IDWBE -Chapter 208 Perplexity

Zhou Jiuling had three sons. His eldest had died tragically in prison, leaving only the two younger sons alive; even the youngest was already forty-three.

He had three daughters. The youngest had committed suicide out of grief and injustice. The eldest and second daughters were still alive but also over forty. Two years in prison had left them haggard; though now released, their complexions remained poor.

As for his grandchildren, along with his concubines and daughters-in-law, their fates were unknown.

This pained him greatly.

The old Zhou family might well end with him.

However, when He Jixiang asked him to travel with his family, he agreed without hesitation, even knowing that his family would be used as hostages.

The reason was simple: there was no other choice.

Alongside the Zhou family, the family of Qin Anlu—the deputy commander of Yuezhou—also got off the carriage: an elderly lady and a boy not yet of full age.

Unlike Zhou Jiuling, Qin Anlu had volunteered.

Only in his thirties, he didn’t fear losing his wife. What mattered most was his future. After seeing the strong, well-equipped Sanhe army, a wild ambition arose within him.

He could start anew.

What court, what Emperor Zhengchang—what mattered now was earning the trust of the prince.

So, he proactively sent his mother and only son to Sanhe.

The elderly lady, holding the child’s hand, entered the inn, feeling as if stepping into another world.

It had been so long since she had seen such liveliness.

The inn’s patrons watched the group ascend the stairs, then turned to the seated soldiers in the hall.

“Hey, young master He,” A sharp-eyed onlooker immediately recognized He Shundi among the soldiers. “You’re escorting someone back. Who was that old man just now?”

He Shundi gulped down two pots of tea and calmly said, “Do you know what a secret is? That’s all you’re allowed to ask.”

“Hey, you brat!”

The old man, fuming, said, “I’m old, or I could’ve gone to fight myself. How’s the anti-bandit operation? Did you win?”

Before He Shundi could answer, a middle-aged man spoke, “Old Yellowhead, nobody cares what you say. We went out to win a battle—why else would we travel so far? Idle?”

“Exactly, exactly,” Others chimed in. “With so many battles, do we ever lose? Who dares fight us Sanhe people? You think we’re weak? We’ll kill anyone!”

He Shundi smiled silently and continued eating.

Upstairs in the private room, Zhou Jiuling listened to the various accents downstairs and looked at Liu Kan, puzzled.

“Brother Liu, if I’m not mistaken, many of the people downstairs must be from Yuezhou.”

Although he was from Yuzhou, he had served in Yuezhou for ten years. Governing the region, he was intimately familiar with the local accent. Yet these people all claimed to be Sanhe natives, which confused him.

Liu Kan smiled. “Lord Zhou, you must know that Sanhe was originally a remote, sparsely populated land. Outsiders rarely ventured here, and they called us ‘barbarians.’

When the prince came to Sanhe—building roads, schools, and gathering refugees—those who came became Sanhe people. That’s why Sanhe is now prosperous.”

Zhou Jiuling smiled. “I see, Brother Liu, that you speak elegantly. You must come from a wealthy family. Why take a military role?”

Liu Kan replied, “Lord Zhou, you may not know. In Sanhe, all citizens serve in the military. Upon reaching a certain age, regardless of wealth, everyone must enlist.”

“All citizens serve in the military?”

Zhou Jiuling nodded in understanding. “Sanhe has a small population; it makes sense for everyone to help defend.”

Outside, a commotion arose along the road.

He turned to see two burly men shouting at each other, each carrying large blades. Though their argument was heated, neither drew their weapon.

One man in gray cloth locked his hands behind his back and shouted, “If you’ve got the guts, come over! I’ll beat you to death! Punk! How dare you mess with me!”

“Come on, then, beat me!”

The other bare-chested man also locked his hands behind his back and leaned forward. “Come on, hit me!”

The gray-clothed man stepped back, spitting toward the other.

“Damn you!”

The bare-chested man narrowly dodged and spat back.

Soon, they were in a full-blown spit war, even retching from exhaustion—it was quite a scene.

Zhou Jiuling was utterly perplexed.

Though a civil official, he was also a second-rank martial artist and understood a little of combat.

Watching the spat, he realized the gray-clothed man was already third-rank, while the bare-chested man had not reached full skill. If they fought properly, the gray-clothed man could easily dominate, yet the bare-chested man showed no fear and continued their verbal duel.

Liu Kan smiled. “Sanhe law is strict. Fighting in public is punishable; no one escapes. For a moment’s pride, one could face six months of labor reform. Even a fool wouldn’t risk it. Those who have suffered already know.”

