Chapter 55: The Most Carefree Mission

Li Damu, the accountant Li, was undoubtedly the most carefree person amid this turmoil.

Even Zhang, the eldest young master, had lost his usual ease and peace of mind.

Originally, he was the one who most wished his father would return late, but now he was anxiously dispatching men to Phoenix Manor to search for Zhang Yunyi.

Yet Li the accountant remained utterly at ease.

His most important task now was not tallying accounts but spending time with Miss Xiaotan.

This was the assignment Yang Can had entrusted to him—and one he greatly enjoyed.

After another round of hard work, Li the accountant staggered weakly out of the room.

He felt he had been overworked lately and decided to rest tomorrow.

“Ah, Miss Qingmei.”

Suddenly, Miss Qingmei appeared from the opposite corridor with a weary expression. Li hurriedly smiled and greeted her.

This young lady had slipped through Steward Yang’s bedroom, so she could not be neglected.

“Oh, it’s Mr. Li,” Qingmei replied with a tired face.

Dealing with those peasants who prattled endlessly about their ancestors was truly exhausting.

She rubbed her sore cheeks and shook her hand, cramped from writing.

Li watched her and was a little surprised—was Steward Yang really that demanding?

Just look at how worn out Miss Qingmei was.

“What are you staring at?” Qingmei asked sharply, surprised.

“Oh, nothing, nothing. Ahem, Miss Qingmei... thank you for your hard work.”

“Hmph, no need to tell me—I’m obviously tired. Though I volunteered, Steward Yang can’t treat me like a beast of burden.”

Qingmei grumbled resentfully, and Li felt a chill down his spine.

Such fierce words—were they safe to say aloud?

If you dared speak them, I was sure to hear them.

Li Damu now held nothing but reverence for Yang Can.

This Steward Yang was cunning beyond measure; he simply couldn’t be defeated.

Unable to win, one might as well join and become a lackey.

That was Mr. Li’s principle in handling affairs.

...

At present, the only prominent figures in Feng’an Manor not yet summoned by Yang Can for a “tea meeting” were Zhang’s own relatives and the military commander Kang Zhengyang.

Feng’an Manor was a large estate capable of mobilizing about five hundred troops.

The position of military commander was originally a military rank in the previous dynasty, carried over by the eight clans and now used to designate the leaders of private armed forces.

Because these troops had military characteristics, they could not be commanded by the manor lord or local town or fortress leaders.

Instead, they were directly under the control of the clan heads.

Decisions on appointing and managing the commanders were made by them.

However, the troops served as soldiers in wartime and civilians in peacetime.

Thus, they were still subject to some control by the manor lords.

As a result, commanders inevitably had to interact frequently with manor lords.

Moreover, since the clans rarely went to war with each other, commanders and manor lords had closer relations.

Sometimes, the troops acted as enforcers for the manor lords, playing the role of henchmen.

But in any case, the troops and their commanders were the least influenced by manor lords within a village.

Commander Kang Zhengyang was now smiling as he caressed the “Yang Can plow.”

His expression was as tender as a man in his twenties stroking the smooth skin of his wife.

This was the second such “Yang Can plow” he had acquired.

To get hold of two of these coveted new plows in such short order was thanks to his position as commander.

The Kang family had three brothers and four sisters—a large household.

With these new plows, even if each Kang family only saved one strong laborer, they could pool their efforts to accomplish something significant.

...

Kang Zhengyang had already planned to gather the extra labor from his relatives and friends, and also recruit family members of troops close to him.

This way, he could build a small trading caravan centered on the Kang family.

They would pool funds from all branches to trade with the Xianbei tribes.

They planned to buy iron pots, salt, tea, and cloth in Tianshui City and sell them to the Xianbei.

In return, they would trade felt blankets, honey, beeswax, and medicinal herbs such as angelica and astragalus back to Tianshui.

The round trip was not too far, and Feng’an Manor as the hub could generate profits.

Just as he was about to send his son to call his brothers and brothers-in-law to discuss the plan, an unexpected visitor arrived.

It was Leopard-Head Cheng Dakuan.

Cheng Dakuan and Kang Zhengyang were well acquainted, the two strongest fighters in Feng’an Manor, familiar since childhood.

Over twenty years ago, they competed for the position of troop leader, and Kang had prevailed.

Furious, Leopard-Head Cheng left for Phoenix Manor and became a guard.

After years of hard work, Cheng’s rise once surpassed Kang’s.

But now he had been reduced to his original state, still subordinate to Kang.

Yet, sitting cross-legged on the Kang family kang bed, he showed no shame.

Opposite him, Kang looked heavy-hearted.

“Commander Kang, our Lord Yang asks for little.

Once Zhang Yunyi returns to the manor, you only need to show loyalty outwardly and secretly follow Lord Yang’s orders.

In doing so, all your interests will be preserved; Lord Yang will not harm you.”

Kang Zhengyang remained silent with a stern face.

Leopard-Head curled his lips: “Commander Kang, your skills can’t match mine.

You must have figured out how you rose to the troop leader position all these years ago.

