Chapter 83: Hidden Currents Surge

Just as Jiang Mingyu and his party were struggling forward through the snowstorm.

Unbeknownst to them, in the Huang family mansion of the state capital, a tall, burly man silently entered Huang Chaoran’s reception hall.

The man wore a coarse, dark brown hemp robe, with an unknown stain still clinging to his lips. He topped his head with a greasy straw hat, completely obscuring his face, leaving only a pair of sharp eyes fixed intently on Huang Chaoran.

The man bowed deeply before Huang Chaoran and asked in a low, hoarse voice: “What are your orders, my lord?”

Huang Chaoran sized him up, then suddenly asked: “Over these years, how have I treated you, Huang Mou?”

The man’s voice instantly brimmed with gratitude: “If not for your rescue all those years ago, I would have been dead long ago. Your grace is heavier than mountains—I am eternally indebted.”

Huang Chaoran sneered coldly and said with a sinister tone: “Good. Today, I give you a chance to repay that debt.”

The man clasped his fists and replied respectfully: “Command me, my lord. Even if I must walk through fire and boiling water, I will not hesitate.”

Huang Chaoran then freely embellished the tale of his dismissal, ending with a bitter self-mockery: “Now I’m just an ordinary civilian. Drop the title ‘my lord.’” His voice dripped with deep hatred for Jiang Mingyu.

The man listened in silence, his face beneath the hat gradually twisting into a grimace.

Finally, he spoke in a low voice: “I shall depart at once for Shangmu and chop Jiang Mingyu into minced meat to avenge you!” Each word dripped with murderous intent.

Huang Chaoran grinned wickedly: “Don’t forget Liu Yifei. Without her, I wouldn’t have fallen so low—kill her too!”

The man answered without hesitation: “Fine. I’ll kill her as well—cut the root and stem!”

Huang Chaoran shook his head: “Don’t kill her. Bring her back to the state capital. When I’m done playing with her, sell her to a brothel—I’ll make her wish she were dead!”

His voice was icy, and a serpent’s cold gleam flickered in his eyes.

This terrible revenge plot was unfolding step by step in the shadows.

The man replied indifferently: “I shall depart at once and return with good news soon. Farewell.”

Huang Chaoran narrowed his eyes and pressed: “How do you plan to carry it out?”

The man showed no expression, only emitted a sinister chuckle and said in a low voice: “Murder and arson—those are my professional secrets. Don’t ask, my lord.”

With that, he bowed respectfully to Huang Chaoran and vanished into the howling snowstorm.

Huang Chaoran smiled cruelly, murmuring to himself: “Jiang Mingyu, enjoy your final days.”

Meanwhile, Jiang Mingyu had arrived in Shangmu County. After delivering Liu Yifei home, Liu Ximen, learning the full story, was filled with gratitude and moved to kneel and thank Jiang Mingyu.

Jiang Mingyu quickly pulled him up, already viewing him as his future father-in-law.

Watching Jiang Mingyu’s retreating figure, equally exhausted Liu Yifei’s eyes flickered with a soft, tender glow.

After returning to the county yamen, Jiang Mingyu, without resting, summoned his trusted aide Wu Xiao to discuss military affairs.

Wu Xiao hurried over. Upon hearing Jiang Mingyu intended to recruit fifty thousand troops immediately, he furrowed his brow, his concern plain to see. He stammered: “My lord, this may not be feasible?”

“The Inspector’s business deal hasn’t been settled yet. How can we justify such a massive recruitment and horse purchase without securing grain supplies?”

“If pay runs short, morale will collapse. If mutiny breaks out, the consequences will be dire!”

Jiang Mingyu narrowed his eyes, fell silent in thought, his face heavy with worry. After a long pause, he spoke slowly: “You’re right. But with only two or three thousand men, can we stand against foreign cavalry?”

“Even if I had fifty thousand troops now, they’d need months of training before they could fight.”

“If we delay further, when the enemy attacks, Shangmu will be defenseless!”

Wu Xiao studied Jiang Mingyu and ventured, “What if we cut salaries in half for now? The people still remember your kindness—they’ll endure it temporarily.”

Jiang Mingyu shook his head firmly: “Absolutely not. Military affairs demand trust. Cutting pay will destroy morale!”

