The old things I repaired have become fine

Chapter 773 The Merit of Supporting the Emperor Has Arrived! —Who wants to see Sima Rui?!
"Products..."

The scribe in blue repeated it in a low voice, as if he were chewing on the two words, or perhaps trying to figure out what Shen Yue meant behind them.

Shen Yue remained bowed, only glancing sideways at the expression on the face of the clerk in blue. After a long while, the clerk in blue finally asked:

"His Majesty has just moved to his fiefdom, and many things are not quite right for him. Hmm, how much can you transport at a time?"

Oh, how much? You haven't even given me the types of goods, how am I supposed to estimate the amount?

He silently complained to himself, but his respectful expression only deepened. He bowed deeply, his face beaming with a fawning smile.

"I don't understand what you mean... Transporting brocade is different from transporting porcelain, and transporting porcelain is different from transporting lacquerware. Please provide a list of the goods, sir, so I can make a careful estimate and ensure your satisfaction!"

The clerk in blue paused, his displeasure growing even stronger. His thin eyebrows furrowed, his expression darkening, and even his mustache seemed to droop slightly.
"Hmm... just tell me how much stone you can transport! You merchants should have a mix of light and heavy goods, not just the same thing!"

"Yes...yes," Shen Yue said, head bowed. His right hand hung down, fingers flexed and extended, as if calculating something. After a long while, he bowed deeply.

“The Shen family’s fleet has three ships. If they all transport porcelain, they can carry three hundred chests at a time, which is approximately…” He spread his arms and gestured:
"...Such large boxes. If they were all used to transport lacquerware, they could fill two houses with three rooms and two halls. If they were all used to transport timber, they could carry a hundred large logs and two hundred small logs..."

"Alright," the clerk in blue said softly, stopping him. Porcelain, lacquerware, wood—these weren't the answers he wanted to hear, nor would they help him calculate the ship's capacity. He asked directly:

"What about transporting cloth? What about transporting grain?"

"We'll be transporting a lot of cloth. For linen, a ship can carry two thousand bolts. Brocade is less, as it's susceptible to moisture and needs to be carefully wrapped; a maximum of five hundred bolts. As for grain, a ship can carry two hundred shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain..."

Out of the corner of his eye, Shen Yue saw a look of satisfaction finally appear on the face of the scribe in blue. The official nodded slightly, a hint of a smile appearing at the corner of his eye:
“Good. In that case, next time, you will transport five hundred bolts of brocade, four hundred bushels of rice, and a batch of the finest porcelain and lacquerware…”

They're here. Shen Yue was filled with excitement. With a thud, he knelt down on the ground, his voice brimming with fear without needing to act:
"My lord, the Shen family... the Shen family is small and weak—"

"Does the Prince's Mansion owe you any debts?!" the blue-robed clerk retorted impatiently. Shen Yue lowered his head deeply, his forehead almost touching the floor, silent and motionless—resolutely refusing to agree.

A moment later, a soft sigh came from the inner room, and a servant emerged with light footsteps:
"Look. This is the deposit—are you satisfied now?!"

Shen Yue slowly raised his head, and his eyes were immediately dazzled by the tray in the servant's hands. The tray held a glittering, dazzling gold ingot. He immediately prostrated himself again.

"Enough! Enough, you scoundrel—"

He hadn't even calculated whether it was enough. He hadn't weighed the gold ingot, nor had he verified its purity.
Based on the gold ingots of roughly the same size found among the pirates' loot, the value was approximately one-twentieth of the price of five hundred bolts of brocade or four hundred bushels of rice.

Of course, this brocade cannot be of very high quality; it can only be plain silk or something similar. And the rice cannot be priced according to the prices of famine years.

But, but!
I caught a glimpse of this gold ingot just now, and it bears the mark of the Langya Prince's Mansion!

"If that's enough, go and get the goods," the clerk in blue ordered coldly. Shen Yue agreed repeatedly, slowly got up, and reached for the tray.

Before his hand could even touch him, the servant stepped aside, carrying the tray to avoid his hand; at the same time, another servant, who had been standing silently in the corner and was barely noticeable, suddenly stepped forward, and with a clang, his waist knife was half-drawn from its sheath—

Shen Yue knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"Don't panic, we're not trying to steal anything from you," the clerk in blue said calmly.

"This is a matter of great importance, and the governor will personally oversee the goods. These two men will accompany you down south to see you complete the transaction, and then they will come back with you. Any objections?"

"No! No! It's an honor for the Shen family that the Prince's Mansion is willing to employ a scoundrel like me!"

Shen Yue responded repeatedly. With the help of the Langya Prince's Mansion, he cleared out the previous batch of goods and purchased a new one.
Iron ore and iron ingots are not worth buying, but scissors, iron farm tools, and kitchen knives are still good items.

Although the silk industry in Jiangnan had begun to flourish, fine silks from Qi and Lu, and even coarse cloth, were still very popular and sought-after items among the aristocratic families of Jiangnan. The aristocratic families took pride in wearing brocades from the Central Plains.

