Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 71 I Want to Cover the Sky
Feng'an Fort had fewer than ten horses in total, and Yang Can used them all.

Although Yang Can and his group changed their route halfway through, which was shorter in a straight line, it still took them quite a bit of effort to cross that mountain.

Yang Can was afraid that this would delay things, and by the time he arrived, the two sides had already started fighting.

Therefore, he told the able-bodied men to walk slowly, while he and those with horses rushed ahead.

In the end, it was still too late.

However, for Kang Zhengyang, Yang Can's arrival was not late at all; it was just in time.

"Master!" Kang Zhengyang exclaimed in surprise and delight.

"Has everything been resolved?"

"solved."

"Who are they?"

"We don't know who they are, but..."

Kang Zhengyang said with a wry smile, "But after looking at the goods they're transporting, I'm afraid it'll be a big problem."

"Goods? What's wrong with their goods?"

Kang Zhengyang said with a somber tone, "Master... if you turn back now and ignore me, I... won't blame you."

"Hmm? What exactly is it? Why are you being so mysterious?"

Yang Can found it somewhat amusing. He strode over and, with a flourish, ripped off the lacquered cloth.

"It can't possibly be a truckload of naked men; that would be an eyesore... right?"

The smile didn't disappear, it just froze.

A cup of tea... a stick of incense...

At a point in time, between the time it takes to drink a cup of tea and burn an incense stick, Yang Can blinked.

Then, he slowly covered it with the lacquered cloth and carefully stretched it.

“Kang Quchang, if Yang leaves now, do you think I still have a chance?”

Kang Zhengyang did not answer, but looked around at the more than one hundred people who were slowly gathering.

Yang Can gave a wry smile; he finally realized what kind of big trouble Kang Zhengyang had gotten into.

He was the second steward of the Yu family's eldest branch and also the owner of Feng'an Manor.

Now that he's here, it doesn't matter whether he's seen what's in the car or not.

The owner of this shipment could not possibly believe that he was unaware of the situation; he might even think that all of Kang Zhengyang and the others' actions were at his behest.

Want to stay out of it?
No, he is the mastermind now.

This year must be my "Mercury retrograde period"!
Yang Can thought to himself, "I've been in this world for three years, and I've been perfectly fine all of this time."

As a result of this year's commotion, I was first dragged into the water by the tangled branches, and now I've plunged headfirst into the sinkhole.

He sighed inwardly and forced himself to glance at the "battlefield" that hadn't been cleaned up yet.

"Kangqu is long. How many people usually pass through this canyon?"

"Not many, very few!"

Kang Zhengyang grimaced as if he had a bitter melon in his mouth.

"There is a grassland on the other side of this valley, where a Xianbei tribe often grazed their livestock."

This is not the road to the Western Regions. Merchants would not travel this way unless they were doing business with the Xianbei tribes.

Those Xianbei people were lawless; it was common for them to kill and rob for money. There were few merchants, and even fewer ordinary people.

"So, this batch of goods... is very likely a transaction between these people and the Xianbei?"

Hearing this, Kang Zhengyang finally realized: "That's right! Very likely."

Yang Can stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "How long is this valley passage, and which tribe is beyond it?"

"The mountain path is less than four miles long. Beyond it lies a grassland. The chief of that tribe is called Balimo, and he is extremely cruel and warlike."

Yang Can gave Kang Zhengyang a wink, and Kang Zhengyang quickly followed. The two stopped at the foot of a cliff.

"Kang Quchang, are all these carts laden with armor?"

"Yes……"

"Regardless of whose armor these are or who he intends to sell them to, this person's power is far beyond what you or I can contend with."

"Yes……"

Kang Zhengyang was well aware of this.

Even if an ordinary person has money, they can't find a place to buy armor.

This person must be both rich and powerful.

It's important to know that the requirements for making armor are extremely high, and it's time-consuming and labor-intensive.

It takes a craftsman about six months to a year to make a set of armor.

If it is the bright armor used by nobles or generals, it may even take skilled craftsmen several years to make a single set.

But the role of armor is truly enormous; the difference in combat power between those who wear armor and those who don't is like night and day.

When a military general is engaged in battle, he is bound to be injured, even if he is not killed in action.

This injury could render him unable to fight on the spot.

Even a small wound could lead to infection and death.

But wearing armor can at least block more than 70% of the damage for him.

Equipment that can save a life is already of immeasurable value.

Moreover, once this armor is donned, it makes one resemble a nine-lived monster cat.

Because the armor was so important and difficult to make, the owner would never let it go.

Kang Zhengyang asked anxiously, "Master, what if we send these armors to Phoenix Manor?"

"The lord will certainly investigate thoroughly, but before he finds out, you and I may already be dead."

Kang Zhengyang's face stiffened for a moment, but he knew that although Yang Can's words were harsh, they were all the truth.

To put it bluntly, Yang Can might still have a chance to survive.

After all, Yang Can improved the plow and waterwheel, which made him famous.

The lord might transfer him back to Phoenix Manor to ensure his safety, which would make it much more difficult for anyone to deal with him.

But what about myself? I'll probably just have to hope for the best.

"Master, how about we bury the armor and say we didn't catch up with that band of thugs?"

