52

Chapter Fifty-Four: You Rascal, Take My Sword!

Fan Fu rubbed his nose with a depressed expression, said nothing more, and buried his head back into hard work.

In less than half a minute this time, Fan Fu raised his head once more, wearing a pleading look.

Luo Hou and Wang Aiqing gave Duan Mingyu a simultaneous thumbs-up. Their young master was simply matchless.

Fan Fu said, "Young Master, these three characters... I know them. Three taels of silver!"

Duan Mingyu shook his head and held up three fingers: "No, three hundred taels of silver!"

Fan Fu was greatly startled, staggering back three paces as if unable to withstand the blow: "No way, you must be joking with me!"

Duan Mingyu withdrew his dashing posture with a chuckle: "You're right, I am joking with you."

*Little fellow, trying to play tricks with me. If I don't make you surrender completely in admiration, I'll write my family name upside down.*

Now, Duan Mingyu felt completely confident in using Fan Fu. He immediately handed over the gunpowder formula and whispered instructions into his ear for a long time.

As Fan Fu listened to Duan Mingyu, his eyes grew brighter and brighter: "Matches—this is a brilliant idea! Young Master, rest assured, Fan will handle this matter of matches impeccably."

Duan Mingyu nodded: "Alright, go ahead with peace of mind. Whatever you need, just speak up. Also, step up the procurement of iron materials so that our brothers can be equipped with handy weapons as soon as possible. The repeating crossbows can also adopt an assembly line process and be put into production as quickly as possible. Your responsibility is heavy. If you lack money, look for Xu Zuye; if you lack manpower, look for Wang Aiqing. In short, no matter what, you must accomplish the tasks I've just assigned."

Seeing that Duan Mingyu valued him so highly, Fan Fu felt an overwhelming surge of heroic spirit: "Young Master, rest assured, mission guaranteed!"

Duan Mingyu said reassuringly, "Good. Ironware and gunpowder are both in your hands. Only by entrusting them to a skilled craftsman like you can I truly rest easy. From now on, you are the Minister of the Ordnance Department. Well, there are too many matters at hand, off you go to work!"

Fan Fu acknowledged the order and slowly backed away.

"Young Master, Fan Fu has just arrived, yet you've entrusted him with such a vital department. Isn't this a bit too hasty?" Xie Xiande asked.

Duan Mingyu sighed: "You think I don't want to entrust these matters to people I've known and trusted for a long time? However, the Qin family and the Mighty Lion Escort Agency are eyeing us like tigers watching their prey; time is running out. Handing this matter to Fan Fu is precisely the way to achieve results with the highest possible efficiency, so I can't afford to worry about such details anymore."

Xie Xiande murmured assent, then patted his forehead as if suddenly remembering something: "Young Master, earlier Xu Zuye sent someone over with a message saying that Prefect Cheng Zhiyuan wants you to visit the yamen!"

Duan Mingyu waved his hand: "I know. I'll head back into the city immediately!"

Wang Aiqing walked up to Duan Mingyu: "Young Master, should this subordinate lead a few brothers along to ensure your safety?"

Duan Mingyu replied, "That might be best, considering these extraordinary times."

Qin Zongheng flew into a towering rage: "What? He managed to escape with so many people? Cao Hong, you really are getting more and more incompetent!"

Cao Hong knelt on the ground, not daring to take a deep breath: "Yes, yes, yes, this subordinate is useless, this subordinate deserves death!"

"What I want to hear isn't this!"

Cold sweat began to bead on Cao Hong's forehead: "My lord speaks truly, this subordinate has already sent Zhao Qianlong to tail Duan Mingyu; the moment an opportunity arises, he will kill him!"

Hearing Zhao Qianlong's name, the anger on Qin Zongheng's face subsided slightly: "Hmph, don't let me down again. Get out of here!"

After Cao Hong retreated as if granted a grand amnesty, Qin Zongheng turned around and commanded: "Someone, send Qin Chuan to kill Duan Mingyu. I am afraid Zhao Qianlong might bungle the job."

