Chapter 347: Conning
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling went down the city tower and Song Zhi hurriedly followed behind. Mu Yangling said in a low voice, “Magistrate Song, I don’t know how long it will take for General and the others to take down Jingzhao Prefecture, but I think that since he dared to leave only 2,000 people to guard Xingcheng Pass, it means that he’s very confident. As long as you guard the back well, you’ll be his greatest support. My father will also do his best to guard Xingcheng Pass. Since both me and my father will be at the pass, please take care of my family.”
Song Zhi’s eyes were slightly red. He knew that if Xingcheng Pass was breached, the Mu father and daughter would definitely not survive, so he could only nod in agreement.
Mu Yangling exhaled and led the ten guards towards Xingzhou Prefecture. This time, she didn’t bring Blackie with her. Instead, she chose an adult horse. She patted Blackie and said, “Help me guard my family here.”
Blackie wailed and rubbed against Mu Yangling. Its eyes were filled with tears as it looked at Mu Yangling with watery eyes.
Mu Yangling kissed it, turned around, got on the horse, and left with her men.
Song Zhi and the regiment commander could only watch her leave.
Xingzhou Prefecture was even more chaotic. There were already people packing up and leaving one after another, and the government office did not stop them. However, most of them chose to stay since it was not easy to relocate, and very few people were willing to leave their hometowns. Everyone was watching.
Mu Yangling didn’t go to Xingcheng Pass. Instead, she went straight to look for the magistrate of Xingzhou Prefecture, Wu Shancai. Of course, she didn’t manage to see Wu Shancai, so she went straight to the academy to drag his eldest son, Wu Jin, out.
Wu Jin had seen Mu Yangling more than once. Every time Mu Yangling carried large prey to Xingzhou Prefecture to sell, Qi Haoran would ask him to buy from her everything that couldn’t be sold. Later on, when Mu Yangling came, he would take the initiative to accept her remaining goods even without Qi Haoran’s instructions.
Therefore, his most common method of showing filial piety to his parents was gifting them with some wild animals and fur.
When Wu Jin saw Mu Yangling looking behind her, he asked curiously, “Where’s your prey?”
Mu Yangling rolled her eyes and said, “I want to see your father. I won’t ask you to buy anything.”
Wu Jin’s body stiffened and he shrunk his neck. “You’d better ask me to buy something.”
Mu Yangling glared at him. “The battle outside Xingcheng Pass is in full swing. I don’t have time to slowly argue with you here. Hurry up and lead the way. Otherwise, when Qi Haoran comes back, I’ll tell him that you bullied me and see how he deals with you.”
At this terrifying threat, Wu Jin immediately turned around with a bitter expression and led the way. Along the way, he persuaded Mu Yangling in a low voice, “Miss Mu, my father is very vexed at the moment. If you have anything to say to me, tell me. I’ll definitely help you. Don’t look for my father.”
Mu Yangling patted his shoulder and said, “Don’t worry. After finding your father, I’ll ask you for help. I won’t leave you behind.”
Seeing that not only did he not change her mind about meeting his father, but he had even enticed her to assign him an additional mission, Wu Jin’s expression became even more bitter.
When Wu Shancai saw Mu Yangling behind Wu Jin, his face immediately darkened. He glared at his son resentfully.
He knew this girl. Thanks to her, his family had been eating wild animals from time to time for the past three years. Aware that his son had been bullied by Qi Haoran, he had hinted to his son many times that his father was the magistrate and the most influential official in the area. There was no need for him to be afraid of Qi Haoran, who was four years younger than him. However, every time this kid saw Qi Haoran, he was still like a mouse seeing a cat. Wu Shancai was so angry that he could not even drink water.
It was even better now. Now, even a hunter’s daughter could bully his son now. What then was the point of him being the magistrate?
Magistrate Wu glared at Mu Yangling angrily. Just as he was about to kick her out, Mu Yangling took out the seal and placed it on the white paper in front of him before he could speak. Then, she handed the white paper to him. Seeing his eyes widen, she tore the paper and tossed it aside.
