Chapter 92: Plan To Attack The Mansion
By the end of Great Ming, the commodity economy was highly developed. Even a great clan like Huangyan Lin Clan couldn’t possibly be completely self-sufficient by digging food from the soil; they needed sufficient silver for turnover.
What Lin Qian had to do was squeeze dry every tael of silver in Lin Mansion.
Make this noble family that had lasted over four hundred years decline, with the master, madam, young masters, and misses of the mansion wandering the streets, dying in poverty, leaving a clean white vast land.
This was far more satisfying than killing someone with one knife.
Lin Qian explained his idea to the brothers, and understanding expressions appeared on everyone’s faces.
Lei Sanxiang apologetically scratched his head: “The Helmsman thinks thoroughly. Why does my brain only know killing? Elder Brother, you too, knowing I’m impulsive, yet you didn’t hold me back.”
Chen Jiao said irritably: “I was afraid you’d smash me to death like a chair.”
Lei Sanxiang looked at the Walnut Chair smashed into wood fragments and said embarrassedly: “I’ll compensate for this one.”
Lin Qian said: “A broken chair, what’s to compensate? Just bring another one to sit on.”
Lei Sanxiang scratched his head, fetched a new chair as instructed, and sat down.
“I already have a preliminary plan.” Lin Qian stood up and pointed at the Lin Mansion Map.
Xie Er saw this and prepared to walk out of the Cabin.
Lin Qian called to him: “Stay and discuss it together.”
Xie Er bowed and smiled obsequiously: “Helmsman Lord, after all, I’m an outsider.”
Lin Qian: “He who understands the times is a hero. If you help us pull off this job, you’re in the gang, and you’ll get a share of the silver robbed from Lin Mansion. If you leave this door, after we rob Lin Mansion, I’ll give you one knife.”
“Helmsman…” Chen Jiao wanted to advise, but Lin Qian stopped him with a gesture.
Xie Er struggled internally for a long time, finally figured it out, gritted his teeth and said: “Master Lin… no, Lin Jiren acts perversely, I’ve long been unable to stand it. Today, favored by Helmsman Lord not abandoning me and taking me into the gang, from now on I’m willing to go through fire and water, swearing to follow to the death!”
Lin Qian nodded and said to Bai Langzai: “That finger of his, after the discussion find Doctor Su to reattach it.”
Bai Qing said: “No need for such trouble.” She stepped forward and reattached Xie Er’s broken left pinky finger.
Xie Er immediately let out a miserable scream.
“All good.” Bai Qing said.
Xie Er was in too much pain to even say thanks.
Lin Qian ignored him and pointed at Lin Mansion Back Door: “There’s a River Wharf at Lin Mansion Back Door. The river connects to Yongning River on one end. We’ll take Bird Ships by water route there, with the Galleon rendezvousing at the Ling River sea mouth.”
Previously, among the over fifty ships captured after defeating Li Kuiqi, there were over ten single-mast Bird Ships. These ships had slender hulls, using sails with wind and oars without, with excellent seaworthiness.
Though sea ships, they had shallow drafts, suitable for river navigation.
Lin Qian continued: “There’s a water channel inside the mansion connecting to the River Wharf, but it’s narrow, allowing only Small Boats through. We’ll disembark at the River Wharf, dive into the water to enter the mansion.”
Bai Langzai reminded: “Helmsman, the back door has a dog kennel.”
Lin Qian said: “We’ll use Meat Buns laced with Meng Han Medicine. Have Chen Bo steam the buns, Doctor Su prepare the Meng Han Medicine. Yiguan, you handle this.”
Zheng Zhilong stood up to receive the order.
Last time treating wounds, the anesthetic Su Kang used was evidently a similar component to Meng Han Medicine.
But Su Kang had a foul and stubborn temper; sending the smooth-talking Zheng Zhilong to coax him was most appropriate.
Lin Qian continued drawing lines on the map: “After entering the mansion, split into three routes. Left and right routes climb the high walls and deal with the Guards on the walls.
Middle route enters the inner mansion, deals with the inner Guards, gathers Lin Mansion Family Members in one place, and moves the silver to the Backyard Women’s Hall.
After left route personnel finish the Guards on the walls, rendezvous with middle route at Women’s Hall, and load silver onto the ships.
Right route personnel stay at Courtyard Wall on sentry and alert.
