The Slender Waist-Chapter 213 - 151 Acting for Heaven

Feng Yun first set her sights on the Liu household in the eastern part of the city.

Liu Yan’s grandfather had served as a Military Governor, a prominent and influential family, crowded with wives and concubines, flourishing with descendants, reveling in abundance, occupying half of Yuqing Alley in the eastern city. Their three-story earthen building towered in Yuqing Alley and could be seen from afar.

Upon closer inspection, the iron-cast gates were towering and even taller than the government offices, with holes for shooting arrows in the wall, and a considerable number of servants and retainers. From the day the war started, the Liu family had closed off their doors to visitors and had been indifferent to external affairs.

Feng Yun sent someone with a visiting card and then, putting on men’s clothing and struggling with herself as she tied up her chest, she visited as an official of the Great General in charge of the grain supply, bringing gifts with her.

A jade-inlaid floral knife, crafted in the workshops of the Tu Family Fort, sharper and more delicate than those commonly available in the market—a gift good enough to present. An embroidered fan with jade pendants, made by the skilled hands of Ying Rong who mentioned giving it to Mrs. Liu as a token of courtesy.

In fact, it was an approach of courtesy before coercion.

Liu Yan cursed under his breath, but with visitors at his door, he still had to greet them with a smile, settled them in the flower hall, called his wife to exchange pleasantries, and then began to lament.

"The war situation is uncertain; one does not know when the General will lift Bingzhou’s plight. Ah, seeing the decline of Bingzhou’s people, a sight of desolation, truly breaks Liu’s heart."

Feng Yun said, "Liu Gong is benevolent."

After offering compliments, Feng Yun got straight to the point without beating around the bush.

"At present, the city’s common people are without grain and are having an incredibly difficult time. If aristocratic families like Liu Gong generously distributed grain and acted benevolently, that would be wonderful."

What does it mean to generously distribute grain?

Liu Yan’s eyelids twitched as he looked at Feng Yun’s smiling face, and then glanced at the silent Wen Xingsu beside her, and swallowed hard.

"Not to hide from you both, although Liu’s family appears substantial, it is actually an empty shell. With more people come more mouths to feed. We’re barely able to fill our own bellies, let alone spare grain for others to eat and drink..."

Feng Yun: "I don’t believe it."

She had brought gifts simply as a formality; her blunt manner of speaking was not to be taken lightly.

"Who doesn’t know of Liu Gong’s wealthy foundation, one of the most significant in Bingzhou City? Last year Liu Gong spent a fortune to take in two concubines, casually dealing out death when drunk without showing pain over the money. Now in these hard times, is it so difficult for Liu Gong to lend a bit of grain to get by?"

Liu Yan’s internal cursing intensified, his face filled with awkwardness.

"Not at all, not at all..."

Feng Yun had come prepared, thoroughly understanding his affairs.

"There is no need for Liu Gong to be polite, how about this proposal? From today onward, Liu Gong could provide porridge outside his door, serving the people from Yuqing Alley to Emerald Bamboo Square with two meals a day."

Having said this, she clapped her hands.

Xiaoman quickly presented a small map.

It was hand-drawn by Feng Yun, showing the area Liu’s household was tasked with.

"Within this area, if any disaster-stricken people starve to death, it is because Liu Gong’s compassion is lacking."

Liu Yan was furious.

The lady before him was extremely shameless, demanding grain so boldly and even assigning him tasks. Had Pei Jue spoiled her to the point of recklessness, treating a feather as a commanding baton?

Feng Yun pretended not to notice the fierce light in Liu Yan’s eyes, smiling faintly.

"Of course, the General will not mistreat Liu Gong."

She shook her sleeves and gave Liu Yan a bow.

"The General will issue commendatory decrees and craft plaques for Liu’s residence to extol Liu Gong’s virtue and integrity, to be renowned for generations to come."

He was expected to give so much just for a few words of praise?

Liu Yan scoffed twice, "It’s not that Liu is unwilling, but it’s truly difficult to cook without rice. From Yuqing Alley to Emerald Bamboo Square, that’s at least three to four hundred households. For Liu’s household to supply them all, it’s just not possible."

"Liu Gong, please consider carefully. I await your good news tomorrow." Feng Yun wasn’t very patient, "I still have other houses to visit, so I won’t stay long."

From start to finish, there was not the slightest hint of humility or pleading on her face for the grain, just parading with guards through the streets, making it clear, "If you do not agree, tomorrow I will bring people to confiscate your property."

Liu Yan was so angry he almost fell ill, going pale.

Still smiling, Feng Yun gave him a deep bow.

"Liu Gong needn’t see me out. You look unwell; best to rest more and accumulate virtue and goodwill. Farewell!"

-

On the way back, Xiaoman asked Feng Yun with great curiosity.

"In Andu, miss, when you asked the Wang Family for grain, it was done secretly. Why be so ostentatious in Bingzhou, risking your reputation?"

Feng Yun: "Andu is different."

Xiaoman asked, "How is it different?"

Feng Yun laughed and said, "Bingzhou is besieged by the Qi Army, and the people are anxious, whereas Andu was occupied by the Northern Yong Army. As long as the Northern Yong Army didn’t misbehave, the people were hopeful."

Andu needed soothing, while Bingzhou required intimidation.

