Chapter 106: Attack

Following his daughter’s suggestion, Dalang planned to arrange additional carriage services to transport villagers to town, while also needing to move his own goods there. Before preparations were complete, Tan Liu arrived to inform him that the Qi family had stationed men in the mountains and noticed something unusual. He warned that trouble might arise within the next couple of days and advised the master to remain calm.

Master Shangguan had been sending people everywhere to find the person who injured his son. It was only when the guards of the secret workshop recalled seeing the young master leave the workshop that day and walk along the mountain range that they had a lead—though where he went afterward remained unknown.

Master Shangguan was deeply frustrated. This son of his was the most unruly, spending his days idly and stirring up trouble. Yet, paradoxically, he was also the cleverest among his sons, occasionally offering advice that often brought substantial benefits. For this reason, Master Shangguan had allowed him access to the secret workshop. Who would have thought that on the very first day he brought him there, such an incident would occur?

He was reluctant to deal with the matter further, but having already made a loud and public search for so many days, abandoning it halfway would only bring greater shame. People might think the Shangguan family was afraid of someone. Truly, he was caught between a rock and a hard place. Reluctantly, he sent men to retrace his son’s steps that day. Unexpectedly, someone actually stumbled upon the Lin family’s small mountain.

The mountain had households living on both sides, both appearing to be farmsteads, though they had never been noticed before.

People could be seen moving about on the mountain—some gathering firewood like ordinary farmers, others picking wild fruits like playful children. The visitors approached to inquire about the farmsteads on either side and their owners. They were told that one was the Lin Farmstead, owned by a man named Lin Dalang, while the other was the Qi Farmstead, though no one knew the owner’s name.

When the visitors pressed further, the person they questioned grew impatient and walked away to tend to his own business.

The Qi Farmstead seemed insignificant—just a small homestead with an unknown owner, suggesting an ordinary family. The Lin Farmstead, however, was clearly different in scale, with a named owner who was certainly no ordinary man. The visitors dared not descend into the farmstead to investigate. If it truly was this family who had harmed their young master, probing further might alert them. It was better to report back to their master.

The name Lin Dalang was familiar to Master Shangguan. The Lin family had once opened a tailor shop in town, selling knitwear that no other shop carried. Even their ordinary garments were more finely made and stylish than others, stealing much business from competitors. The Shangguan family’s tailor shop, once the largest in town, lost more than half its business when the Lin family arrived.

The town had originally only one grain shop—the Shangguan family’s. Two years ago, another suddenly opened. Though its business was small at first, the Shangguan family paid it little mind. But after the Lin family’s arrival, that shop quickly expanded, even opening a restaurant next door serving dishes the townsfolk had never seen before. Business boomed, naturally cutting into the Shangguan family’s restaurant profits.

Master Shangguan was furious. It seemed the Lin family had deliberately moved here to oppose him. In this small town of Baishui, the Shangguan family only operated these three shops, and all three had suffered losses because of the Lin family.

He had once sent men to cause trouble at the Lin family’s shops, but even their clerks proved too skilled—the troublemakers were thrown out before they could even strike. When they tried again, officials from the town government intervened, warning that the Lin family had powerful backing. “When two tigers fight, both will be injured,” they said. When pressed for details, the messenger claimed he was only relaying his master’s words and knew nothing more—implying the matter was too sensitive to discuss.

Master Shangguan had his scouts describe the mountain scene in detail. The more he heard, the more it matched the descriptions given by his two servants. Suspicious, he sent a trusted aide to investigate whether this Lin Dalang was the same man.

Soon, the aide returned with news: Lin Dalang, the owner of the Lin family’s tailor shop, lived at the Lin Farmstead, which was quite far away. The aide also reported that the tailor shop had been out of stock lately, failing to deliver promised knitwear to customers. Lin Dalang hadn’t been seen in town for a long time.

Master Shangguan sneered. It was now certain that the people who injured his son were from the Lin Farmstead. Lin Dalang must be afraid of the Shangguan family—his shop was out of stock, he hadn’t come to town himself, and he hadn’t even sent his men. Clearly, he feared being tracked back to his hideout.

“Hmph! The town officials deceived me, saying the Lin family had untouchable backing. They must have just wanted to avoid trouble. Once I destroy the Lin family, I’ll settle accounts with that worthless petty official.”

Since his son had been injured by a woman, he would take revenge on the Lin Farmstead.

Thinking carefully, Master Shangguan realized he had never seen or heard of any Lin family women appearing in town—they must have been hidden away in the farmstead all along. Women loved shopping; even useless trinkets could tempt them if they took a fancy. His own wives and concubines, bored with the town’s limited selection, often traveled to larger towns to shop, even making trips to Shengcheng several times a year for the latest fashions.

