320: Chapter 320 A Reason Needed

Lin Xiao wore a thoughtful expression as he took a sip of tea.

Hua Nongying, standing to the side, was dying of anxiety. She desperately wanted to put in a good word for her Pavilion Master, but she was of low status and feared that saying the wrong thing might prove counterproductive.

"Pavilion Master, I wonder if you have heard a common saying."

Lin Xiao said meaningfully, "In this world, what is given for free is often the most expensive."

"Since you neither want fame and fortune nor wish to whitewash your identity, what exactly are you aiming for by wanting to join the Zhenbei Army's camp?"

"The fact that you want nothing only makes me suspect your motives."

Shu Yelan's expression was complex. She realized that whether in martial arts or depth of character, she was no match for this young man.

How naive and ridiculous it seemed now that she had previously thought she could use Lin Xiao to achieve her goals.

Indeed, in half a year, he had unified the Northern Territory and defeated the strongest vassal king. Few founding emperors in history could rival such an achievement.

It seemed that if she didn't lay her cards on the table, she would never truly gain Lin Xiao's trust.

"To tell you the truth, Lin Xiao, my ancestors were a branch of the previous dynasty's Xiao Imperial Clan."

Lin Xiao pretended to be surprised, "Oh? So you are from the Zheng Dynasty royal family?"

Shu Yelan sat up straight and nodded, "Although not the main branch of the royal family, we are still considered imperial relatives and nobility."

"Ever since the Zheng Dynasty was destroyed one hundred and fifty years ago, we have been planning to restore the Great Zheng Dynasty."

"My father, my grandfather, my great-grandfather... generation after generation, have all been working toward this goal."

"Because of this, our family changed our names, suffered countless casualties, and by my generation, there are not many people left."

"In fact, including Lou Suifeng, the Faceless Boy, and several Pavilion Masters of the Yanyu Pavilion, our ancestors all had ties to the Great Zheng Dynasty royal family."

"A major reason why Lou Suifeng broke with me is that he no longer wants to continue; he wants to cast off the heavy burden on his shoulders and live only for himself."

Lin Xiao chuckled, "That is understandable. What is the point of being so obsessed with restoring a dynasty that has been dead for so long?"

Shu Yelan sighed, "Indeed, I don't know how many times I have asked myself: is it really worth sacrificing so many people and the efforts of so many generations?"

"But Lin Xiao, one must do something while living in this world. Since I have already dedicated most of my life to this, how can I give up halfway?"

"If possible, if I can do my part and watch the current dynasty fall, it would count as avenging our great grudge and honoring our ancestors, wouldn't it?"

"As for the future... whether the new dynasty is the Great Zheng Dynasty, I dare not hope for that anymore."

Lin Xiao said playfully, "Then why are you so convinced that following me will help you achieve your goal? Aren't you afraid that I will capture you as a rebel and send you to the imperial court?"

"Heh... Lin Xiao, that is not up to you."

Shu Yelan smiled confidently, "For the past few months, while recovering from my injuries, I have been observing your every move, General."

"Lin Xiao and the Zhenbei Army are invincible on the battlefield, but that is only one aspect."

"In the Cang Province under your rule, all sorts of fresh innovations emerge one after another, from Northern Industry to coal mining, allowing the common people to live in peace and prosperity, with their lives getting better day by day."

"The Northern Trade Alliance is generating vast wealth, and speaking of Xinghua Village, in my opinion, it will become a holy land for scholars and wine lovers across the world within a year."

"By then, Cang Province, and even the entire Northern Territory, will become the most prosperous land in the world."

"Who in the world wouldn't be jealous of Lin Xiao's achievements? Would the General be willing to just hand over the military power and wealth in his hands to that person in the imperial palace?"

Shu Yelan shook her head, "In my view, other than changing the dynasty, Lin Xiao has no other path."

"The reason it is still peaceful now is only because those people in the imperial court have not yet truly reacted."

"But now that the fighting in the Northern Territory has ceased, with more and more trade and commerce, the person on the dragon throne will sooner or later be unable to restrain himself."

