Finest Servant

Chapter 337

Chapter 337 Duped in the Same Trough, Men Are No Match for Horses!

The Emperor burst into a hearty laugh, saying, "Bravo, Lin San! You have outdone the wily maiden of Goryeo and made the Turk counselor submit. Truly knowledgeable and insightful you are. Minister Xu, you have indeed recommended a significant talent for my Great Hua."

A smile crept onto Xu Wei's face. With such praise from the Emperor, Lin San's rise to prominence was just around the corner, even though the Emperor had already commended him the day before. Su Mubai turned pale and his face grew darker upon hearing this. Upon noticing his reaction, Prince Cheng merely smiled and said nothing.

Half of the questions had been answered. Korea had got the first question right, Tuju had triumphed in the second, and Lin Wanrong had passed both. As long as he got one more question right, he would stand firmly in an unbeatable position. Both Yi Seung-Jae and Ashile were a bit nervous; they hadn't expected that all their strategists combined would still fall short of the diminutive Lin San.

The young palace maid named Cuiyun fetched the envelope containing the third question, scanned it, and read aloud, "The third question is, could you all please turn around--"

Everyone turned around in confusion, only to hear the distant hoofbeats that made the ground tremble. Dozens of cavalries galloped toward them, cracking their whips to urge hundreds of fine horses. These hundred horses, all white with white hooves, seemed as if they were all molded from the same cast, and it was impossible to distinguish their ranks.

But the oddity did not end there. Behind this fleet of white horses came several more cavalries, herding a herd of white foals. The herd of foals, also all white, resembled a flurry of large, fluttering goose feathers in the snow, causing a thrill in the hearts of the spectators. The two groups of white horses arrived in front of everyone. The horses neighed and their voices rose and fell, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

Cuiyun smiled and said, "Now, we have one hundred white mares and one hundred white foals on the field. They are mother and child. The third question proposed by Princess Nishang is for you to help the hundred mother horses find their foals."

Having already answered two questions, Lin Wanrong had a taste of Princess Nishang's tricky and peculiar challenges. Other ladies tested suitors on either their literary or martial prowess during courtship, but she, being a royal princess, enjoyed these non-literary, non-martial things. It was strange indeed. He didn't know how she came up with this game of helping foals find their mothers. Wasn't this intentionally making things difficult?

The Turks were all generations of nomads on the grasslands. They had an innate understanding of horses, and upon hearing Princess Nishang's question, they all showed delight. Who could be more familiar with the nature of horses than them? Princess Nishang was clearly helping them in secret.

Lu Dongzan and Ashile, while whispering to each other, pointed around at the Turkish cavalries, seemingly assigning tasks. In the Korean camp, the Palace Lady Seo and Yi Seung-Jae had a discussion, frowning slightly as if they hadn't figured out a solution yet.

After Lu Dongzan and Ashile finished their discussion, Lu Dongzan stood up joyfully and shouted, "Miss Palace Maid, we the Turks have found a way to differentiate."

Upon hearing this, Yi Seung-Jae was taken aback and hurriedly whispered something to the Palace Lady Seo. Seo Jang Geum looked troubled, and slightly shook her head. Yi Seung-Jae let out an annoyed snort.

Seeing their expressions, Lin Wanrong couldn't help but chuckle. This young prince of Goryeo, aside from relying on women for ideas, really seemed to lack any merits.

Cuiyun nodded and said, "The representative of the Turks, please proceed."

Lu Dongzan declared proudly, "The Turks have always lived on the prairies and grown up on horseback. We have our unique ways of recognizing and distinguishing horses. Even though there are a hundred mares and a hundred foals, there are dozens of Turkic cavalries who are experts at identifying horses. For them, each one to find the mothers for ten foals is not a difficult task. We will use this method."

Lin Wanrong understood. They were planning to use their horse-identifying skills, resorting to brute force to pair up the foals with their mothers. It was indeed a solution, albeit a bit clumsy.

As they were speaking, dozens of Turkic cavalries had already dashed on their horses toward the foals. Each of them picked ten foals and, in the blink of an eye, had divided them into ten groups, each man handling precisely ten foals. The Turks, as people of the horse, had a command and understanding of horses that the soldiers of Great Hua could not match.

"Charge!" Ten Turkic cavalries, each driving a group of foals, plunged into the herd of mares. They were to rely on their eyesight and experience, examining the color, markings, and physique of the horses. In the vast herd of mares, they were to find the mothers of these foals, relying solely on their years of experience with horses, with no shortcuts available.

