MLMD -Chapter 36 Returning Victorious

“Yue… Young Master, are you really going to deal in illegal salt? If you do, the feud with the Wang family can never be resolved!” Shocked, Li Yuan forgot all about taking advantage of Yue Yang and blurted out the term “Young Master.”

As the saying goes, cutting off someone’s livelihood is like killing their parents. In Yingzhou, the four major families—the Yue, Wang, Lin, and Li families—each had their own means of survival. The Yue family primarily relied on land, the Wang family on illegal salt, the Lin family on iron mines, and the Li family on leather goods. These were the unspoken rules of the game. Now, Yue Yang suddenly announced his intention to intervene in Yingzhou’s salt trade—this was a very serious matter. Unless the Wang family collectively lost their wits, they would definitely go to great lengths to oppose Yue Yang.

Seeing Li Yuan’s almost frantic expression, Yue Yang sneered: “Cannot be resolved? Head of the Li family, on the day the Wang family’s second young master, Wang Chenglin, led his vicious slaves at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion to try to kill me and cut off the Yue family’s bloodline, did they ever think that their feud with my family could not be resolved? And when he tried to seize our land and usurp the foundation of the Yue family, did he ever think this grudge could be resolved? Now I simply want to tell him that what they gave to my Yue family in the past, I will repay tenfold, a hundredfold!”

After hearing Yue Yang’s words, Li Yuan was silent for a long moment, then sighed softly.

“Alas… such injustice!”

Only then did Li Yuan realize that Yue Yang’s hatred for the Wang family had been irreconcilable ever since Wang Chenglin tried to take his life. Yue Yang was the only son of the Yue family; if Wang Chenglin wanted Yue Yang dead, it would be like cutting off the root of the Yue family. Compared to cutting off someone’s livelihood, this grudge was at least ten times heavier.

Thinking this, Li Yuan rubbed his forehead and shook his head gently. “Very well. Since your mind is made up, I shall not say more. Take care of yourself. I won’t trouble you further.” With that, Li Yuan stood and walked toward the door without looking back.

Yue Yang remained silent as he watched Li Yuan leave. Behind him, Shunbao scratched his head in confusion and asked, “Young Master, are you really going to trade in illegal salt?”

“Why not?” Yue Yang shot back without turning around.

“This… it’s not that it can’t be done. But… though I don’t fully understand it, I do know that trading salt requires official permits. Our Yue family has never been involved in this business. If the authorities investigate in the future, our village could end up in serious trouble!” Seeing Yue Yang’s nonchalant expression, Shunbao grew anxious. Having grown up in the Yue family estate and watched his father’s conduct, Shunbao had long regarded the estate as his own home. Now seeing his Young Master act so boldly, he could not help but worry.

Yue Yang turned to his loyal and devoted servant, giving him a soft smile. “Don’t worry, Shunbao. If we acted this boldly twenty years ago, it would have been a death sentence. But now… humph humph… if the court can even take care of itself, it’s already enough!”

Looking at Yue Yang’s confident expression, Shunbao still scratched his head in confusion. He could not understand what had changed in the past twenty years.

Yue Yang ignored Shunbao’s puzzled gaze and looked outside. He knew that the attack on Shanxi by Gao Yingxiang and the others was only the beginning. This force would intertwine with the Ming dynasty for over a decade, and the Ming would exhaust their last strength in suppressing these rebels, ultimately leaving the central plains vulnerable to the barbarian tribes beyond the borders.

“Will I survive this catastrophe? Will the history of this timeline change because of my presence?” Yue Yang murmured, his eyes tinged with a hint of uncertainty…

In the alternate historical timeline, Yingzhou had been captured by the rebels, but Yue Yang’s arrival saved the city. Zhang Xianzhong had been forced to flee back to Daning. In the following days, Yue Yang led his 500 soldiers to garrison Yingzhou, and news continued to arrive.

Over the next half month, General Yang Dazhu of Xuanzhen, commanding 6,000 elite troops, repeatedly clashed with 50–60,000 rebels led by Gao Yingxiang. Yang Dazhu, a renowned general, led 4,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry to completely defeat Gao Yingxiang, Luo Rucai, Li Zicheng, and others. The rebels were forced to flee Shanxi in humiliation.

