Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 42 The Local Tyrant's Bait
Yang Can had never visited these estates, not even after he became Yu Chengye's advisor.

Therefore, the village he imagined was the village he remembered.

In his mind, landlords were the kind of nouveau riche in the countryside.

In reality, however, he suffers from serious cognitive biases.

Even in the Central Plains, not all landowners in this era were gentry or landlords.

In some parts of the Central Plains, there also existed large landowners who were local tyrants.

In Longshang, every large estate had a powerful landlord.

The "village" here is actually a mixture of economic, administrative, and military units.

Who could possibly view an "independent kingdom" that integrates military defense, agricultural production, handicrafts, and administrative rule as a simple village?
The landlords here are somewhat similar to the powerful landlords during the chaotic period at the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period; they wielded considerable power.

Once inside Phoenix Manor, Zhang Yunyi was nothing more than a nouveau riche who went around worshipping Buddha and burning incense, and who always smiled at everyone he met.

But here, he is undoubtedly a local tyrant.

Yang Can was shocked and surprised when he saw the magnificent fortified village because his mindset of "peaceful times" and his inherent misconceptions could not match the product of such a special era and geographical location.

Yang Can examined the fortified village and asked Zhang Yunyi, "Master Zhang, is this fortified village built to defend against bandits?"

Zhang Yunyi also knew that once the higher-ups came down to inspect, it would be difficult for him to keep his wealth hidden.

His estate was truly secluded; with just a word from him, nothing, big or small, could get out.

However, it was not truly closed off, because to his master, this fortified village was completely undefended.

This is also why the gift money he gave to Li Youcai was exceptionally generous.

Li Youcai had been a steward for many years and knew the details of these estates. He couldn't complain about being poor in front of Steward Li.

Now that Yang Can has come to inspect, he knows that the gift he gives Yang Can next time must be much more valuable than the last one.

However, he couldn't let Yang Can think he was too rich.

Zhang Yunyi said, "Steward Yang, preventing bandits is secondary. In years of major disasters, the dangers caused by wandering refugees are far greater than those caused by bandits. The main reason this fortified village is so sturdy is to prevent the refugees from causing trouble during disaster years."

Yang Can suddenly realized that the drawbridge had been lowered, the gate was wide open, and everyone entered the fortress.

Zhang Yunyi explained along the way that the farm's granaries, workshops, and other facilities were all built inside the fortified village.

If they encounter an overwhelming group of refugees, the entire village, young and old, will seek refuge in a fortified village to resist.

He was telling Yang Can that this fortified village was the last stronghold of the entire Feng'an Village, not just his residence.

However, this wasn't entirely untrue; Yang Can did indeed see some industrial, agricultural, and even commercial buildings, such as grain storage areas, armories, weaving workshops, breweries, and blacksmith shops.

Continuing forward, just like the inner city of the imperial city, there was another high wall.

This is the Zhang residence.

The vermilion gate of the Zhang residence was made of elm wood panels half a foot thick, covered with wrought iron sheets, and nailed with copper nails the size of bowls.

In this way, even if an enemy breaches the gates of the fortified village, they will have to continue attacking it after entering before they can truly endanger Zhang Yunyi's safety.

The Zhang residence is paved with bluestone, and upon entering, there is a straight main road with courtyards on both sides, connected to the main road by their gates.

At the end of the road is a main house with a five-bay roof, and on the eaves of the roof, there is a bronze-cast xiezhi beast.

A copper bell hangs under the eaves, and it makes a pleasant tinkling sound when the wind blows.

Zhang Yunyi and the other stewards ushered Yang Can and his party into the main hall.

Zhang Yunyi said with a beaming smile, "Deacon Yang, Mr. Li, and Miss Qingmei, I have already arranged accommodations for you in the manor."

Tonight, Mr. Zhang will host a banquet to welcome our three distinguished guests. Tomorrow, I will accompany them on an inspection tour of the estate. What do you say?

Yang Can nodded and said, "When guests follow the host's lead, we will leave it to the master of the manor to arrange."

Lai Gulu and the others smiled upon hearing this, taking Yang Can's words as a gesture of goodwill and cooperation.

It seems that this Deacon Yang is a sensible person.

As long as you don't go too far, we certainly won't embarrass you.

True happiness is when everyone is happy, and you are happy too.

Zhang Yunyi said, "It's still early for the banquet, so let's all sit down and get to know each other."

As Zhang Yunyi spoke, he gave Lai Gulu a wink.

Lai Gulu understood and immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute to Yang Can, saying in a hearty manner, "Steward Yang, I am honored to be the head of Tian'an Manor. Now I will tell you about the affairs under my jurisdiction."

Lai Gulu explained his responsibilities to Yang Can and the other two, while four pretty maids in green robes brought up tea trays and served fragrant tea to the guests in turn.

The four maids serving tea were clearly carefully selected; each was slender, beautiful, and had clear, bright eyes.

Yang Can took the teacup and idly fiddled with the tea leaves while listening to Lai Gulu's self-introduction.

He casually glanced at the pretty maids serving tea, and to be honest, the saying "Beautiful birds are born in deep mountains and beauties emerge from humble cottages" was definitely true here.

People tend to take a second look at anything beautiful.

