Chapter 38: King Hui Takes Action

  Jingzhou Huiwang Fu

  "What? You're saying those two bastards have taken all the tenants away?" The long historian looked at Chen Kesin, who was kneeling in front of him, and asked with a suspicious tone.

  "A thousand truths and ten thousand certainties!"

  "Haha, this kid has finally left a handle for himself. Good, good, yeah, you've done a great job, now get out of here!"

  Chen Kexin knocked his head again and retreated with respect.

  Since Chen He's escape, the income of King Hui's mansion has decreased significantly. King Hui was furious and deeply resentful towards Chen He, while also being very dissatisfied with Zhang Shi's handling of the matter. Zhang Shi didn't hate Chen He, after all, Chen He was his nephew. It was Lin Chunhong that he hated to the bone. Now that there was an opportunity to take revenge on Lin Chunhong, Zhang Shi wouldn't let it slip away. Zhang Shi immediately went to see King Hui and spoke at length about Gu Xiangxing and Dou Shiwen inciting the tenants to abandon their land, resulting in a significant reduction in this year's rent. Upon hearing this, King Hui indeed became enraged and ordered Zhang Shi to immediately drive out the two villains. With authorization from King Hui, Zhang Shi, on one hand, filed a complaint with the Imperial Clan Court, while on the other hand, he dispatched twenty sturdy slaves along with Chen Kesin, instructing Chen Kesin to make sure to stir up trouble over this matter, as long as no one was killed, any consequences would be borne by King Hui's mansion.

  Chen Kesin led twenty strong men, his waist immediately straightened up, and he hurried to Shuangmiao Mountain with a heroic spirit. The villagers saw Chen Kesin bring back more than 20 fierce and evil spirits to Shuangmiao Mountain, and they were all terrified. The timid ones hid, the uninvolved ones saluted Chen Kesin's team, and some brave ones rushed to the warehouse to inform Gu Xiangxing.

  Gu Xing was actually a coward, and in his panic, he hastily sought out Duan Shiwen to discuss the matter. For a moment, he even stuttered: "Chen Pao Pi... brought more than twenty people over!" Duan Shiwen, born with a bold and fearless temperament, smiled with narrowed eyes: "I was worried he wouldn't come! Now's the perfect chance to teach him a lesson and break his legs again! Shi Wa Zi, go call our brothers, are we afraid of Chen Pao Pi?"

  Shi Wa Zi rushed out at the sound, he was also very nervous. Now there were only seven people in the warehouse. If Chen Bo Pi really wanted to fight, things might go wrong. Unfortunately, the bowmen were scattered all over Shuangmiao Mountain, and it wasn't easy to gather them. Shi Wa Zi ran until he was panting.

  Chen Kexin arrived quickly, and after entering the village, he went straight to the warehouse. His purpose for causing trouble was clear. "Gu Xingxing, Dong Shiwen, you two get out here!" Chen Kexin shouted, his eyes looking up at the sky, his hands on his hips, and his feet standing in an eight-character stance.

  Chen Kexin's shout was responded to by the slaves, who shouted in unison: "Get out quickly!" These responses made Chen Kexin's courage even greater, and he almost rolled his eyes up to the sky.

  Dòu Shí Wēn walked out slowly and smiled: "Chén Guǎnshì, what's the matter? Are you here to help with the warehouse?"

  Doushi Wen's teasing made Chen Kexin stunned, and he angrily said: "Hui Wang has an order, ordering you two to immediately roll out of Shuangmiao Mountain and return the kidnapped people!"

  Doushi Wen clasped his hands together and said, "Zhi Jiang has given an order, instructing us two to enter Shuangmiao Mountain and train the archers!"

  Gu Xing had read books and knew some laws, so he hastily added: "The king's seal cannot interfere with local affairs. Does King Hui want to manage the affairs of Zhi River?"

  Chen Kexin was tongue-tied and didn't know how to respond. The powerful slaves behind him shouted and scolded: "You dare to be dissatisfied with King Hui, don't you want to mix anymore? I'll break your legs!"

  A heroic slave retorted quickly: "You've incited the tenants to escape, which is tantamount to rebellion. Why don't you hurry up and roll up your bedding and get out of here?"

  "This remark reminded Chen Kexin, who shouted: 'You two rebels, dare to openly rebel, brothers come and drive them away for me!'"

  The gang of slaves rushed forward, punching and kicking Gu Xiu-xing and Dou Shi-wen. Although there were still five people in the warehouse, they saw that things were not going well and had already sneaked away. Gu Xiu-xing and Dou Shi-wen were no match for the twenty or so men, and in an instant they were beaten to the ground and unable to move. Especially Dou Shi-wen, the slaves were furious that he had injured several of their brothers earlier, and they took it out on him, breaking both his legs and arms before finally sparing him.

