IDWBE -Chapter 254 Envy

When the Sanhe army set out, it wasn’t only the local suppliers who got rich.

Merchants from all over the South Seas heard the news and arrived in droves. Large ships lined up all the way from Zu’an Town to Baiyun City, unloading bag after bag of grain.

Most of the grain came from Ayu Kingdom, and many of the shipowners were Ayu people. Former enemies had now become business partners.

They brought grain here and loaded their ships with porcelain and silk to take back home.

After Sanhe took control of Hongzhou, many porcelain kilns openly became official kilns, bringing considerable revenue to the Sanhe Civil Administration Office.

Shan Qi’s finances were still tight, but far better than before.

Moreover, this time, Prince He generously handed over the 500,000 taels donated by Prince Qing to the Civil Administration Office.

Finally, they could pay the overdue monthly salaries of the officials and soldiers, which had been delayed for two months!

Otherwise, Shan Qi feared the soldiers might rebel—everyone had families to support, and the pressure was immense.

Money aside, loyalty alone was useless.

Now, sitting comfortably in his chair, he said to Xing Keshou, “Mr. Xing, you were previously a circuit inspector, and there’s no one more familiar with criminal law than you. I want to entrust the affairs of the office to you. What do you think?”

In terms of criminal law, Sanhe’s strongest was indeed Xing Keshou.

Yet this old man insisted on proper titles and etiquette, refusing to sit in the Civil Administration Office court. The duties had always been handled by Shi Quan, formerly a deputy magistrate.

Shi Quan had recently gone to the South, and Shan Qi, overwhelmed, had to once again plead with Xing Keshou.

Xing Keshou sighed, “I can only reluctantly agree.”

The day Xing Keshou took the court was the same day Lin Yi departed north.

He Jixiang and Xiao Xizi rode on either side of Lin Yi’s donkey, with two hundred cavalrymen escorting him from front and back.

Though few in number, they were all fifth rank or above, and two grandmasters, Ye Qiu and the Blind Master, were among them.

As for Hong Ying and Wen Zhaoyi, they stayed to guard Sanhe.

When Lin Yi grew tired of riding, he reclined in the carriage, sleeping from morning till night. This comfortable life lasted only half a month.

Entering the South, the roads were unpaved and bumpy.

Summer brought heavy rains, turning paths muddy, and mountain roads were blocked by stones and landslides.

Fortunately, laborers were constantly moving ahead and behind, clearing the way, so little time was lost.

Even so, it took over a month to reach Qingyuan City.

“Cough… cough…”

Early in the morning, Lin Yi coughed nonstop.

“Prince,” Xiao Xizi’s eyes filled with tears in worry, “Divine Doctor Hu went north, and I don’t trust the incompetent doctors here in Qingyuan City.”

“Damn it, just got a little wet. A cold’s nothing, it’ll pass,” Lin Yi sat in the main seat of the office, covering his mouth and coughing intermittently. “Has Shen Chu entered Yong’an?”

Pan Duo knelt, “Prince, Bao Kui, Shen Chu, and Ji Zhuo have united their forces. Also, Prince Nanling sent this letter.”

He raised the letter. Xiao Xizi went to take it, but Lin Yi said, “Just tell me the contents directly.”

Liu Bo stepped forward, kneeling, “Your servant, Liu Bo.”

Lin Yi said, “We know each other well. No need for formalities.”

“Yes,” Liu Bo hurriedly said, “Prince Nanling wishes to discuss a righteous undertaking with you and march north!”

Lin Yi asked, “And Yong’an? Give it to him? He wouldn’t be dreaming too big, would he?”

Liu Bo said, “For Yong’an and Wuzhou, Prince Nanling proposes dividing the river’s governance. He will take the north bank, you the south.”

Lin Yi asked, “The natural barrier?”

The Daliang Kingdom had two major rivers: the Huang River and the Tian Qian.

The Tian Qian was the dividing line between Yong’an and Wuzhou.

“Yes,” Liu Bo said.

Lin Yi, curious, asked, “Is he really that generous?”

Liu Bo lowered his head in silence.

If your brother is generous or not, don’t you know better than me?

“Prince, this is like bargaining with a tiger!”

Jiang Zhen shouted, “We should just march straight in.”

Lin Yi looked at He Jixiang, “What’s your opinion?”

He Jixiang said, “Better to play along for now.”

Lin Yi nodded, “Reply to Prince Nanling: it’s settled. We will aid the crown together, deal with the third prince first.”

Liu Bo said, “As you command.”

He hesitated slightly, then said, “Lord Wulin wishes to see the prince.”

“Hmph. Do I meet him just because he wants?”

Lin Yi said irritably, “I gave him a chance before. He didn’t cherish it, so don’t blame me now.”

Liu Bo said, “Prince, wise indeed.”

He could only mourn Wulin silently.

As long as Prince He was around, Wulin had no chance of regaining favor.

Lin Yi stayed in Qingyuan City for ten days, fully recovered from his cold, then headed north again.

Not long after leaving, news arrived that Shen Chu had taken Yong’an.

Lin Yi was most concerned about the Wulin City treasury—the wealthiest place in the world. Surely no mice could be running amok in the treasury.

He rode leisurely on his donkey, “If this northern expedition loses money, we won’t do it again.”

He Jixiang tucked the note in his sleeve, bowed, “Prince, along the way we captured seven cities of Yong’an, gaining over one million taels of silver!”

Lin Yi asked, “Didn’t those rebels take any first?”

He Jixiang said, “Prince, Yong’an had heavy garrisons and strong fortifications. Huang Sifang and others only captured one city, Kuocang City. When they heard our Sanhe army entering, they fled in panic. Shen Chu did not stop them, letting them enter Wuzhou. That will be Mei Jingzhi’s headache later.”

Lin Yi said, “Send word to Shen Chu: entering Wuzhou, do not be careless. Prince Nanling and Mei Jingzhi are not to be trifled with.”

He Jixiang bowed in acknowledgment.

They hurried at a moderate pace. By the time they reached Wulin City, it was late summer.

Lin Yi truly envied those who could fight on the battlefield, to experience the clangor of war. He longed to feel it himself, yet had never seen an enemy face to face.

Upon entering the city, he saw the civil and military officials of Yong’an kneeling at the gates.

He felt for the late Twelfth Prince of Yong’an—this treatment should have been his.

“What happened to this city gate?”

Lin Yi ignored the officials, looking at the damaged gate tower with pain, “Did explosives cost nothing? Why use so much?”

“I, your servant, am guilty!”

Bao Kui, left to guard Wulin City, knelt so low he barely dared breathe. The nearby Yong’an officials were shocked—this “fierce god” actually feared something!

The Yong’an general Lu Tonghong had only complained once before Bao Kui chopped off his head!

No chance for explanation.

Lin Yi sighed, “With it collapsed like this, repairs will cost who knows how much silver.”

All out of his pocket!

Bao Kui grinned awkwardly, “Prince, forgive me.”

He never intended to repair the walls.

With him commanding three thousand soldiers in Wulin City, what use were walls?

Moreover, there were over five thousand laborers here!

The explosives at the gate were placed by these bastards!

He had been too careless, letting them enter the city first.