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Chapter 373: Are You Threatening Me, Sir?

Zheng Daniu, with a surprising touch of self-awareness, chuckled cheerfully. "I'm just a simpleton, you know? What kind of girl would ever fall for a simpleton?"

Zao Ying retorted, "Simpletons don't have many tricks up their sleeves, unlike clever folk who are full of lies. What's so bad about that?"

Zheng Daniu just grinned, happily gnawing on his mutton.

Zao Ying reached out, hooking an arm around his neck and pulling him closer. Their heads were practically touching as she whispered, "I know a girl who doesn't mind simpletons. Want to talk to her, give it a shot? You might just have a chance."

Zheng Daniu's eyes widened. "Huh? Instructor Zao, you actually know a girl who likes simpletons?"

Zao Ying gave a wry smile. "She's not far at all, in fact... she's right under your nose."

Zheng Daniu scanned the immediate vicinity. There were only eight people in the shop: himself, five grenadiers, Zao Ying, and the shopkeeper. His gaze landed squarely on the shopkeeper, and he gasped in surprise, "So the shopkeeper is actually a woman disguised as a man?"

"Ugh!"

All five grenadiers simultaneously choked on their mutton, frantically thumping their chests.

The shopkeeper, dripping with cold sweat, scurried far away, not daring to come any closer.

Zheng Daniu pointed at the "fleeing" shopkeeper. "See? She doesn't like simpletons. We wouldn't make a pair."

Li Daoxuan, who had been secretly watching from outside the Diorama Box, covered his face with his hand, silently mourning.

Qichuan Ferry.

The Gao Family Village Militia and Cavalry Battalion withdrew immediately after the battle, with no intention of lingering.

The Heyang County militia, however, couldn't leave so quickly. They still had to clear the battlefield, gather the bodies of the bandits left on the riverbank, strip them of their clothes, confiscate their weapons, and then dig a pit to bury the naked corpses.

Feng Jun also had to recall the scattered laborers, put Yellow Hats on them, and have them continue building the cement fortress by the dock.

This mountain of tasks would be a grueling ordeal.

After all that, they would also need to arrange for the militia to be permanently stationed at the ferry to prevent another bandit fleet from secretly landing, a possibility everyone knew was low but couldn't be entirely discounted.

Exhausting!

Mentally draining!

Wang Er and the villagers from Wangjia Village didn't immediately withdraw with the militia and cavalry. They stayed to help at the dock, assisting the Heyang County militia in burying the bandit corpses, feeling a sense of responsibility to do so.

Wang Er sighed wistfully, pointing at a corpse as he addressed Bai Yuan. "That man, just days ago, we were calling each other brothers. Today, he met his end fighting here."

Bai Yuan dramatically unfurled his fan, revealing the characters for "gentleman." He looked as if he was about to speak, but then he suddenly sighed, snapping the fan shut with a rustle, and said no more.

Wang Er watched as the Wangjia Village folk finished burying all the bandit corpses. Only then did he wave his hand, leading his people away towards the northwest.

Bai Yuan called out to his retreating back, "Keep your men in line! On the way home, strictly no looting, burning, or killing!"

Wang Er raised a hand. "What kind of man do you take me for? If anyone loots, burns, or kills, even if they're my own brother, I'll chop off their dog's head!" With that, he strode away without looking back, and the villagers of Wangjia Village followed him into the distance.

Bai Yuan stood quietly, not moving. He knew Feng Jun would undoubtedly have much to say to him.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before Feng Jun sidled up to him.

"Mr. Bai, the fighting prowess of the Gao Family Village Militia has truly exceeded this official's expectations," Feng Jun remarked, a strange tone in his voice. "So many flintlock rifles, so much armor, and even cannons and peculiar hand grenades... what exactly are you all doing?"

Bai Yuan gave a knowing chuckle, unfurling his fan. "Naturally, we're just trying to protect ourselves."

Feng Jun raised an eyebrow. "Such self-preservation... wouldn't you say it's just a *tad* bit excessive?"

Bai Yuan spread his hands. "Your Excellency Feng, in your esteemed opinion, if we weren't armed like this, and Wang Jiayin truly led fifty thousand troops against us, what would we do? Could regular militia equipment truly hold back fifty thousand bandits?"

Feng Jun's expression grew solemn. "No, we couldn't! But... we can't resist with methods that border on rebellion, either."

Bai Yuan patted his shoulder lightly, speaking earnestly. "Your Excellency Feng, if you couldn't stop Wang Jiayin, would you then intend to die for your country?"

"Precisely!" Feng Jun's face showed a flicker of resolve. This time, he didn't even get a nosebleed, a clear sign that he wasn't agitated in the slightest, his emotions perfectly calm. He spoke as if stating the most obvious truth. "To die for my country, this official would not hesitate for a moment."

Bai Yuan chuckled twice. "Your Excellency Feng, you are indeed a good official who loves his country and its people. However, what you can do doesn't mean others can. There are always some who don't want to die so pointlessly, for instance, myself, and the villagers of Gao Family Village. We don't want to die, so naturally, we will resist. If conventional means of resistance don't succeed, we won't hesitate to use some less conventional methods."

Feng Jun's expression turned stern. "This... this is an act of rebellion. It would mean the extermination of your entire clan."

Bai Yuan shrugged. "The bandits will exterminate our clan anyway. If the imperial court also intends to exterminate our clan, then we'll simply have to treat both the court and the bandits as one and the same."

This pronouncement truly startled Feng Jun.

What an utterly treasonous statement, all the more terrifying coming from the lips of a cultured gentleman like Bai Yuan.

Bai Yuan's tone shifted. "However, if the imperial court doesn't brand us as rebels and doesn't exterminate our clan, then we will continue to be law-abiding, good citizens."

Feng Jun understood. Bai Yuan's meaning was clear: if he, as an official, reported the affairs of Gao Family Village to the imperial court, then Gao Family Village would rebel. If he didn't report it, Gao Family Village would remain law-abiding. Whether Gao Family Village rebelled or not now depended entirely on Feng Jun's attitude.

What an outrageous declaration.

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Mr. Bai, are you threatening this official?"

Bai Yuan laughed heartily, snapping his fan shut. "In these chaotic times, if one doesn't wish to forfeit their life in vain, even a gentleman must resort to extraordinary measures. Your Excellency Feng, the choice is yours."

With that, he turned. A servant led forward a fine steed. Bai Yuan swung himself into the saddle, his white robes billowing, a truly dashing figure. He pressed his legs against the warhorse's flanks, and the animal shot forward, vanishing into the distance in moments.

Bai Yuan's household retainers shouted, following closely behind.

Feng Jun watched their receding figures, silent for a long time.

After quite some time, his trusted retainer approached from the side, whispering, "Master, your nosebleed..."

Feng Jun reached up and wiped, but his nose was perfectly clean; there wasn't a trace of blood on his face.

The retainer murmured, "That man is far too arrogant. You should have ordered his arrest just now. Once the bandit leader is captured, the other rogues naturally won't dare cause trouble."

Feng Jun shook his head. "Don't you see? Bai Yuan isn't the true leader of Gao Family Village at all. Madam Li, Steward San, Instructor Zao, Instructor He — every one of them is a leader. Who is the biggest? Capturing Bai Yuan would only force Gao Family Village to rebel. *Sigh*, this Gao Family Village... what should this official do?"