Chapter 328: Report

When Yan Lao’er asked someone else if there might be Northern Rong coming to Guanzhou to buy grain…

The person looked at Yan Lao’er as if he were an idiot.

“How could we possibly sell grain to the Northern Rong!”

“Those bastards only ever rob us of our money and grain, they don’t buy from us. You really dare to imagine such a thing!”

The speaker also knew that Yan Lao’er and his people from Xiao’an Village had just arrived at Crouching Tiger and didn’t understand the situation, so he kindly rambled on a bit more.

He spoke of the Northern Rong’s cruelty and viciousness, how when they entered a village, they left not even a chicken or dog alive^[1].

It wasn’t just money and grain; they also kidnapped people. Unmarried girls, young wives—they’d just snatch them up onto their horses and carry them off. If the Border Army couldn’t hold them back and the Northern Rong gained the upper hand, it was even more brutal; the entire village would be strung together in a line…

In past years, harvest time was when they were most terrified.

Yan Lao’er: “Then this year…”

“Don’t be afraid. Ever since Magistrate Tian strengthened the city defenses that year, no Northern Rong have dared to attack our Crouching Tiger. Those bastards also know our side isn’t easy to attack, they’ve all run off to Longxing and Fengming instead…”

Yan Lao’er thought to himself: So that’s how it is.

No wonder the people of Crouching Tiger were so lacking in vigilance.

These two or three years of peace had blinded them.

They believed Crouching Tiger’s border defenses were impregnable, that if the Northern Rong attacked, they wouldn’t choose this place.

But the world is unpredictable.

Who’s to say those Northern Rong bastards haven’t evolved this time!

Instead of the usual open, hard robbery, they’re playing with tactics now. How despicable are these bastards!

After discussing it, father and daughter agreed this matter was too big. They’d rather be wrong than let it slide.

They had to report to the government office immediately, to prepare early.

……

Deep in the mountain forest, an ox cart and a group of people were gathered together talking.

One man said: “Nam, we’ve got all the passes. What are we still waiting for? Once we trick them into opening the city gates, all of Crouching Tiger’s grain this year will be ours!”

Another also said: “The Great Shaman^[2] said the grasslands were withering, our livestock was growing thin, but the grain inside the pass must have had a good, early harvest. And it’s true! I saw their crops, golden and dazzling like the midday sun. With this grain, we can have a fat year, haha!”

The man called Nam looked no different from the people inside the pass. He was precisely the out-of-prefecture grain merchant mentioned by the various villages of Crouching Tiger.

“I originally wanted the grain to stay in the villages, preferably concentrated, to make it easier for us to transport. I didn’t expect a sudden influx of refugees forming a village, ruining our plans.” Nam’s face was gloomy.

“But it’s not all bad. As long as we find out where that village is, the grain will still be ours.”

“Tu Tuoba, still no news from your brother?” Nam asked a man standing to the side who hadn’t spoken.

The man wasn’t tall and strong like those from beyond the pass; he was very short and thin.

Only his eyebrows and eyes were somewhat rugged.

Tu Tuoba had stayed hidden in the mountain forest, firstly to guard their base, and secondly to wait in the woods for another team of infiltrating companions.

“It’s been so many days without a word, Nam. Abu and the others might have been discovered,” Tu Tuoba said in a rough voice.

His temperament was steadier than his brother’s, and his command of the language inside the pass was good. Besides Nam, Tu Tuoba understood the situation in Guanzhou the best.

He and Nam had infiltrated Guanzhou many times to coordinate with the main army.

Ever since Crouching Tiger strengthened its border defenses, they had come here repeatedly to scout. They hadn’t moved against Crouching Tiger for three years, finally waiting for this moment when they had let their guard down.

That epidemic that swept through like a gust of wind was heaven helping them; the Border Army was busy dealing with the epidemic, making their border defense even more lax.

The two had cooperated for many years and had long developed a tacit understanding.

Nam immediately made a decision.

