Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1161 Encounter with the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner
It's better to stay still than to move; be as swift as a rabbit in motion, and as still as Mount Tai in stillness!
That evening,

On the Anshui River, Marquis Luoyun's massive fleet was already speeding across the water. On both banks of the river, merchant ships and cargo ships were waiting to give way. Only when Marquis Luoyun's fleet had passed through the middle of the canal did they dare to set sail.

Many merchants from the north and south stood on one side of the ship, watching the huge fleet of ships pass by. The talkative and curious people began to look around.
"Hey, Brother Wang, what's going on? Whose fleet are these? So many big ships!"

The man addressed as Brother Wang looked towards the front of the fleet and saw a large flag fluttering in the wind with the character "Zhang" written on it, as well as flags that looked like they came from beyond the Great Wall. He suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
“Look, it’s the fleet of Marquis Luoyun from beyond the pass. I’ve seen that flag before.”

Upon seeing that someone recognized the fleet's flag, many people suddenly realized who it was, and someone immediately chimed in.
“That’s right. Have you heard the news from beyond the pass these past few days? It’s said that the Jurchens have made a comeback and are about to lead a large army westward. At this time, Marquis Luoyun is in a hurry to lead his troops back, so he must have received the news. I wonder if the area beyond the pass can still hold them off this time. It is said that the Jurchens have also put together the Han Eight Banners. Sigh.”

Those who knew the inside story couldn't help but sigh. They had only had a few days of peace before another war was brewing, especially the merchants, whose trade routes beyond the Great Wall were paved with silver.

But a scholar, seeing everyone sighing and groaning, turned red in the face and shouted loudly;
"What is there to be afraid of? Marquis Luoyun is a military genius of our time. Why should he be afraid of mere Jurchens? As for the so-called Han Eight Banners, I heard that they were all Han Chinese who fled and were captured from the north. If the heavenly army arrives, they will surely turn against us. Besides, Marquis Luoyun's army outside the pass is well-organized and different from the border troops of the past."

This shout also boosted the morale of many people.

"Yes, that's right. I heard that Marquis Luoyun left a large force in Pingyang City. How could such petty people succeed? There's also a little secret: the Jurchens suffered a crushing defeat in a fierce battle with the Yuezhi in the northern Han Sea. After returning to Liaonan, how many elite troops do they still have? I think Marquis Luoyun might be able to push them back."

"Oh, no."

Another argument broke out, with many people arguing. These words reached the ears of a group of people on the top deck of the ship. Cao Changzhong, the former deputy commander of the Crown Prince, immediately whispered.
“Young Master, it seems that the Taiping Sect and the plans of the vassal kings have succeeded. However, I do not know what method they used to make the Jurchens lead their army directly westward.”

As he spoke, his face was solemn. It seemed that his master had underestimated the people of the Thief Sect. Prince Zhou Yumin stared intently at the fleet outside the window, which was rushing down the river in a mighty procession. The ships were full of well-dressed soldiers. They truly deserved to be called the number one army in the world. Or perhaps, what those people had just said had indeed come true.

"Whether it's true or false, the result is that it was accomplished. So there must be a reason why the Taiping Sect was able to overshadow the White Lotus Sect. Look at the fleet of Marquis Luoyun ahead. Such elite soldiers are rare in the world. I think that the Jurchens' decision to provoke Marquis Luoyun, this evil star, was a bad move and may be a calamity for the Jurchens."

With a soft sigh, Luo Yunhou could command those old soldiers in the capital garrison as if they were his own arms. As for the elite troops outside the pass, Luo Yunhou would never allow the Jurchens to have another chance. The deputy general Cao beside him smiled bitterly.
“What the young master said is right. This time, the master asked the young master to return to the capital so that he could take charge of the overall situation of the Capital Chamber of Commerce and keep an eye on the White Lotus Sect and the Taiping Sect. The people and the caravan have already taken stock of many taverns and teahouses, and the old connections from years ago have not been used.”

This is the most crucial point. Although there are spies in the capital, most intelligence is neglected because no one is in charge of the overall situation.

"Alright, I'll follow Uncle Cao's arrangements. This time when we return to the capital, we need to plant spies in the five markets of the capital. We need to be as discreet as possible. After all, the Imperial City Guard still has its foundation, and my father is far away in the south. Now that the army has been assembled, we are just waiting to march west. Uncle Cao, do you think those uncles are sincere or not?"

Thinking that his father had joined forces with the Taiping Sect and the White Lotus Sect to form a westward army, preparing to seize Suzhou City in the west and then threaten Fanzhou City and Jiangzhou City, he knew that there would be urgent reports to the capital. At that time, the troops of the several vassal kings could move south and be stationed in Jingnan County, watching and waiting.