Zhang’s family thought you easier to control, so they recommended you to our then commander.”

Kang felt cornered and said coldly, “Why tell me this? Planning to dig up old grudges?”

Leopard-Head replied, “I’m just telling you, Zhang Yunyi owes you no favors.

Now the Zhang family faces great disaster; don’t deceive yourself.

If Zhang Yunyi falls, do you think you won’t be implicated at all?”

Kang sneered, “Implicated? Like you, dragged down completely?”

“You…” Leopard-Head’s hair stood on end in rage.

Then suddenly, he thought better of it, sneered, and sat back down.

“If you don’t get wise, when Zhang Yunyi falls, the one who replaces you as commander will be me, Leopard-Head.”

Kang ignored the threat, pondering for a moment before speaking slowly:

“So you mean taking down Lord Zhang isn’t the clan head’s will?”

“Of course not, otherwise why come to me?

But do you think, given the situation and the backing of the young mistress of the first branch, the clan head would protect Zhang Yunyi?”

Certainly not.

It was in the clan head’s interest to crack down on these estates marked by the second branch’s influence.

How could he guarantee Zhang Yunyi?

Zhang Yunyi was like a local tyrant in Feng’an Manor, but at Phoenix Manor, he was merely a petty landlord scheming everywhere.

After long thought, Kang finally raised his head.

“You didn’t give me a heads-up before coming today.

So I won’t entertain you; next time then.”

Though Leopard-Head had no formal education, he understood Kang’s words perfectly.

“Hahaha, you may not match me in combat, but your wit is sharper.

If I had your brains, I wouldn’t have struggled for so many years just to become a guard captain.”

Kang grimly jabbed him in the chest.

“You were the former guard captain; now, you’re nothing.”

...

The day after Kang agreed to cooperate with Yang Can, Zhang Yunyi, the great manor lord whom the stewards at the granary had anxiously awaited, finally “returned.”

There were two armed forces in Feng’an Manor that Yang Can dared not overlook.

A cornered Zhang Yunyi might dare to turn against him.

People from the Central Plains could flee to Longshan; why couldn’t those from Longshan flee to the Central Plains?

If Yang Can neglected this, disaster could strike unexpectedly.

Now, the troops under Kang Zhengyang were firmly on his side.

The most powerful armed force in Feng’an Manor was under his control.

The other armed force consisted of bodyguards personally chosen and trained by Zhang Yunyi.

Yang Can had no intention of recruiting them and made no show of guarding against them.

Zhang Yunyi was openly captured and brought back, locked in the granary in front of these bodyguards.

As manor lord, Zhang Yunyi had privileges.

For example, the granary where he was imprisoned contained only himself.

“Mr. Li, what’s going on? How did the manor lord get brought back by Steward Yang?

Is it possible... is the clan head trying to deal with our manor lord?”

Miss Xiaotan’s face paled, and she anxiously grabbed Li Damu’s sleeve, tears welling.

She bore no particular feelings for Zhang Yunyi, though she had been with him once.

But now, all her livelihood came from the Zhang family.

If the Zhangs fell, what would become of a young woman like her?

Li Damu’s face darkened, and he ground his teeth.

“Yang Can, that cunning steward, even fooled me!”

He patted Xiaotan’s hand to comfort her.

“Don’t be afraid.

This isn’t the clan head’s doing.

If it were, it wouldn’t be so troublesome.”

Xiaotan’s face brightened.

“So... can we send someone to complain to the clan head?”

Li sneered.

“The manor lord had twelve experts but couldn’t reach Phoenix Manor.

Now he’s a prisoner.

Do you think anyone else can get there?”

Xiaotan’s face fell.

“Mr. Li, then what do we do?”

Li replied solemnly:

“This is clearly a scheme by the young mistress of the main branch.

You saw it—everyone Yang employed was sent by her.

They pretended to be farming advisors or plow makers, nonsense!

But don’t worry too much.”

Li pulled the petite woman into his arms and gently soothed her:

“Even if the Zhang family falls, I will protect you.

A lowly maid like you, Yang Can wouldn’t deliberately harm.”

Xiaotan fought back nausea, kissed Li’s cheek tenderly, and said with affection:

“Well then... I’m counting completely on you, sir.”

“Rest assured, rest assured.”

“But, Mr. Li, will our manor lord really fall like this?”

“Fall? More than that!”

Li’s face darkened with fear as he spoke each word clearly:

“Xiaotan, you don’t yet understand.

Look at Yang Can:

His demeanor is gentle and courteous like a refined gentleman;

But his heart is that of a serpent and wolf.

He hides his claws and sharpness like a silent abyss;

Once he seizes his prey, he will not stop until death.

His strikes thunderous and terrifying, each one breaking the heart and soul;

His intentions ruthless and cruel, cutting down all like weeds.

Though his venom is not the worst, nor his poison the deadliest,

He regards human life as mere grass,

And discards the natural order like worn-out shoes.”

Xiaotan’s face turned pale with shock.

“Mr. Li, what do you mean by this?”

Li the accountant said grimly:

“Zhang Yunyi is doomed! The Zhang family is finished!”