Chapter 129: Scraping the Earth's Surface Lacks Professionalism

"Yang Xuan?"

One of his subordinate generals had just been killed by someone, yet he did not even dare to vent his anger. Hua Zhuo's mood was abysmal, until he heard this name, and his fury erupted instantly.

"That liar!"

Could the Waxie tribe have private connections with Chenzhou? Helian Chun narrowed his eyes. "What did he lie to you about?"

*Oh no, why on earth did I blurt that out!*

As expected of a Khan who ruled a tribe, Hua Zhuo reacted immediately. "His men came to the Waxie tribe and swindled some medicinal herbs."

"Medicinal herbs?" Helian Chun immediately asked, "Why didn't Liu Qing come?"

Hua Zhuo smiled. "Your Imperial Uncle doesn't know, but Liu Qing just led an army to wipe out a band of horse bandits. He's probably quite pleased with himself right now!"

Hua Zhuo had used this kind of sowing discord tactic quite a bit when he first became Khan. Picking up the skill again now, he couldn't help feeling a sense of the vicissitudes of life.

"Go and test them," Helian Chun said.

Hua Zhuo felt a surge of joy. "Your Imperial Uncle's troops are formidable; they will surely suppress the arrogance of the Tang army."

Helian Chun took a sip of mare's milk wine and said indifferently, "Who said my troops are going? Your men will go. However... harmony is precious."

The moment Hua Zhuo stepped out of the large tent, his expression changed. He said coldly, "Send three hundred cavalry to intimidate them."

Wahai, who had appeared behind him out of nowhere, said softly, "I'll go."

Hua Zhuo shook his head. "If Yang Xuan dies on the road, Helian Chun will lose face." He sneered, "Earlier, Helian Chun said he would demand two thousand sheep from Chenzhou, and if they refuse, he will provide us with weapons and grain at a low price."

"What is the condition?"

"To have us constantly harass Chenzhou until they bow their heads."

"To prevent Chenzhou from doing their spring plowing?"

"Right!"

"We've become the muscle for Helian Chun's extortion!"

"Wahai," Hua Zhuo said with a sigh, "most of the time, even being a hired thug requires qualifications."

***

Yang Xuan rode slowly with fifty cavalrymen.

This was considered a diplomatic mission, so the large banner was carried in front. Yang Xuan rode right beneath the banner, feeling like a wooden deity carved from a shrine.

"My Lord, will Hua Zhuo launch a surprise attack on us?"

Old Thief was holding a scroll of military strategy, probably having just read the chapter on surprise attacks, and asked with some nervousness.

"He wouldn't dare," Yang Xuan said with absolute certainty. "Otherwise, that benevolent man would lose face."

"That's a relief then." Old Thief's heart eased up.

Zhao Youcai trotted his horse over. "My Lord, it's time to send out scouts."

He lowered his voice. "Hua Zhuo might just send some top experts; we need powerful fighters to hold the line."

"Old Thief."

Old Thief, who was still reading the military treatise, looked up.

Yang Xuan said, "Take twenty brothers and go scout ahead."

Old Thief: "..."

Hua Zhuo had been utterly screwed over by Chenzhou—no, by Yang Xuan. First, he was swindled; second, Liang Chao's force was wiped out.

These were two deep grievances!

Old Thief truly couldn't guess what Hua Zhuo might do, knowing only that the moment Hua Zhuo learned they had come to Waxie territory, he would dream day and night of killing them.

Seeing Old Thief's apprehension, Yang Xuan smiled. "Rest assured, Wahai won't make a move."

Old Thief found that hard to say. "Why?"

Yang Xuan smiled slightly. "Wahai moves to kill people, but with that Imperial Uncle present, how could he dare?"

Ah, true!

Old Thief said cheerfully, "This humble servant will go scout right now."

Then Yang Xuan heard him muttering something... a general starts out as a scout.

After he left, Wang Lao'er asked, "My Lord, does Hua Zhuo really not dare to kill?"

Yang Xuan said, "He doesn't dare to kill me."

Without anyone to negotiate, that Imperial Uncle would strangle Hua Zhuo.

Half an hour after Old Thief left, clouds of dust rolled up ahead.

Old Thief and his men came galloping at full speed, with hundreds of cavalrymen in hot pursuit right behind them.

"My Lord!"

Old Thief galloped all the way over.

