Another Plot Emerges, Trouble Never Ends

"General Cheng! Some of the laborers who ran away entered Blue Silver Village,

I couldn't make up my mind for the moment, so I came back. Please instruct me, General."

"You saw them enter Blue Silver Village?"

"Judging by the traces they left, they're most likely in Blue Silver Village."

"You did well. For now, we'd best not provoke Blue Silver Village.

As for the laborers who escaped, just find some more people to replace them."

"Understood! I'll get it done right away!"

The captain who had returned to report had completed his task once he had explained the matter clearly.

As for Blue Silver Village, that was not for him to worry about.

"What exactly is this Blue Silver Village? Why has Lord Yuwen repeatedly stressed that it must not be offended lightly? How strange!"

"What's strange? Has something stumped our great General Cheng?"

Just as General Cheng was still thinking about Blue Silver Village, a rough voice suddenly rang out from outside the tent.

"Who was that, I wondered? So it's General Murong. What brings you here today?"

"I heard the men sent to catch the fugitives had returned, so I thought I'd come and see. How did it go?"

As soon as General Cheng saw that Murong Yun had come to ask about the laborers, he knew the visitor had come with ill intentions.

He and Murong Yun had never gotten along, and with such a fine opportunity, how could Murong Yun not come to laugh at him?

"That's not something you need to worry about, General Murong."

"Cheng Jingmin! Don't think that just because you're the commanding general and I'm your deputy, you can cover the sky with one hand in this camp.

Don't forget, the Grand Canal is our top priority. If anything goes wrong, neither of us will escape responsibility."

Looking at Murong Yun's slightly fierce expression, Cheng Jingmin's gaze turned a little strange.

"Ha ha! Why get angry, General Murong? We both serve the imperial court.

I still know what matters are urgent and what can wait, but the matter at hand has left me in a difficult position."

"Hmph! Spare me that. What trick are you trying to play now?"

"Heh heh! Come, come! Have some tea first, General Murong, and cool your temper. Allow your little brother to explain."

"Go on, then! Let's see what medicine you're selling in that gourd of yours!"

"I wonder, General Murong, have you heard of a place called Blue Silver Village?"

"Blue Silver Village? What place is that? Why should I have heard of it? Cheng Jingmin! What are you trying to say?"

"Don't be so impatient! Let me tell you the whole story..."

Cheng Jingmin told Murong Yun about Blue Silver Village from beginning to end, though he left some things out.

After Murong Yun heard it, his eyes nearly lit up, but he was no fool.

If it was such a good opportunity, why wasn't Cheng Jingmin going himself, instead of telling him about it? There had to be something fishy.

"Cheng Jingmin! Are you trying to set me up?"

"General Murong! You must be joking. I can't get away, you see.

If anything goes wrong with the Grand Canal, we could lose our heads.

Besides, we're people of the imperial court. Is there anyone in this world who's more dangerous to offend than people of the court?"

When Murong Yun heard that, it seemed to make sense, yet he also felt that something was wrong.

But with his simple mind, it was hard for him to think it through.

In any case, after Cheng Jingmin's smooth talk, Murong Yun thought the matter was worth pursuing.

But he wanted to take Cheng Jingmin along, in case there was some plot involved.

Murong Yun's idea was sound, but Cheng Jingmin was so clever that he immediately refused, and his reason was more than sufficient.

"I'm a soldier. Catching criminals is the yamen's business, so I won't overstep my bounds."

The two went back and forth like that for a while, but in the end they parted on bad terms.

Watching Murong Yun leave in a huff, Cheng Jingmin's expression immediately changed.

"Hmph! Murong Yun, oh, Murong Yun! Don't blame me for plotting against you.

Blue Silver Village really is too mysterious. I need you to help me sound it out.

Of course, if you can resist the temptation and stay away from Blue Silver Village, then so be it.

But with that greedy nature of yours, with Hu blood in your veins, I don't believe you can hold yourself back. This is a naked, open scheme."

Things did indeed turn out as Cheng Jingmin had guessed. After Murong Yun returned to his tent,

his expression kept shifting between light and dark, as though he was struggling to decide something.

"This is a rare opportunity. If I miss it, who knows when another will come?

Right now, my Murong Family's influence in Great Sui is still somewhat limited.

If we can obtain this method of making refined salt, then the Murong Family will surely climb another floor.

But is Blue Silver Village really as simple as Cheng Jingmin says?

That old fox! No matter what, I have to take a gamble, or when will I ever get ahead?

Besides, I'm a general of the junior fourth rank in the imperial court, after all. Keeping myself safe shouldn't be a problem."

After giving it careful thought, Murong Yun decided to make a trip to Blue Silver Village.

As long as he moved quickly and kept things a little more discreet, there shouldn't be any major problems.

That day, five hundred officers and soldiers were absent from the camp, along with Deputy General Murong Yun.

"That idiot really fell for it! Hmph! Barbarians will be barbarians, a whole bunch of brainless fools!"

With Murong Yun scouting the way for him, Cheng Jingmin only needed to wait quietly.

No matter the outcome, he would be the one to reap the rewards this time.

"Master! The weather's so nice today. How about we go out hunting and have some fun?"

"I think you're the one who wants to go out!"

"Master! Please?"

"Let go! Let go, now! I'm telling you, Lan Yun!

Stop tugging and pulling at me. You'll damage my image."

"If Master won't agree, I'll keep pulling you! I'll keep bothering you!"

"You... you! I... I won't stoop to a child's level!"

"Master! You're not even as old as I am! Hmph!"

Seeing how pleased with herself Lan Yun looked, Zhang Sheng felt anger rise in him.

After Lan Yun wore him down with persistent pleading, Zhang Sheng finally had no choice but to agree, or his ears would never know peace.

They made a few simple preparations, then took their equipment and got ready to set off.

Since they were going out for fun this time, they also brought some seasonings and the like.

Once they had caught some game, they could barbecue it.

"Hyah! Come and catch me!"

"Lan Yun! Slow down! Careful you don't fall!"

"Lan Xin! Don't worry about her. She's a wild monkey who can't be let loose!"

When Lan Xin heard Zhang Sheng compare her younger sister to a wild monkey, she gave him a reproachful look.

Zhang Sheng, meanwhile, couldn't help touching his nose, his expression a little awkward.

Perhaps heaven refused to grant their wishes! Zhang Sheng and the others had not expected to run into Murong Yun and his party.

"Girl up ahead, stop! We have something to ask you!"

"Who are you calling a girl?"

"Hey! You little thing, how dare you act so arrogantly before your military lords? Aren't you afraid we'll arrest you?"

"Hmph! I don't take shrimp soldiers and crab generals like you seriously!"

"You sharp-tongued little brat! I'll teach you a lesson!"

Just as the soldier was about to step forward and teach Lan Yun a lesson, Murong Yun came out from behind.

"Why have we stopped?"

"Reporting to the general! We ran into a young girl. I only meant to ask her for directions, but I didn't expect her to be so unreasonable."

"Oh?"

"Look, General, that's her!"

Murong Yun looked in the direction the soldier pointed. Sure enough, there was a young girl in fitted riding clothes sitting on a horse.

Though she was young, her looks, bearing, and that unruly streak instantly stirred lust in Murong Yun.

"Ahem! Step back first! Miss up ahead, I wonder if you might come over and speak with us.

I am a general sent by the imperial court to oversee the construction of the Grand Canal. Might I ask you about a place?"

Murong Yun thought he had been very polite, but he had not expected Lan Yun to show him so little regard.