Chapter 191: Winds Arising in Northern Yuan (1/2)
Chapter 191: Winds Arising in Northern Yuan
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
Yunzhou, Great Jin.
The Governor Mansion.
Ever since Ma Tianchang's daughter suffered the bride kidnapping, an eccentric air had pervaded the Governor Mansion until now.
That kidnapping caused a great sensation throughout Jianghu and cultivated Wang She's fame as well. However, it was absolutely not a good deed; rather it was a disgraceful one for the Governor's Mansion. In fact, the marriage between the Governor Mansion and Mingyi School had turned out to be a joke throughout Jianghu, as one of the people concerned, Ma Tianchang, Governor of Yunzhou, was absolutely humiliated and his mood never recovered, especially after the relationship between Lei Xu of Tian Long Taoism and Ma Linglong was exposed.
He pulled a long face towards everyone, as if they owed him a million coins. Thus, no one dared to get involved in his bad luck, except one person.
”Old Master! Aren't you tired with your straight face?”
As the smooth and lovely voice arose, Ma Tianchang turned around a little bit helplessly and said, ”Is that my wish? Isn't it your daughter's fault? If I'm not pretending, perhaps tomorrow, that guy will know my real thoughts.”
”Now that there are so many spies in our mansion, why don't you clear them all out?”
The Evil Qi could be seen in Madam Ma's eyes when she said that. ”I told you already that it wasn't wise to keep them here!”.
”What else can I do?” He said with a forced smile, ”A governor's mansion with no spies? Save it! We need them to keep us safe. He might distrust us if we clear them all out.”
”What are you afraid of?” Dare he kick you from the position of the Governor of Yunzhou?”
”He can't make a move right now, but that doesn't mean he won't!” Ma Tianchang said calmly, ”That guy is too ambitious. What's more, with a wretch who likes making trouble beside him, he is determined to be the greatest sage by turning into a demon!”
”You are right, he's almost a demon! He was such a good man, how could he turn into what he is right now?” Madam Ma sighed. Suddenly her eyes flickered and she said, ”Tianchang, from the way you see it, will he succeed?”
”God knows!” An eccentric smile appeared on Ma Tianchang's face. ”Keke! The greatest sage. How could that wretch come up with this title?”
”He is absolutely licking his own boots!” Madam Ma sneered. ”Anyway, Tianchang, leave these matters alone. You can't keep this on anymore. Just look for a chance to agree to Lei Xu's marriage. Hopefully, he and Linglong fall for each other; Lei Xu is sincere after all!”
”Lei Xu is good, of course, but he is from the Lei family, Tian Long Taoism. The marriage will still trigger his fear if it is decided without a hitch!”
”Are you that afraid of him?” Madam Ma asked discontentedly.
”It isn't my fear of him. I just don't want any conflicts with him during this period!” Ma Tianchang answered calmly, ”I'm not willing to reach a deadlock with him at the moment. As you well know.”
”I understand, but we have our daughter Linglong suffering due to this!” Madam Ma sighed.
”She made this choice herself! She needs to bear the consequences of course!” Ma Tianchang said, ”She isn't a child anymore. She should make a compromise sometimes!”
”She shouldn't compromise on her marriage!” Complained Madam Ma, ”Fortunately, Lei Xu is brave. If that wasn't the case, you might try to marry our daughter to Lu Shaoyou.”
”Of couse not!” Ma Tianchang said, ”Am I a foolish man in your mind?”
As they were talking, a tumult arose from the outside all of a sudden and then Ma Tianchang frowned. This place was the backyard of the Governor Mansion, only trusted subordinates were allowed here. They knew the consequences if they made noise here.
”Would it be...” Ma Tianchang winked at Madam Ma suddenly as if he knew something, and after that, she nodded and went into the room.
”Who made the noise?”
Ma Tianchang gave a little cough and asked loudly.
”Your Excellency, bad news!”
A strong man in armor ran straight into the backyard followed by the servants of the Governor Mansion who failed to stop him.
”Yu Gang, Why are you in a fluster? You are misbehaving!” Seeing the man, Ma Tianchang scolded him loudly with his face darkening.
The man knelt hurriedly before Ma Tianchang and said, ”Your Excellency, Seven Troops of Southern Yard in Northern Yuan were united yesterday. They seem to have mobilized south. Massive patrolling cavalry has arrived in Yuyang, Hukou County and Dragon Mouth Gorge. All of our strength is on alert, but it isn't enough. We are waiting for your command!”
”Is that true?” Ma Tianchang was shocked. A light flashed in his eyes and then vanished.
”Emmm...You should go and rest. I have my plan for this matter!”
”Yes, Your Excellency!” The strong man named Yu Gang answered and left.
”It's done! I guess” Madam Ma moved out after that and said.
”It's supposed to be, otherwise Northern Yuan won't behave in this way!” She nodded.
”What about your plan?”
”Of course!” Smiling confidently she said, ”If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't tell you!”
”That is to say, Northern Yuan will have a very hard time this winter!”
”They will face the coldest winter with the heaviest snowstorm of this century” Madam Ma sneered, ”Thus, without that incident and your command of Yunzhou, Northern Yuan will go down all the same!”
”Emm... then for when do you predict the snowfall?”
”Three months later according to astronomical phenomenon. Why do you care so much about my plan? Haven't you prepared for it since a half year ago?”
”Yes, I have!” An extremely cold smile hung on Ma Tianchang's face. He shouted all of a sudden, ”Ming Ying!”
”Yes! General!” A guard in white came in.
”Go and inform An Le that we'll be closing a third of the markets each month from now on. Meanwhile, I'm not willing to see any rice or salt traded into Northern Yuan in the coming three months. Until December 17th in the lunar calendar, the markets should all be closed! No exception!”
”Ah?” Apparently Ming Ying got stunned. He raised his head looking at Ma Tianchang.
”Haven't you heard the order?” Ma Tianchang shouted angrily when seeing Ming Ying's reaction.
”Yes, Your Excellency!” Answering so, Ming Ying withdrew with a bowed head.
”Isn't it too self-evident?”
”The measures are reasonable anyway since the Seven Troops of Southern Yard have mobilized!” Saying so, Ma Tianchang sneered, ”What's more, news about Wang She would spread tomorrow or the day after tomorrow at the latest. No one would believe the markets closed only because of the united troops of Northern Yuan!”
”But those merchants!”
”Those profiteers? I will deal with them!” Ma Tianchang said.
”That's great! Everything is ready!”
”We have everything going our way except a snowstorm. By the way, I'll head to Yuyang tomorrow and check out the situation.”
”Yuyang? Do you really think the Seven Troops of Southern Yard will declare a war?”
”The Seven Troops of Southern Yard won't play for keeps, but they aren't fools ignoring the profits here. Now that they have sent a patrolling cavalry here, they will run the risk of being swallowed up by me. I'm not a milksop at all!”
”Save it! You just want slaughter! Those reasons are rubbish!” Madam Ma gave him a look, ”Get on your way, but do remember, it is necessary to avoid the killing. Too much blood is unfavorable to our future undertaking!”
”I know,” Ma Tianchang smiled and fondled his wife's fair and delicate face, ”Only a fool will get into trouble for temporary anger? I'm leaving!”