Chapter 69

Yueyang asked in pursuit, "Are you sure the bailiff who came is from the Prefect's office?"

The soldier replied, "Yes, young master, it's the same Lu Bantou who came to report last time!"

"It's him!"

Hearing this, Yueyang couldn't help but smile. This Lu Bantou was the bailiff who had given him a cold look when Yueyang first went to the Prefect's office. Yueyang still remembered how Lu Bantou's attitude had infuriated Shunbao and Hu Laosan. Later, when the bandits surrounded Yingzhou, Lu Bantou was sent to seek help, and Shunbao and Hu Laosan had loudly demanded to drive him away. In the end, it was Yueyang who overruled everyone and decisively decided to send troops, leading to a great victory outside Yingzhou.

Seeing that Yueyang didn't say anything, the soldier thought Yueyang didn't want to see him and asked, "Young master, should I drive him away?"

Yueyang shook his head and said indifferently, "No, hurry and bring him over. I want to see what's going on."

"Yes!" The soldier saluted Yueyang and ran off...

Lu Bantou followed a soldier, watching as squads of fully armored soldiers practiced formations and bayonet drills under the command of junior officers in the snow. Although it was still cold in February, the entire parade ground was filled with the sounds of battle cries. Many soldiers were shouting at the top of their lungs while exhaling white mist. Seeing these vigorous and spirited soldiers, Lu Bantou felt a mix of fear and unease. The news of Yueyang's recent large-scale recruitment had been widely discussed, and many people didn't understand how many people Yueyang had recruited.

As a local power, Lu Bantou naturally knew that Yueyang's militia had at least four to five thousand people. For a landlord and salt merchant who relied on the weather, this scale was already somewhat excessive. However, Lu Bantou didn't want to meddle in such matters. The Yueyang of today was no longer the bookish young master who could be looked at with disdain. Lu Bantou knew that if Yueyang wanted to deal with him, it would be no harder than squashing an ant. Moreover, he knew that Yueyang didn't like him, so he usually avoided Yueyang. But today, he had received orders from the Prefect to bring Yueyang to the office, so he had come to Wulizhai with a heavy heart.

Soon, the soldier led Lu Bantou to the viewing stand on the parade ground. Lu Bantou quickly saw the young man who was now the most prominent in Yingzhou, standing with his hands behind his back, looking at him calmly. Lu Bantou noticed that although the young man's appearance hadn't changed much, he, like all the soldiers, was fully armored and exuded a faint aura of authority. This authority was different from the refined and dignified presence of Prefect Zheng Fakui; it was tinged with a subtle sharpness and a sense of iron and blood.

Seeing this, Lu Bantou couldn't help but kneel on one knee and perform the deep bow that he only did when meeting the Prefect, shouting, "Lu Youguo, head of the Prefect's office, pays respects to Young Master Yue!"

Yueyang was taken aback by such a grand gesture but quickly stepped forward to help him up, smiling, "Lu Bantou, you're trying to kill me with kindness. How can a mere scholar like me deserve such a grand gesture? If others see this, they might report me to the educational commissioner for not knowing my place!"

Lu Bantou, accustomed to serving officials, was quick with flattery, "Young Master Yue, you're too serious. This bow isn't from me but on behalf of the people of Yingzhou. Last time, you saved tens of thousands of people in Yingzhou, a great deed indeed. Isn't it right for me to bow on their behalf?"

Yueyang shook his head with a bitter smile. Whether it was ancient officials or modern civil servants, they had a striking similarity in representing others. Was this a tradition?

Yueyang shook his head, unwilling to tangle with this oily official, and asked, "Lu Bantou, I heard you were sent by the Prefect to invite me to the office. What does the Prefect want?"

Lu Bantou smiled and said, "Young Master, I'm just a messenger. How could the Prefect tell me what he wants? Please don't make things difficult for me."

Yueyang saw that although Lu Bantou was smiling and acting humble, he didn't believe a word of it. People like Lu Bantou, though low in status in the Prefect's office, were often the most well-informed. Yueyang couldn't believe that he would know nothing.

Yueyang's face darkened, and he coldly laughed, "It seems Lu Bantou isn't planning to tell me the truth today. Do you know where you are? This is the parade ground, a place for training soldiers. If you try to deceive me, do you think I won't let you leave? Bring him!"

"Here!"

As Yueyang spoke, a thunderous roar echoed around him. It was the dozens of soldiers nearby shouting in unison, which startled Lu Bantou.

Lu Bantou looked at the dozens of soldiers holding long spears, their eyes filled with menace, as if they would tear him apart at Yueyang's command.

Terrified, he quickly knelt down and said in a tearful voice, "Young Master, spare me, I'll talk... I'll talk, okay?"

Seeing Lu Bantou kneeling and trembling, Yueyang couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile, but he still maintained a stern expression and shouted, "Speak quickly!"

"It's like this. This morning, two distinguished guests came to the Prefect's residence. I overheard them wanting to meet you, so the Prefect sent me to summon you... to invite you to the residence for a meeting."

"Distinguished guests?"

Yueyang muttered to himself. He thought for a moment. For a fourth-rank Prefect like Zheng Fakui to call someone a distinguished guest, their status must be high, at least not lower than Zheng Fakui. But why did they want to see him? Could they be up to no good?

Thinking about it, Yueyang shook his head. He hadn't done anything out of line recently, just recruited more soldiers. He had an official document from the Datong military commissioner, making his militia legal. He hadn't broken any rules!

After thinking for a while and still not understanding, Yueyang decided not to think about it anymore. He said to Lu Bantou, "Lu Bantou, you can get up. I won't make things difficult for you. Wait a moment, and I'll change clothes and go with you!"

"Thank you, Young Master!" Lu Bantou was overjoyed. Just as he was about to kneel and kowtow again, Yueyang stopped him.

Although he had been in the Ming Dynasty for half a year, Yueyang still wasn't used to the habit of kneeling all the time, "Alright, don't kowtow all the time. A man's knees shouldn't be so weak!"

Since the Prefect had invited him, and it was a distinguished guest specifically requesting his presence, Yueyang wanted to see who was so eager to meet him. He didn't delay, took off his armor, and set out for Yingzhou with Shunbao and dozens of guards.

An hour later, Yueyang arrived at the Prefect's office. Led by Lu Bantou, he didn't announce his arrival but was directly led into the inner quarters.

Following Lu Bantou inside, Yueyang was secretly amazed. It seemed that the distinguished guest Lu Bantou mentioned wasn't lying, as Zheng Fakui wouldn't let ordinary guests into the inner quarters where the women lived.

At the door of a study, Lu Bantou went in to announce and quickly invited Yueyang in, "Young Master Yue, the Prefect invites you in."

Yueyang pushed open the door and entered the study. A wave of warm air hit him, indicating that the stove in the study was burning brightly, quickly dispelling the cold from his body.

Yueyang patted the snow off his clothes and looked up, immediately seeing three men sitting in the study. The man at the head of the table was about fifty years old, with a square face and a short beard, his expression both refined and authoritative. He wore a light blue brocade robe and thick-soled official boots, his eyes sharply focused on Yueyang.

Yueyang quickly scanned the room and saw that the host, Zheng Fakui, and another man in his forties were sitting to the left of the main seat.

Seeing this, Yueyang was secretly alarmed. The man in front of him must be of equal or higher status than Zheng Fakui.

His mind raced, but Yueyang's actions were quick. He took two steps forward and knelt on one knee, "Student Yueyang pays respects to the Prefect!"

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