Chapter Eighty-Four: The Bandits of Hexi!
“These past few days, Sima Cao has been around and often calls me in for questioning,” Li Yun said with a smile, handing a book back to Miss Xue. “Plus, there’s so much to deal with at Ten Kings Mountain, so I haven’t come to see you.”
Miss Xue took the book, turning her face away. “Go about your own business, who needs you to come visit anyway?”
Such words could not be answered. Li Yun could only smile and ask, “What have you been busy with lately, Miss Xue?”
“Studying the Daoist Canon,” she replied, casting a sidelong glance at Li Yun. “Once I truly understand its teachings, I’ll leave home and become a Daoist priestess.”
At this, Li Yun could only offer an awkward smile, unable to respond. After all, the matter did indeed involve him; though he was not the one who caused it, now that he was Li Yun, he had to shoulder the consequences.
Miss Xue’s lifelong affairs had been delayed by the former Li Yun. Though she had safely returned to Qingyang, and most of the townsfolk believed she was rescued by Captain Li, untouched by mountain bandits, the matter would take a year or two to settle.
After that, if Miss Xue were to marry, it would be considered “marrying beneath her station,” for she had indeed made a promise to another.
Magistrate Xue’s quiet fondness for Li Yun was, in part, due to this very reason.
“And you?” Miss Xue looked up at him. “What have you been doing? You’re never around.”
Suddenly, she blurted out, “Did you go looking for someone even prettier, planning to bring her up the mountain as well?”
Li Yun was momentarily stunned, then recalled his boast when he sent her down the mountain: he would find a more beautiful woman to be his wife.
It had only been a convenient excuse to send her away, yet she remembered it.
Wisely, Li Yun did not respond. Instead, he produced a string of pearl bracelets from his robe and placed it by Miss Xue’s side with a smile. “This is something I found while suppressing bandits at Ten Kings Mountain. Miss Xue has looked after me these past months; I’d like you to have it.”
He had found this bracelet in Ten Kings Mountain’s storeroom and, for reasons unknown, slipped it into his pocket.
“Ah!” Miss Xue cried out in surprise, hurriedly standing and looking at him. “What… what are you doing?”
Her exclamation startled Li Yun, and thinking he’d done something inappropriate, he hastily withdrew the bracelet, waving his hand. “I meant nothing by it. I saw this bracelet in the mountain, thought it was good, so I brought it back…”
Miss Xue glared at him. After a long moment, she bit her lip and extended her hand. “Give it here.”
Li Yun quickly handed it over.
She glanced at it, tucked it into her sleeve, then sat once more beneath the pavilion. Looking up at Li Yun, she said, “I have a question for you.”
Li Yun breathed a sigh of relief, smiling. “Ask away.”
“Who taught you to read? You’re not preparing for the exams—why spend your days reading?”
“I learned by reading a lot.”
“As for reading,” Li Yun smiled, “books are wonderful things. Sometimes, a lifetime’s experience is condensed into a single slim volume, or even a few words. If you truly understand them, you benefit for life.”
Miss Xue regarded him thoughtfully, finally saying, “You are indeed a studious man.”
She clutched the bracelet within her sleeve, then stood and looked at Li Yun. “My father said, when the Imperial Inspector arrives next year, he’ll likely want you by his side. If you perform well, you might be granted a position.”
“Is that what you’ve been thinking about?”
Li Yun considered carefully. The arrival of the Inspector would indeed impact his future; whether to recruit or suppress, it would involve him. He nodded with a smile. “I am preparing, but not for an official post.”
Miss Xue stood, heading toward her residence. After a few steps, she turned, her cheeks flushing. “Dong’er is such a chatterbox. Whatever she says, you… you mustn’t take it seriously.”
With that, she hurried away in little steps.
Li Yun watched her go, finding it amusing. Yet, a strange tremor stirred within him, making Miss Xue appear more enchanting than ever.
He paused, then felt his heart, stunned.
Is it you affecting me? he asked himself.
Since coming to this world, Li Yun had changed, most noticeably in his temperament—sometimes reckless, sometimes violent—traits the original Li Yun never possessed.
