Chapter 736

"Of course there is," said the Ministry of Revenue official immediately. "Mr. Xue, as Censor of the Jiangnan Region, should understand the impact of the maritime ban on ordinary people, and have seen the benefits of lifting it for the state and the people. Please submit a detailed memorial to Your Majesty, clearly laying out the advantages and disadvantages."

He added: "Mr. Xue need not worry—after you finish writing the memorial, we can deliver it on your behalf."

Xue Shao still wore a look of concern, silent.

The official paused, then whispered: "Hand the memorial to us, and Mr. Xue may leave the capital. First, Your Majesty still remembers old ties; though you committed a grave error and the military unrest in Jiangnan has worsened, you were only imprisoned for a few days."

"Second, you have already been punished for this matter—there will be no second sentencing. But your official rank remains intact; as long as you hold rank, your commentary on state affairs is legitimate."

"Third, it is said you had close dealings with the Wu Lin Alliance during your last voyage overseas—perhaps you could reestablish contact and make another trip abroad?"

Xue Shao raised an eyebrow.

The official lowered his voice further: "Jiangnan and the coastal regions are in chaos now. After news of the Silver Mountain spread, many fled overseas illegally—among them, no shortage of martial artists. Even soldiers from the navy are said to have deserted and crossed the sea. If you go overseas, you not only temporarily escape court turmoil, but may also oversee the Silver Mountain for Your Majesty—and earn a great merit."

Xue Shao pondered, then said: "I will consider your suggestion, my lord."

He obediently wrote a memorial for the official.

After receiving the memorial, the official departed, adding: "If you face difficulties, come find me."

Xue Shao smiled and saw him out.

Xi Jin, seething with anger, whispered fearfully: "Master, you're not really going to follow his advice and go overseas, are you? All this talk of earning merit is fake. Last time you went overseas, you reported it in advance—you were an official, so sailing on a ship could be framed as serving the state. But now you've been stripped of your post—sailing without permission is a crime!"

Xue Shao tapped his forehead and laughed: "You know this—do you think I don't?"

Xi Jin exhaled deeply: "So you're not going overseas, right?"

Xue Shao smiled: "We'll see how things go—it's not certain."

Xi Jin: …

Xue Shao said: "Don't concern yourself with others' motives. We only need to focus on our own goal. When goals align, why not borrow their strength?"

Besides the officials in court who advocated lifting the maritime ban, nobles, imperial clansmen, and others who supported the ban also sent people to approach Xue Shao.

They offered to guarantee his safety in exchange for him drawing exact maps of the Silver Mountain's location and boundaries; some even hoped to use him to collaborate with Pan Yun.

After dealing with them all and seeing them off, Xue Shao told Xi Jin to pack their luggage: "We leave at dawn tomorrow—this den of tigers and dragons is no place to stay."

Xi Jin had already packed; if it weren't for the darkness, they could have left right now.

"Those who smuggle in secret, fine—but those who don't even own a ship, what gives them the right to think a single word from them will make Master and Daoist Pan cooperate?" Xi Jin grew increasingly resentful: "Is it because their faces are thick, or their brains are stupid?"

Xue Shao burst into laughter: "Xi Jin, spending too much time with Pan Yun has made you speak like them—you used to be far less sharp-tongued."

Xi Jin muttered under his breath.

Xue Shao shook his head with a smile, then grew slightly solemn and sighed: "Perhaps because they've held high positions too long, grown too proud—unaware of the people's suffering, they naturally don't realize they themselves are no better."

Xi Jin suddenly felt afraid: "Master, you must never become such a person."

Xue Shao nodded with a smile: "Alright."

Xi Jin exhaled, smiling: "Where are we going tomorrow? Back to our hometown? Jiangnan's in chaos—we shouldn't get involved. Let the eunuchs, civil officials, and nobles fight among themselves."

But Xue Shao shook his head: "Pan Yun and Mr. Yu did so much for me—how can I just run away? Tomorrow, we head south."

Xi Jin: …

Xue Shao: "Rest well. You rent a carriage tomorrow—I'll go buy some dried rations."

The next day, Xue Shao went to buy dried rations—but first stopped by the roadside to intercept Yin Song on his way to court.

Yin Song showed no surprise at seeing him; they squatted by the roadside, one hand holding egg soup, the other a steamed bun: "I was woken today by bird calls—I knew then I should leave early. And indeed, I met good fortune upon stepping out."

Xue Shao smiled at him.

Yin Song asked: "When are you leaving the capital?"

Xue Shao: "Your Majesty ordered me to depart within three days."

Yin Song said: "Travel safely. Please deliver a message to Pan Yun for me."

Xue Shao listened attentively.