“I’ve made my decision. Post recruitment notices immediately. Offer generous terms and superior benefits.”

Wu Xiao remained uneasy: “But what about the grain?”

Jiang Mingyu sighed lightly: “I have enough silver for one month. If that fails, I’ll seek help from Zhuge Yu.”

“Most importantly, I’m certain the Inspector will sell coal.”

Wu Xiao was baffled: “How can you be so sure?”

Jiang Mingyu smiled meaningfully: “Fine wine and delicacies stir the heart; gold and wealth stir it even more. The Inspector will be satisfied.”

Wu Xiao, still doubtful, left with a belly full of questions to post the recruitment notices...

No sooner had Jiang Mingyu posted the recruitment notices than, before a single meal had passed, news of this massive military mobilization spread through every corner of Shangmu County.

“Why has the lord suddenly decided to recruit fifty thousand troops? What’s he planning?” The people exchanged glances, whispering and speculating.

“Judging by this, he must be preparing for war with foreign tribes!” a veteran villager declared outright.

“What nonsense! With our pitiful weapons, how can we stand against foreign iron cavalry? This is just suicide!” a young man who’d seen foreign cavalry scoffed.

Soon, the entire county was abuzz with discussion, everyone both fearful and hopeful.

Drawn by the generous pay, starting the next day, groups of strong young men began streaming into the county seat to enlist.

At that moment, the Private Secretary Murong Yunhai, who was training new recruits in the county, hurried to Jiang Mingyu, his face tense: “My lord, in just a few days, over twenty thousand new recruits have already answered the call—more are on the way. The current garrison camp can’t hold them all.”

Jiang Mingyu frowned deeply, then declared decisively: “Immediately begin expanding the city defenses. Evacuate all nearby villagers to other locations!”

“Also summon Tuke Sulu back to assist with training, and assign Li Goudan to help organize the new troops.”

Murong Yunhai frowned anxiously: “My lord, our military supplies are nearly exhausted.”

Jiang Mingyu sighed deeply: “Indeed, it’s difficult. But we can’t let the soldiers sleep outdoors. Do you think the Inspector’s negotiations will conclude soon?”

On a desolate hill a hundred li outside Shangmu County, a middle-aged man, extremely obese and greasy-faced, pounded the table in rage, his eyes bloodshot as he roared: “You useless traitors! After all this time, you still haven’t figured out what killed the brothers on Xiao Ying Mountain—what good are you?!”

At that moment, a thin, sallow-faced underling burst in, gasping: “Big Brother! Big news! Our scouts say the killer of the Xiao Ying Mountain brothers is none other than the new imperial envoy, Jiang Mingyu—he’s only been in office two months!”

Upon hearing Jiang Mingyu’s name, the man’s thick eyebrows knotted tightly. His eyes turned blood-red. He kicked the wooden table over with a furious stomp and roared: “Whoever killed my brothers is my mortal enemy!”

“All men, move out at once for Shangmu County! Find a way to kill Jiang Mingyu and avenge our fallen brothers!”

A frail underling nearby hurried to advise: “Big Brother, think carefully. Don’t rush this. I heard Jiang Mingyu already has twenty or thirty thousand soldiers. If we go now, we’ll just die.”

The man’s eyes blazed red as he glared at the underling and bellowed: “Just let it go? Let my brothers die for nothing? I swear I’ll avenge them!”

The underling’s eyes darted, then he whispered urgently: “Big Brother, I have a clever plan—maybe we can avenge our fallen brothers...”

After hearing the underling’s whisper, the man’s fury slightly eased. He growled: “Speak.”

The underling quickly stood, leaned close to the man’s ear, and whispered a few words.

When he finished, the underling stepped back, a sly grin spreading across his face: “With this, Jiang Mingyu is dead for sure. Our vengeance is complete.”

“Even if the plan fails, we’ll hold the advantage and escape unharmed to plan again.”

The middle-aged man was greatly pleased. He slapped the underling’s shoulder hard with his rough hand and laughed: “Good lad! That’s a clever trick—you’ll be worth listening to from now on!”

“Do it! Go tell the others to prepare—we leave at once!”