Knife splashing

Chapter 271 Ship to Parrot Island

The sun shines on the river, creating ripples.

There are dotted sailboats on the river and green trees beside Parrot Island.

Under a sturdy old willow tree, a white-haired old man sat cross-legged, his clothes ragged, playing an old fishing drum, tapping it gently and singing leisurely:

"Beside the Miluo River, the loyal souls linger, and Qu Yuan's reputation will be praised for thousands of years. He wrote poems with deep thoughts, worrying about the country being separated and in chaos. It is difficult to walk alone in the world. He is dignified when he is alive and dignified when he is dead..."

The old man spoke in Mianyang dialect and sang a song called "Lament for Qu Yuan" which was desolate and sad. Unfortunately, people were in a hurry and only occasionally someone would leave a coin.

This place is already Hanyang Wharf.

Fishing boats float on the river, accompanied by ancient fisherman's songs, as fishermen cast their large nets. Passenger boatmen also shout river songs as they slowly approach the shore.

There were even more people coming and going on the pier.

The porters were shirtless and busy carrying heavy bags.

There are tea stalls for people to rest and fish shops selling fish around. There are also many traveling artists who perform hard to earn a living.

In the crowd, there was a man with tattoos of dragons and tigers, a dog-skin plaster on his neck, a face full of flesh, an open collar revealing his chest hair, and he walked in a square step as if he was walking sideways.

The people along the way all tried to make way.

The man was too lazy to pay attention. He walked to a tea stall, sat down, poured himself some tea, and took out the big pipe behind him and filled it with dry tobacco.

Before he could do anything, a few skinny young men came over, with a flattering look on their faces, blew on the fire sticks and lit his cigarette.

The man didn't even raise his eyes, puffing out smoke continuously. After finishing a pack of cigarettes and drinking a few sips of tea, he spoke calmly:

"Tell me everything."

Several young people came forward to report:
"Reporting to the Hall Master, I just saw Captain Lu from the Pai Sect coming. There was also an old man with him. He was not good-looking, but Captain Lu was very respectful to him..."

"The Duweisi people set up an ambush this morning and captured a merchant at the dock. I heard that it was Xu County Wei in disguise..."

"A few strangers just came. They spoke with Yuzhou accents and had fierce eyes. They pointed knives at us. I'm afraid they are people from the outlaw gang..."

"I also saw several great monks in the morning..."

Several young people recounted in detail all the major and minor events that happened at the dock from morning to noon.

The man's name is Yue Xing, and he is the leader of the Baijiao Gang in Hanyang City.

The Bai Jiao Gang was a local gang with considerable influence. Everyone, from government officials to peddlers, knew about it.

In terms of status, it is not inferior to the original Chang'an City Fire Bear Gang.

But unlike the Fire Bear Gang, the White Dragon Gang is relatively more sophisticated in its conduct. It neither causes complaints from the people nor moves freely between the various forces. It has existed for decades.

After all, Hanyang is a place where good and bad people mix together, connecting the north and the south, where all kinds of people gather, and where fierce dragons crossing the river can be found everywhere.

If you don't have eyes, you might be killed.

The Baijiao Gang has been able to exist in Hanyang for decades, so it has its own capabilities. Apart from anything else, its vision alone cannot be underestimated.

Several leaders of the gang would patrol the territory every day, collect information from their subordinates who were on the lookout, and then pass it on to each other.

This is the rule set by the old gang leader and it has not changed for decades.

Sometimes their information is even better than those inns that specialize in buying and selling intelligence.

I don’t know how many times the Bai Jiao Gang has been helped out of disaster.

As for Yue Xing, although he looks like a despicable person with a painted dragon and a painted tiger, he is a man who has fought his way out of the sword and rain of blood, and he has already stepped into the dark power.

After listening to his subordinates' report, Yue Xing said calmly: "With the outbreak of war in the southwest, the martial arts world is no longer peaceful."

"Some people in the underworld of Xiangxi have frequent dealings with the chieftain city of Miaojiang. They have been causing trouble in various places recently, trying to disrupt the situation."

"The gang leader said that although we don't eat the court's food, we are also the people of the Great Xuan Dynasty. If those people cause trouble, it will inevitably implicate us."

