Chapter Thirty-One: Suppressing the Bandits!

In the past, the main business of the Great Cang Mountain Fortress was, naturally, robbery.

However, Li Yun’s father, the chieftain, was considered one of the more principled bandits—he rarely robbed passing common folk. After all, these peasants had little worth stealing.

The real clients of the fortress were mostly merchants and their caravans traversing the road. Occasionally, landlords moving house would pass by, and the fortress would find a way to take a share from them as well.

Beyond the income from straightforward robbery, after more than twenty years, some escort agencies had become familiar with the fortress. Whenever veteran escorts passed through, they would usually offer a tip of around fifty coins—considered a toll—just for acknowledging the connection.

But the old chieftain was true to his word; once money was taken from an escort agency, he guaranteed their caravan would not encounter trouble within the fortress’s domain. Because of this, the Great Cang Mountain Fortress often clashed fiercely with neighboring bandit strongholds.

It was also for this reason that Li Yun’s father enjoyed a decent reputation in the region.

Yet, this traditional business of banditry was simply too old-fashioned.

First, it brought in money slowly. Second, it carried enormous risks. Third—the ceiling was too low; scaling up was troublesome.

Now, if Chief Li wanted to grow and strengthen his operation, he had to innovate!

He needed to invent a whole new model for the fortress.

For example… ahem… don the official robes!

In recent years, the empire had been far from peaceful, and banditry had proliferated everywhere. Within this province alone, there might be dozens of strongholds. If Chief Li could “eradicate” them one by one, the power of the Great Cang Mountain Fortress would swell overnight.

To put it plainly, what Li wanted was to use official authority and influence to unify the criminal underworld of Qingyang County, and eventually the whole province.

In other words, he aimed to rule the greenwood.

Once he consolidated the underworld, whatever Li wished to do would become much easier. Even business would be a breeze—he could build a grand estate outside the city, marry a couple of beautiful women, and enjoy a fine life…

Just as Li Yun was dreaming of his future, Magistrate Xue beside him was sizing up the young man before him.

After a long pause, Lord Xue finally returned to his seat and asked, “You… are you able to control those bandits on Cang Mountain?”

Li Yun quickly shook his head.

“Your honor, how could that be? Not only am I now wearing official robes, but even before, I haven’t been in Qingyang for years. The people in the fortress wouldn’t even recognize me, let alone listen to me.”

“My own brother, when he sees me, won’t even call me brother!”

Lord Xue stroked his chin and frowned, “So, you didn’t abduct those two from the Gu family?”

Li Yun stood up, righteous indignation in his voice, “I am a man of integrity—how could I commit such a deed!”

Magistrate Xue frowned, “Don’t say you had no hand in the matter of the uncle and nephew being taken by bandits.”

“It’s like this, your honor.”

---

Li Yun smiled, “These days, I’ve gathered quite a bit of information about the bandits in Qingyang. I happened to learn that recently, the Gu family hired people to severely wound Erlong Fortress. So, I leaked the whereabouts of the two of them…”

Magistrate Xue stroked his beard and looked up at Li Yun, “You… don’t seem like a man of the underworld.”

Li Yun asked, “Why do you say that, your honor?”

“You have too many schemes—like the intricate roots of a lotus.”

Lord Xue murmured, “Ordinary men of the underworld aren’t so calculating.”

“Those in the underworld aren’t necessarily fools,” Li Yun replied with a smile, “They simply lack the opportunities that those on the court possess. If given the chance, they might not be less clever than the high nobles of the court.”

Magistrate Xue stood up, walked to Li Yun, sighed, and said, “In recent years, the imperial discipline has grown lax. With taxes rising everywhere, banditry has flourished. You are brave and strong, and since you wish to serve the country, I won’t stand in your way.”

Chief Li cupped his fists.

“Rest assured, your honor. I will do my utmost to rid Qingyang of bandits!”

---

The next day, after receiving heartfelt thanks from the Gu family uncle and nephew, Chief Li, calm and collected, ate lunch and then went to the county academy to read.

He sat on a long bench, engrossed in a book detailing the history and government structure of the empire, until someone sat across from him and drew him from his reverie.

“Miss Xue.”

Li Yun closed his book, smiled, and asked, “Is something the matter?”

Xue Yun’er studied Li Yun and spoke softly, “Today my mother said that Gu Cheng’s face was badly beaten, and when he recovers, he’ll likely be left with scars.”

She lowered her head.

“Thank you.”

Li Yun coughed and shook his head, “You misunderstand, Miss Xue. I didn’t do it.”

Seeing his earnest demeanor, Xue Yun’er found it amusing and laughed softly, “You rascal—you may fool them, but you can’t fool me.”

“No matter how well you act, it’s useless.”

Li Yun gave an embarrassed smile.

In Qingyang County, the only person who knew his true identity was Miss Xue. In front of her, many lies simply wouldn’t hold.

He paused, then spoke quietly, “Let’s not talk about this to anyone.”

Xue Yun’er pouted, a little displeased, and frowned, “Who would I tell?”

Li Yun laughed awkwardly, then quickly changed the subject.

“The matter with the Gu family is settled. What are your plans, Miss Xue?”

“What plans could I possibly have?”

Xue Yun’er stood up, glanced at Li Yun, and complained, “Thanks to you, I’ve only one path left—to become a nun.”

---

With those words, she rose and walked away.

Chief Li stood as well, but unsure of what to say, watched Xue Yun’er leave. After a moment of dazed silence, he sat back down and resumed reading his history book.

He knew far too little about this country and this era. All he knew for certain was that it was the third year of Xiande.

This was the fourth reign title of the current emperor of the Great Zhou, and his twenty-second year on the throne.

Though Li Yun had never visited the capital and knew nothing of court affairs, from his experience he could tell the emperor was no great ruler.

At best… an average one.

Perhaps even a fool or a villain.

But Chief Li had no intention of serving as an official, so he didn’t need to delve deeply into the emperor’s character—just a general understanding would suffice.

And so, Chief Li sat in the county academy, meticulously and earnestly reading the history before him.

Far more diligently than any student there.

---

The following morning.

Miss Xue walked briskly back to her study, carrying a wooden box.

Opening it, she found several thread-bound books inside—one or two were woodblock printed, while the rest were handwritten copies.

In fact, in this era, handwritten books were still the majority.

This was why the gentry could still monopolize society’s resources; they maintained a kind of cultural monopoly.

After sorting through them, she selected two books and handed them to her maid, Dong’er, instructing, “Go, deliver these to Head Constable Li.”

Dong’er grinned, taking them with a cheerful, “Yes, miss.”

Miss Xue glared at her, “Stop fooling around—hurry up.”

Dong’er replied, and left in quick steps.

Not long after, she returned carrying the books.

“Miss, Head Constable Li isn’t at the county office anymore.”

Xue Yun’er was leafing through her own book and replied absent-mindedly, “Where did he go?”

“I heard someone say,” Dong’er pondered, “he’s taken people out of town to suppress bandits.”

Hearing this, Xue Yun’er bit her lip in anger and sneered coldly.

“Suppress bandits… suppress bandits…”