"My Lord, they actually dare to shoot arrows and kill people."

Three hundred cavalry against fifty cavalry on this side.

The two sides were a hundred paces apart, and the enemy cavalry split into two groups, outflanking them from the left and right.

"Stay calm!"

Yang Xuan placated Old Thief, narrowed his eyes as he watched the enemy general approaching alone, and said, "Everyone wait."

Seeing him ride forward alone, Old Thief, who had just been tricked, instinctively blurted out, "My Lord, be careful!"

All fifty cavalrymen drew their horizontal sabers, and Zhao Youcai said through gritted teeth, "If they dare touch a single hair on My Lord's head, we'll fight to the death today."

He turned back and shouted, "Take down as many as we can!"

"Understood!"

The crowd shouted in unison... a group of former felons flashed dangerous glints in their eyes.

Yang Xuan reached the front, practically face-to-face with the enemy general.

"What are you here for?" the enemy general demanded.

Behind him, his subordinates held cavalry bows or long sabers, waiting just for the word to strike.

Everyone was waiting for Yang Xuan's explanation.

He raised his hand and glanced at his palm.

Then he swung!

Slap!

Three hundred cavalry.

Fifty cavalry.

***

Amidst the accompanying personnel, right under everyone's watchful eyes, Yang Xuan slapped the enemy general across the face, causing the man to clutch his cheek, his gaze instantly turning dazed.

He had nearly been knocked out cold by the blow.

"Bitch-ass slave! Kill him!"

The enemy troops drew their bows and nocked arrows, boiling with rage.

"My Lord is in danger!"

Old Thief spurred his horse forward, while Wang Lao'er made a motion to leap ahead—

"Stop!"

The enemy general raised a hand, halting his subordinates with a muffled shout.

Pui!

He spat out several teeth and a mouthful of blood, then said fiercely, "I'm going to kill—"

Slap!

Another slap.

The enemy general stared at him blankly.

"If this doesn't turn into a bloodbath, my name isn't Zhao, and I'm not Zhao Youcai," Zhao Youcai praised. "This feels too damn good, get ready."

Fifty former bandits stared at their opponents with blazing eyes.

The enemy general's cheeks were slowly swelling up, and his subordinates were cursing frantically.

They were just waiting for his command to attack and completely annihilate these little brutes.

The enemy general turned his horse around. "Let's go!"

Those angry subordinates were dumbfounded.

What was this?

Swallowing the saliva spat in one's face without wiping it?

Someone still shouted out of pure momentum:

"Kill them!"

The solitary shout echoed across the early spring grassland as the three hundred cavalry rapidly retreated.

Yang Xuan turned back. "Let's move."

Old Thief's eyes shone brightly as he stepped forward to ask, "My Lord, what kind of military tactic is this?"

"I was just testing them," Yang Xuan said. "Three hundred cavalry came... do you think they could have wiped us out?"

Old Thief shook his head. "No. My Lord, this humble servant, and Lao'er could form the spearhead and break through the encirclement with our brothers. We would suffer quite a few losses among the brothers, but we could make it back to Taiping."

"That's why I slapped him. If he had dared to give the order to attack, it would mean that Imperial Uncle wasn't enough to deter the Waxie tribe. Since that's the case, why bother going further? Turning back immediately to whip those brutes into plowing the fields would be the proper business."

Yang Xuan smiled, his gaze full of disdain.

Old Thief pulled out a charcoal pencil and a piece of paper, scribbling with crooked handwriting right on his horse's back.

"What are you writing?"

Wang Lao'er asked.

"This old man is studying My Lord's military strategy," Old Thief said smugly. "In the future, when this old man commands a territory of my own, I'll at least win some face for the Jia family's ancestors."

Wang Lao'er was puzzled. "Win face?"

Old Thief sighed. "The old Jia family's ancestral profession is grave robbing, and the ancestors all left behind deathbed instructions telling their descendants to study. If you succeed in your studies, change your profession, but damn it, not a single one of us could succeed in studying. When I become a grand general in the future, tsk tsk, my ancestors will probably wake up laughing in their graves."

Wang Lao'er nodded and said very sincerely:

"But the old Jia family is going to have no descendants left!"

***

A day later, Yang Xuan caught sight of the Royal Court.

Thousands of cavalrymen formed formations outside, leaving a narrow path open in the middle.

