Finest Servant-Chapter 643

Chapter 643 Underneath the Wulian Peak

Yunlian County, located at the foot of the Wulian Peak, was at the crossroads of three provinces, thriving as the most prosperous stronghold of the Miao people. Entering Yunlian County, it was indeed bustling with activity. Silver ornaments jingled everywhere, and Miao men and women in festive attire thronged from all directions to participate in the Flower Mountain Festival.

Though the county was small, its liveliness on this day, due to the grand Miao festival, rivaled that of a bustling market in the capital. Young men and women from Yingyue Hamlet, many experiencing such a lively market for the first time, were visibly excited. They looked around with great enthusiasm, their joy evident in their lively movements.

Yilian, showing traits of a leader, continuously looked after her brothers and sisters along the way, ensuring they didn’t get separated. She organized everything methodically and treated everyone with ease and grace. Lin Wanrong watched her with a secret delight, thinking that, given time, she might become the next Sister An!

"Ah Lin Ge, look, there is the Wulian Peak!" Yilian exclaimed.

Her words drew Lin Wanrong's attention, and he hurriedly looked into the distance. To the west, five mountain peaks rose in ascending order, resembling five blooming lotus flowers, presumably the origin of the name Wulian Peak. [TL: Wulian here means Five Lotus]

Wulian Peak, originally part of Yunnan, was located near Yunlian County at the border of two provinces. Following the customs of the Miao people in Sichuan, Sister An referred to themselves as the Sichuan Miao.

"'Five peaks rise high, piercing the clouds, untouched by the four-season winds like lotus flowers' - such a magnificent Wulian Peak!" Lin Wanrong gazed intently for a while before admitting with embarrassment, "Yilian, which one is Biluo Hamlet? I can't seem to find it!"

Yilian turned to him, "From this distance, not even someone with eyes that can see for miles could spot it. We'll know once we get there."

Yes, they would know once they arrived. This realization struck Lin Wanrong. The third day of September was fast approaching. He ought to visit the peak first.

Yilian, noticing his eagerness and seemingly reading his thoughts, quipped, "Not just anyone can ascend Biluo Hamlet! It's guarded by loyal White Miao warriors. At the foot of the peak, Leader Zhaguo and his men are staying. How can ordinary people get close? Haven’t you noticed? Even here in Yunlian County, the place is teeming with Black Miao!"

The distinction between the Miao branches was evident in the color of the threads embroidered on their clothes. Normally, White Miao embroidered in white, and Red Miao in red. This reminder from Yilian made Lin Wanrong immediately notice that about thirty to forty percent of the bustling Miao in Yunlian market were Black Miao, embroidered with black thread. Yilian was right; the chieftain Zhaguo was determined to succeed. And Uncle Buyi’s foresight in advising him to wear Miao attire seemed more like a stroke of genius.

"Move aside! Move aside!" Two squads of soldiers rushed through, brandishing whips fiercely and herding the crowd to the side. A few Miao people who couldn’t dodge in time were harshly lashed. The once lively market instantly filled with cries and screams. The surrounding Miao, glaring and clenching their hatchets, were so enraged they seemed ready to bite off their own teeth.

A long procession of government troops passed, with eight bearers carrying a large red official sedan chair at a steady pace. Various officials and attendants followed closely behind, the procession stretching over a hundred meters.

Si De was nearly suffocated by the crowd and couldn't help but snort, "What high and mighty official is this?"

"Shush!" An old man of the Hua people, who seemed to be enjoying the scene, quickly pulled Si De back, whispering urgently, "Young man, mind your words. Do you want to die? That's our Xuzhou Prefect, Lord Nie!"

Lord Nie? Lin Wanrong suddenly realized; this was Nie Yuanqing, the highest official in Xuzhou. Before being stationed in Xuzhou, Nie Yuanqing had been a favored student of Prince Cheng. After the downfall of Prince Cheng and his son, many in the court were purged by the Emperor. However, since Nie Yuanqing was stationed in a remote Miao area and hadn’t acquired a reputation for being a corrupt official, he was retained by the Ministry of Personnel.

Lin Wanrong had thoroughly investigated all this before coming to Xuzhou and had made the necessary preparations; otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to cross the river like a dragon.

Thinking of the treacherous Jinsha and Min Rivers, which had nearly barred his entry, it was no wonder Nie Yuanqing's incompetence had gone unnoticed. Lin Wanrong sighed internally. An official who didn’t build bridges or roads for the people's welfare was at least incompetent, regardless of his character.

