Ouyang Yue looked at Dashan and saw that his expression was firm, his eyes flashed with a serious light, and a satisfied smile was on his lips. Leng Jue narrowed his eyes and scanned Dashan's face. He was just a rough man and nothing to be afraid of.
Ouyang Yue certainly had safer methods, but the villagers of Red Maple Mountain had struggled against Hong Dabao for so many years, living a miserable life while Hong Dabao enjoyed a life of luxury and beautiful women. They naturally harbored feelings of inferiority and inadequacy towards Hong Dabao. If she couldn't ignite their determination to fight, these villagers would only become mediocre people who submit to their fate and never dare to strive for a future. Since Ouyang Yue was determined to take Red Maple Mountain, she wouldn't allow her people to become useless, dependent individuals. Seeing the mountains, Ouyang Yue gained some confidence in the villagers of Red Maple Mountain.
As soon as Da Shan finished speaking, the village chief also said with a firm expression, "Da Shan is right. We cannot be afraid of Hong Da Bao. We've had enough over the years. If it weren't for Miss Ouyang's appearance, we would still be making a fearless and miserable struggle. But we have a blood feud with Hong Da Bao. How many villagers of Hongfeng Mountain have died at his hands? How many of our relatives have died at his hands? For the sake of our deceased relatives, we must fight Hong Da Bao to the death."
"Yes, the village chief is right. We must fight. We can't be afraid of that bastard."
"Yes, beat that damned red dog to death! Let's fight him to the death!"
At this moment, a loud shout came from outside the hall. After a while, the villagers raised their hands and shouted continuously, their faces showing determination and anger for a desperate battle tomorrow.
Leng Jue suddenly leaned close to Ouyang Yue's ear and said, "It seems I really underestimated you before. Your behavior should be considered an act of rebellion."
Ouyang Yue raised an eyebrow at Leng Jue: "Then tell me, should Hong Dabao be killed or not?"
His cold, dark eyes reflected Ouyang Yue's confident and radiant face as he said without blinking, "Hong Dabao's death cannot atone for his sins; the villagers are merely acting in self-defense."
Ouyang Yue chuckled softly, "You're smart to know what's good for you."
Leng Jue gazed quietly at Ouyang Yue, his eyes seemingly curving slightly.
The next day, Hong Dabao arrived at Hongfeng Mountain with only a few followers. The villagers of Hongfeng Mountain were already waiting there. When they saw that Hong Dabao was not carrying any boxes, they knew that he had not prepared any gold. They immediately shouted, "Hong, you scoundrel, where are the ten thousand taels of gold? You have no remorse at all. Don't you want your son's life?"
Hong Dabao wasn't angry. He said, "How do I know if you really kidnapped my son? And even if I give you the money, will you release him? I need to see my son first before I can feel at ease. As for the ten thousand taels of gold, it's not that I don't want to give it, but the amount is too large. How can I possibly gather it all in one day? You need to give me a few days."
The village chief and a few villagers exchanged glances and discussed for a moment before saying, "Alright, let you see Hong Xuetian first. Bring him up."
A moment later, Hong Xuetian and his entourage, still naked and bound, were brought in. Hong Dabao, seeing their swollen, unrecognizable faces, took a step back in shock. Hong Xuetian's mouth wasn't stuffed with anything, but it was so badly swollen it looked like two red sausages, and he could barely speak: "Father... save... save... me..."
Hong Dabao felt a surge of anger rush to his head and said hatefully, "How dare you treat my son like this! Guards! These scoundrels not only murdered a noble lady from the capital, but also took my son's life. They are truly heinous scoundrels! Fire arrows and kill them all, leave no one alive!"
Hong Dabao shouted, and suddenly two rows of people emerged from the bushes on both sides. They were all dressed as county constables, carrying bows and arrows, which were already nocked and pointed at the villagers of Hongfeng Mountain.
The village chief was alarmed: "Quickly take precautions!"
The villagers of Hongfeng Mountain immediately took out self-defense items such as pot lids and straw covers to block the arrows shot by Hong Dabao. Hong Dabao was furious and shouted: "Fire arrows! Kill them all!"
"Hong Dabao, you are despicable and shameless! We agreed to negotiate today, but you dared to ambush us!"
