“Second Master, I’m so happy I could explode, I’m so happy I could explode! How did you do it, how did you do it…”

Henry Clark patted him on the back of the head and laughed, “Good Olivia, good Olivia.”

This child is truly a rough gem—utterly loyal, and also extremely clever. Each of these qualities alone is extremely rare, let alone both together.

Then, he noticed that Olivia’s finger was bleeding and scabbed over.

So, Henry Clark found a clean cloth, tore it into strips, and carefully bandaged him up.

“Olivia, under what pretense did you leave the palace?”

The young eunuch Olivia said, “My family paid money, Consort Yi pulled some strings, and we bribed Chief Steward Henry King to let me go south with a senior eunuch to purchase supplies. It’s considered a cushy job, but I only took the spot, didn’t get any of the perks.”

Henry Clark said, “Next, I’ll return to the capital with Big Brother at a normal pace. You head back a bit faster, but just normal fast—don’t wear yourself out.”

“I want to spend more time with Second Master, but whatever you tell me to do, I’ll do,” said Olivia.

Henry Clark said, “You need to pave the way for my return to the capital.”

Then, Henry Clark looked at William Clark and said, “Big Brother, I have something to say to Olivia alone.”

William Clark frowned, but still got out of the carriage.

After that, Henry Clark spoke with Olivia alone in the carriage for about a quarter of an hour.

Then, Olivia parted ways with them and went straight to the post station to change horses and head north, since he was on official business and could use the post stations and horses.

But Olivia said reluctantly, “Second Master, it’s almost dark. Why don’t we find an inn, and I’ll wash your feet one more time? Tomorrow morning I’ll ride north at full speed.”

He had been separated from Henry Clark for several years, and this time Henry Clark had survived a brush with death. Even half a day more by his side was precious.

……

Early the next morning, the young eunuch Olivia parted from Henry Clark and headed to the official post station, riding fast to return to the capital.

Meanwhile, Henry Clark, protected by several servants, once again headed to Xiangu Mountain.

“You all wait outside!”

Henry Clark entered the Tiger Cave and found the apple symbol left by the previous transmigrator.

Su Ye, have you gone home? Have you seen your parents?

He dug through the rubble and dirt, and inside was an oil-paper package.

Opening it, inside was a tablet computer and a solar panel, both intact.

He pressed the power button.

The screen didn’t light up—there was no power.

The solar panel was also out of power.

Henry Clark carefully wrapped the tablet and solar panel back up and locked them in a box.

From now on, this would be his second lifeline.

That transmigrator’s “pick-up artist” group had gone through long-term elimination. Now, those left were either truly impressive or total jokers.

There really were some top experts in there—several professionals.

This awesome WeChat group was used by the previous transmigrator as a tool for picking up girls.

But Henry Clark would unleash its true power.

……

On the road back to the capital, inside the carriage.

The joy of his younger brother’s return from the dead had already faded, and William Clark had returned to his usual stiff demeanor.

He was now trying hard to keep a stern face, wanting to show he was still angry, but couldn’t bear to actually scold him.

“Big Brother, did I cause a lot of trouble for the family?” Henry Clark asked.

William Clark said, “Before, you kept reporting victories and earning merit. We were all very happy, and your sister-in-law kept spending money. Consort Yi also fanned the flames. The Eight Banners have long been in decline, and now that we finally produced a talent, the court pushed you hard. Everyone said the Eight Banners had produced another Baturu, and they all wanted to praise you to the skies.”

Henry Clark gave a sheepish smile.

Now the Eight Banners were basically finished—the streets were full of loafers, and only Sengge Rinchen, that Mongol prince, was holding things together. It was hard enough to produce a talent, and he was a “red sash” at that. Of course everyone would hype him up.

Even the emperor was delighted, saying that even distant branches of the imperial clan could produce great talent. Consort Yi kept talking him up, making it even more remarkable. The emperor kept hearing Henry Clark’s name every few days, thought he was amazing, and wanted to promote him heavily.

So in a short time, Henry Clark was promoted to a fifth-rank military officer, Eric Clark to sixth-rank, and William Clark to Assistant Director of the Yunnan Department in the Ministry of Revenue, proper fifth rank.

In the last battle, Henry Clark deserted, turning what should have been a great victory into an almost total defeat, nearly collapsing the entire campaign.

Zeng Guofan was furious, and together with Hu Linyi, Shen Baozhen, and Taqibu, they all harshly impeached Henry Clark.

They reported to the emperor all of Henry Clark’s past deeds—buying his post, buying enemy heads, buying merit, losing battle after battle.

The emperor sent people to investigate, confirmed the truth, and flew into a rage. He felt deceived and ordered Eric Clark dismissed, William Clark demoted from Assistant Director of the Ministry of Revenue to Registrar of the Court of the Imperial Stud, and left Henry Clark, the “red sash,” to Zeng Guofan’s disposal.

Henry Clark’s family had already fallen on hard times, and only turned things around when William Clark married the salt merchant’s daughter Grace White and received a large dowry. They were just starting to prosper, but because of Henry Clark’s blunder, the whole family was knocked back to square one.

The previous transmigrator was just too unreliable—no sense of planning or strategy. Such a great situation, and it ended up like this.

How much of sister-in-law Grace White’s silver had been spent over the years? Nearly a hundred thousand.

With this status, and with the transmigrator group as a powerful tool…