Li Tai looked at the Turkic cavalries with a deep concern, sighing after a while, "These Turkic people indeed have extraordinary talent. When it comes to horse-riding, no one can compete with them."

As the foremost general of Great Hua, his words carried considerable weight. The Emperor gravely asked, "General Li, in your opinion, do we have a definite chance of victory in our campaign against the nomads?"

Li Tai nodded and said, "Your Majesty, do not worry. Great Hua has infantry, cavalry, and the divine machine unit. If these three branches coordinate effectively, even if the nomads are unmatched in horse-riding, this old servant can still defeat them."

The Emperor seemed relieved and a smile appeared on his face. "Then, tell me, based on the Turkic method, can they really identify all the foals and their mothers? I don't believe it's necessarily so."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Li Tai laughed, "The Turks rely on their eyesight, which is rather unreliable. Experience and perception are important, but the number of horses is vast. If they want to distinguish among them, it's certainly not easy. I guess if they can identify eighty percent of them, it would be quite impressive."

Down below the city, the Goryeo delegation saw the Turks' confidence and grew increasingly anxious. If the Turks won this round, Goryeo would naturally be eliminated. However, they weren't adept at identifying horses and couldn't come up with a clever idea on the spot. Everyone was in a frenzy of anxiety, even the face of Palace Lady Seo was full of worry.

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"Sir!" a gentle voice echoed beside Lin Wanrong.

Lin Wanrong, who was amused watching the Turks taming the horses, turned his head upon hearing the voice. He saw Seo Jang Geum, with wide-open eyes and a charming face, standing by his side.

"Oh, Lady Jang Geum, are you looking for me?" Lin Wanrong asked with a smile.

"Sir, aren't you worried?" Palace Lady Seo whispered, her anxiety clear in her eyes.

"Anxious? What good would that do?" Lin Wanrong shook his head. "The Turkic people trust their own judgment, let them proceed. I only trust facts."

From Master Lin's words, it seemed that he doubted the Turks would succeed so smoothly. Lady Jang Geum's eyes lit up. "You mean, the Turkic people aren't fully confident either?"

Lin Wanrong chuckled and looked at her. Jang Geum quickly lowered her gaze, avoiding his.

"Palace Lady Seo," Lin Wanrong smiled, "Did you come here to inquire about the Turkic people or to probe me? You're too honest and can't hide your kindhearted eyes."

Lady Seo lowered her head, blushing. "Master Lin, I'm really sorry. I came here partly to hear your opinion about the Turkic people, and partly to know if you've figured out a solution. This marriage proposal for the prince isn't a simple matrimonial issue for us people of Goryeo. It's a matter of life and death. Even if I had to shatter into pieces, I wouldn't hesitate."

At this, Lin Wanrong felt a stirring in his heart. Lady Jang Geum's words implied that they were under pressure. An alliance between the Turks and Great Hua would not bode well for Goryeo, given their weakness. Goryeo's indecisiveness was suggestive. However, if Prince Yi could marry the princess, it would be like clinging onto Great Hua's thigh; the benefits would be immense.

"Are the Turks pressuring you? Or is it Dongyin?" Lin Wanrong tried to probe, his gaze fixed on Palace Lady Seo's expression.

"I'm sorry for troubling you," she said, her face changing. She bowed deeply and hurriedly turned to leave.

Lin Wanrong shook his head in resignation. This girl was no spy material. "Lady Jang Geum, the Turkic people can discern at most eighty percent correctly," he called out loudly.

"Master Lin, what did you say?" Lady Jang Geum stopped in her tracks, turning to look at him. "Are you that confident?"

"It's not about confidence, it's about science," Lin Wanrong smiled. "The Turkic people choose horses based on experience, which seems reliable, but they cannot escape the laws of statistics. Each rider has ten foals. The first time, he must choose one out of a hundred mares. To ensure he picks correctly, he must compare all hundred mares—that's one hundred comparisons the first time. Let's say he's correct the first time, for the second foal, he must compare ninety-nine times, and so on. Ninety-eight for the third, ninety-seven for the fourth, until ninety-one for the tenth. Ah, is this concept too complicated? Do you understand, Jang Geum?"

Lady Jang Geum contemplated for a moment before nodding. "Master Lin, I understand some of it. You're correct. For each foal, they would have to make at least ninety comparisons."

"That's more like it." Lin Wanrong nodded. "Such frequent comparisons are tedious and mundane. The Turkic people are also human, aren't they? Would they not make mistakes? Just one small mistake by any of them could cause the other foals to be misidentified, leading to a series of errors. And errors are cumulative. If ten people cross-mistake, my goodness, it would be unimaginable."