Yin Song gazed at the sky, then sighed after a long while: "Fate is fate. Sometimes, clinging too hard to change only draws karmic burdens upon oneself. As Daoist cultivators, we should know when to stop—no need to meddle excessively in worldly affairs."

"Wu wei?" Xue Shao pondered: "But you're an imperial official—if you foresee national disaster or court error, will you not act to change it?"

Yin Song smiled faintly: "How do you know what you foresee will truly come to pass? Might stopping one disaster spawn even greater, stronger calamities?"

He said: "I have fulfilled my duty. What remains, I leave to the flow of heaven and nature. When misfortune reaches a certain point, it turns to prosperity; when prosperity reaches its height, it turns to decline."

Xue Shao agreed with this view, but did not believe that what he and Pan Yun were doing would invite greater calamity.

"Aren't we simply solving visible problems?"

Yin Song smiled lightly: "Then please ask my little sister—what is she trying to solve: her own problems, or Great Ming's?"

Xue Shao did not understand, but he remembered it.

Yin Song finished his bun, drained his soup, returned the bowl to the vendor, and waved: "To court—I won't see you off."

Xue Shao rose, watched him walk far away, then turned to the vendor: "Pack me twenty steamed buns."

The vendor readily agreed.

Xue Shao then bought some baked cakes, carried them back to the inn, and together with Xi Jin, they grabbed their luggage, boarded the rented carriage, and left the city.

The carriage came with a driver; with dried rations in hand, they traveled nonstop southward, soon reaching Nanzhili.

Nanzhili had recovered considerably. Once imperial relief arrived, local people regained confidence, and every region began self-organized disaster relief.

The two most discussed figures in tea houses were: first, an unknown Mr. Chen, who donated vast quantities of money and grain to Nanzhili and Fujian;

second, Pan Yun of Mount Sanqing, who also contributed large amounts of money and grain for disaster relief.

"As for this Mr. Chen, his name is unknown—let's talk about Daoist Pan Yun of Mount Sanqing," said the storyteller, tapping the table and pausing.

The audience, rapt, immediately urged: "Tell us where she got it all!"

The storyteller stroked his beard, smiling but saying nothing.

Someone guessed: "Could she have stolen it? Robbed the rich to help the poor?"

"Or business? But no famous merchant house from Mount Sanqing has ever been heard of."

The storyteller said: "You're half right about robbing the rich to help the poor—but she robs pirates to help the poor."

He slammed his table and said: "Rumors say two months ago, Daoist Pan Yun joined the Wu Lin Alliance and the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion's heroes to sail out and eradicate pirates. She chased the pirate chieftain all the way to Japan—can you guess what happened?"

The crowd's hearts leapt: "What happened?"

"She saw a mountain glittering with silver light across the vast sea. When she landed, she discovered it was a silver mountain!" Xue Shao choked on his tea, quickly set down his cup, and couldn't help laughing.

A scholar sat beside him and whispered: "Brother, you think this is fake too, right?"

Xue Shao turned to look at him and whispered back: "Fake?"

"If it's not fake, what is it? Who ever said a silver mountain is silver-colored? The Japanese aren't fools—if such a glaring silver mountain existed, why hadn't they found it themselves long ago, waiting for Great Ming people to dig it up?" He whispered: "I've observed closely—this storyteller was paid to spread this rumor."

Xue Shao raised an eyebrow: "What benefit is there in spreading this rumor?"

"I suspect they want to lure people in—to swindle money, or to swindle people," the scholar said. "If it's just money, it's bad but bearable. But if it's people…"

Xue Shao leaned closer: "Why are you telling me this?"

"You look like a scholar. I want to partner with you," the scholar grasped Xue Shao's hand and leaned in low: "We scholars study precisely to serve our emperor and our country. Let's capture them and serve our nation faithfully."

Xue Shao: "..."

He tilted his head, studying the man carefully, then hesitated: "A token of loyalty?"

The scholar grinned: "Yes. What do you think of my idea, Brother?"

"Not good," Xue Shao said. "This storyteller is clearly a man of the Jianghu. His associates are likely the same. I'm just a scholar who can't even lift a chicken."

"But they're planning to harm people! As scholars, when we see injustice, how can we stand idle?" The scholar grew angry. "Without compassion for the people, how can you ever become an official?"

"Just report it to the authorities," Xue Shao said, bewildered. "When you encounter lawlessness, isn't reporting it to the government office the fastest and simplest method?"

The scholar's face darkened. "No—if they're colluding with the government office…"

"Brother," Xue Shao interrupted, smiling, "you're destined to become an official. How can you distrust the government so much?"

