“Yangcun relay station master David Kent greets the official!”

He said.

The old steward and Charles Howard followed suit and saluted. William Young imitated them, but unlike the others who bowed their heads, he saluted with his head held high, even looking at the other party with clear disrespect.

The official did not look at the station master, but instead turned his gaze to William Young.

William Young met his eyes calmly.

After all, he didn’t know this person.

The official had a bird embroidered on the front of his robe, indicating he was a civil official. The bird looked like a white pheasant, with a red beak and red legs, wings spread and a long tail trailing behind. However, William Young didn’t know much about these things and had no idea what the insignia meant.

The official suddenly smiled...

“Seize him!”

He pointed at William Young with his riding whip as he spoke.

A dozen soldiers who had already dismounted hurried forward.

Reacting instantly, William Young leapt up without hesitation, stepping on the bent back of the station master in front of him. Amid the latter’s wails, he jumped again, soaring twice to a height of three meters, and almost seemed to pounce at the official in midair. The official’s sword flashed from its scabbard, but it was still too late. In midair, William Young’s right hand shot out like lightning, grabbing the official’s sword-wielding wrist. As he landed, brushing past the horse, he pressed down, then sprang up a third time, dragging the official’s wrist behind him, and at the same time, flicked the sword up, holding it horizontally in front of the official’s neck.

Only then did cries of alarm ring out.

The soldiers were thrown into chaos, the station master lay on the ground still wailing, and Charles Howard and the old steward shrieked and retreated...

“Do you know what you’re doing?”

The official glanced coolly at the blade before his neck, then sneered without changing expression.

“Um, official sir, what’s the name of that white pheasant on your chest?”

William Young asked humbly.

“That is a silver pheasant, signifying a fifth-rank civil official. I am the Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and Censorate Inspector of Henan Circuit, James Grant, entering the capital by imperial order to have an audience with His Majesty. Are you not afraid that this act will get your entire clan executed?”

The official said.

Chapter 007: You Were Born a Beauty, Why Become a Thief

“Good thing I don’t have a clan!”

William Young said with a look of relief.

“Mr. Grant almost forgot you’re a runaway slave. With skills like yours, why not serve the country? Now that the Jianzhou Jurchens are rebelling in Liaodong, the court is in urgent need of talent. I, Mr. Grant, am likely to be appointed as the regional inspector of Liaodong after my audience in the capital. If you’re willing, you can come with me. As for your previous crimes, if you can earn merit on the battlefield, Mr. Grant can guarantee they’ll be wiped clean. Isn’t that better than being a fugitive?”

James Grant said.

He really could do this.

If William Young went with him to Liaodong, the Tianjin military authorities would naturally stop pursuing him. Once he earned merit on the battlefield, James Grant could use that to clear his name.

After all, his rank was high enough.

Earlier, William Young had asked Charles Howard about the identity of the man whose face he’d stomped. He was from the Fu family of Dongchang, but the highest-ranking member, Fu Guangzhai, had only been a vice inspector and had died years ago. The Fu family currently had no jinshi degree holders, just a few who had passed the provincial exam and held minor posts elsewhere. They were a top merchant family in Dongchang, but outside Dongchang, they weren’t much. Such a family wouldn’t dare openly challenge a powerful official like James Grant. Although James Grant was currently an Assistant Minister, after entering the capital he would be promoted to Right Vice Minister of War and regional inspector of Liaodong—a top-level provincial official.

However...

He could still be executed and his head sent to the border!

Besides, William Young didn’t know if he was just being tricked into putting down the sword, only to be betrayed with a single command. After all, they weren’t even acquainted.

“Not going!”

William Young replied bluntly.

“You were born a beauty, why become a thief?”

James Grant said.

“Even being a thief is better than being a conscripted criminal. Is being a soldier in the Ming dynasty really so glorious? Even someone like Qi Wuyi still has to grovel before a third-rank civil official. Besides, even if you go to Liaodong, you won’t be able to defeat the Jurchens. Maybe one day, after a defeat angers the emperor, your head will be sent to the border, and I’ll end up on the execution ground with you!”

William Young said viciously.

The surrounding soldiers all shouted in anger, and even Charles Howard and the old steward couldn’t help but wipe their faces in unison.

“How do you know Mr. Grant is useless?”

James Grant said.

“Can you ensure all the Liaodong military households are free from hunger and cold, and eat their fill like in the days of the Taizu? Can you guarantee all the soldiers get their full pay? Can you make sure the Liaodong generals don’t hold back their strength? You can’t do any of that, so how can you turn the tide? At best, you’ll just hole up somewhere. Do you dare lead the armies out to fight in the field? Then you’ll watch as the Jurchens keep capturing one fortress after another, until only Liaoyang and Shenyang are left, standing alone on a wasteland, facing a crowd of destitute refugees.

Be careful.

There are plenty of spies among the refugees.

When the Jurchens are at the gates, they’ll open them from the inside, and then you’ll lose even Liaoyang and Shenyang.

Besides, the Jurchens aren’t savages.

Back when they served under Li Chengliang, they already learned all the Ming’s secrets. Maybe they even have agents in the army. Do you believe that one day, those Liaodong generals who’ve known them for years will open the gates of Guangning from the inside at a critical moment?”