From the fake emperor to the concubine

"Then we wasted a lot of good stuff before?"

Zheng Yi said, "It's not entirely untrue. You didn't know this road before, so naturally you were focused on saving your own lives. Now that you know, don't waste it like that again."

So he started practicing everything from scratch: how to use the peeling knife, how to hang the drying strips, and how to prevent the scraps from cracking.

Chiya was held captive by Zheng Yi for three days and his hands were covered in two layers of skin. He finally learned how to steadily open a small animal hide from the back to the tail root without shaking or making an extra scratch.

He was exhausted, but also incredibly happy.

"Will I be able to sell the skins I peel for a high price in the future?"

"On the condition that you don't slack off."

When have I ever slacked off?

The old woman chimed in detachedly, "Besides running errands, what else don't you slack off on?"

Chiya immediately shut his mouth.

On the tenth day, the travel group was finally finalized.

This time, there were far more people than those who went to Qingshi Town, a total of thirty-seven people.

Black Rock Division Sixteen.

Firemane Section 12.

The other three nearby groups each sent two or three people, all of whom had been invited to listen in at the previous bonfire gathering and had their eyes on the goods when they were being distributed in Qingshi Town.

Among them were veteran hunters, skilled young hunters, and two border residents who had previously done odd jobs in Qing Shi Town and knew a little about weighing and writing. They weren't exactly educated, but they recognized some of the most common words for goods and numbers, so Zheng Yi included them in the team as well.

There are even more goods.

Whole hides, rolls of tendons, bundles of horns, medicine packets, ore blocks, bone materials, and a few items that Zheng Yi had deliberately kept hidden in Qing Shi Town—such as a complete scapula of a frozen bear, a few teeth of a cold-toothed wolf, and a piece of dark-patterned cold bone that Bone Granny deemed "at least good enough to make a small cold-resistant item."

If these items are only sold in small towns, they are easily overpriced and sold at exorbitant prices.

Only in places like Beining City can you encounter true connoisseurs.

The weather wasn't great on the day we set off.

The clouds were heavy, the wind was strong, and although the snow didn't fall, it still weighed heavily on our heads.

Shi Lie and Gu Po stood outside the stone wall to see them off.

Shi Lie handed a small Black Rock Tribe bone talisman to Zheng Yi.

"This isn't a token; it's for identifying people. If you encounter any of the Black Rock Tribe's hunting spots scattered along the way, take this, and they'll come to your aid."

Zheng Yi accepted it: "Okay."

The Bone Woman then gave him something else.

A simple yet complete sketch of the northern route.

Of course, the map is not as detailed as a real city map, but it marks the mountain passes, wind slopes, old plank roads, and several places where border troops might be stationed along the route from Heiyan tribe southward, through Qingshi Town, to Beining City.

Zheng Yi took it, his eyes flickering slightly.

When did you draw this?

The old woman said, "It has been around for a long time, but no one has ever used it for anything serious."

After she finished speaking, she lowered her voice and said, "In Beining City, the most troublesome people are not necessarily the merchants, but the officials."

Zheng Yi looked at her: "What do you mean?"

“The Wilderness Tribe has had less contact with the south these past few years, not just because it’s far away,” the Bone Woman said slowly. “It’s also because there are always people watching the border. Small-scale trips, with three or five hunters carrying some goods, are often overlooked. But this time you’ve brought so many people and so much cargo, and your identity isn’t pure—in their eyes, the people standing next to you are northern outsiders, Wilderness people, people not on their register.”

Wu Chen also heard this, and his expression darkened slightly.

Yan Ao sneered: "Do they think they can stop us from leaving?"

The Bone Woman glanced at him: "Dare."

"Why?"

“They’re the ones guarding the border,” the old woman said. “You might fight with fists on the snow, but at the city gate, they talk about rules, military orders, warrants, and who vouches for you.”

That's absolutely true.

Zheng Yi was silent for a moment, then nodded: "I understand."

The Bone Woman stared at him: "You'd better really have it."

“We have to have it even if we don’t have it.” Zheng Yi smiled. “We can’t let a simple ‘No entry’ stop us now that we’ve come this far.”

Upon hearing this, a hint of satisfaction flashed in the Bone Woman's eyes.

"Then let's go."

……

The journey from Heiyanbu to Beiningcheng is much farther than the journey to Qingshizhen.

The roads are also more complicated.

For the first two days, they traveled south along the familiar snow-capped mountains and windswept slopes, not fast, but steadily. Starting on the third day, the terrain gradually changed. Beyond the high snowfields came a stretch of tundra hills with relatively gentle undulations, where dark brown soil and withered shrubs occasionally peeked out from beneath the snow and ice, and tracks gradually became more frequent.

This is close to the edge of the northern border.

The passing caravans, the old pack animal trails, the abandoned shacks, and the half-broken wooden sign all prove that this place is not far from the real "border".

