Chapter 93: Exposed
Editor: Atlas Studios
“Miss Mu, can you teach us your Military Boxing? I want to see if it’s suitable for the soldiers to learn.” Qi Xiuyuan was much more honest than Qi Haoran and immediately suggested a trial.
Mu Yangling was stunned for a moment before she understood. She nodded and smiled. “Of course. I’m glad to be of help.”
Military Boxing was something they had to learn in the army, but ancient martial arts had a richer heritage. Mu Yangling wasn’t sure if there were any fist techniques in the army that were more suitable. As a general of an army, Qi Xiuyuan obviously knew more about it.
After thinking for a moment, she said, “Then I’ll teach Young Master Qi from tomorrow onwards. I’ll only leave after he masters it.”
Qi Xiuyuan thought that she was going to leave the general’s residence and return to Nearhill Village, so he smiled and said, “Your Nearhill Village has been burned down. Why don’t you stay in the general’s residence first and go back when spring comes?”
“We’re thinking of moving south only after the villagers in Nearhill Village settle down.”
“Moving south?” Qi Xiuyuan’s smile froze for a moment before he asked, “You’re leaving Xingzhou Prefecture?”
Mu Yangling nodded with a reluctant expression. “That’s right. The first snow of this year has only been brought forward a month, and the Hus have already gone south to plunder resources on the enemy’s land. I’m afraid there will be a huge drought in the summer. In that case, the Hus will only invade the borders with increased frequency. We have many children in our family, and my father is afraid that he won’t be able to protect us, so we have to go south. Although it will be difficult to leave our hometown, it’s better than losing our lives.”
“Who said that there will be a drought in the summer?” Qi Xiuyuan asked.
Rong Ze also looked over with concern.
Mu Yangling looked a little embarrassed. “This is just my guess. It might not be true.”
Qi Xiuyuan’s expression softened as he asked gently, “I wonder how you deduced this.”
Mu Yangling said truthfully, “This year’s first snowfall is a month earlier than in the past and it even snowed continuously for five days in a row. The snow outside even reached a finger deep. My eldest great-uncle said that according to the experience of the older generation, there will definitely be less rain in the coming year. If we’re unlucky, we might even encounter a drought. However, I thought that there’s a limit to the amount of rain in the sky. Since snow is converted from raindrops, now that it’s snowing so much in advance, there will be less rain in the sky. When spring comes and the snow turns into water, the river water will probably rise. Since rain is typically the most intense in summer, how can there be rain when the time comes?”
Mu Yangling briefly explained the principle of rain conservation. When Qi Xiuyuan and Rong Ze heard her childish thoughts, they smiled and said, “You think too much for a child.”
However, Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin believed her.
Fan Zijin said, “Cousin, I think she’s right. It’s better to take precautions early.”
Qi Xiuyuan laughed. He felt that although his cousin usually looked steady, he was still a child. To think he even believed such words. However, he knew that his younger brother and cousin were stubborn. If he didn’t take it to heart, these two brats would pester him all day. Hence, Qi Xiuyuan nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll pay attention to this.”
The three children were relieved.
When Qi Xiuyuan saw Steward Zhu, he said, “The Mu family will be heading south soon. Wrap up a handsome sum of money and hand it to them when they leave.”
Steward Zhu hurriedly agreed. “Eldest Young Master, don’t worry. I will definitely make the preparations.”
However, Rong Ze said, “If the Mu family wants to go south, I’m afraid it won’t be possible in the short term.”
“Why?”
He described what had happened at the government office today and said, “Wu Shancai is obviously plotting to take their fields with the squires. He won’t take out grains to help the refugees. If the Mu family wants to wait for the people from Nearhill Village to settle down before leaving, I’m afraid they’ll have to wait.”
Anger appeared on Qi Xiuyuan’s face. “They really know how to take advantage of the situation. They’re even more detestable than the Tartars.”
“That can’t be helped. It’s impossible for us to interfere in local government affairs.”
Qi Xiuyuan’s expression was solemn as he asked, “If most of the land in Xingzhou Prefecture is in their hands, do you think we can still collect our military salary next year?”
