The common people were unwilling to travel long distances. When they couldn’t even get enough to eat, it was even more impossible to find the means for transportation. Horses were military supplies and even if the people had money, they couldn’t buy them. Cows were also luxury goods and only the landowning class could afford to use them. As a result, if the common people wanted to travel they must do so with just their two legs.

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Hundreds of people in Haozhou embarked on the road of exile.

Those with males in the family were better off. They could pull a wooden cart while the females pushed from the back, the children following on the side of the cart.

If there were no males and only females in the family, they could only flee with light luggage. They would not bring clothes, but only some dry food and tinder.

Among the people who fled from Haozhou, not many were males.

Naturally, the officials also discovered this. They sent troops to station at exits to prevent them from leaving.

If a woman wanted to go out, they could ignore it. After all, with fewer people consuming food the better, but men were not allowed.

Men could farm, smith iron, and serve as soldiers. Even if their physiques were weak, they could also serve as auxiliary soldiers. In any case, they were useful in every aspect.

So the women escaped more smoothly. They gathered together, supported each other, and walked towards the unknown.

Yang Rong’s family was also stuck on the way out of the city. The men were driven behind temporary fences, like cows and horses, surrounded by soldiers. They didn’t dare to move in fear that their heads would be chopped off by the soldiers.

They sat on the ground, and the men around them were similar, sitting in place like stray dogs.

The females of the Yang family were still outside and have not left. They were waiting for their husbands and sons.

“Soldier sir, soldier sir.” The eldest Yang brother’s wife begged the soldier, who was about the same age as her son. She knelt down on her knees and grabbed the young soldier’s trousers. “We are all good citizens, we just want to go out of the city to see our relatives. Soldier sir!”

She kowtowed to the young soldier.

The young soldier looked less than fourteen years old, but his skin was abnormally rough, and there was an abnormal flush on his face. He looked at the eldest Yang brother’s wife and remembered his mother, so he whispered: “This is the lords’ business, they won’t die.”

The eldest Yang brother’s wife looked at him in confusion.

The young soldier said again: “…..Either be a soldier or go do hard labor.”

The eldest Yang brother’s wife felt as if the sky in front of her instantly darkened.

Whether it was being a soldier or a hard laborer, both were dead ends. Soldiers could not return home unless they became disabled, but what about the rest of the family if they became disabled? The family couldn’t afford to feed him, so being disabled was no different than being dead.

As for being a hard laborer, they would have to work till death.

When the eldest Yang brother’s wife returned to the group of female relatives, both the sister-in-laws and mother-in-law came to ask her.

“What did they say? What did the soldier sir say? When will they let them out?”

The eldest Yang brother’s wife was still in a daze.

Her mother-in-law scolded her: “Usually speaking more than anyone else, why did you become a sullen gourd now? Did you not kowtow just now?! Go kowtow! Kowtow until the skin on your forehead breaks! The soldier sir will definitely answer you!”

The eldest Yang brother’s wife shuddered. She lowered her head and said with tears: “The soldier sir said that they would either be soldiers or hard laborers.”

The female family members had no words for a while, and it took some time before someone broke the silence with a low sob.

Even her mother-in-law couldn’t say a word.

“What should we do?”

A female family member asked.

The eldest Yang brother’s wife sniffed: “Stay, or go.”

Her mother-in-law said at this time: “You all go, I will stay.”

“Mother-in-law!”

“Mother-in-law, I will stay, you follow eldest sister-in-law and them. Eldest sister-in-law and the others all have children, but I don’t have any. I will stay and accompany my husband.”

The mother-in-law shook her head and said: “I am old and can’t walk that long distance. Listen to me, take the children away, raise them well, and tell them not to forget their fathers. I won’t care if you remarry in the future. But you must not forget that the blood running in their veins is that of our Yang family! Otherwise, even if I die, I won’t be able to close my eyes!”

The female family members cried together, leaving only an old woman behind, and then left this sad place with the children.

The boys were dressed up as girls. Fortunately, they were still young. Unless they took off their pants, no one could tell the difference.

The eldest Yang brother and the others were also watching from a distance, watching the women crying, and watching the women walking away.

Yang Rong smiled on the side: “Fortunately, the children can go.”

Yang Fourth, the youngest son, said: “I don’t have a son yet!”

No one responded to him.

The children were led by their mothers, and the youngest asked: “Mom, what about grandma?”

The woman bit her lip and said, “Grandma is waiting for your dad and grandpa to go together.”

The child had a pair of innocent eyes: “Then how come we don’t wait?”

The woman said with difficulty: “You’ll know when you grow up.”

These words were often used to coax children, but when it was used too frequently, the children would also no longer believe it. Although the children were young, they could also sense the emotions of the adults. Their keen intuition would stop them from making further inquiries.

Yang Eldest and the others were detained for three days, and during these three days, more people were pulled in one after another.

Don’t know how many times this has happened.

They even encountered a few familiar people, and they also discovered that the soldiers didn’t care what they were doing or what they said to each other. So long as they obediently remain in place and not think of escaping, they would not easily come to trouble them.

After waiting for another period of time, don’t know how many days and nights, Yang Eldest and the others lived on a bean curd cake a day——their luggage was taken away, and whatever the soldiers gave them they must eat. If they could not stand the hunger they could only dig the grass roots from the ground to eat. In such a way, they actually managed to hold on for so long.