A general shouted, "Raise sabers."

Thousands of cavalrymen drew their long sabers and raised them high overhead, pointing toward the front.

This meant having Yang Xuan enter the large tent beneath this forest of blades.

Along the way, if anyone suddenly swung their saber, unless Yang Xuan possessed an indestructible body of Vajra, no matter how good his cultivation was, it would all be in vain.

Yang Xuan smiled gently. "Who is coming with me?"

Old Thief stood behind him.

Wang Lao'er stood in front of him, only to be shoved aside by Yang Xuan, who muttered, "Get to the back!"

The fifty hardened bandits chanted in unison, "We are willing to follow the Magistrate."

"Stay behind and guard the post." Of course Yang Xuan wanted to bring all fifty people inside, but the large tent couldn't hold them all, and bringing too many people would also give the impression of timidity.

Zhao Youcai said loudly, "Please rest assured, My Lord. If anyone dares to make a move, the brothers will definitely fight to the last man."

*Can't you say something auspicious for once, damn it?*

Yang Xuan nodded and took the lead, stepping into the forest of blades.

The tribal warriors on both sides held their sabers unsteadily; some were as steady as mountains, others trembled incessantly, and some sneered at Yang Xuan...

Several people emerged from the large tent, the Imperial Uncle at their very head.

"Without a change of expression?" Helian Chun had been quite dissatisfied because Liu Qing didn't come, but seeing Yang Xuan walk with such exceptional composure, the anger in his heart dissipated a little.

Yang Xuan walked all the way without shifting his gaze at all, staring straight at Helian Chun.

This was a diplomatic occasion... Yang Xuan had seen many diplomatic scenes in the scrolls and came to a conclusion: the first to greet is either the host or the weak party.

Of course, there was a third possibility: the guest steals the show from the host.

The best method was to greet each other simultaneously.

However.

Helian Chun's honest-looking face showed no such intention.

Nor did Yang Xuan.

The two were very close, within arm's reach.

Yet they fell into a stalemate.

Hua Zhuo watched this scene from the side, his hands clasped behind his back, fingers twitching slightly.

A general quietly retreated and nodded to the thousands of warriors.

Warrior after warrior slowly closed in.

The blades shone sharp and cold.

***

Yang Xuan felt a chill down his spine and his scalp tingling.

What did this fat, corpulent man mean?

To strike?

Unlikely. If he wanted to strike, the force Hua Zhuo sent wouldn't be three hundred cavalry, but three thousand.

Was this intimidation?

Yang Xuan's gaze grew light and breezy.

A soothing voice came through his earphones: *A light drizzle taps against the branches and leaves, falling onto the earth...*

Yang Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly, savoring this sense of ease.

Hua Zhuo was already prepared to execute his enemy with his own hands; he even planned to hang Yang Xuan from a tree and feed him just enough to keep him alive every day.

There were quite a few scavengers and birds of prey on the grassland, and Hua Zhuo loved watching these carrion birds peck at human flesh. That feeling was hard to describe in words—it was extremely cozy, full of a sense of superiority.

He glanced at Helian Chun.

This simpleton... no, this old fox was currently narrowing his eyes, looking as though his spirit was wandering afar.

"Hahahahaha!"

When a fat person laughed, it was quite interesting, with a deep, resonant echo that gave a heroic impression.

"Hahahahaha!"

When a youth laughed, it was bright and clear, his voice somewhat sharp.

Much like a young rooster just beginning to crow.

The laughter of the two rang out almost simultaneously.

The general stared at Hua Zhuo, seeing the corner of his mouth twitching, wondering if they were going to make a move or not.

Hua Zhuo looked at those closing-in warriors; everyone wore a bewildered expression, their killing intent completely vanished.

*I've been used by the old fox!*

Helian Chun had used his warriors to give Yang Xuan a show of force, which failed, but through it, he also saw Chenzhou's sincerity—being able to dispatch such a bold magistrate meant Liu Qing was not looking down on him.

"Come!"

Helian Chun walked in first.

Yang Xuan followed.

Hua Zhuo prepared to follow them in, but the little old man reached out and blocked the tent flap.

Hua Zhuo glanced at him.

The little old man shook his head. "You cannot enter!"

Hua Zhuo: "..."

*Too bullying!*

Inside the tent, Yang Xuan and Helian Chun sat opposite each other.

