Chapter 91: Good Deed
In Great Ming, privately hiding armor is considered the same as treason, so even noble families, no matter how arrogant, generally do not have armor.
Firearms are also strictly controlled.
Crossbows are also taboo, but controlled much more loosely, especially bows and arrows—as long as hidden in the manor and not shown off, even if the government knows, they turn a blind eye.
Xie Er deliberately concealed the crossbows matter, wanting these sea bandits to be caught off guard when attacking the manor, so he could escape in the chaos.
Unexpectedly, even this little scheme was seen through by this evil ghost. Ghostly things indeed cannot be measured by common sense…
Lin Qian finished speaking and gestured for Bai Langzai to continue.
“Sturdy servants are all ordinary people; once entering the manor, they will also take up weapons to resist.
Local braves only have over twenty patrolling each night, dispersed around outside the manor; gathering all takes time.
The manor’s weapons are mainly swords, few spears.
There’s a kennel at the back door; once smelling human scent, they will bark madly and must be avoided.
Guards take turns patrolling at night, with not too many people at each wall section.
If wanting to act more covertly, figure out the guards’ patrol patterns, throw grappling hooks over the wall from outside, kill the patrolling guards, then enter the inner courtyard—perhaps there’s a chance.”
Lei Sanxiang: “Helmsman, I remember your hometown is in Huangyan County. Do you know this Lin Mansion?”
As soon as these words came out, everyone’s gazes turned over.
Everyone vaguely guessed that Lin Qian had a grudge with Huangyan Lin Clan but didn’t dare ask. Fortunately, the straightforward Lei Sanxiang said it outright, and all held their breath to listen.
Lin Qian sat back in his seat, took a sip of tea, and said: “My family previously was Lin Mansion tenants…”
Everyone’s expressions remained unchanged, clearly having expected it.
Lin Qian continued: “Lin Mansion’s land is fixed tenant rent in silver, one tael of silver per mu. My family originally had five people and rented ten mu of land, so the yearly tenant rent was ten taels of silver.”
After paying one tael of silver per mu, the tenants’ remaining grain was only enough to avoid starvation. Absurdly, this tenant rent in Huangyan County was just average, even slightly below average.
Huangyan Lin Clan is a scholarly farming noble family since the Song Dynasty, with generations in officialdom, well-known throughout Taizhou Prefecture. Also because of their reputation, they showed some mercy to tenants.
“Our family of five, besides farming the land, had Mother, second sister, and third sister spinning yarn and weaving cloth daily. Father and I did odd jobs in the county town during slack farm seasons. Days were tough, but manageable.
Until last year when Yongning River flooded big and inundated all the fields. My family was swept away by the flood—Father, Mother, second sister, third sister… no bodies recovered…”
Lin Qian’s tone was flat. Though this was the original host’s experience, speaking it still stirred anger in his chest.
The original host, a tenant farmer, thought the flood was just a natural disaster.
But Lin Qian could see the tricks in it.
In the restaurant, those listening to Lin Qian all held their breath attentively.
Though most present had never been tenants.
But extending it to merchants, military households, and pearl commoners, it was the same fate and the same empathy.
Lin Qian took a deep breath, suppressed his emotions, and continued flatly: “I was lucky, washed to a tree and stayed on a branch with cockroaches and rats for two days. The flood receded, and I picked up my life.
Lin Master kindly knew the tenants had suffered disaster and specially waived seventy percent of the tenant rent. Ha, good man!”
Lin Qian’s sigh made Xie Er, standing beside, tremble all over as cold sweat poured out uncontrollably, soaking his entire back.
Xie Er lowered his head to the ground, hunched his body, and breathed shallowly, hoping no one would notice him.
Lin Qian continued: “With my family gone and not a copper coin left, I knew how Lin Mansion handled tenants owing rent. To survive, I fled to Yuegang Port and met all you brothers at sea.”
As soon as Lin Qian finished speaking, he said again: “Xie Er.”