"You shameless scoundrel, you deserve to die a horrible death!"
Upon seeing this, the villagers immediately cursed and retreated at an astonishing speed to protect themselves. Hong Xuetian was left unattended. Hong Dabao had already sent men to bring him back, while Hong Xuetian sneered coldly. Just as his advisor had said, today he would seize the treasures of Red Maple Mountain and slaughter these unruly people!
Seeing the dense barrage of arrows raining down on Hong Dabao, the villagers of Hongfeng Mountain immediately felt the urge to retreat. They grabbed whatever they could find to shield themselves and quickly retreated. Hong Dabao laughed loudly, "You unruly people dare to fight me? Today I'll make sure you all die here! Keep firing!"
"stop!"
Suddenly, a sharp shout came from down the mountain. Hong Dabao was startled and looked back, only to see a troop of armored soldiers charging up the mountain. They carried shields and swords, and their imposing presence was far superior to Hong Dabao's small fry. These soldiers charged forward with overwhelming force and immediately surrounded Hong Dabao's men. The constables from the yamen might be able to act arrogantly in the city, but when faced with real soldiers, they were already terrified.
Hong Dabao was also quite frightened. Just then, a general-like figure dressed in armor rode down the mountain. Hong Dabao was startled when he saw him and immediately knelt down to explain. Suddenly, the villagers of Hongfeng Mountain rushed out from behind and knelt on the ground.
"My lord, save us! Hong Dabao, as the magistrate of Shanbian County, not only does not work for the benefit of the people, but also plunders their wealth and harms the common people. If you had come any later, we would have all been killed by Hong Dabao. Please, my lord, do justice for us!"
Hong Dabao was startled and was about to retort when the general looked at him coldly and said in a chilling tone, "Hong Dabao, do you know your crime!"
☆、100、The conspiracy is exposed, and a midnight terror ensues!
Hong Dabao's face stiffened, and he immediately retorted, "My lord, I am innocent! These unruly people are clearly disobedient and have kidnapped my son to threaten me. I have absolutely not done anything irresponsible, much less committed any heinous act." The man who rode up on horseback truly terrified Hong Dabao. This man was Ma Luolin, the governor of Qizhou, who held immense power over the region's finances and military, making him a local tyrant. If Hong Dabao was the local emperor of this mountainous county, then Ma Luolin was the king of Qizhou, and moreover, Ma Luolin was more than just the governor of Qizhou.
The current Fifth Prince, Baili Jian, is the maternal grandfather of the Sun family, one of the five great families. The Sun family is a military family with three generals, making it one of the most powerful families in the military and political power of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Many generals promoted in the court have the influence of the Sun family. Ma Luolin is one of them. He later married the eldest daughter of the Sun family, so his status can be said to be that of a royal relative.
Qizhou, bordering the capital and encompassing five counties and thirty-two villages, is one of the three major prefectures of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Ma Luolin is a notoriously ruthless figure. While Qizhou isn't the strongest or largest of the three prefectures, Ma Luolin is the most formidable. Hong Dabao had to pay tribute to Ma Luolin every year, and Ma Luolin had usually turned a blind eye to his actions. Why would he suddenly appear here and immediately send troops to surround Hong Dabao's men? Hong Dabao was immediately thrown into disarray, his heart trembling uncontrollably.
The village chief had already walked over, dressed in tattered clothes patched with many holes, looking miserable and extremely disheveled. Only then did Marolin have time to carefully examine the villagers of Red Maple Mountain, only to find that they were all as thin as dried-up monkeys, and their clothes were ridiculously tattered. Marolin frowned slightly.
The village chief immediately cried out, "My lord, please do justice for us! This Hong Dabao has been in power for many years, not only treating people's lives like dirt and oppressing the villagers, but also trying to seize the village's family heirloom. When the villagers rose up in rebellion, he even harbored malicious intentions to massacre the entire village—his crimes are utterly heinous! Not only that, but Hong Dabao's worst act is deceiving his superiors and concealing the truth. The villagers have always been grateful to the governor for his virtuous and capable governance, which has allowed them to live in peace and prosperity. We had already discussed and prepared to present our family heirloom to the governor, but Hong Dabao, seeing the opportunity, rebelled and tried to ambush us, killing many of our villagers and constantly persecuting our village. My lord, please, in consideration of our loyalty in seeking your protection, save the villagers and punish this heinous villain, Hong Dabao, who treats people's lives like dirt and deceives his superiors!"