"Where are you from?" the Imperial Uncle asked kindly.

"From the countryside of Great Tang," Yang Xuan answered with a smile. Knowing he couldn't let Helian Chun continue asking questions, or he would be put on the defensive, he countered, "When the Imperial Uncle issued this invitation, everyone in Chenzhou attached great importance to it. Yet on the road, I was intercepted by Hua Zhuo's subordinates. What is the meaning of this?"

Helian Chun narrowed his eyes at him and gave an honest smile. "Is that so? This king will deal with him later."

Yang Xuan wanted to casually offer a compliment, but looking at this corpulent Imperial Uncle—calling the Imperial Uncle dashing would be slapping his face, and calling him mighty would be talking nonsense with eyes wide open—he finally squeezed out: "The Imperial Uncle is bold and heroic."

The Imperial Uncle chuckled. "This king was driven from the capital to Tanzhou by the Emperor, nothing more than a stray dog. There's no heroism to speak of."

You've already said everything I wanted to say, how am I supposed to pick up this conversation?

Yang Xuan said sincerely, "For some reason, the moment I saw the Imperial Uncle today, I felt a sense of affinity."

"That's because this king is fat." The Imperial Uncle tapped the desk. "A ceasefire on both sides!"

Yang Xuan withdrew his smile and said coldly, "The Waxie tribe harbors wild ambitions."

Outside, Hua Zhuo could be heard breathing heavily, before he finally stomped his foot and walked away. "Everything shall be as the Imperial Uncle decides!"

The Imperial Uncle looked at Yang Xuan. "How is Chenzhou doing?"

These two definitely had something fishy going on; for all one knew, Helian Chun and Hua Zhuo had already reached an agreement. What a load of crap about peace—there wasn't even a scrap of paper; even wiping one's ass required using one's bare hands.

Yang Xuan smiled amiably. "Fairly well."

This peace seemed a bit like a child's game, and Yang Xuan didn't believe Helian Chun had come all this way just to play such a childish game.

Sure enough, Helian Chun sighed, "This king came here to mediate your disputes. Tanzhou is probably turned upside down, the people are suffering!"

This was extortion!

Connecting this to the rumors that the moment this Imperial Uncle arrived in Tanzhou he scraped the land so clean it caused public grievance and anger, Yang Xuan probed, "I heard the Imperial Uncle's household finances are not too good?"

Helian Chun had been raised by the previous emperor like a son; for his family finances to be not good, the only ones in this world with good finances were probably the various imperial houses and the aristocratic clans.

This was a probe.

Helian Chun sighed. "Indeed! Expenses exceed income every year. Look, the year has just begun, and this king is already getting a headache over this year's expenditures."

Yang Xuan said offhandedly, "I heard the water conservancy works in Tanzhou have been in disrepair for many years."

Helian Chun gave a light hum. "What are you trying to say?"

Yang Xuan said indifferently, "The Imperial Uncle is devoted heart and soul to the country and the people. Why not restore and build the water conservancy?"

Helian Chun casually replied, "No money."

Yang Xuan sighed. "I feel so heartbroken for the Imperial Uncle. However... why doesn't the Imperial Uncle ask His Majesty, the Emperor of Northern Liao, for money?"

"He won't give it!" Helian Chun looked at Yang Xuan, his narrowed eyes growing somewhat impatient.

Yang Xuan said, "In my view, such matters concern the people's livelihood. Why doesn't the Imperial Uncle consult the common people, having each household pay a certain amount of money to be used for repairing waterworks... As the saying goes, what is taken from the people should be used for the people!"

The Imperial Uncle's eyes gradually lit up...

The moment Helian Chun arrived in Tanzhou, he began scraping the land clean, but his methods were too crude, snatching money raw from the common people's hands and causing public outrage to the point that Helian Feng couldn't stand it anymore and sent someone to Tanzhou to reprimand him.

This showed that in the heart of this avaricious Imperial Uncle... moral integrity was worth less than a dog's turd. Thinking of the cases he had seen in the scrolls, Yang Xuan couldn't help feeling that the corrupt officials of this era were far inferior in methods to those of that other world.

"Whoever dares refuse to pay the money is cutting themselves off from the Imperial Uncle, cutting themselves off from the military and civilians of Tanzhou!" Yang Xuan said righteously.

"Yang Xuan, you've turned dark!" The green light flashed absurdly.