Chapter 440: with translation of chapter title

Chen Wuji imagined a series of thrilling struggles for Zhang Lao and the Snake Staff old man.

As a result, the final protagonist turned out to be his listlessly wicked military advisor.

And the struggle between this Old Master and the Snake Staff old man was merely because the Snake Staff old man looked at illness without paying money, even wanting to plot against the Relief Charity, and Zhang Lao pressed him to the ground and rubbed him, letting blood for several years.

Will this matter cause the Snake Staff old man to harbor fear for years to come?

Yes.

But it differs somewhat from what Chen Wuji imagined.

Zhang Lao is an old man skilled at telling stories, narrating them eloquently, quite splendid.

And for Chen Wuji, these stories are indeed just stories.

The old man has always been avoiding the important and focusing on the trivial.

He spent a great deal of words recounting the Snake Staff old man's rise to wealth, as well as his conflict with Xu Zengyi.

What truly concerns him is only a few words.

Although Chen Wuji felt unwilling, seeing the old man's attitude, he also gave up the idea of getting to the bottom of things.

Let it be that way.

When Zhang Lao feels it's time to reveal everything, he will likely say it himself.

Anyway, after such a long period of contact, Chen Wuji concluded that Zhang Lao would not harm him, so there's no need to stubbornly pry into his secrets.

After playing a game of chess with Zhang Lao and chatting idly about this and that, Chen Wuji bade farewell and left.

Qin Feng being absent, there are still many official duties in the xianya that need him, the commandant, to handle.

One who simultaneously holds the magistrate's duties, commands a few units of the Military Office's troops, and oversees the commandant of five counties—under heaven, he is probably the only such example.

After Chen Wuji left, Kong Jianshi let the little fish rest a bit, then walked over to Zhang Lao's side.

"Elder, why not just tell him directly?" he asked, bowing slightly and lowering his voice.

Zhang Lao's eyes glimmered with a hint of emptiness as he stared blankly at the chessboard before him, and he said softly, "The time has not yet come."

"The Relief Charity is a major power, but in some people's eyes such a major power makes them wary. No matter how accurate my divination may be, I still need to consider human affairs; I must not be rash."

"How are the arrangements in Hezhou?"

Kong Jianshi nodded, "Those who deserved to die have been killed off; the Snake Staff old man should be able to grieve for a long time."

"Elder, if I may say, wouldn't it be better to simply kill the Snake Staff old man and Gu Wenjie, allowing the young master to lead his troops straight in?"

Zhang Lao glanced at Kong Jianshi, "Your mind is suited only for being an assassin. We have our war, that boy has his own war; know that pulling up seedlings to help them grow cannot yield abundant grain, but will instead kill them."

"... Oh."

"How are the people accompanying that young lady of the Qin Family?"

Kong Jianshi thought a bit, weighed his words, and said, "They are more formidable than I imagined. Those young ladies, though they look young, have true tenacity, learn quickly, and have great potential ahead."

"Arrange more people to secretly watch over them; if they encounter a life‑or‑death crisis, lend a hand," Zhang Lao instructed.

"After all, this is the first batch of personnel that boy trained; if they all perish, he may well be at a loss for what to do next."

"Here!"

Kong Jianshi responded, glanced at the little fish hanging upside down on the tree, and said to Zhang Lao, "Elder, actually now is an opportunity to let Xiaoyu follow the young master naturally."

"Forget it, this brat is too troublesome; for now it's better to stay with me," Zhang Lao waved his hand.

"Yes."

"……"

Yang Tiejiang led troops to rest in Yunan City for three days, then set out again, following Qing County Magistrate Lu Jing to garrison in Qing County, serving as the Yunan vanguard; accompanying them were the cavalry under Chen Wu Yin's command.

Qin Feng and Qian Fugui still have not returned.

Chen Wuji's days have become dull and tedious.

Each morning he rises to read military texts, then immediately handles xianya affairs, and whenever he has free time he reviews a case.

Yunan County has experienced much in the past six months: first an influx of refugees, then a bandit uprising, followed by a powerful clan revolt; this small tract of land has been left riddled with holes by these three successive events.

As the actual controller of Yunan County, the acting magistrate Chen Wuji has many things to do.

But in summary, it comes down to roughly two matters.

Pacify the locality, allow rest and recuperation, and forcibly suppress those who take advantage to rebel.

When chaos spreads, even ordinary people's hearts begin to grow weeds.

Recently, many cases have erupted locally—either robbery or revenge killing.

Even Captain Chen Xingli, the chief constable, is practically running nonstop.

This day, Chen Wuji handled affairs as usual, and was about to go to the Relief Charity to play two games of chess with Zhang Lao for leisure when Li Run suddenly arrived.

"Your subordinate pays respects, Commandant!"

In Chen Wuji's office, Li Run, dressed in a plain‑white straight‑collar robe, slightly bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Sit; seeing you like this, you must have brought good news?" Chen Wuji gestured for Li Run to sit, smiling as he poured him a cup of tea.

Li Run nodded, "No hiding it from you, Commandant—it really is good news."

Having said that, he turned and shouted toward the courtyard, "Someone, bring the thing up for the commandant."

Soon, two soldiers carried in a cloth‑wrapped object that looked like a sculpture, set it down, and withdrew.

Chen Wuji rose, examined it briefly, then reached out and lifted the cloth.

Inside was indeed a wooden carving, the height of a person, with proportions in every aspect infinitely close to those of a real person.

But what truly delighted Chen Wuji was the armor worn by the wooden figure.

The armor he had wanted.

"Has it finally been made?" Chen Wuji murmured delightedly.

Li Run nodded firmly, "It has been made!"

「This was completed yesterday; if the Commandant has inspected it and found no other problems, the speed going forward will be quick. The method the Commandant taught—each person doing the same thing and then assembling at the end—saves a lot of effort. 」

「Help me put on the armor; whether it's good or not, only trying will tell. 」 Chen Wuji said.

「Yes! 」

Donning the armor and putting on the face mask, Chen Wuji strode out of the courtyard.

This set of armor, referencing Ming armor and combining Da Yu Armor, closely resembles Ming-era Zha Armor in overall style; in both defense and appearance, it far surpasses Da Yu-standard armor.

Adding the face mask, even an ordinary person who has never held a knife wearing this gear will look imposing just standing there; the credit for the face mask accounts for about fifty to sixty percent.

Chen Wuji originally insisted on adding this, the purpose being to intimidate.

On the battlefield, seeing a group of fully armored soldiers wearing beast-faced armor charging at them, the enemy would inevitably feel a jolt of fear; that fear would naturally affect their morale and combat power.

Chen Wuji donned the armor, then bounced and jumped around the courtyard, then brandished his knife, chopping and slashing, testing the agility and comfort of wearing the armor from all angles.

Overall, he was extremely satisfied, just a bit heavy.

This gear weighs about thirty jin; at first wearing it one feels nothing, but after continuous chopping and slashing the weight becomes apparent, somewhat testing one's stamina.