Marolin's expression suddenly changed. He said, "You said you wanted to give my village's family heirloom, but Hong Dabao robbed it?" Marolin squinted at Hong Dabao, who was startled and immediately retorted, "Sir, these cunning people are very shrewd. What they said is not true. The villagers of Hongfeng Mountain have always been a scourge on Shanbian County. The people in their village are thieves and prostitutes, the lowest, most despicable, and shameless people. I have repeatedly advised them, but they not only do not repent, but also try to take the opportunity to incite other villagers in Shanbian County to resist, intending to stage a mass rebellion. I was forced to do this, so I thought of using troops to suppress them. Please believe in my loyalty, sir." Hong Dabao was also a master of acting. At this moment, he pinched his thigh hard, and immediately cried even harder than the village chief.
Marolin frowned slightly, looking at the villagers of Red Maple Mountain, then coldly staring at Hong Dabao. He wasn't stupid; he knew Hong Dabao's character perfectly well. However, Hong Dabao was extremely obedient and knew how to be filial. There wasn't much money to be made in Shanbian County, so Marolin had never paid much attention to its affairs. But if Hong Dabao intentionally hid treasure and deceived his superiors, that was something Marolin couldn't tolerate.
Originally, Marolin hadn't come specifically because of the conflict between Hong Dabao and the villagers of Hongfeng Mountain. It was autumn, the perfect time for hunting, and he intended to take a group of men hunting and test their skills. However, upon entering the hunting grounds, he discovered that most of the prey in his enclosed area had been killed, all with a single, fatal blow. Marolin was both shocked and furious. During this season, outsiders were not allowed to enter his hunting grounds, and soldiers were stationed around the perimeter overnight to guard against any accidents during his hunt. Yet, someone had silently killed most of the prey. Wasn't this a demonstration of power against him? Didn't it imply that even he, in his hunting grounds, would be like those prey, destined to be slaughtered?
As a military general, Marolin possessed an innate fighting spirit. Moreover, he had gained fame early on for his ruthlessness, and the existence of such people fueled his boundless rage and murderous intent. Coincidentally, Shanbian County was the closest place to the hunting grounds within the Qizhou region. He discovered that the prey's bodies were not completely stiff, indicating that they had been killed recently. The most likely place for the murderer to escape was Shanbian County, so he immediately led his men in pursuit.
However, upon arriving at Shanbian County, he discovered that neither the city gates nor the county government office were guarded or staffed. His heart skipped a beat; could someone have truly committed a crime in his jurisdiction? Marolin, however, dispatched troops to search the county. Before long, they discovered that Hong Dabao had led troops up Red Maple Mountain, but unexpectedly, they uncovered Hong Dabao's crime of deceiving his superiors and concealing the truth.
Seeing Ma Luolin's face gradually darkening, Hong Dabao immediately exclaimed in alarm, "My lord, I have evidence! My son was captured by these scoundrels. They even threatened that if I couldn't bring back ten thousand taels of gold, they would make sure my son never saw the sun again. I even considered sacrificing my son to restore peace to Shanbian County! My lord, you mustn't listen to these scoundrels' nonsense! My lord, my son has been beaten beyond recognition; that's the evidence!" Hong Dabao's face was streaked with tears.
Marolin stared at him, a hint of doubt rising in his heart, then looked up and coldly shouted, "Where are they? Where's the evidence?!"
Hong Dabao turned angrily and pointed, "Sir, my son is right here! Look at these scoundrels beating him... Where is he? Where is my son? What have you done to him!" Hong Dabao turned around angrily, but before he could finish speaking, he saw that Hong Xuetian, whom he had saved earlier, had vanished without a trace. The two constables who had protected Hong Xuetian were lying unconscious on the ground, their fate unknown. Hong Dabao became even more furious.
