Chapter 882 Having Pang Tong act as a pimp

Chapter 882: 882 Having Pang Tong act as a pimp

After explaining things to Lin Daiyu, Lu Ming had a plan in mind.

Commerce must be firmly in his own hands.

Commerce inevitably corrupts some people, so a well-structured framework is essential.

Currently, there isn’t much pressure, so with commerce under his control, a free market economy isn’t necessary.

With the core pricing power in his hands, why bother cutting off others’ livelihoods when they’re selling tofu or soy milk?

After spending a day in Puyang, Lu Ming bought Lin Daiyu and the others some bracelets, sachets, a straw hat, and other small items.

He had witnessed the prosperity of Puyang; Cai Jing, that old scoundrel, certainly had some tricks up his sleeve.

Although powerful clans still existed, weren’t they essentially the same as Cai Jing and his ilk?

These old scoundrels were mediocre, but their descendants were completely out of line. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be such bullying and oppression.

He usually didn’t handle these matters, leaving them to Bao Zheng. A monarch couldn’t be too heartless; he needed a professional Legalist disciple to manage things.

Thinking this, Lu Ming stroked his chin and said to Lin Daiyu, "Sister Lin, write a letter and send it back to the Prime Minister’s residence. Say I recommend Zhang Tang for the position of Prefect of Puyang. Let him come. It will be cleaner here. We need a ruthless person to prevent him from colluding with corrupt officials."

After the suppression of all other schools of thought and the exclusive veneration of Confucianism, only Legalism could barely survive in the court. The most important reason for Legalism’s rise was that the monarch needed them.

Otherwise, Legalism would have no place to exist.

It’s like eunuchs; their power comes from the imperial family, and serving the imperial family naturally requires exceptional loyalty.

Lin Daiyu wasn’t aware of the intricacies involved, but she didn’t ask further.

"Okay, I’ll write it now."

At this moment, Diao Chan arrived.

"Husband, you’re back. You must be tired today!"

She offered to massage Lu Ming, her eyes slightly unfocused.

"Husband, Lady Lin is already waiting at the mansion."

Lu Ming didn’t answer, instead placing his hand on Diao Chan’s shapely buttocks and squeezing them firmly.

"Why are you suddenly acting like a pimp?"

Diao Chan was a little shy, relieved to be held in Lu Ming’s arms. It would be troublesome if Lu Ming got angry.

"Lady Lin is a distant relative of Chan’er. Chan’er only found out after we talked. She’s quite pitiful now. Lin Chong thinks she was violated by Gao Yanei, but Lady Lin wasn’t, and Lin Chong doesn’t believe it. She has to find another place. Husband, I want her to stay, okay?"

"Can she read and write?"

Lu Ming didn’t care. He had only heard of the so-called Lady Lin and wasn’t particularly curious.

If he were truly forced to offer himself as a concubine, he wouldn’t refuse.

"Yes, she used to be from a respectable family and can read."

Diao Chan nodded. She was only acting out of kindness towards a fellow villager, not out of indiscriminate generosity.

Having investigated Lin Niangzi’s character, sent people to check on her, and inquired about her, she was indeed a decent young woman before recommending her.

Those promiscuous women, prostitutes—Diao Chan wouldn’t recommend them, even if she were out of her mind.

"Then let her come and serve you."

Lu Ming pinched Diao Chan’s breast. "How’s your former fellow villager doing?"

"Zhaojun? She’s studying at school now, and on her days off she learns to dance with me. She really admires her husband now!"

Diao Chan smiled radiantly, showing no sign of jealousy.

It seemed that acting as a pimp for Lu Ming and cuckolding her was something she enjoyed.

Being cuckolded is different for women and men. A woman deeply loves her man, so she willingly lets him sleep with other women.

Men, on the other hand, are different. If they can accept being cuckolded, it just means their aesthetic sense is flawed.

Meanwhile, Ma Chao was drinking with Pang Tong.

In the military camp, there were other Liangshan heroes, all of whom had been incorporated into a separate unit, not separated from their original units, and even used to replenish their ranks.

"Chao Gai, is there a man in Liangshan named Zhang Qing the Vegetable Gardener?"

Ma Chao asked in a muffled voice, unsure how to respond after hearing Pang Tong’s question.

Pang Tong, however, although initially surprised, quickly recovered.

Because the prince had entrusted him with these tasks, it meant he trusted him and considered him one of his own.

Therefore, he was particularly attentive to these matters and wanted to handle them well!

The Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix each have their strengths. Zhuge Liang, the Crouching Dragon, excelled in internal affairs and was a master of administrative management, learning very quickly.

Pang Tong, on the other hand, was a skilled communicator, much better at handling interpersonal relationships and devising strategies.

One followed the righteous path, the other relied on unconventional tactics.

Lu Ming’s task for Pang Tong was actually quite simple: to collect the female warriors of Liangshan. Regardless of whether they were married or not, he had to collect them.

Moreover, Pang Tong had to find a way to make them willingly submit, not only by offering their wives and daughters but also by getting them to obediently go to war.

Therefore, Pang Tong found this task absurd when he heard about it—being made a pimp by the young Phoenix!

However, this was also a pledge of loyalty, and a way to prevent him from getting too close to the Liangshan heroes.

Nevertheless, Pang Tong was determined to complete the task.

His first target was Zhang Qing, the Vegetable Gardener. Of course, Zhang Qing was a man. What Pang Tong wanted was Zhang Qing’s wife, Sun Erniang!

He originally grew vegetables at Guangming Temple in Mengzhou, hence the nickname "Vegetable Gardener." However, he killed a monk at the temple over a trivial matter and fled. Afterwards, he became a bandit at Dashupo, where he met Sun Erniang.

The two married and opened an inn at Shizipo, where they used sleeping potion to kill passersby and sell human flesh buns.

Later, he joined Liangshan Marsh with the leaders of Erlong Mountain, where his duties included "gathering intelligence," "receiving visiting leaders," and managing the Liangshan inn.

Sun Erniang also distinguished herself during the attack on Puyang, which is why she was targeted.

Sun Erniang was a woman, so she wasn’t particularly fussy. When sitting, her green gauze shirt was visible.

Her hair was adorned with bright yellow hairpins and wildflowers. She wore a bright red silk skirt, her face was covered in rouge and powder, and her chest was open, revealing a peach-colored gauze waistband with gold buttons. She was truly a beautiful woman!