Chapter 87: Recruit and Pacify
Zheng Tai roared curses from within the net, “You blind bastards! Do you know who this Lord is? How dare you capture me! I say you’ll never be recruited and pacified! Just wait for the Imperial Court to flatten Shenju Mountain! Don’t leave a single one alive…”
The little girl paid no attention to his words.
Her fierce eyes seemed to know no fear.
Shenju Mountain was full of traps.
She pulled a wooden lever behind a large tree, and with a “whoosh,” the net containing Zheng Tai shot up into the air, traveling dozens of zhang along a thick vine before landing in a subterranean prison.
Zheng Tai’s curses faded into the distance.
Finally, some peace and quiet.
The followers trapped in the pit trembled in fear. Only Zou Cheng remained calm. He did not beg for mercy, nor did he attempt to escape. He merely called out, asking the hidden attackers to reveal themselves, stating that they could settle matters amicably and he was willing to go down the mountain to his residence to discuss ransom.
A burly bandit named Wu Tong, upon hearing this, moved to step forward but was stopped by the little girl.
The little girl shook her head, pulled Wu Tong aside, and said, “Have you forgotten what Uncle said? It’s better to face an enemy in the open than to be ambushed, and it’s better for us to be hidden than for them to be. We cannot show ourselves. These are big fish; we’ll wait to report to Uncle before we reel them in.”
Wu Tong pinched her nose, “You’re a child with the wisdom of an adult.”
The little girl picked many small white flowers in the wilderness and skipped merrily towards the depths of the mountain.
On a shady hillside, more than a dozen graves were buried.
The little girl sat before the grave in the farthest corner. This one was newly dug, buried not long ago. She circled the grave with the small white flowers she held.
“Daddy, Mommy, these flowers are beautiful, aren’t they? I know you can see them. Uncle said if I’m good, you’ll come back often. Uncle also said you killed many Tartars. People have ideals, bamboo has integrity. I lost my parents, but other children like me won’t lose theirs.”
The little girl spoke for a long time before returning to the mountain stronghold.
Uncle was in the main hall discussing matters.
Huh?
The mountain stronghold was so lively today, with many unfamiliar people.
The little girl sneaked into the main hall and hid behind a wolf-skin stool, covering Uncle’s eyes with her hands.
The One-Eyed Dragon was not surprised at all. His voice suddenly became very gentle, “Let me guess who you are. You are Wu Tong, oh, no, you are Bing Si…”
He deliberately guessed incorrectly, his interest piqued.
The little girl giggled.
Feng Gao, sitting beside them, was seriously discussing the matter of recruitment and pacification. He was somewhat surprised to see this scene. The One-Eyed Dragon, who had been prickly, stern, and meticulously chose every word he spoke, seemed to have transformed into someone else.
The tense atmosphere was softened by the little girl’s laughter.
The little girl released her hands, feigned a frown, and said to the One-Eyed Dragon, “Uncle, you’re getting dumber.”
The One-Eyed Dragon replied, “Yes, you’re the smartest, little one.”
The little girl noticed Feng Gao sitting nearby and stared at him, “Who are you?”
Feng Gao cleared his throat and, after a moment’s thought, said, “I am… your Uncle’s friend.”
“What’s your name?” the little girl asked directly.
The One-Eyed Dragon quickly said, “Little one, go play. Later, Uncle will eat roast chicken with you.”
Feng Gao’s narrow eyes held a trace of remembrance of past events.
The little girl’s appearance reminded him of his Elder Sister from long ago. He was momentarily lost in thought. Over ten years ago, his Elder Sister was just like this. Fearless, opinionated, with a pair of eyes full of cunning. Back then, he thought his Elder Sister was the most capable person in the world. She held his hand, braving storms and snow, living bravely in a heartless world.
Feng Gao looked at the little girl and asked, “And you, what’s your name?”
The little girl patted her chest frankly and said, “My name is Cherry. Everyone in the stronghold calls me ‘little one.’ Since you’re Uncle’s friend, I’ll look out for you. If you mention me on the mountain, the people in the stronghold won’t bother you.”
What familiar words.
I’ll look out for you.
Feng Gao smiled, a hint of tenderness on his cold lips, “Oh? Is that so? Are you telling the truth?”
“Of course!” The little girl was a little annoyed by his doubt, “I never lie!”
“Good, I believe you.”
At that time, he had said the same thing to Sang Yu.
“Elder Sister, I believe you.”
The little girl smiled and reached out to touch Feng Gao’s Official Robes.
She didn’t seem to find him frightening at all.
At that moment, Wu Tong entered with a few people and knelt on the ground, saying, “Great Chieftain, the ‘fish’ locked in the cellar is foaming at the mouth, pretending to be dead! What should we do?”
“What fish?” the One-Eyed Dragon asked.
“The one the little one caught today. Quite the act…”
The One-Eyed Dragon suddenly realized something, glanced at Feng Gao, and quickly interrupted Wu Tong, “Get out! We are in a meeting here! We’ll talk about it later!”
“Yes!”
Wu Tong left.
Feng Gao narrowed his eyes and asked, “I implore the Great Chieftain not to conceal anything from me that might be detrimental to the recruitment and pacification. The Emperor’s heart is unpredictable; any misstep would be bad for both you and me.”
The One-Eyed Dragon rapidly considered his options. Feng Gao was from the Imperial Court. He couldn’t be fully trusted.
He had his subordinates bring out some dishes and said to Feng Gao, “Director Feng, please enjoy the food and wine. I’ll be right back.”
Saying this, he picked up Cherry and headed towards the cellar.
Trouble.
It really was Zheng Tai.
That vindictive Maternal Uncle of the Emperor.
