amaotonovel Chapter 359 Entering the City Yesterday
Chapter 359 Entering the City Yesterday
Chapter 359 Entering the City Yesterday
The next day, before dawn, while Jianzhou City was still shrouded in silence, the gate of the post station in the west of the city quietly opened, and three fast horses, treading through the mud, silently leaped out of the gate and galloped off in the southeast.
About an hour later, some of the still-wounded guards, led by their commander, slowly made their way east along the official road, beating war drums and carrying the banner of the Jingnan Prince's Mansion. Their imposing presence was a stark contrast to their panicked and disheveled state the previous night.
With such a large-scale cavalry advance, the prefectures and counties along the way would surely send urgent reports to Fuzhou. Therefore, according to Jiang Wen's plan, the Jingnan Prince's personal guards broke camp as originally planned, traveling only thirty li per day. Along the way, they made a big show of creating the illusion that Geng Jingzhong was still in the army. All documents and seals were handled by the commander, and any messengers from Fuzhou were to be detained. No word of this could be leaked.
If the plan is well-planned, making Geng Jimao's wife, Zhou, believe that they will take another five days to reach Sanshanyi, while Jiang Wen and his party travel light and day and night, they can reach Fuzhou in three days, catching her off guard.
The clatter of hooves broke through the morning mist. Jiang Wen and Lin Zhennan were riding on horseback, looking like old men reminiscing about their youth, once again living a life of leisure and ease.
For these people who have spent years navigating the treacherous world of martial arts, sleeping in the open and eating in the wind is commonplace. Lin Zhennan and Jiang Wen used to travel all over the country as镖师 (bodyguards/escorts), and sleeping in straw huts or even grave mounds in mass graves was nothing to them. This little bit of hardship is nothing.
But Geng Jingzhong was different. He grew up in the royal palace and was always accompanied by carriages and attendants. He had never suffered such hardship before. Fortunately, he had laid a foundation by going on a military trip not long ago, so he did not fall behind.
As evening fell, the three found a dilapidated temple to rest in. Jiang Wen and Lin Zhennan skillfully gathered dry branches to start a campfire and roast the dry rations they carried with them. Geng Jingzhong, who had not slept all night, fell asleep first, using the thatched roof as a pillow.
But in the latter half of the night, he felt an unbearable itch all over his body, as if countless tiny insects were crawling under his skin. He tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep, and when he reached out, he found several plump, blood-soaked lice.
Geng Jingzhong suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the dilapidated temple, wishing he could immediately take off his clothes and burn them.
"Don't move around."
Jiang Wen leaned against the pillar with his eyes closed, his voice calm, "The more I move, the itchier it gets. I'll just have to bear with it for now. I'll find a river to take a bath when it gets light."
Geng Jingzhong gritted his teeth and endured the itching. He finally made it to dawn and continued on his way. The three of them ate and slept in the open along the way. When they were hungry, they ate dry food. When they were thirsty, they drank spring water. When they were tired, they made do for the night in dilapidated temples, caves, or grassy areas by the roadside. In just one day, Geng Jingzhong's eyes were bloodshot and his clothes were covered with mud and grass.
Just when he thought the worst was yet to come, the three of them arrived at Shuikou Town in Yanping Prefecture that evening. Jiang Wen suddenly decided to abandon his horse and board a boat to continue down the Minjiang River to Fuzhou.
After all, although the land route is faster, there are many checkpoints along the way, making it easy to expose one's identity. The water route is slower, but it is more discreet. Moreover, there are frequent ships coming and going on the Minjiang River nowadays, so as long as they blend in with the merchant ships, no one will notice them.
The dock was bustling with boats. Jiang Wen found a large boat bound for Fuzhou. The boat could carry two hundred dan (a unit of weight), but the cabin was cramped and low. After removing the cargo, there was only room for seven or eight people to huddle together. The boat captain was a money-grubbing man. Seeing that they were generous, he didn't ask any questions, took the money, and let them board the boat.
Upon entering the cabin, Geng Jingzhong nearly fainted from the stench inside.
The cabin was less than six feet high, so people inside couldn't even stand up straight and could only sit cross-legged. The cramped cabin was filled with a strong smell of mustiness, sweat, and fish, which was nauseating.
