Chapter 128: Carry Me

Pear Blossom first accompanied the Wuyin army to Qingmei Village (Qingmeizhuang). After arranging matters for the following day, she turned around and returned to the city, heading back to the yamen.

By then, night had fallen. The courtyard was quiet, and Dong Yun had not yet returned. The neighboring residence of Master Xia was also eerily silent.

She walked toward the front hall, noticing that the lights were still on in several rooms. It was clear that the people inside were still busy.

Her stomach rumbled, and after a moment of thought, she turned and headed toward the public kitchen.

At this hour, some of the yamen guards had come in for their meal. Seeing her, they all greeted her, and she kindly responded to each of them.

The cook was busy preparing the meals.

Pear Blossom noticed and asked, “Is this for the officers to be delivered?”

The cook replied, “Yes, it’s so late, and the officers haven’t eaten yet. They just asked for their food to be sent to their rooms.”

Pear Blossom quickly asked for her portion to be served, then hurriedly said, “You all go ahead and pack the food. I’ll help deliver it later.”

The cook, pleased, smiled and said, “Then we’ll trouble you, Commander Pear Blossom.”

After she finished eating, the cook had also prepared the meals.

She took the food box in one hand and the large pot of soup in the other, walking steadily without spilling a drop, leaving the cooks staring in awe.

“Commander Pear Blossom’s arms must be incredibly strong to carry all that and still walk so steadily.”

“No wonder she was able to kill several bandits with one stroke and face the Ghosts with ease!” someone whispered, their eyes filled with admiration.

“Truly impressive. Let’s go, we’d better catch up quickly, or the food will get cold.”

When they arrived at the side rooms, several chambers were still brightly lit.

The cook distributed meal boxes one by one. However, when she reached the council hall, the guards at the entrance stopped her and took the food inside themselves.

Pear Blossom noticed that a room next door was still occupied. Curious, she walked over and saw that Zeng Guangjin and a few clerks were still buried in their work.

They were mainly organizing records of people who had either died or fled due to bandit attacks, as well as registering abandoned land. These records would help facilitate the resettlement of refugees.

At the same time, they were also using this opportunity to survey undocumented land, which could then be redistributed to landless or impoverished farmers.

Pear Blossom looked at the towering piles of bamboo slips and asked, “Why are you still using bamboo slips for record-keeping? Are we out of paper?”

Zeng Guangjin paused his writing and explained, “The paper used in Yinzhou is transported from Tuobei, but due to the recent migration of displaced people, no one is willing to deliver supplies here anymore. The price of paper has skyrocketed, and even we can’t afford it. For now, we have to make do with bamboo slips.”

Pear Blossom frowned. “Doesn’t anyone in our region produce paper?”

Zeng Guangjin shook his head. “Papermaking is difficult, and producing high-quality paper is even harder. The industry has long been monopolized by a few powerful families, and they would never share their techniques. Even if outsiders manage to grasp some basic methods, the paper they produce is of poor quality—it smudges easily, breaks apart, and is not suitable for preservation. Bamboo slips are still the better option.”

Pear Blossom fell silent upon hearing this.

She then turned and made her way to the council hall.

Inside, the officials who had been discussing matters were now having their meals. Meanwhile, Dong Yun was speaking with Xia Xunyan.

“Our Yinzhou holds a unique strategic position,” Dong Yun said, lightly stirring the food in her bowl with her chopsticks. “If war breaks out, we’ll be like an isolated island—vulnerable and a prime target for annexation.”

Xia Xunyan swallowed a mouthful of soup and replied, “I agree with you. However, if we want to resist the northern forces, we must align ourselves with the powerful families of Tuodong. Only by forming a united front can we secure our position. If you believe we can simply abandon the aristocratic families, given the current situation, that would be completely unrealistic.”

“The Four Great Families of Tuodong hold immense power, controlling everything from behind the scenes. They rely on centuries of foundation and influence—ordinary people have no chance of shaking them.”