Last time, Zheng Tai had harbored resentment towards Shenju Mountain after the incident of the interrupted wedding.
The setup in the warehouse was likely an attempt to indirectly lead the Imperial Court to send troops to suppress the bandits and eliminate those who displeased him.
Today, Zheng Tai was dawdling, not arriving with Feng Gao. He was dressed in a dissolute manner, disguised as a wealthy merchant, showing no trace of official bearing.
Cherry had mistakenly captured him.
Now, even if he were released and an apology offered, it would be irrecoverable. Zheng Tai would surely press his advantage.
Keeping him imprisoned would likely escalate the situation.
Caught between a wolf in front and a tiger behind, he could neither advance nor retreat.
As for Feng Gao, the One-Eyed Dragon was unsure of his stance. The Eastern Depot had a notorious reputation. Shenju Mountain had no intention of being recruited and pacified in the first place. With this incident occurring at this juncture, it was possible Feng Gao would use the Maternal Uncle as leverage to threaten Shenju Mountain into accepting all of the Imperial Court’s conditions.
At this moment, the One-Eyed Dragon felt an unprecedented dilemma.
Cherry seemed to understand the One-Eyed Dragon’s expression. She widened her eyes and asked, “Uncle, did I cause trouble?”
The One-Eyed Dragon couldn’t bear to blame her.
What fault did a child have?
Moreover, her biological parents had died heroically fighting the Tartars just over ten days ago. She was the orphan of a warrior. As the Great Chieftain of Shenju Mountain, he had a responsibility to raise her.
He would bear the brunt of everything.
He carried Cherry back to the main hall. The food on the table had not been touched; Feng Gao had already left.
A cloud of foreboding settled over the One-Eyed Dragon’s heart.
He said to Cherry, “Little one, from now on, no matter who asks, do not say that you were the one who captured the person in the cellar, understand? I captured him.”
“Why?” Cherry asked.
“Listen to Uncle,” the One-Eyed Dragon said firmly.
By the time Feng Gao descended from Shenju Mountain, it was already dusk.
I was at the Zhu Family Wine Shop, going over accounts with Hua Lian.
With the reputation of Tribute Wine, the wine shop’s business had become even better. The current staff at the counter were overwhelmed, so Hua Lian had hired seven or eight more shop assistants. From morning till night, the accounts were numerous. Fortunately, Hua Lian was cautious and meticulous, going through each entry without error.
“Send five-tenths of this silver to the Jia’an Money House in the east of the city and deposit it,” I said to Hua Lian.
“Okay,” Hua Lian replied and went off.
Feng Gao walked in, and I handed him a cup of hot tea, “Dou Ya, how did things go?”
He paced to the backyard.
I wiped my hands and followed him.
“Elder Sister, I just went to the Zheng Residence. I can confirm that Zheng Tai has had an accident.”
“What happened to him?”
“Most likely, he was mistakenly captured by the bandits on Shenju Mountain.”
Since the Imperial Decree required Zheng Tai to assist in the recruitment and pacification, Zheng Tai was considered an imperial envoy. Kidnapping an imperial envoy. Shenju Mountain was likely facing great disaster.
If Consort Zheng got hold of this handle, even Feng Gao would be guilty of dereliction of duty.
“The One-Eyed Dragon refuses to release him, nor will he admit that Zheng Tai is currently on Shenju Mountain.”
I pondered, “Not releasing him is the right thing to do. Not admitting it is also the right thing to do.”
“Prepare the Horse Carriage—” I instructed the coachman.
“Where are you going, Elder Sister?” Feng Gao asked.
“I’m going to Shenju Mountain.”
“Elder Sister, you’re pregnant, how can you go to a bandit’s den? I forbid it,” Feng Gao blocked me.
I said, “I had dealings with that One-Eyed Dragon before; he should trust me. There are some things that are inappropriate for you to say given your position, only I can say them. Elder Sister knows what she’s doing, Dou Ya, don’t worry.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“No, I’ll go alone. The One-Eyed Dragon won’t be on guard.”
Feng Gao thought it over and said, “Then I’ll follow you quietly. No matter what, I cannot let you be in any danger.”
《The book says: To be rich, stick to selling wine and vinegar. To be an official, kill and rob then accept recruitment and pacification.
However, the One-Eyed Dragon was not an ordinary, simple-minded bandit.
He had no intention of being recruited and pacified.
He led a group of like-minded brothers, guarding Shenju Mountain. Rather than being bandits, they were living an idealized life of chivalry and revenge.
Shenju Mountain was his Jianghu (martial world).
In that Jianghu, there were no exorbitant taxes, no heavy corvée labor, no corrupt officials who exploited the common people, no powerful gentry who bullied the weak. Everyone was friendly and worked together. They shared meat when they had it, and drank wine together.
This was something I noticed the first time I went to Shenju Mountain.
Lost in thought, I ascended the mountain.
The horse’s hoof suddenly struck something sharp, causing the horse to cry out in pain. The Horse Carriage jolted.
A red shadow leaped into the Horse Carriage.
I looked closely and saw it was a little girl.
She had a very bright face, her expression as calm as if she were not a child.
She handed me a rope.
I was bewildered.
She said, “Tie me up.”
“What did you say?”
“I know you’re here to ransom someone, likely the man’s family. I’m telling you, I captured him. It has nothing to do with my Uncle, nor with anyone else on Shenju Mountain. I take full responsibility for my actions. Tie me up and take me to the officials. I’m not afraid!”
She tried hard to hold back tears, her eyes strong and defiant.
What a lovely child.
I reached out, wanting to hug her.
She dodged.
“I won’t tie you up. I’ll help your Uncle figure out how to save you.”
