Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“The Transportation Office can indeed only mobilize a limited number of cavalrymen, so I have nothing to worry about. However, if this isn’t handled properly, these people will bring big trouble to the manufacturing bureau!” Yan Liqiang said as he put away the Shuiyun Token into his robe once again.
He let out a long sigh inwardly and secretly thought to himself that the Psychic Serpent was indeed scary. Although it seemed useless when unused, this tiny Psychic Serpent could possibly surpass a magnificent army with thousands of men and horses when it was put to proper use. If it wasn’t for the Psychic Serpent, his conversation with Fu Changde would have been completely different. It would have been merely just a deal. Yan Liqiang was secretly thankful that he had made the right choice in choosing the Psychic Serpent back then.
“What I’m thinking is that if the Transportation Office dares to deploy them, I will wipe them out before they even enter Pingxi Prefecture. We must show the power of the manufacturing bureau and the new Qiyun Protectorate with this battle so that no one will ever dare to extend their claws on the manufacturing bureau again!”
“Have the imperial court and local authorities decided not to interfere this time?”
“The imperial court will not interfere. This incident appears to be a conflict between Jiang Tianhua and me on the surface, but in actuality, it is a contest between the Qiyun Protectorate and the Transportation Office. However, the big picture is that this is a crossing of swords between Lin Qingtian and the Emperor. I am now on the Emperor’s side while Northwestern Transport Commissioner Jiang Tianhua is secretly associated with Lin Qingtian. Lin Qingtian is probably the mastermind behind this conflict that the Transportation Office started. Fortunately, I am on good terms with Lei Sitong now, so he will never take the side of the Transportation Office even if he decides not to help me!”
“So it’s that traitor Lin Qingtian again!” Fu Changde was fuming as his eyes burned with intense hatred. “If it wasn’t for this traitor backing up the Shatu people, the Shatu Seven Tribes would never have been able to gain a foothold in the Gulang Plains and things wouldn’t have turned out the way it is today!”
“That’s right, Jiang Tianhua intends to use the manufacturing bureau as an excuse to prepare for the requisition of supplies before the imperial court could dispatch troops and get involved in the Shatu Seven Tribes dispute!”
“Young Lord, you have brought along so much silver and weapons to the Hui Clan Gathering this time. Do you intend to recruit soldiers here?”
“That’s correct. I initially planned that if I was unable to persuade you to help me, I would take out all that silver to buy a troop. I know that in this mountainous area, there are still many villages and towns beside the Hui Clan Gathering. People from those places are also tough and brave. As long as I am able to pay the price, recruiting a thousand soldiers should not be a big problem!”
“The Hui Clan Gathering should be able to gather at least a troop of five hundred soldiers and horses for you, Young Lord. Although it is a small number, all of them are skilled in handling bows and horses. I am the one who personally trained them. As long as we are well prepared, we can surely catch the Transportation Office’s troops unprepared even if they outnumber us by two or three times!”
The wrinkles in the corners of Fu Changde’s eyes creased like ripples on water. He shot a glance at Yan Liqiang and hesitated for a moment before speaking in his deep and low voice, “I don’t know if you are aware of this, but after the mishap in the Qiyun Protectorate Office back then, there was actually another troop beside the Hui Clan Gathering that managed to escape from the pass!”
“Ahem ahem…I really had no clue about this!” Yan Liqiang awkwardly coughed twice. “To be honest, before I met you, I didn’t know if my dream was real or not. In that dream, my great-grandfather told me that your loyalty is unquestionable and that you have been enduring everything silently in the Hui Clan Gathering, planning for a day to come to seek revenge on his behalf. He only wanted me to find you but didn’t share any other details…”
“Did… Did my lord really say that to you in your dream, Young Lord?” Tears welled up in Fu Changde’s eyes as they turned red. His emotions were in turmoil. At a time like this, he did not even doubt Yan Liqiang’s words as it was widely known in the northwestern region that Yan Liqiang could meet deities in his dreams. With Yan Liqiang’s legendary reputation and words that recounted events which only Fu Changde would know, Fu Changde placed complete trust in Yan Liqiang. It was more than trust — his heart was also filled with respect and traces of hope toward Yan Liqiang’s ability to communicate with supernatural beings…
“Yes, that was what my great-grandfather said!” Yan Liqiang nodded seriously.
“I did not expect my lord to still trust and regard so highly of me even after he had passed on. With such a statement from him, I can now die with no regrets!” Fu Changde wiped his tears. For the past decade, the tears that Fu Changde shed were probably not as much as what Yan Liqiang had seen within this half an hour today. Fu Changde was beside himself as every word Yan Liqiang said pierced deeply into his heart.
“We need to live well. Death is for people such as Lin Qingtian and the Shatu people!”
“I am indeed too emotional today. Please do not laugh at me as I have certainly made a fool of myself, Young Lord!” Fu Changde wiped his tears again.
“Of course not. Your unwavering loyalty is enough to move the Heavens to tears, so why would I even laugh at you? With your age, you can even be my uncle. If you do not mind, I’d like to call you Uncle Chang from now on. Please do not call me Young Lord either, it makes me feel awkward. Just call me Liqiang so that others will not be skeptical even if they hear it!” Yan Liqiang’s words caused warmth to well up inside Fu Changde once again.
“Alright, I shall take up the honor and address Young Lord as Liqiang from now on to avoid further complicating our circumstances!” Fu Changde agreed.
“That’d be great!” Yan Liqiang smiled and nodded, “So who is in the other troop from the Qiyun Protectorate Office that Uncle Chang spoke about?”
“Have you heard of Solo Cloud?”
Yan Liqiang was shocked; of course he had heard of this name before. Their reputation was on par with the Blackwind Bandits as they were the biggest brigand in the Lan and Gan Provinces. However, the difference was that the vicious and merciless Blackwind Bandits did everything from stealing to killing, while Solo Cloud was more honorable. They only collected tolls and their fees were reasonable. In fact, it was lower than most of the tax collected by the local bureaucracies. After they collected the toll fees, they would ensure that one would stay safe within the range of their influence. Due to that, Solo Cloud was rather popular among many caravans in the Gan and Lan Provinces. Rumors had it that there were over ten thousand people in Solo Cloud and they had rejected multiple recruitment offers from the Lan and Gan Provincial Governors.
“Could it be that the Solo Cloud that Uncle Chang mentioned is the same Solo Cloud that claimed that they have over ten thousand brigands?”
“That’s right. Many years ago, I came across a random opportunity to meet their leader and discovered that he is Situ Feixing, the former administrator of the Qiyun Protectorate Office. There were also a few familiar faces among the people in charge of Solo Cloud. Situ Feixing was also in the private army at the time, and he was the most arrogant personnel but also most highly regarded by my lord. If Young Lord can make Situ Feixing come back, the one thousand people from the Transportation Office is nothing!”
“Situ Feixing!” Yan Liqiang repeated the name as a glint flashed across his eyes…