Dong Yun was well aware of this, but her furrowed brows revealed her concern. “Forming an alliance with them will undoubtedly strengthen us, but if we’re not careful, we’ll become their puppets. If we cooperate, we must establish a system of checks and balances.”

Xia Xunyan nodded in deep thought. Clearly, how to maintain this balance was a significant challenge.

Dong Yun sighed. “When my father was alive, he did everything in his power to curb the influence of these aristocratic families. He promoted the imperial examination system, hoping to recruit talent from other social classes and counter the power of the elites. But ever since Yuwen Jing took the throne, he has repeatedly compromised with the noble families to secure their support and stabilize his rule. As a result, the space for commoners to advance has been shrinking. The once well-established examination system is now in ruins. Most court officials today are from aristocratic families. Generations of effort are about to be undone—it’s truly disheartening.”

Xia Xunyan shook her head. “There’s no way around it. If we don’t even have a foothold, how can we resist? In my opinion, we must first compromise and follow the established path. Once we’ve secured our position, then we can slowly work towards change.”

Dong Yun lowered her eyes and silently picked at her food, still lost in thought.

Pear Blossom saw the worry on her face and felt a pang of heartache. She blamed her own lack of knowledge, unable to offer any help, so she simply sat behind Dong Yun in silent support.

As if sensing her presence, Dong Yun turned her head. Seeing Pear Blossom sitting behind her, she momentarily forgot what she had been about to say. She reached out with her free hand and pulled Pear Blossom closer.

Pear Blossom obediently moved beside her and sat down.

“When did you get back?”

“Not long ago,” Pear Blossom answered sweetly. “I ate at the public kitchen before coming here.”

Dong Yun briefly touched Pear Blossom’s palm, then quickly let go—it was hot.

Pear Blossom picked up a palm-leaf fan and began fanning the two of them.

Xia Xunyan, sitting nearby, noticed the gesture. Her eyes flickered slightly, but she quickly looked away, maintaining an expression of indifference as she continued eating at a steady pace, as if none of this concerned her.

Once they had finished their meal, the guards came in to collect the dishes.

Dong Yun rinsed her mouth with the tea that Cui’er handed her and turned to Pear Blossom. “You’ve been running around all day—you must be exhausted. Go rest first. I’ll return to our quarters later.”

Pear Blossom shook her head. “I’m not tired. I’ll stay with you.”

Seeing that she couldn’t persuade her otherwise, Dong Yun relented.

Soon, she and Xia Xunyan were back at the large military map, starting another round of discussions.

Pear Blossom dismissed the guards and personally held a candle to provide them with light.

“Zhang Xiaoshi is in Linyang, right between Tuodong and our Yinzhou. If we can first consolidate our connection with his forces and then expand eastward, we’ll have a stronger foundation.”

Xia Xunyan nodded in agreement and added, “From what I know, the Four Great Families of Tuodong initially had high hopes for Zhang Xiaoshi. They even considered supporting him as the de facto ruler of Tuodong.”

Dong Yun nodded. “Zhang Xiaoshi was able to defeat the governor of Linyang and drive the Tuobei army across the river, proving he has some military capability. It’s no wonder the Four Great Families were optimistic about him. However, just because someone can fight doesn’t mean they can govern. They looked down on his humble origins, lack of education, and limited vision. After interacting with him a few times, they lost interest.”

Xia Xunyan smiled slightly. “That works to our advantage—we can take his place.”

Dong Yun hesitated but ultimately had no better alternative.

Thus, they discussed the details further and finally solidified their next course of action:

They would take Jinyang County as their base and gradually expand outward to incorporate all of Yinzhou. They would then push eastward to absorb Zhang Xiaoshi’s forces and, finally, form a new power bloc by uniting with Tuodong.

With this, they now had enough power to compete with the forces of the Eldest Princess in the west and Yuwen Jing in the north.

As for the specific steps to take, the first priority was to expand their own strength and establish a solid foundation in Jinyang.