Lady Jang Geum seemed to half-understand the sequence of analyses, but she knew Master Lin, appearing casual on the surface, was sharper than anyone else deep down. She nodded solemnly. "Master Lin, thank you. I also believe the Turks don't have full certainty. But you, Master Lin, you—” she paused, didn't finish her sentence, and then bowed to Lin Wanrong before hurriedly retreating back to the Goryeo delegation.

Over there, Lu Dongzan, leading dozens of Turkic cavalries, had already started selecting the mares. The Turkic people's sharp eyes reunited five mother-child pairs in a blink. Lin Wanrong smirked inwardly. Those easily discernible were simple; the tricky part would come later.

The young Georyeo Prince Yi Seung-Jae glanced at Lin Wanrong, gave a few instructions to Senior Palace Lady Han, then hurried over. "Master Lin, my respects."

What was he here for just after Palace Lady Seo left? Lin Wanrong chuckled. "Hello, Prince. Why aren't you watching the horse taming? Why come to me?"

Prince Yi sighed. "Master Lin, how could I have the mood to watch horses? Honestly, I'm here on my father's orders, committed to marrying Princess Nishang and taking her back to my country. However, the current situation is particularly unfavorable for Goryeo. Master Lin—" He looked at Lin Wanrong, hesitating to continue.

Here it comes, the lad was up to something. Lin Wanrong purposely furrowed his brows. "The King of Goryeo has high expectations for the young Prince; it's your duty to strive. Princess Nishang is yet to be married, you still have plenty of opportunities."

Prince Yi gave a bitter smile. "Our Goryeo nation is weak, and talents are scarce. It's hard for us to compete with the talents of Great Hua and the fierce warriors of the Turkic people. In today's Princess's marriage proposal meeting, we barely managed to answer one question; we have no confidence in what's coming next. And Princess Nishang is of utmost importance to Goryeo. Therefore, I would like to ask for your help—"

"Help? Prince, you jest." Master Lin's lips curved into a smile, his expression full of implied meaning. "You're of noble status, how could I help?"

"I can be helped, indeed I can," Prince Yi insisted. "Before coming to your esteemed country, I had heard that Master Lin is the first scholar of Great Hua, renowned far and wide. Having spent these few days with you, I find your knowledge extensive and your learning extraordinary. You are indeed the most promising young official of Great Hua."

A cold sweat broke out on Lin Wanrong's forehead. When did he become Great Hua's first scholar? Wouldn't Old Xu want to fight him if he heard this? Moreover, when he was in Jinling, how did Prince Yi, being in Goryeo, hear his name? This Goryeo man's flattery was simply too cheap, not even as moving as Lady Jang Geum's smile.

"All I ask is for you, Master Lin, to secretly convey to me the answers for the upcoming challenges. I would be willing to offer a thousand gold pieces, a thousand rolls of silk, a hundred pieces of agate, and personally deliver them to your residence." Circling around the matter, Yi Seung-Jae finally revealed his offer - a thousand taels of gold, a thousand rolls of silk, a hundred pieces of agate. The proposal was almost comparable to the dowry prepared for Princess Nishang. Indeed, for the hand of the princess, Goryeo was sparing no expense.

‘Just to placate me with such trifles, does he take me for a rustic bumpkin? I, Master Lin, am selling knowledge and ideas, irreplaceable even by a fortune.’ Master Lin pretended to ponder, "Well, Prince, you honor me too much. Truth be told, I am but a low-ranking official, as insignificant as a sesame seed. My knowledge and wisdom are shallow, even less than that of Mount Kumgang. Even if you were to offer me ten thousand taels of gold, I could not accept it. Lady Seo has already instructed me, and the Emperor has been exceedingly gracious to me, how could I take your offering? No, no, it's impossible! Besides, my family is in business, so I have no shortage of silver."

‘Does he think I'm unaware of his background? What kind of business does his family do? He's nothing but a small servant in the rich household of Xiao in Jinling, deceitful and wicked. It's just by good fortune that he has somehow caught the Emperor's favor and donned the skin of a man. His claim to have a share in the Xiao family's fortune is nothing but a farce.’ Yi Seung-Jae silently scoffed at the man's audacity, left with nothing but admiration for his shamelessness.

"Master Lin, I see you and Lady Seo converse joyously, seemingly getting along quite well," Yi Seung-Jae subtly shifted the topic away from wealth, somehow steering the conversation toward Seo Jang Geum.

