Chapter 462: Chapter 458: Assassination_1
 

Recently, in order to increase income and reduce expenditure, Yingbao had several large mushroom sheds constructed within the residence. She also had two baking ovens installed, and invited all servants and guards to observe her process of mushroom cultivation.

The primary mushroom she focused on was Xue’er, as it tasted better than golden ear and was cheaper, making it easier for the common people to accept.

She also planted a significant amount of golden ear, though not as much as Xue’er.

All these mushroom seeds were brought from Dongchen Village in Qinchuan County. After soaking them in Pupil Spring, they had a very high germination rate.

Once this batch of mushrooms matured, Yingbao planned to distribute some mushroom seeds among the poor families in the villages. She hoped it would encourage them to undertake additional work in their spare time to improve their living conditions. She would also cultivate a portion herself to maintain her team of over forty helpers.

Of course, she would not give out the mushroom seeds freely. The villagers would have to sign a contract promising to repay the cost of the seeds once they sold the mature mushrooms.

Everyone in the residence studied the process intently, including the guards, who asked Magnolia if they could buy some extra mushroom seeds to send back to their hometowns.

Magnolia replied sternly, “We don’t have enough extra mushroom seeds at the moment. Once we do, you can directly ask the Commandery Princess.”

A month and a half later, five thousand Xue’er and two thousand golden ear mushrooms ripened.

All in the Princess Residence collectively harvested the mature mushrooms in half a day, part of the batch was dried out in the open while another part was baked.

For this process, Yingbao had specifically hired two pharmacists who specialized in drying medicinal materials from a medicine shop to help with the baking of the mushrooms.

A few days later, the mushrooms were dried one after another, yielding more than five hundred catties of dried mushrooms.

Yingbao sent Chu Shun to transport the dried mushrooms to Qinchuan County and sell them to her older brother, Jiang Cheng.

As her specialty shop was quite famous locally and they sold the most golden ear and Xue’er mushrooms, it made more financial sense for her to control the sales, thus ensuring a higher profit.

Within a few days, Chu Shun returned with six thousand taels of silver, which eased Yingbao’s urgent need for cash.

After all, Yingbao had invested a lot of money in improving the livelihood of local people, but the initiatives had not yet borne fruit.

The cost of the five hundred weaving looms sent out on credit had not been recovered, and there were recurring monthly salaries for more than forty temporary officers.

Moreover, providing for the servants, guards, and horses of the residence also required money.

Just when she was starting to feel relieved, as the summer harvest began, the temporary officers reported frequent actions by the tax-collecting government officers and wealthy landlords in various villages.

These unscrupulous individuals swapped rotten grain with the villagers and cheated the locals by using smaller measurements to count their grain.

Wei Zhan immediately led a group of guards to investigate and found it to be true.

“Bring them all back to the government office! I’ll leave it to the County Magistrate to deal with them!”

Wei Zhan then turned to Lizheng and asked, “Did you know about this?”

Lizheng was terrified and quickly shook his head, “I had no idea they would do such a thing, if I’d known earlier…”

Before he could finish speaking, Wei Zhan cut him off, “Since you claim ignorance, I’m telling you now. If I ever find out someone has been oppressing the common people, they’ll not be let off easily!”

He raised his voice on purpose so everyone at the scene could hear.

The common people started whispering among themselves and some directly knelt down and shouted praises to Wei Zhan.

Seeing the situation was under control, Wei Zhan called over four temporary officers to replace the officers who had been collecting taxes.

“When you guys are collecting grain, you can’t cheat in weight or amount. And you can’t be biased; the damp and moldy grain cannot enter the granary, and neither can grain mixed with sand and rocks. Is that clear?” Wei Zhan scrutinized the crowd.

The four temporary officers hurriedly guaranteed, “We understand, Great General; rest assured we’ll be strict with our duties!”

“Good, continue with the grain collection!” Wei Zhan left two guards there to maintain order and left for the county town with the rest.

Halfway there, numerous arrows suddenly shot out from both sides of the dense forest.

We Zhan knew he couldn’t proceed further.

Having fought in the army for many years, he knew that there must be some sort of trap set up ahead, and possibly an ambush from behind as well.

The only option was to head left or right, and take them down one by one.

“Follow me and charge this way!” Wei Zhan drew his waist sword and rushed towards the sparser part of the forest.

The thirty or so guards followed closely behind, rushing into the forest along with their injured companions.

Fortunately, the forest wasn’t too dense, and Wei Zhan, high up on his horseback, quickly saw about twenty villagers trying to flee.

“Catch them!” Wei Zhan spurred his horse, caught one of them, cut him down with his sword, and rushed after the next one.

The thirty guards also gave chase, quickly cutting down about a dozen archers. The remaining ones managed to escape.

“Don’t prolong the fight!” Wei Zhan called back the guards who were about to give chase and ordered them to bring over those who were still alive.

Several guards dismounted, brought over a few injured people, and threw them in front of Wei Zhan.

Wei Zhan looked at the few men coldly and asked, “Who sent you?”

Terrified, the men trembled but dared not to speak.

“Since you won’t speak, let’s just kill them!” Wei Zhan signaled to the guards.

Understanding, a guard approached with his bloody knife and decapitated one of the men.

The others screamed with fear, fell to their knees and begged, “I’ll speak up! It’s…it’s… it’s Master Zhang who ordered us to ambush the official. We’re just common folk, please have mercy on us! Mercy!”

Master Zhang? Wasn’t the landlord who was made an example of last year also surnamed Zhang?

“Take these men with us, and the corpses and arrows as well. We must hurry back to the county town.” If they didn’t, Master Zhang might have another trick planned.

The guards quickly placed the corpses on top of the horses and also took the injured men with them.

We Zhan spurred his horse to speed along the field ridges, avoiding the main path until he was out of this region. Only then did they return to the main path and headed straight for the county town.

They didn’t ask for help from the relay station and rushed back to the county town. Upon arrival, they dumped the corpses in front of the yamen (government office).

A few injured guards returned to the Commandery Princess’s Residence and reported to Yingbao.

When Yingbao heard that Wei Zhan had been ambushed midway, she was immediately anxious. “Was the ceremony host injured?”

“Commandery Princess, the general is unharmed. A few of our brothers were injured, but none seriously. The family doctor is treating them.” Said the Captain of the Guard.

Relieved, Yingbao handed the Captain of the Guard a packet of medicine, “Here are wound healing medicine and some pills for internal use. Distribute them to everyone.”

The Captain of the Guard wasn’t polite and accepted the medicine, “Thank you, Commandery Princess.”

“The few of you, rest at home. Don’t be on duty until your wounds are healed,” said Yingbao.

“Understood!” The Captain of the Guard withdrew.

Yingbao immediately changed into formal attire, put on the imperial tiara, led a ceremonial group out of her residence and headed toward the county government office.

At this time, there was a crowd gathered in front of the county government office, all discussing animatedly.

Two guards loudly announced, “These are assassins who tried to assassinate our great general in broad daylight! Everyone, come and identify whether you know any of them or if they previously worked for anyone. Anyone who can provide accurate information will be rewarded by our Great General!”

After the guards repeated the announcement several times, some people came forward to inspect the bodies.

But most of them didn’t recognize the dead men.

Finally, a man in ragged clothes spoke up, “Sir, I recognize these people!”