At dawn, use two shorts and one long three Clapper sounds as the signal to withdraw from Lin Mansion together.”
After hearing this plan, everyone inwardly cheered, gaining more confidence in the matter.
Chen Jiao thought for a moment: “Crew Members are used to blades and guns, not intimidated by sword-fighting Guards, but what if they really have Crossbows?”
Lin Qian: “We’ll prepare Crossbow Bolts too, and need Shields.”
Shooting arrows is a technical skill; Crew Members couldn’t train in time now, but Crossbow Bolts were much simpler to use.
The only problem was that Crossbow Bolts and Shields were contraband; even with silver, there was no way to buy them.
Luckily, there was a ready Naval Camp on Nan’ao Island. Even the greediest Great Ming generals would have a dozen suitable sets of Equipment in a Garrison of five thousand on paper.
Lin Qian said: “Besides Crossbow Bolts and Shields, if there is light Armor, grab a few sets, plus fine steel-forged Swords and other weapons. Elder Brother, handle this; start with Garrison Commander Huang.”
Chen Jiao: “Yes.”
Lin Qian said to Lei Sanxiang: “Crew Members rarely see sword fights, and have never seen Crossbows or Shields. Training over the next few days, hand to Third Brother.”
Lei Sanxiang patted his chest: “Leave it to me.”
Lin Qian said to Bai Qing: “Bai Qing, the mansion-robbing plan is just an outline. It still needs adjustment based on Lin Mansion Guards’ shift times, night action routes, inner mansion masters’ and servants’ routines, and other specifics. Scouting all the intel, hand to you. This time, don’t act recklessly.”
Bai Qing cupped her hands: “Helmsman, rest assured.”
Lin Qian thought about it and still felt uneasy. He said to Bai Langzai: “Go with your sister, and bring Xie Er too. He knows the mansion interior and might be useful.”
“Yes.” Bai Langzai replied.
Zheng Zhilong said: “Helmsman, just having me get Meng Han Medicine—isn’t that too simple? Is there anything else I can help with?”
Lin Qian said: “I left you one more thing. At the Ling River sea mouth, there’s a Garrison called Haimen Guard. Without passing Haimen Guard checkpoint, we can’t enter the inner river. Whether to bribe with silver or detour at night, you decide. This difficult task is yours.”
Zheng Zhilong excitedly cupped his fists: “Understood!”
Zhou Xiucai stood and said: “Helmsman, what do I do?”
Lin Qian didn’t assign Zhou Xiucai a task, since he couldn’t help with fighting.
But after thinking, he realized he had missed a major matter.
Lin Qian asked: “After Li Kuiqi died, on Fujian-Guangdong seas, who is the biggest Sea Bandit force?”
Everyone looked at each other, thinking: “Isn’t it us?”
Lin Qian realized the question was off and added: “Besides us.”
Chen Jiao said: “It should be Yuan Jin and Li Zhong; these two forces are evenly matched.”
Zheng Zhilong vaguely guessed Lin Qian’s intent: probably find a Sea Bandit leader to be the scapegoat.
So Zheng Zhilong said: “Going north along Fujian, on Zhejiang and South Zhili seas, there are also several big Sea Bandits, among them the Shuangyu Ship Master is the most famous.”
Lin Qian thought and said: “This crime isn’t big; first pick a small Sea Bandit to use. Second Brother, scout Yuan Jin and Li Zhong: their features and appearances, subordinate numbers, hideouts—this is yours.”
Zhou Xiucai said: “Got it!”
Yuan Jin and Li Zhong were just small Sea Bandits, acting recklessly with many flaws, unlike Li Kuiqi’s hard-to-track traces. Handing it to Zhou Xiucai to investigate should be fine.
Xie Er listened on the side, already stunned, thinking to himself: “This level of preparation—which looks like robbing Lin Mansion silver? It’s just like attacking Taizhou Prefecture City!”
“Helmsman.” Zheng Zhilong said, “Water Gates usually have iron bars; better to use Grappling Hooks to climb the walls faster.”
“No Grappling Hooks.” Lin Qian said calmly. “Breaking the Water Gate, I’ll handle.”
Such rich families’ Courtyard Walls, to prevent hooks, used polished green bricks with Mortar seams, made extremely smooth and flat. Some wall tops even had tiles laid, so Grappling Hooks had no purchase.
To get in, they had to break the Water Gate first.