Lin Wanrong was momentarily stunned, then nodded graciously, "Indeed, indeed. I heard of Jang Geum quite some time ago. Meeting her felt like reuniting with an old friend."

Yi Seung-Jae nodded, "Palace Lady Seo is a remarkable woman from my country, Goryeo. She is sincere, kind, and full of love. Her medical skills are superb, she has broad knowledge, and she is known for her exceptional intelligence. Not only is she loved by the people, but she is also favored by my parents, the King and Queen. Despite her young age, she has become the chief physician in the palace. In both the palace and among the public, she holds high prestige."

What was this prince up to? As Yi Seung-Jae persistently shifted the conversation toward Lady Seo, Lin Wanrong grew more puzzled.

"Lord Lin," Yi Seung-Jae's eyes flashed, "You have a deep relationship with Palace Lady Seo. If you like, I can inform my father and offer Seo Jang Geum to you. What do you think?"

Lin Wanrong could hear the rapid beating of his own heart. Offering Jang Geum to him? Was he mistaken? The legendary woman of the peninsula, the idol of the Korean people, offered to him, to soothe him daily with her silver needles and foot massages? What a luxurious indulgence! This was a temptation! An absolutely irresistible temptation! This Yi Seung-Jae truly was willing to gamble everything.

Lin Wanrong glanced at Palace Lady Seo in the distance. She was discussing something with the Senior Palace Lady Han. Her furrowed brows, her snowy complexion, her delicate cheeks, her tempting lips, full of charm, were truly heart-stirring.

‘All the while, you toil and strain, little realizing your master has already sold you. What a pity.’ Lin Wanrong slowly shook his head. If not for the fact that this journey concerned Qingxuan, Lord Lin might seriously consider Yi Seung-Jae's tantalizing offer.

"Young Prince, I'm afraid this won't work. My relationship with Lady Seo is merely a friendship, without any romantic intentions. I believe you've misunderstood," Lin Wanrong said flatly, feeling an unspeakable aversion towards Yi Seung-Jae, "As for the matter of marriage, I'm a citizen of Great Hua, and Princess Nishang is the angel of Great Hua. I cannot do anything that would betray Great Hua. Please, return to your place."

Yi Seung-Jae was stunned. How had Lord Lin's demeanor changed so drastically? From a corrupt official indulging in bribery to a profound patriot. He shook his head in frustration and left with disappointment.

‘Palace Lady Seo, I helped you once, but I won't be able to help you a second time. I hope your master won't send you off to Dongying next time, that would be tragic indeed,’ Lin Wanrong sighed heavily. Even an exceptional woman couldn't escape a grim fate.

The Turks moved swiftly. In the time they spoke, more than forty pairs of horses had been prepared. The majority of spectators in the square were from Great Hua, and they marveled at the sight of the Turks handling the horses so skillfully. No wonder the nomadic tribes were so fierce, no one could rival their horse-riding skills.

As the pairing continued, Lin Wanrong's theory of statistics became increasingly evident. One hundred identical white horses, one hundred identical foals. Identifying lineage with the naked eye, without making a single mistake, was nearly impossible. As soon as one person made a mistake with one horse, a series of effects would follow. When they reached the sixtieth pair, the Turkish cavalries visibly slowed down, and both Lu Dongzan and Ashile started to show signs of tension. The remaining horses were difficult to distinguish, often requiring a group of ten to deliberate before a match was made.

Indeed, as Master Lin expected, the Turks ran into trouble. Seo Jang Geum let out a small sigh, and stole a glance at Lin Wanrong. Master Lin was staring at the hundreds of white horses, lost in thought.

"Master Lu!" Lin Wanrong approached the busy Lu Dongzan. "Is it becoming more challenging as we progress?"

Lu Dongzan, being a sage of the Turkic Khanate, had an open mind. He laughed in response, "Yes, it's getting harder to distinguish the horses, which takes more time."

Lin Wanrong smiled, "You don't need to work so hard, I've thought of a simple method. Sister palace maid, may I try?"

Lu Dongzan looked at Lin Wanrong in surprise. He had witnessed Master Lin triumph twice before. If he cracked this round too, then Master Lin would be a true genius.

The palace maid, Cuiyun, replied, "Of course, you may. Master Lu, you've paired sixty-five couples within one hour. If Master Lin can pair more within the same period, then he wins. What do you think?"

Lu Dongzan nodded, "That sounds fair. Master Lin, it's your turn."

Cuiyun waved her hand, and the successfully paired sixty-plus mares and foals were led away. Then, another sixty or so identical white horses and foals were brought in to mingle with the rest. The whole body of snow-white steeds and foals neighed together, creating a thunderous sound that vibrated the eardrums.