Hearing Lin Qian call him was like a dog seeing a stick—Xie Er stiffened all over and forced a smile: “Helmsman Lord.”
“Tell what happened with that flood.”
Xie Er felt every hair on his body screaming for help. Thieving heaven had finally brought Lin Mansion’s sins upon him.
“This little one is Lin Mansion ship manager. How would I know about the flood…”
“I’ll let you speak.” Lin Qian’s voice was calm, his eyes fixed on Xie Er.
Xie Er felt like pierced by two daggers.
Everyone in the cabin turned their gazes over. Xie Er felt like being lingchi all over.
Xie Er gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and whispered: “That water was released by Lin Mansion…”
“What!” Lei Sanxiang flew into a rage, slammed the table hard, knocking over three tea cups with Longjing Tea spilling everywhere.
Lei Sanxiang pointed at Xie Er and cursed: “You black-hearted rotten thief turtle manor, doing such an immoral, line-extincting deed!”
Bai Qing reacted faster and already had her dagger at Xie Er’s neck.
Bai Langzai hurriedly grabbed his sister’s arm: “Helmsman hasn’t ordered it—cannot kill.”
Bai Qing hatefully withdrew the dagger, her eyes glaring at Xie Er with surging murderous aura.
Zheng Zhilong said coldly: “Lin Mansion from top to bottom, elders to infants—all should be killed!”
Chen Jiao said: “People say sea bandits are cruel. Compared to famous noble families, it’s really small sorcery meeting great sorcery.”
Zhou Xiucai unusually didn’t smooth things over: “Doing such acts—heaven abandons them!”
Xie Er hurriedly said: “Lin Mansion also had difficulties.”
“Good thief, I’ll slaughter you!” Lei Sanxiang said and prepared to act.
Lin Qian said flatly: “Brothers, calm down—let him finish.”
Lei Sanxiang snorted a long rough breath from his nose. The weather was slightly chilly, and a wisp of white mist seemed to rise before him.
Xie Er said: “Last August, Taizhou had over ten days of continuous heavy rain. Yongning River and Ling River levels surged. If not releasing the flood, Huangyan County or even Taizhou Prefecture might have been inundated. Lin Master voluntarily sacrificed his own land to divert the flood—weighing two harms and taking the lesser. It can be considered a good deed…”
“Fuck your mother’s good deed!” Lei Sanxiang couldn’t hold back anymore. His face turned ferocious like a man-eating tiger as he slapped the black walnut chair behind him into pieces with one palm.
In two steps he reached Xie Er and raised his fan-like palm. If this palm landed solidly, Xie Er would be beaten to out of breath but unable to breathe in.
Bai Langzai hurriedly stepped forward to hold him back.
“Old Seven, get away!” Lei Sanxiang roared.
With Lei Sanxiang’s immense strength, even Bai Langzai couldn’t control him.
Chen Jiao also came over to hold him and scolded: “Old Three, sober up. Kill this guy, and how do we get revenge?”
Lei Sanxiang’s eyes cleared instantly. Right—Xie Er was their key to entering Lin Mansion. Kill him, and how to kill Lin Master’s whole family?
Lin Qian said: “This trip to Lin Mansion isn’t for killing people.”
Everyone looked at him in surprise.
Lei Sanxiang: “Not for killing—what for?”
“Silver.” Lin Qian said slowly.
Huangyan Lin Clan is a famous Zhejiang family, quite renowned in the province—especially the people of Taizhou Prefecture and Huangyan County, grateful for their destroying fields to divert the flood.
Once massacred clan-wide, it would be a shocking major case sure to reach the emperor’s ears. Even with Red Pill Case pending, it might not be suppressed.
Then it would attract Imperial Court attention and follow-up investigation, destroying his just-established favorable situation.
Moreover, once killing wantonly, his group’s reputation would be ruined. Labeled with Japanese Pirates infamy, developing and growing would be hard.
But not killing indiscriminately doesn’t mean no revenge.
