Chapter 77

The sound of gongs and drums filled the air, banners fluttered, and firecrackers exploded...

This was the scene when Lin Sha led his troops back to Kunming, where he was warmly welcomed by the Pingxi Wang’s mansion and the high-ranking military and political officials of Yunnan Province.

There was no way around it; who could have expected that Lin Sha and his troops would stand out so remarkably, even to the point of being the best among all?

Apart from Lin Sha’s consecutive victories in western Yunnan, which completely quelled the rebellion in just a year, forcing the rebel chieftains to kneel and beg for mercy, the situation for the other rebel-suppressing forces was not so good.

The initial defeat of Hu Guozhu, the commander-in-chief of the western Yunnan rebellion suppression, was also experienced by the other rebel-suppressing armies, who suffered significant losses due to overconfidence.

The other forces did not have a fierce general like Lin Sha. One of them even retreated directly to Kunming, and the commander of the rebellion suppression was stripped of his rank by the furious Pingxi Wang.

After the Yunnan army became serious, the situation began to rapidly turn around. The rebel chieftains' forces, which initially had the upper hand, then became evenly matched with the Yunnan army, and finally found themselves at a disadvantage, suffering passive attacks.

Unable to hold out, the rebel forces withdrew from the plains and towns, hiding in the dense forests. The Yunnan army, tasked with suppressing the rebellion, was left in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat!

This was because they had not inflicted significant damage on the rebel forces in the open plains. Unlike Lin Sha, who almost annihilated the rebel forces, the rebel chieftains still had considerable strength. Once the jungle warfare began, the outcome would be...

This was the information Lin Sha received through Hu Dashao and military communications. As for the exact situation, he was not entirely clear, but it was certainly not optimistic.

Leaving aside the details, Lin Sha led his troops back to Kunming. His subordinates were arranged to be received, while Lin Sha participated in the victory banquet hosted by the Pingxi Wang’s mansion.

Old Wu was very generous to his people, especially to Lin Sha, who had achieved remarkable military success and was a descendant of Liaodong, adding a touch of familiarity.

Before the banquet began, he directly announced the rewards for Lin Sha: a third-rank colonel, a fourth-rank commandant, and command over two regular battalions and one supply battalion!

This reward was truly significant!

As a result, Lin Sha, who was already a rising star in the military, directly entered the ranks of the middle-level commanders with real power.

The gathered uncles and seniors naturally offered their congratulations, followed by endless toasts, which left Lin Sha unconscious from drinking.

...

“Slow down, has there been any news from Lao San?”

On the way back, Lin Sha suddenly sat up in the carriage, his demeanor as usual, showing no signs of drunkenness.

“Sir, you’re not drunk?”

The bodyguard guarding the carriage was startled by Lin Sha’s sudden question.

“Drunk? I was well prepared; how could I be so easily taken down?”

Lin Sha rolled his eyes and pouted, warning, “Stay alert. I’ve been targeted by assassins many times over the past two years. I won’t feel at ease until we return to the camp!”

“Understood!”

The bodyguards were immediately on high alert, realizing the gravity of the situation.

Lin Sha smiled lightly. As an expert in internal martial arts, controlling his blood and qi was a small matter. Quickly digesting the alcohol in his blood was even simpler. How could a few liters of white wine make him drunk?

The carriage swayed slowly through the bustling streets of Kunming. The sun was setting, and the golden light cast a dreamlike glow over the bustling city.

The streets were lined with bustling shops, and the vendors' calls echoed continuously, adding a unique charm. Passersby strolled leisurely, their faces reflecting the spirit of the city.

Lin Sha watched the bustling city through the carriage window, feeling a sense of peace and relaxation, which slowly dispelled the accumulated anger from over a year of warfare, leaving him feeling incredibly comfortable.

“Sir, Lao San has sent a message!”

The carriage turned down two streets, nearing the city gate, when the bodyguard by the window leaned in and reported softly.

“Oh, have you found out? Are they the two?”

Lin Sha perked up, squinting his eyes and asking softly.

“We have confirmed it, just as you suspected!”

The bodyguard’s tone was tinged with a hint of strangeness. “They are staying in a small village outside the city, with about a dozen skilled men guarding them, both openly and secretly.”

“Good, tell Lao San to withdraw without alarming them or the skilled men in the village.”

Lin Sha smiled and instructed softly.

“Understood!”

The bodyguard outside the carriage responded, turned his horse, and quietly left the escort.

...

Outside Kunming, in a small village, two women in martial attire walked side by side along the small fields.

“Did you see, Little Princess? That corrupt official is becoming more and more arrogant, rising in rank every year. The red top on his head is stained with the blood of countless innocent people!” Fang Yi, with a beautiful but displeased face, clenched her teeth and advised the innocent young girl beside her.

“Isn’t that bad guy suppressing the rebellion in western Yunnan?”

Mu Jianping, with her large, innocent, and intelligent eyes, pouted, looking confused and a bit aggrieved.

“About that...”

Fang Yi was momentarily speechless, her face flashing with shame and anger. She huffed, “In any case, that guy is no good, and we must stay far away from him!”

There was something she didn’t say: it would be best to leave Yunnan and meet up with the prince Mu Jian Sheng in the capital, to carry out a grand plan to bring about the downfall of Wu Sangui, the old bandit!

The two women, whispering in low voices, were unaware that a certain young man was following them from a distance, staring at them with a fascinated look.

Indeed, due to Lin Sha, the young princess of the Mu mansion, Mu Jianping, and the descendant of one of the four major families, Fang Yi, did not go to the capital as described in the original story of "The Deer and the Cauldron" to assassinate the Kangxi Emperor and frame Wu Sangui.

The capture of the two women by Lin Sha left the Mu mansion in a state of anxiety, but they were relieved that nothing had happened to them.

In Yunnan, it was already dangerous; how much more so in the capital, where they were unfamiliar with the terrain and where there were many hidden dangers?

If something happened, they would not even have time to regret it, and they certainly couldn’t find the two women as easily as they could in Yunnan.

After a brief discussion, the high-ranking officials of the Mu mansion decided to leave the two women behind, and also to leave Liu Yizhou, who was engaged to Fang Yi, to avoid the embarrassing and shameful scene of him being frightened by Duke Wei.

What troubled the people left behind in the Mu mansion was that the young princess, for some reason, insisted on moving to a residence outside Kunming after staying in a secret location in northern Yunnan for several months. Despite their efforts to dissuade her, they had no choice but to follow her.

Only Fang Yi knew that the young princess had a rather good impression of Lin Sha, the corrupt official, and was always thinking about his interesting little stories, which made her secretly clench her teeth in anger but feel helpless.