Everyone was relatively relaxed at first.

Especially the few hunters from the small tribes who were leaving their tribes for the first time, though they didn't say it, their eyes were constantly scanning their surroundings. To them, Qing Shi Town was already unfamiliar and bustling, while Bei Ning City, a place with real city walls, border troops, and a large market, felt like another world altogether.

Zheng Yi did not simply lead the team on their journey.

He also taught them from time to time some rules about how to behave in the southern territory.

When we arrive at the city, how should we put away our weapons?

When someone is speaking, whoever starts the conversation should not interrupt.

Don't display all your goods at the city gate.

If someone asks, answer "We're exchanging medicinal herbs from the North for goods." Don't preface your answer with words like "tribe," "foreign race," or "wilderness" unless specifically mentioned.

When encountering border troops, you must not engage them first, nor should you put your hands on your weapons first.

Yan'ao was extremely impatient.

Why do you southerners have so many rules?

Zheng Yi said, "Because there are many people, many things to do, and a lot of opportunities for personal gain, there are also many things to fear. The more rules there are, the easier it is for someone to use the rules to oppress others."

Yan Ao snorted, but he remembered it nonetheless.

Wu Chen then asked in more detail: "What if they really try to stop us?"

Zheng Yi looked at him and said, "Then let's fight for it."

"What if we can't win the battle?"

"First, we'll see who's in charge, then we'll see who can vouch for us." Zheng Yi paused. "The border troops may not really want to cause trouble; they're more afraid of taking responsibility. With so many people and so much cargo, especially from northern tribes, their first reaction will definitely be to block them."

Wu Chen nodded: "So your dealings with those shops in Qing Shi Town weren't just for selling goods."

Zheng Yi smiled and said, "You reacted quickly."

Wu Chen fell silent.

The team traveled south for another half a day and finally saw the border at dusk.

The so-called border was neither a visible river nor a natural wall, but rather an area that had clearly been cleared by human intervention. A long strip of land had been cleared from the wilderness, with old wooden stakes and faded military flags planted on both sides. Further ahead was a small stone and wood palisade, behind which stood two rows of watchtowers, where black-armored border guards were patrolling back and forth.

Further away, one can see the shadow of a truly impressive fortress lying on the horizon.

That was the border outpost outside Beining City.

When Chi Ya saw this scene for the first time, he slowed down.

"So many people guarding this place?" Zheng Yi's eyes narrowed slightly.

It was stricter than he had anticipated.

This was not the usual relaxed attitude towards individual merchants, hunters, and small groups; rather, it was as if there had been some tension on the border in recent days, so the watchtowers and checkpoints were tighter than usual.

This is not a good sign.

But there's no point in looking back now.

He raised his hand, signaling everyone to slow down, not to scatter, to put away their weapons, and to weigh down the goods first.

As the group approached the pass, before they had even reached within ten zhang (approximately 33 meters), someone on the watchtower shouted, "Halt!"

As soon as the voice fell, more than ten border soldiers in front of the gate immediately raised their guns and pressed forward, forming a half-blocking formation.

The leader was a captain in his thirties, wearing black armor over a gray cloak. He had a long, hard face, and his brows furrowed as his eyes swept over the group of people and the trucks, baskets, and leather bags behind them.

"Where did it come from?"

Zheng Yi stepped forward: "The northern border tribes have brought leather, bones, and medicinal herbs to Beining City to exchange for trade."

"A tribe?" The captain's gaze darkened, and he continued scanning the area behind him, pausing particularly at the clothing and aura of Wu Chen and Yan Ao, which were clearly different from the people of the southern lands. "Wilderness people?"

“People of the northern tribes.” Zheng Yi didn’t accept the barbed term “wilderness people,” but simply changed it to, “We’re here to do legitimate business, not to cause trouble.”

The captain, however, seemed not to have heard the second half of the sentence at all, and simply raised his hand to stop him.

"Go back."

The crowd behind them immediately fell silent.

Yan Ao's face immediately flared up: "What did you say?"

Zheng Yi raised his hand to subdue him, then looked at the captain and asked, "Why did you retreat?"

The captain coldly replied, "Border orders forbid foreign tribes from entering the country in groups. Individual hunters, border residents with permits, and small merchants may pass as usual; however, foreign tribes are not permitted to cross the border."

Wu Chen's voice also turned deep: "We're carrying goods, not soldiers."

“I can see it,” the captain said. “But an order is an order.”

Zheng Yi's gaze swept over the border troops behind him, then glanced at the military plaque hanging next to the gate, his voice remaining steady.

"When was this order issued?"

The captain seemed surprised by the question and paused for a moment before asking, "What's it to you?"

