Chapter 21 Master Qin's Cannon
Qi Chengming currently has 170 points.
There weren't many items for sale in the mall, perhaps because Qi Chengming hadn't bought any before. The shelves only displayed items in a nine-square grid:
[One bag of corn seeds] 100 points. [One bag of potato seeds] 100 points. [One bag of sweet potato seeds] 100 points.
[One Health-Preserving Pill] 50 points. [One Taishan Tuoding Pill] 50 points. [One Lightning Speed Pill] 50 points.
[One sample of alcohol distillation method] 50 points. [One sample of simplified high-temperature composting method] 50 points. [One sample of core ammonium sulfate production method] 50 points.
They are all very useful, but right now only those few pills are useful.
Qi Chengming quickly glanced at the introduction.
The Nourishing Pill can restore injuries and eliminate toxins. The Mount Tai Pill can provide a day's worth of boundless strength, and the Lightning Speed Pill can provide a day's worth of high speed.
The only ones that might be useful now are probably Taishan Maru or Fengchi Dianche Maru.
Total of 100 points.
Now was not the time to save money. With a thought, Qi Chengming exchanged one of each item, which appeared on the infrastructure system's list instead of directly in reality. Qi Chengming felt much more at ease and did not choose to take them immediately, but instead decided to observe the situation further.
"Charge! Charge through!" "Subdue them!" Suddenly, a commotion and chaos erupted in the distance.
Qi Chengming and Chief Steward Song stood guard in front of his tent, watching warily in that direction. Figures loomed in the distant woods, and screams echoed intermittently. In the dim moonlight, Commander Mao, like a tiger suddenly leaping, his massive body and imposing presence were terrifying. He roared, "Brothers, charge!"
In an instant, sentries, both hidden and visible, those who had been sleeping on the ground, and even the burly eunuchs suddenly sprang to their feet. Accompanied by the neighing of horses and the rapid clatter of hooves, the entire sleeping camp came to life. The Imperial Guards rushed forward, joining the wandering soldiers who were leading the way in the distance, and completely surrounded the suddenly appearing group, leaving no one behind.
The incident happened suddenly, and it ended just as suddenly.
It didn't even last for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Amidst the commotion, it took Youzi quite a while to tie the person up before he herded them over like geese.
"What happened?" The people sleeping in the middle of the camp were finally awakened. A timid palace maid's voice trembled with tears. A craftsman's wife quickly pulled her youngest son to her side, looking at him with fear. Most people instinctively went to find the direction of the carriage to see how the Second Prince was doing.
Commander Mao shook the blood off his knife and strode back first.
Noticing his strong odor, he stood two or three steps away from Qi Chengming and reported the results: "Your Highness, everything has been resolved, nothing has leaked out."
"What's going on?" Qi Chengming couldn't see how many people were in the distance, but from the bloodstains on Commander Mao's face, he could vaguely sense the danger that had just occurred. It was the first time he had smelled such a strong odor of human blood, and he felt somewhat uncomfortable, but Qi Chengming kept a straight face and didn't show it.
“There’s a village behind that dangerous spot ahead. These bandits were doing something inhuman just now…” Commander Mao cursed, “and they even sent out a few spies to guard it, the same ones Youzi discovered.”
"...So it was a misunderstanding?" Qi Chengming asked in return.
It was a false alarm. The bandits actually wanted to attack the village next to the mountain, but their lookout was accidentally discovered by their scouts, and now they've been caught in a trap.
Commander Mao, however, did not give a definitive answer. With a stern face, he said, "At least there are still some doubts about what happened yesterday. I will ask around some more."
The village is behind the dangerous area. If the bandits wanted to attack the village, they wouldn't have passed through the dangerous area. Why would they need to set up a lookout there? The figure they encountered yesterday is still highly suspicious.
Commander Mao made up his mind to thoroughly interrogate these bandits and, incidentally, let Youzi and the others get to know their faces.
After this commotion, the entire camp won't be able to sleep for the time being.
Lanterns were lit one after another, illuminating the area brightly. The imperial guards were busy cursing and detaining disobedient bandits, while the eunuchs temporarily took over the duties of patrolling and maintaining order, walking back and forth. From time to time, the sound of a child sobbing in grievance could be heard.
“Your Highness, something’s not right.” The liaison officer named Lao Hua, who had been as quiet as a shadow, suddenly appeared and said in a low, mature voice, “The weapons used by this group of people are all standard-issue, but they look very worn out… like they were salvaged.”
Qi Chengming's brows furrowed slowly: "You mean, these bandits might have connections with the government?"
Old Hua didn't help his master make a judgment; he simply shared his observations and then quietly shut his mouth and stood there without saying a word.
Qi Chengming's lips curled up, as if he wanted to laugh: "This is really interesting."
His temper was reignited by these repeated mysteries.
The situation has been turbulent since we first arrived in Yiyang County.
First, there was a suspected attempt to bury the convoy under falling rocks; then, a seemingly plausible bandit attack on the village, which upon closer inspection revealed possible collusion between the bandits and the government. One crisis after another, was someone trying to kill him, or what was going on?
