When the Side Character Gets a System and Travels through Difference Worlds

Tan You tapped her fingers on the table. "I understand what you mean, Yue Shu. How are things going with the city guard?"

Yue Shu slapped his chest. "The commander of the Yunzhou city guard is named Yuan. He’s a forthright and generous man. We’ve had a few drinks together, and we’re on pretty good terms."

Tan You nodded. "Good. Keep building a good relationship with the city guard. I have plans for them later."

"Oh, and start having people move supplies near the city walls. Once the peace talks are over, it’ll be time for us to act."

Chen Xi pressed her lips together. "Mother, I’ve already moved most of the gunpowder, trebuchets, and other supplies to a residence near the city walls."

Tan You said approvingly, "Good. Well done. I knew I could count on Ming Guang to lighten my burden."

Chen Xi’s smile widened. "Mother, I want to lighten your burden. I was worried you’d scold me for acting on my own."

"Why would I?" Tan You patted her hand. "You’ve always done an excellent job. You’re an indispensable aide. I feel completely at ease with you in charge of logistics."

While her clan members were on high alert, sleeping with their weapons at the ready, the imperial court’s peace delegation arrived in Lin State. The talks were set for the eighteenth of the fifth month. Of course, no one would be able to see the proceedings, but Tan You could.

After seeing via the Beauty System that the imperial court had ceded Youzhou State and the three neighboring states of Lin, Yunzhou, and Dingzhou to the Beirong, Tan You crushed the paperweight in her hand.

As soon as the peace talks in Lin State concluded, Tan You informed Yue Shu, Yang Youchang, and the others of the outcome.

Although he had long suspected it, Yue Shu was still shocked to learn they had truly been abandoned. "Yunzhou State was really ceded?"

Tan You nodded. "Yes. Keep a close eye on Magistrate Xu Sheng’s movements. I suspect he’s about to make a run for it."

Yue Shu collected himself. "If he runs, should we catch him? You said before that if he ran..."

Tan You raised an eyebrow. "When I said we should catch him, it was on the premise that the Beirong were attacking. At that time, Yunzhou State hadn’t been ceded yet. If Xu Sheng had run then, he would have been a coward, a deserter."

Yue Shu was confused. "And now he’s not?"

"Of course not," Tan You said, flicking her fingers. "From a logical standpoint, once Yunzhou State was ceded, it was no longer the court’s territory. It now belongs to the Beirong."

"However, Xu Sheng and the others are imperially appointed officials. With Yunzhou, Dingzhou, and the other states ceded, these magistrates are supposed to return to the imperial court and await new assignments. So, them leaving their posts isn’t technically a crime. It’s just that their manner of departure is a bit disgraceful."

Yue Shu understood. "I see, so there’s that technicality. Are we just going to let Xu Sheng and the others leave like that?"

Tan You’s eyes narrowed. "They can leave, but the things they’ve extorted from Yunzhou State have to stay."

’Now *that’s* the Madam I know,’ Yang Youchang thought to himself. ’She’d pluck a few feathers from a wild goose flying overhead. How could she possibly let someone off so easily?’

’Besides, we’re planning something big and need a vast amount of silver taels. Rather than letting these officials get away with it, we might as well put their wealth to good use.’

Yue Shu took his men to handle the matter, while the rest remained on standby, awaiting the arrival of the Beirong.

Xu Sheng and his family left in the mid-afternoon. He made a grand spectacle of his departure and also announced the news that Yunzhou, Dingzhou, Lin, and Youzhou States had been ceded to the common people.

The people immediately broke into wails and cries. How could they possibly survive under the Beirong? Once the Beirong entered Yunzhou State, wouldn’t they start burning, killing, and plundering?

Was there any way for the common folk to survive?

But how could Xu Sheng care about these common people? He was in a hurry to catch up with the peace delegation and head back. After all, his tenure as the Magistrate of Yunzhou was over. Whether or not he’d be assigned a new post upon his return was anyone’s guess.

’Speaking of which, my superior... should I send him another gift?’ Xu Sheng fell into deep thought as he mentally tallied his assets.

Unfortunately for Xu Sheng, a group of people began tailing him from a distance just as he left the prefectural city. Once they were in a desolate, uninhabited area, Yue Shu waved his hand forward. "Go!"

The guards surged forward without a sound. In less than a quarter of an hour, a completely robbed Xu Sheng and his family were left wailing and crying on the spot.

Chen Xi tossed a pearl bracelet in her hand. "No wonder Mother had me come along. These women really know how to hide things."

Yue Shu said, "You nearly stripped the clothes right off them. For someone so young, you’re ruthlessly efficient."

Chen Xi beamed. "Mother said we need a lot of money, so I have to find ways to get it for her. Besides, the money these corrupt officials embezzled was the blood and sweat of the common people. It’s better for us to use it for our great cause than for them to squander it on food and drink."

"I was already being merciful. I at least left them with two horse carriages."

An Wen hit the nail on the head. "Big Sis is just too cunning. By leaving them with only two carriages, you’re forcing them to abandon some of their servants and slaves. But at the same time, it won’t delay their journey too much, so they can still catch up to the peace delegation."

Chen Xi said, "It’s called traveling light. Much less of a burden that way. Let’s head back. Sigh, it’s been a while since we got to stretch our limbs."

Yue Shu couldn’t listen anymore. "Do you hear yourself? When have we ever slacked off? Haven’t I been taking you guys out all the time?"

Chen Xi gave a slightly shy smile. "Those bandits were just small fry. Beating them was expected; it’s nothing to be proud of."

"Now, driving the Beirong back to their homeland—that would be something to celebrate."

An Wen clenched his fist. "That day will come!"

Chen Xi, An Wen, and the others brought back practically everything Xu Sheng owned. Looking at the gold, silver, and jewels in the storehouse, even Tan You’s heart couldn’t help but flutter a little.

’No wonder they say a "clean" magistrate for three years gets you a hundred thousand silver taels. When officials get greedy, they truly have no bottom line. In any case, it’s my gain now.’ Tan You closed the chest, her eyes turning cold and sharp.

Yang Youchang sipped his tea. "Madam, when do you think the Beirong will enter Yunzhou City? From what I can tell, the city guard commander, Yuan Cheng, is no weakling. I doubt he’ll let the Beirong enter the city so easily."

Tan You replied, "They’ll definitely want to strike while the iron is hot. The gates of Yunzhou City must not be opened. If Yuan Cheng truly has a backbone, things will be easier. But if he tries to open the gates, we can’t be merciful."

Yue Shu agreed. "I understand. The Yunzhou city guard has fewer than ten thousand men, and their training is lax. They might not be able to withstand the Beirong army. The Beirong are famous for being fierce and cruel."

Tan You said, "That’s why we aren’t pinning our hopes on them. Have you forgotten our ace in the hole?"

A slow smile spread across Yue Shu’s face. "Madam, are you saying that as long as the city guard doesn’t cause trouble for you, that’s good enough?"