"Uncle, I think this official seems quite upright," Lin Wanrong feigned ignorance, smiling at the old man.

"Upright?" The old man looked at him bewildered, "Young man, are you really from the Miao? He's known for being arrogant. Not just the Miao, even our Hua people—cough, cough—"

The old man quickly stopped talking as Lin Wanrong looked up to see several Black Miao youths loitering around in the crowd.

‘Damn, there are spies too!’ Lin Wanrong snorted coldly, finally appreciating Sister An's meticulous planning. The invitation from Sister An to the Miao village was probably not just for marriage. This little Xuzhou prefecture had its own deep waters.

Kunshan, Yilian, and the other Miao youths watched Nie Yuanqing's sedan chair parade arrogantly away, their faces flushed with suppressed anger.

After a few days of interaction, Lin Wanrong had helped reduce their hostility towards the Hua people, but Nie Yuanqing had quickly rekindled it. Lin Wanrong felt overwhelmed.

"Ah Lin Ge, let's stay outside the west city tonight. We’ll head up the mountain early the day after tomorrow," Yilian suggested cautiously, noticing his displeased expression.

Lin Wanrong had intended to book rooms for everyone, but then realized the absurdity of Miao people attending the Flower Mountain Festival staying in inns. He quickly agreed, signaling to Si De with his eyes.

Si De, ever so clever, returned after a while carrying two large bags. He opened them to reveal an array of exquisite snacks and pastries, along with hair accessories and cosmetics that young girls would adore, filling two large bags.

The youths from the mountain villages were poor, and after wandering the streets all day, they had drooled over many things but couldn’t afford to buy anything. Not a single young man or woman, around eighteen or nineteen years old, could spare a copper coin. Lin Wanrong, although not a philanthropist, felt pained at heart.

"What are you doing, Ah Lin Ge?" Yilian asked hastily.

"Don’t you dare interrupt!" Ah Lin Ge said sternly. Yilian was strong-willed and could easily cause chaos, so he decided to strip her of any say in the matter.

He rarely showed sternness, but when he did, his imposing demeanor was intimidating. Yilian, frightened, dared not speak any further.

Lin Wanrong distributed the pastries to everyone, insisting that none should refuse his treat. "If anyone refuses, that means they don't consider me a friend," he declared. "And those who don't see me as a friend, beware of being struck by lightning when walking, kicked while shopping, or suffering from diarrhea when eating—" His curses were so vicious that everyone exchanged looks, unsure of how to respond, and they all covertly glanced at Yilian for guidance.

Yilian felt a mix of emotions – both tearful and joyful. Looking at his determined expression, she murmured, "Ah Lin Ge, thank you. You are the best person in this world!"

Inwardly, Lin Wanrong thought cynically about his wealth lying unused at home. This was the first time he felt deeply ashamed for having too much money.

Since Yilian had spoken and it was Ah Lin Ge who was treating them, the mi duo and mi cai joyously indulged in the delicious pastries, admiring the small gifts like curved knife hairpins and other trinkets, their laughter filling the air.

Lin Wanrong too tasted a piece of the pastry and found it unexpectedly delightful, even surpassing Qiaoqiao's culinary skills. No wonder Ning'er loved to spend his money so liberally – such pleasures were truly incomparable. She was more open-minded than he was!

All the mi cai received cosmetics except for Yilian, who was left empty-handed. Lin Wanrong, smiling, fished out a small bottle from the bag and handed it to her, "Yilian, this is for you!"

The faint fragrance from the bottle was enchanting, impossible to let go once held. Yilian, caressing the small bottle, couldn't hide her joy, "Ah Lin Ge, what is this?"

"This is called perfume, a kind of cosmetic for women. Keep it well hidden in that cave of yours," Lin Wanrong joked, recalling the inferior cosmetics Yilian had hidden away.

Yilian's face reddened with anxiety, "Is this perfume very expensive?"

"Not at all!" Lin Wanrong assured her earnestly, "It's only ten wen. It's worth less than the hair accessories we gave out!"

"Why are you so kind to me, Ah Lin Ge?" Yilian's eyes brimmed with tears as she spoke softly.

He couldn’t very well admit that he was atoning for the sins of that scoundrel, Nie Yuanqing. With a sigh, he said resignedly, "Because we are all brothers and sisters. It's a grave sin to let everyone go hungry and without clothes. Believe me, everything will get better."

