BSI Chapter 343 Official or Bandit?
Chapter 343 Official or Bandit?
After the carriage had traveled for two hours, the mountains ahead gradually opened up, revealing a river valley.
The river valley is flanked by large paddy fields planted with rice and tea.
Farmers wearing short jackets and straw hats were working in the fields, bending over to plant rice seedlings.
On the distant hillside, stilted houses are scattered in a well-organized manner. They are made of bamboo and wood, with thatched or tiled roofs, and mountain delicacies and wild animals are hung in front of them.
At the end of the valley, the misty mountain peaks appear and disappear, like another world.
After Lan Fenghuang finished regulating her breathing, she opened her eyes, looking refreshed.
She glanced outside: "We're almost in the territory of Southern Yue."
Lin Chen hummed in agreement and looked outside as well.
He recalled what Jiang Zhen had said—the Hundred Tribes of Nanyue were nominally under the control of the Tribe Alliance Leader, but in reality, each tribe was autonomous and none of them submitted to the others.
The three largest tribes were the Black Water Tribe, the White Miao Tribe, and the Golden Tooth Tribe. The three tribes fought each other openly and covertly for hundreds of years.
He asked Lan Fenghuang, "Are you familiar with Southern Vietnam?"
"Not really close." Lan Fenghuang shook her head.
"I grew up in Nanzhao, and I know a little about Nanyue, but not much."
All we know is that they are brave and fierce, and their tribes often fight each other.
But they were very honest in business, especially with tea and medicinal herbs, which sold quite well in Nanzhao.
As they were talking, a village appeared ahead.
It's called a village, but it's really just dozens of stilted houses scattered on the hillside, surrounded by tea gardens and bamboo groves.
At the entrance of the village stands a tall wooden pillar, adorned with cow skulls and colorful strips of cloth that flutter in the mountain breeze.
Several men dressed in dark blue short jackets stood at the village entrance, with curved knives at their waists, watching the group with curiosity.
Lan Fenghuang said, "This is a small village belonging to the Bai Miao tribe. The Bai Miao people make a living by growing tea and are considered relatively mild among the hundred tribes of Nan Yue."
When the carriage entered the village, everyone in the village came out.
There were men, women, and children, all dressed in dark blue clothes with colorful patterns embroidered on the lapels and cuffs.
The woman wore a silver comb in her hair and silver earrings that jingled as she walked.
They peered around curiously, and several children peeked out from behind the adults.
An old man emerged from the crowd. His hair was white, his face was etched with deep wrinkles, and he was dressed more elegantly than the others, with intricate silver thread patterns embroidered on his clothes.
He spoke a few words in the Southern Vietnamese language, and Lan Fenghuang replied.
The old man's eyes lit up, and after saying a few more words, he turned around and shouted into the village.
Lan Fenghuang turned to Lin Chen and said:
"He is the village head, surnamed Bai. He said he welcomes the prince of Dayan to their village, as it is an honor for their village."
Lin Chen nodded and got off the carriage.
The moment my feet touched the ground, a wave of heat hit me, carrying the scent of earth and vegetation.
He looked around—the village was small, but clean.
Rows of stilted houses stand, with farm tools and firewood piled up downstairs and people living upstairs.
Several chickens were pawing at the ground in the yard, and a yellow dog lay in the shade with its tongue lolling out. It didn't bark at strangers, but just looked up at them and lay down again.
Old Bai walked over, bowed, and said in broken Mandarin, "Your Highness, please."
Lin Chen followed him into the village.
In the center of the village stands a large banyan tree, its canopy blocking out the sun.
Several bamboo tables and chairs were set up under the shade of the tree, and a few women were making tea over a fire.
The teapot, made of earthenware, was bubbling and steaming over the charcoal fire.
Old Man Bai invited Lin Chen to sit down and personally poured him a bowl of tea.
Lin Chen took it and drank a sip.