  Chen Kesin was still unsatisfied and kicked the two men a few more times, shouting: "All the goods here are stolen property, take them away!"

  The Haonu people have been waiting for this command for a long time, and now they are rushing to the warehouse like a tiger coming down from the mountain, looting all the goods inside and returning with full loads. Before leaving, they also set fire to Gu Xingxing and Dou Shiwen's half-year hard work, burning the warehouse and oil mill to ashes!

  After Du Shiwenhe and Gu Xing were sent back to Zhijiang, they stayed at Lin Chunhong's house for treatment. The room was filled with a strong smell of medicine that made people want to vomit. Chen Sijin was busy changing the dressing for Du Shiwenhe and Gu Xing, sweating profusely, while several small children helping on the side were quite skilled in their movements, obviously having received strict training. Gu Xing had a fracture in his right leg and two ribs, which would not be a big problem as long as he rested for a few months. Du Shiwen's situation was more critical, with a high fever since arriving in Zhijiang, and even talking nonsense. Chen Sijin had already set the fractured parts of the two men straight, fixing them with wooden boards, and both were wrapped in white cloth like mummies.

  "Xiucai is fine, but Xiao Duzi has to rely on heaven now!" Chen Sijin reported back to Lin Chunhong who had been standing behind him.

  Lin Chunhong nodded silently, unable to say a word. It wasn't until then that Gu Xiuxing realized Lin Chunhong was in the room, struggling to sit up. Chen Sijin shouted sternly, "Don't move! Even if you were moved to a divine location, no one could save you!"

  Chen Sijin's sudden shout startled Lin Chunhong, who hastily stepped forward to support Gu Xing, gently pressing him back onto the bed. "Listen to Brother Chen," he said, "whatever you do, don't move; the first month after setting bones is crucial."

  Gu Xing stared at Lin Chunhong, with a mix of emotions, and her eyes couldn't help but well up with tears. Lin Chunhong hastily said: "Don't worry, I already know what happened to you all on Shuangmiao Mountain, Zhou Shu has taken people there, we'll definitely help you get revenge!"

  Gu Xing shook his head and sighed, "What a pity! If only it were a few days later, the first batch of oil from the oil mill could have been sold!" Gu Xing had always wanted to do something remarkable and gain Lin Chunhong's recognition. However, half a year's hard work was reduced to ashes by Chen Kesin's fire, deeply hurting his heart and making him unable to help himself. As for seeking revenge against Chen Kesin, he didn't have it in mind.

  "I also know about the oil mill, you're really daring to think and do it. Who knew that cottonseed could be used for oil extraction before? After you recover from your injury, we'll rebuild, not just the Double Temple Mountain, but also the Hundred Mile洲. From now on, building an oil mill will depend on you! So, listen to Brother Chen's words and take good care of your injury."

  Lin Chunhong's words finally made Gu Xiu Xin feel a little better, he turned his head to look in the direction where Dou Shiwen was lying and said: "Alas, I don't know if Little Bean will be okay!"

  Lin Chunhong's heart was as heavy as a stone, silently tucking in Gu Xing's quilt and walking to Du Shiwen's bedside, staring at him absent-mindedly. A wet towel was draped over Du Shiwen's forehead, with a small child occasionally wringing it out in cold water and re-draping it on his forehead. After Du Shiwen's father died in battle, he had suffered greatly until Lin Chunhong started logging and they were able to live a stable life with his widowed mother. Normally, he listened to Lin Chunhong's words and was brave in battle, making him Lin Chunhong's trusted assistant. But now, his life hung by a thread, leaving Lin Chunhong disheartened. Lin Chunhong knew that fever after injury was extremely dangerous, and only one or two out of ten people could survive it.

  Lin Chunhong turned his head and asked Chen Sijin: "Is there any prescription for injury fever?"

  "According to 'Liu Juanzi's Ghostly Prescriptions', it can be treated with Banxia and Baizhu, taken with wine."

  "Have you all taken your medicine?"

  Chen Sijin nodded and said: "I've used this prescription before, and its efficacy is quite good."

  "Next time, bring a few more people and think of some hemostatic and detoxification prescriptions. I heard that there is a secret recipe in Yunnan that has a good effect on hemostasis and swelling, you can also think of ways to get it."

  "After getting injured, the best way to prevent fever is to sprinkle sulfur on it and scald it with fire, or use a branding iron. Xiaodouzi's wound was treated this way too, but unfortunately, the evil spirit invaded his internal organs, so we can only let nature take its course."

  Lin Chunhong looked at Xiaodouzi and walked out slowly with his head down, saying: "Don't tell his mother for now..."