He knew better than anyone that a few meals and pastries wouldn’t solve the problems of the Miao village; the root cause had to be addressed.

As the mi duo and mi cai laughed together, Si De found a moment to report to him, "Brother San, guess how much our Xiao family's perfume sells for in Xuzhou?"

"How much?"

Si De flashed five fingers in front of him and said with a click of his tongue, "Five hundred taels of silver, and it's the only bottle!"

Five hundred taels? Lin Wanrong gasped. Luckily, he had kept this single bottle for Yilian. If he had given one to each girl, he would have gone broke! ‘Well done, well done,’ he thought. The irony was not lost on him; he had inadvertently created this situation for himself.

After wandering around with the people from the Miao village for a while, just as they were about to find a place to stay west of the city, Lin Wanrong felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw a dark-faced man standing before him, grinning broadly.

"Brother Gao!" Lin Wanrong exclaimed with surprise, jumping up at the sight of the man.

Old Gao sized him up, clicking his tongue in admiration, "Brother Lin, dressed like this, you truly resemble the Pan An of the Miao villages!"

"If I am Pan An, then Uncle Buyi must be Song Yu," Lin Wanrong chuckled heartily. Noticing Old Gao's wink, he understood there was a matter to discuss. He nodded and said to Yilian, "You all go ahead and find a place to stay outside the city. Brother Gao and I have some matters to attend to. I'll join you later. Si De, you go with them and take good care of everyone."

"Ah Lin Ge, be careful!" Yilian said with concern, her eyes lingering on him, as did those of the other mi duo and mi cai.

These youths from the Miao villages, naïve in the ways of the world, had grown very fond of Lin Wanrong over the past few days. Their heartfelt concern touched him deeply. He reassured them with a smile, "Don't worry. Don't you believe in Ah Lin Ge's capabilities?"

Once Yilian and the others had walked away, Lin Wanrong turned to Old Gao, who spoke in a low voice, "Brother Lin, the naval and infantry forces from Luzhou set out in two groups and arrived at Xingwen last night. They are now en route to Yunlian!"

Luzhou was not far from Xuzhou, and these troops, once under Li Tai's command, were extremely reliable. Stationing them around Xingwen had been arranged before his arrival in Xuzhou as a precaution. However, the incident at Yingyue Hamlet had changed Lin Wanrong’s plan. He had sent Old Gao overnight to bring the troops into Xuzhou, better safe than sorry.

"You've worked hard, Brother Gao," Lin Wanrong remarked, "Does that Lord Nie know about this?"

"How could we let him know?" Old Gao smirked, a master of internal security affairs, "By the way, Brother Lin, should we meet with Wu Yuan, the magistrate of Xingwen? With the naval and infantry forces flooding into Xingwen, this fellow has kept his mouth shut! Even if we have to deal with him, it should be postponed."

Wu Yuan, the father of the beaten Young Master Wu, oversaw Xingwen County, the gateway to Xuzhou. The arrival of troops couldn't have escaped his notice. Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Meet him? Of course, we should meet the father of Wu Shidao!"

Old Gao led him through a series of twists and turns within the county, eventually finding a nondescript alley to slip into. Lin Wanrong nodded slightly; Wu Yuan was not entirely incompetent.

They pushed open an unassuming door to find a plump, round-faced old man in official robes pacing anxiously.

Upon seeing Old Gao bring in a young man from the Miao, the official was initially startled. Then, recognizing Lin Wanrong's youth and nonchalant demeanor, despite his Miao attire, he realized this must be Lin Wanrong of popular rumor. He was struck with awe and knelt down, "Your humble servant—this lowly official Wu Yuan, greets General Lin, the Son-in-law of the Emperor!"

Lin Wanrong held many titles. Although officially the Right Wing General against the Turks and the Commander of the Goryeo Loyal and Brave Army, and even carrying the title of Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Personnel, these were in name only. The important thing to remember was his son was the only imperial grandson in Great Hua. The implications of this were clear to everyone.

As Wu Yuan performed the grand kowtow, almost blurting out 'your humble servant,' [Usually, this is only used in front of the Emperor.] it was evident that he was quite crafty. Lin Wanrong, smiling, helped him up, "So this is Magistrate Wu, truly a man of extraordinary appearance!"

