Chapter 1040: The Wily Hare (For Alliance Leader

"... The carts, horses, and such are all gone, and the place has been tidied up fairly clean..." the Embroidered-Uniform Guard gave his own assessment.

The lead guard's expression grew darker. He gave a cold snort and said to the constable, "The hometown loyalty in your esteemed locality is truly remarkable — not even afraid of the imperial law. I wonder, if we conduct a search inside this city, whether we might find these Tian brothers."

"The esteemed inspector wishes to search the entire city? This humble one must report to His Excellency. If His Excellency gives the order, we shall immediately close the city gates and begin seizing people. The esteemed inspector's reasoning is sound — the Tian brothers may well be hiding within the city." The constable spoke with fearful deference, yet his obsequious manner, upon even slight scrutiny, was clearly perfunctory.

Perhaps growing weary of his own humility, the constable added, "This humble one will say one more thing: if the men cannot be caught inside the city, we will likely have to search outside. The Tians are local natives — if they fled, they couldn't have gone far. Nine times out of ten they're at their own estate. This humble one also knows where that estate is."

"Do you take us for fools? Once we're truly outside the city, some fake bandits might show up halfway — or maybe you yourself, leading your men, will finish off us brothers. Where would we go to seek justice then? And don't you get too pleased, boy. If we don't catch them this time, we'll come back next time with more men. Does little Yizhou think itself above the law?" The constable's words instantly enraged one of the guards, who jabbed a finger at his nose and cursed him out. The constable's face filled with stunned bewilderment, then with the utmost grievance he said, "How can the esteemed inspector speak like this? If this humble one harbors even half a treacherous thought, may a thunderbolt fall from the sky and strike me dead! This humble one is wronged — this humble one truly meant well! Even before His Excellency at the yamen, this humble one would say the same!"

"You motherfucker, you still think you can fool—" This impervious reply enraged the guard further, and he was about to strike, but a companion poked him with a finger. Only then did he notice the hostile expressions on the surrounding constables and able-bodied men. If they kept pressing this constable, they might well provoke public fury. The guard who had flared up forcibly swallowed his rage, shot the constable a hateful glare, and fell silent.

"In that case, let us return and speak with the Subprefectural Magistrate." The lead Embroidered-Uniform Guard spoke coolly. The constable leading the party showed no fear, merely nodding with a smile. The large group thus turned back toward the yamen.

Quite a crowd of onlookers had already gathered around. Many wore expressions of schadenfreude. Some, the moment the guards and constables left, hurried away at a brisk pace. Others stood there commenting, "This play was well acted. They don't know the Tian brothers left the city at daybreak, do they? They might have passed each other on the way, even exchanged a few glances."

"I hear they're some Embroidered-something from the capital. Do you think these men will go arrest people at the Tian estate?"

"Lend them a few guts. Once they're truly outside the city, the Tians can command several of the big armed bands out there. They'd take their lives without leaving a single corpse behind."

"Still, they're from the capital. Next time they might come with more men."

"The Tians have connections in official circles too. Haven't you heard? Several Tian men rode off toward Jinan early this morning. What do these officials want anyway? Nothing but gold, silver, and copper cash. Stuff them full and the matter's settled."

Just as the two idlers were chatting merrily, a man shoved them from behind. One turned around, and the man said in a muffled voice, "The white lotus blooms — aren't you afraid your tongues will rot?"

The two, who had been about to flare up, immediately bent at the waist upon hearing these words. They hurriedly smiled and apologized, not daring to linger there a moment longer, and left at a quick pace. The arrest operation had started with a tiger's head and ended with a snake's tail. Yet word also spread that the guards had issued threats at the yamen, saying there was collusion here between insiders and outsiders, and that upon their return they would certainly have much to report. In the end, the Subprefectural Magistrate's private secretary produced two hundred taels of silver to treat everyone to tea, and also arranged a banquet at Yizhou's finest restaurant. That evening, they would of course invite several high-priced courtesans to keep them company.

When all was said and done, silver worked best. Once the two hundred taels of silver were brought out, the Embroidered-Uniform Guards' anger subsided. However, their assignment this time seemed urgent — they took the silver and hurried out of the city. The moment they left, someone immediately entered the yamen and delivered five hundred taels directly to the Subprefectural Magistrate, then inquired about what exactly had been said.

According to a clerk close to the Subprefectural Magistrate, His Excellency had said that the Smelling Incense Sect had stirred up too much trouble this time, and the Tian family had caught some of the backlash. The Grand Coordinator and the various circuits would certainly take action, so they should hurry to save themselves and smooth things over. A clerk well-versed in administrative affairs analyzed that this was likely just an extortion attempt. If they truly meant to make arrests, the circuit intendants for defense and general administration, as well as the Yanzhou Prefect, would all have sent personnel and issued documents — they might even infiltrate the city for a sudden arrest. The current situation suggested that some high official had his eye on this place, but matters had not yet reached a point beyond mediation. It was simply a matter of expending connections and silver. They were also fortunate that the Tian family had responded appropriately. Had those guards actually seized someone, they likely could not have settled the matter without paying out a good fraction of the family fortune.

By withdrawing outside the city, they could now advance to attack or retreat to defend. On their own estate, so long as government troops did not mobilize in force, no one could seize them. The Tians could easily rally hundreds or even a thousand able-bodied men. It was said they kept martial instructors and harbored desperate fugitives of the jianghu, and maintained close ties with mounted bandits and armed bands. If things truly reached the point of open rupture, it might well erupt into another great upheaval like the Smelling Incense Sect.