Although it was only for a fleeting moment, Zhang Yunyi noticed it nonetheless.

He immediately gave the steward a look, and the steward understood, then quietly followed the pretty maid who was serving tea out.

In Yang Can's original world, a contemporary "Supreme Ruler of a Hundred Miles" once said the following:

Do you know how much power I have? Even if I have a dream, someone can immediately make it a reality!
Zhang Yunyi clearly has the right to realize his dream.

However, Yang Can, who wields the "Imperial Sword," now has the power to make his dreams come true.

The welcoming banquet was very lavish, but Zhang Yunyi was a very sensible person, and the scale of the banquet was just right.

The level of hospitality made Yang Can and his group feel respected and treated with courtesy, but it wasn't so outrageous that they thought Zhang Yunyi, this "country bumpkin," was as extravagant as the host. After the welcoming banquet, Yang Can and his group were taken to the Intermediate People's Court for accommodation.

This is a relatively independent courtyard, separated from the rest of the compound by a high wall.

There are two buildings facing north and south in the courtyard, and between the two buildings is a pond full of lotus flowers, connected by a stone bridge.

Yang Can, as the main person in charge of this trip, lived alone in the South Building.

As soon as I entered the building, two pretty maids came to greet me, gracefully curtsying and singing sweetly.

"Deacon Yang, please have a cup of tea to sober up. The bath will be ready soon."

Yang Can looked closely and realized that the two women looked vaguely familiar.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the pretty maid who had served tea earlier.

Yang Can couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Was this manor owner originally a fruit seller?
Did he pick out the most presentable girls in the manor, using them for any occasion?

They were the ones who gracefully served water, and they were also the ones who attended to her daily needs.

Yang Can asked with a smile, "What are your names?"

“This servant is Sangzhi.”

"This servant is Xiao Tan."

Sangzhi was taller and wore a moon-white gauze dress.

Her skirt was embroidered with light blue cloud patterns, and a ribbon with brocade trim was tied around her waist, making her slender waist appear incredibly delicate.

Compared to Xiao Tan, she was more gentle and had a more outstanding appearance.

However, Xiao Tan appears to be smaller than Sang Zhi.

She wore an apricot-red dress, and her youthful face already showed a hint of charm.

It has a different flavor compared to mulberry branches.

With different physical appearances, Yang Can could be easily distinguished.

He wouldn't get completely drunk at today's welcoming banquet; he would only feel slightly tipsy.

After sitting down and drinking two cups of tea to sober up, Yang Can got up to take a bath.

Inside the bathhouse, warm steam rose from the cypress tub, and a few freshly picked fragrant petals floated on the surface of the water.

Yang Cankuan removed his robes and stepped into the tub. The perfect water temperature made him let out a satisfied sigh.

At this moment, Xiao Tan, dressed only in a small coat, walked in barefoot, carrying a red lacquered tray.

On the lacquer tray were bath beans, perfume, and fine linen cloth.

Xiao Tan walked gracefully to Yang Can, curtsied, and said softly, "This servant will assist Steward Yang in his bath."

Yang Can instinctively wanted her to leave; he had never experienced such extravagant service before.

However, he swallowed the words back down his throat.

Where is this? This is Feng'anzhuang!
The most powerful person here is just a "village chief".

If he makes a fuss over the manners of even a village chief's family, that would be incredibly embarrassing.

Therefore, Yang Can seemed to take it all in stride.

He closed his eyes and rested his head on the rim of the bucket.

Seeing that he did not object, Xiao Tan smiled knowingly and placed the wooden tray on the low table beside her.

She was only wearing a small top, revealing her two pale forearms.

Then they used a ladle to fetch water and slowly poured it onto Yang Can's shoulders and back.

Then, she took the bath powder and rubbed it in her palm.

Once the bath powder was bubbling and the faint herbal scent was spreading, her palms landed on Yang Can's shoulders and neck, massaging them gently.

Yang Can kept his eyes closed, appearing very familiar with the process, calm and composed.

The water was calm and still.

Yang Can's second-floor bedroom has a "cantilevered corridor," which is commonly known as a balcony.

Sangzhi waited for Xiaotan to enter the bathroom. Seeing that she hadn't been kicked out for a long time, she smiled and walked to the "corridor" in the bedroom.

She hung an orange lantern on the "corridor" and leaned on the "railing" to look into the distance.

Then, she gracefully returned to the inner room and closed the shoji door.

Zhang Yunyi's residence was located behind the main hall where Yang Can had previously been entertained.

This place forms its own large courtyard, which can be described as a "courtyard within a courtyard".

Behind the main hall is a high wall. You have to walk to the left and right sides of this wall to find the entrance to the back house from the side.

Otherwise, people who see this wall would think that behind this main hall is the outermost courtyard wall of this fortified village.

Such a deceptive design was certainly not intended to defend against bandits and refugees attacking the fortified village.

Entering this courtyard within a courtyard, one finds exquisitely carved beams and painted rafters, surpassing even the most luxurious building before.

After the mulberry lanterns were hung from the covered corridor, a servant who had been watching from a distance hurriedly entered this "courtyard within a courtyard".

He had to report that Deacon Yang had already taken the bait offered by the Master of the Manor.

(End of this chapter)