Regardless of which one, Yiyang County is definitely not innocent. Master Huang's hometown... is quite something.
He accepted all the challenges!
"Since there's a village ahead, let's spend the night there," Qi Chengming announced decisively in a cold voice.
While the dangerous area is still under their control and the bandits have just been subdued, the environment in the village would be better. They've been on the road for three or four days, and some members of the group are exhausted and need a break. They also need a place to properly imprison the bandits. Everyone needs to conserve their energy before they can investigate anything suspicious in Yiyang County!
Qi Chengming had one more thing he didn't say.
These days, ordinary people suffer so much. I don't know how that village is doing. I'll help if I can.
The heavy convoy began its journey through the night, but this time it didn't have to go far. After traveling less than a mile, Qi Chengming could already see faint lights and villagers running and shouting, busy and disheveled.
"How could this happen..." Xiao Dezi murmured involuntarily. Xiao Chengzi's brows furrowed, and he gritted his teeth in hatred: "A bunch of beasts!"
"Quickly, go help put out the fire!" Qi Chengming hurriedly gave instructions.
"I've left some people here to help," Commander Mao hurriedly reported. The closer the convoy got, the more they saw the village in ruins.
Those desperados set fire to several parts of the village, distracting everyone from fighting the fires and making it easier for them to rush out and loot. Now, with the help of the Imperial Guards, the villagers spent quite a while putting out the fire, leaving only smoldering ruins.
"This old man has met... has met your esteemed guests." Only then did the village chief and several village elders have time to come over, trembling, to thank them for their help.
"We'll stay in the village tonight, so we won't disturb you," Qi Chengming said gently, reassuring them. He had them helped up before carefully inquiring about the situation, "Were there any casualties? What's the situation with those bandits?"
"It's alright, thank you for your concern, sir." The village chief, being younger and speaking clearly, said gratefully, "At most, a few people were slightly injured, some even slipped and fell into the pond, but everyone else is fine. Most importantly, the grain wasn't burned, all thanks to Master Qin..."
"Master Qin?" Steward Song asked sharply.
The village chief's legs went weak, and he knelt down again with a thud, not daring to raise his head. His voice trembled as he said, "My lord... you are the greatest master in the world, a descendant of the dragon. Only after those damned beasts were tied up by you did this old man dare to ask for your help."
“…Every year they come down from the mountains to kill and rob, and the county sends people to suppress them.” The village chief cried out, “We always hear that we’ve done a good job of suppressing them, but before long, another group will pop up…We, who make a living from the land, can’t escape their roots, and we suffer every day.”
"I understand what you mean." Qi Chengming said slowly, his expression inscrutable. "...Don't worry, if the investigation confirms that this is the case, I won't ignore it."
Others may not understand, but only these truly victimized people at the bottom of society, with nowhere else to turn, see it most clearly. It's not that they don't know, it's that they've never dared to speak out. This is speculation about collusion between officials and bandits in Yiyang County. For the sake of political achievements, they must have kept it a secret from several key officials, big and small. How could these common folk have the right to even breathe a word?
Qi Chengming is currently just an unpopular prince, almost treated like an exile. But he's encountered this situation, and he really can't just ignore it. After all, he still holds the title of prince—and has troops under his command, so he's not afraid of anything.
—She can go crazy at any time.
Once he leaves the palace, does that mean he can't turn the world upside down?
"Who is that Master Qin?" Steward Song pressed.
"I heard he was also a reincarnation of the God of Literature, a natural scholar, but his arm wasn't very strong, so he stayed here and became a clerk in the county government." The village chief spoke cautiously, afraid that Qi Chengming would misunderstand. "He's a good man, always trying to give us advice or suggestions. But... this time it seems the news has leaked out. My Da Niu didn't receive any news of his safety, and he didn't send anyone over again."
The village chief's face was full of unease, and the other village elders also sighed, all somewhat worried about that Master Qin: "So... esteemed sir, this humble old man dares to ask you for a favor..."
Qi Chengming calculated the time the village chief had mentioned, as well as the travel time from here to Yiyang County. A thought struck him, and his gaze fell on the wandering scholar beside Commander Mao. He asked the village chief, "Village chief, can you describe what he—or someone he trusts—looks like? I have people who can draw portraits..."
The village chief readily agreed.
Qi Chengming summoned a palace maid who had previously served the Second Prince. She had learned a few strokes from the maid who had died young and was now putting her skills to good use.
After careful description and repeated revisions, several portraits were completed, and at Qi Chengming's suggestion, they were drawn as realistically as possible.
Then—the traveler's eyes lit up, and he pointed to one of the portraits and said with certainty, "Yes—it's dark and not very clear, but the person we bumped into in that dangerous place is him!"
Qi Chengming felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his heart, and he was also somewhat amused and exasperated.
It was indeed related to that Master Qin.
Although he still has some doubts... it doesn't matter, they'll understand the details when they meet tomorrow.
A note from the author:
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The next Minister of Rebirth is here!
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