IDWBE -Chapter 520 Hard to Describe in Words

But in the end, that was only something he could think about.

From the moment Lin Yi left Sanhe, he had already lost the option of turning back.

Even if he wanted to stop, the people following him and relying on him for survival would never agree.

They had followed him to Ankang City without hesitation. It wasn’t just their own heads on the line—the future and lives of their entire families and clans were tied to him.

If he showed even the slightest hesitation, many people would suffer.

For example, natives of Ankang City like Shen Chu or Zhu Ruorong—their wives and children wouldn’t survive either.

Once the arrow left the bow, there was no turning back.

Because people would truly die.

His opponents—the Prince Yong, the Prince Jin, even the seemingly sickly Emperor Delong—would tear him and everything around him to pieces.

Pang Long walked beside him cautiously.

“This subordinate is incompetent and has troubled Your Highness. I will redouble my efforts and press forward bravely.”

Lin Yi rolled his eyes.

“I haven’t seen your ability improve, but you’ve certainly mastered empty flattery.”

“Your Highness is wise,”

Pang Long sighed with relief.

He had once been Prince He’s guard. Though he wasn’t particularly favored, he understood the prince’s temperament well.

If the prince showed his emotions openly, it usually meant there was no real problem.

So he said with a smile, “If I had even the slightest solution, I wouldn’t dare trouble Your Highness.”

Lin Yi thought for a moment. “Letting you go out to sea actually isn’t in accordance with regulations. Once this precedent is set, what will happen if garrisons in Jizhou or Qizhou copy you? What am I supposed to do then?”

Only now did he feel he had been too impulsive earlier.

Reserve troops were still soldiers.

Soldiers should stay at their posts.

If soldiers and officers began wandering everywhere, wouldn’t the whole system fall into chaos?

One day, if someone wanted to rebel, it would be easy.

Tens of thousands of troops could secretly gather beneath Ankang City without anyone noticing.

And his own head might disappear for no reason.

“Your Highness…” Pang Long smiled awkwardly.

He knew the prince was telling the truth.

If others copied this example, soldiers in Jizhou would definitely follow.

Everyone was poor. Since money at sea was easy to earn, why remain infantry?

What future did a foot soldier have?

Lin Yi waved impatiently. “If you have a solution, speak quickly. Don’t stammer and irritate me.”

Pang Long said while leading him forward, “As far as I know, although pirates along the coast are numerous, except for the barbarians near the Northern Sea, none are particularly strong. If a few martial experts guard the ship, the voyage should be safe. So I intend to sign security agreements with the merchants. Each large ship would have one or two sixth- or seventh-rank experts. Charging them several hundred taels—maybe around a thousand—shouldn’t be excessive.”

Lin Yi’s eyes lit up.

“You have over five hundred reserve soldiers. Sending twenty or thirty out wouldn’t attract attention. If ten ships hire you, that’s about ten thousand taels. After a year, you could probably settle all your debts.”

“Exactly, Your Highness,” Pang Long replied with a bitter smile.

The prince had clearly given him only one year.

Looks like he had to make money quickly.

Lin Yi added calmly, “After that time, if soldiers leave their posts without authorization, no matter who judges the case, it’s a capital offense.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I will obey your instruction.”

They soon stopped in front of a large tent.

Though still built with stone walls, it was spacious.

Inside were tables, chairs, and tea sets.

“Your Highness, please have some tea.”

“Wang Laoda!”

Lin Yi had just lifted the teacup when he suddenly recognized the short soldier wearing coarse clothes and called out his name.

“Your Highness, you still remember me!”

The half-grown boy called Wang Laoda said excitedly.

“I thought you wouldn’t recognize me.”

Pang Long frowned.

“Mind your manners. Step back.”

Lin Yi glared at him.

“Stop making a fuss like you’re so much better than him.”

Then he looked at Wang Laoda with a grin.

“You’re not even fifteen yet, right? Already following Pang Long around. Hasn’t he sold you off yet?”

In Baiyun City, compulsory education had been implemented, and many children went to school.

But not every child had that chance.

Wang Laoda was one of them.

Though only around ten years old, he was called “Laoda” (Big Brother Wang) because he was the eldest of five children.

His father believed caring for younger siblings was more important than schooling.

So Wang Laoda never attended school.

Sometimes he stood outside classroom windows, holding a baby sibling while secretly learning a few characters.

The school principal Han Jin once tried persuading his father personally.

But the man was stubborn and refused.

Thus Wang Laoda became one of the few illiterate children his age.

Later he had a conflict with his father and ran away from Baiyun City, becoming one of the rare child soldiers in Sanhe.

Because of this, Lin Yi often sighed:

Being born into the right family was a matter of fate.

In his previous life, he had been unlucky—an orphan without parents.

He couldn’t imagine what kind of parents would abandon such a clever, healthy child.

In this life, though his parents weren’t reliable, at least he started at the peak of life.

Much better than being born into poverty and struggling daily for food.

Some generals pitied these child soldiers and assigned them as personal attendants, delivering messages or helping with chores.

Wang Laoda grinned.

“Your Highness, Commander Pang said I’m worthless—couldn’t sell for even a few coins.”

“Damn brat, spreading rumors about me now?”

Pang Long laughed and cursed.

Lin Yi examined Wang Laoda’s thin body and teased him.

“You’ve followed the army north and south, but except for getting darker, you don’t even have a scar. Have you been slacking off?”

“Your Highness, you can’t wrong me!”

Wang Laoda flushed red.

“Ask the others—I charge in front during every battle. I’ve never taken a step back!”

Lin Yi realized he shouldn’t tease him like that.

After all, he was still just a child with strong pride.

So he changed tone. “Alright, calm down. Keep working hard. If your achievements are great enough someday, I’ll make you a great general and let you return home in glory.”