When the soldiers told them to go out, they had already forgotten how long it had been since they were locked up.

There should be no one trying to leave anymore right?

Everyone was thinking this.

They were driven together like cows and sheep, and the older soldier would pick them out.

Able-bodied men were shooed to one side, the old, the weak, the sick and the disabled were shooed to another side, and Yang Rong himself was also separated from his sons.

“Soldier sir, soldier sir, they are all my sons. They cannot be without me. Please be merciful, please be merciful!” Yang Rong cried painfully and refused to let go after grabbing the soldier’s sleeves.

The sons also shouted: “Soldier sir, he is our father, truly!”

The older soldier was unlike the newly recruited young soldier. He was accustomed to life and death on the battlefield, and his heart had learned to be as hard as iron. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been given this task. At this time, his face appeared cold, looking like the god of death as he said in a mocking tone: “Do you think you are a father and son army? Are you even able to hold a weapon at your age?”

“Don’t drag your sons to do hard labor with you!”

It was better to be a soldier than a hard laborer. Soldiers had food to eat and could also take an occasional rest. If you were lucky and made some achievements, you could rise up the ranks and become an official.

But as a hard laborer you were likely to do hard labor until death. A human shaped beast of burden that could not stop working until death.

The sons still begged: “My lord, my lord, please, please, my dad just looks old for his age, he is strong, he can serve as a soldier!”

But Yang Rong didn’t beg anymore.

He said to the older soldier: “Soldier sir, my sons are strong and capable, and they are sure to be good soldiers, so I will be a hard laborer!”

The older soldier couldn’t help looking at Yang Rong a few more times, and said with amusement, “You have a fatherly heart.”

“In that case, you father and sons can talk some more, and I will come again later.”

As the father and sons cried together, the older soldier sat on the side of the grass mound and looked on. He was also old. The next time he went onto the battlefield, he was afraid that he would not be able to come back alive. The soldiers of this age all suffered some pain of all sorts, the old wounds not yet healed only for new injuries to be added. The physique could not be compared with young people.

“What are you looking at? Thinking of your son?” After finishing his task, a fellow soldier sat down beside the older soldier.

The older soldier shook his head and said, “Where would I get a son? I don’t even have a wife, let alone a son.”

He was thinking of his father.

He remembered that his family was poor when he was a child, and his father sold him to support his younger brothers.

As time passed, he even forgot what his family was like. As a slave servant in a landowner’s family, being beaten and scolded was commonplace. The maids’ monthly salary was more than that of those who did rough work. As a slave servant, only those serving at the side of the masters would there be any future.

Later, the family he served died and the family property was confiscated. Servants like them had a new place to go.

Men became soldiers, and women…..

The older soldier sighed.

He turned his head and looked at the Yang family, feeling a little envious.

If he hadn’t been sold by his father back then, what would he be like now?

Would his father be willing to be a hard laborer for his sons, or would he ask his sons to be hard laborers with him so that he would not suffer too much?

The older soldier asked his comrade: “Have you finished writing your will?”

Comrade: “I don’t know how to read or write, and it costs money to find someone to write it for me. I told my wife and son that if I can’t go back, she can remarry if she wants to remarry. I only insist on one thing, my son can’t change his surname.”

The older soldier smiled and said, “You are better than me. You still have two people you can miss!”

The comrade also smiled.

It was difficult to marry a wife. Even ordinary village wives were more willing to find a farmer than a soldier for a husband.

At least farmers could farm the land and grow grain. Those who were soldiers couldn’t take care of the family as they were far away and couldn’t act as a pillar of support for the family back home——even the monthly salary might not be issued every month, or be able to reach their family’s hands.

For example, his comrade’s wife used to be a prostitute, one who had been driven out due to being too old. Otherwise he would not be able to even marry a prostitute.

The comrade said to the older soldier: “Next time if we can come back alive, I’ll treat you to a drink at my house. The tofu made by my wife tastes like meat.”

The older soldier: “Then I really have to try it.”

The both of them looked relaxed.

When so many comrades died around them, it seemed as if dying was no longer all that frightening.

They were afraid before and couldn’t stop shaking when they heard that they had to go onto the battlefield. But later they didn’t seem to be as afraid.

Death had become an extremely common thing.

The older soldier said to his comrade: “The weather is good today, I don’t know what kind of weather it will be on the day we leave for battle.”

The comrade also looked up at the sky: “Who knows, the heavens won’t let us know in advance. You also shouldn’t be too kind, it’s about time to lead the people over.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

The older soldier stood up, his feet stomping on the ground. His shoes were too big, and it always felt a little unstable when worn.

“Over there! Come with me!”

Yang Rong took his eldest son’s hand: “Son, listen to dad, don’t insist on fighting, escape if you can.”

Yang Eldest could no longer speak from crying so hard.

How to escape?

Who could even escape?

This was their fate.

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When trying to get up around five o’clock, it was fine in summer, but it was a huge torture in winter. Don’t know how much perseverance it took to get out of the warm bed.

Although it was already winter, it was not snowing here in Pingjiang. Lin Yuan changed into cotton clothes and languidly went to eat breakfast, a bowl of porridge, a dish of side vegetables and two steamed buns. Si Niang was still working as a cook. Her craftsmanship was average and couldn’t be compared with those craftsmanship that were handed down in the family, but Lin Yuan was used to eating it, and he was not ready to change.

