Chapter 283: Chapter 277: The Virtuous Wife
Yunzhou City is not large; it lies northeast of Ningzhou and east of Shicheng. Its production is modest, with even the most fertile lands seized by Ningzhou for military farming. Yunzhou relies on forestry for a trade in timber and furniture, while the agricultural yield is barely enough to sustain the basic lives of the city’s inhabitants. Although Yunzhou is rich in mineral resources, the State Mansion lacks the capacity to develop them. Neither is Yunzhou a bustling hub for trade routes. Despite its lack of commercial prosperity, under Lin Jingshan’s six-year tenure as governor, agricultural and animal husbandry, as well as the timber trade, have thrived, allowing its people to live in relative peace and stability.
As morning light spilled in, Fengyu lifted the curtain of the carriage and examined the architectural details lining the street. Through vague impressions, a once-lively buzz of people could be imagined; the buildings along the main street resembled those in the northern part of Kyoto City. The roads were crowded, marked by what seemed to be ruins left in the wake of devastation—broken walls and remnants of destruction everywhere. Fengyu frowned slightly. What had happened to Yunzhou?
After the cavalry entered the city and set up camp within, the State Mansion ordered cattle and sheep slaughtered to provide a feast for the army. Qiuxiang and Chunlu, who had been pampered with luxurious lives since childhood under Fengyu’s care, could not help but mutter as they took in the sight of Yunzhou’s dilapidated streets. Qiuxiang asked Fengyu, "Has Yunzhou been robbed?"
"It seems so!"
Indeed, Yunzhou had been robbed!
The bandits of the Twelve States were notorious and brutish, yet they never dared raid Yunzhou. With Yunzhou nestled next to Ningzhou, any raid would invite immediate assistance from the neighboring Ningzhou, rendering such attempts akin to seeking death itself. While the Twelve States suffered greatly under the scourge of banditry, Yunzhou had managed to maintain its peace and prosperity. However, following the rebellion of the Xie brothers in Yanyang, Yunzhou City had already been looted twice. Shima Mountain harbored a thousand mountain bandits armed with fierce warhorses and sharp weaponry. They infiltrated the city at twilight, in that unsuspecting hour when smoke rose from household kitchens, catching everyone completely off guard. The marauding horsemen slaughtered, burned, looted, and kidnapped at will, stripping the city of its food supplies, gold, silver, jewels, and even abducting young maidens.
The sole consolation was that these raiders stole without taking lives. During the two raids on Yunzhou, they abducted eighteen young maidens from Yunzhou.
Lin Jingshan dispatched troops to wipe out the bandits, but even a force of two thousand failed to conquer Shima Mountain—a natural fortress, easy to defend and hard to attack. With Ningzhou already in rebellion, Lin Jingshan was left no choice but to seek help elsewhere. As Xie Xun’s army passed through, the bandits of Shima Mountain brazenly declared their intent to attack Yunzhou City in broad daylight.
"Bring me the map of Shima Mountain!" Xie Xun demanded of Lin Jingshan, acquiring the map while ordering Feiying to mobilize ten thousand men. Leading the army himself, Xie Xun set forth to annihilate the bandits.
He had no intention of lingering in Yunzhou and aimed for a swift resolution.
Yunzhou’s State Mansion was far from affluent. With Xie Xun providing food provisions, he avoided imposing on the city’s grain storage. Entrusting Fengyu with the aftermath, he decisively departed with ten thousand cavalry to conquer the bandits.
After Xie Xun left, Fengyu dispatched individuals to assess the situation. The kitchen had already slaughtered thirty cattle and sheep, with plans to butcher three hundred more. With a measured pause, Fengyu decided against further slaughter. The thirty animals already prepared, combined with rice to cook porridge, would suffice as lunch for the cavalry.
When Lin Jingshan came to find Fengyu, she finally understood why Xie Xun had entrusted her with the aftermath. Lin Jingshan was not supportive of the Xie brothers’ rebellion. Had it not been for the bandit invasion and the resulting suffering inflicted upon the city’s residents, Lin Jingshan might not have been so quick to allow Xie Xun into the city.
Even in requesting Xie Xun to handle the bandits, Lin Jingshan opened the State Mansion’s meager grain storages with an eye toward the principle of quid pro quo. Xie Xun must have seen through Lin Jingshan’s intentions, entrusting Fengyu with cleanup duties before his departure.
Scholars from noble families often harbor the paradoxical desire to have it both ways—preserving their spotless reputations while avoiding collaboration with traitors, and still striving to protect the city’s populace.