Wu Yuan prostrated himself on the ground, knocking his head like pounding garlic, "I dare not, I dare not! I, a lowly official, am guilty of great crimes, and plead for punishment from Your Excellency!"

Lin Wanrong feigned concern, "Why does Magistrate Wu say such things? Whether you're guilty or not is not for me to say. That's for the law to decide. Please, stand up and let’s talk."

After being helped up twice by Lin Wanrong, Wu Yuan finally dared to stand, tremblingly glancing at him before lowering his head in fear.

"Magistrate Wu, I believe you've heard of my straightforward nature. I, Lin San, am very direct. I say what needs to be said," Lin Wanrong chuckled, "After the campaign against the Turks, I killed so many that I thought of going to the Grand Prime Minister Temple to pray for peace and tranquility in the world. But His Majesty called me to the palace and said, 'Lin San, there's some unrest in the southwest. The Miao villagers have come to the capital to complain that they are being bullied. Go and see what's happening, and pacify them. All people under the heavens, whether they are Hua or Miao, are my subjects. If anyone dares to bully my people, you have my permission to kill first and report later. You're not short of a few lives on your hands anyway.'" ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

"Yes, yes, His Majesty is wise!" Wu Yuan agreed nervously, sweating profusely.

"But coincidentally," Lin Wanrong blinked, "as soon as I entered Xuzhou, I stopped at Yingyue Hamlet and saw the constables from Xingwen County behaving arrogantly, claiming they were collecting taxes for all four seasons and were about to take away the village chief! His Majesty had just decreed a three-year tax exemption. Magistrate Wu, you blatantly defied the imperial decree, nearly inciting the Miao villagers to revolt! Your 'achievement' is not small!"

Wu Yuan collapsed to his knees, knocking his head so hard against the brick floor that it broke and blood gushed out. "Your Excellency, please see clearly! I, a mere county magistrate, wouldn’t dare to levy taxes without authorization. I was only acting on orders from Lord Nie!"

"Which Lord Nie?" Lin Wanrong asked.

"It's Nie Yuanqing, the Prefect of Xuzhou!"

"Nonsense!" Lin Wanrong slammed the table, enraged. "Prefect Nie is the head of a prefecture, highly esteemed and favored by the Emperor, a pillar of the state! How could he do such a thing? You dare to accuse a court official? Old Gao, slap him!"

Old Gao grunted, ready to step forward, but Wu Yuan desperately kowtowed, crying out, "Your Excellency, I swear I'm not falsely accusing anyone. I have solid evidence!"

"Oh?" Lin Wanrong waved his hand to stop Old Gao, frowning, "What solid evidence? Speak! But be warned, if there is a single lie, don’t expect any mercy from me!"

"Yes, yes! I wouldn't dare to deceive Your Excellency!" Wu Yuan pulled out a thick stack of documents and letters from his robe, "Please, Your Excellency, take a look!"

Lin Wanrong hummed, "What is this?"

Wu Yuan whispered, "In Xuzhou, to collect additional taxes, no official documents are ever issued. It's all done through letters and verbal messages. The threats are severe, and no one dares disobey. Being fearful, I always write to Prefect Nie for instructions before acting. These are his private replies to me. Additionally, I have the public and private ledgers of Xingwen County since I took charge. By comparing them, you can clearly see the discrepancies in the accounts. Please, Your Excellency, take a look!"

Old Gao handed the account books and letters to Lin Wanrong, who flipped through a few pages and indeed found them to be a mix of official and unofficial accounts. The letters bore Nie Yuanqing's seal and were not copies, but original documents. Just in the previous year, Xingwen County had extorted twenty-two thousand taels of silver from the Miao villages. However, the amount reported to the imperial court by Nie Yuanqing, as instructed to Wu Yuan, was less than five thousand taels, pocketing a staggering eighty percent for himself.

Lin Wanrong clenched his teeth in anger. ‘Being an official is indeed far more profitable than doing business,’ he thought. He hummed angrily and slammed the account book on the table, demanding, "Where did these letters and account books come from? Why didn't Nie Yuanqing order you to destroy them?"

"Your Excellency is wise!" Wu Yuan hurriedly explained, "To prevent exposure, Lord Nie sends trusted agents to each county office every year to check and destroy account books and original letters. I bribed these agents with money and entertainment, managing to deceive them and preserve these originals. And as far as I know, I'm not the only county official in Xuzhou who has kept the original documents!"

