In the Ming Dynasty, I became invincible simply by extracting memories!

While Magistrate Zhou was busy dealing with Madam Ma, Yi Dong had already secretly prepared another document as instructed by Shen Lian. The contents of that document were completely different from the one on the surface—it clearly recorded the amount of silver Magistrate Zhou had embezzled, the location where it was hidden, and the fact that he had kept a mistress.

Most importantly, in the moment of panic, Yi Dong, taking advantage of his inattention, had already tricked Magistrate Zhou into pressing his fingerprint on that document without his knowledge. Two documents, one overt and one covert. The overt one was proof of Magistrate Zhou's "voluntary donation," which could be used to appease superiors and silence public criticism; the covert one was irrefutable evidence of Magistrate Zhou's corruption, firmly held in Shen Lian's hands, and could become a sword hanging over Magistrate Zhou's head at any time.

"Lord Zhou," Shen Lian put away the official documents, stood up, and his tone returned to its previous calm, "Since I promised to spare your life, I will keep my word. But you must remember—from now on, the taxes in Shexian County will be exactly as they are, and not a single penny more will be levied. All the land you acquired with your ill-gotten gains will be distributed to Dong Laoshi and the poor villagers in the town. As for your mistress…" Shen Lian glanced at Madam Ma, who was still glaring angrily outside the door, and smiled slightly, "That's your family matter, and I won't interfere."

Magistrate Zhou nodded repeatedly with a bitter face, inwardly lamenting his predicament, yet daring not to utter a single word of dissent.

Yi Dong stepped forward and said solemnly, "Young Master Shen, although this matter has been resolved, just in case, I suggest that Magistrate Zhou's charges be reported to the Prefect of Huizhou. On the surface, we should submit the document stating that Magistrate Zhou voluntarily donated money, highlighting his 'serving the country and the people' actions; secretly, we should also submit the personally signed charge, awaiting the court's further decision. In this way, we can both comply with the procedures and thoroughly confirm his crimes, ensuring that nothing goes wrong."

Shen Lian nodded: "Let's do it that way."

Xia listened quietly, her gaze lingering on Shen Lian for a moment. She was usually taciturn, but now her eyes held a hint of approval she hadn't shown before. Shen Lian's handling of the situation—neither recklessly pushing Magistrate Zhou to his death nor easily letting the corrupt official go—was skillful in keeping his options open, subtly holding onto leverage, demonstrating a measured approach. This sense of proportion gave her a new understanding of this "Young Master Shen."

Yi Dong glanced at Shen Lian and nodded inwardly. She had initially thought of Shen Lian as just a somewhat clever scholar, but along the way, from the capital to Nanjing and then to Shexian, Shen Lian's meticulous thinking and composed demeanor had forced her to re-evaluate him.

After everything was arranged, Shen Lian instructed Magistrate Zhou to send people to properly seal up the silver and jewelry. He then arranged for Yi Dong to visit a well-established silver exchange shop in the city, select some valuable items, and exchange the other valuables for large denomination banknotes, which would be kept securely on his person.

As Shen Lian and Yi Xia stepped out of the gate, they saw Old Man Dong standing under the old locust tree outside, anxiously looking in their direction. Seeing Shen Lian emerge unharmed, the old man breathed a long sigh of relief and quickly came to greet them.

"Shen Lian! You scared this old man to death!" Old Dong looked Shen Lian up and down, making sure he wasn't missing any limbs, before he relaxed. "That Zhou Bapi didn't do anything to you, did he? I heard them banging the gavel and shouting 'You're mighty!' from outside just now, I was so scared..."

Shen Lian laughed and said, "Uncle Dong, don't worry, I'm perfectly fine. By the way, Magistrate Zhou has agreed to distribute all the land he seized in the town to the villagers. Please go back and tell everyone that they should continue farming and living their lives as usual. That corrupt official won't dare to arbitrarily increase taxes anymore."

