Chapter 242: Better to Live Badly than to Die Well

Bandits are everywhere now, and powerful families naturally have stronger guards.

"Yes, some have left," Ding Zuodong said. "However, the Li family and the Shu family are doing the opposite; they're buying up properties aggressively. They are the most important indicators. If they don't leave, most people won't either."

"Seeing our actions, they're also considering taking a gamble."

"The assets of these two families are spread throughout Xia State, especially concentrated in Dunyu. They cannot easily move their base, or it would severely damage their operations."

He Lingchuan sneered, "What gamblers. When summer dries up a swamp, the biggest alligators are the ones that die at the bottom."

Ding Zuodong asked cautiously, "But they bet correctly, didn't they?"

"This time, yes." He Lingchuan patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, good news from the front lines is coming. Those who have faith in the He family and in Dunyu deserve to be rewarded."

Ding Zuodong secretly sighed in relief, yet felt the young master's words were profound.

"Alright, calculate how much money I have left."

Hearing this, Ding Zuodong quickly gave He Lingchuan a detailed account, leaving nothing out.

Over the past six days, he had been tirelessly acquiring numerous high-quality assets for He Lingchuan. He had long known what was good, what was bad, and what was toxic. Previously, he struggled with poverty, but now, being able to operate with someone else's money, he was ruthless in bargaining and showed no mercy when buying properties. It had been a long time since he felt so invigorated.

In just a few days, over eighty thousand of He Lingchuan's one hundred thousand taels of silver had been spent, with over ten thousand taels spent today, leaving only a little over ten thousand taels in the account. Ding Zuodong was still eager, wishing he could continue spending for him.

"Once the situation in Dunyu stabilizes and people regain confidence, just selling these properties alone, you could earn at least double your investment."

He Lingchuan shook his head. "Two times is too little." The value of a single purple-gold pestle could be worth more than the livelihoods of countless ordinary people.

"These are businesses that offer a steady stream of income," Ding Zuodong chuckled. "The regular rental income is truly endless." Assets that generate an endless cash flow are truly good assets.

He Lingchuan took out a slip of paper. "Since I have a pharmacy now, go and collect these medicinal herbs for me and give them to Apothecary Lingguang." Now he could buy medicines at cost price. Speaking of which, his original intention for wanting to make money was simply because the Yin-Yang Powder was too expensive, and he feared running out of funds. How did it end up becoming such a large venture? Alas, he was really asking for trouble.

Seeing the two about to leave, he called out to Shan Youjun: "Oh, Jiao Tai will be released this evening. You can go pick him up." He then tossed over a token and a silver ingot. "He's been in jail for so many days, his injuries won't have improved much. Use this token to go to Huixiang Hall for treatment and medicine, put it on my tab; and give this silver to Jiao Tai, consider it a small token of my regard."

Shan Youjun was overjoyed, his legs nearly giving way again.

He Lingchuan, quick-eyed and quick-handed, grabbed him. "Don't kneel, scram!" This young man cared about Jiao Tai, showing loyalty and integrity; and despite caring deeply, he had endured for six days without asking, which showed some shrewdness. The person Sun Hongye recruited wasn't bad.

That night, before going to bed, He Lingchuan patted Broken Blade: "Remember, arrange another fight for me with Meng Shan tonight."

Sure enough, when he entered the Coiling Dragon Dream, he straightforwardly appeared in the Martial Arts Hall. He had been sparring with Meng Shan these past few days, which implicitly proved that Broken Blade could indeed understand him. He walked to the edge of the Martial Arts Hall's north courtyard and vigorously slapped the fence: "Meng Shan, come out!"

Seeing him, Meng Shan was already a bit impatient: "Are you here to spar, or to get beaten up?" He'd beaten this kid senseless every time. Anyone else would have died four times over. How could this He fellow still be so full of life the next day, challenging him to a duel? Were the crisp sounds of bone cracks and fractures he'd heard all fake?

He Lingchuan's taunt consisted of only three words, but it worked every time: "Scared?"

Steam almost came out of Meng Shan's nostrils. He strode through the building to the south courtyard. As soon as he appeared, the spectators in both the north and south courtyards knew there was a show to watch and immediately gathered, some whistling, others cheering for He Lingchuan.

To lose repeatedly was tragic; but to keep fighting despite repeated losses also earned people's admiration. Especially since Broken Blade's opponent was Meng Shan, a man like a savage bear. Even the Da Feng army warriors in the north courtyard were unwilling to fight him.

Skinny appeared from somewhere, full of energy: "Bets are open, bets are open! Let's bet on how long Broken Blade can last today!" In the past few days, although He Lingchuan had never won, the duration he lasted each day had been extending. Skinny had capitalized on this, making a considerable amount of money.

He Lingchuan also joined in, tossing him a silver ingot: "Skinny, bet on me lasting more than a quarter-hour!" He was the one getting beaten, he was the one suffering, so why shouldn't he get a share of the money?

"Alright!"

"Then I'll bet he won't last!" Meng Shan said with a grim face, cracking his knuckles. "Tell me, how do you want to die today?"

He Lingchuan waved his hand. "No rush, first, a question for you."

"Go on." In front of such a resilient human punching bag, Meng Shan's temper was unusually good.