He suddenly thought of the boy Shen Ping again.

Young people’s dreams were often like this.

But Wang Laoda suddenly shouted, “Your Highness, I don’t want to be a general!”

“Hmm?”

Lin Yi was stunned.

Pang Long scolded angrily.

“Watch your words! As if you could even become a general!”

He himself was still only a garrison commander.

Let alone this half-grown kid.

Lin Yi interrupted him.

“Let him speak. If you’re such a good soldier, why don’t you want to be a general?”

Wang Laoda shouted loudly: “I want to become a Grand Commander like Lord He Jixiang! Even generals have to listen to him!”

Pang Long’s mouth twitched.

If Prince He weren’t present, he would have kicked the boy flying.

The kid couldn’t even read properly yet wanted to become Grand Commander?

He truly didn’t know his limits.

Lin Yi sighed.

“It’s good to be young. You can imagine anything. But you must also dare to do it. Only with effort can miracles happen.”

“Mm!”

Wang Laoda felt encouraged and became even more excited.

“Your Highness! When I become your Grand Commander one day, I’ll take good care of you so nobody dares look down on you!”

“Get lost!”

This time Pang Long couldn’t hold back.

He kicked toward him.

Before Lin Yi could stop him, Wang Laoda had already disappeared.

Pan Duo sighed.

“This child’s lightness skill is incredible.”

Pang Long growled.

“Incredible? I’m already Eighth Rank!”

Yet he couldn’t even hit a Sixth Rank boy.

It made no sense.

As Prince He would say—

Not scientific at all.

Luo Han stared in disbelief.

“Did he learn Wang Tuozi’s unique skill?”

“Night watchman,” Wang Laoda leaned from the doorway and called to Luo Han, “Have you seen my master?”

Luo Han had once been a night watchman.

Being called that wasn’t usually offensive—but calling him “night watchman” in a mocking tone was different.

“You brat, asking for a beating!”

Wang Laoda didn’t move and said calmly, “I’m also Sixth Rank. You can’t beat me.”

Luo Han nearly coughed blood.

Couldn’t the kid show a little respect to an elder?

Luo Han snorted. “With that mouth of yours offending everyone, you’ll stay a soldier forever. You still want to become an official? Dream on!”

Wang Laoda shrugged. “You and I have always been enemies anyway. I don’t want to be your friend.”

Luo Han shouted angrily, “I only ate one of your chickens! You’re still holding a grudge?”

Now he understood a truth:

Better offend a gentleman than a petty person.

Because petty people never forget grudges.

Ignoring their quarrel, Lin Yi asked Pan Duo curiously,

“So this boy learned his lightness skill from Wang Tuozi?”

Wang Tuozi’s skill was legendary.

His technique was actually called “Lingbo Microsteps.”

He was the first person in Baiyun City to master it completely.

He had even combined it with another technique called “Divine Movement Hundred Transformations.”

Lin Yi had once watched him demonstrate it.

At the West River, Wang Tuozi leaped forward, ran across the water, crossed the river, then returned instantly—leaving only ripples behind.

It looked like he had defied gravity.

Even Wen Zhaoyi once said that among people of the same rank, his lightness skill was number one in the world.

If lucky, he could even escape from a Grandmaster.

Lin Yi was deeply impressed.

Later, when he saw other famous techniques, they seemed ordinary in comparison.

Pan Duo bowed. “It is said Wang Tuozi and Wang Laoda are actually relatives.”

Wang Laoda leaned from the doorway and said proudly, “Wang Tuozi is my uncle—my real uncle!”

Luo Han suddenly understood. “No wonder. I was wondering why that stingy guy would pass down his skills so easily. You two really are uncle and nephew—equally stingy.”

Lin Yi laughed. “I remember Wang Tuozi once fought your father and kicked him into the river.”

Wang Laoda replied, “My father tried to beat me. My uncle stopped him, and they started fighting.”

Lin Yi asked curiously, “Has Wang Tuozi married yet?”

Pan Duo answered, “After Your Highness executed the main culprits in Jinling City, many people wanted connections with Sanhe’s soldiers. The Shi family of Jinling approached Pang Geng, the father-in-law of A-Dai, asking him to introduce Wang Tuozi. With Lord He Jixiang’s approval, Wang Tuozi married the Shi family’s third daughter, though she was born to a concubine.”

Wang Laoda added happily, “My aunt gave birth to a little brother last year.”

Lin Yi stretched lazily. “That guy really has good luck.”

He was the biggest boss in Great Liang.

Why did nobody send him beautiful women to corrupt him?

Even a concubine-born daughter would be fine.

For example—the daughter of Yubo Xu’s family.

Life really was unfair.

“Your Highness…”

Wang Laoda felt awkward hearing someone insult his uncle.

Lin Yi waved it off. “Hurry and learn everything your uncle knows. Once your younger brother grows up, getting those skills from him will become nearly impossible.”

Then he added, “I’m not teaching you trickery—I’m teaching you reality.”

No matter how good a nephew or niece was, they couldn’t compare to one’s own child.

A master always kept a few secrets for his own son.

Pang Long saw Wang Laoda still standing blankly and shouted, “Why don’t you thank the Prince for his guidance!”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

“Listen to advice and you’ll have food to eat,” Lin Yi said.

Then he rubbed his stomach and laughed. “That tofu pudding earlier wasn’t enough. What food do you have here? Prepare it quickly. Who’s the cook? If the food tastes bad, I’ll cook it myself.”

During this entire journey, aside from simple steamed seafood, most meals had been unbearable.

That was one reason he disliked traveling.

Eating outside was truly…hard to describe in words.

For example, simple boiled beef smelled incredibly delicious.

Enough to make one drool.

But when you actually ate it—your mouth filled with sand.