Can 103.

The granaries at Tongcheng and Chongyang have been utterly plundered.

The returning soldiers reported grim tidings: when the steward of the Wen family and Prefect Yu, responsible for grain logistics, arrived at the Tongcheng granary, they found nothing but corpses. The guards had been slaughtered, and the stores of grain completely looted.

Worried about the granary in Chongyang, the Wen family steward urged Prefect Yu to send men on horseback to check it. The news from Chongyang mirrored Tongcheng: guards killed, granary emptied.

Prefect Yu dispatched men to gather intelligence. They soon learned that, just last night, bandits had descended from the Phoenix Mountain region. The locals, fearing trouble, dared not intervene or investigate further. They only noticed the bandits heading in the granary's direction but paid it little mind since there were no immediate disturbances the next day.

Banditry is no stranger to Huguang Province, where mountain brigands have plagued the region for generations. These criminals, taking advantage of the treacherous terrain, frequently raid and loot. Even imperial troops have struggled to root them out entirely. But this time, the precision of their strike on the granaries seemed more than coincidental.

"Minister Jiang, is this mere coincidence or deliberate sabotage?" Yin Chengyu asked.

Jiang Zheng, after some contemplation, replied, "I’d wager it’s largely coincidence. Phoenix Mountain is the main peak of Wangtuo Ridge, a rugged and snake-like terrain bordered by the Tuo River. Many brigands hide within, and when provisions run short, they descend to pillage. This has long been a scourge of the region. As for the Wen family, they are mired in internal strife. The patriarch’s numerous wives and children have left the family divided. The young master who showed up today is the son of the first wife, now deceased. With his father remarried and favoring new wives and offspring, this young master holds little sway. If anything, he likely wishes to see the patriarch fall so he can sever ties with the Wen family altogether. He wouldn’t dare stir up trouble unnecessarily.”

Yin Chengyu neither agreed nor refuted, his expression thoughtful. After a pause, he said, “The disaster relief operations will proceed as planned. As for the bandits, I will handle it personally.”

Two thousand shi of white rice could save countless lives. The court could not afford to abandon it.

After dismissing Jiang Zheng, Yin Chengyu returned to the east courtyard, only to cross paths with Xue Shu, striding in with urgency. Before Yin Chengyu could speak, Xue Shu reported, “I’ve already sent scouts to Phoenix Mountain to investigate.”

A full day and night later, the scouts returned.

“Indeed, the Tongcheng and Chongyang granaries were raided by mountain bandits, but it wasn’t solely the work of Phoenix Mountain’s brigands,” the scout revealed.

Yin Chengyu caught the implication. “There are other factions within Wangtuo Ridge?”

“Exactly. Wangtuo Ridge houses at least five major strongholds: Hualin Stronghold on Phoenix Mountain, Dongxiang Stronghold on Fairy Peak, Manao Stronghold on Purple Bamboo Peak, Heiyun Stronghold on Shizhao Peak, and Tangdong Stronghold on Wanshou Peak. In addition, there are over a dozen smaller hideouts. Their numbers range from hundreds to over a thousand. These brigands often operate independently, but when a lucrative target like the Wen family’s granaries presents itself, they band together. This raid was orchestrated by the leaders of several major strongholds.”

“Have you located the stolen grain?”

“It’s being stored in a stone cave on the southern slopes of Phoenix Mountain, guarded heavily. The bandits are currently negotiating how to divide the spoils.”

“The terrain of Wangtuo Ridge is treacherous. If we wait until they split the loot, reclaiming the grain will be near impossible.” Yin Chengyu turned to Xue Shu. “What’s your take?”

“Dispatch He Shan and Ying Hongxue. They’re experienced in mountain combat,” Xue Shu advised.

Yin Chengyu agreed and summoned He Shan, Ying Hongxue, and the city’s garrison commander for a strategy session.

Given the limited forces he brought for disaster relief, Yin Chengyu requested reinforcements from Wuchang Prefecture. After two hours of deliberation, the plan to eliminate the bandits was finalized.

The following evening, under the cover of darkness, He Shan and Ying Hongxue led 3,000 troops toward Wangtuo Ridge, accompanied by Eastern Bureau operatives serving as scouts.

Yin Chengyu remained in Wuchang Prefecture. Watching the long column of soldiers vanish into the night, he pulled his cloak tighter against the chill and returned to the eastern courtyard to rest.

Still recovering from a recent illness, Yin Chengyu, under Xue Shu’s constant supervision, refrained from overworking himself and retired early.

That night, Xue Shu, under the guise of attending to him, openly stayed in his chambers. Though the arrangement provided warmth, the turbulent times allowed no true rest.

Before dawn, the sound of shouting and clashing weapons startled Yin Chengyu awake. Finding the bed empty beside him, he lit a candle and began to dress, only to have Xue Shu burst through the door.