“…” Rong Ze immediately said, “We can’t let them succeed. I’ll discuss it with the advisors now.”
Only then was Qi Xiuyuan satisfied. These people even tried to avoid the additional national taxes, not to mention the tax involving the military salary. With 10,000 soldiers under him, he did not want the soldiers to riot because they could not eat their fill.
Did Wu Shancai think that he could do whatever he wanted just because he couldn’t interfere in local government affairs? Qi Xiuyuan had never been someone who would suffer losses. That day, he got Jiang Ze to bring men to surround the prefectural capital and capture the former Mingshui County magistrate, Qian Shu.
By abandoning the city and escaping, Qian Shu was negligent of his duties. However, Qi Xiuyuan could also say that he had colluded with the enemy to betray the country and deliberately let the Jin soldiers enter the city.
Back then, Wu Shancai had locked him outside the city gate. This debt had yet to be settled, so Qi Xiuyuan did not mind stirring up more trouble.
Meanwhile in the government office, Wu Shancai slammed the table angrily, feeling as if he had swallowed a fly. “Qi Xiuyuan is too much!”
Wu Shancai was so angry that he paced around in circles. “Not only did he send a little kid to cause trouble for me, but he even dared to send troops to surround my government office. He’s trying to rebel. I’m going to impeach him and get His Majesty to give me justice!”
Advisor Huang wiped the cold sweat off his forehead as he advised in a low voice, “Sir, Qian Shu is still in the government office. We can’t let Qi Xiuyuan take him away from the residence. Otherwise, he will definitely implicate you should he be charged.”
Advisor Huang did not think that the emperor would listen to Wu Shancai’s one-sided story. After all, Qi Xiuyuan had a very good reason to surround the government office with his men. The most damning thing was that the culprit was truly in the government office.
And Wu Shancai’s words attacking Qi Xiuyuan were all speculations. There was no evidence at all.
Advisor Huang regretted not insisting on dissuading Wu Shancai when he locked Qi Xiuyuan outside the city gate last time. Otherwise, the grudge between the two of them wouldn’t have been so deep.
Having been here for four years, he had interacted with Qi Xiuyuan for four years and knew him better than this magistrate.
Qi Xiuyuan looked magnanimous and open-minded, but he was never one to suffer a loss. Now that Wu Shancai had offended him, he would remember this grudge for ten years.
“Then what do you think we should do? His men are all outside the government office now. How can we send them away?” Wu Shancai asked irritably.
Advisor Huang was silent for a moment before saying, “Sir, why don’t you dress up and go out to question him? Let Qian Shu pretend to be a bailiff and follow you out. You can let him leave halfway. As for his family, since outsiders don’t know them, you can just lock them up for the time being.”
“Alright, we’ll do as you say. But what should I question him about?”
‘You might not even be able to meet General Qi.’
“…Sir, just ask about the things you mentioned about General Qi just now. It’s best if you can get him to make him turn over that child who spoke up this morning. This way, you’d be able to answer to Minister He and the other squires.”
Wu Shancai nodded in satisfaction. “That’s right. That child surnamed Mu is indeed despicable. Remember, her family’s taxes will be increased by 30% next year, and the village she’s in will have their taxes increase by 20%.”
Advisor Huang opened his mouth, but in the end, he lowered his head and agreed.
Wu Shancai asked Qian Shu to disguise himself as a bailiff, then walked out with him in an aboveboard manner. Advisor Huang followed closely by his side. As soon as he went out, he met Jiang Ze’s eyes and alarm bells immediately began ringing in his heart. His intuition told him that something was wrong. Just as he was about to ask Qian Shu to hurry back, Wu Shancai had already stepped forward aggressively and shouted, “Jiang Ze, you’re just a lieutenant. Not only did you not kneel when you saw me, but you’re even sitting on your horse calmly. This is simply preposterous.”
Qian Shu hurriedly followed closely behind Wu Shancai.
Advisor Huang, who wanted to stop Qian Shu: “…”