Chapter 238: Across Vast Waters and a Thousand Mountains, Is One Million Taels Enough?
The grand court assembly concluded, and the official holiday for the New Year began!
The holiday was quite long, lasting for a full 15 days from the first day of the lunar new year until the Lantern Festival.
Excluding the first day, which was occupied by the court assembly, Lin Beifan had a total of 14 days of vacation, giving him plenty of time to rest.
On the morning of the second day of the lunar new year, Dali eagerly approached Lin Beifan. He was dressed neatly and stood upright, respectfully bowing as he said, “The new year has arrived! In this new year, I wish Young Master smooth sailing and continuous success!”
Lin Beifan grinned and replied, “Thank you! I accept your blessings. I also wish you a prosperous and fortunate new year, Dali!”
He then took out a red packet and handed it to Dali. The red packet was not large, containing 10 taels of silver, intended for good luck.
Dali was a bit puzzled, “Young Master, Young Mistress already gave me a red packet yesterday!”
Lin Beifan chuckled, “Is there such a thing as too much money? Just accept it. Buy something you like with it!”
“Thank you, Young Master!” Dali happily received the red packet.
Witnessing this, Xiao Cui quickly ran over, imitating Dali, she said gracefully, “I wish Young Master abundance and success in the five blessings!”
Lin Beifan was delighted, “Well said, Xiao Cui!”
He immediately handed her a red packet, and she gratefully accepted it.
Guo Shaoshuai also rushed over excitedly, “Young Master, may you have good luck in the new year, and may all your wishes come true!”
“Well spoken, you deserve a reward!” Lin Beifan said.
In this manner, Lin Beifan distributed red packets to everyone he met, and they all received their share.
Even the old monk from the Thundercloud Temple, who spent his time in meditation and chanting, received a red packet from Lin Beifan after uttering a Buddhist prayer. The old monk looked at the silver coins in his hand, feeling a bit flustered, “Ah, even I get one?”
“Of course! You’re my disciple and also my junior. It’s only natural for me to give you a red packet,” Lin Beifan confidently explained.
“Thank you, Master. I wish you a prosperous new year. Amitabha!” the old monk smiled.
As a seventy or eighty-year-old monk, receiving a red packet from someone else for the first time felt particularly novel!
“I heard someone was giving out red packets. Where, where?” Little Princess excitedly rushed in.
Lin Beifan weighed the few silver coins in his hand, indicating his intentions.
Little Princess immediately came before Lin Beifan, extending a hand and eagerly saying, “May you be blessed with wealth! Hand over the red packet!”
“Well said!” Lin Beifan was very happy and immediately put a few taels of silver into her hand.
Little Princess joyfully accepted the silver, then extended her other hand, eagerly saying, “May you have an abundant source of wealth and good luck!”
“Exactly!” Lin Beifan was delighted and put a few more taels of silver into her hand.
Little Princess was even happier. She accepted the silver pieces and held them in both hands, excitedly proclaiming, “Lin Beifan, I wish you to become a great and influential official of the Wu Dynasty, a powerful minister!”
The smile vanished from Lin Beifan’s face as he snatched the little princess’s purse and took out the silver pieces from inside. Confused, the little princess asked, “What are you doing? Why are you trying to grab my red envelope?”
Lin Beifan snorted, “You wished for me to become a great and influential official, which means I can’t be greedy for money, right? I’m giving you a red envelope, and yet you want to harm me? I’ll give you a chance to rephrase your words, or else I’ll take the money back!”
The little princess stayed silent.
Everyone burst into laughter.
In addition to relatives and friends coming to pay their New Year’s respects, many subordinate officials also came to pay their respects. It had become an unspoken rule in the officialdom to offer New Year’s greetings to superiors.
All the officials of Dedian Mansion came to Lin Residence together. They lined up neatly according to their ranks and bowed deeply, saying in unison, “We wish Prefect Lin a prosperous and successful year, with every wish fulfilled and continuous promotion!”
Lin Beifan was very pleased and replied, “I also wish all of you to have your wishes fulfilled and achieve continuous promotion! In the new year, I hope we can continue to work together, hand in hand, and make Dedian Prefecture an even better place!”
“We will heed Prefect Lin’s teachings!” the officials replied in unison.
Officials from the Imperial Academy also came to pay their respects.
Guo, the head of the Six-Doors, also brought his men to pay their respects.
For two consecutive days, Lin Beifan’s mansion was bustling with guests coming to pay their respects one after another.
Among the visitors that day, there was a prominent figure in purple.
“Princess Ziyue, Happy New Year! It’s been a while, hope you’re well!” Lin Beifan greeted with a smile.
Before him stood the fugitive princess of the Slanted Moon Dynasty—Princess Ziyue. After several months, she was still graceful and slender, with fair skin and enchanting beauty. Especially her pair of purple eyes, even more captivating, leaving people mesmerized.
From this, it could be seen that her cultivation had become even more profound.
Princess Ziyue smiled and said, “Sir Lin, it’s been a long time! In just a few months, you have been promoted two levels and become the Prefect of Dedian Prefecture! The speed of your promotion is truly astounding, I have to admire it!”
