At the sa ti, Huanglong Mountain.
Huanglong Mountain lay at the junction of Luochuan, Yichuan, and Chengcheng counties.
At the northern slope of Huanglong Mountain, it was the territory of Yichuan County.
The sky had already approached dusk. A troop of Ming court’s official troops had just arrived at the foot of the mountain.
These official troops were a bandit suppression force led by Yansui General Wu Zimian. They were acting on orders from the newly appointed Provincial Governor of Yansui, Zhang ngjing, to eradicate the fierce bandit Wang Zuogua of Yichuan, who was entrenched in Huanglong Mountain.
A General held no official grade. When warfare arose, the General would carry his seal into battle and return it afterward.
Though he held no grade, his authority was high, roughly equivalent to a military region commander.
Wu Zimian was a middle-aged man in his forties. Fat-headed and large-eared, he was so fat the very folds of his brain seed glistened with grease. His armor seed on the verge of bursting from his flesh. Mounted on horseback, the warhorse wheezed heavily under his weight, strikingly similar to Zhao Sheng just after climbing five flights of stairs.
He lifted his head and glanced at the towering Huanglong Mountain, sneering, “Damn it! That accursed Zhang ngjing. A new official lighting three fires? He insists on burning out the bandits. Damn rotten luck! Eight lifetis of misfortune must have brought under this fool’s orders, getting shuffled around to suppress bandits. Is Huanglong Mountain even a place for humans? High peaks, deep woods, crisscrossed ravines. If I, your father, go in there for a round, I’d co out several pounds lighter.”
His trusted body servant sidled up and chuckled softly, “This task is tough, but Zhang ngjing provided plentiful army grain. We can feign suppression, pocket the grain, and make a tidy little profit, eh?”
Wu Zimian grinned, “Ah, you understand , lad. Let’s not fight tooth and nail for nothing. Effort and trouble with no gains? Bah!”
They had just spoken when a captain slipped in from outside. Seeing Wu Zimian, he imdiately knelt and kowtowed. “General, this humble one is Captain Li from the Yansui garrison. A man of no account, you likely don’t rember .”
Wu Zimian asked, “Oh? What brings you to report to this General?”
Captain Li whispered, “I heard that with you, General, one can pay to avoid service. I have prepared silver…” He presented a large pouch of silver. “I beg not to enter the mountains to suppress bandits. I fear dying in these treacherous hills. All I ask is to buy my life with this silver.”
Wu Zimian weighed the pouch in his hand, pleased. He nodded, “Granted. Take my written order, leave through the north camp gate. Claim you’re on secret military orders from the General. After leaving camp, evade notice and slip ho quietly. Don’t boast everywhere for this General, or later, when military justice cos calling, you’ll face only death.”
Captain Li was overjoyed. He kowtowed in thanks, took the order, and slipped away.
No sooner had Captain Li left than Captain Zheng and Thousand-House Zhang entered…
Before long, a crowd had slipped from the army. They even took many subordinates with them, greatly diminishing Wu Zimian’s force. But combat readiness mattered little. Officials traveled a thousand miles only for wealth. Silver earned was enough. Who cared about capability? Give it to whover wanted it.
But he hadn’t earned enough yet. He needed thods to earn more.
Wu Zimian tilted his head. “What other ways to rake in silver? Entourage! Quickly devise ideas for this General!”
His trusted body servant leaned closer. “General, the Governor prepared many military horses for us. Those horses could also be sold! Later, if the Governor inquires, we simply say bandits shot them dead. Already buried.”
Wu Zimian bead. “An excellent plan! Quickly find a buyer. Before Zhang ngjing, that fool civil official, catches wind, we must offload the military horses swiftly!”
…
Gaojia Village was also steeped in joy and peace.
Before Li Daoxuan sat a large pot filled to the brim with Tieshanping’s specialty pepper chicken. The fiery, numbing spice made him suck air through clenched teeth.
Inside the box, yet another “Martial Tournant to Win a Bride” was underway.
How many tis had Gao Chuwu faced Xing Honglang? Again ca Jin Hong Fist against Guanzhong Hong Fist. Thudding sounds of blows rained down until Gao Chuwu slamd heavily onto the ground. Thud! Dust billowed.
Spectators cried: “Ah! Getting less and less exciting!”
“Gao Chuwu! Can’t you try hard, just once?”
“n of Gaojia Village feel ashad for you!”
Xing Honglang laughed heartily, rubbing her slightly bruised fists as she walked out from the circle. Suddenly, her subordinate Old Zhu hurried over. He whispered, “Boss, a very promising deal is buzzing along the grapevine.”
Xing Honglang asked, “Oh? What deal?”
Old Zhu lowered his voice. “Military horses! A batch of top-grade military horses. Five hundred strong, seeking buyers.”
Xing Honglang sucked in a breath. “Can it be true? Five hundred military horses? This is no small deal. Who has such clout to dump pri goods like this into the black market?”
Old Zhu murmured, “The supplier refuses to reveal his origin. Only stated these are proper Great Ming army horses, open for inspection. Each guaranteed a top-grade mount.”
Xing Honglang hesitated. Damn. This sounds huge. If truly first-rate army horses, flipping them could yield profits of thousands of silver taels. But finding buyers for such goods would be tricky.
Still hesitating!
Li Daoxuan wasn’t about to hesitate. We want this! Damn it all!
Gaojia Village’s militia lacked nothing… damn it all… except horses.
Li Daoxuan could almost cheat, providing supplies of all kinds—but “living creatures” he could not. He’d long wanted army horses for the militia. Nowhere to acquire them.
Now, hearing the underworld had goods? Why pass it up?
Gao Yiye wasn’t currently in Gaojia Village. So paper would serve. Li Daoxuan spread a large sheet and revealed it below: “Xing Honglang. This batch—we’ll take it.”
Xing Honglang, still pondering, looked up at the sky’s glowing words. Hesitation vanished. She said swiftly, “Old Zhu! Where is this deal happening?”
Old Zhu answered, “The supplier is powerful. Says anywhere in Shaanxi or Yansui. They can deliver the horses anywhere within these two provinces.”
Xing Honglang cursed under her breath, “Governnt?”
Li Daoxuan also thought: Governnt? But how could officials sell horses via the underworld? Sothing felt off…
As he pondered, Xing Honglan sneered coldly. “Seems so corrupt official is stealing army horses. He must be a high-ranking officer. At least a General level… Thinking this way—who else but Wu Zimian himself?”
Li Daoxuan was speechless. Very well. Another lesson learned. So late Great Ming generals pulled these stunts? Great Ming! Great Ming! How could you not collapse?
Xing Honglang said gravely, “Though the supplier says ‘anywhere,’ we can’t have him deliver to Gaojia Village. That’s inviting future disaster. We must find a remote place. Acquire the horses there, then secretly transport them here. I need to think carefully…”
Reviews
All reviews (0)