“Of course it’s related,” Zheng Yi said. “We didn’t decide to break through on a whim, nor did we try to sneak across the border. We first went to Qing Shi Town to test the goods, and we traveled on the proper roads along the way. If there really was an order prohibiting foreign tribes from trading, why didn’t anyone stop us before? Now that we’ve reached this checkpoint, you only say ‘there’s an order,’ but you have to let people know what the order is, why it’s so, and to what extent it restricts trade.”

These words were neither humble nor arrogant, and every sentence was based on sound reasoning.

The captain's expression remained unchanged, but a hint of impatience appeared in his eyes.

"Do military orders require you to provide explanations?"

“If this order is directed at us, then there must be an explanation,” Zheng Yi said. “Otherwise, if you forbid it today and he forbids it tomorrow, then all the people coming and going on this road to do business will depend on your whims?”

Several border soldiers behind them had a slight change in expression.

The captain's face darkened: "Insolence!"

Yan'ao was so tense that the veins in his neck were bulging, and Wu Chen's expression turned cold. The small group of hunters who were visiting the border for the first time were even more nervous, their palms sweating. The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Zheng Yi, however, did not let it collapse.

He took another half step forward, his tone still steady.

“I don’t want to be reckless, nor do I want to clash with the border troops. We’re here today to do business, not to break through the border. If you can’t make the decision, then take me to someone who can.”

The captain narrowed his eyes: "Who do you want to see?"

"Find the official in charge here, or someone who can give a clear explanation of this order," Zheng Yi said. "If you really have military orders to carry and dare not let us pass, I will not make things difficult for you. But you cannot simply say 'Foreigners are not allowed to enter' and expect our group to carry our goods and starve on the sidelines."

These words clearly put the captain in a difficult position.

If he lets him go temporarily, but something really happens, he will be held responsible.

If he doesn't let them go immediately, it's not like they're going to make a scene at the border; they genuinely want to see their superior and explain the situation. If he stubbornly refuses to let them see him, it won't look good if someone asks about it later.

More importantly, although he looked down on these northern tribes, he could tell that the young man who had stepped forward to speak was no ordinary person.

Although his clothing carried the air of northern wind and snow, his speech and behavior were not like those of a rough hunter, but rather like that of someone from the south who had truly seen the world.

The captain stared at Zheng Yi for a few moments, then let out a cold laugh.

"Wait."

After saying this, he turned around and called a soldier to go inside and report, but he himself remained standing in front of the gate, not giving an inch.

Zheng Yi wasn't in a hurry. He stepped back to the front of the group and whispered, "Don't move."

Yan'ao gritted his teeth: "I hate people who look down on others the most."

Zheng Yi said, "It may be annoying, but now is not the time to take action."

“He dares to call us outsiders.”

“That’s how they see it,” Zheng Yi said calmly. “Right now, it’s not about a title, it’s about the road.”

Wu Chen also whispered, "He said 'Foreigners are not allowed to enter the country in groups,' which doesn't sound like he's targeting us specifically. It sounds like something has really happened nearby recently."

Zheng Yi nodded: "I think so too. So the officials who come later may not be as easy to talk to as this one right away."

Red Fang shrank back, his voice low: "Then what do we do?"

Zheng Yi looked towards the interior of the pass and said slowly, "First, establish a strong position, then stabilize the situation. If all else fails, invoke an even bigger pretext."

Wu Chen glanced at him: "Hongyun City?"

Zheng Yi gave a soft "hmm".

Sure enough, people arrived from inside the pass shortly afterward.

This time it wasn't a military officer, but a middle-aged civil official in a gray-blue robe, accompanied by two scribes and an armored adjutant. The civil official was not tall, with a slightly yellowish complexion and a neatly trimmed beard. He walked slowly, but he was clearly the kind of person who had dealt with border affairs for many years and was used to looking down on others.

The captain stepped forward first and whispered a few words.

As the clerk listened, he raised his eyes, his gaze passing over the captain and landing on Zheng Yi.

"Is it you who wants to see me?"

Zheng Yi stepped forward: "Exactly."

"Who are you?"

"Zheng Yi".

"Southerners?"

"It is."

The clerk raised an eyebrow slightly, as if he hadn't expected it. He glanced again at the group of people behind him who were clearly from northern tribes, and his tone became even more indifferent.

"If you are from the South, why are you mixed up with the outside tribes?"

"Because I led this team."

Upon hearing this, the clerk was first taken aback, then seemed to have heard something both interesting and laughable.

"You brought him here?"

"Correct."

"Are you aware of the prohibitions at the border?"

“The captain just spoke, but he did not show any official document or explain the reason,” Zheng Yi said. “So I would like to hear you, sir, say it yourself: what exactly is the ban, to what extent is it banned, and is it to completely cut off all trade between the northern tribes and the southern border?”

Upon hearing this, the clerk's ambiguous smile faded.

He clearly hadn't expected that the other party wasn't there to beg or cause trouble, but rather to pursue the boundaries of the "border order." (End of Chapter)