Top Scholar

Chapter 622 Knowing there are tigers in the mountains, yet still venturing into the tiger's den.

After hearing An Guirong's words, Wang Shouren knew that the Tusi (chieftains) had fallen into their old habits again... They all acted as if they had suffered a loss if they didn't take advantage of the chaos in the world to make some profit.

They claimed they didn't want to follow the Yang family in their rebellion, but in reality, they were testing the court's reaction.

He then solemnly advised, "Your Excellency is wise. Such a foolish thing that harms others and oneself should not be done! Imagine, if you help him start a rebellion, and it fails, you will be traitors and rebels. Not only will you die and your clan be exterminated, but your ancestral lands of hundreds of years will also belong to others."

"Even if you succeed by chance, how can you allow others to sleep soundly beside your bed? Once the Yang family gains power, they will inevitably turn around and seize your territory and weaken your power. In the end, you will not only gain no benefit, but you will also bring disaster upon yourself and implicate your clan!"

Seeing An Guirong deep in thought, Wang Shouren softened his tone and patiently guided him: "When others are in chaos, your composure and loyalty are evident; when others suffer misfortune, your peace demonstrates your foresight and vision. Moreover, while others may gain temporary benefits from rebellion, your uprising will only bring harm and no benefit!"

He paused, then raised his voice and said, “Your Excellency is the hereditary Pacification Commissioner of Guizhou, holding the power of an entire province. Such honor is unique in the whole country. What more could you ask for? Besides, Guizhou is small and sparsely populated, not as good as a prefecture in the interior. It may lack ambition, but it is more than capable of maintaining the status quo. You just need to take good care of your own territory, live a stable life by trading salt and copper, make a fortune quietly, and wait for the world to be at peace. That is the best way out.”

Upon hearing this, An Guirong suddenly understood and nodded repeatedly in agreement.

In recent years, thanks to the opening of the Chishui River waterway, the salt and copper trade in Guizhou has flourished. The people under his rule no longer have to go bankrupt to buy expensive salt, and he and his gang of leaders have made a fortune.

Along with the salt ships came inland goods, especially various silks, satins, and rare items, which greatly improved the quality of life for the Roman nobility. Having only enjoyed a few days of good fortune, how could they possibly have the motivation to rebel?

"Rest assured, sir, I, An Guirong, and the An family of Shuixi will be loyal to the court for generations to come!" An Guirong solemnly assured Wang Shouren that he would never act rashly or cause trouble for the court, and then returned to his original question:
"How should we respond to the Yang family?"

"No need to pay attention," Wang Shouren said calmly. "Don't worry, the Yang family won't cause trouble."

“I know that Yang Bin once sought your advice, and you gave him a lecture, telling him to go back and behave himself.” An Guirong, worried that Wang Shouren was overconfident, quickly reminded him:
"But at that time, he was able to listen to the teacher's words not only because the teacher was indeed very reasonable, but also because once the Chishui River waterway was opened, the imperial army could penetrate into the heart of Bozhou at any time!"

He gave a wry smile and said, "But the imperial army is currently tied down by bandits in northern Sichuan. How can they possibly attend to Bozhou? Having waterways but no troops means they can't deter Yang Bin. That's why he thinks he's in charge again."

“I know, I will try to persuade him. Just wait for my news.” Wang Shouren said calmly, “If I fail, you can answer him however you want.”

"Ah, that's for the best." An Guirong breathed a sigh of relief. With Wang Shouren's arrangement, he had absolutely nothing to worry about.

Moreover, An Guirong was no insignificant figure. The next day, when Wang Shouren set off, he specifically ordered his son An Wanzhong to lead two thousand elite chieftain soldiers to escort Wang Shouren out of the mountains.

In front of Wang Shouren, he ordered An Wanzhong: "Our An family has received imperial favor for generations, and now is the time to repay it. After you send the master to Chengdu, you will stay and follow him to quell the rebellion. Come back when the world is at peace!"

“Yes!” An Wanzhong had already received instructions from his father, so he readily agreed.

Two thousand soldiers are insignificant to the dignified Guizhou Pacification Commissioner, but it represents an attitude. Once the rebellion is successfully quelled, he will undoubtedly receive a share of the spoils.

Of course, this is all predicated on Wang Shouren successfully persuading Yang Bin. If he fails, his son, with his two thousand soldiers, will be hedging his bets on both sides...

~~
This time, Wang Shouren did not refuse. The imperial court was in the midst of military operations, and the Tusi troops in Guizhou were extremely powerful, far more reliable than the easily defeated garrison troops.

So he bid farewell to the reluctant elders of Guizhou and, together with Su Youcai and An Wanrong, led two thousand chieftain soldiers to Qixingguan in Bijie. There, they boarded a copper transport ship and sailed out of Guizhou along the Chishui River.

Soon, the fleet arrived at Zhuangyuan Town, where they rested briefly as planned.

As soon as the ship docked, it attracted hundreds of fully armed government troops who shouted that they were not allowed to go ashore.

The chieftain's soldiers on the ship also drew their weapons, and the atmosphere became extremely tense. Seeing this, Su Youcai quickly came out of the cabin and shouted loudly:

"Don't misunderstand, I'm Su Youcai!"

"Oh dear, Scholar Ma, you scared us to death..." The military officer leading the group was none other than Ma Qianli's father, Ma Baicheng. "We thought Shuixi had joined forces with the other side."

“That’s not true. They came out of seclusion with Master Yangming to quell the rebellion,” Su Youcai said.

Ma Baicheng then ordered his troops to retreat, giving the Guizhou chieftain's soldiers space to land.

But the soldiers remained vigilant, their swords still sheathed and their arrows still on the bowstring, unlike their previous relaxed state.