Being too secretive would only be counterproductive...

Moreover, she had a feeling that the days of noble families with power over politics, and clans controlling the world, would not continue forever.

One day, the rules would change, the sky would change.

She intended to be the one to break the old patterns.

Feng Yun obtained a map of Bingzhou City from Tan Dajin. She marked positions, divided territories, outlined the jurisdictions of significant households, and carefully assessed their wealth...

Then, without rest, she went from one family to another to negotiate and make arrangements. She also commandeered the clerks of Wen Xingsu to serve as her documenters.

Wen Xingsu, following her, witnessed the multifaceted nature of Feng Yun, filled with surprise, reassurance, and a touch of despondency.

She had grown stronger.

No longer the maiden who could be bullied by just anyone.

And she no longer needed him as she had in her childhood.

_

The coercion and temptation of Feng Yun had no immediate effect.

The next day, of the few families she visited, only one offered porridge outside their door, in two neither large nor small wooden buckets. The porridge was so clear you could see reflections in it, clearly given just to save face. Others simply resisted in silence, not taking Feng Yun’s threats seriously, or perhaps they were all watching to see how others would act, to see how the situation would develop...

They were all sly foxes indeed.

Feng Yun called Xiaoman in.

"Change clothes. I need to make a trip to the Liu Family."

Xiaoman saw no expression on the maiden’s face, nor any sign of anger, and then eased up, "Does the maiden need to bind her chest?"

"Bind it." Though binding her chest was somewhat uncomfortable, it reduced resistance while walking, allowing for broader steps and a more imposing presence. It also prevented those people from staring at her chest when they met her, reducing respect.

Xiaoman responded with a sound and fetched the cloth strips.

"Maiden, why bother to show yourself in these matters? Wouldn’t it be better to have the general send someone to handle this..."

Feng Yun laughed lightly, without responding.

She couldn’t tell Xiaoman how significant it was for her to have this opportunity to make a public appearance and handle matters personally, which she fought hard to secure under the general’s office.

—

When the sounds of shouting and killing reached his ears, Liu Yan was eating in his house. He had been somewhat restless since the morning, not because he intended to oppose the Northern Yong army, but because Pei Jue hadn’t come personally, sending a maiden instead. He thought he could still put on airs and wait to see the consequences.

He didn’t believe Feng Yun could accomplish anything significant.

Therefore, upon hearing the news of a killing, he couldn’t quite believe it.

"Did you see clearly? Was it someone sent by that maiden surnamed Feng?"

The servant was so anxious sweat covered her forehead, nodding incessantly.

"Yes, yes, the maiden was also there, chopping down anyone she saw, without a shred of mercy..."

From the moment she decided to make an example by killing, Feng Yun had not left any way out for the Liu Family.

Striking like thunder was about being ruthless and swift.

She needed to subdue the Liu Family to then exchange for greater benefits from the hands of the major families like the Zhang, Li, Xie, and Zhou Families.

Hence, she came leading a parade of people.

Even smashing gongs to alert the whole Yuqing Alley.

"The Liu Family is hoarding official grain, valuing grass over human life."

"Today, enacting justice on heaven’s behalf, killing the rich to aid the poor, all confiscated grain will be distributed to the villagers to survive, and the Northern Yong army will not keep a single grain..."

Feng Yun casually concocted a charge, which sounded somewhat perfunctory, but the confiscation was done in earnest, leaving not even the pickled vegetable pots on the Liu Family’s stove untouched.

The Northern Yong Army hadn’t resorted to killing or arson in Andu, so Liu Yan never expected to be the one subjected to the blade...

He gnawed on his teeth, begging for mercy with resentment, but it was too late. By taking things this far, Feng Yun intended to burn all bridges behind her. Only by killing Liu Yan could she achieve the desired deterrence.

"Kill him."

Liu Yan’s eyes widened.

He couldn’t believe it, "You, you dare to kill..."

"Dare," Feng Yun interrupted before he could finish his sentence, "Liu Gong hasn’t understood one thing. Ultimately, it might be the Qi army surrounding the city, but it’s still the Northern Yong army that decides Liu Gong’s fate."

"You, you, you..."

"Liu Gong is all about righteousness," Feng Yun bowed to him, "To take your life for the countless lives of Bingzhou’s people is a great merit. In the next life, Liu Gong is destined to be reborn into a wealthy and noble family."

Even on his deathbed, she painted a future for him, including the next life.

Liu Yan’s face turned pale with deathly ash.

Then, pinned down by two guards, he was terrified into fainting.

Although the Liu Mansion had many retainers, Wen Xingsu personally led the team to confiscate their property, making them pale in comparison. Within a few exchanges, they were all pushed to the front yard, kneeling en masse.

As Wen Xingsu walked over with his knife, he could hardly believe that the words "kill him" came from the mouth of Feng Yun, who wouldn’t dare to kill a chicken.

He held his breath, fixating his gaze onto Feng Yun’s back.

Feng Yun, sensing something, turned back with a smile on her face.

"I still have two more families to visit. I’ll leave this place in your hands, elder brother."

She also left a particular instruction.

"Spare the women and children, the rest is at your discretion."

She knew her elder brother was kindhearted and wouldn’t kill.

After making harsh statements, she strode away with her entourage.

She would play the villain; let the reputation of the good guy remain with her elder brother.