy eyes. They were all big shots in this mountain stronghold, holding the power of life and death over thousands of people. Now, Lin Ziping made them lose face.

"You really think I came alone? The soldiers were waiting for my message at the foot of the mountain. The reason they haven't caught up with you is simply because they haven't pinpointed your exact location. I have a tracking incense on me. I haven't gone back, so they followed the scent and came here," Lin Ziping sneered.

Jiang, the head of the household, instantly changed his expression, then smiled and asked, "Then why is the official telling us all this, sir?"

"I've come to show you a way out." Seeing Jiang Dangjia's state, Lin Ziping sighed deeply and looked at them with pity.

What does this mean?