Deputy General Cao looked thoughtful. He had heard the Commander-in-Chief talk about these things before, but unfortunately, he only had martial arts skills; other skills were not his forte.
“Young Master, I can’t understand these things, but there is one thing I do know: people in this world will not get up early for nothing. Those vassal kings are only thinking about the position in the capital. We are not afraid of getting a little bit of benefits, but we are afraid that those people will not give us much.”

Jingnan is the territory of the King of Wu, while Jingbei is a large area divided between the King of Han and the King of Song. In addition, the Five Lakes Commandery is half occupied by the King of Zheng. What if these princes have their eyes on the King of Wu?

"That's true, but once we occupy Suzhou, we'll have a firm foothold in Linghe, and Jiangzhou City will be within our reach. At that time, it won't be easy for the King of Wu to drive us away."

With the Ling River as the boundary, the north and south stand facing each other across the river, and the fertile land to the south is all in the hands of the father.

“Young Master is right, that’s why we came to the capital.”

Cao Changzhong smiled slightly. The situation had changed again. After Luo Yunhou's fleet left, the boatman took the helm again and headed west.

On the river, however, the sky remained overcast and gray, with thick clouds hanging low, like giant cotton wool soaked in moisture, pressing heavily on both banks of the canal, the vast plains and low hills. Fortunately, it was a sunny day, and the villages, docks and reed beds on both banks were clearly visible; otherwise, the fleet would have been unable to travel very fast.

At the very front of the ship, Marquis Zhang Jinyu of Luoyun stood on the second-floor deck, facing the wind and gazing into the distance. The wind was not strong, but it carried a distinct chill. Moreover, not far away was the confluence of the Grand Canal and the Anshui River, and the canal transport office of Fuling County was not far away. Thinking of that cheap canal transport governor, Shen Xueshi, he couldn't help but feel a little strange.

Zhang Jinyu glanced at the armored soldiers on both sides of the ship's hull, then pulled her cloak tighter around herself.
"Ningbian, the sun hasn't even risen yet, but a chill has already blown over. It seems that autumn has already arrived in the north."

Generally speaking, the cold air comes quickly in the north, autumn is shorter, and winter comes quickly. As a result, if there is a lack of clothing and food, the winter will be difficult to endure.

“My lord, the river is damp and must be cooler than the shore. It’s the perfect time in the north, and the Jurchens have a good chance of getting what they want. But you’ve already made preparations. I’m not sure what your plans are this time.”

Logically speaking, with Military Advisor Xiao in charge of the south and General Wen Yuan guarding the city, they really shouldn't be afraid of the Jurchens. But the reason why the Marquis is so anxious is intriguing.

Zhang Jinyu smiled slightly. The reason he was in such a hurry to return was not only because the Jurchens had arrived in a rush, but also because their opportunity might not be a different opportunity for him.

"The Jurchens have suffered heavy losses this time. They came here to plunder things to recover their strength. If they fail to plunder this time and suffer heavy casualties, the Jurchens will not have much strength left. In Liaonan, there are Yinzhou City, Jinzhou City, and Danzhou City. The land is flat and the water and grass are abundant. It is a rare treasure land. In particular, Yinzhou, which is nearby, is rich in silver. It is a hen that can lay silver."

When you think about how the Jurchens sold goods, they hardly haggled over prices for bulk items, so who wouldn't want them?

"The Marquis's intention is for the army to advance eastward and conquer Yinzhou City."

Ningbian whispered, "If we can defeat the main force of the Jurchens, taking Yinzhou shouldn't be a problem. But how to defend it afterwards will be troublesome, since Yinzhou is deep in the gateway to southern Liao."

With a single, utterable reply, Zhang Jinyu gently shook her head.

“It’s not Yinzhou City, it’s the entire Liaonan. You said Huang Jitai was ill before. I think this is a rare opportunity. If we go east, can we take over the entire Liaonan? In this way, we can open up connections with the three eastern countries. This monopolized trade route will be enough to bring in more profits than the entire area outside the Great Wall.”

"My lord, this..."

Ningbian was mostly shocked; this would take too long and consume a lot of supplies.

"My lord, I'm afraid there won't be enough time, and the consumption of grain is too great. It's already autumn outside the pass."

"Yes, it's autumn, but grain is being harvested everywhere in the interior. Since we have so much silver, it's a waste not to use it."

With a sigh, I realized that the opportunity was right in front of me, and I might as well give it a try.

