Fifteen

Chapter 15: What a Fine Sword

Yang Yanguang cast a playful glance at Duan Mingyu. "Based on my many years of experience in the jianghu, this Zhang Qi-hou will certainly not let this matter rest."

Duan Mingyu rolled his eyes. Did he really need to say that? Even with his eyes closed, he could figure that out. "Old Xu, what are we to do? With our meager resources, we aren't even enough to be a side dish for them."

Xu Zuye nodded. "Young Brother Duan has a high level of awareness. I believe this Zhang Qi-hou will not be willing to let things go quietly. If he insists on being aggressive, what will you do?"

Duan Mingyu replied, "When the soldiers come, block them; when the flood comes, cover it with earth!"

Xu Zuye countered, "Where are your soldiers? And how do you intend to stop this torrential flood?"

Duan Mingyu’s brain whirred as he paced back and forth in the room. After several turns, he spoke as if he had made a great decision. "Brother Xu, please be patient. I believe that in the face of the powerful Zhang Qi-hou and the Yangwei Escort Agency, we cannot rely solely on ourselves. We must seek external help."

Xu Zuye nodded. "Indeed, we cannot defeat them."

*I'm dizzy,* Duan Mingyu thought. *Old Xu, why must you always pour cold water on everything? I finally managed to feel heroic, and you have to be so blunt.*

Duan Mingyu shot him a look. "If what you say is true and Governor Cheng Zhiyuan is a good official, why don't we try to get close to him? After all, he is the only person in Bianliang City who can stand up to the Yangwei Escort Agency!"

"True, but we have no prior connection with Governor Cheng. He might not even agree to see us." Xu Zuye continued his work of extinguishing Duan Mingyu’s burning passion.

*It’s a good thing I know him,* Duan Mingyu thought, sighing as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart.

"I, in my humble capacity, happen to have a slight acquaintance with the Governor. Besides, as the saying goes, 'money can make the devil turn the mill.' As long as we show enough sincerity, I believe Governor Cheng Zhiyuan will become our most formidable shield," Duan Mingyu said, patting his chest.

Yang Yanguang asked, "But how would an upright official accept a bribe?"

Duan Mingyu replied, "Who said I was going to bribe him? To be honest with you, the more upright an official is, the more they lack money, yet they have their pride. While direct bribery won't work, if we can do the Governor a small favor and make him owe us a debt of gratitude, I believe he will offer us moral protection within the bounds of the law. With the Governor’s backing, the Yangwei Escort Agency will surely be a bit more cautious."

Yang Yanguang said, "The Governor’s name can indeed deter some petty villains, but this is only a temporary measure."

Duan Mingyu added, "Huang Chao has just been defeated and retreated to Shandong. I believe the retreat has brought along many displaced refugees. We only need to recruit a few to serve as guards, and I believe we will be able to hold our own against the Yangwei Escort Agency."

Yang Yanguang laughed heartily. "Although the gap between us and the Yangwei Escort Agency remains vast, this has infinitely shortened the disproportionate nature of our situation. Young Brother Duan is a man of great strategy; I believe you are destined for greatness."

Duan Mingyu replied, "Not at all, not at all. Just a few minor tricks, hardly worth your notice, Elder."

Duan Mingyu looked at the setting sun. Night was falling. Life was like this—he just wanted to earn a living, yet he wasn't allowed any peace. He was being pushed into this! They say that when a person steps into the same river twice, both the river and the person have changed. He wondered how the long river of history would differ in this world.

Duan Mingyu asked again, "Dealing with officials requires money. Brother Xu, how much do we have left in our accounts?"

Duan Mingyu was usually the type to count money until his hands cramped and sleep until he woke naturally; he had never truly tallied his own net worth. *In the end, it's just a problem caused by having too much money,* he consoled himself.

Xu Zuye said, "Two thousand three hundred sixty-seven taels and seventy-two wen in total."

"That much?" Duan Mingyu asked in surprise.

Xu Zuye gave him a disdainful look. "You brat, you’re always so happy counting money, how can you not know your own family assets!"

Duan Mingyu blushed and scratched the back of his head, smiling sheepishly. "Heh, I just do it for the mood, nothing more."

His expression turned serious. "Brother Xu, we will both go to see the Governor tomorrow. This matter concerns our future in Bianliang; we must invest enough in it."

Xu Zuye wiped the sweat from his forehead. "What? You say what? I have to go too? No, no, I won't go even if you kill me. With my eloquence, I can't even get two words out at once. If I offend the Governor, I can't bear the responsibility."

Duan Mingyu looked at Xu Zuye thoughtfully. On the surface, he laughed. "Old Xu, recognizing your own faults is good, very good. In the future, you should look to me as an example and learn more, striving to be a useful young man—or rather, a useful middle-aged man—to society and the nation." Xu Zuye kept nodding in agreement, uncharacteristically not arguing with him.

Duan Mingyu felt puzzled. The look in Xu Zuye’s eyes just now was one of indifference; there was no sign of worry at all.

*Could it be that Old Xu has some connection with Cheng Zhiyuan?* He shrugged it off. *Forget it, I don't care to think about it. Tomorrow, I'll brave the dragon's den alone. This Old Xu, he really isn't loyal enough. Sigh, the world is declining day by day!*

The night was clear and bright. Following his plan, Duan Mingyu went to visit Governor Cheng Zhiyuan early the next morning. He sighed, "I hope this 'incorruptible' Governor is truly a good official."

In his previous memories, Cheng Zhiyuan and Duan Mingyu were indeed friends, but there are many kinds of friendships—those over wine and meat, those between gentlemen, those between commoners, and those of "sworn brothers."

Duan Mingyu and Cheng Zhiyuan: one was an upright and brilliant governor, the other a talented but ill-fated top scholar.

Duan Mingyu sighed again. Although he had roamed through the world of romance for decades without ever failing, he felt no confidence when facing this renowned Governor.

Reaching the courtyard, he saw the old man, Yang Yanguang, already up and practicing his swordplay. *Swish, swish, swish*—it was a dazzling display.

Duan Mingyu clapped vigorously. "What a fine sword, what a fine sword! Master Yang, your swordplay is truly excellent!"

Yang Yanguang turned to look at Duan Mingyu, who was dressed in white, truly carrying the air of a scholar from the south. "Young Brother Duan, you flatter me. Although this set of swordplay looks good, it is merely for strengthening the body and lacks real power."

Duan Mingyu replied, "You are mistaken, Elder. The ultimate goal of martial arts is to strengthen the body. It is only because the petty villains of today have lost their way, using them for evil deeds—looting and pillaging—that we see such chaos. It seems that martial virtue has failed to keep pace with martial skill." *Heh, don't let the fact that I can't fight fool you; I have plenty of theories.*

Yang Yanguang seemed to have a sudden realization and bowed deeply to Duan Mingyu. "Brother Duan’s insight is truly profound. I am deeply impressed."