“What’s happening outside?”

Extinguishing the flame, Xue Shu swiftly helped him dress and explained, “The Wangtuo Ridge bandits have breached the city and are advancing toward the prefectural office. We must leave immediately.”

“They broke into the city?” Yin Chengyu exclaimed. “How did the gates fall?”

The realization hit him instantly. “There’s a traitor.”

When night falls, the city gates lock tight, impenetrable as a fortress. No band of mountain bandits could ever hope to breach them without a fight.

Xue Shu hummed softly. "The east gate guards opened the gates, letting the bandits inside. Around five to six thousand of them. Most of our forces were already sent to the countryside to root out rebels. Only about two thousand soldiers are left in the city, caught completely off guard. They’re in no shape to regroup and retaliate for now."

As he spoke, Yin Chengyu finished dressing. Xue Shu unfurled a thick cloak and draped it over Yin Chengyu’s shoulders with practiced care. Under the cover of darkness, shielded by guards, they slipped silently out of the government office through a side gate.

Their group moved stealthily through the alleys, avoiding the use of torches.

Yin Chengyu squinted toward the flickering firelight in the distance. "Have Jiang Zheng and his men pulled out?"

"I’ve sent escorts to get them to safety." Xue Shu’s tone was grim. "What’s left of the government offices are empty shells now.

"But the city gates are all under bandit control. They won’t find anyone to capture soon, so they’ll start scouring the city before long." His sharp brows knit together as his voice dropped. "These aren’t your everyday mountain bandits. They’re coordinated, fast, and disciplined. Soldiers, not bandits."

"Soldiers?" Yin Chengyu raised a brow, his mind quickly piecing together recent events into a clear trajectory. "They’re coming for me, aren’t they?"

Xue Shu gave a curt nod, his thin lips curving into a cold, hard line.

No enlisted soldiers would dare attack a city so brazenly. That left only one possibility: these were privately trained troops, an army kept in secret.

Raising private soldiers was a grave crime, one only a powerful, reckless individual would dare commit.

In this land of Huguang, or more precisely, in Wuchang Prefecture, there was only one household audacious enough to maintain a private army.

"To the Zhou estate," Yin Chengyu said without hesitation.

While the sounds of battle filled the night, Zhou Zhilin hadn’t slept a wink.

Chaos reigned in his household. Servants fled in all directions, and even the women in the rear courtyard scrambled to escape, unrestrained by any orders.

In the faintly lit study, Zhou Zhiling paced anxiously, ignoring the clamor around him.

"Why haven’t I heard any news yet? Has it worked or not?"

"Relax." The voice came from a hulking man lounging across from him, his muscular frame barely contained by his armor. His thick beard and heavy features cast a menacing shadow. "You think some pampered noble can escape this? He’s not going anywhere."

Zhou Zhiling exhaled, slightly comforted. His dealings with Fan Hu had spanned years, and he trusted the man’s capabilities.

But unease gnawed at him. "That eunuch beside the Crown Prince, Xue Shu—he’s no pushover. They say he might be the East Bureau’s chief. The letter didn’t mention him…"

Recalling Xue Shu’s ruthless handling of past enemies sent a shiver down Zhou Zhiling’s spine. His fragile composure crumbled.

"He’s just a eunuch! How dangerous can he be?" Fan Hu sneered dismissively.

But Zhou Zhiling, having witnessed Xue Shu’s viciousness firsthand, knew better. He paced in frantic circles, his mind racing. Suddenly, he stopped and turned to Fan Hu.

"Brother Fan, you mustn’t—"

The words caught in his throat, his eyes widening in terror.

Zhou Zhiling’s gaze fixed on something behind Fan Hu, his face pale, and his mouth hanging open. He could only emit strangled gasps of fear.

Fan Hu frowned. "What’s with you, Brother Zhou? You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

Zhou Zhiling’s trembling hand rose to point at the shadow behind him, too paralyzed to speak.

Behind, behind!

Fan Hu, sensing something amiss, began to turn. But before he could react, a thin, unyielding wire looped around his neck, tightening with lethal precision.

The assassin was Xue Shu, his movements fluid and deadly. The massive man thrashed and choked, his eyes rolling back, but his resistance lasted only moments. With his tongue protruding grotesquely, Fan Hu went limp, lifeless.

Zhou Zhiling collapsed to the ground, petrified, unable even to scream.

Xue Shu glanced at him with disdain, retracting the wire. He tugged a tablecloth from a nearby table and draped it over Fan Hu’s twisted corpse as if tidying up an inconvenience.

Once finished, he opened the door to admit Yin Chengyu, who had been waiting outside.

"All taken care of," Xue Shu said coolly.

———TN: "I wouldn’t want to taint those pretty little eyes of yours with anything too filthy."

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