As they were sailing, a large warship was seen blocking the river outside the Fuling County dock, flying a large flag with the character "Shen" on it. A member of the transport guards came to report this.
"Reporting, Your Excellency, the ship ahead is carrying the Governor-General himself. Please wait a moment."

Someone came to report, and General Lü from downstairs also hurried up.
"My lord, the governor is waiting ahead in person. He has signaled with flags that the ship is approaching and that the governor wishes to meet with you."

Zhang Jinyu immediately became interested. It seemed that this old fox had already received the news, so he nodded and said.
“Good, Brother Shen is quite the thoughtful man, choosing such a perfect time and place. Now that you’re here, how can we not see you? Slow down, move closer, and order the fleet behind us to continue north without stopping.” “Yes, Lord Marquis.”

Not too fast, not too slow, ahead, the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner Shen Xueshi sat on the deck of the ship, wearing a second-rank official robe with a pheasant-patterned hat and a black gauze hat. His face was fair and he looked slightly wealthy. A gentle smile habitually played on his lips. He was accompanied by his advisors and attendants, as well as some officials from the Governor's Mansion, who had been waiting for a long time. When they saw Marquis Luoyun's ship arrive, they stood up and stood on the side of the ship. Behind them, an advisor whispered.
"My lord, Marquis Luo Yun's ship has arrived. Marquis Luo Yun is in a hurry to leave the capital this time, which must be due to urgent military matters outside the pass. I have read the secret letter from the capital. That Lord Xu has been imprisoned in the imperial prison and sentenced to death."

Given this, without the Emperor Emeritus's decree, who would dare to investigate the long-standing cases of the Grand Canal Transport Office?

“That’s right, but we can’t take this lightly. Xu Changwen is a protégé of Marquis Luoyun. We can’t see the whole picture of what’s happening in the capital. That Lord Xu is so fearless that his reputation has spread throughout the land. So, if we want to know whether the Ministry of Justice will investigate the old accounts of the Grand Canal Transport Office, we need to sound out Marquis Luoyun.”

Shen Xueshi was slightly helpless. What a coincidence that he was carrying the messy accounts of the Grand Canal Transport Office to investigate.

"Yes, sir, I was too ignorant. Since you and the Marquis are catching up, this matter should not be difficult."

"hope so."

Just as the ship approached, the two ships were secured together on the deck. Only then, escorted by the crowd, did Shen Xueshi board Luo Yunhou's ship, and the group headed straight for the main cabin.

inside the cabin,

Zhang Jinyu had already prepared tea and snacks inside, waiting for them. On a small red clay stove, the finest Biluochun tea was warming, its fragrant aroma slightly masking the smell of the ship's wood and tung oil. Once the person entered the cabin, she rose and gave a graceful bow.
"Brother Shen, I'm sorry for my rudeness."

"Oh dear, I'm so glad to finally see you, my dear brother. There's no need for such formalities between us."

Marquis Luo Yun rose to greet him, showing proper etiquette. Lord Shen, naturally, also bowed respectfully. After exchanging greetings, the two took their seats, with Ning Bian placing two full cups of tea on them.

Zhang Jinyu gestured for them to join in. Although neither of them spoke, they guessed each other's intentions and drank tea to moisten their throats.

"My lord, please don't blame me for blocking your way. My brother has been traveling a long way back to the border. As his elder brother, how could I not see him here? It's just in time for us to meet. Oh, and here's a little something to give you as a farewell gift."

After Shen Xueshi finished speaking, he had his attendant bring out an exquisite carved red lacquer box. When he opened it, he found a stack of silver notes and a paperweight made of Tianhuang stone. Although he didn't know how many there were, they must all be very valuable. These things didn't seem to be excessive.

“Brother Shen is too kind. How can an elder brother give money to his younger brother? I can’t take it, I can’t take it.”

Marquis Luo Yun waved his hand and pushed the pastry box on the table forward. He hadn't even tested the waters yet, and the money had already been delivered. How could he accept it?

"Ah, what are you saying? There's no need for such formalities between us. These are just some snacks, so please accept them, Lord Marquis."

Shen Xueshi reached out, pinched a piece of pastry and put it in his mouth. Then his eyes lit up and he praised it.
"The taste is acceptable; it should be a pastry from the Yaoji Shop in Dongshi."

"Brother, you guessed right. It's from Yaoji Trading Company. I bought a lot more when I left. When you go back, take some with you. Since these things are from you, brother, I will naturally accept them."

During their conversation, the two merely sampled some snacks brought from the capital. When the third round of tea was served, Shen Xueshi seemingly casually put down his teacup and looked out the window at the increasingly gloomy sky. The cabin seemed much darker, and the sound of the river lapping against the shore sounded somewhat distant thanks to the well-insulated cabin.