The scholar lowered his eyes and whispered: "You don't understand—our county magistrate is a corrupt official. The people are seething with resentment, but they dare not speak out for fear of threats…"

Xue Shao suddenly raised his hand and shouted toward the second floor: "Brother Dai! There's a rebel here!"

The scholar froze, quickly glanced upward—and met the gaze of someone leaning down to look.

Without thinking, he turned and ran.

Xue Shao kicked at his backside. The scholar twisted aside, sprinting toward the window.

Xue Shao grabbed chopsticks from the bamboo tube and flung them. The scholar seemed to have eyes in the back of his head—he swung his sleeve backward, rolled it, and caught every chopstick inside. Then he lunged forward, ready to leap out the window…

But as he lifted off, a foot slammed into his chest, sending him crashing back down with a thud at Xue Shao's feet.

Xue Shao pressed his foot down on the scholar's chest.

Only then did Dai Rong snap out of his shock and hurried downstairs: "Xue Brother, weren't you in prison?"

Xue Shao smiled: "Your information is outdated. I've been dismissed from office and released."

Dai Rong looked troubled: "You… weren't exiled, were you?"

Xue Shao laughed: "Have you ever seen an exiled convict strolling through a teahouse?"

With enough money and enough power, what's impossible?

But Xue Shao belonged to neither category.

Dai Rong sighed in relief: "At least you're out. Wait a few years until the imperial court forgets, then find a chance to be reinstated."

Xue Shao didn't care about such things. He shook his head and smiled: "Let fate decide."

He looked down at the man beneath his foot and asked: "Is this one of the rebels?"

Dai Rong gritted his teeth, furious: "The rumor about Japan's silver mountain has spread like wildfire. Since the rebels couldn't take Quanzhou, they're trying to bypass it, head north, seize Kunshan, and use this area to sail out."

"Fujian is extremely far from here. Why would they think to sail from here?"

Dai Rong: "The coastal regions of Nanzhili have suffered heavily. They're deliberately stoking public resentment against the government, hoping to spark rebellion here like in Fujian and Jiangxi—so they won't need the rebel army to come over. And… Suzhou has several seafaring ships. If they capture Kunshan and Suzhou, they'll have ships ready-made."

Hearing "seafaring ships," Xue Shao's mind stirred. He quickly asked: "Do the rebels really want seafaring ships?"

"Of course. To reach Japan, seafaring ships are essential."

Xue Shao fell silent for a moment, then bowed: "Brother Dai, I have urgent business elsewhere. I must take my leave."

"Hey, you're leaving already? At least stay one night, let me host you…"

But Xue Shao immediately grabbed his bag and took his leave: "Change course. To Long Hushan."

The driver stared blankly: "What about Quanzhou?"

Xue Shao thought briefly, then said: "Just take us to Long Hushan."

"This is your changed itinerary—I won't refund your fare."

Xue Shao smiled and agreed: "Fine. Just take us to Long Hushan."

Xue Shao had been to Long Hushan before—but never before had he stood before the Academy's gates.

This was the place his clan's elder had always wanted him to visit. Xue Shao looked up curiously.

Just after the three-judge tribunal and after finalizing cooperation with his teachers, Pan Yun stepped out in loose Daoist robes, swaying slightly—just as he was gazing up at the plaque reading "Da Shangqing Palace."

Pan Yun stepped through the gate and stood beside him, looking up too: "They say it was left by the First Zhang Zhang Tian Shi. Is it beautiful?"

Xue Shao turned to her: "With three seafaring ships in hand, I thought you'd be drowning in trouble."

Pan Yun smiled at him: "I've already settled everything with the Naval Office, the Prefect of Quanzhou, and Lin Mengzhu."

"The rebel force is spreading like wildfire. The Prefect of Quanzhou is barely holding on himself. The imperial court has sent Cao Jixiang and Chen Gong south to establish the Quanzhou Maritime Trade Bureau—the Naval Office's authority is weakened. He can't protect you."

Pan Yun sighed: "You're clever. As soon as I returned to Long Hushan, Zhenren Zhang summoned me."

"You've reached an agreement with the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion?"

Pan Yun nodded: "Agreed."

Xue Shao fell silent for a moment, then asked: "Have there been any unusual events lately?"

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow: "You mean assassins?"

Xue Shao gasped: "Did the rebel army send assassins?"

Pan Yun shrugged: "Who knows what they wanted? Dressed all in black, sneaking near the Academy—of course the Academy treated them as assassins."

She spread her hands: "I feel sorry for them, but can I join them in their treachery? The Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion at the foot of the mountain isn't just for show."

The Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion is an official organization sanctioned by the Emperor and the imperial court, you know?

Could she fraternize with rebels right under the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion's nose?

A bunch of idiots—they couldn't even pick a better place or a better time to come to her.

(End of Chapter)