Chapter 727: Temptation

Cai Cheng lowered his head to listen to the scolding, yet said, "This official did it just in case. What if the talks fell through and these unruly commoners started a fight?"

Steward Wu hurried to speak up for Cai Cheng: "Look at all the people Song Dalin brought. He may well have had the idea of holding the lords hostage. If not for Imperial Commissioner my lord's benevolence and skill at negotiation, I'm afraid none of us would have left safely today."

"Exactly," Cai Cheng said. "We had agreed on everything, yet he still refused to register and be recorded. You can see his heart was never sincere. Even if everything is settled now, we must still be wary of him going back on his word."

Yu Qian swept a glance at him and quickened his pace.

Cai Cheng hurried after him: "My lord, my lord…"

Pan Yun followed leisurely behind the two of them, watching them walk away. She couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, stretching out a finger to gently tap the black cat's nose.

Pan Xiaohei leapt down from her shoulder, and in a few bounds slipped through the crowd into the grass on either side of the road.

Yu Qian tilted his head, his gaze flicking back. Only when he was far enough from Pan Yun and the others did he speak: "You said you know who is among the rebels. How many do you know?"

Cai Cheng said smugly, "Eight or nine out of ten. The roster is right there in the government office."

Steward Wu behind him opened his mouth as if to speak, then thought better of it.

Yu Qian looked straight past Cai Cheng to Steward Wu: "You tell me—how many names are on the roster?"

Steward Wu, head lowered, said, "Every miner who rebelled with Song Dalin and Wang Xiaojing at the mine is on it."

"Besides the miners?"

Steward Wu swallowed and said, "A-a-approximately only about twenty more were added."

Yu Qian's gaze turned coldly toward Cai Cheng: "How many miners are in a mine? Yours is only a small silver mine—does it have five hundred?"

Cai Cheng opened his mouth, a chill running down his spine: "I, I…"

He couldn't help but look at Steward Wu.

How many people were at the mine, again?

Steward Wu said quietly, "Three hundred and eighty-eight. Three hundred and sixty-nine rebelled with Song Dalin. The remaining nineteen seized the chance to flee the mine and go home."

"It seems Steward Wu is far more familiar with county affairs than County Magistrate Cai." Yu Qian gave a cold snort and turned to leave.

Cai Cheng glared at Steward Wu and hurried after Yu Qian: "My lord, my lord, since Song Dalin has agreed to surrender, there shouldn't be any more trouble…"

Yu Qian's expression was grave: "Even if there is no trouble, the government office must keep a clear count of everyone who took part in the rebel army. If something similar happens in the future, pacification and suppression can both be responded to sooner."

"And from this matter one can see these people have their own spirit and a chivalrous heart. The government office could very well put them to use."

Cai Cheng's eyes went wide: "A bunch of unruly commoners—what could the government office use them for?"

Yu Qian said expressionlessly, "Whether they're unruly depends entirely on how you use them. If you employ them as hired hands, they can keep watch for the government office on lawless elements; if there's a war, they can serve as auxiliaries—aren't they faster and more experienced than conscripting commoners on the spot?"

Yu Qian said coldly, "Lord Cai, as the head of a county, you should have a clear grasp of every talent within its borders. Only then, when the need arises, can you place them in the right positions and put everyone to their best use."

Cai Cheng's face was blank with confusion.

Yu Qian shook his head: "Enough. What's the point of saying this to you? You wouldn't put it to use anyway."

Cai Cheng: …

It was Steward Wu behind him who lowered his head in thought, taking every word of Yu Qian's to heart.

Yu Qian turned and walked off.

Cai Cheng had no time to ponder the deeper meaning of Yu Qian's words and hurried after him: "My lord, my lord, then shall we demand the registration and recording once more…"

"The chance is already lost. If we bring it up again, even the surrender could hit a snag," Yu Qian said. "Forget it. And didn't you notice Pan Yun blocking you several times?"

Cai Cheng's eyes went wide: "Why would Pan Yun stop us?"

Yu Qian: "Probably worried that the next few county magistrates will be as stupid and ruthless as you—unable to use people, and instead going to harass and make things hard for them?"

Cai Cheng: …

Yu Qian: "Stop calling them unruly commoners. Since they're willing to surrender, they're good citizens now." That evening, a group of good citizens met at Sanhu Village.

This time, Pan Yun brought Miao and all three along.

Wang Xiaojing craned his neck until it was nearly breaking: "Why didn't you bring my little sister?"

Pan Yun: "I don't want to bring a child."

Wang Xiaojing muttered, "My little sister is very well-behaved."

Pan Yun pretended she hadn't heard. She said to Song Dalin, "Tomorrow I'll have someone send over a batch of money and grain. Distribute it to everyone—each person gets about one tael of silver and ten catties of rice."

Song Dalin's eyes lit up slightly, the corners of his mouth curling: "How could I accept that?"

Pan Yun: "Then I won't give it?"

Song Dalin said at once, "Then on behalf of the brothers I thank you. But Daoist Priest Pan, where did you get so much money and grain? So much has already been spent on disaster relief lately… Is being a Daoist Priest really this profitable these days?"

Pan Yun glanced left and right, then beckoned him over.

Song Dalin immediately leaned his ear in.

Pan Yun whispered, "Do you know what the most profitable trade in the world is?"

Song Dalin shook his head.

Pan Yun: "Being a bandit."

Song Dalin's face darkened: "Daoist Priest Pan, if you want to mock me, just say it. I'm a rough man…"

"Who's mocking you?" Pan Yun shot him a sideways glare. "I still have a second line. The most profitable thing in the world is a bandit who robs bandits."

Song Dalin was taken aback: "Isn't that just dog eating dog?"

Pan Yun lifted her chin: "Exactly. Righteous and profitable. All this money of mine was taken from sea bandits."

She swayed her head as she said, "Daoist Priests aren't profitable at all. Daoist Priests are the poorest—that's why Daoist Priests everywhere call themselves 'this poor Daoist'."

Song Dalin actually found her reasoning sound, and for a moment was tempted and envious: "These sea bandits aren't something just anyone can rob. In the end, it's Daoist Priest Pan who's formidable."

Someone like him also wanted to rob, but couldn't, and didn't dare.

Pan Yun glanced at him and said softly, "Besides being a sea bandit and robbing sea bandits, there's one more thing that's very profitable."

Song Dalin immediately perked up: "What is it?"

Pan Yun: "Maritime trade."

Song Dalin deflated: "This isn't something we can do either."

Pan Yun smiled and gave no answer.

Song Dalin was no fool — on the contrary, he was very clever; otherwise he could never have led so many brothers in rebellion with so few losses.

His eyes flicked, he filed the matter away in his heart, then turned and pulled Wang Xiaojing aside for a quiet, muttered conference.

In the evening, when they were sitting around the fire toasting slices of steamed bun, Wang Xiaojing obediently sat at Pan Yun's side.

Pan Yun turned her head to glance at him, casually handed him the toasted bun slices, and said: "Your grandfather and the others are living with us — just set your mind at ease. In a couple of days, when you all disband, you can head straight back to the village. I'll send them home."

Wang Xiaojing: "Little Martial Uncle, you stopped Big Brother Song from letting us register and be put on the rolls — are you afraid they'll settle scores after the autumn harvest?"

He said worriedly: "Th-then, should I move my grandfather and the others away?"

Pan Yun: "Where could you move them to? Besides, would your grandfather and the others be willing to leave their homeland?"

Wang Xiaojing hung his head and said nothing. (End of chapter)