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Lin Yuan was lazy in the winter, but the common people were not like him. However, the winter days were better than in previous years, and the poor felt this change the deepest.

It had been more than a month since winter. This winter had not continued to cool down compared to previous years, but it had not warmed up either. However, none of the provinces and counties under Lin Yuan’s rule have reported large-scale deaths.

When winter arrived, what Lin Yuan feared most was the people freezing to death. A large decrease in the population would reduce the vitality of the market. There was no other solution but to increase the population. However, after several additions to the population before, the merchants had practically already bought all the people that could be bought in the entire north. So now if there was a big population decrease again, the only way was to wait for the people to reproduce slowly by themselves and recuperate the population.

But children were not able to inject energy into the market and enter the industry the moment they were born into the world, they needed at least more than ten years.

This winter, less than 10,000 people died from freezing, at least two-thirds less than in previous years.

Lin Yuan praised the governors and county heads of various places, and he himself also let out a sigh of relief.

Compared with Lin Yuan’s situation, other places were completely different.

After several consecutive years of non-income and major loss of labor, many rural families suffered a fatal blow. Most of them began to flee, some fled to the sites under Lin Yuan’s rule, and some fled to other places.

For example, Haozhou.

Without Zhu Yuanzhang, it was Sun Deya who inherited Guo Zixing’s position now. Sun Deya was a villain. He was a vengeful person and deceitful in many ways. He was not necessarily better than others in fighting wars but he was very talented in instigating discord. In history, he died before Guo Zixing but due to the butterfly effect brought on by Lin Yuan’s arrival, he was actually still doing quite well.

——

“General.” The personal guard walked to the side of Sun Deya. At this time, he did not dare to speak anymore but could only wait for Sun Deya to finish enjoying the singing and dancing. Under the high platform sat the officials on both sides. Most of these officials were military officials. Sun Deya was of military background so he attached importance to this. While he also had a lot of advisors, he was unwilling to call them officials.

The dancers were graceful and lovely, appearing like spring flowers, thin waists bent and swung like willow in the wind. They wore only thin gauze and had their nails painted red. They looked thin, but the places where one should be plump were very plump.

Sun Deya smiled as he watched, and generously let the dancers serve his subordinates.

He liked the feeling of rewarding and bestowing grace on others.

This gave him a feeling of control over everything. The joys, anger, and sorrows of his subordinates were all controlled by him.

Here, he was not the emperor, but he held the power of the emperor.

As for Xiao Ming Emperor?

The corner of Sun Deya’s mouth twitched into a sneer. A kid who had yet to even be weaned, what right and virtue did he have to tell him, Sun Deya, to bow his head?

After the dancers stopped singing and dancing and went to serve the men one after another, Sun Deya picked up the wine cup, retracted his smile, and said to the personal guard: “What is it?”

The personal guard whispered in his ears: “General, the report is here, the people from several villages were gone last night…..”

Sun Deya was taken aback: “They all ran away?”

The personal guard: “…..death from starvation, from the cold, can’t tell the difference…..”

Sun Deya: “How many people died?”

Guardians: “More than 20,000…..”

And this was what was reported, even more was not reported.

Sun Deya pondered for a moment: “Have people collect their corpses. If there is not enough food, tell the people there to give out food.”

The personal guard bowed his head and said yes.

——

Yang Family Village, the village head’s house.

“Where is there any food?” Yang Rong kept pacing inside the house, the dry cigarette in his hand was lit, but he didn’t take a puff. His sons sat in the chairs and didn’t say a word.

Yang Rong frowned, expression bitter. Although he was the village head, his family also had to farm to support the family. Grain was harvested every year, but the harvest was not good. Not every household could get good fertile land. There were several types of land. The first-class farmlands were allocated to those of the Yang surname in the village, the inferior ones were allocated to outside surnames, and the most inferior ones were allocated to foreign households who migrated over from other regions.

But as members of the same village, if some could not hand over the required amount of harvest, what could the rest do? It was not like they could just wait for the people above to punish them.

He, the village head, must find a way to collect and hand over the required amount of grains.

But after handing over the required grains, there wouldn’t be much grain left in the village at all.

Last year was not like this year. This year’s tax was heavier than last year’s. At least last year they were able to make it to the beginning of spring. But clearly, this year they were not going to be able to hold on until the arrival of spring.

Yang Rong’s hands trembled a little, and the dry cigarette fell to the ground: “The lords above tell us to give out grain…..but where is there any grain left in the granary?”

If they didn’t give out the grains, then they would be going against the lords above. If they did, then their family would be finished. Give out whose grain? Their family’s grain? But their own grain supply was not even enough for their family to hold on until spring?!

Even if they ate bean curd cakes every day, they would still not be able to make it through this winter.

There was not enough firewood and they could not afford coal either. Firewood seemed to be easy to get, but the trees that could be cut have all been cut down these past few years. If they went deeper into the forests, they would encounter wild beasts.

Yang Rong’s eldest son said: “Father…..let’s…..let’s run.”

Yang Rong’s sons all followed the lead of their eldest brother, and quickly said: “Yes, father, there is no way left to survive!”

The eldest son said: “I heard that in Gaoyou, as long as you can farm the land you can fill your stomach, no going hungry or suffering from the cold.”

