Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 86 Young Master, Please Take the Blame
Dusk, like thick ink, gradually spread over the eaves of Feng'an Village.

The entire village gradually descended into a tranquil gloom.

Inside the study, the only candle flickered gently.

The flickering flames cast dappled shadows on the decorations hanging on the wall, making them appear and disappear.

Yu Rui sat upright at the table, his long, slender fingers gently caressing the celadon teacup with its subtle patterns.

The tea in the teacup was still warm, and he frowned slightly, looking thoughtful.

"The Mohist school..."

Yu Rui parted his thin lips slightly, his deep voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible inquiry.

The Mohist school, which was famous throughout the world since the pre-Qin period, has not disappeared in the long river of history.

On the contrary, it is more like an underground river that has quietly branched out into countless tributaries over the long years, hidden in every corner of the world, unnoticed by ordinary people.

Each branch of the Mohist school had its own strengths. One branch was adept at using their silver tongue to persuade various states. Their words were as sharp as a drawn sword, and they could often turn the tide of a battle of words.
The other faction was obsessed with studying mechanical arts, and the machines they created were exquisite, ranging from small wooden kites that could fly on their own to large heavy crossbows that could be used to defend cities, all of which were breathtaking.
Another group chose to roam the world with swords, always adhering to the principle of "universal love and non-aggression." They would draw their swords to help those in need whenever they saw injustice, upholding justice and leaving behind many legends among the people as wandering knights.

Thinking of this, Yu Rui's tense lips curled up slightly, forming a meaningful arc.

Although Mohist philosophy is no longer as popular as it once was, the successors of these schools of thought have not disappeared.

They are scattered among the people like sparks, perhaps in some inconspicuous corner, waiting for an opportunity to showcase their talents.

Yang Can is eloquent and skilled in improving various weapons; now it seems he also possesses considerable martial arts skills…

Isn't this a typical characteristic of Mohist disciples?

With a crisp "snap," Yu Rui placed the teacup on the table, his eyes gleaming with barely concealed excitement.

If things are really as he thinks, then Yang Can's value is far more than just being a farm manager.

He remembered that the information he found said that Yang Can had described his background: his real name was Ding Hao, and he had been in love with a woman from the Luo family in Jiangnan.

Unexpectedly, he suffered the calamity of his entire family being wiped out, and in the end, he could only escape to Longshang alone, where he changed his name and became the Yang Can we know today.

Yu Rui slowly narrowed his eyes, the candlelight flickering in them.

He decided that once he returned to Dailai City, he would immediately send people to investigate the matter in detail.

If Yang Can's account of his background is entirely fabricated, then he can be almost certain that Yang Can is undoubtedly a member of the Mohist school.

Mohist disciples have a long tradition of engaging with the world. They would choose an enlightened ruler to serve, thereby realizing their lifelong ambitions. This was a common occurrence in the history of Mohism.

Moreover, the Mohist disciples value keeping their word and are unparalleled in loyalty and righteousness.

If such a person could be put to use, they would surely become a great asset in the future...

Thinking of this, he felt a surge of heat in his chest, and his breathing became more rapid than usual, as if he could already see a bright future ahead.

Just then, a clear voice came from outside the door, breaking the silence in the study.

"Young Master Yu, I was held up by worldly affairs and was late in welcoming you. Please forgive me."

With those words in hand, Yang Can, wearing an apologetic smile, quickly walked into the study.

He wore an indigo long gown, made of fine material and tailored to fit well. A silver silk sash was tied around his waist, which made his tall and upright figure appear even more capable.

Yu Rui quickly put down his teacup, a gentle smile on his face, and stood up to greet him.

“Master Yang, there’s no need for such formalities. The precious sword and tiger-head pendant hanging on your wall are quite unique in style. I was just admiring them carefully, and I didn’t find it boring at all.”

Yang Can followed his gaze and glanced at the wall hanging, secretly thinking: This is just some junk left by Old Zhang, it's not anything special.

But he was too lazy to explain to Yu Rui, so he just laughed it off, his tone tinged with self-deprecation:
"I, Yang, have always been ignorant and incompetent, yet I have a penchant for appearing cultured, so I have haphazardly hung some decorations that are neither fish nor fowl. I hope you will forgive my poor appearance."

The two sat down amidst laughter and conversation. Yu Rui straightened his clothes, his gaze falling on Yang Can, and said in a meaningful tone:

“Master Yang is young and promising. To be so highly regarded by my uncle and to be in charge of such an important place as Feng’an Manor, he has a very promising future.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Can's smile faded slightly, and he shook his head with a wry smile:

"Young master, you flatter me. The clan leader has always been fair in rewarding and punishing his subordinates. My current position is merely due to good luck. As for this Feng'an Manor..."

He paused, a hint of helplessness in his voice, and sighed softly, "Feng'an Village is truly a place of trouble."

Yang may seem successful now, but he's actually walking on thin ice, proceeding cautiously with every step, not daring to be careless in the slightest.

Yu Rui's eyes flickered slightly, but he still had a smile on his face. He continued, "My uncle is naturally dignified and always acts decisively. It's just a pity that his health has become increasingly frail in recent years."

Alas, since my cousin Chengye passed away, his successor Chenglin is still too young to take charge.

My uncle was anxious, so he inevitably became a bit stricter in managing his subordinates.

Yang Can sighed again upon hearing this, his tone carrying a hint of unspoken words.

"I'm afraid that such strictness will backfire in the end, and so on..."

"Ah, let's not talk about this anymore, lest we spoil the young master's mood."

He deliberately feigned a desire to complain, yet feared giving others something to gossip about, thus perfectly expressing his dissatisfaction with the clan leader.

This way, it wouldn't seem too direct, yet Yu Rui could still grasp his attitude.

Yu Rui was secretly delighted: Judging from Yang Can's tone, it seemed that his plan was going to work.

The mutual probing between two people is just like the courtship between a man and a woman; one party always has to make a reaction first for the two to continue in a back-and-forth manner.

If it's a slow burn, it's doomed, unless it encounters a simp.

Yu Rui is not a sycophant.

During his inspection of the farm in the morning, Yu Rui had already subtly revealed his goodwill towards Yang Can.

Now, Yang Can slightly revealed his dissatisfaction with the clan leader in front of him, which was exactly the feedback he wanted to see.

Yu Rui was delighted and unconsciously leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between himself and Yang Can.

The candlelight cast varying shadows on Yu Rui's face, making his expression more solemn.

"Master Yang, you are a smart man, so I won't beat around the bush and will get straight to the point."

My father has always been eager to find talented people, and he especially appreciates talented young people like the manor lord.

If it weren't for your righteous words at Mingde Hall that day, my father probably wouldn't have been able to escape.

The lord of the estate has done my family a great favor, and your talent and learning have greatly impressed my father.

"If the lord of the manor is willing to serve our two lineages, we will certainly treat you with generous salaries and high positions, and will never mistreat you!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Can abruptly stood up from his seat, his face filled with surprise and joy, his voice trembling slightly: "Is what you say true, young master?"

Yu Rui also stood up, his expression solemn and his tone firm.

"Of course it's true. Otherwise, why would the Master think I would have gone to Liangzhou in such a roundabout way? Was it really for those few insignificant loads of goods?"

"The wealth and the beauties from the Western Regions that I brought with me this time are special gifts prepared for the Master, to express the sincerity of my lineage."

Yang Can trembled slightly with excitement and quickly said, "To be honest, I have long seen that the one who can lead the Yu family to grow and prosper is undoubtedly the Second Master of the Dailai lineage. I have long admired the Second Master, but unfortunately, I have never had a way to serve him."

Now that I am so grateful for the high regard shown to me by the Second Master and the Young Master, how could I, Yang, dare not serve them with utmost loyalty?

Upon hearing this, Yu Rui was overjoyed.

He had already prepared for Yang Can to hesitate and refuse, after all, those foreign affairs chiefs were all the kind of people who wouldn't act until they saw a clear benefit, and it would be no easy task to get them to submit easily.

But Yang Can was so decisive, just like a disciple of the Mo Sect, with a chivalrous spirit, generous nature, and no hesitation.

If Yang Can is indeed a disciple of the Mo Sect, and holds a high position within the sect, then in the future, it might be possible to recruit prominent figures within the Mo Sect through him.

It should be noted that the Mohist school was the only quasi-military group among the Hundred Schools of Thought with strict discipline, and its organization and combat effectiveness far surpassed those of other schools.

The leader of the Mohist school was called "Grand Master," and his disciples had to absolutely obey and execute his orders unconditionally.

The Huainanzi records: "Disciples of the Mohist school can all be made to rush into fire and blades, and die without hesitation."

Over the centuries, the image of loyalty and fearlessness of the Mohist disciples has become a golden brand.

Yu Rui's smile grew even brighter, his tone filled with joy.

"With the help of the lord of the manor, my family's two branches are on the right track."

Mr. Yu had no doubt that, given the manor lord's abilities, he would have a way to bring the six farms and three ranches surrounding Feng'an Manor under his control.

However, those managers are all former subordinates of mine who came here on my behalf. I'll speak to them later and ask them to cooperate with you properly.

Yang Can nodded with delight and said sincerely, "I am deeply grateful for the kindness shown to me by the young master and the second master!"

