In the famine, others ate Guanyin soil, but he had space to build a farm.

Zhang Shan's eyes were like torches, scanning Chen Xiancheng and others in front of him. These people seemed to have been ruthlessly eroded by time overnight, their bodies were hunched, their originally plump bodies were now only shriveled skin bags, the wrinkles on their faces were as deep as ravines, and their eye sockets reflected deep fear and despair. Although they were still wearing official uniforms, their official authority had long since disappeared. At this moment, they were just a few kneeling on the ground, extremely humble begging for mercy.

"Please spare my life, sir. I won't dare to do it again! I won't dare to do it again! Please spare my life!" County Magistrate Chen's voice was trembling so much that it was almost inaudible. He kowtowed like pounding garlic, and each impact seemed to embed his forehead into the ground.

His companions did the same, and they all begged for mercy, with endless fear and despair in their voices. Zhang Shan looked at them, and he couldn't help but feel puzzled. These people usually acted arrogantly and ran rampant in the village, but now they were so embarrassed in this critical moment, which was really unbelievable.

He frowned slightly, puzzled, so he asked, "Tell me, where is your county magistrate?" There was no warmth in his voice, like cold stone.

When County Magistrate Chen heard this question, his face turned even paler and he answered in a trembling voice: "County Magistrate Li Wei... fled when you broke through the city gate. Now... I really don't know where he is." His words were full of regret, as if he was regretting that he had not fled with the county magistrate.

Zhang Shan sneered, and understood in his heart. These officials usually only cared about enjoying themselves and oppressing the people, but now they were in real danger, they were so embarrassed. He shook his head, and he no longer had any sympathy for these people.

He turned and left, leaving Chen Xiancheng and the others kneeling on the ground, trembling. The air around them seemed to have frozen, with only the sound of them kowtowing and begging for mercy echoing in the empty courtyard.

"Have you sent anyone to the prefecture to ask for help?" Zhang Shan's voice suddenly rang out in the courtyard, frightening Chen Xiancheng and the others so much that they almost fell to the ground. They all raised their heads, their eyes full of fear, but also full of expectation. They were afraid that Zhang Shan would kill them all in a rage, so they all chose to remain silent.

Zhang Shan looked at their expressions and couldn't help laughing: "What's with that expression?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiancheng and the others heaved a sigh of relief. They looked at Zhang Shan, knelt on the ground, and said in fear and trepidation: "Please forgive me, sir! Li Wei has already sent people to the state government to ask for help!"

Zhang Shan snorted coldly and said, "How long will it take for the prefecture to send someone?" He looked at these officials, his eyes became extremely sharp, and his voice suddenly became louder, like a bolt from the blue, shocking everyone, "Don't try to deceive me. If I find out that you deceived me, you know the consequences!"

He pointed at Chen Xiancheng and others who were kneeling in the front and continued, "Now tell me! How can we prevent the Southwest Prefecture from sending troops?"

"Please spare my life, sir! Please have mercy on me!" County Magistrate Chen cried out, "I know I was wrong, I won't do it again! Please give me a chance, I am willing to work like a slave to repay you!"

"Speak now! Don't talk nonsense! If you are useless, I won't keep you!" Zhang Shan now wants to develop in Xishan County. So during this period of time, he must ensure that the state government will not send troops here. The night is as dark as ink, covering the trembling bodies of Chen County Magistrate and others. They are intimidated by Zhang Shan's momentum. At this moment, they are like chickens stripped of feathers, with only the most primitive fear and despair left.

County Magistrate Chen wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said in a trembling voice: "Sir, if the state government does not send troops here, I'm afraid... I'm afraid..." He hesitated and seemed unable to speak.

Zhang Shan raised his eyebrows and said coldly: "Speak! Why are you hesitating so much?"

County Magistrate Chen was so frightened that he trembled and said quickly: "If we want the state government not to send troops, we must first let the state government know that the situation here has stabilized. In addition, we can send people to the state government to secretly build relationships and let the state government turn a blind eye to us. But...but doing so requires a lot of money..."

Zhang Shan sneered and interrupted Chen Xiancheng: "Money is not a problem. As long as you can accomplish this, I will give you the money. However, if you dare to play any tricks or betray me, don't blame me for being rude!"

County Magistrate Chen and others kowtowed prostrate themselves in haste and repeatedly promised that they would never have the slightest disloyalty.

Zhang Shan nodded and turned away. He already had a plan in mind. If he wanted to gain a foothold in Xishan County, he had to let the people in the prefecture know how powerful he was. At the same time, he also had to start rectifying the administration here so that the people could live a stable life.

As the night deepened, Zhang Shan disappeared into the darkness. Chen Xiancheng and the others knelt on the cold ground like abandoned orphans, their hearts filled with fear and anxiety about the future. They knew that from now on, their fate would be in the hands of this young man named Zhang Shan. And their life and death would also be decided by this young man.

Soon, County Magistrate Chen wrote a report to report his achievements, saying that all the rebellions in their county had been quelled.

While Chen Xiancheng and others hurriedly submitted the report to the prefecture, Zhang Shan was thinking in his temporary residence. He knew that relying on a report alone would not completely let the prefecture relax its vigilance, let alone ensure that they would not send troops. Therefore, he had to take more decisive and effective measures.

Zhang Shan called several of his trusted men and told them his plan in detail. He asked them to act separately, on the one hand to collect intelligence about the officials of the prefecture government and understand their preferences and weaknesses; on the other hand to send people to the towns of Xishan County to take over Xishan County in an all-round way.

"Old Chen, are there any other relatively large forces in Xishan County?" Zhang Shan asked with a frown.

"Lord Zhang! There are two powerful forces in Xishan County! Should we send someone to bring them over?" County Magistrate Chen has now done his job as an advisor.

"Two! Which two?"

"Qinglong Sai from Qinglong Mountain and Sun Ying from Kaoshan Village." County Magistrate Chen replied, "Both forces should not be underestimated."

"Two powerful forces, how many people do they have?" Zhang Shan said after a moment's hesitation.

"What are the characteristics of the two forces in Xishan County?"

"This Qinglong Mountain is very mysterious! They rarely come down the mountain! But their strength is unquestionable! I suspect they are from the former army! Although they are few in number, no one has dared to touch them!"