The Governor's Move

Uncle Jie reluctantly decided that he had regained at least a little of his reason. "Young Master, this is a rare opportunity. Before, these were only theoretical cases discussed on paper; there was no chance to witness them firsthand. You really can learn something from this. The skill of today's handling and the strength of his nerve—I think only the Governor, in his youth when his brilliance was impossible to hide, could compare."

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Li Yuchen leaped up again. "Nonsense! Impossible! That little swindler is nothing but a fraud putting on a show! When Uncle Sheng was young, he swept across the eight wildernesses and flattened the six directions. How can that little swindler be mentioned in the same breath as him?"

Just as Uncle Jie felt his patience was about to reach its limit, Li Yuchen added, "Everything he did today was built on a known, controllable foundation. He was the one who sent the Imperial troops, and he had people spread word of his prestige beforehand. He knew Fang Dashan couldn't possibly really fire, and he knew the disaster victims wouldn't hurt him. He even had reason to believe the civil unrest was within his expectations. So all of this was planned by him long ago. He merely came to win over the people's hearts. There was no danger at all."

"And Uncle Sheng was far more formidable than him in his youth. That was a true hero!"

Uncle Jie and the others exchanged glances, surprise and a trace of delight in their eyes. He gave a signal, and a burly man immediately pulled out pen and paper to write down what Li Yuchen had just said.

"Young Master, where do you think the two cannot be compared?"

Li Yuchen snorted through his nose and said proudly, "They can't compare in any regard! Take Uncle Sheng in Yellow Poplar County, Ridge Province, twenty-five years ago. Back then, he was only the deputy county governor and garrison commander, yet he dared lead troops to surround and suppress the estate of an Imperial noble. Five hundred men, three hundred guns—they smashed through eighteen fortified compounds in succession, killed or wounded more than two thousand bandits and local tyrants, and finally captured alive He Guishan, an Imperial noble and the ringleader of Yellow Poplar County's bullies."

"At the time, Elder Qi Xin of the Supreme Council of Elders flew over personally in a special plane to plead for mercy, but Uncle Sheng ignored him. Right before his eyes, he put a bullet through that tyrant ringleader He Guishan."

"Haha! Could that kid possibly possess such spirit?"

"That Elder Qi was furious enough to choke on it, declaring Uncle Sheng would die a horrible death. And what happened in the end? Within a few years, he himself fell from power, while Uncle Sheng soared straight into the heavens!"

"Could that kid possibly possess such strength?"

"And there's more—what happened in Fishing Sun County that year was even more outrageous."

When it came to the glorious exploits of the idol he worshipped, Li Yuchen's words poured forth in an endless torrent. He spoke for more than ten minutes before finally stopping to catch his breath.

Uncle Jie seized the chance to ask, "Then do you want to be as mighty and glorious as your Uncle Sheng?"

"Of course. That's my dream."

Uncle Jie continued, "Then you could stay by County Governor Lin's side—"

Li Yuchen flatly refused. "That is absolutely impossible."

"Young Master, listen to me. Although County Governor Lin is far inferior to Governor Sheng, he is nevertheless steadily drawing closer to Governor Sheng step by step. Look at him today: amid ten thousand people, bathed in glory, singing the leading tune alone; with a word of disagreement, he executed a vicious fiend; with one command, a thousand men laid down their arms. Wasn't that impressive? Wasn't that handsome?"

Seeing that Li Yuchen still wanted to speak, Uncle Jie immediately added, "Of course, he can't compare with Governor Sheng in his youth. But Governor Sheng is a heaven-sent genius; it is very difficult for ordinary people to reach his level. Though Lin Wen is young and lacks the natural gifts, he is still striving to draw closer to the Governor."

"Look at what he did today. He clearly admires the Governor as well, and he has already made some clumsy yet successful imitations. Meanwhile, you have nothing yet."

"Don't you want to take this first step?"

To educate Li Yuchen, Uncle Jie had greatly rejuvenated both his tongue and his way of thinking today. If Li Yuchen had been his own child, fists and sticks would have flown long ago; he would never have wasted so much thought.

Sincere effort did not fail the man with heart. Li Yuchen had clearly been moved as well. After hesitating for a long while, he finally said, "Fine, fine, I'll do it. But I have one condition: if he becomes like those mediocre officials, I'm leaving immediately."

Uncle Jie smiled. "Of course. If he becomes like that, we'll take you away too."

After settling Li Yuchen down to sleep, Uncle Jie organized everything that had happened today, along with the record of their later conversation, and sent it all to the Governor's Office by encrypted telegram.

Far away at the other end of East Qin Province, Governor Sheng Huaixuan, likewise shrouded in the night, still had not gone to sleep. He stood in equally desolate and remote wilderness, gazing wordlessly at Little Cold Mountain on the edge of East Qin Province's territory, as well as Little Cold Mountain Road, the only route out of the mountains.

The night was like water. Clear moonlight also illuminated the sixteen hundred Imperial soldiers behind him, dressed in azure uniforms.

The night was so quiet that these men seemed like nothing more than statues.

Only after a long while did footsteps break the silence. An Imperial soldier dressed like a scout ran over from ahead, came to attention before Governor Sheng Huaixuan, and saluted.

"Report! The target party has completed its rest and set out. It is expected to pass through Little Cold Mountain Road in forty minutes."

Sheng Huaixuan nodded. "Continue scouting."

"Yes, sir!" The scout saluted again, turned, and ran back.

An officer-like man beside the Governor leaned closer and whispered, "Governor, how about we change clothes? And cover our faces." He pulled out a piece of black cloth. "Look, I even brought the cloth."

Perhaps because the intelligence was certain and the situation was settled, Sheng Huaixuan appeared much more relaxed. He did not scold the man over it again, merely saying with a half-smile, "And then make up a title? 'Black Wind Gang bandits are robbing you here. Anyone who wants to live, put your hands up!'"

"Wonderful!" the officer praised. "That name is wonderful! Governor, you truly are a peerless pillar of the nation, heaven—uh..." He choked halfway through, because the Governor's expression had darkened.

"Dong Qianwang." Sheng Huaixuan said coldly, "If you no longer want the post of First Commander of the Azure Army, take off that uniform now. I can promise you a safe return home."

Dong Qianwang, First Commander of the Azure Army, merely had a screw loose; he was not truly stupid. Knowing that the Governor was speaking ironically, he grinned foolishly and backed away.

Sheng Huaixuan glanced at him. "Where's the banner? Did I tell you to put it away?"

Dong Qianwang's face crumpled into a knot, but he still did not dare defy the Governor's order. He unfurled the Azure Army's banner.

On it was an azure dragon coiled around a map of East Qin Province—the exclusive emblem of the Azure Army under the East Qin Provincial Governor's Office.

Dong Qianwang still refused to give up. A few minutes later, he sidled over again. "Governor, how about we rob them farther ahead?"

Ren Qingshan, the Second Commander beside him, could not help saying, "Quit talking shit. Once they leave Little Cold Mountain, they'll reach Mangchang Mountain Imperial Train Station. Once they board the Imperial special train, what the hell are we supposed to rob?"

Dong Qianwang feared the Governor, but not the Second Commander. He immediately retorted, "Did I ask you? Crooked-Mouth Ren, how do you know they're taking the Imperial special train? Maybe they'll think the target's too conspicuous and transfer to a secret little train. Then we'll slip around them without a sound and—slash."

He made a downward chopping gesture. "Wouldn't that be wonderful?"