Chapter 663: Revenge in Progress II

One elder said: "I'm thirty-eight."

The other said: "My parents died early; I can't remember if I'm forty-three or forty-one."

Hearing this, Pan Yun sighed, and Xue Shao sighed too, murmuring: "How hard life is for the people~~"

The two elders, hearing elegant speech for the first time, lifted their heads to look at the two of them.

Pan Yun spoke warmly: "Send the village's young people back. I'll petition the Lord of the Shanming clan—this time, there'll be no fee for your return. The farming season is near; if all the young ones have fled, who will tend the fields? Now is the time to weed, catch pests, and fertilize."

The two elders stared in disbelief, tears welling in their eyes: "Is what the Young Lady says true? We truly won't have to pay again?"

Pan Yun smiled and nodded: "I can guarantee it—I still have that much influence."

Shanming Chifeng indeed granted Pan Yun this favor; even without the treasure map and the port, just for her helping him reclaim his territory, he owed her this much.

Pan Yun added quickly: "Why doesn't Lord Shanming waive the return fees for all the remaining villages too?"

Shanming Chifeng replied: "Miss Pan is from the Central Kingdom; you may not understand Japan. The fees collected from conquered lands are to reward the samurai. Moreover, the heavier the fee, the more fiercely the villagers will defend their homes against foreign invaders—because if the village is taken, they must pay again."

Pan Yun:... She had never before encountered someone who openly justified oppressive rule.

It is well known that the sages of pre-Qin times taught rulers and posterity: "Oppressive rule is fiercer than tigers."

Though oppressive rule has never fully vanished since the pre-Qin era, who would ever proclaim it aloud?

Even if one desires more money, one still seeks a perfect excuse—or imposes it silently. To declare it so nakedly...

Pan Yun could not help but marvel: the people of Japan truly endure. In China, they would have revolted long ago.

"If Lord Shanming waives the fee while the Uchida clan imposes heavy ones, won't the villagers grow more loyal to you?" Pan Yun said earnestly: "In China, there is an ancient saying: He who wins the people's hearts wins the world. If you wish to seize the entire Iwami Province, you must first win its people's hearts. Treat your subjects as family, and they will see you as family too—when foreign enemies come, they will defend you as they would their own kin."

Shanming Chifeng reluctantly agreed, promising to waive all return fees for the territories they had reclaimed.

The order was issued through Masuda Shintaro; the villagers erupted in joy, celebrating throughout the village that night, preparing a feast for Pan Yun and the others.

Called a feast, it was merely a few bonfires, with fish and meat roasted over them; the wealthiest households even brought out their precious sake to share.

Pan Yun accepted with a smile, her gaze turning to Zhang Weiyi and the others.

Zhang Weiyi had just drunk one cup under the villagers' enthusiastic hospitality, and now two village girls sat on either side of him—he was deeply uncomfortable.

Seeing Pan Yun look at him, he immediately slipped over, shoving away the two village youths who were about to sit down, whispering: "Sister Pan, what do you need?"

Pan Yun sighed in exasperation: "Such a perfect chance—why aren't you spreading the Dao?"

Zhang Weiyi blinked: "Spread the Dao?"

"Yes! You're here—can't you teach my Three Pure Ones' ancestral Daoist teachings?"

Zhang Weiyi: "... The Dao cannot be lightly transmitted—it depends on karmic affinity. These people..."

Zhang Weiyi turned to look at them, stared again, then frowned: "They have no Dao-nature at all."

Pan Yun: "Who cares if they have it or not? Start teaching. How much they learn, how much they comprehend—that's up to them. We do our part."

"But why should we teach them?" Zhang Weiyi was utterly baffled: "We're here for trials—we only need to mind ourselves. Besides, Japan reveres Buddhism, and their Buddhism came from our Central Kingdom. Why compete with monks for their Dharma halls?"

Pan Yun: "I plan to get involved in the port of Daishin Village—it'll bring in a lot of money."

Zhang Weiyi declared solemnly: "Our Academy absolutely cannot break the law—smuggling and maritime trade violate state statutes."

Pan Yun: "I heard there's a silver mine nearby. I intend to build a Daoist temple on that mountain, using it as cover to mine the silver."

Zhang Weiyi's face turned grave: "Heaven offers, and you refuse—it's an insult. I'll go spread the Dao immediately."

Pan Yun instructed: "Take Zhang Weiliang and the others with you. Keep this secret for now—reveal it only when the time is right."

Zhang Weiyi agreed.

Wang Cong had already bonded with the village elders.

These elders, whenever war or disaster struck, were always the first to be abandoned.

Whether forced or willing, they inwardly accepted this as natural.

This sharply conflicted with China's values of filial piety and respect for the elderly—Wang Cong couldn't understand it, nor could the heroes present.

Yet one thing was shared: beyond life and death, elders were believed to possess greater experience, and the young tended to follow their advice.

Thus, if the village elders favored them, the entire household and village would follow suit.

When Zhang Weiyi pushed his way into this "competition," he realized Wang Cong had already claimed the entire field.

Wang Cong looked up at him.

Pan Yun must have told him—she'd told Wang Cong too, since they were from the same sect and closer.

Zhang Weiyi forced a smile at him, then turned and walked toward the village women—fine, being friends with the women would do too.

No sooner had he turned than he saw Seeing Miao Zhen surrounded by village girls—from fifty years old down to three or four—both of them speaking fluent Japanese with them.

Zhang Weiyi:...

He had to look away, refocus on the young girls waiting for him, closed his eyes, reopened them with unwavering resolve, and walked toward them.

Zhang Weiliang didn't understand, and kept asking on the way back: "Do you think they're pretty? You're not seriously thinking of marrying them, are you?"

Zhang Weiyi growled: "Shut up."

Zhang Weiliang went on: "Though our Long Hushan Daoists may marry and have children, we can have only one Dao partner—not even concubines. Don't make a mistake here—I won't cover for you."

Zhang Weiliang might as well have carved "If you mess up, I'm telling on you" on his forehead.

Zhang Weiyi glared at him: "Shut up—I'm not interested in them!"

Saying this, he quickened his pace and walked away.

Zhang Weiliang lagged behind, still muttering incessantly.

Xue Shao hurried to catch up with Zhang Weiyi and asked: "What did Sister Pan tell you?"

Zhang Weiyi paused a moment, then said: "Didn't you notice? Your cousin from the Cai clan and her are playing a grand game."

Xue Shao: "I noticed—that's why I'm asking you."

Zhang Weiyi: "I promised her I wouldn't speak yet. As a Daoist, I must keep my word."

Xue Shao stopped asking.

(End of chapter)