“If we run to Gaoyou, the officials above won’t be able to do anything to us.”

Yang Rong: “Do you think dad didn’t think about this? Then why don’t you think about it, can our entire family be able to escape? How many people are in the Yang family? A hundred! So many people, how can we run? Are the officials all blind and can’t see so many of us?!”

“Your second granduncle, third granduncle, do you have the heart to leave them behind?”

The youngest son mumbled: “Our own lives are in danger, who cares about them…..”

Yang Rong yelled: “Absurdity! I’ll tell you all! So long as I am still alive, you will forget such thoughts as soon as possible! The reason our Yang family can have today is because of the family teachings! No matter when and where, the Yang family must remain united! Only in this way other people will not come to bully us, only in this way can we grow in strength. Is there anyone in this world who is more trustworthy than one’s own relatives?”

The youngest son grew up cherished by him. He was Yang Rong’s youngest son who he got when he was already quite getting on in the years. The old clam gave birth to pearls, thus, his nickname was Zhu Zhu. As a result, he was especially not afraid of his parents. He retorted, “Then it’s not as if the entire family of hundred should just die together? How about you go and ask them if they are willing to give out grain to help our family tide over this difficult situation?”

Yang Rong suddenly lost his words.

Grain was the lifeblood of farmers, and they could have nothing but they couldn’t not have grain.

Yang Rong knew in his heart that if he asked the Yang family to take out the grain, the first to turn their faces would be them.

“Besides, last time there was a draft, didn’t you think of a way to keep us from being drafted?” The youngest son said, “Our cousins ​​have all gone, and especially second uncle, none of his sons are left. Who knows, maybe in their hearts they have a lot of hatred for you!”

“Maybe as soon as they hear about this, they would pray that our whole family would die.”

Yang Rong: “Beast! Shut up!”

The youngest son was instantly displeased: “I’m telling the truth. If you are not willing to listen then what do you want to listen to? Listen to me say that the Yang family is still all of one mind now, that they all listen to you as the village head and they will do whatever you say?”

“I dare to say this, but do you dare to believe it?”

Yang Rong breathed heavily and coughed vigorously. The several sons hurried over to support him and pat him on the back.

The eldest son said at this time: “Dad, although what Zhu Zhu said sounds a bit ugly, it is still reasonable. Please think about it some more.”

Yang Rong grabbed the eldest son’s wrist and his turbid eyes stared at his already tall and fully grown eldest son, asking tremblingly, “Eldest, you think this way too?”

Eldest son: “…..Dad, because of the military draft, our uncles all hate us…..”

Yang Rong had five brothers in total, and including him there were six in total.

Of these five brothers, some had up to four sons, but some only had one.

Drafting applied to the same surname, that was, all with the same surname counted as a household.

In order to prevent his own sons from being drafted, Yang Rong would report only the sons of his brothers’ every year.

After they left, it was unknown whether they were still alive or not as not even a single letter was sent back.

His brothers hated him to his bones. After all, even the most harmonious relatives would become enemies after such a thing.

But Yang Rong was still pretending to be deaf and blind, wishfully thinking that the brotherly feelings between them were still there, it was just that they couldn’t get around this curve at the moment. But when this curve was bypassed, they would still be the same good brothers as before, their relationship as unbroken as ever.

Eldest son said: “Dad, you originally have selfish motives. It’s no wonder our uncles hate you.”

Yang Rong coughed painfully: “Who did I do this for? Who?!”

Youngest son: “Dad, you did this for our little family! Since it is all for survival, how come you can think about our family when it’s the military draft, but now you have to think about the whole family?”

Yang Rong: “I am the patriarch!”

The youngest son whispered: “Not many recognize you as the patriarch any more.”

Yang Rong became angry, and pointed at his youngest son as he breathed harshly and said, “You shouldn’t have been born back then! Even, even if, if you were born, you should have just been drowned! That way I don’t need to be vexed this much at my old age!”

Youngest son: “Dad, we are trying to talk reason here!”

His sons were all grown up and had their own ideas. The younger ones listened to the eldest and don’t know when it began but they now listened more to the eldest brother instead of him, their dad. Yang Rong knew that he couldn’t win against them anymore, no one would listen to him..

Yang Rong closed his eyes and said softly: “Eldest, we listen to you.”

“You have the ability, so take care of your brothers in the future.”

The eldest son replied in lowly: “Dad, I know, us brothers will remain united.”

Yang Rong: “…..Ai.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

He had harmed his brothers miserably, and he had no face left to say this to his sons.

And this same scene appeared in many villages and towns in Haozhou.

Sun Deya also couldn’t ever have thought that this method of benefiting and showing benevolence on the people would end up like this.

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“Laoye, you are actually not in a hurry at all.” The old servant had followed Song Lian since he was a child, and he had long become like family. At this moment, he said in a low voice while serving the rice, “Traveling thousands of miles over here, but I don’t see any show of regard from the South Bodhisattva…..”

He felt indignant on Song Lian’s behalf. In his opinion, there was no one more capable and smarter than Song Lian.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Song Lian sat down to eat, and said to the old servant, “What’s there to hurry?”

The old servant sighed again.

Song Lian did not explain to the old servant.

