Chapter 61: Yunjinnian

"Brother, be careful!" Jiang Xiaoyu looked at him worriedly.

Jiang Xiaomu smiled and rubbed her head:

"Don't worry, I, your brother, am blessed with great fortune and longevity; I won't die."

Having said that, he turned and left the courtyard, rushing toward Yun Cheng.

The city guards saw a rider approaching from afar, kicking up dust, and immediately reported to Yunhai.

Yunhai dared not delay, personally going out of the city to meet him.

"Lord Jiang, you've worked hard on the way!"

Yunhai wore a full-face smile and clasped his hands.

Jiang Xiaomu dismounted, smiling falsely, and said:

"Steward Yun, you're too polite; the City Lord invited me, how could I dare to be negligent?"

Yunhai gave a dry laugh twice, silently cursing:

"This little brat, indeed a tough one to deal with."

Yet on the surface he still said respectfully:

"What Lord Jiang says is true; the City Lord has been waiting in the main hall for a while, please follow me."

Jiang Xiaomu followed Yunhai through the city gate, all the way to the City Lord's mansion.

Within Yun Cheng, prosperity and abundance reigned; the streets were wide, shops lined up, the people lived in peace and contentment, a scene of harmony.

Jiang Xiaomu secretly thought: This Yunjinnian does have some talent, able to govern Yun Cheng so orderly; he appears far from ordinary.

Entering the City Lord's mansion, passing through winding corridors, the two arrived at the main hall's entrance.

Before even entering, they heard strains of lascivious music from within, mixed with women's giggles.

In the main hall, Yunjinnian had ladies on both arms, surrounded by over a dozen scantily clad beauties who were laughing and playing.

Upon seeing Jiang Xiaomu arrive, Yunjinnian leisurely set down his wine cup, waved his hand, signaling the beauties beside him to withdraw.

Jiang Xiaomu silently cursed: Tieniu was right, this old fellow is indeed a lover of wine and women.

"Lord Jiang, I've long admired your name!" Yunjinnian rose, walked to Jiang Xiaomu, and clasped his hands with a smile.

He was obese, his face shiny with oil, his chubby face with small eyes darting about; at a glance he was no good.

"City Lord, you flatter me."

Jiang Xiaomu replied lightly.

"Lord Jiang, please sit; someone, quickly bring wine!"

Yunjinnian warmly greeted Jiang Xiaomu to sit, then immediately ordered servants to bring wine and dishes.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes, Yunjinnian set down his cup and spoke:

"Lord Jiang, I invited you this time to discuss an important matter."

Jiang Xiaomu inwardly sneered: Finally getting to the point; let's see what trick you're up to.

He feigned ignorance and asked:

"I don't know what important matter the City Lord has?"

Yunjinnian sighed and said:

"To be frank, lately Lixiongtu of Qingzhou City has been stirring, trying to win over nearby big and small forces."

"He intends to annex our Yun Cheng; we are weak and few, fearing we cannot resist."

"Oh? Really?"

Jiang Xiaomu feigned surprise.

"Yes, that Lixiongtu fellow harbors great ambition."

"He's long eyed our Yun Cheng as a piece of fat meat." Yunjinnian wore a worried expression.

Jiang Xiaomu thought: This old fox really puts on a convincing act.

He kept a calm exterior and continued asking:

"Then what plans does the City Lord have?"

Yunjinnian rubbed his hands, wearing a beaming smile, and said:

"I've heard Lord Jiang is highly skilled in martial arts, and your brothers are all elite troops."

"So I wish to ask Lord Jiang to lend a hand, jointly resisting Lixiongtu; I don't know what you think."

Jiang Xiaomu pretended to ponder, then after a moment said:

"City Lord, this is no trivial matter; I need to consider it."

Upon hearing this, Yunjinnian hurriedly said:

"Lord Jiang, as long as you agree to help me repel Lixiongtu,"

"I, Yun, can agree to any conditions you set!"

Jiang Xiaomu inwardly sneered: This old fellow really is willing to spend lavishly.

He shook his head and said: "City Lord, are you serious?"

"Indeed, certainly indeed!"

Yunjinnian patted his chest, his flab trembling, and spoke earnestly:

"As long as Lord Jiang lends a hand, after success, half of Yun Cheng's tax revenue will be yours!"

Jiang Xiaomu's mouth corner twitched up slightly: Half of the tax revenue?

Does this old coot really think I'm a fool?

"City Lord, your sincerity seems insufficient."

Jiang Xiaomu lifted his wine cup, took a light sip, and spoke slowly.

Yunjinnian froze for a moment, silently cursing: This little rabbit bastard, his appetite is really not small!

He asked with a fake smile:

"How much does Jiang Xiaomu want?"

"I want eighty percent!"

Jiang Xiaomu put down his cup, his eyes sharp as he stared at Yunjinnian, speaking word by word:

"What? Eighty percent?! This......"

Yunjinnian almost jumped up, this little bastard, opening his mouth like a lion!

He forcibly suppressed his anger, and with difficulty squeezed out a smile on his chubby face, saying:

"Jiang Xiaomu, is this… perhaps a bit too much?"

"Not much, not much."

Jiang Xiaomu waved his hand and said:

"City Lord, think about it—Lixiongtu has already won over all the surrounding forces."

"Which means his troops are now strong and his horses sturdy."

"If I were to send out all my forces, I would surely suffer heavy losses; this eighty percent can be considered my hard-earned fee."

"Ah! Is that so……"

Yunjinnian hesitated; eighty percent of the tax revenue is no small amount.

"City Lord, don't feel bad about this bit of money."

Jiang Xiaomu lifted his cup, looking at him, and said:

"If Yun Cheng falls to Lixiongtu, you'll have nothing left."

"By then, forget eighty percent—you'd likely end up as a prisoner!"

Yunjinnian's face shifted between cloudy and clear as he weighed the pros and cons, for what Jiang Xiaomu said was not mere alarmist talk.

Jiang Xiaomu didn't urge him, just quietly sipping his wine—this old fox would surely agree sooner or later.

Sure enough, after a moment, Yunjinnian gritted his teeth and said:

"Fine! Eighty percent it is! As long as Jiang Xiaomu helps me repel Lixiongtu, I will not go back on my word!"

"City Lord, you're truly straightforward!" Jiang Xiaomu laughed heartily and raised his cup.

"Come, let me toast the City Lord with a cup!"

The two clinked cups and drank them down in one gulp.

"However……" Jiang Xiaomu set down his cup, shifted the topic, and said:

"I still have one condition."

"What condition?"

Yunjinnian's heart skipped a beat—this kid, is he never going to finish?

"What else does Lord Jiang have to order?"

Yunjinnian asked cautiously, his tone full of flattery.

Jiang Xiaomu slowly poured himself a cup, took a light sip, then slowly spoke:

"As for military provisions……"

He deliberately drew out the last syllable, observing Yunjinnian's expression.

Beads of fine sweat appeared on Yunjinnian's forehead, his heart pounding.

"Naturally, it is for you, City Lord, to bear."

Jiang Xiaomu said with a smile, as if stating something utterly ordinary.

"Pfft!"

Yunjinnian nearly spat out his mouthful of old wine, eyes wide— the sight was like a fat duck being choked by the neck.

"Jiang… Lord Jiang, you… you are……"

"What? Does the City Lord find this improper?"