"Keep a close eye on it, and report it immediately if you find anything wrong!"

"Yes, Hall Master!"

Several men quickly bowed and said yes.

Their movement was also seen by people from a distance.

The dock has always been a place of controversy. There are more than one force trying to gather information here.

The Baijiao Gang's behavior is also a means of achieving their goals.

Everything should be done openly to let all the enemies know that Hanyang City is a place where the rules of the underworld are followed and they cannot act recklessly.

The second is to shirk responsibility. After all, there are endless various secret means in the underworld. If something goes wrong and the court asks about it, they can also say that they have tried their best.

Seeing his men working hard, Yue Xing nodded with satisfaction.

Just as he was about to stand up, he glanced at the river surface inadvertently, and his pupils shrank immediately. He slowly sat down again, lit a pack of cigarettes, and whispered, "I've got a fire idea, check it out."

The disciples of the Bai Jiao Gang quickly looked up.

There were many ships traveling on the river, but one ship stood out. It had a huge hull and several floors of pavilions on top. It was a "tower ship".

Although the Baijiao Gang is a local tyrant and does not make a living by living on the water, they are in a port city after all, and they can tell what kind of ships there are at a glance.

On the Yangtze River, the most common boat is the "sand boat", which has a flat bottom and can be beached without fear of running aground, making it relatively safe in wind and waves.

Due to its many advantages, it is widely circulated. It comes in different sizes and shapes, and has different functions, from giving gifts to transporting goods.

In addition, there are "caofang" often used by canal gangs, "pailou" used for religious purposes, and "kechuan" used by government to transport taxes and silver.

As for the "tower ship", it is relatively rare.

It is very expensive to build and is even requisitioned for use as a warship in wars, which shows how extraordinary it is.

Usually only big chambers of commerce and powerful forces can afford to build such a large ship. If it is only used to transport food and goods, it is too luxurious, so it is transformed into a thing that only the rich and powerful can afford.

To put it simply, it is a luxury merchant ship.

The ship in front of us is particularly exquisite. Not only is the hull painted red, but even the buildings on the ship are of red and yellow tiles, which looks luxurious.

The huge sail was fluttering, with a nine-headed bird painted on it.

Not everyone can afford this kind of display.

As soon as the Baijiao Gang disciples saw it, they knew it was the treasure ship of the Ezhou Chamber of Commerce.

The Ezhou Chamber of Commerce is a huge organization that brings together wealthy merchants from all over the state to jointly engage in maritime trade. Even the King of Wuchang is a member.

They would naturally pay attention to whoever came up there...

…………

On the deck of the ship, Li Yan stood with his hands behind his back.

He looked up and saw the broad river with hundreds of boats competing for the current. In the distance, there were undulating mountains with lush greenery, sunny days and clear water. It was a beautiful scene.

Compared with Yichang, this place is obviously much more prosperous.

Beside him, besides Sha Lifei, there was a man with a big belly, a round face, and a goatee wearing brocade clothes. Seeing this, he smiled and introduced, "Young Master Li, we will be there soon."

"The wharf in front is Parrot Island. Since the Han River was diverted during the Daxing period, Hanyang and Hankou have become more prosperous."

"To the north are Hanyang and Hankou, and to the south is Wuchang City. Because the Wuchang Royal Palace is in the city, plus the government offices and the Duwei Division, many places are off-limits, so Hanyang and Hankou have more prosperous commerce."

"By the way, there is the Yellow Crane Tower on the south bank. Since ancient times, many celebrities and scholars have gathered here and left their calligraphy works. Several decades ago, when the imperial court was repairing the Yuwang Temple, it also built the Qingchuan Tower on Guishan Mountain. It faces the Yellow Crane Tower across the river, and they are truly two gems."

"Young Master Li, if you are free, I will go shopping with you."

"Thank you Mr. Tian for your kindness."

Li Yan smiled and bowed, saying, "We have other important matters to attend to. We will leave after Taoist Wang has helped you arrange the Feng Shui for your house."

Coincidentally, when they left Dangyang, Guan Peide insisted on keeping them, held a farewell banquet, and invited many guests.