Clearly, he was influenced, in part, by Li Mazi.
And Miss Xue was the object of the old Li Yun’s infatuation, his dream girl.
No one answered him.
Li Yun looked up at the sky, and from the depths of his soul, he seemed to hear a response.
I am you.
……
Time soon brought them to the last month of the third year of Xiande, with only ten days left before the New Year.
At the gate of the house Li Yun rented in Qingyang County, he was being pressed by a subordinate constable, who grinned broadly, forcing a fat rooster into Li Yun’s hands. “Boss, you have looked after us so well these past six months. My mother said this chicken must be given to you, or she won’t let me eat at home.”
Six months of suppressing bandits had made the members of the theft squad much more comfortable—not wealthy, but at least well-off.
As the saying goes, milk is mother—perhaps not quite suited to kinship, but in matters of work, it fits perfectly. Li Yun’s authority in the county yamen was now second only to Magistrate Xue.
His men respected him deeply, for the wages he paid were better than those of the government.
After handing over the rooster, the constable turned away, leaving Li Yun standing at his door, helpless.
He could only carry the rooster inside, where Li Zheng, Zhang Hu, and Liu Bo—newly arrived in Qingyang—waited with smiles.
Liu Bo stepped forward, taking the rooster. “Second Brother is truly respected in Qingyang,” he said with a grin.
Li Yun ignored him, went inside, and sat in the main hall. Looking up at Liu Bo, he asked, “How are things at Ten Kings Mountain?”
“And…” Li Yun smiled, “Chief Liu, why have you come to Qingyang in person? Aren’t you afraid I’ll throw you in jail?”
Liu Bo set the rooster in the corner, laughing. “Ten Kings Mountain has been idle lately. There’s plenty of grain on the mountain, and all we need is meat from below. It’s peaceful.”
“I was bored, so I brought Huzi along to visit Second Brother.”
He paused, then continued, “Also, the Fang fellow from Xuanzhou seems convinced we’re from Ten Kings Mountain. He came up a few days back, wanting to do business.”
Li Yun took a sip of tea. “What business?”
“He said he has smuggled goods and other shady dealings.”
“I told him it’s almost the New Year; whatever he wants, let him come after the festival, and sent him away.”
“For transporting goods, we’ll do it if it’s right, but for other matters, we’ll consider carefully.”
Li Yun added, “We follow the rules of the Cangshan stronghold.”
The rule of Cangshan was not to harm common folk.
Liu Bo nodded in agreement. “Understood, Second Brother.”
Li Yun patted his shoulder. “The New Year is upon us. After the festival, let’s aim to have over two hundred able-bodied men at Ten Kings Mountain.”
Liu Bo glanced at Li Zheng, then scratched his head. “Second Brother, a hundred men is enough to hold Ten Kings Mountain. Why so many?”
“If there are two hundred, with their families, we’ll have over four hundred.”
He blinked. “Second Brother, are you planning to seize Qingyang and bring Second Sister-in-law back to the mountain?”
“Nonsense,” Li Yun laughed, then looked to Li Zheng. “Skinny Monkey, you explain.”
Li Zheng nodded and said, “Old Nine, ten days ago, the new magistrate in Shidai was ambushed by dozens on the roadside, severely injured, nearly killed.”
“His concubine was slain on the spot.”
Liu Bo scratched his head. “What does that have to do with us?”
Li Yun set down his tea, speaking slowly. “The attackers claim to be the bandits of Hexi.”
“They are openly rebelling against the court.”
Skinny Monkey patted Liu Bo’s shoulder, whispering, “Second Brother means there’s more than one group of Hexi bandits out there. Chaos could break out at any moment.”
“When that happens, we mountain bandits may not survive. While Qingyang is still peaceful, we must expand our ranks.”
Liu Bo, though unfamiliar with the events at Hexi Village, was close to Li Yun and had heard the story. He frowned. “Was it the Meng family?”
Li Zheng glanced at Li Yun, who was sipping tea, and nodded.
“It should be.”
(End of this chapter)