Looking north towards the rivers and mountains

Chapter 330 A Middleman's Move

The third day of the eleventh lunar month, in Qiaosikong Lane, Suzhou.

The gate of the Cao Mansion was not as grand as I had imagined.

The two black lacquered wooden doors had rusted copper nails. Above the doors hung a plaque with the eight characters "Maritime Transport Office of Ten Thousand Households," the characters blurred by wind and rain.

The stone steps in front of the gate are worn smooth, worn down by the footsteps of officials, runners, and merchants over the years.

Wang Xing stood at the entrance of the alley and glanced around.

He was from Suzhou, but had never been to Qiaosikong Lane before. He had been selling medicine and studying at the North Gate. This made him happy, but unexpectedly, his boss, entrusted by someone, introduced him to Shengye Trading Company as an accountant. Suddenly, his horizons broadened, he saw many things, and lived a life he never dared to dream of before.

That's probably life.

"What are you standing there for? Keep up!" Zheng Fan, who was walking in front, called out.

Today he changed into an inconspicuous blue cloth robe, with a cheap pigskin belt around his waist, and the boots he wore were the same ones he bought last year. They had been cleaned, but the toes were a little worn.

Upon arriving at the canal administration office, he greeted the guard at the gate. The man clearly recognized him, nodded, and his gaze fell on Wang Xing. "Is this Zheng Guanren's attendant?" the guard asked dutifully, recognizing that it wasn't Mao Shiba who had visited before.

"Yes, I need to speak with you, sir." Zheng Fan said, "Please inform me."

"Please wait a moment." The constable was very polite and immediately turned and went inside.

A moment later, the messenger returned and said, "Lord Zheng invites you two inside."

"Thank you." Zheng Fan led Wang Xing inside, and they found themselves in a separate courtyard.

The courtyard had side rooms on the east and west sides, with yellow paper pasted on the window frames, some of which had holes and rattled loudly when the wind blew.

The main hall door was open, revealing piles of documents and account books inside. Several clerks sat behind long desks, copying and writing, their pens scratching on the paper. In the corner were several wooden boxes, sealed with the words "Spring Festival Travel of the Seventh Year of Zhizheng".

Behind the main hall is another courtyard. After walking through a narrow alley, we finally arrived at the yamen where Zheng Yonghe worked.

The room was small, with a table taking up most of it. The table was piled with official documents and books, the ink in the inkstone was not yet dry, and the brush was placed on the brush holder with a black clump on the tip.

Several cabinets stood against the wall, their doors not closing properly, revealing stacks of yellowed paper inside.

Zheng Yonghe sat behind his desk, looking down at a document.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up, his gaze sweeping over Zheng Fan before landing on Wang Xing, then quickly looking away.

"Yifang, didn't you go to Jiangyin? Why are you here suddenly?" Zheng Yonghe gestured for the two minor officials inside to leave temporarily, coughed, and then asked.

Zheng Fan waited until the two minor officials were far away before lowering his voice and explaining his purpose from beginning to end.

Zheng Yonghe leaned back in his chair, listening with his eyes closed, his expression unchanged. Even long after Zheng Fan finished speaking, he remained with his eyes closed, making one wonder if he had fallen asleep.

"Yifang, tell me about your interactions with Xiaohu," Zheng Yonghe asked, slowly opening his eyes.

Zheng Fan was taken aback and said, "But I don't know where to begin."

"Just say whatever comes to mind," Zheng Yonghe smiled, pointing to a stool beside him, gesturing for Wang Xing to sit down as well. "My acquaintance with him started when Xiao Hu went to work as an accountant at the Qingqi shop..." Zheng Fan said, recalling the events.

Most of the time, Zheng Yonghe just listened, occasionally asking questions, such as...

"Oh? He gave you a fox fur coat instead of Guozhen?"

Zheng Fan smiled awkwardly and said, "Later, he even persuaded me to do business in Jiangzhou. He was daring and willing to take risks. He dared to transport goods that others dared not, which made me quite a bit of money."

Zheng Yonghe nodded, signaling him to continue.

Zheng Fan then talked about his business with the foreign merchant Ali, saying that Xiao Hu had also given him a share, although it wasn't a big deal. He explained that he didn't have his own business and couldn't handle much of it, so it was just a token amount.

Later, she mentioned that when she went to Dadu, Xiaohu often came to her door to inquire if she had any problems that she couldn't solve.

"I remember, after you finished your first deal with Ali, you didn't have any work to do, did you?" Zheng Yonghe asked.

"That's rare, very rare." Zheng Yonghe nodded slightly.

"Yes, Xiao Hu is indeed righteous," Zheng Fan echoed.

Zheng Yonghe remained silent for a moment, then tapped his fingers lightly on the table a few times.

"It's not that I can't mediate the matter of killing the inspector," he said. "But I want to see him and ask him a few questions in person." Zheng Fan seemed to understand.

The old man didn't really care about right or wrong; at his age, what he valued most was a person's character.

"I will go back now and tell him about this," Zheng Fan replied.

Zheng Yonghe then looked at Wang Xing and asked, "Young man, how long have you been with Xiao Hu?"

"Year."

"What business is it of yours?"

"All sorts of miscellaneous matters."

"Miscellaneous tasks are good. Doing a lot of miscellaneous tasks can hone your skills," Zheng Yonghe said with a smile. "Stay for lunch before you leave. The cook here is quite good. I'll be going back to Taicang next month, and every meal here will be one less I can enjoy."

The two stayed as instructed.

Before leaving in the afternoon, Zheng Yonghe took the opportunity to ask Zheng Fan a few questions alone and arranged when and where to meet.