In her heart, she genuinely admired Lin Beifan! He led the young representatives of Great and achieved the most glorious victory in the history of the Yan and Wu Competition.
In less than four days, he brought millions of food to aid a million disaster victims. He invented the miraculous building material, cement, and in less than three months, without exhausting the resources of the court, built a city that could accommodate millions of people, solving all the problems of a million disaster victims.
Each of these achievements was real and enough to go down in history. They proved that Lin Beifan was a monstrous talent, excelling in both governance and military command. If she could win him over and have him wholeheartedly help her restore the dynasty, it would be wonderful! He alone was worth more than a million soldiers!
“Princess Ziyue, you flatter me! What important matter brings you here this time?” Lin Beifan asked with a smile.
Princess Ziyue’s expression turned serious as she said, “I came mainly to wish you a Happy New Year, Advisor, and to share the situation on our side with you, seeking your help in analyzing it!”
“Sir Lin, please listen!”
They entered the study together.
After a cup of tea.
Lin Beifan asked with a smile, “Princess, how is the situation in Wuxi? Is there any movement from the Wuxi Duke?”
“Advisor, we’ve developed rapidly in these few months, far beyond our imagination!” Princess Ziyue said with excitement. “Now, we have gathered 500,000 people in the Wuxi region, among which 100,000 have undergone training and become qualified soldiers! We have secret bases in almost every village, and we’ve dug 72 tunnels! We already have the strength to fight against the Wuxi Duke! After the New Year, we plan to start guerrilla warfare to show the Wuxi Duke how formidable we are!’
“That’s indeed fast! And what about the Wuxi Duke?” Lin Beifan asked.
“Duke Wuxi’s days are not going well!” Princess Ziyue spoke with even greater joy. “Since the incident with the Slanted Moon treasure, Duke Wuxi has suffered heavy losses, cut off ties with the Dayue Dynasty, and faced restrictions in development. Especially in terms of military strength and food, he has been at a disadvantage!”
“That’s why we have developed so rapidly! Furthermore, during Duke Wuxi’s conscription, we also sent people to join his army! Many of our people are hidden among his soldiers, and we know every move he makes! This way, when it comes to fighting, we will know our enemy and have favorable conditions!”
Princess Ziyue raised an eyebrow. “Advisor, am I smart?”
Lin Beifan gave a thumbs-up and praised, “Impressive, Princess! I admire you!”
Princess Ziyue felt a little embarrassed. Previously, Lin Beifan had come up with the plan for the Slanted Moon treasure, which outwitted everyone in the world, severely damaging the military strength of Duke Wuxi and the Dayue Dynasty, leaving them unable to recover for years! This was true top-level strategy! Her own petty tricks were nothing compared to the strategist’s brilliance.
Princess Ziyue was grateful and tearful. “It’s all thanks to the advisor! Without your help, we would still be insignificant! Your kindness to me and Slanted Moon surpasses the heavens! I don’t know how to repay you…”
Lin Beifan smiled, “It’s simple! As the saying goes, there’s no way to repay kindness unless…”
“Offer myself?” Princess Ziyue blushed shyly.
Lin Beifan was speechless, “You’re thinking too much! As they say, sentiment is worth more than a thousand gold, and money is like dirt to me! Just give me a little more money, after all, you’re so wealthy!”
Princess Ziyue looked up seriously, “Advisor, as long as you accompany me to Wuxi, both money and me are yours!”
Lin Beifan: “…”
Goodness!
This woman is trying to tempt me again!
And she’s targeting my weak point. Doesn’t she know that I can’t resist temptations?
After that, the two chatted happily, and time passed unconsciously. Princess Ziyue looked at the time, stood up reluctantly, and said, “It’s getting late. I should go back now! Military strategist, see you another day!”
Lin Beifan felt a bit lost, “Princess, are you leaving so suddenly?”
Looking at Lin Beifan’s reluctant expression, Princess Ziyue suddenly felt very happy and spoke softly, “Advisor, I’m already very happy to have spent this much time with you! We have a long future ahead, and we’ll have many more opportunities to meet!”
“In that case, I won’t stop you. Leave some money before you go! There’s a saying, “Love is beyond price,” how about 1 million taels?” Lin Beifan said eagerly.
Princess Ziyue’s mouth twitched, and she suddenly became a little angry!
She came from afar to see him, and he only remembers this?
Too much! Doesn’t she have any appeal beyond money and material possessions?
Princess Ziyue gritted her teeth and said, “Advisor, I have prepared a big gift for you. Close your eyes!”
“I’m not closing them! Who knows if you’re trying to take advantage of me?” Lin Beifan snorted.
“You don’t have to close your eyes!” Princess Ziyue suddenly pounced on him and hugged Lin Beifan’s head.
In the end, the princess got her way, leaving with a smug and radiant expression!
Lin Beifan was trembling with anger!
Damn it, she got her way again!
If I hadn’t hidden my true strength, how could she have taken advantage of me like this?
