Chapter 205 I'll Head Down and Take a Look
Dian Dengzi and Bai Yuan retreated to a secluded spot where no one else could overhear their conversation. There, Dian Dengzi poured out his story, tearfully recounting how he had been falsely accused of plotting rebellion by writing military treatises while studying late into the night at Petroleum Temple in Qingjian County. Bai Yuan listened, speechless for a moment.
Oh, the Great Ming Dynasty... it truly was a mess.
The quality of local governance depended so heavily on the magistrate's capabilities. If one was fortunate enough to encounter an official like Liang Shixian, things might be bearable. But to face someone like the former Magistrate Zhang Yaocai of Chengcheng County, or the current Magistrate of Qingjian County, who actively drove the people to rebel—that was a genuine catastrophe for the common folk.
"My friend," Bai Yuan began, "you are not an inherently wicked man. There's no need to take such desperate risks, to embark on a path of rebellion that will only lead to execution. Listen to my advice: it's still not too late to turn back."
Dian Dengzi glanced at his three thousand followers in the distance. He lowered his voice. "I wouldn't mind myself, but these three thousand fellow villagers... they rescued me from those corrupt constables, killed the imperial officers, and now they can't return to Qingjian County. I can't abandon them."
Bai Yuan smiled. "What difficulty is there in settling them? As long as you possess a desire for goodness, I can find a way to ensure your safety."
"Really?" Dian Dengzi exclaimed, delighted.
Bai Yuan replied, "A true gentleman never breaks his promise or loses his dignity! I never lie to anyone."
Seeing his earnest expression, Dian Dengzi believed him by seventy or eighty percent. "If that's the case, it would be wonderful. I'll go discuss it with our fellow villagers and see what everyone thinks."
After hearing him out, the village leaders exchanged uneasy glances. One of them cast a wary look at Bai Yuan in the distance and whispered, "We don't know this man well. Who knows if he's good or bad? What if he's an official sent to trick us into coming down the mountain? Once we reach the plains, and the government's ambush forces surround us, we'll perish without a trace."
Another village elder chimed in, "These gentry families, nine times out of ten, are corrupt villains who prey on the common people. If we trust him so easily, we might be doomed."
"Indeed, no rich person is any good," someone muttered.
"But we've run out of food," Old Village Chief Jie of Jie Family Gully said quietly. "The ten measures of grain he sent us will only last our three thousand people a few meals. After that, what will we do? Rob the rich? We might not win. Rob the poor? Can any of you bring yourselves to do that?"
At his words, everyone fell silent.
Dian Dengzi then proposed, "If we want to survive, we must try to trust him. Fellow villagers, you stay here on the mountain. I will go down with him and listen to what arrangements he has for us. If he can't explain things clearly or offer a sound plan, then he's surely a deceiver. At that point, it wouldn't be too late for us to attack Bai Family Fortress."
After their discussion, Dian Dengzi returned to Bai Yuan. "Master Bai, you said you have a way to settle us. May I go and see it with my own eyes?"
"Of course," Bai Yuan replied, thinking to himself: *As long as you're willing to go down the mountain and see, everything will be easy. Once you witness the Heavenly Lord's divine power, I have no doubt you'll believe.*
And so, the situation reversed: Bai Yuan safely descended the mountain, while Dian Dengzi, accompanied by two of his fierce followers, went down with Bai Yuan. It was a matter of give and take, a risk for a risk.
Dian Dengzi still felt a knot of anxiety, but he had to take this risk. He followed Bai Yuan nervously, and as they reached the entrance of Bai Family Fortress, he heard Bai Yuan loudly instruct the household guards inside: "Send another ten measures of grain to the foot of Huanglong Mountain. Let Dian Dengzi's men come down and collect it."
A team of household guards, carrying loads of grain, walked out and placed the carrying poles filled with sacks at the base of Huanglong Mountain, then clapped their hands and turned back. Seeing Bai Yuan's sincerity, Dian Dengzi felt his apprehension ease considerably.
Bai Yuan entered the fortress and smiled at Cheng Xu. "Instructor He, I'm pleased to report that I haven't failed the Heavenly Lord's command. I've successfully convinced Dian Dengzi to come down the mountain. Now I plan to take him to Gao Family Village. As for Huanglong Mountain, I'll have to trouble Instructor He to manage things here."
Cheng Xu felt a touch of admiration for Bai Yuan. This fellow had actually ventured into the bandit camp, returned safely, and even lured the bandit chief back. Such daring was astonishing. "The bandit army on the mountain should remain quiet until Dian Dengzi returns. You can go without worry."
Bai Yuan invited Dian Dengzi and his two subordinates into a carriage, then took the driver's seat himself. With a flick of the reins, he called out, "Giddy up!"
Dian Dengzi was greatly surprised. "Master Bai, you're driving yourself? I thought... a wealthy man like you would always have a coachman."
Bai Yuan burst out laughing. "Oh, in the gentleman's six arts, I am very particular about the 'charioteering' aspect. How could I let someone else do it? Hahaha, hold on tight."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Li Daoxuan sat before his computer, uploading a video. He had finished editing the Shanbei Daoqing opera he filmed previously. The camera perspective descended from high above, zooming in on the stage, then locking onto the Zhang family troupe, watching them perform Daoist stories with ancient techniques. He also discreetly linked an online shop selling plastic toy stages.
After finishing the video and hitting upload, his delivery of salt and pepper bullfrog arrived. He slipped on a disposable plastic glove, picked up a bullfrog, and began to devour it with gusto.
Suddenly, he saw a carriage approaching from outside the village, driven by none other than Bai Yuan.
A thought stirred in Li Daoxuan's mind: *Looks like Bai Yuan made some progress. Not bad! Bai Yuan is quite reliable when it comes to getting things done. I really wish I could offer him some salt and pepper bullfrog, but if I put this bullfrog into the box, it would probably scare Bai Yuan to death.*
"Yiye, go call San Shier and Tan Liwen out."
The carriage pulled up to the village entrance, and Bai Yuan stopped it, smiling. "Alright, we've arrived. My friend, please step out."
The curtain of the carriage opened, and Dian Dengzi and his two subordinates jumped out. The sight of the massive fortress before them startled them. Its walls soared ten meters high, even taller than the county town's walls, indicating that the prominent figure living here was no ordinary man.
Looking around the fortress, vast fields of wheat stretched out, nearing harvest. The wheat heads were plump and full, a sight that filled them with joy.
"Wheat fields!"
"Such magnificent wheat fields!"
The two subordinates rejoiced at the sight of the wheat. As experienced farmers, they could tell at a glance that the wheat was thriving. Even in years of abundant harvest, they had never seen such robust crops, let alone in this year of great disaster. Their eyes gleamed with desire.
Gazing in all directions, they noticed villagers returning from work. Many of them carried no farm tools, which struck them as odd, indicating they weren't farmers.
Just then, Gao Yiye, San Shier, and Tan Liwen approached with smiles. Bai Yuan quickly introduced them: "This is Dian Dengzi, the second captain under Bu Zhan Ni. These are the Saintess of Gao Family Village, the Chief Steward, and Clerk Tan Liwen."
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