The village chief angrily pointed at Hong Dabao: "You corrupt official, even at this point you still want to distort the truth and frame the villagers of Hongfeng Mountain! You are utterly insidious and vicious! Your Excellency is wise, powerful, and intelligent; he will not be deceived by a two-faced person like you. Your Excellency, to prove the innocence of the villagers of Hongfeng Mountain, the entire village voluntarily agrees to let your troops search. If Hong Xuetian is found, the entire village is willing to be executed; if not, then this corrupt official is unforgivable. We beg Your Excellency to do justice for us!"
"Please, Your Excellency, do us justice!"
"My lord, please save us! This corrupt official must not be let off the hook! My lord is wise and mighty, and will never let such a heinous official go unpunished. My lord and this corrupt official are not the same kind of people. My lord will surely stand up for us commoners."
The villagers of Hongfeng Village, with their flattering pleas for help, sounded to Marolin as if refusing to help would make him a corrupt official as heinous as Hong Tianbao. He looked at the villagers with displeasure, only to see them all kneeling, their faces filled with expectation, their eyes gleaming as they gazed at him. It seemed to him that he was being paranoid. Moreover, upon hearing them mention their ancestral treasure, Marolin had already set his sights on seizing it. So he nodded and said, "Very well, I, as an official passing through this area, learned of the unrest here. There's no reason for me to ignore it. Let's see who can produce evidence. Then I will certainly uphold justice for that side. Men, search the village!"
The village chief's expression changed slightly, but he still waved his hand, ordering several villagers to lead Ma Luolin and the guards to search the village. However, he said, "Sir, Hong Tianbao has maliciously framed the villagers for kidnapping and harming officials' children. If Lord Hong cannot give the villagers an explanation, the villagers of Hongfeng Mountain will not let this go." Although officials have a double standard, and these villagers of Hongfeng Mountain have suffered a lot here, Ma Luolin is here now. If he wants to maintain his image as an honest and upright official, there is no reason for him not to investigate this matter.
As expected, Marolin thought for a moment and said, "Alright, since you both have your own version of events, we should search everything. Men, the rest of you, come with me to the county government office on the mountainside to investigate." Most of the others present then followed Marolin, led by Hong Tianbao, to the county government office on the mountainside to conduct the search.
Hong Tianbao was far from calm. He couldn't understand why Ma Luolin had suddenly appeared, and where his son was. Looking at the angry faces of the Hongfeng villagers, who didn't seem like the kind of people who would cause trouble, could it be that his son had simply vanished into thin air? However, he was somewhat certain that his son couldn't possibly be at the county government office by the mountain. After all, the county government office was quite a distance from Hongfeng Mountain, and even if he had been brought back to the county government office, it was unlikely that he would have arrived before Ma Luolin rode away on horseback.
"My lord, I dared to order you to conduct the search, so I have a clear conscience. Please give me justice and sentence these unruly people to a serious crime." As the search approached, Hong Dabao was still smug, coldly looking at the villagers of Hongfeng Mountain.
With a wave of his hand, Marolin's men surged into the county government office on the mountainside to search for the suspects. Each man performed his duties quickly, and soon reports came in one after another: "Sir, nothing."
"My lord, apart from women, there are no men."
Hong Dabao sneered. Of course there wouldn't be any male members. Although he had quite a few women, he was even more afraid of being cuckolded. So, no male member of the household was allowed to enter or leave the backyard in any way. It was truly absurd.
Just then, a guard with a strange expression approached and said, "Sir, I have found two men, but..."
"Hmm?" Marolin paused, glancing indifferently at Hong Tianbao. The latter's heart skipped a beat. This couldn't be what he thought. Had Xue Tian really returned? What was he up to? Why hadn't he told him he was coming back earlier, leaving him completely unprepared? Marolin waved his hand and quickly followed. He had noticed the guard's slightly changed expression; it seemed there was more to it than just a few people.
"Sir, this is the room."
"Smash it open!"
"Bang!"
The crowd smashed open the door, only to find the room in a messy and suggestive state, as if it had been the aftermath of some kind of incident. Two naked people lay on the bed. Hong Tianbao was shocked and immediately shouted, "Who? Which shameless villain dares to frame me?" Although Hong Xuetian was known for his antics, he wouldn't be so reckless as to engage in such a disrespectful act while beaten. Seeing this, Hong Tianbao was almost certain the person on the bed wasn't his son, and he roared angrily in a vicious manner.