"Yes, this subordinate will make arrangements immediately!"

When Duan Mingyu arrived at the yamen, Cheng Zhiyuan gave him a thorough tongue-lashing right from the start.

"You brat, you've got some nerve! Do you think that because I won't be prefect for many more days, I won't hold you in my eyes anymore?"

Duan Mingyu said, "Where is Brother Cheng getting that from? This subordinate has never had such a thought!"

Cheng Zhiyuan snorted: "If you don't disregard this official, then tell me, ever since you took the post of deputy chief constable of this yamen, how many days have you actually come to work... ahem, served your watch?"

Duan Mingyu lowered his head in embarrassment: "It seems I only came on the first day!"

A sharp glint flashed in Cheng Zhiyuan's eyes: "Very well. Since you admit it, then do you have any objections to this official docking your salary... ahem, your official stipend?"

Duan Mingyu said, "Don't be so cruel! Would docking half of it be okay?"

Just as Duan Mingyu finished speaking, he heard the muffled laughter of a woman coming from behind the screen—no, two women.

Instantly, the room fell dead silent. Duan Mingyu looked at Cheng Zhiyuan suspiciously and said with a tone of pity, "Brother Cheng, you must take care of your health. Now that you're getting on in years, don't chase after momentary pleasures. Tsk tsk, back in the day..."

"Ouch! Brother Cheng, what need is there to fly into a rage out of humiliation? If you have something to say, say it nicely!" Duan Mingyu was chased around by Cheng Zhiyuan, dodging wildly to save his skin, unable to mount a defense for the moment.

"Stop! Old Cheng, are you ever going to finish? You resort to beating and killing over a couple of remarks—ahem, inside a yamen, what kind of decorum is this!" Duan Mingyu straightened his expression and said.

Cheng Zhiyuan panted heavily and said, "Who told you not to listen to my explanation and just keep making wild assumptions!"

Duan Mingyu said awkwardly, "The Master says: Explanation equals concealment, and concealment equals confirmation! I'm not letting you explain because I'm looking out for you!"

Cheng Zhiyuan asked doubtfully, "Really?"

Duan Mingyu replied, "Definitely real. Surely you still don't understand my character?"

"Hah, it's precisely because I understand your character too well that I don't believe you! By the way, when did Confucius ever say that explanation equals concealment?"

Duan Mingyu gave a cheeky grin: "Heh, Confucius may not have said it, but another Master did."

"Who?" Cheng Zhiyuan asked.

Duan Mingyu pointed at himself: "Naturally, Laozi."

Cheng Zhiyuan flew into a fury: "You stinking brat, how dare you mock this old man? Waya ya, take my sword!"

Duan Mingyu fled while shouting, "I'm dizzy! You can even use a sugarcane as a sword, Old Cheng, you're truly one of a kind!"

"Hahahaha," the carefree laughter rang out from behind the screen once more.

Duan Mingyu thought to himself: *Hmph, once I root out these two giggling misses, let's see if you still dare to dock my salary!*

With that, Duan Mingyu took three leaps in succession, landed right in front of the screen, and shoved it wide open.

"Yanyan!"

"Young Master Duan!"

Duan Mingyu was stunned. He never expected Wan Yanyan to be here as well, and he stood there dumbfounded.

"You rascal, take my sword!" Cheng Zhiyuan's sugarcane thrust toward Duan Mingyu unexpectedly.

"Oh, come on, you're still at it!" Duan Mingyu hurriedly sidestepped, letting Cheng Zhiyuan pass.

Cheng Zhiyuan took two deep breaths and said, "All right, quitting time!" With that, he made to slip away.

"Hold on, Old Cheng, if you don't make this matter clear today, you're not going anywhere!" Duan Mingyu grabbed Cheng Zhiyuan by the arm.

Cheng Zhiyuan said, "It was Yanyan who asked this old man to invite you to the yamen today. How is it that you're so dense you didn't figure it out!"

Duan Mingyu looked at Wan Yanyan with embarrassment. Her cheeks were flushed red, and she cast a shy, reproachful glance at Duan Mingyu.