Upon hearing this, Dong Laoshi was first taken aback, then his eyes reddened again. He gripped Shen Lian's hand tightly, his withered fingers trembling slightly, and his lips quivered for a long time before he could only utter one sentence: "Good...good child, your parents in heaven will surely be happy for you."

Shen Lian patted the back of his hand and took out a few pieces of silver, stuffing them into his hand: "Uncle Dong, please take this money. When you get back, do two things for me. First, please find someone to repair my old house. Although I may not come back to live here, we can't let our ancestral home collapse like this. Second, please help repair my parents' graves and Uncle Liu's grave as well. Add soil where necessary and erect tombstones where needed."

Old Dong took the silver and nodded heavily: "Don't worry, I will definitely take care of it for you."

After saying goodbye to Dong Laoshi, Shen Lian and his companion walked alone out of the town.

As the sun set, its golden rays bathed the country lanes, turning the rice stalks on either side a warm yellow. A few distant barks echoed, and wisps of smoke rose from the village rooftops, drifting slowly in the evening breeze. Shen Lian walked along the familiar path for about half an hour, finally arriving at the foot of a low hill.

On the hillside, two graves lay quietly among the withered grass.

Shen Lian slowly walked forward and knelt down in front of the grave.

This is his parents' grave.

In the original owner's memories, there weren't many images of his parents. He only knew that his adoptive parents had told him that his biological parents had died when he was very young, and the cause of death remained unknown. When his adoptive parents found him, he was only wearing that small white ivory tag. Later, his adoptive parents also passed away, leaving him all alone. It was Liu Rushi's father, Uncle Liu, who took him in and gave him a home.

Now, Uncle Liu has also passed away.

Shen Lian kowtowed three times before his parents' graves, then sat silently for a while, saying nothing. The wind blew across the hillside, rustling the withered grass as if telling a story. As dusk fell, Shen Lian brushed the dirt off his knees and turned to walk in another direction. Uncle Liu's grave was on a hillside at the other end of the village, nestled against a bamboo grove, backed by green mountains, with a winding stream in front. Shen Lian remembered that Uncle Liu loved this place most of all, often saying that it had good feng shui and that he wanted to be buried here after his death. Now, he indeed rested here in peace.

However, Liu's mother passed away too early and was buried hastily back then. Now her grave has long been buried in the mountains and overgrown with weeds, and it is difficult to find her again. This ending makes people feel sad, as if she had never set foot in this world at all.

Shen Lian knelt down in front of Uncle Liu's grave, kowtowed three times, his forehead pressed against the cold soil, and did not lift it for a long time.

Uncle Liu was the original owner's benefactor. If it weren't for Uncle Liu taking her in, the original owner might have starved to death on the streets long ago. And Liu Rushi was the person the original owner cared about most in this world.

"Uncle Liu," Shen Lian said, his face streaked with tears, unable to contain his emotions, "I'm so sorry. I wasn't by your side when you left. As a result... I don't know how she is now. But I promise you, I will find her. No matter where she is, I will bring her back."

As dusk settled, the last rays of the setting sun sank behind the mountains. A few birdsongs echoed from the bamboo grove, returning to their nests; the stream murmured gently, and everything seemed so tranquil and desolate.

The sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from afar, interrupting Shen Lian's tears.

Shen Lian turned around and saw a fast horse galloping along the mountain path. The rider was wearing a blue robe and had a cowhide letter tube slung across his back—the attire of a courier delivering urgent official documents. The courier saw Shen Lian from afar, reined in his horse, dismounted, and quickly walked over.

"Is this Lord Shen Lian of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?" the courier asked breathlessly.

"it's me."

The courier hurriedly took a letter sealed with sealing wax from the mailbox and presented it with both hands: "Lord Shen, this is an urgent military order from the Fujian General's Office. Lord Yu has repeatedly urged you, saying that the battle at the front is critical, and orders you to set off immediately to Fujian to receive orders, without delay!"