By the time everything was discussed, the night had grown late.

The others gradually dispersed, and Xinghua came to escort Xia Xunyan back to rest. Soon, only Dong Yun, Pear Blossom, and the guards outside remained in the council hall.

Pear Blossom massaged her shoulders and said, “Alright, let’s go to sleep too.”

Dong Yun let Pear Blossom take her hand and lead her out of the council hall, heading toward the rear garden.

As they passed by the pond, the croaking of frogs echoed in the stillness of the night, adding to the tranquil and comforting atmosphere of the summer evening.

Dong Yun, however, suddenly stopped in her tracks and said to Pear Blossom, “Carry me.”

At this moment, all traces of the mature and composed strategist from the daytime were gone—she was now just a willful young lady acting spoiled.

Pear Blossom chuckled at her rare display of childishness and knelt slightly to let her climb on.

Dong Yun immediately leaned onto Pear Blossom’s back, letting her whole body relax and rest against her.

Pear Blossom supported her legs and carried her toward the rear courtyard. Dong Yun’s legs dangled in the air, swinging gently with each step.

The rhythmic motion lulled Dong Yun into drowsiness, and by the time they reached the room, she was nearly asleep.

However, the summer heat and the sweat from the day made her feel sticky and uncomfortable, yet she was too lazy to move.

Seeing her struggling with exhaustion, Pear Blossom laughed and said, “Just sleep, I’ll wipe you down.”

Back when Dong Yun was bitten by a venomous snake near the Daliushu and returned crawling with injuries, Pear Blossom had taken care of her, bathing and wiping her down every day. This was nothing new.

Truly exhausted, Dong Yun didn’t protest and immediately fell asleep.

Pear Blossom fetched a basin of warm water, carefully undressed her, and wiped her down from head to toe before dressing her in clean clothes.

Once finished, she also took a quick wash, then lay down beside Dong Yun, holding her hand. The moment she closed her eyes, she drifted into sleep.

---

New Governance and Reforms in Jincheng

After Murong Jiutian took office as the new city lord, the administrative team, led by the chief officer, swiftly implemented a series of new policies. Notices were posted all over Jincheng’s four gates and government offices.

In the villages, the village elders sounded their drums repeatedly to gather the people.

In the past, every government decree meant either an increase in taxes, forced labor recruitment, or warnings about bandits and refugees. Villagers had come to dread the sound of the gong, as it always heralded bad news.

But recently, the people had begun eagerly anticipating the sound of the gong.

When Zhang Sanye personally beat the gong to summon the village for a meeting, everyone dropped what they were doing and rushed to the village square.

“Zhang Sanye, what’s the good news this time?” someone called out eagerly.

Zhang Sanye beamed and said, “All good news! I’ll announce everything once everyone arrives.”

Soon, the square was packed with people. As the crowd urged him on, Zhang Sanye cleared his throat and declared:

“The new city lord has taken office. Understanding the hardships we’ve suffered from the bandits this year, he has decided—this year’s land tax will be completely waived!”

“What? The land tax is waived this year? Did I hear that right?” someone shouted in astonishment.

“Lord Murong is truly a great man!”

Zhang Sanye continued, “Not only that, from now on, we will only pay land tax once a year instead of twice. And the tax rate will be reduced from one-fourth of our harvest to one-fifteenth. Most importantly, officials and gentry must also pay taxes—no exceptions!”

At these words, the crowd erupted.

“Zhang Sanye, are you sure you’re not mistaken? One-fifteenth? That’s unheard of since the founding of this dynasty!” someone asked in disbelief.

“Exactly! We used to pay seventy to eighty jin of grain per mu, twice a year. How could it suddenly be reduced so much?”

“You mean even officials have to pay taxes? Is that true? Does that mean Master Liu won’t be able to evade taxes by registering his land under his in-laws anymore?” someone asked excitedly.

“Serves him right! I’ve always said it’s unfair—why should the rich pay nothing while we poor folks get squeezed dry?”