Lin Xiao had to admit that Shu Yelan's assessment was very accurate.

The Prince of East Sea, Prince of Donghai, hadn't he already been unable to restrain himself?

He had only discovered one "A-Lian", but in the places he couldn't see, there were likely hundreds or thousands of secret agents spying on all the industries that were making him money.

The thing about spy infiltration is that it cannot be completely prevented, because the human heart is unpredictable.

Apart from treating his subjects well and winning their hearts, he could only compete to see whose spies were more formidable and could infiltrate to the very bone!

"What you say makes some sense, but even when I was penniless and had nothing, I was still able to take down Prince Bai's army of three hundred thousand."

"Now my troops are strong and my horses are sturdy, my army of two hundred thousand is invincible, and I have everything—people, wealth, and resources!"

"In the face of absolute power, any petty, underhanded tricks are merely futile!"

Lin Xiao shook his head, "If I use you, it will give me a bad reputation if it gets out. It would be putting the cart before the horse and doing more harm than good."

Shu Yelan clenched her hands tightly, her willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed.

She didn't expect that even after saying all this, Lin Xiao still looked down on them?

The key was that Lin Xiao had full confidence; his military achievements were illustrious and his battle record was verifiable!

Her Yanyu Pavilion was just a small organization of a few stragglers in front of an army of two hundred thousand.

Two grandmasters and thirty percent of her elite forces had all been lost at the hands of Lin Xiao himself.

As a defeated opponent, what did she have to negotiate with!? Was she worthy!?

Lin Xiao was willing to sit here and talk to her about this likely only because of Zhu Ming and Ding Cuihua!

"Lin Xiao, how about this: we can do something for you without accepting any benefits."

"If we do it well, please give our Yanyu Pavilion a chance to serve you."

"If we don't do it well... we will not bring you any trouble, and we will absolutely not tarnish your reputation as the Great General of Zhenbei!"

Shu Yelan gritted her teeth. After thinking it over, she realized she could only achieve some results first before she could continue to negotiate terms with Lin Xiao.

"Lin Xiao, I also kneel and beg you!"

Hua Nongying knelt directly, speaking with sincere emotion:

"I know that I am of low status, but the Pavilion Master has shown me kindness. I am willing to offer all the income from my wine brewing, just begging you to give the Yanyu Pavilion a chance to redeem themselves through service!"

Seeing this scene, Liu Hanyi and Wang Liang, who were on the side, also knelt down. Although they didn't speak, their attitude was already one of submission.

Seeing the three of them like this, Shu Yelan's eyes turned slightly red; she had grown old, and her heart had grown soft.

Lin Xiao couldn't help but laugh, "Hua Nongying, do you think I am lacking someone to brew wine?"

"The Northern white liquor can be made without you. I was merely giving you women a way to survive!"

Hua Nongying's pretty face turned dim, "I naturally know that, but... but..."

"No need to say more!"

Lin Xiao stood up, walked to the door, and stood with his hands behind his back, "I recently captured a spy who is from the Qinhuai Pavilion in the Eastern Territory."

"The strange thing is that the woman actually uses the hidden weapons of the Japanese pirates."

"The Prince of East Sea, Prince of Donghai, I have heard that he is a virtuous king, but I feel that he seems to have some problems..."

Upon hearing this, Shu Yelan, who had previously looked dim, saw a glimmer of hope ignite in her eyes.

Lin Xiao turned back and asked calmly, "What does the Pavilion Master think?"

Shu Yelan stood up and said, "What the General says is very true. As far as I know, this Prince of East Sea pretends to suppress bandits but in reality colludes with Japanese pirates, defrauds military funds, plunders merchant ships, and oppresses the people. His crimes are heinous!"

"Oh? There is such a thing?"

Lin Xiao said in an irresistible tone, "I will give you half a year. I will not provide any help. Within half a year, I want to see a reason to send troops to the Eastern Territory!"

Shu Yelan was excited in her heart, cupped her fists, and said, "The Yanyu Pavilion will never let the General down!!"