He knew in his heart that there were many people under Lin Yuan who wanted to succeed. If he was rashly entrusted with heavy responsibility, his life would not be easy in the future. The Song Shizhao of today would be Song Lian in the future. Everyone would be staring at the seat under him, wanting nothing more than to replace him.

Lin Yuan asked him to take care of the “spreading literacy” in order to help plate him with a layer of gold. With this layer of gold, he would be able to hand more important duties to him in the future.

Song Lian also knew that he was a signboard, but so what? His starting point was much higher than that of ordinary people. This was a good thing.

All the remaining members of the Little White Lotus Sect were arrested because of Bao Jianghe’s confession.

Most of these people didn’t know one character from another. They were poor people who were originally oppressed. Once they managed to finally gain a little power, they themselves didn’t regard human lives as human lives.

One of them in particular, every room in his residence had locked up captives that included both men and women. They were not given any clothes in order to prevent them from escaping.

The servants serving in his residence confessed that this person would visit different rooms every day, and sometimes several had to serve him together. Those who were still alive were the obedient ones, and those who were not obedient had died long ago.

Recently, Song Lian was thinking of how to settle these victims. Send them home? He was afraid l that they would die as soon as they returned home. This kind of thing could not be hidden. Putting aside their own family, just the stares and finger-pointing from outsiders could kill them.

So Song Lian sent them to the barracks, to be army cooks, or something else such as army nurses. Discipline was very important in the barracks and everyone was exhausted every day, so naturally there was no energy left for gossip.

This solution was actually praised by Lin Yuan, who said that Song Lian had mercy for the people, which startled Song Lian.

Song Lian also noticed that Lin Yuan was like a father to the common people, not at all stingy with his tolerance and benevolence. He had two faces, one reserved for the common people and one for the officials.

It had only been a little more than two months, but already many people in Pingjiang had come to sincerely support him.

The old servant said: “I think that South Bodhisattva may really possess something extraordinary. I heard that he was originally part of the landowning class. There are so many landowners in this world, but there is only one like him.”

Song Lian ate a bite of food: “Fate and circumstances are also important.”

If the world was peaceful, a person like Lin Yuan might be just a landowner his whole life.

Fate and circumstances made him what he was now.

——

Lin Yuan looked at the frontline battle report. Chen Baisong and Zhu Yuanzhang had set off to Chuzhou together.

Today Lin Yuan had nearly a million people in his army. Even though he included the auxiliary soldiers such as army cooks and logistics, this number was not to be underestimated. Although the number might not be the most crucial aspect, during war, people were the foundation of everything.

The imperial court had already lost any military advantage in front of him now.

Since the imperial court took away Toqto’a’s military power and disbanded his army on the spot, the imperial court had lost its last barrier. Now their military was just for show. They may still have money, but don’t even mention sending troops to attack Lin Yuan, in fact even just making a gesture of goodwill——there was a likely chance that Lin Yuan would just ignore it.

They could only place their hopes on the different rebel factions too busy fighting each other to the death. In this way they could eke out some breathing space.

After having ruled this great and prosperous empire, only to be forced to return to the grasslands. This kind of disparity gap was not something everyone could accept.

Looking at the battle report, Lin Yuan saw that the army’s march went gone smoothly and without any resistance. The wanhu of Chuzhou was surnamed Jiang, who did possess some skills. Despite being trapped in Chuzhou, he still clenched his teeth and persisted in holding off the siege. Daring enough to send out soldiers to directly fight with the enemy, he and Chen Baisong exchanged several rounds, so this time it was not a one-sided massacre.

Lin Yuan’s army was not without losses. According to the reported number of deaths, it was already more than 20,000. Although the casualties on Chuzhou’s side were even more serious, the 20,000 he lost still caused his eyebrows to furrow.

Song Shizhao took the battle report handed over by Lin Yuan and read it carefully before he said, “My Lord don’t need to worry too much. Now the Yuan Dynasty is just a grasshopper at the end of autumn. It won’t be a few days before they are unable to jump up and down anymore. Instead, there are others who we need to focus on now.”

Lin Yuan nodded: “It has been more than two years since Guo Zixing died of illness, and now his power has been inherited by Sun Deya.”

“My Lord…..wants to capture Haozhou?” Song Shizhao knew Lin Yuan’s meaning almost immediately. The days of the Yuan Dynasty were numbered, so if they continue to keep their sights on it now it would be a matter of neglecting fundamentals and concentrating on details. On the other hand, the momentum of the several rebel factions were now soaring, to the point that they had no choice but to guard against them.

Haozhou was Sun Deya’s base.

Lin Yuan wanted to eliminate Sun Deya and the others in one fell swoop, without leaving any chance at all.

Lin Yuan: “I’m only afraid that it is not the right time.”

Song Shizhao broke out in a cold sweat, but his mind was clear and he quickly said: “My Lord has acute foresight, but why not take things slowly? It cannot be captured this year, but next year or the year after next, it will definitely be captured!”

Although Song Shizhao knew that Lin Yuan’s objective was the entire empire, he did not expect that he was preparing to deal with both the imperial court and Sun Deya at the same time.

This caused him to be so excited that he could barely control himself.

Perhaps it was not far from the day when Lin Yuan would conquer the whole empire.

Song Shizhao said: “I wonder where is the Xiao Ming Emperor…..”

Lin Yuan thought for a while: “An Laosi should likely be about to make his move.”