Two guards immediately rushed in, one of them grabbing the man and throwing him violently to the ground.
"Ouch!" The two men cried out in pain and fell to the ground. However, the next moment they looked up in horror. When they saw the two men's faces, Hong Tianbao gasped and took a step back. How could he not recognize these two men? They were none other than Hong Xuetian and his two accomplices, whom he thought were impossible to find in the county government office. The two men's swollen, pig-like faces were right in front of him. How could he not recognize them?
The villagers of Hongfeng Mountain exclaimed in surprise, "My God, where did these two pig-headed people come from? They're terrifying!"
"This strange sight is so disgusting it's almost sickening, yet they can turn a blind eye and continue doing these shady things here. Young Master Hong's tastes are truly bizarre."
"Ugh, stop talking, I'm about to throw up."
The guards brought by Marolin stared wide-eyed. For them, who considered themselves worldly-wise, this was something they had never imagined would happen. Was Hong Tianbao's son a man? And was the attendant a man too? They were actually rolling around in bed, and their faces were extremely unsightly. Let alone a man, even a woman with such a face and figure would make them nauseous. How could these two be so unconcerned about being caught embracing? How disgusting must their tastes be? Immediately, their expressions turned strange, and they looked at Hong Tianbao with slightly suspicious eyes.
Hong Tianbao was shocked and immediately shook his head to explain. Marolin, however, was furious and roared, "So, Hong Tianbao, this is how you show me your innocence? Your son is here, how can you claim innocence? I never imagined you would not only oppress the villagers, deceive your superiors, and disregard human life, but also allow your son to indulge in debauchery in broad daylight! If I let you go today, how can I explain this to the people of Qizhou? Guards, tie Hong Tianbao up! We'll deal with him as we see fit."
"Yes, sir."
"My lord, I am innocent! Look at my son's face, he was clearly beaten by these scoundrels and then sent back to frame me. I am truly innocent!" Hong Tianbao struggled to explain. Although what he said was true, and he was indeed wronged, with such conclusive evidence, it was absolutely impossible for him to convince people with just words.
The villagers of Hongfeng Village were all furious, their faces turning red with anger: "Hong Tianbao, it's no secret in this mountainous county that you and your son are known for your lechery. Stop pretending here. We just didn't expect that you and your son not only love women, but you also prey on men. It's absolutely disgusting."
"Pah! You're disgusting and vile!"
The villagers began to curse, some even showing extreme suspicion: "My God, Hong Tianbao has been attacking the village for years, harboring ambitions to seize treasure. Could it be that he's also after the young men in the village, so..."
"Damn, don't talk nonsense, I find it disgusting."
Marolin's face darkened as he listened. He recalled his past encounters with Hong Tianbao, each time with a fawning smile and gleaming eyes that now seemed to harbor ill intent. Marolin shuddered, his face turning almost unrecognizable as black, and roared, "Beat Hong Tianbao and those two scoundrels to death!" His teeth were clenched, his lips pressed tightly together, as if he might vomit if he didn't.
Hong Tianbao cried out that he was innocent, but Marolin's men had already pinned Hong Tianbao and the other two to the ground and were wielding sword hilts and clubs, striking them with deadly force. In less than a dozen blows, these three pampered men were beaten until their eyes rolled back and they were on the verge of fainting, their cries barely audible.
At this moment, Marolin's men came to report: "Sir, we didn't find anyone in Red Maple Village, and nothing we found was of any use."
Marolin narrowed his eyes. It was normal that they couldn't find anyone, but Hong Xuetian was right here. How could they not find anything? What about the family heirloom? The village chief immediately replied, "Sir, the family heirloom in the village is kept very secret. Please come to the village with me. If you don't go to retrieve it yourself, I dare not take it out and cause trouble."
The village chief spoke politely, but Marolin, quite curious about the treasure, naturally followed. They returned to Red Maple Mountain Village, and led by the village chief, they wound their way through the back mountains. Given the notoriously difficult mountain paths, where one could easily lose their way without a guide, it was understandable that his men hadn't found anything. After rounding another bend in the mountain, the village chief led Marolin to a cave: "Sir, the treasure is inside."