Mr. Tian, ​​the head of Tianfeng, was a merchant from Hanyang and a member of the Ezhou Chamber of Commerce. When he heard about the deeds of several people at the table, he immediately asked to join them.

Firstly, because of the war, we were afraid that the roads would be unsafe.

After all, they started from Dangyang, but they had to travel over land, cross mountains and rivers, and then take a boat from the Han River to Wuchang.

There are bound to be some dangers along the way.

It is naturally much safer to have an expert by your side.

Secondly, Mr. Tian made a fortune by investing in the sea trade and built a mansion in Hanyang. However, as people in the mansion fell ill one after another, he suspected that there was something wrong with the feng shui of the house. Hanyang was a place where all kinds of people gathered, including Taoist sorcerers.

But rich people are always like this. They would rather spend more money to hire reliable people. Seeing that the disciples of Zhenwu Palace are very respectful to Li Yan and others, they naturally think that they are masters.

So I spent a lot of money and asked them to arrange the feng shui.

The destination of Li Yan and others' trip was the ancient mine of the Western Zhou Dynasty in the south of Wuchang. Because many metal treasures were discovered there, it attracted Xuanmen craftsmen from all over the country to gather there.

They wanted to find reliable craftsmen to make muskets and magical weapons, so they packed up all the things they had gained along the way, including the dragon bone and leather armor from Qinglong Mountain.

Fortunately, I got on the boat with Mr. Tian, ​​otherwise I would have to wait a few more days and find another reliable boatman.

After all, the treasures are precious and very heavy. If something happens on the way and they sink into the river, they will be in trouble.

"Oh?"

Hearing Li Yan's refusal, Tian Yuanwai said with regret: "Young Master Li is a little impatient. The Dragon Boat Festival will be in a few days, but it will be very lively. You can't see it in other places."

Sharifei, who was standing nearby, heard this and immediately became interested. "The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in various parts of China. How is it different here?"

Tian Yuanwai stroked his beard, his eyes full of pride, "Ezhou is the land of Jingchu, so it is naturally more grand to commemorate Doctor Sanlu."

"Here, the fifth day of May is called 'the first Duan Yang', the fifteenth day of May is called 'the big Duan Yang', and the twenty-fifth day of May is called 'the last Duan Yang', which makes a total of twenty days!"

"There will be dragon boat races, and wealthy merchants from all over the country, martial arts sects, and even scholars from Wenjin Academy will participate."

“Not only that, famous opera troupes from all over the country will also gather here, from north to south of the Yangtze River, and the music will continue all night long.”

"Even brothels hold courtesan conventions, which are much more lively than Chinese New Year!"

"More than 20 days?"

Sharifei was surprised, then he was a little moved, and said: "Brother Yan, why don't we live in Hanyang and go to the ancient mine to find someone, it will probably take some time."

"How many of you want to go to the ancient mines of the Western Zhou Dynasty?"

Before Li Yan could answer, Tian Yuanwai was surprised, shook his head and smiled bitterly, "You guys are keeping it a secret, why didn't you tell us earlier on the way?"

Li Yan frowned, "What happened?"

Mr. Tian shook his head and said, "I heard that a treasure appeared over there, and many strange things happened. There were also secret fights among the people in the martial arts world, and many people died."

"King Wuchang was furious and had the ancient mine closed and heavily guarded. The people from the underworld who were entrenched there were also driven away."

Li Yan was also a little surprised. After they finished the work in Dangyang City, they hurried all the way for fear of missing the opportunity, but they didn't expect that something would still happen.

Thinking of this, he hurriedly asked: "The King of Wuchang has sent troops to defend it, is there any way to get in?"

Tian Yuanwai was delighted when he heard this, and said meaningfully: "Young Master Li, we are not outsiders, so you should not talk nonsense about some things."

"Our King Wuchang likes extravagance and collects all kinds of treasures. He did not go beyond the construction of the palace, but he played a trick and built a palace next to it, occupying half of Wuchang City."

"If you put it in your mouth, how can you spit it out?"

When Li Yan heard this, he immediately understood.

Well, it seems that this King Wuchang has a completely different personality from the King Chang'an and is not low-key at all.

Thinking of this, he felt somewhat helpless, and said with a cupped hand: "In this case, I will have to bother Mr. Tian for a while longer."