The ship was loaded with dried seafood from the Yellow Sea, including fish, shellfish, and sea cucumbers; honey and beeswax from Langya; and even dried fruits such as dates, chestnuts, and walnuts from the nearby mountains…

They even transported ten pairs of oxen and five Qingzhou horses. Although the servants of the Langya Prince's Mansion looked extremely displeased, they did not stop them and boarded the ship with them, their faces sour.

The ships sailed south, cutting through the waves, and returned to the Shen clan's territory in just half a month. They unloaded the goods from the north, changed into brocade and grain, and set sail north once more.
This time, when they arrived in Langya, they were not received by a clerk in blue robes, but by an older official with a distinctly different demeanor.

He didn't even glance at the list of goods presented to him, dismissed those around him, and lowered his voice:
"Steward Shen, the manor has already inspected the goods you brought over. Let's not beat around the bush, the lord has already heard about your family's profitable boats."

"The north is currently in turmoil, and the Prince's residence has some... old belongings that need to be moved south to Jianye. The numerous checkpoints along the land route are quite inconvenient, and we fear it might disturb the local people. I wonder if your esteemed seagoing vessels could 'quietly' transport a batch of these items southward?"

"This……"

Shen Yue could no longer maintain his composure and could only bow his head deeply to hide the turmoil in his heart.

At this moment, his heart was filled with turbulent emotions, all echoing the patriarch's repeated admonitions:
"Our goal is to help the Langya Prince's Mansion and its officials retreat to Jiangnan... But we must not reveal this goal; we must make them say it themselves..."

Shen Yue was completely stunned. The Langya Prince's Mansion was going to retreat to Jiangnan? Where did this news come from? How come we didn't know?
We've been running around transporting goods every day, and inquiring about news everywhere, but we haven't heard a single whisper of it! Master, when did you get involved with the Langya Prince's Mansion?!
The order is still to bypass Jianye and Qingzhou, and head straight for Langya! The imperial family has enfeoffed a large number of princes, and you've led us directly to Langya—

Putting everything else aside, Langya is right next to the fiefdom of the King of Donghai, and you're not going to take anything wrong with it!
But he couldn't ask these questions, nor dared he. He took a deep breath, exhaled, and after a long while, he forced down his excitement and solemnly clasped his hands in greeting:

"With the King's trust in us, the Shen family would not dare to fail to do our utmost! Our three ships are at your disposal. However, we do not know what kind of 'old ships' they are, their size, or when they will be shipped. We should make preparations as soon as possible and ensure a safe journey."

The subordinate official's face showed a hint of satisfaction, and he lowered his voice even further:
"It consists of...official documents and books, as well as some personal belongings. The quantity is not large, but we must ensure secrecy and speed. Specific details will be discussed with the steward by a designated person three days from now."

"I will have them clean the cabin and await your arrival."

Shen Yue bowed deeply, his knees touching the ground. He knew that the patriarch's plan was half accomplished—but what about betting on the Prince of Langya?
With so many members of the imperial clan, is it really okay to bet solely on the Prince of Langya?
This shipment heading south consisted mainly of official documents, bronze ritual vessels, and precious brocades and gold ingots—items that could be used as currency. After this trip, the Shen family immediately received their third mission:
"Your boat is quite good. Fast and stable. —If it were to transport people, how many could it carry?"

Shen Yue's seemingly honest and simple face instantly filled with a troubled expression. He lowered his head and pondered for a while before stammering out:
"To be honest, loading cargo is easy, but loading people is difficult. On our ship, only the naval officer, helmsman, and chief accountant have separate rooms. Even if they all give them up, we can only fit seven or eight people..."

"What?! They're all being converted into passenger vehicles?!"

Shen Yue lowered his head, his fingers tracing patterns on his robe, as if he were calculating something on the spot. The patriarch had already discussed this problem with him and had a detailed plan.

However, in order not to let the people of the Prince's mansion realize that he had come prepared, he had to pretend that he had come up with the idea on the spur of the moment:
"Ten people. — When transporting a distinguished person, the maximum number of people allowed is ten. If the attendants around the distinguished person are willing to squeeze in, the maximum number can be twenty to forty."

He raised his head, looking at the older subordinate with a pleading expression:

"We really can't do any more. We're traveling by sea, so all the fresh water and food on board must be pre-loaded, and the ballast can't be lacking either..."

“That’s not enough,” the official said firmly. He stared intently at Shen Yue, his voice low and menacing, each word like a summer thunderclap rolling over his head:

"What if I need to transport at least a thousand people? I'll give you money, boats, and manpower—from Langya to Jianye, quickly, secretly, and safely. Is there any way?"

"I...no." Shen Yue lowered his head and thought for a long while before slowly shaking his head through gritted teeth. Before the chief clerk could react, he quickly added:
"But the head of the family should have it!"

"Your family head?"

The official's thick eyebrows lifted slightly. Having done business with the Shen family several times, he hadn't been completely unaware of the situation; some things weren't so difficult to find out.

Is that sixteen-year-old boy, who joined the army in mourning clothes, turned the tide, and took charge of family affairs, finally going to be pushed to the forefront?
interesting……

Shen Yue lowered his head and said:
"Yes. The head of the family has long admired the culture and elegance of the Central Plains and is currently studying there... However, he has just suffered from the chaos and is in mourning, so it is inconvenient for him to meet with you. If you do not mind my intrusion, I will immediately send word to summon you."

"how long?"

"You scoundrel, hurry up!"

Shen Le was certainly not in Langya—even if he was pretending, he had to pretend he wasn't there, otherwise it would be too insincere.

Riding swiftly northward, they finally dragged him back from the foot of Mount Tai. He still looked like he hadn't had enough, and his book box contained a thick stack of rubbings.

Three days later, in a secluded courtyard of the Langya Prince's Mansion.

Shen Le, dressed in plain linen clothes, stood solemnly with her eyes lowered, listening to the faint sounds coming from behind the screen. Good, this time she could finally see the person in question—

I wonder if he'll be meeting Sima Rui or Wang Dao? I hope it's Wang Dao; there's really nothing to see with Sima Rui... If they're just sending a servant to fob him off, that's a terrible outcome.

But it shouldn't be that high. The officials who met Shen Yue before were already of relatively high rank. This time, it should be even higher, right?

At this time, Wang Dao was actually the Prince of Langya, Sima...

His mind was racing, but his face remained calm. After a moment, a middle-aged scholar dressed in a deep robe, with an air of elegance, slowly emerged from behind the screen, his expression gentle and refined.

His gaze fell on Shen Le, seemingly casual, yet Shen Le felt as if he wanted to see right through him:

As expected of the head of the Wang family, who "shared the world with the Ma family," none of the big shots in history were easy to deal with.

Shen Le thought to himself with a sense of awe, but he wasn't nervous at all: "Just kidding, he's even met Li Shimin, what's Director Wang compared to him?"
We can always restart!

"This must be the head of the Shen family? So accomplished at such a young age, truly impressive." Director Wang's voice was calm, carrying an inherently convincing quality.

"I am Wang Dao of Langya. I am honored to serve as Sima by the trust of His Majesty. The matter of heading south concerns the foundation of the nation, and I hope that Patriarch Shen will speak frankly to me."

Shen Le felt a chill run down his spine; it really was this important figure who had come in person. He bowed deeply, displaying utmost respect, but his expression showed no sign of obsequiousness.

"I, Shen Le, pay my respects to Commander Wang. My family has suffered misfortune, and I am currently in mourning. I have offended you, esteemed sir, and I beg your forgiveness. Regarding the matter of heading south, I and my family will do our utmost. However, I wonder if Commander Wang's mention of 'a thousand men' is a figurehead or a genuine need?"

Wang Dao nodded slightly, then asked instead of answering, "I heard that Patriarch Shen once said that three ships carrying only a few dozen people would be safe. However, what is needed now far exceeds that number. What can you tell me?"

Shen Le had already received the news and made a comprehensive plan, so he didn't pretend he needed to come up with ideas on the spot. He raised his head, his gaze clear and firm:
"If the goal is only to transport a thousand people, it is possible to requisition a dozen or so civilian boats, with the people on board squeezed together and traveling slowly in batches along the inland river."

But what Wang Sima sought was 'speed, secrecy, and safety'. The inland waterways were heavily fortified with checkpoints, and the refugees were constantly watching, making it difficult to conceal information. Moreover, the journey would take too long, and there was a risk of unforeseen events.

Moreover, if this continues for too long, public morale will waver, and a large number of refugees may follow suit. If Cheng Zhaolie were to lead the people across the river, it would likely take more than just a few small boats and a few thousand people to resolve the situation!

"Oh?" Director Wang sat down, gesturing for him to continue. "In your opinion, what is your plan?"

"In my humble opinion, we should proceed in three directions, combining overt and covert tactics, and alternating between feints and real attacks." Shen Le clearly had a plan in mind, and now he spoke fluently and clearly:
"The main route is led by officials of the Prince's Palace, who will lead a large contingent of troops, carrying a large amount of secondary supplies, some members of collateral branches of the clan, and refugees to make up the numbers. They will march south along the Sishui River and the Hangou Canal with great fanfare. This route does not seek speed, but rather to create a great spectacle and attract all attention. This is called a 'feint'."

"The central route will be used to select the core officials of the Prince's Palace, important family members of noble families, their necessary guards, documents, and books, and they will travel on safe inland waterways. The journey will still be on inland waterways, but the speed will be increased and the guards will be strengthened. This route will serve as a link between the upper and lower routes, both to distribute the pressure and to protect the core."

“And the hidden path is the most crucial one,” Shen Le said in a low voice, his gaze intense.

"I will lead the Shen family's ships, forming a small fleet, bypassing inland waterways, heading straight down to the East China Sea, sailing south along the coastline, directly into the Yangtze River estuary, and upriver to Jianye. This route is dedicated to transporting the most crucial people and goods!"

(End of this chapter)