Lin Wanrong walked into the herd of foals, gently stroking the soft mane of one. He turned to a cavalry feeding the horses nearby, "Brother, it must take a lot of effort to take care of these purebred white horses," he commented.

The knight nodded, "These are purebred Dawan horses, large and fast. They require careful feeding. Every hour, they must be given high-quality feed, each horse to its own trough, and never two to the same. The nearly two hundred horses here have been waiting for nearly two hours, and the foals are so hungry that they're crying out."

"Just as I expected," Lin Wanrong gave a small smile, then raised his voice to address everyone present, "Brothers, let's bring the feed up first and give these mothers a good meal."

The cavalries, who were also the grooms of the white horses, approved of Master Lin's suggestion. Immediately, they brought up over a hundred troughs, each filled with high-quality feed. The mares lowered their heads and began to eat.

The foals had been hungry for a while and seeing food served yet not being able to eat, they started to cause a commotion, kicking their hooves and bounding about.

Lin Wanrong nodded, "Brothers, please put muzzles on the foals."

Muzzles were cages made of bamboo that fit over a horse's mouth, designed to prevent horses from stealing food. It was the first time anyone had heard of putting muzzles on purebred Dawan white horses, but since Lin Wanrong said it, the cavalries did as told.

Muzzled, the foals became even more agitated, a few broke free and started to run around chaotically. Everyone watched Lin Wanrong's actions with curiosity, wondering what he was planning.

"Brothers, you must do exactly as I say next, no matter how hard it is," Lin Wanrong said earnestly. "Hold the mares so they stay in place. And then, take your whips and drive the foals away, the further, the better."

"This—" A few of the cavalries were taken aback. These foals were ones they had personally raised and even delivered; they naturally hesitated to be harsh with them.

Lin Wanrong smiled, "If you really can't bring yourselves to do it, just pretend. But you must make it convincing. You must make the foals afraid, understand?"

"Understood!" Several cavalries whipped the air fiercely, causing loud cracking sounds. The agitated foals were immediately frightened and ran off, whinnying in fear.

The cavalries yelled and threatened, chasing the foals away. The mares, originally calmly eating, became uneasy at the sight of their fleeing foals. They neighed in distress, their eyes full of sadness.

"I understand, I understand now." Up on the city tower, Li Tai shouted out in excitement.

The Emperor looked at him in surprise, "General Li, what do you understand?"

"Your Majesty, this Lin San is a man of great wisdom. He has quite a strategy!" Li Tai declared excitedly.

At the same time, Lu Dongzan's face changed in the field, staring at Lin San who stood there smiling silently. After a moment of stunned silence, he muttered, "The existence of such a man in Great Hua is as good as a hundred thousand strong soldiers."

Ashile was surprised, "As good as a hundred thousand soldiers? Are you talking about Lin San? Lu Dongzan, how is this possible? This man is greedy and lustful, how could he be so powerful?"

Lu Dongzan gave a bitter smile, "I also wish not to believe it. I only hope that when our two nations meet in battle, I won't encounter him on the battlefield."

"They're back, they're back!" A cry of surprise rose from the crowd as hundreds of foals came galloping back, chased by cavalries. Frightened, the foals ran straight into the herd of mares. The hundreds of mares let out unified cries of distress that shook the sky.

Once they reached the herd, the hundred foals quickly located their mothers, constantly neighing, their eyes still reflecting their fear, seeking comfort. A hundred mares, a hundred foals, quickly paired off.

Desperately, the mares nudged at the muzzles of their foals, trying to free them from their bonds. Lin Wanrong sighed deeply, "The bond between mother and child, who can separate it? Deceive each other in the same trough? Humans are inferior to horses. Brothers, remove their muzzles."

The cavalries freed the foals, and as they opened their hooves, they revealed the numbers written there, each one corresponding perfectly to its mother.

Seo Jang Geum stared, transfixed. Hearing Lin Wanrong's words, she was left with a complex feeling. She murmured with her mouth slightly agape, "Deceive each other in the same trough, humans are inferior to horses! Master Lin, you're absolutely right. Just what kind of person are you?"

Cheers thundered from the crowd. This young Lord Lin had solved three riddles in the blink of an eye, defeating not only Goryeo but also the arrogant nomads. It was truly unbelievable. With such a statesman in Great Hua, why worry about the nomadic invaders?

"Lin San, oh Lin San! What should I do with you?" The Emperor muttered under his breath, his eyes flickering between excitement and indecision.

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