"lead the way."
The village chief respectfully led the way. When they reached the deepest part of the mountain, Marolin paused slightly. The village chief said, "Sir, this is the treasure that has been passed down through generations of Red Maple Mountain. According to the age of the ancestors, it should be more than a hundred years old."
Looking at the few ginseng plants growing at the bottom of the cave, a flash of anger crossed Marolin's mind. "Damn it," he thought, "it's just a few ginseng plants, yet they've made such a fuss. Does he think he's never eaten ginseng before? These worthless things, and he's making me expect chests of jewels?" Marolin stared at the village chief, his eyes filled with barely concealed rage. The village chief, seeing this, immediately trembled with fear: "M-Sir...what's wrong? This humble villager is willing to offer you the village's heirloom treasure passed down through generations."
Marolin's angry expression softened slightly. He frowned, thinking that the villagers of Red Maple Mountain all lived in the mountains, and judging from their clothes and appearance, they were extremely poor. The smallest ginseng was a hundred years old, and it could sell for at least one or two hundred taels of silver. He examined the ginseng on the ground more closely. There were several particularly large ones, but they were definitely not young. He knew that he had one five hundred-year-old ginseng in his mansion. Moreover, there were two particularly large ginsengs, almost twice the size of five hundred-year-old ginsengs, which were at least over a thousand years old. These ginsengs were priceless and could be considered family heirlooms for the villagers of Red Maple Mountain. They were worth at least several thousand taels of silver, enough for the entire village to live on for the rest of their lives.
Looking at the village chief who was trembling with fear, Marolin smiled and said, "I never expected that bastard Hong Tianbao would persecute your village to this extent for such a treasure. It's truly despicable. I'm furious just thinking about it. I'm sure you've been frightened."
The village chief immediately shook his head and said, "No, we are deeply grateful that you, sir, have been able to seek justice for us. We would never dare to blame you."
Marolin replied, “However, since you have presented me with this ginseng, I am not fortunate enough to enjoy such a treasure. I will naturally send someone to deliver it to the capital. Since you Red Maple Mountain are so loyal to me, I will certainly not treat you unfairly. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come directly to me for help. However, since Hong Tianbao is so keenly investigating Red Maple Mountain, there may be some secrets in the mountain that even you yourselves do not know. Since I am investigating, I will investigate thoroughly to put my mind at ease.”
The village chief immediately nodded gratefully: "Sir, you are very thoughtful. Why don't you search the mountain? The villagers are afraid of Hong Dabao. We common people rely on the heavens for our livelihood. We dare not hide any treasures that are not ours. That would be a disaster for us, not a blessing."
Ma Luolin nodded slightly, thinking to himself that the village chief was quite sensible; even if he hadn't spoken, he would have found a reason to search the mountain. If the village could hide ginseng of such advanced age as a thousand or five hundred years, how could it not have other treasures? He immediately sent men to thoroughly search Red Maple Mountain Village, but the villagers were so poor that their homes were practically bare. Even if they wanted to dig a hole to find a mechanism, they wouldn't find it. Seeing this, Ma Luolin ordered his men to search the mountains behind the village for two days and two nights. In the end, the most valuable things in Red Maple Mountain Village were the two thousand-year-old, three five-hundred-year-old, and ten one-hundred-year-old ginsengs in the cave. Although Ma Luolin wasn't entirely satisfied, it was better than nothing. He then sent men to investigate the cave and discovered that the soil there was strange; it was probably naturally formed, allowing the ginseng to grow. Once uprooted, it would be impossible for ginseng to grow again. Looking at the dilapidated, trembling village on the verge of collapse, Ma Luolin sneered inwardly, vowing never to return to this godforsaken place. However, not satisfied with the strange treasure he had obtained, he vented his anger on Hong Tianbao, and ordered his men to beat Hong Tianbao and his two companions severely, leaving them with torn flesh and on the verge of death, before he finally vented some of his anger.
On the way back, Marolin frowned and said to his attendant, "Send two thousand-year-old ginsengs directly to the capital. I heard that the Imperial Concubine has been unwell recently, and it is time for the younger generation to show their filial piety. Send the other one to the Fu Sun family to show filial piety to the old master."
