Chapter 393: This Subordinate Official Wishes to Try Again

The three of them finished lunch and sat idly for nearly an hour before someone finally came to summon them.

Magistrate Tian stood up. Yan Lao’er helped him straighten his official robes and watched him depart with the attendant.

Only the father and daughter remained in the room.

Without the teacher watching nearby, Yan Lao’er relaxed instantly, losing all sense of proper posture. Yan Yu hopped off her chair, tilting her head and stretching her arms and legs to loosen up.

She sighed. “Meeting a Prince really isn’t easy; we had to wait such a long time. Grandmaster must have calculated it all. Even if we had come after eating, we would still have to wait, so we might as well have come early to scrounge a meal.”

Yan Lao’er didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Could your Grandmaster really be like you, thinking of nothing but food?”

Yan Yu gave a cheeky grin and began wandering around the room.

“This painting looks quite nice, probably worth a lot. And this incense burner, Dad, look at it—it has such an ancient, elegant feel.”

Yan Lao’er leaned in as well, nodding repeatedly. “It does look good. Anything placed in the Prince’s Manor must be the work of a famous master. Let’s stay back a bit and not touch anything.”

Yan Yu agreed wholeheartedly. The father and daughter put their hands behind their backs and inspected the items one by one, offering a few comments on each.

If one didn’t listen to the content and only saw their posture, they looked quite imposing, as if this adult and child were people of great discernment…

A middle-aged man standing in a hidden corner outside the window let out a quiet scoff.

He slowly strolled to the front and gave a light cough at the door. The two inside quickly turned to look.

“My surname is Zheng. I am an internal manager of the Prince’s Manor.”

Manager Zheng was extremely polite and attentive. He asked if the two had enjoyed their lunch, then ordered fruit to be served and fresh tea to be poured. He mentioned that the Prince and Magistrate Tian might be talking for a long time and, with a gentle attitude, told them to wait here without worry.

Upon learning that Yan Lao’er was Magistrate Tian’s disciple, his friendliness increased by another thirty percent.

Between Manager Zheng and Yan Lao’er, one intentionally initiated topics while the other never let the conversation go cold; they chatted quite warmly.

Yan Yu sat to the side, munching on a plum, then a pear, then another plum.

She could see that this Manager Zheng was primarily asking about her Grandmaster and her father.

It was very casual small talk without any obvious focus, all very domestic matters.

But when summarized, it became quite interesting.

It was as if he were deliberately scouting out the backgrounds of her Grandmaster and father.

Manager Zheng asked very skillfully; she wasn’t sure if her father realized it.

However, none of this was secret, so it was right for her father to speak the truth.

Manager Zheng eventually said he had other matters to attend to, looking regretful that he couldn’t chat longer.

After seeing him off, Yan Lao’er gulped down several cups of tea.

He picked up a pear and started crunching away.

“This Manager Zheng… feels like he came to test my depths.” Yan Lao’er looked around warily, lowering his voice as he spoke through a mouthful of fruit.

Who was Yan Yu? She was her father’s precious darling and knew him too well. Even if his words were muffled or if he just made a sound, she could guess what he wanted to say.

“It doesn’t make much sense,” Yan Yu remarked.

Yan Lao’er nodded heavily.

It really didn’t make sense.

What kind of status did he have? It was true he had been taken in as a disciple by Magistrate Tian, but what place was this? This was the Prince Ying’s Manor. And what was an internal manager? He was the chief steward of Prince Ying’s inner household.

As the saying goes, the gatekeeper of a Prime Minister is a seventh-rank official^[1]. This Manager Zheng would have to be treated with courtesy even by her teacher. Why would he chat so warmly with him?

Just because he was a commoner with no official rank?

Or was he truly concerned about Magistrate Tian and asking about his family matters out of kindness?

Yan Lao’er wasn’t an idiot; he didn’t think he was some extraordinary talent who stood out from the crowd.

So why did this Manager Zheng come?

What had he done to attract this person?

Aside from the matter of buying grain, there was nothing else.

The father and daughter didn’t look at each other. They didn’t speak for a long while, just eating and eating.

But in their hearts, they both understood that anyone seeking them out at this time was suspicious.

“I really didn’t expect it,” Yan Lao’er said, mimicking his daughter’s brevity.