“Well, even with lower taxes, it’s just a minor inconvenience for the wealthy.”

“Zhang Sanye, are you absolutely sure?” someone still doubted.

Zhang Sanye chuckled, “I may be old, but my eyes aren’t blind. It’s written in black and white. My son, Changmao, works at the yamen, and this is official! The notice was even written by the second son of the Zeng family.”

“Really?”

“Oh my, Lord Murong is truly a benevolent leader!”

“Heaven has finally shown mercy!”

“Wait, we haven’t finished reading the first notice,” Zhang Sanye raised his voice. “Not only is land tax being reduced, but also, the poll tax is abolished! That means families won’t have to pay tax just for having children. You can have as many kids as you want without worrying about extra burdens!”

These words were like thunder in springtime—the crowd exploded with excitement.

“What? This—this is—” Some were so overwhelmed they could barely speak.

Everyone was ecstatic.

People danced and shouted the news to each other, creating a joyous commotion.

Zhang Sanye waved his hand for silence.

“There are still two more important announcements! One concerns a work-for-relief program. We all know that the bandit raids have devastated our villages. But here’s the good news—massive construction and farmland restoration projects are starting in the city, and they need a lot of workers. Anyone struggling to feed their family can go to the recruitment office at the city gates. The pay is ten wen per day, plus breakfast and lunch.”

He paused for a moment before picking up another notice. “This second notice is about talent recruitment. The government offices are short-staffed in all departments, especially in need of literate individuals. If any of you can read, don’t hesitate—go sign up at the government office!”

Compared to the previous notice, this one was clearly much less appealing.

Someone commented, “This work-for-relief policy is a good idea… but our village hasn’t been hit by disasters, so it doesn’t really apply to us. On the other hand, He Village could really use this opportunity. As long as you have the strength to work, you can earn a meal and won’t starve.”

“Ah, too bad I can’t read,” another person sighed. “Otherwise, I’d try my luck at the government office too.”

“It’s not for us, but didn’t our village hire a teacher? Let’s make sure our kids study well—maybe one day they’ll be able to secure such jobs.”

“Third Master, isn’t there one more notice? Read it out for us.”

Only then did Zhang Sanye pick up the last notice and say, “This one concerns refugees. The government is asking all landless and homeless people to register at the East Gate before the end of the month to be assigned farmland and settle down. If any of you encounter vagrants, encourage them to go to the city for registration—”

An elderly villager sighed upon hearing this. “It seems Jinyang has finally achieved stability.”

“Indeed. The bandits have been eradicated, refugees can settle down, and taxes have been reduced. Life is good now—who would want to cause trouble?”

“It’s all thanks to City Lord Murong’s decisive leadership!”

Mrs. Xiong, holding Fubao, listened from the side and couldn’t help but whisper to Promegranate, “At the end of the day, isn’t this all due to the princess’s influence? Without her support for Lord Murong behind the scenes, would we be enjoying these peaceful days?”

Promegranate knew that the current assistant officer was the princess, but this wasn’t something they could openly discuss. The two could only murmur in hushed voices.

…

Pear Blossom led the Wuyin Army on patrol around Jinyang City and its surroundings for over ten days, effectively eliminating the remaining bandits in the county. Afterward, her forces were assigned to assist in resettling the refugees. When not patrolling, their time was spent training the troops.

Now that Murong Jiutian had become the esteemed city lord, he no longer managed the affairs of Longwei Dart Bureau, leaving it to his trusted escorts.

As for Jincheng’s governance, people like Dong Yun handled administrative matters, leaving Murong to serve primarily as a figurehead. With more free time, he spent most of it at Qingmei Manor, helping train the Wuyin Army that Pear Blossom had recruited.

In just one month, the Wuyin Army had expanded to a thousand soldiers.

With standardized uniforms, the people could easily recognize the Jincheng garrison by their distinctive black-and-orange attire. They knew these were Pear Blossom’s men, personally trained by the city lord himself.