"Understood."
Maro Lin, who had risen to the position of Prefect of Liuzhou, was no mere military brute. His men immediately understood, packed the ginseng into an exquisite brocade box, and hurried towards the capital. Maro Lin's lips curled slightly. Although his original intention was to apprehend those who had committed evil deeds in his hunting grounds, gaining these precious ginsengs for free wasn't bad. Even disregarding thousand-year-old ginseng, three five-hundred-year-old ginsengs and ten one-hundred-year-old ginsengs together would fetch a considerable price. He felt his trip was worthwhile. The Fifth Prince had sent word recently; it seemed he needed to make some connections…
Hong Tianbao, who was lying on the ground like a dead dog after being beaten, was so angry and furious when he learned that the so-called treasure in Hongfeng Mountain Village was just ginseng that he vomited blood several times. If he had known that the so-called treasure of Hongfeng Mountain was ginseng, why would he have fought with them for so many years? When he was rescued and brought to the village, he saw Dashan, who was still a child at the time, holding a red agate bead. The bead was very clear and pure, and it was obviously not of inferior quality. He also heard from the drunken villagers during a drinking contest that Hongfeng Mountain was hiding a family heirloom passed down from their ancestors.
He thought: if a child can produce such fine red agate beads, then the family heirloom must be even more extraordinary. That's why he had such wicked thoughts. Although the ginseng was quite valuable, he didn't run a pharmacy; having one at home for emergencies was enough. He had wasted so many years on a few broken ginseng roots, and in the end, he was even demoted and sent to the capital for investigation by Marolin. The more he thought about it, the more nauseous he became, and the more he vomited blood, the more violently he vomited. Eventually, when he woke up, he was coughing up blood, and his body was so weak that he seemed like he could be blown away by a gust of wind.
However, it was impossible for Hong Tianbao to die so easily. Ten villages around Hongfeng Mountain and Shanbian County jointly listed more than ten crimes against him, including murder, oppressing good people and committing evil deeds during his tenure, and embezzlement. These crimes were sent to Beijing for further investigation as major cases of serious crimes committed by officials in recent years.
Hong Dabao was terrified beyond measure, but he still had a sliver of hope: his prized daughter might still be able to save him. Yes, his son-in-law was the General of the Garrison, currently favored by the Emperor, and would surely have a way to save him.
In the Red Maple Mountains, Ouyang Yue, Leng Jue, and the others had just returned from Shanbian County. Upon their return, they were immediately surrounded by the villagers, who were chattering away. The village elder, tears streaming down his face, trembled as he took a stack of papers from his robes and handed them to Ouyang Yue: "Miss Ouyang, from this moment on, all the villagers of Red Maple Mountain are willing to obey your every command." This stack of papers was a master-servant contract among the villagers of Red Maple Mountain. The people here would be Ouyang Yue's servants for generations. Unless they received Ouyang Yue's favor and regained their status as good citizens, their lives would be in Ouyang Yue's hands for generations.
Ouyang Yue picked up the indenture and put it away. Then, she clapped her hands, and more than ten men and women walked out from behind her. They were all shrewd and capable, with respectable appearances. Ouyang Yue smiled and said, "From now on, you are my family. I will keep my word. From today onwards, Red Maple Mountain will undergo a great transformation. Whether you are a child or an adult, as long as you are willing, I can teach you a skill and knowledge. These people are all sent by me to help you. Red Maple Mountain will be built to be more suitable for our comfortable living. In the near future, we will also live a prosperous and stable life. However, the future scenery will be beautiful, but let's be clear about the unpleasant things upfront. I am always generous to my own people, but if anyone has other intentions, I am not a soft-hearted person. These people are not only here to help you, but also a nightmare for those with impure intentions. You should think carefully."
"We have thought it through. We will definitely obey Miss's orders and will never have any disloyal intentions."
"We want to live a good life, so we will definitely do as Miss orders."
The villagers of Hongfeng Mountain showed none of the resistance one might expect, for they were accustomed to the most impoverished lives. Now, their only hope was something they clung to with relentless effort. Ouyang Yue smiled slightly. If it were another village, no matter how much effort she put in, it would all be in vain. This was, in a way, a stroke of luck for her.