Everyone knew: labor reform was harsh.

Moreover, the prince had already declared: everything is judged by money.

In Sanhe, money is power.

Aren’t the wealthy of Baiyun City all guests of the prince? Speaking to him, they soften their tone.

Zhou Jiuling nodded. “In chaotic times, harsh laws are necessary. The prince is indeed wise.”

The next day, before dawn, the convoy of over a hundred set out again, finally entering Baiyun City that evening.

The convoy stopped at the Provincial Administration Office.

Shan Qi personally came out to greet them loudly. “Lord Zhou, it has been many years. It is truly delightful to see you again.”

“Lord Shan!”

Zhou Jiuling bowed and cupped his hands, then looked at Wang Qingbang and the others, greeting each in turn.

When he saw Xing Keshou, he hesitated slightly.

Xing Keshou smiled. “Lord Zhou, don’t you recognize me?”

“Forgive my poor eyesight,” Zhou Jiuling looked carefully before shaking his head. “Please advise me.”

Xing Keshou laughed. “I am Xing Keshou.”

“Lord Xing,” Zhou Jiuling apologized, “It’s been decades. You’ve changed so much, I barely recognize you.”

Xing Keshou sighed. “I am truly old now. Call me by my rank no more. I am merely a soldier—no office, no position.”

“Lord Xing, you are too polite.”

Zhou Jiuling didn’t take his words seriously. In Sanhe, lacking office didn’t mean lacking authority—they were all allied with the prince.

Shan Qi smiled. “Let’s not waste time outside greetings. Lord Zhou, please enter.”

The group escorted Zhou Jiuling into the office.

A banquet was held that evening.

Lin Yi did not attend.

He told Ma Gui, “Tell Lord Shan that for now I won’t meet Zhou Jiuling. Let him stay in Sanhe for a few days, learn the rules, and understand how the law works and how cases are judged. Yuezhou must follow Sanhe’s standards. We must unify thinking, but if he doesn’t agree, I won’t force him.”

Ma Gui smiled. “Your Highness speaks wisely. Yuezhou will follow Sanhe’s way; otherwise, chaos will continue.”

Lin Yi glanced at him. “I heard your family, Chen Xinluo’s parents and siblings, have arrived in Baiyun City?”

Ma Gui smiled. “Chen said he’ll host us for dinner tonight.”

Lin Yi considered. “Give fifty taels of silver from me. It’s not easy for him either.”

Anyone close to the Sanhe household would receive a subsidy of thirty to fifty taels, depending on circumstance.

These were his trusted people—whether or not they had contributed, they had shared hardships.

Ma Gui smiled. “Your Highness is kind.”

He took the silver notes from Mingyue.

Lin Yi continued, “How’s your family? Are the kids in school?”

Ma Gui smiled. “One older boy, one younger boy, and a girl—all at school, well looked after by Miss Mingyue and Miss Zixia.”

Another was still an infant.

Every morning was chaotic: school-going children wouldn’t wake, those not going wouldn’t sleep, all requiring loud shouting to obey.

“You have three wives?”

Lin Yi suddenly asked.

“Yes.”

Ma Gui was momentarily puzzled, answering cautiously.

“Lucky you,”

Lin Yi thought. He had no wife, while his subordinates had two or three each. He felt a pang of sorrow. “Quite good.”

He realized he shouldn’t sympathize.

The hardest off was still him! Wealthy, idle, with status—but still single.

The topic had shifted unexpectedly; Ma Gui lowered his head, unsure how to respond.

Lin Yi continued, “Any news from Zhang Mian in Hongzhou? I think too few were sent—don’t let them be overwhelmed.”

“Your Highness, rest assured!”

Ma Gui quickly replied. “Though the numbers were small, the soldiers Zhang Mian brought are all experts. Even the laborers were handpicked by Lord He—many are skilled martial artists. At least two thousand are above the Huajin level. Moreover, Ye Qiu and the fortune teller also went with Zhang Mian.”

Over two thousand skilled martial artists! Though insufficient for Ankang City, for a small city like Xunyang, they were more than enough.

Lin Yi was surprised. “Even the blind one and Ye Qiu went?”

Ma Gui nodded. “Qi Peng said so.”

“That’s acceptable then.”

Lin Yi, a martial arts novice, now finally understood the importance of ninth-rank and Grand Master-level martial artists.

They were battlefield snipers, targeting enemy snipers. Without them, generals couldn’t even show themselves.