But he knew his daughter would understand.

Yan Yu hummed in agreement. “What do we do?”

Clearly, people from the Prince’s Manor were involved here.

“We do what we have to do!” Yan Lao’er said.

So what if the Prince’s Manor was involved? Were they going to stop buying grain just because of them?

Not a chance!

Yan Lao’er added, “No wonder your Grandmaster wanted to flip the table.”

Yan Yu thought back to her Grandmaster’s words in the carriage.

She nodded.

“That explains it. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have the guts.” Yan Yu was referring to Headman Bao, whom they had seen at the Prefectural Government Office earlier.

The Fast Runners were responsible for collecting grain taxes; it was easiest for them to tamper with things. The granary side was definitely in cahoots with them, a nest of vipers. It was an important place, but those weren’t the key people.

Her father was right to look for the headman of the Fast Runners.

But that man certainly wasn’t the one who could make the final decisions.

This was the Prefectural City. This kind of business couldn’t be done without someone protecting it.

She had thought it was some official from the Prefectural Government Office…

She hadn’t expected the internal manager of Prince Ying’s Manor to show his face.

“Did he come out because he thinks we’re stupid?” Yan Lao’er paced around the room once to ensure no one was nearby before asking his daughter.

Yan Yu shook her head. “It’s probably just… having nothing to fear?”

The father and daughter instantly thought of the incident with the sinking crates in the river. Come to think of it, the style was quite similar.

…

“Magistrate Tian did not come for the matter of the memorial report^[2], so why have you come?” Prince Ying’s tone was gentle.

Magistrate Tian’s expression was solemn. He first reported the loss of life and property in Crouching Tiger City and the surrounding countryside. Then, his tone shifted. “…Your Highness, this subordinate official spent three years repairing the border defenses, thinking I could keep the Northern Rong out. I did not expect it to be my own delusion!

The Northern Rong are cunning. They crossed through the mountain forests, tricked their way into the city, and blocked the vital roads between Crouching Tiger, Yongning, and Gufeng. Had the Prefectural City and Gufeng not provided timely aid, the people of Crouching Tiger would not have escaped this calamity.

After this battle, the people have suffered, and I have felt much as well.

Though the village braves fought the enemy with all their might, firstly, they were few in number; secondly, their martial strength was insufficient; and thirdly, they had no place to take cover.

Once the Northern Rong invade again and the border defenses fail to hold, the events of the other day will only repeat themselves.

This subordinate official wishes to request that the village braves be equipped with weapons, and that high towers be built in every village to warn of enemy movements, with cellars dug beneath them for concealment.

Two legs cannot outrun a horse, but they can gather and hide in the towers. From the heights, they can shoot; from below, they can defend. As long as they hold these strongpoints, they can wait for reinforcements to arrive.

Take Xiao’an Village as an example. They did not lose a single person, held their tower to kill the enemy, and when reinforcements arrived, the Rong bandits were wiped out.

I believe this method should be spread throughout the Border Towns.

Build high towers, train with blades and bows—let all of Guanzhou be of one heart to guard our territory!”

Prince Ying smiled.

“Magistrate Tian thinks the method of Xiao’an Village is good and wishes to replicate it. But your Crouching Tiger treasury is empty; where will the silver to build towers come from?

Furthermore, regarding the matter of blades and bows, I already know of that Bamboo Crossbow. Though the materials are cheap, its range is limited and its power is weak. Xiao’an Village could kill the Northern Rong because the enemy was unprepared. But after this battle, they will have learned their lesson and will surely devise countermeasures.

The Northern Rong have invaded for years and succeeded repeatedly; they are not easy opponents. To underestimate them will only lead to greater losses. You should have a deep understanding of this, Magistrate Tian. Three years of repairing the border, and it all came to nothing…”

Prince Ying’s tone never changed, remaining kind, but the sharpness in his words was aimed directly at the man across from him.

Magistrate Tian heard the Prince’s dissatisfaction. He bowed his head and said in a low voice, “It is this subordinate official’s incompetence. However, as long as the Rong bandits do not give up their wicked heart, my Crouching Tiger will never know peace. This subordinate official… wishes to try again. I beg Your Highness’s permission.”

(End of Chapter)