Knife splashing

Chapter 768 Yangzhou City

"Japanese pirates?!"

Upon hearing the reply from the bow of the ship, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

What kind of place is Yangzhou?
Located at the heart of the Jianghuai water network, with the Grand Canal as its lifeblood, the city benefits from being a vital hub for grain transport and salt merchants. The Grand Canal flows through the city, with twenty-four wharves on both banks operating day and night, nurturing the city's prosperity and elegance.

It was famous and heavily guarded.

Although they had heard about the rampant Japanese pirates along the coast before they came, it was still somewhat unexpected that they could penetrate deep into this blessed land and cause such a commotion.

"No rush, speak slowly."

Li Yan stopped the crowd and asked in a deep voice.

He took a sip of water from the bow of the boat and caught his breath. "Those Japanese pirates came from the mouth of the Yangtze River. After landing at Langshan in Nantong, they plundered Rugao, Jingjiang and other places in a flash, and then advanced on Yangzhou in three routes."

"They were very familiar with the terrain and the imperial army's defenses, and easily bypassed the encirclement. They also set up a trap deep in the mountains, and I heard that they used some very terrible evil magic."

"Hong Dai, the commander of Yangzhou Garrison, was ambushed and his entire army was wiped out. Other places urgently provided support. In order to prevent Japanese pirates from infiltrating the city, checkpoints were set up on both land and water."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yu's face flushed red. He abruptly turned around and went back into the cabin, removed the gag from Lin Yaozu's mouth, slapped him twice across the face, and roared, "Is this any of your business?!"

Lin Yaozu betrayed his family, causing the tragic deaths of countless Lin family members. Fatty Lin had long since lost all affection for this man, leaving only hatred.

If this was also their doing, then the Lin family is in grave danger.

puff!
Lin Yaozu spat out a mouthful of blood and foam, looked at Lin Yu's fat face, and recalled the close family atmosphere during the New Year when he was a child. He couldn't help but feel sad and said in a trembling voice, "I don't know either. Ever since I placed people in Jinling, I have lost control over there."

"They won't tell me what they did."

"you!"

Lin Yu trembled with rage, "Do you know that this is a heinous crime that results in the confiscation of your property and the extermination of your entire clan!"

Lin Yaozu's face turned pale, and he lowered his head without saying a word.

"Brother Lin, don't worry." Sha Lifeng pressed down on his shoulder and said seriously, "No matter what happens, the brothers will help you. Besides, the Lin family is also a victim. Let's resolve this matter as soon as possible."

"You're right."

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard, seemingly lost in thought, and said, "The Jianmu demon has made such a big fuss, it is no small matter. I think we should report this matter immediately, so as to attract the attention of the court and clear the Lin family of suspicion."

"However, the Lin family will likely suffer significant losses as a result of this incident."

Their original plan was to rush to Jinling immediately and eradicate the sorcerer before the situation escalated, thus saving the Lin family from this calamity.

But given the current situation, some choices must be made.

Lin Yu hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and cupped his hands, saying, "The Daoist is right. If we report this matter, the Lin family may still have a chance to breathe."

"However, we need to find a trustworthy person and operate in secrecy. I'm afraid those wicked people will resort to desperate measures and harm the entire Lin family."

"That's natural."

Li Yan pondered for a moment, then looked towards Yangzhou City in the distance. "The situation here is worse than we imagined. We're new here and can't tell friend from foe, so it's better to play it safe."

"Let's go into the city first, gather information, and then we'll talk."

With the plan set, the large ship continued its journey.

But at this time the waterway was congested, with ships almost side by side.

The tall cargo ships, over ten feet high, were the most imposing, their sides painted vermilion, and their cabin doors adorned with red paper bearing the inscription "Smooth Sailing," one after another, occupying nearly half of the waterway. Alongside them were short, wide salt boats, their sails brittle from salt stains, following closely behind the cargo ships.

Judging from the two groups speaking slang to each other, they were clearly from the Jianghuai underworld.

There were also many merchant ships coming and going, with flags bearing the words "Suzhou Prefecture", "Hangzhou Prefecture", "Huizhou Prefecture", and even some from northern prefectures.