“Magistrate Wu, you should listen to General Qi, right?”
Magistrate Wu’s expression was ugly as he glared at Mu Yangling and asked, “What are you trying to say?”
“The one guarding the city is my father,” Mu Yangling suddenly said.
Magistrate Wu’s expression improved a little, and he no longer felt as resistant towards Mu Yangling. Mu Yangling was relieved, but she said solemnly, “Magistrate Wu, before General Qi left the city, he said that you’re the only one in Xingzhou Prefecture who can help him defend the city.”
Magistrate Wu looked at Mu Yangling suspiciously. Although his relationship with Qi Xiuyuan was not deep, it was definitely not friendly. Every time they met, he would either mock him or treat him coldly. How could he have said such things?
“General Qi said that he doesn’t like your so-called literary aura.” Magistrate Wu sneered and thought to himself, ‘As expected’. Mu Yangling continued, “He also knows that you despise him for being a martial artist. Although your relationship isn’t harmonious, General said that he actually admires your methods and governance. At least you’ve been managing Xingzhou Prefecture in an orderly manner. This is the truth.”
Magistrate Wu couldn’t help but nod to himself. Qi Xiuyuan had finally spoken a statement of truth.
“Although the general doesn’t like you very much, I have no choice but to ask you to help defend the city because we have a common enemy outside the city.” Seeing that Magistrate Wu’s expression wasn’t so ugly anymore, Mu Yangling sighed and said, “This time, the general has forced them too hard. It hasn’t even been two years since we took back Hanzhong Prefecture, and the general is now attacking Jingzhao Prefecture. That’s why the enemy is risking their lives to break out and attack Xingzhou Prefecture.”
Frowning, Magistrate Wu said angrily, “I knew it. Qi Xiuyuan is a martial artist. He doesn’t consider the consequences before he acts. Instead of sending out troops just like that, he should have discussed it with me first!”
Mu Yangling sneered in her heart. ‘If he’d discussed it with you, could this matter have been kept a secret?’ However, she said worriedly, “General only hid it from you because he knew that you would definitely stop him. General said that Magistrate Wu only cares about the Imperial Court anyway. When the time comes, for the sake of the people and the Emperor in the city, you won’t stand by and do nothing, so…”
Mu Yangling sighed. “I didn’t expect the Hus to be so angry. They actually surrounded the city with the intention of destroying everything indiscriminately. If it were me, I would definitely resolve the crisis in Jingzhao Prefecture first.”
Wu Shancai scoffed. “The Hus are barbarians. If you expect the barbarians to be rational, isn’t it as ridiculous as expecting the barbarians to be polite and honorable?”
“Therefore, we definitely can’t let them enter the pass. Otherwise, with the way the Hus usually do things, they will definitely massacre the city in anger. Xingzhou Prefecture, as well as Mingshui County and Changju County below might be massacred. Sir, for the sake of the citizens of Xingzhou Prefecture, please help the General guard Xingcheng Pass no matter what.” Mu Yangling stared at Wu Shancai expectantly.
Wu Shancai opened his mouth wide and asked with a trembling voice, “M-Massacre the city?”
Mu Yangling nodded repeatedly.
Thinking of the Jin soldiers’ usual practice, Wu Shancai couldn’t help but shiver. He swallowed his saliva and said with a trembling voice, “B-But I don’t know how to fight either?”
Smiling, Mu Yangling said, “You don’t have to fight. You just have to help with a few things…”
Wu Jin looked at his father, then at Mu Yangling. He opened his mouth, but when he thought of the battle cries from last night until now, he didn’t say anything.
However, he was a little unconvinced. To think his father had called him stupid for letting Qi Haoran bully him. However, he had only submitted to Qi Haoran’s martial arts prowess. Meanwhile, his father could not even tell that Mu Yangling was bullsh*tting him.
How could the usually arrogant and calm General Qi possibly admire his father’s talent?
Moreover, what talent could his father have? Wasn’t it just colluding with the local squires to bully the local people? There were a few times when General Qi had a conflict with his father because of this. Mu Yangling’s words were obviously fake, but his father actually believed them.