What made Geng Jingzhong even more devastated was that he could only relieve himself in a wooden bucket at the stern of the ship, or go to the side of the ship to do so. The bucket was placed at the cabin door, and the smell was always assaulting his nostrils.
"How...how can anyone live here?" Geng Jingzhong covered his nose, his face pale.
"Please make do with this, Your Highness."
Jiang Wen found a relatively clean corner to sit down. "This boat is clean and hygienic, and it's known for being fast on this river. If we go downstream, we'll reach Fuzhou in less than two days."
Lin Zhennan, who had put away his fine clothes in advance and changed into coarse cloth short clothes, also sighed: "Back in the day when we were escorting goods, sometimes we couldn't even get on a boat like this. We could only take those cargo barges and squeeze in with the big animals. Compared to that, we are already thankful for what we have now."
Helpless, Geng Jingzhong could only grit his teeth and sit down in the cabin. As the captain steered and hoisted the sail, the large rat boat slowly left the dock and merged into the surging river. The green mountains stretched along both banks of the river, and the scenery was breathtaking, but Geng Jingzhong had no interest in appreciating it whatsoever.
He felt that the cabin was stuffy and hot, and the air was foul. During the day, he huddled in a corner and dared not move. As the river breeze cooled at night, the cabin became even colder and damper. The blankets were also damp and smelly, and it felt like he was wrapped in a wet cloth. Geng Jingzhong finally managed to fall asleep when he was so tired that he could not stay awake any longer.
But not long after falling asleep, Geng Jingzhong felt an intense itch on his legs again. When he lifted his trouser leg, he saw a dense patch of red rashes on his inner thigh. Some of them had been scratched open and were oozing yellow pus. The rashes spread very quickly, and before midnight, they had spread from his thighs to his calves. The pain and itching were unbearable.
"what happened?"
Jiang Wen noticed his unusual behavior, leaned over to take a look, and frowned slightly. "It's nothing. It's probably lice bites combined with eczema. The river basins in Fujian are low-lying and damp, and the river fog and miasma are everywhere, which is why he developed a rash."
After saying that, he took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket, scooped out a dollop of black ointment, and handed it to Geng Jingzhong: "This is a Taoist ointment for curing diseases and eliminating insects. You can apply it to stop the itching and reduce inflammation."
Geng Jingzhong took the ointment, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty as he looked at the ulcerated skin on his leg. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and applied the ointment to his leg. A cooling sensation temporarily relieved the itching.
However, the harsh conditions in the cabin did not change despite the lowered expectations. The rashes on his body continued to appear. For the next two days, Geng Jingzhong was in agony. He could not eat or sleep. He was in a daze and could only lean against the cabin wall, letting the small boat drag him up and down on the river.
On the contrary, Jiang Wen and Lin Zhennan slept soundly. Lin Zhennan snored softly, while Jiang Wen closed his eyes to rest, tapping his knees lightly with his fingers, seemingly lost in thought. Occasionally, a breeze would blow in through the gaps in the boat awning, revealing his clear and sharp eyes, as if he were planning something.
On the morning of the third day, a clear ship bell suddenly rang, breaking the silence in the cabin.
"Hee! We've arrived! We've reached Fuzhou!" The boat captain's rough shout came from the bow of the boat, carrying a strong Fujian accent.
Geng Jingzhong suddenly opened his eyes, his spirits lifted. He struggled to stand up, ignoring the itching and pain in his legs, and went out through the boat awning.
The morning sun shines on the river, creating a shimmering expanse. In the distance, the high walls of Fuzhou city are faintly visible, standing majestically for miles. Nearby, the docks are bustling with people and vehicles, filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares, shouting, and urging others to hurry.
He recognized it as soon as he stepped off the boat. It was Shangxiahang Wharf, one of the most prosperous wharves in Fuzhou. Timber, tea and porcelain from the upper reaches of the Minjiang River were gathered here and then transported to various places. The wharf was filled with masts of boats of all sizes, and porters carrying loads came and went in an endless stream. Merchants, boatmen and villagers dressed in all kinds of clothes were also crowded together.
Standing at the bow of the boat, Geng Jingzhong looked at the bustling scene before him, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He had been away from Fuzhou for half a month, and now he was back here, but in such a disheveled way.