But what's even more unsettling are those exquisite little awning boats, with boatwomen wearing bamboo hats and rowing oars, the sound of oars "ya-yi ya-yi" echoing as they navigate between the large boats, like little fish swimming everywhere.

They actually started doing business on the river!
Boatmen transported supplies, and some even sold breakfast, displaying Yangzhou buns on wooden trays, along with small stoves. When the steamer was lifted, the steam and the aroma of meat filled the air.

It took a lot of effort for the large ship to finally dock at Dongguan Wharf.

The plank was placed on the bluestone embankment. Before anyone even stepped onto it, the sounds of water, voices, and shouts mingled together.

The stone steps of the dock are layered, stretching from the riverbank to the street. Each step has been worn with shallow marks by the tow ropes of the canal boats, giving it a warm luster.

The porters, shirtless, carried sacks of grain on their shoulders, chanting "Heave-ho!" as they slowly made their way ashore. The red seal of "Grain Transport General Warehouse" on the sacks was blurred by sweat and water vapor.

Beside the dock stands a blue stone tablet inscribed with the four characters "Dongguan Water Gate". The corners of the tablet are covered with moss, and it is unknown how many years it has stood.

Of course, no one rushed to disembark.

The Twelve Zodiacs are not ordinary people after all. Not to mention the terrifyingly large Wu Ba and the exceptionally beautiful Long Yan'er, even the others have remarkable temperaments and stand out in the crowd.

Therefore, everyone agreed to stay on the ship instead of going to the inn in the city. After all, the Lin family's large ship was well-equipped and had everything they needed, including cooking.

Only Li Yan and Sha Lifeng, after some disguise, followed Fatty Lin to the dock.

The dock was already bustling with activity.

But after turning onto a street, the noise was even more overwhelming.

The street was only about ten feet wide, just wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side. It was bustling with people, and the bluestone pavement was polished smooth by countless footsteps. Shops lined both sides of the street, with banners fluttering in the wind and plaques hanging on the storefronts. The characters on the wooden plaques were either vigorous or delicate, each with its own unique style.

Li Yan had exceptional hearing, and the sounds from the street involuntarily entered his ears.

On the left was a silk shop with a sign that read "Wu Ji Yun Jin" (吴记云锦). The shopkeeper, a man from Suzhou, introduced the silk to his customers in a soft voice: "This 'Xia Zi Yue Yun' (霞姿月韵) is a newly woven piece from Jiangnan. It shines with golden threads at night. The wives of Yangzhou salt merchants all love to wear it..."

On the right is a tea shop, with dozens of tin cans behind the counter, each with a handwritten red paper sticker with the tea name such as "West Lake Longjing", "Wuyi Rock Tea", and "Liuan Melon Seed Tea".

Seemingly noticing Li Yan's gaze, the waiter at the tea stall by the door quickly smiled and said, "Sir, come in and try some of our tea! We Yangzhou people have a tradition of 'morning tea and evening wine.' A pot of tea in the morning, paired with sesame cakes and steamed buns, can keep us entertained for half an hour..."

Li Yan quickly waved his hand, and the waiter didn't insist, immediately going to greet the other customers.

Not only are there shops, but there are also many small stalls on both sides of the street.

There are vendors selling "Linqing handkerchiefs," the handkerchiefs in bamboo baskets embroidered with orchids and irises, the stitches fine and dense...

A foot masseur was carrying a shoulder pole with a small stool at one end and a copper basin at the other. A red paper sign that read "Yangzhou Foot Massage" was pasted on the stool.

There was also a storyteller who set up a small stage in front of the teahouse. He would strike the gavel and start telling the story of "Wu Song Fighting the Tiger" from "Water Margin". The audience was surrounded by people, including children standing on tiptoe and old men waving palm-leaf fans. Laughter and cheers were constant.

Such prosperity was something Li Yan rarely saw, even after traveling all over the country.

Shalifei watched intently, praising the performance.

This is Dongguan Street.

Fatty Lin explained in a low voice, "Yangzhou is a place where people live by the water. The Grand Canal runs through the city and there are two water gates, the 'East Gate' and the 'South Gate,' which open at 7:00 AM and close at 3:00 PM every day. All cargo ships, salt ships, and merchant ships must enter the city through the water gates, day and night."