A few days after Zheng Fan returned to Huangtian Port, he and more than ten others, led by Inspector Li Yi and Judge Zhang Duan of Haiyan Prefecture, boarded a boat and traveled along the Grand Canal to Huangbudun Wharf in Wuxi.

Evening was approaching, but the dock was still bustling with people.

Along the canal lined up various warehouses, behind which stood a forest of masts on ships, laden with all sorts of grain.

After learning that Wen Tianxiang had stayed at Huangbudun, Li and Zhang wanted to visit the island, but they were told that it was Cao Luo's territory, the restaurant on the island was no longer open to the public, and it was now the location of the Wu-Yue Grain Guild.

The two exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised.

Cao Luo's influence extends far beyond Jiangyin; he seems to wield considerable power not only in Jiangyin but also in Wuxi.

But what exactly is this Wu-Yue Grain Guild?

Just as the two were about to continue their investigation, officials from Wuxi Prefecture somehow learned of their itinerary and came to greet them.

It's unavoidable in officialdom. Zhang Duan didn't like it, but Li Yi insisted on dragging him to the banquet.

This banquet lasted for several days.

Today the Darughachi hosts the event, tomorrow the Prefect shows some hospitality, the day after tomorrow the Assistant Magistrate invites you to see the sights of Wuxi, and on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, just as Li Yi and Zhang Duan were about to board a boat to Jiangyin, Qian Dayong, a major grain merchant in Wuxi, sponsored a grand literary gathering, inviting scholars from all over the prefecture, and even famous scholars such as Ni Zan to accompany them, to climb Huishan Mountain, tour Taihu Lake, compose poems and essays, and freely express their feelings.

Li Yi was not fond of this matter, but Zhang Duan's eyes lit up, and he gladly went to the meeting. Li Yi had no choice but to accompany him.

This grand event did not end until the seventeenth day of the eleventh lunar month.

The literary circles in Wuxi are very satisfied.

For years, no large merchant had been so generous, renting the venue, dispatching servants, preparing tea, fruit, writing materials, and even inviting famous courtesans from Wuxi's brothels to entertain. It was said that a collection of poems would be compiled and printed afterward—truly a literary extravaganza, leaving a lasting impression. On the eighteenth day of the eleventh lunar month, when Li and Zhang finally boarded their boat and headed towards Jiangyin along the Xicheng Canal, they had already been delayed in Wuxi for over ten days. Sitting on the boat, with nothing else to do, they began to chat about their upcoming plans.

"What do you think about the situation in Huguang? Does the Prime Minister intend to send Shao Shuyi to Hunan to suppress the bandits? Is he willing to go?" Zhang Duan asked.

"I think it's unlikely," Li Yi said.

He was an inspector, mainly responsible for auditing money and supplies. For example, he was in charge of auditing all the manpower, materials and funds for the ongoing Hangzhou River dredging project. Therefore, he was a meticulous person who thought more than the average person.

"When the news came from Huguang that they had defeated the Yao bandits, I felt something was wrong. They had only beheaded a few hundred, and the bandits were not seriously injured. Later, when the news came that Qianyang had fallen, the bandits' strength had increased greatly, and their numbers had reached tens of thousands, affecting five routes." Li Yi shook his head and said, "Marshal Wanzhe Temur was too hasty. Now he will probably be impeached by the censor."

At this point, Li Yi sighed and said, "The Yao bandits are no ordinary bandits. They often operate from caves and strongholds, united in purpose. Even though the Huguang garrison is more capable than the Jiangnan army, they are not so easy to defeat. Unfortunately, a few bandit leaders refuse to surrender and continue to attack cities and seize territories, forcing the court to fight them head-on. If Shao Shuyi had any foresight, he probably wouldn't want to get involved in this mess."

"Oh? You think Shao Shuyi is intelligent and resourceful?" Zhang Duan asked.

"From what I've gathered, this man seems cunning, decisive, and ruthless, yet also adept at winning people over," Li Yi said. "Mr. Gounan is far more learned than I am. Do you know of any similar figures in history?"

Zhang Duan pondered for a moment, then said, "Huang Chao?"

Li Yi shook his head and chuckled, saying, "Although Huang Chao smuggled salt, he and Shao Shuyi are completely different kinds of people. If you ask me, he's more like Zhu Wen, a general under Huang Chao." Zhang Duan thought carefully for a moment and then smiled, "We still need to see him in person before making any decisions. But if it's really as you say, that Shao Shuyi is as cunning as a fox, I'm afraid he really wouldn't want to go to Huguang."

The reason? Isn't it obvious? The court offered you amnesty to fight the rebellious laborers, letting your resources be depleted in battle after battle. Did you really think they'd replenish your equipment, personnel, and supplies? The imperial army itself is already short-handed; how could they possibly give you a ragtag army recruited through amnesty? What are you thinking? Even if you miraculously survive until the rebellion is quelled, you might not be able to return to Jiangnan. And with so many things happening now, what if another rebellion breaks out somewhere else? Wouldn't they have to send you again?

If you don't go, you'll be disobeying orders. Since the armies of Huguang were able to quell the Yao rebels, they're probably not easily defeated, but rather capable of fighting. When the time comes, they'll use their momentum from a great victory to wipe out your rebel army first.

Anyone with a modicum of knowledge could foresee this outcome; the choice is a true dilemma.

Thinking of this, Zhang Duan was no longer excited about returning to his hometown. He only felt that the road ahead was very dangerous, and he could easily be used as a sacrifice.

Sigh! He sighed silently, already pondering a way to achieve the best of both worlds.

On the 20th, the ship arrived in Jiangyin.

More than ten officials, led by Darughachi Korigisi, Prefect Zhang Yang, and Assistant Prefect Zhu Daocun, personally went to the dock to welcome them.

For a time, the sound of gongs and drums filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere.