Because he couldn’t stand seeing the beggars in Pingnan City wasting their own labor power, Wei Yu decided to set out early for Jiaozhou.

Before leaving, Wei Yu asked Deng Guang for some general information about his younger uncle and left word that, if his uncle returned, he hoped they could meet at least once.

Deng Guang agreed and even generously gave them a cartload of dry rations when they left—for free.

To that, Wei Yu could only say: truly worthy of being a grain merchant—so lavish with his generosity.

From Pingnan to Ji Prefecture, if they took the official road, they would pass through two more prefectures along the way.

And once they left Pingnan, they were already within the borders of Jiaozhou. Within Jiaozhou, Wei Yu had once read in books about the popular temple fairs and poetry gatherings—and now had the chance to experience them in person.

However, since they were on the road, Wei Yu only got to briefly enjoy the bustle of various temple fairs in passing.

Well, except for the times when he was promoting glass.

Wei Yu firmly remembered his identity as a merchant. As he passed through the two prefectures, he made sure to take the opportunity to “drop” a couple of glass bottles.

One was at an open poetry gathering, where a group of students were enthusiastically reciting poems and composing couplets. Wei Yu generously offered up a glass bottle as inspiration for poetry, and used it as a prize for the first-place winner.

The other was in a large restaurant, where he deliberately made a bet with a rich young man who boasted about the rare treasures he owned. They each produced one item for everyone to judge, and Wei Yu used a glass bottle to trade for the man’s finely-carved sandalwood box decorated with gold-painted birds and flowers.

Ever since Wei Yu used a glass bottle to exchange for 1,200 taels from Qi Wu, he had taken the idea of using glass to pay off debt out of his plans.

Damn, it felt too immoral!

That old man only gave him 2,000 taels to go out with, unwilling to give him even a bit more, and yet a single glass bottle fetched half that amount!

If glass became popular across Great Wei in the future and ended up being worth just a few copper coins or a few taels, wouldn’t the people who paid such a high price for one now end up cursing him every day?

Wei Yu felt he was just too kindhearted.

Conscience—he really had a conscience.

Clearly, he wasn’t some shady merchant who made money off junk!

—

While Wei Yu was building up a name for glass in Jiaozhou, over in Ji Prefecture, the Second Prince and his group were trying to further drive a wedge between the mountain bandits and the local government.

Du Rulin was a straightforward man who dared to speak and act.

Once the Second Prince gave him permission to attack the bandits, he really led his men to a bandit hideout near Qiling County and, under the cover of night, wiped out over forty of them!

Du Rulin himself had only planned to take out the bandits, but one of his quick-witted subordinates had a different idea.

After looting the bandit hideout, the subordinate deliberately left an officer’s saber under the bed—to frame the government for the raid.

Sneaky tricks? Who doesn’t know a few?

The destruction of the bandit hideout would take time to be discovered. Du Rulin brought back the confiscated loot, thinking it would be a few days before any word spread—only for news to break that very afternoon that the government had crushed a group of bandits.

When he asked around, people said it was discovered by a woodcutter?

“Everyone knows there are bandits in those mountains—what woodcutter would dare wander into their den? How could it be such a coincidence!”

Du Rulin didn’t buy it and said so openly in front of the Second Prince and Gongsun Yi.

The Second Prince only smiled without saying a word.

Gongsun Yi poured a cup of tea and gestured for Du Rulin to sit.

Once he did, Gongsun Yi said, “Brother Du, your insight is impressive. Of course it wasn’t a coincidence. It was just a little rumor I had my people spread.”

Du Rulin had just raised his teacup but paused when he heard that.

He glanced at the smiling Second Prince, then at Gongsun Yi—and suddenly realized what was going on.

“Oh—I was wondering why His Highness suddenly agreed to let me wipe out the bandits. So that’s what this was about!”

He wasn’t a fool. When he recalled the subordinate who had planted the officer’s saber, it all clicked.

He had thought it was his subordinate’s clever idea and had been considering how to take credit in front of His Highness. But now, seeing how things were playing out, it must have been the prince’s instructions from the start!

Realizing this, Du Rulin fell silent.

Gongsun Yi gave him a sidelong glance and smiled. “Brother Du, are you upset we didn’t tell you?”

Du Rulin smacked his lips. “Nah, I’m not that petty. For brainy stuff like this, it’s fine if I don’t know.”

After all, he wasn’t eager to use his brain.

At that, the Second Prince spoke. “Lord Du, I had people spread the rumor simply to sow mistrust between the government and the bandits.”

“You did take out a small bandit group, true, but it’s not enough. The bandits might grow suspicious, but they won’t openly turn against the government. Meanwhile, the government, upon hearing the rumors, will likely send someone to explain. So, I need you to take further action.”

That clearly meant more work.

Du Rulin’s eyes lit up. “Your Highness, please give the order!”

The Second Prince gave a slight smile. “Have the ones watching the government kill those they send out to explain. And while you’re at it—pose as bandits and kidnap the county magistrate’s wife’s relatives.”

Whoa!

Truly, poison runs deepest in a prince.

Though cursing in his heart, Du Rulin responded quickly, “Rest assured, Your Highness. I’ll take care of it perfectly!”

They were all scum anyway—Du Rulin didn’t feel the least bit guilty about killing or kidnapping them.

That night, the spies keeping watch on the county office saw someone slipping out the back, attempting to ride out of the city.

Du Rulin, already lying in wait outside the city with his men, took them down with a single arrow as soon as they emerged.

As for the body? Du Rulin thought it over and decided to go with a more vicious setup.

He dumped the corpse right behind the city gate and even hung a sign on it that read—“Untrustworthy Scum.”

The common folk might not understand, but the magistrate certainly would.

After leaving the corpse there, Du Rulin led his men straight to the magistrate’s wife’s family home and kidnapped all the elders and nephews in one sweep!

The next morning, when the corpse was discovered and brought into the government office, the county magistrate was furious.

When he had heard the rumors that the government was behind the attack on the bandits, he had dismissed them as slander.

After all, if government soldiers really had attacked the bandits, wouldn’t he, the county magistrate, know about it?

He had even planned to go explain things to the bandits and clarify the misunderstanding—to convince them not to fall for some villain’s scheme.

And now what did those bandits do?

They killed the people he sent to explain—and insulted him like this?

Now the magistrate deeply suspected that the “villains” were the bandits themselves!

Driven by greed, dissatisfied with the current arrangement, they were now crying thief to catch thief—trying to break off the cooperation!

And this suspicion reached its peak when the magistrate learned that his wife’s entire family had been kidnapped overnight.