The tea soup is deep red in color and a little astringent at first, but the aftertaste is sweet and has a refreshing floral and fruity fragrance.
He nodded: "Good tea."
The old man smiled, his wrinkles smoothing out, and said a few more words.
Lan Fenghuang translated: "He said this is the best tea in their village, called 'Yunwu Qing' (Cloud and Mist Green), which grows in the clouds on the mountaintop and is only harvested once a year."
Lin Chen took another sip and put the bowl down.
Old Man Bai looked at Lin Chen and suddenly asked a question.
Lan Fenghuang's expression changed, and she glanced at Lin Chen.
Lin Chen asked curiously, "What did he say?"
Blue Phoenix hesitated for a moment, then said:
"He asked... Are you here to manage their affairs, like those officials before?"
Lin Chen paused for a moment, then smiled.
He knew what the old man was worried about.
In the past, when officials from Dayan came to Nanyue, they either wanted to seize territory or conscript laborers. In name, it was "trade," but in reality, it was almost like robbery.
Lin Chen thought for a moment and said to Lan Fenghuang:
Tell him that I was just passing through and took a look at the scenery of southern Vietnam.
Da Yan has no designs on Nan Yue, not in the past, and not in the future. Business will continue as usual, tea will continue to be sold, and everyone will live their own lives.
Lan Fenghuang translated it.
After listening, the old man's expression relaxed, and he nodded repeatedly, saying a few more words.
Lan Fenghuang said, "He said that's good. They are not afraid of war, but they want to live a peaceful life."
In the past two years, more merchants have come to Dayan, tea sales have been good, and life has become much better. I hope it will continue like this.
Lin Chen nodded: "Yes."
Old Man Bai stood up and called out to those behind him.
Several young men carried over a basket of fresh fruit and placed it in front of Lin Chen.
Golden mangoes, lychees, purple grapes, and a few wild fruits whose names I don't know were all neatly arranged.
Old Man Bai said a few more words, and Lan Fenghuang said:
"This is a small token of their appreciation; please accept it."
Lin Chen nodded and instructed his men to accept it.
Then he took out a gold ingot from his pocket and placed it on the table.
The old man waved his hands repeatedly, looking anxious, and said several things.
Lan Fenghuang said, "He said he didn't want gold. You're a guest; this is what they should do."
Lin Chen insisted and stuffed the gold into the old man's hand:
"Take it, I never eat for free."
The old man held the gold, his hands trembling slightly, and his eyes reddening.
He bowed deeply, then turned and shouted towards the village.
Several women ran out of the stilted house, carrying plates containing glutinous rice balls, grilled fish, and bamboo rice, and laid them out on the table.
Lin Chen didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up the bamboo rice and peeled it open. The aroma of glutinous rice mixed with the fresh scent of bamboo wafted out.
He took a bite; it was soft, sweet, and fragrant. He nodded, "Not bad."
Old Man Bai watched from the side, grinning from ear to ear.
After finishing his meal, Lin Chen took his leave.
Old Man Bai saw Lin Chen off at the village entrance, held his hand, and said many things to him.
Lan Fenghuang translated: "He said, 'You are a good person, unlike those officials of the past. He wished you good luck and a long life.'"
Lin Chen smiled and climbed onto the carriage.
The carriage continued forward.
Not far from the village, Lan Fenghuang suddenly said:
"The Nan Yue tribes have had a tough time these past few years. In the past, when officials from Dayan came, they either wanted to seize their tea gardens or conscript their laborers, which scared them so much that they would hide whenever they saw an official."
When you said you were just passing by, Old Man Bai almost cried.
Lin Chen leaned back on the cushions, gazing at the scenery outside the window, and slowly said:
"They are not subjects of Dayan, and Dayan has no reason to concern itself with their affairs."
Business is business, a fair exchange where each party gets what they need. Anyone who tries to take what belongs to others is a bandit, not an official.
Lan Fenghuang nodded and said nothing more.