He came here for more than just one purpose: to find a Xuanmen craftsman.

A lot has been harvested during this period, and it takes time to settle. Firstly, there is a royal palace in Wuchang, which is heavily guarded, so it can be free from the disturbance of war.

Secondly, the area near Wuchang Prefecture has been an important town since ancient times, with many imperial tombs from past dynasties, including ancient battlefields and mass graves.

He couldn't leave this kind of place when practicing the "Northern Emperor Yinshan Method".

Also, making a new type of musket is a taboo thing after all. If you want to find a trustworthy craftsman, you must observe and interact with him for a period of time.

In this case, we might as well rest in Hanyang.

"That's a good feeling!"

When Mr. Tian heard this, he was overjoyed. "Don't worry, my family has some connections in Hanyang City, and I will definitely introduce some big jobs to you."

He is a businessman, and such a powerful Taoist magician would be a valuable resource if he could stay in his house.

Apart from anything else, helping some big clients solve their problems and introducing experts to them is a favor.

While the three were talking, the boat slowly approached the shore.

Li Yan hurriedly walked into the cabin and informed Lu San and Wang Daoxuan.

Lu San doesn't like to join in the fun. He is happy enough just staying in the cabin and playing with a group of pets.

As for Wang Daoxuan, he was reading ancient books all the way, not stopping during the day and continuing to read by lamplight at night. Even meals were delivered to his room.

After receiving Li Yan's notification, the two packed up their things.

They carried quite a lot of luggage, so they got a special carriage for the journey. After boarding the ship, they packed it carefully, and there were seven or eight boxes in total.

Accompanied by the boatman's shouts, the ship approached the Parrot Island Pier.

Before I got close, all kinds of noises came over me.

This is a distribution center for goods from the north and the south, with merchant ships gathering here and rare goods such as silk, tea, and porcelain piled up like mountains.

The porters shouted and carried the goods.

The businessmen bowed and negotiated the deal.

There are also the hawking sounds from various teahouses and taverns, mixed together, and all you see is prosperity and bustle.

The Ezhou Chamber of Commerce’s ships are naturally big business.

Even before they got close, the foot gangs at the dock were already looking forward to it.

"Wait, be careful!"

After some pleasantries, loading and unloading of goods began immediately.

The Ezhou Chamber of Commerce’s ship was quite large, and on board were not only them, but also merchants heading to Xiangyang and Jingzhou.

It took nearly half an hour just to unload the cargo.

The Ezhou Chamber of Commerce was quite powerful, and with its porters working for them, they were very discerning and didn't cause any trouble, whether it was the beggars traveling west on the dock or Lao Rong walking among the crowd.

Most of the people on the boat were businessmen, as well as officials who were on official business and took the boat for a ride. The porters were working, and many people were waiting in their horse-drawn carriages nearby.

"Master, thank you for your hard journey."

The old man who was the manager of the Tian residence personally led people to greet them at the dock.

"Don't be too polite."

Tian Yuanwai smiled and said, "We have distinguished guests staying here. Go and get another carriage and send the things to the warehouse. Send someone back early to prepare a banquet."

"Yes, sir."

The manager of the Tian Mansion immediately agreed.

There are also large warehouses built on the Parrot Island Wharf for merchants to rent and store goods.

The manager of the Tian Mansion was very efficient. He arranged the delivery of the goods in a short time and called a carriage to load the goods of Li Yan and others.

Afterwards, the group rode their horses towards Hanyang City.

In a tea stall at the distant dock, Yue Xing of the Bai Jiao Gang remained calm and watched all the people getting on and off the ship.

Li Yan and his group were naturally very conspicuous.

Yue Xing frowned slightly, as if he remembered something, and quickly took out a booklet from his arms. The booklet had fresh ink on it, which contained the latest intelligence from various places in Ezhou.

One of the pages clearly records the deeds of Li Yan and others in Yichang.

"Good fellow, a dragon crossing the river..."

Yue Xing clicked his tongue and shook his head, then put the book away.

There was indeed one thing Li Yan had not expected.

He now,
No longer an unknown person...

　The second one will be later

　　
　
(End of this chapter)