On the eighth day of the seventh month, a torrential downpour hit.

A small squad of the Wuyin Army was patrolling the eastern border near the neighboring county when they were caught in the sudden rain, leaving them drenched.

The army had strict orders: unless absolutely necessary, they were not to take shelter in civilian homes.

As rain poured heavily, the villagers watched the soaked soldiers with sympathy, calling out from their doorways, urging them to come inside and take refuge.

A new recruit hesitated and turned toward the village, but the female squad leader shouted, “Shi Dazhu, if you enter a civilian’s home, take off that uniform immediately! From now on, you will have nothing to do with the Wuyin Army!”

Terrified, the young soldier shivered and quickly ran to catch up with his unit without looking back.

Inside one of the houses, an elderly woman wiped her tears. “Ah, Dazhu is my grandson. It wouldn’t hurt for him to come in and dry off in this heavy rain. Why do they have to be so strict?”

A younger woman beside her comforted her. “Mother, the army has its own rules. Since Dazhu joined the Wuyin Army, he has to obey them. It’s fine for us, but in other villages, if soldiers kept entering homes, people might get frightened.”

The elderly woman sighed. “I understand… It’s just that I haven’t seen my dear grandson for days. If he could just step in for a moment, I could at least talk to him for a while.”

“Mother, don’t worry. The army grants leave every few months. When Dazhu returns, you’ll have plenty of time to talk to him,” the younger woman reassured her.

“Alright, I know.”

Their conversation was overheard by a group of travelers who had taken shelter in the courtyard.

The leader of the group was a young woman in her early twenties, with slender, willow-like brows and slightly upturned eyes that held a hint of allure.

She smiled and stepped forward to ask, “Elder, you mentioned the Wuyin Army earlier. What kind of military force are they? Why do the people seem to respect them so much?”

The old woman glanced at her, then at her grandson’s retreating figure. Despite her earlier complaints, her eyes gleamed with pride. “The Wuyin Army was originally a private militia formed by a young girl named Pear Blossom from our county. At first, they protected the village from bandit attacks. Later, when the bandits were wiped out, their forces were incorporated into Jinyang’s official garrison to maintain order and safeguard the people.”

The young woman grew even more curious. “This Pear Blossom—what kind of person is she, to have earned the city lord’s favor?”

The old woman’s face lit up as she eagerly shared, “You have no idea—Pear Blossom may be young, but she is remarkable. She was originally the city lord’s disciple, highly skilled in martial arts, and fiercely brave. She personally killed several notorious bandit leaders from Eagle’s Nest Ridge, protecting multiple villages. Later, when a ruthless bandit chief called Ghost Dread led an attack on Jincheng, she took two hundred soldiers to defend the city and killed him, saving us all.”

The young woman’s eyes sparkled with deep interest. “From what you say, this Pear Blossom is truly an extraordinary woman.”

The old woman nodded in agreement. “Of course! In the past, whenever the common folk heard that government soldiers were coming, they would hide in fear. But now, whenever the Wuyin Army patrols the villages, people rush out to greet them.”

“The woman I just saw leading the group had an extraordinary presence. Could she be the Pear Blossom Commander you mentioned?”

The elderly woman shook her head. “No, the Pear Blossom Commander is younger than the one you just saw, a bit taller, and carries a large saber on her back. She stands straight, her eyes are bright, yet her face has the honest look of a good-hearted child.”

The young woman seemed to have never heard such a description before and smiled. “Such a person—if I get the chance, I must meet her.”

The summer rain came fast and fierce, but it also passed quickly. After exchanging a few words, the rain stopped. The group bid farewell to the household they had visited, got back into their carriage, and resumed their journey.

One of the maids asked, “Mistress, along the way, we’ve heard many stories about Miss Pear Blossom. It seems that the current peace in Jinyang County must be largely thanks to her efforts!”

Leaning against the carriage wall with interest, Li Lianxin said, “Once we enter the city, we should find an opportunity to pay a visit to this young commander.”