"Let's go, we'll go back to the Prince's Mansion immediately!" Geng Jingzhong said urgently, turning to disembark.
"Wait." Jiang Wen grabbed him, his tone serious. "We can't go to the Prince's residence."
"Why?" Geng Jingzhong looked at him, puzzled. "We've finally come back, where else would we go but the Prince's Mansion?"
Jiang Wen pointed to the seemingly ordinary pedestrians around the dock and said in a low voice.
“Young Prince, we don’t know if there are any spies around here. What if they are waiting for us to walk into their trap? If you show your face now, the news will reach Zhou’s ears in less than half an hour.”
Following the direction Jiang Wen pointed, Geng Jingzhong saw several suspicious-looking people. They seemed to be strolling around, but their eyes kept scanning every boat that docked, especially those well-dressed passengers who looked like high-ranking officials.
"What should we do then?"
Geng Jingzhong was silent for a moment, then said, "Are we just going to hide here forever?"
"of course not."
Jiang Wen smiled slightly, a sly glint in his eyes. "We need to catch them off guard and attack where they are unprepared. Our current plan is to find a place to hide first, and then act when we have a better understanding of the situation in the city."
He paused, then continued, “Your identity as a prince is too conspicuous; you’ll be recognized as soon as you show your face. So come with me first, and I’ll settle you in a safe place—Brother Lin, you go into the city first to find out what’s going on at the prince’s residence and the deployment of troops throughout the city. We’ll meet here later.”
Lin Zhennan nodded: "Don't worry, Zilu. I know Fuzhou very well."
After saying that, he blended into the crowd and disappeared after a few turns.
Jiang Wenze led Geng Jingzhong down the stone steps of the dock, through the bustling crowd, and into a narrow alley. The eaves of the houses on both sides of the alley were connected by wooden planks, and sunlight could only filter through the gaps to cast a little light and shadow. The cobblestone path on the ground was full of potholes and sewage, giving off an unpleasant stench.
After wandering around for about half an hour, the two finally arrived at Tanwei Street.
This place seems to be a slum, with low wooden houses and shacks everywhere. The ground is filthy and teeming with mosquitoes and flies. There are many suspicious vendors on both sides of the street, hawking the cheapest vegetables and fish. Occasionally, there are some dying beggars huddled in the corners, struggling to beg from passersby.
"Wait here for a moment, I'll be right back."
Not far away, an ancient temple stands in front, with a plaque that reads "Temple of Minister of Longevity". It enshrines Chen Wenlong, a loyal minister of the Southern Song Dynasty. At this time, the temple is still quite popular, with devout men and women coming and going from time to time.
Jiang Wen disappeared for a short while to investigate, and then returned with Geng Jingzhong, walking into a wooden house next to the Wanshou Shangshu Temple.
This old house is tidier than the surrounding houses, but the walls are already leaning and are barely supported by a few pieces of wood. The roof tiles are also broken and incomplete, and it is covered with thatch instead.
"This is it."
The wooden door creaked loudly when pushed gently.
Geng Jingzhong followed him inside, and a strong smell of mildew and dampness hit him, making him want to cough. The room was dim and old, with almost nothing of value, except for a worn-out square table, a few benches, and two beds made of planks. There was some firewood and miscellaneous items piled up in the corner of the stove, and the damp, dark floor was covered with moss.
An old man with gray hair was sitting on the doorstep, weaving a bamboo basket. His left leg was twisted at an odd angle, clearly indicating that he had been lame for a long time. He only raised his head when he heard the door open, and hurriedly said to Jiang Wen, "You've come, esteemed guest."
"Old Zeng, I'm sorry to bother you." Jiang Wen nodded and pointed to Geng Jingzhong, saying, "This is my next friend. As I just said, he will be staying with you for a few days. Please bear with him."
Old Man Zeng quickly stood up, limped over, and bowed to Geng Jingzhong: "Young master, you are too kind. It is our good fortune that you can stay at our home."
At this moment, the curtain of the inner room was lifted, and a middle-aged woman came out, followed by a girl of about fifteen or sixteen years old. The girl had an ordinary appearance and dark skin, but a strong build. When she saw Geng Jingzhong, she lowered her head shyly, holding a needle and thread in her hand, obviously doing needlework.