He had An Laosi encourage Xiao Ming Emperor’s ambition and desire for power. There could only be one boss in a country. Liu Futong held heavy power, but Xiao Ming Emperor stood for orthodoxy. If Xiao Ming Emperor really wanted to fight Liu Futong for power, there was no guarantee who would lose or win in the end.

During the Qing Dynasty, Obai held heavy power and controlled the imperial court but didn’t the Kangxi Emperor still manage to pull him from his seat of power?

Because Kangxi was the emperor, he stood for orthodoxy and was the righteous ruler. Therefore, there would always be officials willing to gamble with him. Whereas in the hands of Obai, these people might not be able to succeed in their careers their whole lives. But so long as they won the gamble with Kangxi, they would instantly reach the summit of their careers.

Lin Yuan didn’t mind giving Xiao Ming Emperor a little push.

The fiercer and more chaotic Xiao Ming Emperor and Liu Futong fought, the more benefits he would get.

“What happened to Chen Youliang?” Lin Yuan asked.

Song Shizhao said: “He killed Ni Wenjun and annexed Ni Wenjun’s army, claiming to be a pacification commissioner (TN: high military officials supervising the peace in border regions), or manager of governmental affairs.”

Lin Yuan nodded: “I must leave it to Mister to pay attention to Chen Youliang’s news.”

Song Shizhao didn’t quite understand: “In my opinion, Chen Youliang does not seem to be a very important character now, just only occupying Huangzhou. Above him there is also a Xu Shouhui. I’m afraid he won’t be able to achieve much.”

Lin Yuan smiled and said: “There is a kind of person who is born different from others.”

Next year would be the year for Chen Youliang to shine, and he could not afford to ignore it, allowing Chen Youliang to grow stronger.

He didn’t want to leave it till he finally confronted Chen Youliang to regret not dealing with him in advance.

An Laosi who was far away in Anfeng let out a sneeze. He was currently standing out in the cool breeze while his wife was sorting out invitations. It had been more than half a year since they came to Anfeng. They used money to open the way, and even bought a minor official post. Although An Laosi looked rough and boorish, he was actually a bold and careful man. During the past six months, they had been busy with socializing, money flowing from their pockets like water, but they quickly became acquainted with the minor officials below.

“There is no letter from Pingjiang.” An Laosi sighed, afraid that the South Bodhisattva had forgotten him.

Lady An put away the invitations and took out paper and pen. She was literate and possessed good handwriting. Although she was a woman, she did not use the font favored by most women, but a cursive script that looked like flying dragons and dancing phoenixes. Because she was afraid that people would not be able to make out what she wrote, she could only restrain herself. As a result, the words that came out could only be considered neat.

Lady An wrote while saying: “You don’t have to worry about this. If you have time to sigh, why not go out and walk around.”

An Laosi: ​​”What’s the use of going out for a walk? The way I see it, if I don’t cut my lower half and become a eunuch, I won’t be able to see Xiao Ming Emperor at all in this life.”

Rather than saying that Liu Futong protected Han Lin’er too well, it was better to say that Liu Futong kept a tight grip on Han Lin’er. Other than special occasions, no one could see him. Except for the servants, the only people who could approach Han Lin’er were important officials. And these important officials were also Liu Futong’s people.

Lady An also sighed: “We have to think of other ways.”

An Laosi shook his head: “How is it that simple.”

But letting the opportunity to get promoted and become rich slip away from him, An Laosi could only feel heartache, wanting very much to beat his chest and stomp his feet.

This time, if he could complete the South Bodhisattva’s task and return later, even if he would not become an extremely important official, he would at least be entrusted with important duties. Wasn’t this exactly what he wanted?

“Isn’t it said that the prime minister wants to select concubines for Xiao Ming Emperor?” Lady An suddenly said, “All the daughters of the officials could attend.”

This was a forced levy. The daughters of high-ranking officials were to be concubines, and the daughters of small officials and minor officials were to be palace maids.

An Laosi: ​​”…..Give birth to a daughter now? It’s too late.”

Lady An: “We didn’t make any exact statements. The family members we told our neighbors about are on the road, so how about we say that we brought our daughter over here ahead of time?”

An Laosi: ​​”Where can we find this daughter?”

Lady An smiled and said, “Did you forget? Hong Xiu answered my letter, and I believe she is about to arrive in Anfeng soon.”

An Laosi’s eyes widened: “Wife, did you already think of this solution at that time?”

Lady An: “When you men do things, you don’t bother to hold any regard for women. I am a woman, so naturally I know what women can do.”

Hong Xiu was more restrained than Tian Xiang and the others. So long as she was dressed simpler, she would give people the impression that she was just a flower vase.

Only such a person would not be suspected——unlike Tian Xiang, who possessed a pair of eyes that appeared alluring even when not smiling. Even if she deliberately restrained herself, it was still easy for others to notice that something was out of place.

It was more than ten days later when Hong Xiu finally arrived. There were a few soldiers who were disguised as servants accompanying her, protecting her all the way to Anfeng. Hong Xiu had removed all makeup and when standing next to An Laosi, they really did look like they were father and daughter, the shape of their lips being somewhat similar.

Lady An walked over and took Hong Xiu’s hand. The two women walked ahead, and An Laosi followed them as they walked through the streets.

“A visiting relative?”

“This little lady is quite pretty.”