Reputation forms the cornerstone for noble families, while safeguarding their citizens constitutes the duty of any city’s parental officials. For either reason, Fengyu had no grounds for criticism.
Not everyone can shoulder the stigma of rebellion.
"Lord Lin, the cavalry needs to travel to Jinzhou for supplies. They have brought provisions for over ten days, and your generosity has been deeply appreciated by the Prince and the soldiers. The Prince does not wish to impose further hardship upon the people; let Yunzhou’s granary serve Yunzhou’s residents," Fengyu spoke with a calm tone. "Though the Prince has rebelled against Yanyang, he still upholds the protection of Yanyang’s defenseless citizens. With or without food provisions and treasures, the Prince and his troops will fight for the people, even to the death. In times to come, should Yunzhou face calamity, you may seek assistance from Ningzhou, which will surely respond!"
Lin Jingshan was struck with shame; his intentions were transparent even to a young girl who had freshly reached adulthood. Yet she uttered not a single unpleasant word nor a trace of ridicule, treating the advancing army as if they were still Yanyang’s cavalry instead of rebels.
"The Prince and the young lady are too gracious. I, Lin, am deeply grateful. Allow me to express my humble appreciation; please accept the provisions as a token of gratitude from the people of Yunzhou City," Lin Jingshan said, his stubborn nature driving him to insist on maintaining boundaries.
"If Lord Lin truly wishes to express gratitude, then when the Prince returns from Jinzhou, you may open the city gates to welcome his troops and offer a cup of humble tea—that would suffice as thanks," Fengyu replied with a smile, as though a sudden thought struck her. "I recall Nuanyang mentioning that you are kin to the Lin Family, and ought to address the Prince as ’Little Cousin.’ As his cousin, assisting family is only natural; there’s no need for you to dwell on it."
Lin Jingshan flushed with embarrassment, his face burning as if scalded, his throat choked to the point of speechlessness. In this awkward scenario, where his stature paled in comparison, he managed to mutter a few words before fleeing in a fluster.
The matter of provisions was dropped entirely!
Nuanyang gave her a thumbs up. "Third Miss, you really are remarkable! Second Young Master and the Lord both loathe dealing with pedantic scholars. Second Young Master wouldn’t even bother with a single useless word, whereas in the past, the Lord would barely speak a few sentences before resorting to insults."
Fengyu laughed lightly, "When dealing with people, to suppress them, you must grasp their soft spots. For noble scholars, reputation and honor are paramount. If Lord Lin doesn’t wish for his reputation to be tarnished, we shall honor his wishes. The more stubborn he is, the more we play the meek role. Should he grow greedy, we tug at his emotions; that way, he can’t wait to retreat."
Yunzhou would eventually fall into Xie Xun’s hands; there was no hurry. Having the credit of quelling the rebels, Lin Jingshan would not likely obstruct Xie Xun upon his return from Jinzhou.
Xie Xun marched decisively against the bandits. No matter the rugged terrain of Shima Mountain, within a few hours, ten thousand cavalry successfully overran the fortress. Over two thousand bandits were captured, while twenty-six young women were rescued—several originating from states outside Yunzhou.
Initially, Xie Xun intended to settle these captives in Yunzhou, believing they could integrate into the city, but the civilians harbored deep hatred against them. Over two thousand bandits were jailed, leaving the State Mansion grappling with a logistical nightmare.
On one hand, the cost of feeding them was burdensome; on the other, the concern lingered—what if these ferocious bandits stirred trouble again?
Lin Jingshan wished to defeat the bandits yet had no inclination toward resettling over two thousand individuals. Quick-witted, Fengyu proposed, "Send them to West Continent for land reclamation."
Among the two thousand bandits, most were hale and hearty laborers, some with families and children. Not one willingly turned to banditry; dire circumstances drove them up Liang Mountain.
West Continent and Huangzhou were in dire need of manpower. Locking away such a robust labor force in prison was a waste, and Fengyu favored making practical use of them.
Unexpectedly, this group of bandits proved ferocious to the core—they had fled from the mining sector of West Continent and refused to return under any circumstances.
"Who said West Continent is a ghost town?" The bearded leader of Shima Mountain barked menacingly, his eyes flashing fiercely. "The mines in West Continent have been seized by collusion between Su Family’s Trading House and the horse thieves. The original residents of West Continent were fully driven out—we are the people of West Continent! The entirety of West Continent is under their control."
Fengyu raised an eyebrow. "Su Family’s Trading House colluding with horse thieves?"