How do we explain those who are already dead?

"So... we got caught up in it, fought a big battle, and the thieves got away?"

Yang Can's lips twitched, feeling both amused and exasperated.

"Kang Quchang, are you trying to deceive the owners of these armors or the clan leader?"

Kang Zhengyang was stunned for a moment before he understood what he meant.

Yes, our goal is to prevent the owners of these armors from targeting us.

My idea... is completely useless in this regard.

Kang Zhengyang asked with difficulty, "Then... does the Master have a solution?"

"I have come up with an idea, but..."

Yang Can glanced at the soldiers in the valley: "How many of them know about this? Can we get them to keep quiet?"

"I've heard of or seen fewer than ten people, and they're all brothers I can trust..."

Yang Can said, "I'm asking if we can get them to keep quiet!"

"Yes, as long as you give the order, Master, they will keep their mouths shut. Even if they are drunk, they will not dare to tell anyone."

Upon hearing such a definite answer, Yang Can couldn't help but think of Zhang Yunyi, who held absolute power.

Even if they had suffered a great injustice, the villagers dared not utter a single word before Zhang Yunyi fell.

The consequences of offending the local tyrant are far more terrible than offending a powerful outsider.

And now, Yang Can is not alone anymore.

In Feng'anzhuang, there is a large group of new vested interests who are dependent on him.

He is now the new local tyrant of Feng'anzhuang.

"Furthermore, I, Kang, will also give the order that anyone who dares to speak out and bring disaster upon themselves will have their entire family suffer a fate worse than death!"

As he said this, Kang Zhengyang's face became somewhat ferocious.

When it comes to matters of life and death, no one will be careless.

Besides, he wasn't exactly a kind-hearted old farmer.

Yang Can nodded: "That's excellent. I have a plan that might divert the trouble to the east."

What plan should be devised?

Kang Zhengyang's bull-like eyes, which were fixed on Yang Can, instantly became "bright and sparkling".

Yang Can said, "A person who can bring out so much armor for a trade must be no ordinary person, and his methods must be extraordinary as well."

Therefore, we must employ multiple methods simultaneously, creating a smokescreen, a mixture of truth and falsehood, so that we may have a chance to deceive everyone.

Kang Zhengyang said cautiously, "So, please instruct me on how to proceed, Lord Manor Master!"

……

Soon, those who had seen the armor or heard something were gathered together by Kang Zhengyang and reprimanded.

Kang Zhengyang spoke sternly and menacingly, explaining to them in great detail the serious consequences of the matter being exposed.

There's no way around it; these are experiences that these grassroots leaders have accumulated over a long period of time.

Even in modern society, where everyone is well-educated, there are still some people who just can't understand what's being said.

In this era, most people were illiterate, and coupled with isolation and lack of mobility, many people's comprehension abilities were even worse.

The advantage is that these people are all single-minded, so once you get the hang of them, they are very easy to manage, just like herding cattle and sheep.

The downside is that he genuinely doesn't understand what you consider a very simple principle!
You have to explain it to them carefully and in a way they can understand.

Kang Zhengyang made sure that everyone was aware of the serious consequences of the matter before he arranged for people to clean up the battlefield as Yang Can instructed.

The cleaning task assigned by Yang Can was very easy.

The felled trees were simply dragged to the roadside; there was no need to drag them into the dense forest.

The bodies of those who smuggled goods from the mountains were left unburied in the same spot.

They completely ignored the bloodstains and signs of fighting on the ground.

However, the carriage with its wheels damaged was repaired on the spot.

For these long-distance wagons, spare parts for easily damaged components such as wheels, axles, hubs, and spokes are provided on board.

There are quite a few people in the village who know how to repair horse-drawn carriages. By using spare parts, the carriage can be restored to its original condition very quickly.

The remaining soldiers mainly cleared away any traces that clearly belonged to them on the mountaintop and slopes.

After arranging these matters, Yang Can called Kang Zhengyang and Leopard Head to his side.

Kang Zhengyang already knew about Yang Can's plan, and his expression showed both nervousness and excitement.

Leopard Head looked completely bewildered.

Yang Can said, "Da Kuan, Kang Quchang, each of you choose a few people. I need people who are skilled, quick-witted, and absolutely trustworthy."

Those who meet all these conditions are, of course, their brothers and nephews.

Yang Can said, "Then, you go..."

Yang Can subconsciously lowered his voice, and after giving his instructions, Kang Zhengyang immediately responded in a deep voice, "Yes."

Leopard Head was extremely surprised by Yang Can's instructions, but he didn't ask anything.

Since following Yang Can, he may seem less glamorous than before, but in reality, he has gained far more benefits.

The Cheng family is now the most prominent family in Feng'an Village after the Yang family.

Yang Can is now the only member of the Yang family, so you can imagine how powerful the Cheng family is in Feng'an Village.

And all of this was given to him by Master Yang.

"Yes, sir!" Leopard Head immediately cupped his hands in agreement.

Soon, the two of them each selected four or five people, all of whom were their brothers, cousins, and nephews and nieces.

These men mounted the warhorses that Yang Can had brought and galloped along the newly cleared mountain path toward the other side of the mountain.

(End of this chapter)