An Laosi smiled and said: “This is my daughter who was on the way here. Now because the Emperor is selecting concubines, I naturally must send someone to pick her up earlier. My father and mother are still behind.”

Everyone praised Hong Xiu while envying the An family for giving birth to such a fine daughter.

Even if she were to enter the palace to be a little palace maid, based on her looks she would definitely attract the eyes of Xiao Ming Emperor.

Xiao Ming Emperor was a young man, at the age where one had no scruples when it came to the business between men and women.

After walking through the streets, the three finally returned to the small courtyard residence.

Lady An sent An Laosi to get hot water for Hong Xiu clean up. After sitting in the carriage for so many days, no matter how good Hong Xiu’s physique was, it was not so good right now. She first wiped her face before leaning back on the chair and saying to Lady An, “This courtyard is not bad.”

Lady An smiled and said, “It costed three hundred taels.”

Hong Xiu was taken aback.

Lady An said: “How is it that easy to buy a house, finding the right connections, actually buying the house. Just the first part requires two hundred, and there are also the neighbors who we have to give some greeting gifts to. Sometimes, even three hundred taels are not enough.”

Lady An asked Hong Xiu again: “How is Gaoyou and Pingjiang? Although my husband and I are not in Pingjiang, we have always been thinking of the South Bodhisattva in our hearts.”

Hong Xiu took Lady An’s hand: “Our Lord is always thinking of you both too.”

Lady An sighed and said, “We have no choice. I’m afraid we must trouble little sister in the future.”

Hong Xiu: “No trouble.”

She had requested to come here herself, and the South Bodhisattva also promised her that if this matter succeeded, she would also be able to serve as an official in the future.

Even though she was a woman, she also wanted to try seizing this opportunity. What if she won in the end?

People like her didn’t have any illusions about men for a long time. She had seen too many men and knew that men were all like cats, and there were no cats that did not like to steal fish (TN: expression for fickleness). Instead of relying on men, it was better to rely on oneself. There was no opportunity before but now that there was, naturally she must firmly grasp it.

When there were more women who became officials in the future, they would be able to ally with each other and join in an opposition to the same adversary. That way, there would be no fear that there would be no place for them.

At night, Hong Xiu stayed in the same room with Lady An. There were always a lot of things to say between women. Lady An was also worried that Hong Xiu might feel discomfort, it being her first time in Anfeng, so she wanted to personally stay and accompany her.

After they cleaned their faces and washed their feet, they lay on the bed under the same quilt.

“You have suffered on the travel here. I wonder how it is back in Pingjiang.” When they left, the South Bodhisattva was still in Gaoyou.

Hong Xiu said: “Nothing major. Those little thieves below are like always. As long as Our Lord orders for rectification, where is there room for them to speak?”

Lady An looked at Hong Xiu: “When you are called into the palace, you will be a palace maid first. You are beautiful, so I am afraid that the women in the palace…..”

It would be bad if the task was not yet completed, only for Hong Xiu to be killed by those women.

Hong Xiu said with a chuckle: “Sister, don’t underestimate me. I grew up among women since I was a child. What methods do they have that I don’t know? If no one values ​​me after I enter the palace, naturally it will be convenient. If someone values ​​me, I will join the side of her opponent, there will always be a way to guarantee my life.”

Lady An: “Then you have to be careful, because there is a limit in how we can help you outside the palace.”

Hong Xiu nodded: “I won’t hide it from sister, when I think about what I’m going to do, I can’t sleep well day and night, the blood in my veins rushing and unable to calm down.”

She still remembered what the South Bodhisattva said to her: “You are going to be a spy. If you can succeed, you will topple an entire country. Are you afraid?”

She was so excited that she couldn’t even lift her head. She said, “This slave is not afraid!”

So long as she succeeded, even if she was a woman, there was even a chance of being recorded in the history books. Even if it was not fame but notoriety, it would be enough.

It was early in the morning when Hong Xiu was sent into the palace. The old palace maids and the eunuchs in the palace came to lead them away. The young girls got on the carriage, appearing nervous and excited. These daughters of minor officials were also dreaming, once they entered the palace, if they could catch the eyes of Xiao Ming Emperor, they and their families would be able to live a good life in the future.

For girls, marrying was their second birth. Only by marrying a good man would the rest of their days in this life be good.

But no good man could compare to the Emperor.

That was the Emperor, the master of all things, and naturally their masters.

If they could really become the Emperor’s women, they would also become half a master.

The girls were afraid to talk at first in the carriage. After a while, they found that no one bothered with them, so they started chatting.

“Which family are you from?”

“Ah, we have the same surname, maybe hundreds of years ago we belonged to the same family. “

They only started to talk about “business” when they finished making small talk.

“I wonder whether the consorts in the palace are easy to serve.”

“I heard that the Empress is a kind person, and treats the concubines like sisters.”

“I heard that the maids serving the Empress are all stunning!”

“I wonder where we will be assigned.”

Hong Xiu listened quietly.

Some people saw the beauty of Hong Xiu and started a conversation with her, “Which family are you from?”

Hong Xiu said: “The An family in the western part of the city.”

“An family? I haven’t heard of it.”

“I haven’t heard of it either.”

Hong Xiu said: “We just moved here half a year ago, so it is natural that sisters do not know.”

