Chapter 601 - 600: Farm Woman 29
Chen Tianshui remarked, "Thank goodness we bought so many residences in Yunzhou State. Otherwise, hiding this many people would have been quite a challenge."
He had once been puzzled by Tan You’s insistence on acquiring property in the capital of Yunzhou State. Now, thinking back, he realized she had been planning for this very day. It was clear her preparations had begun years ago.
Tan You added a few more instructions. "Once you’re in Yunzhou State, keep a low profile. Also, monitor the movements of the local officials. If they make a run for it..."
Yue Shu’s eyes sharpened. "Then do we just cut them down?"
Tan You smiled. "No. Bind them and drag them back. Then, in front of everyone..."
Yue Shu nodded in understanding. "I get it. We’ll pack our things and set out immediately. We’ll wait outside Yunzhou State and enter the city in waves."
Tan You nodded. "Once you’re in Yunzhou State, be extremely cautious."
After seeing off Yue Shu and the guards, Chen Tianshui was still worried. "The Beirong... are they really going for peace talks? Their morale seems so high..."
Tan You chuckled. "Of course they’ll want to negotiate. Do you think the northern grasslands are a monolithic bloc? They can’t risk leaving their home base undefended for too long. It’d be too easy for someone to launch a rear attack."
"Speaking of which, that’s something we could exploit." Seeing Tan You lost in thought, Chen Tianshui and the others tiptoed out of the meeting room. An Wen and Chen Xi, however, exchanged a glance and ran off in the direction Yue Shu had gone.
Yue Shu was just about to leave the village when the two boys stopped him. Seeing their small travel packs, Yue Shu felt a headache coming on. "Lady Tan You didn’t give you permission to come along."
Chen Xi was remarkably composed. "My mother told me to handle your logistics, Uncle Yue. I’m very good with accounts."
An Wen reacted just as quickly. "My aunt told me to follow Uncle Yue to gain some experience and learn from you."
Yang Youchang saw what was going on. He glanced back toward the clan’s council hall, then made a snap decision. "All right, you two can tag along."
’They’ve been walking for a while now, and Tan You still hasn’t come after them. The boys probably snuck out,’ he thought, ’but it looks like Tan You might actually approve of them coming along?’
’That’s right,’ he mused. ’It’s about time they saw the world. Sons of military generals sometimes go to the battlefield at just eleven or twelve. An Wen and Chen Xi are already thirteen or fourteen. It’s time for them to broaden their horizons.’
Of course, Tan You knew that Chen Xi and An Wen had gone with Yue Shu’s group. She had no intention of keeping her children sheltered by her side. As her children, they were expected to shoulder more of life’s burdens, not remain blissfully ignorant.
Even if the world outside was a cruel place.
Chen Yue was a little downcast. "Mother, I want to go, too."
Tan You didn’t crush her spirits. "Well, you missed your chance. You can’t go to Yunzhou State now, so you’ll have to stay with the clan. Besides, aren’t you doing a great job leading your little band of soldiers? I’m putting you all in charge of the village’s watch."
Chen Yue immediately brightened up. "Alright, Mother! We’ll do a great job on watch."
When it came to knowledge of the village and its surroundings, the adults probably didn’t know as much as the children. The kids spent their days roaming all over the mountains and fields, and they even kept records.
They knew the location of every fruit tree and the exact season it would ripen.
As the leader of the "children’s army," Chen Yue had her own little notebook. She even planned schedules and routes, laying out what to do, where, and when, all with perfect clarity.
With the guards gone to Yunzhou State, the clan’s militia immediately stepped up to take their place. The summer harvest had just ended, so the clan could spare the manpower for constant patrols.
Tan You stood at the edge of the threshing floor, looking at the wheat spread out to dry, and nodded in satisfaction. "There’s nothing more reassuring than grain. Are we paying the tax on this harvest?"
"It used to be thirty percent, but the rate has crept up over the years. Now they demand seventy percent. Luckily, we hide away a large portion every year, otherwise we wouldn’t be able to feed our families."
Tan You’s fingers twitched. "We’re not paying this year. And hide all of our grain. I expect it will rain tonight. I’m leaving for Yunzhou State this evening. I’ll leave the clan in your hands."
Chen Tianshui looked worried. "Then please, be careful on your journey."
"Don’t worry, I will," Tan You replied, raising an eyebrow slightly. "As for Chen Yue and her friends, there’s no need to restrain them. Even children can be of great use when properly directed."
"Just make sure they don’t leave the village grounds. Oh, and tell the clan members to stay off the mountain for now. It’s too easy to fall into one of the traps."
From what Tan You knew, the children had laid countless traps all over the mountain. Anyone unfamiliar with the area would almost certainly get hurt.
Chen Tianshui thought of that boisterous group of kids. "Right. I’ll pass the word around the village. We don’t have time to hunt, but they have their methods. They manage to bring back game every few days."
Tan You said, "They know their limits. Besides, children have boundless energy. It’s better to have them focus it on something useful than on causing trouble around the clan."
"That’s true," Chen Tianshui agreed with a nod. "Are you going alone, Lady Tan You? Why not take a few more clan members with you?"
Tan You replied, "I’ll take two militiamen with me. I’ll be gone for at least ten days, two months at the most. The clan is in your hands."
"You are meant to do great things," said Third Grandpa, who had arrived at the threshing floor with several other clan elders. "You’re out there leading the charge, so of course we can’t be the ones to hold you back. Don’t worry about a thing here in the clan."
"It’s a shame that only Chen Yue and Chen Xing are left in the clan now. Chen Xi and An Wen are still so young, after all."
Thinking of their age, Tan You said, "They’re not so young anymore. They should be seeing more of the world. I doubt anyone is thinking about paying taxes right now, but just in case, I’ll leave it to you elders to handle."
Third Grandpa nodded. "Rest assured, we know what to do."
After settling all the clan’s affairs, Tan You set out for Yunzhou State that very afternoon with two militiamen. To avoid drawing attention, they traveled by donkey cart; horses were a critical strategic resource and impossible to purchase.
Donkey carts, on the other hand, were plentiful in the village.
After two days of hard travel, Tan You and her two companions successfully reached the clan’s main base in Yunzhou State on the evening of the third day. Yue Shu and the others were overjoyed to see her.
After pouring Tan You a cup of tea, Chen Xi stood respectfully behind her. "I heard the imperial court’s peace delegation is already on its way. They’re expected to reach Lin State in about a day."
Tan You asked, "They’re holding the talks in Lin State? Lin State is southwest of Youzhou State. That tells us the Beirong’s ambitions are anything but small."
Chen Xi had realized it as well. "Exactly. Yunzhou State is to the east of Lin State. If the talks are held in Lin State, it’s a foregone conclusion that Yunzhou State will be ceded."
"We’ve had men gathering information constantly. If the Beirong occupy Lin State, then Yunzhou State will be completely surrounded by them. We’ll be like fish in a barrel."