Since they would not be arrested, they had ample time to maneuver and negotiate. Matters in officialdom all came down to face and silver — all the more so in a situation like this where nothing had been decided. It was merely a matter of losing some silver. But the Tian family, having run this White Lotus sect, possessed who knew how much silver — why would they care? Thus the conclusion was: a scare but no danger. The Tian family would suffer no major trouble this time.

"Send word to One-Eyed Old Yang. Have him take his men to the prefectural city and stand watch. There are a few lives for them to collect." Tian Zhu, riding on horseback, gave the order. He was of medium build and had a refined, scholarly appearance, yet wore a short martial tunic. As he spoke from horseback, someone immediately acknowledged and departed.

"Don't kill government agents. When silver can settle a matter, don't draw blades. I've said this several times — do you still not understand?" From the sedan chair beside Tian Zhu, a rough voice spoke. Those familiar with the Tian family knew that Tian Long excelled in his studies but was burly in build, with a voice to match, while Tian Zhu was skilled in martial arts yet presented himself with refined, scholarly bearing.

"Let them prepare in advance, so they aren't caught short when it's time to act," Tian Zhu answered in a deep voice.

"Your elder brother is already a Provincial Graduate. With that status in hand, our family's glory and prosperity need not be worried over. Yet you still keep stirring up this sect business. The White Lotus sect, in every dynasty through the ages, has been rebels and traitors. If you keep stirring things up like this, sooner or later you'll drag our Tian family down with you and ruin the excellent momentum we have now," Tian Long complained from within the sedan chair.

Tian Zhu did not reply. He merely looked around in all directions. There were over twenty large carts in total. Apart from three carrying women, children, and dependents, the rest were loaded with valuables and luggage. Around these carts, besides the servants traveling on foot, there were over a hundred armed guards. Many of these guards bore steady, fierce expressions. Beyond these guards, there were also more than fifty martial men on horseback carrying bows. They were dispersed around the four sides of the convoy, constantly observing the situation, ready at any moment to strike out or provide cover. A force of this strength traveling across the lands of Yizhou — even mounted bandits and armed bands would not dare provoke it. Besides, this was the convoy of Protector Tian of the White Lotus sect.

From the moment they left Yizhou City, as they passed by, the walled villages and earthen forts along the road all sent people over to pay respects. Some offered gifts, some asked whether they needed men to assist, and some arranged dates for feasts and gatherings. The Tian family's travel was no small matter for Yizhou. Neither the elder brother's status as a Provincial Graduate nor the younger brother's White Lotus sect influence could be underestimated in the slightest.

The road, however, was quite desolate. The busy farming season had just passed, and Yizhou was remote to begin with. The road normally saw few traveling merchants or travelers, so such desolation was in fact normal — no one found it strange. The occasional passersby, seeing a procession of such imposing scale as the Tian family's, all kept far away and detoured around it.

"From when our ancestors first began this to now, six generations have passed. We've produced four Licentiates, and you are the sole Provincial Graduate. Without the sect's operations, how could we have supported your studies? How could we have afforded the gifts and connections? Without the sect, could we have held onto these lands? They'd have been swallowed up long ago. Do you think your Provincial Graduate status alone is so valuable? After you passed the exams, how many in Yizhou offered up their lands in commendation? Land that was in other families' mouths — why would they spit it back out for us? It was all thanks to the sect's efforts. Our ancestors made this arrangement for good reason. Elder Brother, don't be muddled, and don't keep harping on this — if those below hear it, they'll be disheartened!" Tian Zhu's reply was blunt.

The men guarding beside the two brothers acted as if they had heard nothing, continuing forward in silence. Inside the sedan chair, Tian Long also fell silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh and said, "You've always stayed cooped up here in Yizhou. You don't understand the situation in Shandong. Reaching westward — that's tugging at a tiger's whiskers. That Zhao Jin harbors unfathomable schemes. He can defeat government troops and quelled the great Smelling Incense Sect rebellion. You reaching in that direction — you're inviting catastrophe!"

"What's there to fear? We're not rebelling, and neither is Zhao Jin. Yizhou is so remote — his hand can't reach here. So it comes down to each side's methods. Elder Brother, rest assured, I'm not thinking of biting off a piece of meat. But he can't take all those territories for himself alone. Either he spits some out for us, or he can't manage them all and lets some slip. If we can just suck a mouthful of blood, that's a huge chunk of profit. He's a tiger, but he can't swat a mosquito to death. If we keep at it like this, he'll surely get annoyed, and then we'll sit down and talk," Tian Zhu had his own plans and arrangements.

"The affairs of this world — how can they ever go exactly as we wish?" Tian Long sighed deeply. A cold sneer surfaced on Tian Zhu's face, though his tone remained unchanged as he said, "Elder Brother, you are a Provincial Graduate. In times of peace, under broad daylight, who would dare touch a distinguished Provincial Graduate? Our family has so many friends in the prefectural seat and the provincial capital, so much back-and-forth every year — he wouldn't dare make a reckless move..."

Today's third update, an extra chapter for new Alliance Leader "Teacher Akai." Thanks to old friend "Teacher Akai" for the reward, and thanks to everyone for your subscriptions, monthly tickets, and rewards. Thank you all.