After all, Anfeng was only a county, the palace was not big, but the construction was not bad. For these girls, this kind of building was what they could only look at before. They never had the extravagant hope to actually live inside it. Each and every one wanted to move next to the carriage window. Only when the old palace maid outside gave them a look did they sit back again.

Hong Xiu didn’t feel much.

She had seen many exquisite or lavish buildings, and in truth they were all the same. They were just for living in and after a few days of living in it, there was really nothing all that special.

After entering the palace, the new palace maids first received their palace uniforms, and then their living arrangements were made. They had to learn the rules for a period of time before they could be assigned to serve in the palace.

The old palace maid saw that Hong Xiu had good looks, and she also felt that she would have a good future, so she was extremely strict on her training.

Although strict, Hong Xiu had a good relationship with her in private. Hong Xiu was different from the other girls. Before she entered the palace, Lady An gave her a lot of money which she could use to manage the relationships and connections in the palace. The old palace maid took the bribe and felt that she may not be without good luck in the future, so she began to help teach Hong Xiu even more meticulously.

“This sugar is good, you try.” Hong Xiu stayed in the old palace maid’s room, putting the cane sugar bought from the kitchen next to her with a respectful smile. Cane sugar was rare and even the kitchen did not have much. Hongxiu spent a lot of money just to buy this small piece.

Sure enough, the old palace maid couldn’t look away when she saw the sugar. She swallowed and said, “How can I take your things?” But at the same time she also put the sugar in her mouth and squinted her eyes with relish.

A palace maid like her who was in charge of the new palace maids didn’t have much chance to get any good benefits. Only those who served in front of the imperial family had any position. She herself was reluctant to buy such sweets.

After receiving the other’s benefit, the old palace maid took Hong Xiu’s hand and said: “Of the new palace maids who enter the palace, you are the most sensible and appropriate. The way I see it, everyone else is not as good as you. If you are lucky in the future, maybe you will…..” She glanced up towards the sky.

Hong Xiu quickly said: “It’s all because of your care, this slave is stupid and if not for you, I’m afraid I would not be able to live long. In this slave’s heart, you are this slave’s mother.”

“Ai, good child.” The wrinkles on the face of the old palace maid seemed to all be smiling, “In this case, let us recognize a godmother and goddaughter relationship, how about you calling me godmother?”

Hong Xiu’s eyes immediately turned red, and she knelt down quickly: “Godmother, please accept this daughter’s kowtow.”

The old palace maid helped her up: “Good child, good child, when you are successful in the future, don’t forget your godmother.”

Hong Xiu: “Naturally! This slave might not know anything else, but I know that one must pay back kindness!”

The old palace maid smiled and said: “Next month, I will send you to Consort Li…..Consort Li is the most favored. If you go to her, you will be able to see the Emperor more often. It may be your chance at that time.”

Hong Xiu shook her head: “Godmother, if I go to Consort Li, I’m afraid I will never have the opportunity to succeed, and I won’t be able to repay godmother.”

The old palace maid asked strangely: “Why do you say this?”

Hong Xiu whispered: “Consort Li is the Emperor’s favorite, when the Emperor goes to Consort Li’s residence, how can others enter his eyes, even if there are those who can, it can’t be in front of Consort Li…..”

Old palace maid: “Aiya! I actually forgot something like this!”

Hong Xiu lowered her head: “Godmother, how about sending me to the Empress’s side.”

Old palace maid: “…..They say that the Empress is a kind person but what’s the use of kindness? The Emperor doesn’t love her, so she can only earn some reputation. When you go to her residence, won’t you just wait in vain with her?”

“Godmother, it is exactly because the Emperor doesn’t love her, so I must go serve her.” Hong Xiu whispered, “The Empress is the Emperor’s legal wife, but she has been suppressed by Consort Li this whole time. Only because she is unable to gain favor herself will there be a chance for me.”

Hong Xiu understood women. The Empress had been suppressed by Consort Li for so long, even if it was not herself, so long as someone could suppress Comsort Li, she could also vent her discontent.

If the Empress was really as without wants or desires as in the rumors, then her reputation of kindness would not have spread far and wide.

These women were locked up in a courtyard, waiting for the same man every day. It looked complicated, but in fact it was simple.

As for how to let the Empress see her and be willing to use her, she had her own ways.

Wasn’t it the same in the brothel? They were all vying for the top spot, even if they themselves couldn’t make it, they were willing to support the newcomers to suppress their old rivals.

Sometimes what they wanted was no longer their own benefit, but to make the opponent uncomfortable.

The old palace maid thought for a while: “If you go to the Empress’s side, I’m afraid you can only start in the position of rough work palace maid.”

The Empress had her own confidants and these palace maids took care of the Empress’ internal treasury and daily life, controlling everything around the Empress. Naturally, they would not let other palace maids get ahead. It was really difficult indeed for a rough work palace maid to climb up the ranks.

Hong Xiu smiled and said, “Godmother, we must make the gamble.”

The old palace maid took the hand of Hong Xiu and said with a smile: “Okay, this godmother will wait to enjoy the blessing of our Xiu’er from now on.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Hong Xiu’s current pseudonym was An Xiu. The name Hong Xiu was too improper and ordinary girls would not have this kind of name.

The corners of Hong Xiu’s lips curved into a smile: “Thank you godmother.” 

She was full of confidence, the Hong Xiu at this moment felt as omnipotent as the gods. 

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