“We can’t wait any longer. Tu Tuoba, you send word to the main camp. Three days from now at dusk, whether the city gates are open or not, we’ll create a disturbance to draw away the guarding Border Army.”

Tu Tuoba nodded solemnly.

Nam added: “As for that grain-buying village, I’ll go find it myself.”

Currently, the grain was split three ways: the grain tax inside Crouching Tiger City, the grain left in the villages, and the grain bought by that refugee village.

They were going to take it all. Not one bit would get away.

……

Yan Lao’er was lucky. Magistrate Tian had just returned from Gufeng at that moment.

He was somewhat of a familiar face, so the gatekeeper didn’t give him a hard time. After helping him announce his visit, Magistrate Tian immediately let them in.

The front part of the government office was for official business; the rear was where the magistrate lived.

It was only a three-courtyard compound, somewhat small and old, and compared to the front, the rear was even more dilapidated.

The bricks and tiles were uneven, and the paper pasted on the doors and windows had yellowed and curled at the edges.

Magistrate Tian had only brought a few servants with him; his family had not come to Crouching Tiger with him for his posting.

Without a woman managing the household, life was a bit rough.

After Yan Lao’er brought his daughter to pay their respects to the magistrate, the magistrate had someone pour water for them. The servant went away for a while and returned. Yan Yu thanked him and took the cup.

“I just returned, and you came to my door. Is it about the matter of attending school?” Magistrate Tian asked kindly. “Having such a desire to learn is excellent. Come tomorrow to get settled, and start classes formally the day after.”

Yan Lao’er said urgently: “Your Honor, coming here to request an audience isn’t about school. It’s another urgent matter…”

He then recounted in detail the suspicious people and events he had discovered.

“Your Honor, it might be me being overly cautious, but we really can’t afford not to be on guard!” Yan Lao’er said earnestly.

Magistrate Tian’s smile faded. After a moment of thought, he said: “Your concerns are very reasonable.”

He found himself liking Yan Er more and more.

Not only was he an excellent cook, but he was also meticulous and didn’t just follow convention.

Who could guarantee that the Northern Rong wouldn’t change their usual bandit ways and start plotting…

“I will immediately send people to investigate the traces of that group, and I will personally go notify the Border Army.”

Magistrate Tian was worried the Border Army wouldn’t take it seriously.

If he went in person and explained properly, that Banner Commander^[3] Xue would at least have to listen.

Otherwise, this matter based on hearsay might not convince people.

The truth was, the Northern Rong disguising themselves as grain merchants to buy grain—not just in Crouching Tiger, but in the entire Guanzhou—was unprecedented!

Unprecedented!

“Then… about coming to the County School the day after tomorrow…” Yan Lao’er hemmed and hawed, wanting to say that maybe he shouldn’t come for now, given how dangerous it was.

He didn’t expect Magistrate Tian to misunderstand.

He thought Yan Lao’er was worried about not being able to start school on time.

“Don’t worry. I personally supervised the construction of Crouching Tiger’s border defenses. I wouldn’t call them impregnable, but they are very sturdy. Even if the Northern Rong army were to attack, if we are determined to hold fast, reinforcements would arrive swiftly.

Moreover, from what you’ve described, only a few people visited the village under the pretense of buying grain… Tianyou, you may not know this, but Northern Rong infiltrators coming into Guanzhou to gather information happens from time to time. Incidents like what Xiao’an Village experienced with a small group of Northern Rong are not uncommon.

Everything in the city is operating as normal. You can attend school without worry.”

The implication was that even the grain buyers might have been there to gather intelligence.

Hearing Magistrate Tian say this, even though he was unwilling, Yan Lao’er couldn’t very well bring up not coming to school again.

He had no choice but to repeat, once more, what he had seen and heard while inquiring in the various villages.

Magistrate Tian listened again with a smile.

After the father and daughter left, he mentally added another note about this student.

A bit too talkative.

(End of Chapter)