Jiang Wen then introduced Zeng Laohan's family to Geng Jingzhong.
Old Zeng had a limp and usually worked as a laborer in the Shuiqiao commercial port, carrying lighter goods. His wife washed clothes for others to earn a few copper coins to supplement the family income. Their daughter, Zeng Amei, was thirteen or fourteen years old and now worked as a tailor, doing sewing and mending.
Jiang Wen took out a five-tael silver ingot from his pocket and placed it on the table: "Old Zeng, this is the agreed-upon wage. The rent and food expenses are separate. Take this first."
Old Man Zeng's eyes lit up when he saw the silver, and he quickly reached out to take it, his hands trembling with excitement.
"Thank you so much, sir! Thank you so much, sir!" he said repeatedly, his face full of joy, only his daughter was unhappy.
Upon seeing his daughter's appearance, the smile on his face suddenly froze, and his eyes dimmed. He clutched the silver ingot tightly, his lips trembling. Suddenly, he squatted down, covered his face, and began to sob, his cries extremely heart-wrenching.
Geng Jingzhong stood to the side, looking completely bewildered. He couldn't understand why the old man, who had clearly received the silver, was now crying.
"What...what's going on?"
Geng Jingzhong couldn't help but ask.
Jiang Wen leaned against the doorpost, looking at Old Man Zeng who was squatting on the ground sobbing, and said, "I inquired before I came. He owed Yama a debt, which was five taels of silver with interest compounded. If he couldn't pay it back, the lender would take his wife and daughter away to offset the debt."
"He's actually willing to sell his wife and daughter for just five taels of silver."
Geng Jingzhong wasn't lamenting the sale of his children, but rather puzzled by the price. In the seventeenth year of the Shunzhi Emperor's reign, a single shi (a unit of dry measure) of rice had risen to two taels of silver. Did owing two shi of rice really mean he had to sell his wife and children?
Jiang Wen said calmly, "For ordinary people, it is an extremely difficult thing to take out cash, especially pure silver used for taxation."
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, a monetary system was implemented in which silver and copper coins coexisted. People could earn copper coins by selling grain or doing odd jobs, but they had to pay taxes and land taxes in silver.
Fuzhou and the entire country were in a state of severe "silver shortage" due to frequent wars, shrinking trade, and large amounts of silver being hoarded. The people had no silver in their hands, and corrupt officials and unscrupulous merchants took advantage of loopholes in the tax collection system to "make a living by changing the purity and the amount of silver lost," which could easily drive people to their deaths.
Jiang Wen continued, "Old Zeng didn't have much savings to begin with. To pay off his debts, he sold his daughter, Amei, to a barefoot maid in the Lin family a few days ago for two taels of silver. He can't even raise the remaining three taels by selling this dilapidated house."
Jiang Wen didn't finish his sentence. He couldn't repay the money even after selling the house. Naturally, he wasn't doing it to pay off the debt, but rather to avoid his daughter being sold into a brothel by becoming a slave in the wealthy Lin family.
Geng Jingzhong remained unmoved by this. Such incidents were countless from south to north, and even though he was born into a royal family, he knew that these things were perfectly natural.
Putting aside other matters, the first Prince of Jingnan, Geng Zhongming, was impeached for "harboring runaway slaves" and was punished by the court for having a large number of hidden slaves in the palace. The second Prince of Jingnan, Geng Jimao, continued this practice, abducting local gentry and women everywhere. When he arrived in Fujian, he also seized people's fields and houses and abducted their children in order to build the palace.
"Why would he owe the King of Hell a debt?" Geng Jingzhong asked.
“A year ago, Prince Jingnan Geng Jimao led his army into Fuzhou. His troupe of actors performed publicly at the Shita Temple in the South Gate, extorting three cents from each audience member. Old Man Zeng happened to be passing by that day and curiously went over to take a look. He was then arrested by the soldiers of the Prince’s mansion. He had no money on him, so the soldiers dragged him aside and broke his left leg.”
Jiang Wen glanced at him, his tone calm.
"In order to redeem himself, he had to borrow cash from someone, and with interest compounded, it became five taels after a year."
"Oh, by the way, I've actually come up with a name for this kind of thing: the 'kill line.'"