A perfectly measured worry appeared on her slightly fair and round face as she lowered her voice to Luo Yunhou:

"My lord, I won't say much more. Your loyalty to the army is as clear as the sun and moon. But I've heard that there are many rumors circulating in the capital these days, involving the Grand Canal Administration. With these rumors, all the officials in the administration are trembling with fear."

Zhang Jinyu slightly turned her body, picked up the teacup, but did not drink. She merely used the lid to gently stir the tender leaves floating on top, then raised her eyelids and looked directly at Shen Xueshi:
"Haha, the affairs in the capital are nothing more than matters of the Ministry of Justice. It seems that Brother Shen is quite well-informed. Although the Ministry of Justice has discussed it, they have no intention of reopening old cases. Where did you get this information, Brother?"

The matter at hand mainly revolves around Xu Changwen's memorials, and it involves more than just this one case. His tone was calm, but the words "well-informed" carried a subtle pressure. It seems that there really was something fishy about the case from the time of the retired emperor.

Shen Xueshi's heart tightened, but his smile remained unchanged. He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice by a fraction:

"My lord, I won't hide it from you. On the Grand Canal, with all the comings and goings, I'm bound to hear some rumors. Just a few days ago, many people in the capital mentioned the Ministry of Justice, and that Chief Clerk Xu is famous throughout the land. Who doesn't know him?"

Stopping at the perfect moment, leaving a blank space—if you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place; things in the capital aren't exactly secrets.

Marquis Luo Yun understood immediately. Indeed, there were quite a few people in the world eyeing the Ministry of Justice. He then offered words of comfort.
"Hehe, Brother Shen, you truly care about the court and are incredibly meticulous. Even the Ministry of Justice's investigation of a few old, messy accounts has caught your attention. As for the matter in the capital, I won't shy away from it. This case has already been settled, so Brother Shen need not worry. However, I am still short of supplies for my journey north. Fortunately, you have come at the right time. If possible, I would like to ask your guards to help me purchase supplies for the various prefectures along the Grand Canal."

These words, though seemingly gentle, were actually barbed. Incidentally, Zhang Jinyu pulled out a stack of silver notes from his pocket and placed them on the table.

This time, it was Shen Xueshi's turn to be surprised. He glanced at the thickness of the silver notes on the table, which amounted to at least several hundred thousand taels. He was shocked, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on his forehead. He knew that there was a shortage of food outside the Great Wall, but he did not expect that there was such a shortage.

He deliberately covered himself with his sleeve, calmly wiped his face, and quickly chuckled awkwardly:
“Brother, you’re being too polite. It’s only early autumn, and the autumn harvest is just around the corner. There’s no shortage of grain, but aren’t these amounts a bit too much?”

"Whether it's bigger or smaller is up to you, brother. As long as the grain is transported to Yunyang County, someone will take care of it. The canal transport connects with the canal gangs, and all the trade on both sides of the canal can be handled through it. Don't worry, brother, I will pay you every penny of the silver you ask for. But if you want to buy any goods, you'll need to give me a heads-up."

Zhang Jinyu reached out and pushed the silver note forward. With the war breaking out outside the pass, there was a shortage of many things, and they could only be purchased from inside the pass. If they wanted to save time and effort, they could only rely on the convenience of the canal transport. The canal transport was inseparable from the canal transport government and the canal gangs.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xueshi narrowed his eyes, knowing that the real action was about to begin. It seemed that the Jurchens from beyond the Great Wall were causing quite a bit of trouble. Otherwise, Marquis Luo Yun wouldn't have spoken up here. If they took on this business, perhaps the entire Canal Gang could make a living this year. After weighing the pros and cons, he no longer hesitated, reached out and took back the silver note, fiddled with it for a moment, and then put it into his pocket.

"Rest assured, my brother, I will handle this business on behalf of the Grand Canal Gang. You can rest assured that everything will proceed smoothly at all the docks along the way."

Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Zhang Jinyu naturally smiled broadly.
"Brother, you are always the most reliable. What you just received was just a deposit. As for the brocade, grain, pig iron, and other goods from within the Great Wall, I will take them all if you can get your hands on them."

Buying grain is buying, buying other things is also buying. Since the channels are open, there's no harm in buying more. Upon hearing this, Shen Xueshi's lips trembled slightly, and he nodded.

"Alright, I will do my best."

After the transaction was completed in the cabin, the two drank tea for a while before Lord Shen took his leave. Zhang Jinyu followed closely behind to see him off. After they boarded the ship, they said goodbye to each other on the deck. The ship sailed downstream, but the wind was getting stronger, and the darkness in the sky had spread.

(End of this chapter)