As they spoke, the three of them crossed the street and walked up the stone steps on the canal bank. On the canal, grain transport ships were packed full and stretched as far as the eye could see. Every now and then, soldiers would use bamboo poles to jump onto the ships for inspection.

"Good heavens, that's a lot of grain..."

Shalifei was stunned.

Fatty Lin shook his head and said, "Yangzhou is a key point in the imperial canal transport, shouldering the important responsibility of transferring grain from the Jianghuai region to supply the capital. And that's not all. Every year in late spring and early summer, canal boats set off from various prefectures in Jiangnan, carrying grains such as rice, wheat, and millet, and arrived in Yangzhou via the canal. That was a truly bustling scene."

"Furthermore, there are more than sixty granaries in the city, including the 'Changping Granary' and the 'Guangchu Granary,' which can store one million shi of grain. Therefore, people at the time said, 'If Yangzhou is safe, the grain transport will be smooth; if the grain transport is smooth, the capital will be well-fed.'"

Fatty Lin's words were not unfounded.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes and immediately guessed what he meant. He whispered, "Brother Lin, do you mean that the Japanese pirates' target is the city's granary?"

"I just thought of that too."

Fatty Lin said with a grim face, "My Lin family started out as grain merchants, so we are very familiar with these things. This year, the celestial phenomena have changed, and many places will inevitably suffer from famine. If Yangzhou falls, the disaster victims will surge in various places, and if someone secretly stirs things up, it will be a catastrophe!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan and Sha Lifei both frowned.

Fatty Lin's guess is very likely; otherwise, it would be hard to explain why those Japanese pirates would travel thousands of miles, risking being surrounded, to cause trouble in Yangzhou.

Looking at the garrison soldiers stationed every ten steps on the street, Li Yan said thoughtfully, "There are many clever people in the court who should have thought of this as well, which is why they have mobilized a large number of troops to provide assistance."

"It's alright, let's find someone to contact first."

Fatty Lin nodded and led the two onward, pointing to several waterways connected to the Grand Canal: "Yangzhou City has a dense network of waterways, with tributaries crisscrossing the area. For example, the 'Little Qinhuai River' and the 'Wen River' are both connected to the official canal. The Golden Swallow Gate branch that Brother Yan mentioned should be located on the Little Qinhuai River. It only opens in the evening; it's too conspicuous during the day, so let's go a little later."

"Let's go find a place to eat something first."

As they spoke, the two of them turned into the alley and came to a "Zhang Ji Shi Xiang Mian" shop.

The shop was small, with four square tables, all of which were full of people.

The innkeeper was an old man from Yangzhou with a loud voice: "Gentlemen, two bowls of mixed noodles, please? Would you like some bamboo shoots and shredded meat?"

"The complete set, and brew another pot of tea."

Fatty Lin was very familiar with this place. After giving a greeting, he led the two to a private room by the window on the second floor. Looking at the lively scene outside the window, he sighed and said, "When I was young, I was naughty and often secretly followed those shopkeepers around. Every time I came to Yangzhou, I would come to this little shop. The old owner has probably passed away, and the new waiter doesn't recognize me either."

As they were talking, the waiter brought over three bowls of noodles, steaming hot, topped with Sichuan peppercorns, fennel seeds, egg skin, and shredded bamboo shoots, and drizzled with hot soup, making them incredibly fragrant.

In addition, there are some cold dishes such as crystal pork jelly.

The taste of Huaiyang cuisine goes without saying, and the skills of this small shop are also very good. Coupled with the fatigue of the three of us from our journey, we quickly devoured everything.

I had just taken a sip of tea when I heard a commotion outside the window.

The three looked up and saw two salt boats colliding on the canal. The men on the boats drew their swords and glared angrily, cursing and shouting. They soon started fighting.

They were incredibly agile, leaping and bounding across the boat as if walking on flat ground. Their swordsmanship was ruthless, each strike deadly. In the blink of an eye, several people fell into the water, their blood staining the river surface red.

Li Yan frowned. "This is... 'Boat Fist'?"

"Brother Yan has a good eye." Fatty Lin nodded in agreement.