Shen Lian took the letter, opened the seal, and quickly scanned it in the last rays of daylight. The letter was brief, stating that the activities of Japanese pirates along the Fujian coast were becoming increasingly rampant, and that Commander-in-Chief Yu Dayou had been ordered to suppress them. The letter urgently needed the assistance of the Imperial Guards sent by the court, and ordered Shen Lian to set off immediately without delay.

Shen Lian folded the letter and tucked it into his pocket, turning back for one last look at Uncle Liu's grave and the scattered lights of the village in the distance. Night had completely enveloped this land he once knew so well, and a few barks came from afar, as if bidding him farewell.

"Let's go." He nodded to the courier, turned and strode towards the mountain path. Yi Dong and Yi Xia had appeared behind him at some point, leading their horses. The three of them mounted their horses, their hooves shattering the moonlight on the ground.

Bamboo shadows swayed on both sides of the mountain path, and the moonlight was like water. Shen Lian spurred his horse forward and never looked back.

Over the next few days, the group traveled swiftly southeast along the official road, following the travel permits prepared in advance by Zhu Xixiao. The local officials in the various prefectures and counties along the way had already been notified, and the journey proceeded smoothly without any obstacles.

After traveling for more than half a month, they were getting closer and closer to the southeastern coast, and the conversations of travelers and merchants along the way became increasingly frequent. Whether resting at teahouses, changing horses at post stations, or waiting for a boat at the ferry, people were always discussing the situation ahead. Everyone was talking about how the pirates' activities had become increasingly rampant in recent months. Just last month, they had plundered three coastal villages, burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities. Merchants who had escaped from there said that after the pirates landed, they killed anyone they saw and burned any house they saw. Young men were abducted to their ships as forced laborers, young women were forced into prostitution, and the elderly and children were abandoned by the roadside—a truly horrific sight.

Some said that General Yu Dayou had repeatedly dispatched troops to encircle and suppress the pirates, but for some reason, each operation seemed to be leaked. Before the government troops even arrived, the Japanese pirates had already withdrawn completely, failing to even reach the edge of their lair. Some speculated that there was a traitor within the army, while others said that local officials were secretly colluding with the pirates and tipping them off in advance. These rumors circulated among teahouses and inns, becoming increasingly exaggerated and adding to the tense atmosphere.

Shen Lian listened silently to these accounts of his journey, his expression calm. He had gained a clearer understanding of the dangers and complexities of this official trip south. Traitors, collusion with Japanese pirates, the White Lotus Rebellion, remnants of the Yan faction… these clues were intertwined and likely couldn't be resolved by force alone.

After traveling for another five days, the group finally arrived at the residence of the Fujian General Commander.

From afar, the city gates stood tall and imposing, banners fluttered on the walls, and the number of soldiers guarding the city was greater than anywhere else I had seen along the way. Their armor was gleaming, their swords and spears stood in a forest, and the atmosphere was one of grim determination. Long queues formed at the city gates, and all the people entering and leaving had to undergo layers of checks. Anyone found even slightly suspicious was pulled aside for a thorough interrogation.

The travel-worn group led their horses through the city gate and, without lingering, went straight to the general's office to submit official documents and report for duty, following the established procedures.

The General's Mansion was located in the center of the city. Two majestic stone lions stood in front of the gate, and the vermilion gate was studded with copper nails the size of bowls. Above the gate hung a plaque with gold characters on a black background that read "General's Mansion." Two rows of personal guards stood at the gate, each one burly and strong, with long swords hanging at their waists, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

Following the gatekeeper's directions, the group arrived at the council hall. Shen Lian straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and strode inside.

The council chamber was very spacious, with a huge desk in the center. Behind the desk, on the wall, hung a map that almost filled the entire wall. The map was drawn with great detail, clearly marking mountains, rivers, cities, passes, and the winding coastline. Small red and black flags on the map indicated the positions of both sides—red flags represented the garrisons of government troops, densely distributed around several inland cities; black flags represented the areas where Japanese pirates operated, stretching from several islands at sea to several coastal villages, like patches of black shadows covering the entire coastline.

