Chapter 223 Night Raid
Lin Changning chatted with Zheng Wenshu for a while and found that the man seemed to be literate, spoke in a very organized manner, and could even draw inferences from one instance to another, suggesting a plan to continue setting up an ambush outside the forest and wipe out the Tartars.
Lin Changning looked Zheng Wenshu up and down curiously: "You've been to school?"
Zheng Wenshu nodded slightly: "I am not very talented. I just passed the imperial examination last year and became a scholar. This year I stayed at home and studied hard, but who would have thought..."
Zheng Wenshu didn't say what he meant next, but Lin Changning already understood what he meant.
Lin Changning sighed: "Is there anyone else in the family?"
Zheng Wenshu shook his head: "My parents died early. I was very fortunate to have the help of my neighbors. After the Tartars occupied the city, they started a massacre. Nearly half of my neighbors died. Now I live with Grandma Chen from next door."
Lin Changning asked curiously, "That's strange. Passing the imperial examination must have cost a considerable amount of money. Since both your parents are deceased, you..."
Zheng Wenshu smiled bitterly: "My father was a clerk in the yamen. He had a lot of books at home, and he was also educated. I was studying at the academy before my father died. After my father passed away, the yamen provided a lot of compensation. I relied on my father's compensation to pass the exams. My father was well-liked, so most of the villagers took good care of me. Apart from the cost of schooling and the cost of the imperial examinations, the villagers helped me with everything else."
As he spoke, Zheng Wenshu's eyes reddened, and he turned away to wipe his tears with the back of his thin hand.
"I'm sorry, sir, I simply couldn't help myself. Please forgive me."
Lin Changning sighed: "Then your leg will be unable to participate in scientific research in the future."
Zheng Wenshu lowered his head, somewhat dejected: "It's alright. We've survived this ordeal with the Tartars; it's good enough that we're alive. As for the imperial examinations..."
Zheng Wenshu shook his head: "With a court like this, it's better not to take the imperial examinations. Even if you just go somewhere else and become a teacher, you won't starve."
The fact that the imperial court abandoned several border cities left a deep thorn in Zheng Wenshu's heart. He had read many military books and other miscellaneous books, but he just couldn't understand why the imperial court would abandon the people on the border.
The frontier is rife with sandstorms, and most of the people in the frontier garrisons are locals. They are said to be fierce, but how can they withstand the brutal Tartars and protect their own food if they are not fierce?
The court could have repelled the foreign enemies first and then attacked the rebellious king, but it prioritized abandoning them, ultimately because the people were not as important as the throne.
Although people eventually came to rescue them and exchanged them for prisoners, most of the villagers on the frontier, his remaining relatives and family members, were also killed.
Studying cannot bring food, nor can it bring peace and well-being to one's family. Ten years of hard work and reward all go to the emperor's family, and the people on the frontier cannot earn the emperor's respect.
In fact, other common people would not think that way; they would only feel that they were unlucky. But the more he read, the clearer he saw things, and he realized that the court clearly had the resources to spare.
They had the resources to drive out the Tartars, but ultimately they couldn't overcome the selfishness of those in power. A few border cities could be retaken if lost, but if the throne was unstable, the emperor might have to be replaced.
Seeing the young man's dejected look, Lin Changning placed his hand on his knee and asked, "Does the gentleman have any requirements regarding the tuition fee?"
Zheng Wenshu was taken aback: "There are no requests, sir?"
Lin Changning smiled like a fox who had just stolen some cream: "I have two little nieces at home, and they are at the naughty age. I think you are very talented, sir. Why don't you come to my house and teach my two little nieces? Although it is a bit of a waste of your talents, I hope you will not find it offensive. Please feel free to name your tuition fee, and I will make sure to prepare it for you when we return to Taiyuan."
Zheng Wenshu suddenly looked up, a hint of emotion flashing in his eyes. Having spent so long on the frontier and been tormented by the Tartars for nearly a few months, he was now no different from a refugee.
As for the books he had read before, they were actually useless in this life-or-death crisis. Now he was penniless and had to take care of his elderly fellow villagers. Lin Changning's actions were like sending charcoal in snowy weather.
This gentleman has become a chiliarch at such a young age. Either his family is a noble family or he is very capable. Either way, he would not be unable to afford a tutor, let alone to teach a girl in his family. This is clearly an honor for him.
Zheng Wenshu immediately struggled to his feet, his eyes slightly red, and bowed deeply to Lin Changning with his arms outstretched, saying excitedly, "I am honored by your high regard, sir. I, Zheng Wenshu, am willing to teach your young lady."
Lin Changning also got up from the ground, patted his buttocks, and returned Zheng Wenshu's bow: "Mr. Zheng, you are too kind. During this period, I would like to trouble you to come back to the military camp with me. Three meals a day and accommodation are provided. The salary is 30 taels a year. How about that?"
Without a second thought, Zheng Wenshu bowed and said, "Your kindness is beyond repayment. I leave everything to your discretion."
As the two were exchanging pleasantries, Wan Jin and Lu Shan hurriedly rode back on horseback.
"Thousand-household commander!! Something's not right, there's a tail following behind."
Lin Changning quickly grabbed his knife, mounted his horse, and asked Wan Jin, "How far is it from here?"
Lu Shan's expression was somewhat serious: "About thirty kilometers away, Wan Jin and I were watching from afar. It was dark, and there were probably more than 1,000 people."
Lin Changning sneered; she had guessed right.
"Pack your things immediately and head towards the Wild Bee Forest, which is ten kilometers ahead."
Wan Jin and Lu Shan quickly accepted the order, clasped their hands in greeting, and went down to reorganize the troops. Lin Changning mounted his horse, looked at Zheng Wenshu standing by the fire, and casually pointed to three or four people.
"You guys protect Mr. Zheng."
After saying this, he looked at Mr. Zheng and said, "Please help me, Mr. Zheng, to wake everyone up and head out of the valley immediately."
Soldiers couldn't continue fighting with these refugees, so they had to settle the refugees first, then set up traps and wipe out the trailing refugees.
Zheng Wenshu bowed to Lin Changning and said, "My lord, I will go right away. Please be careful."
Lin Changning nodded slightly to Zheng Wenshu, leaving 100 people behind to urge the refugees to move forward.
He then led Wan Jin, Lu Shan, and the soldiers to the Wild Bee Forest at a rapid pace.
The Wild Bee Forest was exceptionally quiet at night. After looking around, Lin Changning heard the sound of flowing water in the stream, quickly dismounted, and led the rest of the men to wade towards the stream.
"Mix the mud with the stream water, and everyone will be covered in mud. Once you're covered, follow me into the Wild Bee Forest."
Wan Jin felt a little uneasy as he watched the faint buzzing sound coming from the Wild Bee Forest.
"Qianhu, is this feasible? These are giant hornets; a few stings could be fatal."
Lin Changning patiently dug a large clump of mud from beside the stream and smeared it on Wan Jin's face.
"Just smear mud on yourself when I tell you to, stop talking nonsense."
After saying that, Lin Changning added, "Once we lead them into the wild bee forest, everyone should take off their outer robes, which are covered in mud and water. If the beehive falls down, cover yourselves with your robes and lie face down on the ground!!!"
Without hesitation, Lu Shan covered himself in mud, and upon hearing Lin Changning's words, he immediately shouted, "Yes, Commander!"
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