Before long, Commander Ma arrived to greet them upon hearing the news.

"Hahaha, the top scholar's father has brought back the top scholar's teacher!" Commander Ma was as enthusiastic as ever, quickly inviting Wang Shouren, Su Youcai, and An Wanzhong to the Garrison Commander's office for tea. Upon reaching the dock, Wang Shouren saw that the bridge connecting the two banks of the Chishui River had been demolished, and watchtowers and barricades had been built along the banks, with a large number of troops stationed there. The air was thick with the tense atmosphere of an impending great battle…

Looking at the once bustling streets, nine out of ten shops are now closed, and the brand-new "Top Scholar" signs look rather ironic.

"It wasn't a name change!" Commander Ma quickly explained, "The situation is really unstable. The Yang family across the street could attack at any time. Who would dare to do business in town? Everyone has run home."

“It is indeed too much pressure for you to face the Yang family alone.” Wang Shouren nodded, completely understanding.

The Yang family of Bozhou is said to have 100,000 soldiers. Even if that number were halved, it would still be more than a small commander of a thousand men could handle.

"Isn't that exactly what it is?" Commander Ma nodded repeatedly, pleading pitifully.
"Master Yangming, Father Zhuangyuan, we beg you both to speak to the Grand Chancellor on behalf of our fellow villagers, urging us to immediately strengthen the defenses on the left bank of the Chishui River, especially in Zhuangyuan Town! If the Yang family launches an attack, we will be powerless to resist!"

"Doesn't the Sichuan Military Command have any means of dealing with this?" Wang Shouren asked.

"The only means is this river—the province spent a lot of effort to build the Chishui River waterway, thinking that it could deter the Yang family by waterway... It did work at first, but who knew that good times don't last long. Now Sichuan is in chaos, with war raging everywhere—what use is a river without soldiers?" After saying this, Commander Ma couldn't help but sigh repeatedly.

The old man had lived a calm and composed life, but at the very end, he truly panicked...

After patiently listening to Commander Ma's complaints, Wang Shouren calmly said, "Commander, don't be anxious. To quell the rebellion, we must first have a stable rear. The Yang family is the largest chieftain in Sichuan. As long as the Yang family doesn't cause trouble, the other chieftains won't dare to act rashly. Therefore, I have been entrusted by the Censor to personally visit Yang Bin, have a face-to-face talk with him, and persuade him properly."

Upon hearing this, Commander Ma was shocked and hurriedly tried to dissuade him, saying, "Sir, you must not! The Yang family is determined to take advantage of the chaos to make a fortune! Even if they are unable to seize the entire southern Sichuan, they will definitely take over the Yongning Pacification Commission, which they have coveted for many years!"

He then emphasized, "They have made up their minds this time, and a battle between the two sides is inevitable. Sir, if you go, I'm afraid you may never return!"

Wang Shouren laughed nonchalantly and said in a relaxed tone, "The commander is overthinking it. I am just a minor postmaster. Even if I really never return, what loss would it be to the court?"

“The losses are huge…” Ma Qianhu and Su Youcai said in unison.

"It was just a joke, don't take it to heart." Wang Shouren waved his hand with a smile, reassuring the two, "Don't worry, Yang Bin and I have a history, and he still owes me a favor. Even if we can't reach an agreement this time, it won't cost me my life."

Seeing that he was determined, Commander Ma had no choice but to change his mind and say, "Even so, your safety is the most important thing, sir. I will send more men to protect you in case of any unforeseen circumstances!"

"No need," Wang Shouren shook his head. "Just Wan Zhong and I will be enough."

Su Youcai, who was standing nearby, hurriedly said, "Sir, you've forgotten me!"

Wang Shouren jokingly said, "You absolutely mustn't go. If something really happens to you there, your two sons will have to observe mourning for you, which will delay their service to the emperor."

After saying that, he turned to look at An Wanzhong on the other side, and his tone became more serious: "Wanzhong, come with me?"

An Wanzhong's expression was firm, and he immediately bowed and accepted the order, "Yes, sir!"

~~
Despite everyone's advice to bring more guards, Wang Shouren only took An Wanzhong with him, and the two of them took a small boat to the other side.

As the ship approached the shore, An Wanzhong shouted to the Bozhou soldiers, who were also on high alert, "Quickly inform your lord that Master Yangming has come to visit!"

Wang Shouren's name was already well-known in the Sichuan-Guizhou area, and the Yang clan members who guarded Guzi City were naturally familiar with him as well. They quickly invited the two men ashore and served them tea.

He immediately dispatched a fast horse to Hailongtun to deliver the message. The next day, Yang Bin's order arrived—escort Master Yangming to see me!

An Wanzhong coveted the Yang family's postal relay system, which was precisely the unique skill brought from the Central Plains that allowed the Yang family to rampage and kill each other among the chieftains!

So the garrison commander of Guzi sent a small team to escort the two to Hailongtun.

The distance from Guzi to Hailongtun is over a hundred miles. Fortunately, the Yang family had been managing Bozhou since the Tang Dynasty and had built an official road through the mountains, allowing people to ride Yunnan horses directly to Hailongtun.

The Yang family also set up seven checkpoints at strategic locations along the route, with each checkpoint reinforced in case of an emergency. It was truly a place where one man could hold off ten thousand, and no amount of government troops could break through.

No wonder the Yang family is always so restless. They've already secured their position, so who wouldn't want to cause some trouble?
Wang Shouren was gazing at the strategically advantageous Feifeng Pass, lost in thought, when suddenly a loud shout rang out from ahead:
"You dare come here, you surnamed Wang? Arrest him!"

(End of this chapter)