After driving Gao Yingxiang out of Shanxi, Yang Dazhu did not pursue them. Instead, satisfied, he returned to Xuanzhen and reported to Governor Zhang Zongheng and Shanxi Inspector Xu Dingchen. Both were elated and submitted detailed reports to the court. Emperor Chongzhen, upon receiving the good news, was overjoyed and rewarded them. As for Yue Yang, who had led 500 militia troops to save Yingzhou… well, who would remember the efforts of a mere militia commander?

With the rebels gone, the citizens of Yingzhou finally relaxed. Since there was no more threat, Yue Yang and his 500 soldiers no longer needed to garrison the city. Yue Yang understood this well and requested to return to Wulizhai. Zheng Fakui, who had long anticipated this, pretended to persuade him to stay but ultimately agreed. He even had some conscience, providing Yue Yang with a batch of grain, livestock, and 5,000 taels of silver as a reward for rescuing Yingzhou. Yue Yang accepted the silver and supplies without a word, bidding farewell to Zheng Fakui and leading his troops back to Wulizhai.

On October 3, 1632, the fifth year of Emperor Chongzhen’s reign, Zheng Fakui, accompanied by the civil and military officials and gentry of Yingzhou, sent Yue Yang out of the city.

Watching Yue Yang and his 500 soldiers gradually disappear from view, Wang Shoucheng felt a flicker of unease. He cleared his throat and said to Lin Yuanteng, “Brother Lin, Director Zheng is far too generous with this youth. Not only did he provide grain, but he also gave them 5,000 taels of silver. Truly magnanimous!”

Lin Yuanteng snorted in agreement. “Indeed, Director Zheng is far too kind. A few hundred taels would have sufficed as a token. These rough soldiers don’t deserve so much silver.”

Although their voices were low, nearby people overheard, but this time no one joined in. Even Zheng Fakui frowned, thinking these two men were heartless. Though it was known that they had conflicts with Yue Yang, the boy had just saved their lives, yet they immediately spoke so callously. Clearly, these men were cold by nature.

Zheng Fakui snorted through his nose and silently turned to leave. Li Yuan followed him, glancing at Wang Shoucheng with a complex expression, a tinge of schadenfreude rising in his heart. He had not forgotten Yue Yang’s plan to trade in illegal salt. Though he did not know how Yue Yang would challenge Wang Shoucheng’s monopoly, he knew a spectacle awaited him soon…

Wulizhai was not far from Yingzhou, only thirty to forty li away. After several hours of travel, Yue Yang’s troops arrived at the Sanggan River. To his surprise, the riverbank was lined with people. Many excitedly pointed and gestured at his arriving troops.

“Young Master, are these people… welcoming us?” Shunbao, who had been following closely, asked in astonishment.

Yue Yang hesitated. “Perhaps…”

The answer soon became clear. As the troops entered Wulizhai, bursts of cheering erupted. Citizens waved excitedly and shouted:

“Long live Young Master Yue!”

“Congratulations to Young Master Yue on defeating the rebels!”

“Hail the triumphant return of Young Master Yue!”

Hearing these cheers, Yue Yang realized these people were indeed welcoming them. He was both surprised and delighted. He had never expected such a warm reception from his fellow villagers; the phrase “overwhelmed by honor” perfectly described his feelings at that moment.

As Yue Yang and his 500 militia soldiers marched through Wulizhai’s streets, the citizens cheered along the way. Some even ran into the ranks, embracing soldiers while crying and laughing. Yue Yang knew without looking that these people were the soldiers’ relatives. After all, the recruits were all local farmers who had followed him into battle—their families naturally worried about them.

Yue Yang wanted to drive the crowds away but feared hurting their feelings. Reluctantly, he ordered his troops to slow their pace. A street less than 500 meters long took over half an hour to traverse. Only in the afternoon, near the evening hour, did they reach the drill ground behind the Yue family estate. After settling the troops, Yue Yang returned with Shunbao to the estate.

At the Yue family estate, Yue Yang was warmly welcomed once again. The matriarch ordered chickens and sheep slaughtered for a grand feast to celebrate the young master’s victorious return.

During the evening banquet, Yue Yang refused no one’s toast. Only at the end was he carried back to his courtyard…