Chapter 49: Young Master, something is wrong, Ma Liu is dead

“A stranger, a treasure-seeker, wearing a bamboo hat with a scar on his face?”

In the Yu family mansion, Yu Biao frowned.

The domestic servants all watched Yu Biao nervously.

“Yes, Master. We have visited the four villages: Shangtao, Xiantao, Zhongtao, and Xiatao.”

“In Shangtao and Zhongtao, the villagers all said they hadn't seen anyone like that coming down from the mountain. However, in Xiantao and Xiatao, almost everyone claimed to have seen a foreign treasure-seeker wearing a bamboo hat with a scar on his face.”

“I feel this matter cannot be mere rumor, so I came to report it to you immediately.”

Hearing this, Yu Biao took a sip of tea, his gaze gradually sharpening.

He waved his hand and said, “Fine, you may all leave. Li Si, stay behind.”

“Yes, sir.”

The servants withdrew, leaving only the head of the household guards, Li Si.

“Master?”

Li Si asked as he looked at Yu Biao. Yu Biao pointed to his desk and said, “Go and get that wanted poster from my desk.”

“Yes, Master.”

Li Si immediately went to fetch the wanted poster, but the moment his eyes landed on it, he froze.

For there, on the poster, was a clear portrait.

The portrait depicted a man dressed as a wanderer of the martial world, wearing a bamboo hat with a scar across his face.

【Ni Manzi, 29 years old, native of Ding County, Huangzhou Prefecture. Discontent with the Imperial Court, joined an evil cult, murdered officials, and incited rebellion. His crimes are heinous. A public warrant is hereby issued. Anyone who captures this man and delivers him to the authorities shall be rewarded with one thousand taels of silver, regardless of whether they live or die. Those who provide clues shall be rewarded with five taels of silver. Special issue by the Huangzhou Prefecture Yamen!】

“This?”

Seeing the poster, Li Si looked at Yu Biao in shock.

“Indeed, the reports they brought back are very similar to this man!”

Yu Biao looked at Li Si, lost in thought.

Li Si said, “Are you saying, Master, that such a great bandit has wandered into our Mianshui County?”

“Yes, more or less. This wanted poster was distributed by the main headquarters.”

“Then Master, we must prepare more men! This man looks like he won't be easy to deal with!”

Yu Biao looked at Li Si in surprise. “Deal with? Deal with whom?”

“This criminal, of course!”

“Heh...”

Yu Biao let out a cold laugh. “Do you not know how to write the word 'death'? Do you have any idea what this Ni Manzi has done?”

“What did he do?”

Yu Biao said, “He murdered officials and incited rebellion! And he has likely joined an evil cult.”

“You mean... the Fire Worshiping Sect?”

Only then did Li Si realize.

The Fire Worshiping Sect—that was a terrifying existence.

The Great Qian was founded by foreign tribes who suppressed the Han people through various means, such as the Four-Class System: First class, the Mulan people; Second class, the Semu people; Third class, the miscellaneous northern tribes; and Fourth class, the Han people.

This hierarchy brought about systemic oppression.

For instance, the Han people were stripped of their right to take the imperial examinations, replaced by rule through Han domestic servants.

In other words, even if you were well-read and wished to become an official, the examinations were closed to you. You could only find a Mulan person to serve, hope they took you in as a household servant, and have them recommend you for office.

This effectively severed the roots of the scholar class across the land.

There were many other harsh policies as well; for example, the laws applied to Mulan and Han people were different.

To give a simple example: if a Han person killed a Mulan person, they had to pay with their life or even face the execution of their entire kin. But if a Mulan person killed a Han person, they didn't have to pay with their life—they only had to compensate with a donkey.

Just considering that one point, one could imagine how oppressed the Han people were.

However, as the saying goes, where there is oppression, there is resistance.

Han uprisings had never ceased, and the most formidable among them was the Fire Worshiping Sect of the North.

Their followers often wore red headbands, thus being called the Red Turban Army by the Han populace, while the Mulan people called them "Red-Haired Devils."

To maintain stability, the Imperial Court had once again ceded a portion of power to the local regions, allowing various sects to assist the Darughachi of the Mulan faction in governing. This was a indirect way of granting privileges to martial artists.

This had led to the current situation, achieving the Great Qian Empire's upper-level national policy of "using Han to control Han."

But to put it bluntly, these gangs were born with the nature of "double agents"; they practiced outward compliance while secretly defying orders.

The Fire Worshiping Sect, however, was a true revolutionary organization fighting to the death against Great Qian. Consequently, local gangs generally turned a blind eye to them. Unless it directly affected their own interests, no one wanted to provoke those madmen.

Yu Biao looked at the wanted poster and sighed. “Send word down: stop investigating the Red-Eyed Golden Pheasant.”

“Ah, Master, shouldn't we investigate further? After all, just because someone wears a bamboo hat and has a scar doesn't mean it must be this Ni Manzi. What if someone is impersonating him, or even spreading false information on purpose?”

Li Si asked, unwilling to let it go.

Yu Biao pondered for a moment before speaking. “There is no need to investigate.”

“It is just a thirty-year-old golden pheasant; it is not worth provoking the violent members of the Fire Worshiping Sect. As for your suggestion about impersonation or false rumors—heh—currently, this wanted poster is only circulating within the two major gangs of Mianshui County. In other words, in the entirety of Xiantao Town, only Wu Zhong and I know this news!”

“Therefore, the only ones capable of spreading the news are the two of us. I certainly didn't do it, which means the probability is high that it was him.”

“Now, here is the question: even if you know he is the one who spread the news, what can you do?”

“Or rather, even if you know the pheasant was stolen by him, can you actually take it back?”

Yu Biao rubbed his temples. “Enough. Let this matter rest for now. Moving forward, your most important task is to find that Horned Pomfret lurking in Mianshui. The medicinal potency of that fish is no weaker than the Red-Eyed Golden Pheasant.”

“Yes, Master. Our boats have been fishing for three days. Yesterday, we caught a grass carp with a large hole in it. The old fisherman judged it was caused by a Horned Pomfret. We should be very close to it now.”

“Good. We must hurry this matter. The election for the position of Baozheng is only a month away!”

Hearing this, Li Si nodded.

Yu Biao asked, “By the way, has Sanliu caused any trouble lately?”

“No, the Young Master has been very well-behaved!”

Yu Biao said, “When you have the chance, tell him that he cannot clash with Wu Zhong right now. Tell him to restrain his schemes. Xiantao Town is not yet a place where we can rule with an iron fist.”

“Yes, Master, I will advise the Young Master,” Li Si replied.

Meanwhile, in Yu Sanliu's courtyard, Yu Sanliu lay on a lounge chair with his eyes squinted. Beside him, a beautiful woman was peeling lychees and gently placing them into his mouth. He ate a lychee, his expression one of pure enjoyment.

Looking at the butler beside him, he asked, “Has Ma Liu not been found yet?”

The butler replied, “No, sir. We have been searching all morning. Young Master, do you think he might have run away?”

Yu Sanliu said, “Run where? Keep looking.”

“Yes,” the butler responded. Just then, a set of hurried footsteps approached.

“Young... Young Master, something bad has happened... Ma... Ma Liu is dead!”

“What!”

With a sudden bang, Yu Sanliu bolted upright!

(End of Chapter)