"Have you ever sparred with General Hong?"

"Of course." Otherwise, how could he be convinced and willingly surrender?

"Did he defeat you very easily?"

Meng Shan rolled his eyes and held up three fingers: "Just five moves." He spoke with great pride: "Those guys in the North Courtyard, some couldn't even last two moves."

Two Da Feng army warriors, indignant, leaned over the fence and yelled at him: "That's only because you're fat!" Heavy tonnage is also an asset.

He Lingchuan took a long, deep breath. The path has no end—this saying truly wasn't just for show. The road ahead was long.

That night was clear, without wind or snow. The heavens were kind; the Zhan family's convoy moved smoothly south, traveling nearly forty *li* through the night, finally arriving at Bu County. Accompanying this convoy were nearly twenty thousand civilians, merchants, and minor nobles.

Bu County's own resident population was only seventeen thousand, certainly not enough to accommodate these uninvited guests. Moreover, it wasn't yet dawn, and the curfew hadn't ended, so no one could enter. The Zhan family negotiated for a long time at the city gate, but the stern gatekeeper simply refused entry. Therefore, everyone had to set up tents in the open space outside the county town to rest. Those wanting to warm themselves, if they arrived even a little late, would find all the firewood in the small woods had been picked clean by others. Fleeing like this, don't expect a warm welcome from others, and don't expect to drink hot water on the road.

For the Zhan family's prominent figures and many nobles, they had never been so down and out in their lives. But thinking that Dunyu City, from which they had fled, was about to be engulfed by war, they still felt immensely fortunate deep down. Better to live a wretched life than to die well. Fortunately, it was already early spring. Although mornings and evenings were still chilly and the ice and snow hadn't fully melted, it was ultimately not as harsh as the depths of winter two months prior. Everyone had walked forty *li*, exhausted beyond belief; they could fall asleep even lying on ice and snow.

As a result, before dawn, two swift horses arrived from the north, their riders shouting at the city gate: "Urgent order from the prefectural government, open the gates!" After three such shouts, the guards verified the order and opened the gates. The commotion spread far and wide, and the Dunyu people sleeping in tents also heard it. Some were still drowsy, while others were already whispering amongst themselves: News from Dunyu, and an urgent message at that. What could the news be? Has the Xunzhou army advanced south in full force? This kind of discussion quickly reached the ears of the Zhan family members.

Another hour passed, the rooster crowed at dawn, and the city gates opened. Zhan Song, the head of the Zhan family, immediately led his family members into the city to find an inn to settle and rest. After sleeping half the night outdoors, their bodies ached all over. Of course, the Zhan family also remembered to send people out to inquire.

However, just as Zhan Song and the others finished washing up and sat down to eat their first basket of steamed buns, a young servant rushed back, shouting: "Victory! Victory!"

"What victory!" Before Zhan Song could speak, a family member reprimanded, "Shouting and yelling, where are your manners?"

Zhan Song was anxious and didn't care for formalities: "Speak quickly!"

"Notices are posted all over Bu County, and special personnel are announcing it: the new Governor sent troops to engage the Xunzhou army and achieved consecutive great victories in Xinhuang, Hetao, and Lu'an, defeating over nine thousand enemy soldiers with just sixteen hundred of our own, and even beheading two enemy generals!"

The steamed bun Zhan Song was holding dropped onto the table. "The announcement... it says that?"

The Zhan family members were in an uproar, each saying, "I don't believe it!" "How is that possible!" "The prefectural government is fabricating lies to pacify the people; this absolutely cannot be believed!"

Zhan Song's mind was in turmoil, and he felt the incessant buzzing of the crowd. He couldn't help but bang on the table: "Silence!"

With a bang, silence fell.

His wife tentatively asked him, "My lord, what do you think?"

Zhan Song composed himself. "Send a swift horse back to inquire. We will all stay in Bu County today." There was no better alternative at the moment, and his family members had no grounds to object, so they continued to whisper amongst themselves.

Everyone else left, but Zhan Song sat in the room for a while longer, growing increasingly frustrated, so he went out for a walk. The smiling faces of the guests coming and going seemed irritatingly out of place. Finally, he entered a teahouse, where every table was discussing the victory. As soon as he found an empty table and sat down, the waiter brought a pot of hot tea and a plate of dried fruit.

"I didn't order this."

"The owner's treat, one serving per table." The waiter grinned. "Today's great victory in the north is exhilarating; we're so happy!"

"It's not the first time we've won a battle, why such a fuss?"

"But it was two thousand against nine thousand, and we still won!" The waiter slung a towel over his shoulder. "The new Governor truly has some skill."

"A good start is nice, but I hope he can hold up later too."

"Indeed," the waiter said, dropping his smile with a sigh. "I wonder if the new Governor can contend with that bunch of wealthy scoundrels in Dunyu City! Today, a large group of people arrived outside the county, saying they fled from Dunyu. I don't know what's going on. Do you still run even after winning?"

Zhan Song's smile turned bitter.

At this moment, firecrackers began popping on the street outside, celebrating. One string of firecrackers here, another there; the whole city was festive as if celebrating a holiday. The Dunyu people, who looked to the Zhan family as their leader, were equally uneasy. Notices were also posted outside the city gate, almost as if specifically for them to see.