Wu Yuan was indeed cunning, always keeping a backup plan for his own safety. With his son being caught red-handed while collecting taxes at Yingyue Hamlet, it was impossible for him to clear his name. Once Old Gao revealed his identity, Wu Yuan had all his materials ready. By confirming the Prefect's crimes, Wu and his son might not escape punishment, but at least their lives were saved. This was the trick to being an official.

Lin Wanrong contemplated the gravity of the situation in Xuzhou. He realized how widespread such corruption might be across the empire and felt a headache on behalf of his son Zhao Zheng, who would one day have to face such scenarios.

"Magistrate Wu, this matter is of great importance," Lin Wanrong said, lifting Wu Yuan up, "You know what to do now, don't you?"

"Yes, yes! I will fully cooperate with Your Excellency in handling this case and atone for my crimes!"

Lin Wanrong felt the urge to hit him when he looked at Wu Yuan's round head. Nie Yuanqing might be corrupt, but Wu and his son had surely profited as well. None of them were innocent. For now, he needed Wu Yuan, so he decided to spare him until the final reckoning in autumn.

"Oh, and how is your son?" Lin Wanrong feigned concern. "I accidentally injured him last time, and I'm really sorry about that."

Wu Yuan immediately expressed gratitude, "My son offended Your Excellency; he got what he deserved! Frankly speaking, being struck by you, sir, is his great fortune!"

Indeed, it was a fortune. In the future, when the emperor passed away, many would yearn for a slap from Lin San, and would likely not even get that chance.

Seeing no point in further conversation, Lin Wanrong waved his hand and left with Old Gao. Old Gao chuckled and gave a thumbs-up, "Brother Lin, your methods are truly masterful. It’s a waste for you not to be an official!"

Lin Wanrong shook his head with a wry smile, "With my temperament, being an official would be a real waste."

Old Gao pondered and agreed. A man like Lin Wanrong, who threw off all responsibilities and wandered around leisurely, flirting with young girls and enjoying a carefree life, had no reason to jump into such murky waters. That would indeed be folly.

The two men left the western part of Yunlian City and surveyed their surroundings. Everywhere they looked, Miao people from various regions had gathered for the Flower Mountain Festival, evidently planning to stay in the area.

Old Gao thought Lin Wanrong wanted to find the Red Miao of Yingyue Hamlet and was about to head into the crowd, but Lin Wanrong shook his head, "Brother Gao, let's go and take a look at Wulian Peak."

Wulian Peak, located about three miles west of the city, was within an hour's brisk walk for the two men.

As night began to fall, the five lotus peaks of the Wulian Peak stood tall and proud against the backdrop of the nearby green mountains, winding and undulating in a breathtaking display. Remembering Yilian's words that the Holy Maiden resided at the highest point of Biluo Hamlet atop Wulian Peak, Lin Wanrong craned his neck, searching for a long time. He could see the highest peak, but the location of Biluo Hamlet remained elusive.

Thinking of Sister An and their close yet distant encounter on the peak, he wondered if the Vixen knew of his arrival.

As they strolled forward and darkness approached, they neared the path leading up the mountain. Suddenly, two Black Miao blocked their path, demanding in Great Hua language, "What are you doing here?"

Recognizing Lin Wanrong's Miao attire, they naturally addressed Old Gao. Lin Wanrong responded with a laugh, "I'm here to gather firewood. And what about you two, young brothers?"

"Move aside, move aside!" the young men replied impatiently, "Haven’t you heard? The Holy Maiden has returned. To keep Wulian Peak tranquil, the leader has ordered that no outsiders should come within a hundred steps of the peak!"

Lin Wanrong, annoyed by their officiousness, was about to devise a trick to get past them when a loud shout came from the base of the mountain, "The leader is coming!"

The sound of hurried footsteps approached. A Black Miao man in his thirties, tall and robust with wide eyes and long brows, wielding a hatchet, led the way. He was solemn and commanding, followed by dozens of Miao youths.

So this was the usurping Miao leader Zhaguo? He indeed had a certain presence.

"Pay respects to the leader!" All the Miao people turned and bowed deeply to Zhaguo.

The leader grunted in acknowledgment, his gaze fixed ahead as he continued up the mountain.

Lin Wanrong signaled to Old Gao. Taking advantage of the darkening sky and the momentary distraction of the young guards paying their respects, the two men quietly followed the entourage, making their way toward Wulian Peak.

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