Li Yan nodded and said, "I've heard so much about you, but this is the first time I've met you. You are indeed extraordinary."

Nanhu Boat Boxing, popular in the Nanhu Lake basin of Jiaxing, can be traced back to the period of the rivalry between Wu and Yue.

The JX City Gazetteer records: "The Yue people used oars as weapons on boats to practice striking and thrusting techniques." With the prosperity of canal transport, boat boxing became a unique skill for escorting goods, emphasizing "firm stance, stable body, nimble hands and agile feet."

The techniques, seemingly open yet closed, are executed within the confines of the bow of a small boat. The user rotates in place using their body as an axis, and their weapons are mostly modified from oars, harpoons, and other watercraft, making them extremely suitable for naval combat.

Of course, the three of them were just watching the show and didn't want to get involved in these matters of the martial arts world.

"Tsk tsk..."

Watching the arriving soldiers drive the crowd away, Sha Lifeng shook his head slightly. "Fatty, are you familiar with the ways of the martial arts world around here?"

"Know something."

Fatty Lin replied truthfully: "Besides the Canal Gang, the Pai Sect, and the Taihu Green Forest, there are many martial arts families with traditions. For example, in Yangzhou City, the most famous is the Zhang family's 'Martial Scholar Fist'."

"The Zhang family is rumored to be descendants of Zhang Jiuling, a prime minister of the Tang Dynasty. In recent years, seven members of three generations have passed the imperial examination for military officers, creating the 'Zhang Family Military Officer Boxing,' and their unique technique, the 'Seven Star Step,' has become famous throughout the martial arts world..."

"The people of Guangling are skilled in the Five Animal Frolics, which is also very popular in Yangzhou. Many martial artists practice in the city in the morning and perform in the suburbs in the evening, right here in the Dongguan Street area..."

"Furthermore, Yangzhou is the seat of the Lianghuai Salt Transport Office, and 'seven or eight out of ten salt merchants in the world gather in Yangzhou.' These salt merchants are the wealthiest in the world, and they have built many gardens and hired martial arts and Taoist masters from all walks of life to protect them."

"To be honest, it's a bit strange that the Japanese pirates would dare to come with this force alone."

Li Yan sensed something and whispered, "I'm afraid it's not just the Japanese pirates coming..."

After finishing the pot of tea, the sun finally set.

The setting sun shines through the bridge arch onto the river, casting a golden glow on the surface.

The three of them immediately got up, hired a covered boat in the water alley next to Dongguan Street, and sailed into the Little Qinhuai River.

This place certainly can't compare to the real Qinhuai River, but it is a typical Jiangnan waterscape.

The river is only wide enough for two boats to pass side by side. On both banks are houses with white walls and black tiles. Stone revetments are built under the walls, and willows are planted along the banks. The willow branches droop to the water, and when the night wind blows, the boat awnings rustle.

The boat moved slowly, and with lanterns being lit up on both banks, it seemed as if we were floating in a painting.

On the shore, a woman squatted at the bow of a boat washing clothes, the sound of a wooden mallet pounding the garments "bang bang," while in the distance, a boatwoman began to sing a Yangzhou folk song, so sweet and intoxicating.

Shalifei remarked with amusement, "This doesn't look like an attack by Japanese pirates..."

Fatty Lin shook his head and said in a deep voice, "Yangzhou has been peaceful for a long time, and the people probably don't take it seriously."

As they spoke, the boat had already reached the middle section of the Xiao Qinhuai River.

A three-story white building stood by the river, adorned with colorful silk lanterns and even a stage built over the water, with many awning boats watching from below.

Above the ebony gate of the white building, the plaque prominently displays the three characters "Qionghua Building".

"We're here, this is it." Fatty Lin quickly told the boatman to stop.

"Not urgent."

However, Li Yan suddenly stopped the two people who wanted to go ashore. He seemed to be deep in thought and asked the boatman in a low voice, "Old man, do the people of Yangzhou really like keeping cats?"

Upon hearing this, Fatty Lin and Shalifei realized that, without them noticing, many cats had appeared densely in the corners of the streets, on the willow trees, and even on the rooftops along the riverbank.

These cats were languid in their posture, but their sheer number was chilling...

(End of this chapter)