"Since you value me so highly, young master, I, Yang Can, am willing to offer you a gift of surrender to express my loyalty!"

Yu Rui was slightly taken aback, a look of surprise appearing in his eyes: "The Master of the Manor has a gift for me?"

Yang Can revealed a mysterious smile and slowly said, "Indeed. I wonder if a hundred sets of fine iron two-piece armor would meet your standards, young master?"

Upon hearing the words "one hundred sets of fine iron two-piece armor", Yu Rui's eyes narrowed instantly.

One hundred sets of fine iron two-piece armor?
It should be noted that the Longshang region has always been dominated by cavalry, and the armor worn by cavalry is mostly leather.

Because leather armor is inexpensive and relatively simple to manufacture, it is easier to equip large numbers of people with it.

However, leather armor is far less protective than iron armor.

Nowadays, only the most elite cavalrymen under the command of various warlords are equipped with iron two-piece armor.

In terms of price alone, a set of iron two-piece armor is worth as much as three warhorses.

However, the actual value of the armor cannot be measured solely in monetary terms.

Because in the current situation, iron armor is a rare commodity that is available but not readily sold.

The strategic value of one hundred sets of iron two-piece armor is far greater than its literal value.

With this armor, the combat effectiveness of an army can be greatly enhanced.

But Yang Can was just a farm owner. Where did he get a hundred sets of iron armor?
Even for myself, acquiring so many iron armors wouldn't be an easy task...

Seeing the doubt on his face, Yang Can took the initiative to explain, "Young master, do you know what Tuoba Junxie and Balimo were looking for when they came to my manor before?"

Yu Rui suddenly realized, a look of surprise on his face: "Could the so-called 'mountain goods' they lost be these fine iron two-piece armors?"

Yang Can nodded slowly and said calmly, "That's right! Those people who were escorting the 'mountain goods' had previously killed the people in my village."

Upon learning the news, Yang led a group of people to seek justice.

When they caught up with the enemy at Canglang Gorge, they happened to see a group of Xianbei people fighting with the people escorting the "mountain goods," staging a scene of double-crossing.

Finally, these cartloads of armor ended up in my hands by a twist of fate.

Yu Rui was stunned and sighed inwardly: Why don't I have such luck?

Unexpectedly, Yang Can is not only talented but also a lucky charm, as he has encountered such good fortune.

Yang Can continued, "The person who can transport so much armor must have an extraordinary background."

Therefore, if I send these captured armors to Phoenix Manor, I will not only gain nothing, but it will also bring utter destruction to Feng'an Manor.

Left with no other choice, Yang had to discuss with Kang Quchang about hiding the armor.

Now that we have decided to serve Second Master, this batch of armor should naturally be offered to the young master, to do our utmost for the Dailai lineage.

"well!"

Yu Rui said "good" twice in a row, his tone full of excitement, "From now on, the entire lineage will share wealth and honor with Master Yang, and advance and retreat together!"

Yang Can gently shook his head and said sincerely, "This thing is of no use to me. Instead, it's like a hot potato that could bring trouble at any time."

Only by offering it to the Second Master can it be used to its fullest potential; this is truly making the best use of it.

Yang's actions were both to demonstrate his loyalty and to avoid trouble, as he dared not boast of his achievements.

Upon hearing this, Yu Rui was even happier.

He originally thought that recruiting Yang Can would be a great success.

I never expected to have such an unexpected gain; it's like the heavens are helping my meridians!

Yang Can changed the subject, his tone becoming serious: "However, the source of this batch of armor is illegitimate."

The clan leader will definitely investigate the whereabouts of these armors, and the Xianbei people certainly won't give up easily.

The armor trafficker will certainly not let this go.

For safety's sake, we need to carefully discuss and devise a comprehensive plan for how you, my lord, can successfully retrieve this batch of armor.

"That's how it should be!"

Yu Rui immediately chimed in, "Since this batch of armor cannot be made public, we should indeed come up with a proper solution and absolutely cannot afford any mistakes."

Yang Can secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

In fact, although that batch of armor was precious and coveted, it was of no use to him for a long time.

Moreover, this matter involves too many people, and over time, it is difficult to guarantee that the secret will not be leaked.

Although he can temporarily control Feng'an Village, in the long run, the truth will inevitably be discovered by those with ulterior motives, which will only bring him enormous trouble.

Therefore, the safest approach is to quickly get rid of these armors and find a suitable "buyer".

And if this "scapegoat" can also give him some benefits in return, then why not?

So, in the flickering candlelight, the two figures slowly came together and began to talk in hushed tones.

The candlelight cast their shadows on the wall.

The shadows flickered and then remained still, like two ferocious beasts poised to pounce, secretly plotting something...

(End of this chapter)