Shen Lian stood in front of the map, his gaze sweeping over the small black flags one by one, silently memorizing their locations.

"General Yu, Mr. Shen, the envoy from the Imperial Guard sent by the court, has arrived," the junior officer leading the way reported.

Behind the desk sat a man clad in iron-gray fish-scale armor and wearing an iron helmet, the red tassel on the top of which trembled slightly. He appeared to be nearly sixty years old, with a thin face, high cheekbones, and a thick, graying beard. His eyebrows were thick and black, with prominent brow bones, adding to his imposing and dignified appearance.

He was looking down at the stack of official documents spread out on the table, his right hand holding a wolf-hair brush, writing and drawing incessantly, sometimes frowning, sometimes pondering. After the junior officer reported, he merely grunted an "hmm" through his nose, without even raising his head.

Shen Lian wasn't in a hurry. He just stood there quietly, turning his gaze from the map to Yu Dayou.

This was a renowned general who fought against the Japanese pirates, on par with Qi Jiguang. He commanded troops for over twenty years, fought countless battles, and struck fear into the hearts of the Japanese pirates. Zhu Xixiao had sent him to the southeast precisely to assist this man in dealing with the issue of collusion with the Japanese pirates. Shen Lian knew very well that such a veteran general, who had fought on the battlefield for many years, had the utmost contempt for those civil officials and Imperial Guards from the capital who only knew how to talk big.

After a long while, Yu Dayou finally put down the wolf-hair brush in his hand and raised his head. He looked Shen Lian up and down, his gaze sweeping over Shen Lian's fair face and clean robes, and a slight sneer appeared on his lips.

"I thought the imperial court had sent me some elite general," Yu Dayou's voice was hoarse and low, full of sarcasm. "Turns out it's just a clean-cut young master. He's really not easy to invite."

These words were spoken without any politeness, and several guards standing in the hall couldn't help but steal a glance at Shen Lian, their eyes filled with a hint of anticipation for a good show.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lian frowned slightly, but remained composed. He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his tone neither humble nor arrogant: "My orders are issued by the imperial court. If General Yu has any objections, he can naturally submit a memorial to the court. Why bother with such sarcastic remarks to a lowly person like myself?"

Yu Dayou narrowed his eyes and stared at Shen Lian for a few moments. This young man did have some guts, daring to contradict him to his face. However, this actually changed his impression of Shen Lian slightly—at least he wasn't the kind of person who was timid and would cower in the presence of an official.

"Hmph!" Yu Dayou snorted coldly, slamming the official document in his hand onto the table. "Since you're sent by the imperial court, I, Yu, naturally have no objections. However, I request that Mr. Shen not interfere with military affairs while handling your business!"

"That's natural." Shen Lian smiled slightly, his tone composed.

Seeing that Shen Lian was so agreeable, Yu Dayou's cold expression softened somewhat. He waved his hand, summoned a personal guard officer, and ordered, "Take Mr. Shen and his men downstairs to settle them in. Prepare a few clean rooms for them, and don't neglect them."

Led by the officer, Shen Lian and his companions turned and walked out of the council hall.

As soon as they stepped out the door, Yi Dong leaned close to Shen Lian's ear and whispered, "That General Yu is so fierce. He gave you the cold shoulder right from the start."

Shen Lian smiled and said in a low voice, "As the commander of thousands of troops, how can he command respect if he's not a bit stern? Besides, we've been wandering around Shexian for several days. Although we haven't neglected our mission, he still gave us the cold shoulder. I've seen plenty of people like him. He may be harsh with his words, but as long as you have real skills, he's actually the easiest to get along with."

Yi Dong stuck out his tongue and joked, "Alright, my young master Shen, then I'll wait and see what you've got up to."

(End of Volume 1)