According to his two servants, the Lin family’s women were beautiful. Lin Dalang must have been unwilling to let them be seen. “Hmph! You dared to provoke the Shangguan family? This time, I’ll make you regret being born. You’ll watch helplessly as your women are humiliated.”

In this small town, the Shangguan family had never suffered disgrace—they had always gotten whatever they wanted. For the Lin family to humiliate them in such a way was intolerable. Now that he had found their hideout, Master Shangguan was determined to vent his fury.

He ordered most of his servants to follow the informant to the Lin Farmstead and sent men to withdraw guards from the secret workshop. Though his own servants included some skilled fighters, they were few in number. If even the Lin family’s shop clerks were formidable, how much more so would the farmstead’s defenders be? Relying solely on his own men would likely be useless.

The secret workshop’s guards were not Shangguan family members. Their leader could refuse Master Shangguan’s orders—his only duty was to protect the workshop. Earlier, they had helped search for the young master as a favor, but now that real action was demanded, the guard captain felt uneasy.

The messenger threatened, “If you disobey, my master will report your negligence to your own master. Then we’ll see who dies.”

Hesitating, the guard captain considered his options. His own master cared most about the workshop, and he could defend himself. But with words easily twisting perceptions, if Master Shangguan sowed doubt, his life might be at risk. After a moment’s thought, he reluctantly agreed, dispatching a small squad to follow the messenger.

Now that the target was the Lin Farmstead, some in the Shangguan family knew the way. Previously, when the Lin family had stolen much of their business, Master Shangguan had ordered men to track their carriages in preparation for revenge. The servants departing from town now took that same route, while the secret workshop guards followed the mountain path—a two-pronged attack.

With everything arranged, Master Shangguan sat comfortably at home, imagining the Lin family’s terror at the sight of his forces and his own satisfaction. According to past reports, the Lin Farmstead was newly established, with uncultivated land and no walls around the residences. With his strong forces and the secret workshop guards’ support, crushing such a small farmstead would be effortless. He might even seize it for himself.

The Shangguan family kept their own horses, and the servants rode toward the Lin Farmstead in high spirits. As they neared, they saw vast fields with surprisingly few workers despite it being harvest season. The scattered houses further fueled their contempt.

“Woo—”

“Oh—”

“Hey—”

Excited shouts erupted from the servants—it had been a long time since they’d had such free rein.

“Ah—”

“Ah—”

“Ah—”

Just as they were about to reach the farmland, their cheers turned to screams. Without warning, their horses stumbled forward, sending riders flying. The luckiest rolled into nearby grass; the worst were trampled by panicked horses, leaving them dead or severely injured.

Suddenly, as if sprouting from the earth, a large crowd appeared before them. Someone shouted, “Careful! Don’t hurt the horses!”

Dazed and confused, the servants were swiftly bound hand and foot like grasshoppers, strung together on a rope. One defiantly yelled, “You’ve got nerve! Don’t you know we’re from the Shangguan family? Watch your heads!”

*Slap!* Before he could finish, a palm struck his face. The striker cursed, “Damn right we’re hitting Shangguan men! If not for your family, we wouldn’t have been stuck here so long!”

This sparked a frenzy of vented frustrations—curses, punches, and kicks rained down from the Lin Farmstead villagers, who had long been stifled.

The Shangguan servants, accustomed to bullying others, had never endured such treatment. Some foolishly retorted, while those unhurt lashed back, creating chaos.

“Captain, what should we do with these horses?”

“Check them first—separate the usable ones from the useless. Report to General Zhang later. Damn it! A commoner’s family has better horses than our unit? I’ll make them pay.”

The speakers, dressed like villagers, carried themselves with military bearing.

Meanwhile, the group approaching the Lin Farmstead via the mountain path suddenly found arrows raining from all directions in a dense forest. With no escape, they were all down within moments. Then, figures emerged, swiftly stripping the secret workshop guards’ uniforms and dividing into three groups—some changing clothes, others delivering finishing blows, and the rest disposing of bodies.

—

In Shengcheng, within an elegant courtyard, Qi Biao stood by the window of a study, watching Lin Wu sweat profusely as he struggled with clay in the scorching heat. A subordinate reported:

“Master, after the Lin family’s old lady was fished out of her water vat by her crippled son, she’s been alternating between wailing and laughing, only crying about ‘retribution’ and nothing else.”

“Good. Reward him.”

Another subordinate said, “General Li has submitted a memorial to the court. A response should come soon.”

“Mm.”

“Master, Tan Liu sent word—everything is in place.”

“Mm.”

“Master, Steward Qi relayed that the Sixth Young Miss proposed a scheduled carriage service.”

“Oh? Explain in detail.”

…

“Master, the book collector said the texts you wanted have already been reserved by someone else. He may not yield them.”

“Mm. Prepare the horses. I’ll go personally.”