Chapter 174

Chapter 169: Dunzhou

The baggage was guarded by the Northern Iron Riders and transported back to Cizhou by the bandits. Shen Zechuan took only a dozen of his Imperial Guards and some goods, disguising themselves as merchants heading north. Instead of directly descending upon Dunzhou, they traveled through the official road connecting Fanzhou and Dunzhou, entering from the western gate.

Six Ears wore a brimmed hat and followed behind Fei Sheng with his rear end up. Whenever his eyes started darting around, the Imperial Guards would grab him, restricting his movements as if he were being choked. He had once been Lei Jingzhe's messenger, well-informed and most familiar with the happenings in Dunzhou. His guidance could save them from many troubles. However, this old man was cunning. Initially, to escape, he had blackened his face, blending in with the bandits so well that even Fei Sheng almost failed to recognize him.

Shen Zechuan's medicine had not ceased, and after five days on the road, his cough gradually subsided. Nonetheless, he still couldn't exert force with the two fingers on his right hand. These days, he couldn't even write letters, so Ding Tao had taken over the task of penning messages to both Linbei and Cizhou.

"Once we enter the city, we must first go to a pawnshop to register our goods," Six Ears said, hiding his face under the brimmed hat while folding his arms across his chest and tilting his neck. "Dunzhou is currently in chaos. Only merchant caravans registered at the pawnshops can enter the city and stay in inns. Everyone is cautious, and this has become an unwritten rule. Whoever doesn't follow the rules will surely be up to no good."

Shen Zechuan rested his folding fan on his knee, hidden within the carriage, revealing only a vague outline of himself. He asked, "Whose pawnshop is this?"

"Belonging to the Yan family of Hezhou," Six Ears whispered, leaning close to the carriage curtain. "Back when Lei Changming still had the Yan family's support, this place was a mess. It was said that Lei was in charge, but he wasn't the provincial administrator, and we bandits didn't have many clerks or officials to enforce the law. So, we turned a blind eye to what went on beneath us. But with so many merchants coming and going, who knew if they were spies? Young Master Yan came up with the idea of establishing a pawnshop here, bearing the name 'Tongming.' Any brother who did business with the Lo Mountain bandits would naturally know how to behave inside. Later, when the Yan family had a falling out with us, the pawnshop remained as a favor to Young Master Yan from Lei Changming."

The corners of Shen Zechuan's lips twitched slightly. "In this way, the Yan family has a grip on the situation in Dunzhou, keeping records of every transaction Lei conducts. This Young Master Yan probably knows the accounts of these years better than Lei Changming himself."

"A child prodigy, then," Six Ears mused, smacking his lips. "Whatever business Yan Heru touches turns to profit. He's young, but he loves money - a lot! He'd dare to do any sort of deal."

"Lei Changming owes him a life-saving debt. There must be a reason for their fallout," Shen Zechuan recalled, mentioning the matter of the Shao family's direct descendant, speaking offhandedly.

Six Ears, fearing that Shen Zechuan might turn on him later, tried every means to please him along the way. Recalling the stakes involved, he betrayed Lei Changming by revealing, "Lei Changming has a particular predilection... It's become more severe in recent years. The people in Duen and Duang Provinces are terrified of it; they don't dare keep their children at home for fear that they might be abducted to satisfy Lei Changming's desires. Initially, Lei Changming hid this from the Yan family, but when he requested young boys from a brothel in Fan State, the madam brought the child to the pawnshop, recording the transaction as rice and flour. Lady Yan investigated thoroughly and found out, causing Young Master Yan to fly into a rage. Lei Changming promised Yan Heru that he would change, but how could he possibly do so? With Cai Yu fanning the flames, it wasn't long before they had a major falling out. As a result, Yan Heru cut off the monthly supply to Luoshan, and food stopped coming our way."

As Six Ears spoke, he turned his face toward the carriage curtain.

"That's why we were starving in Luoshan, and Lei Jingzhe had Lei Changming request grain from Cizhou. Zhou Gui was powerless at the time, yet he provided it again and again. Coincidentally, the emperor within Qudu passed away, and upon the Marquis' rebellion, those two uncle and nephew began scheming to exchange Han Jin for a noble title. With no one overseeing Zhongbo anyway, if their plan truly succeeded, they'd be granted some princely rank, transforming us into legitimate regional troops in an instant!"

With a gentle tap of his fingertips, Shen Zechuan remarked, "Lei Jingzhe is indeed a fine young man."

Lei Jingzhe was Lei Changming's right-hand man. How could such a simple matter as sending a child to Fan Zhou have caused Lei Changming's downfall? It was only after Yan Shi cut off Lei Changming's monthly allowance that he turned his focus towards Ci Zhou. His ostentatious march towards Ci Zhou made him a target for Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan, who ultimately brought about his demise – he truly was a sacrificial pawn.

It was likely that Lei Jingzhe had long been vying for the position. If they approached Han Cheng to exchange their titles, Han Cheng might not be willing to accept such exorbitant demands from the two of them. Add to that Lei Changming's insatiable greed, it was uncertain if an agreement could be reached. Hence, Lei Jingzhe decided to eliminate his own uncle, Lei Changming, eliminating him in the midst of the strife — a clean and convenient solution.

This suggested two possibilities: either Han Cheng was not the Scorpion, and the Scorpion was far less capable than Shen Zechuan had feared; or they were both pawns, not required to know each other, but simply needed to stay in their respective positions and fulfill their duties to accomplish their objectives.

Shen Zechuan pondered over both possibilities, lost in thought and refraining from further comment.

* * *

As the carriage entered the city at the hour of Hai Shi, Tong Ming Pawnshop indeed lived up to its name, ablaze with light. Fei Sheng descended with Liu’er in tow to register their presence, observing that the shopfront was surrounded by an array of carriages, each distinct in style and provenance. Among them were Long You merchants who had journeyed from Jue Xi, as well as those from Fan Zhou dealing in human resources. The cacophony of sounds consisted of clattering abaci mingled with a chorus of haggling voices, testament to the eclectic variety of goods being traded even at this late hour, rendering the scene bustling and vibrant.

With the Tongming Pawnshop at its heart, rows of large lanterns hung on both sides, illuminating the area as taverns and shops bustled through the night, their clamor echoing until dawn. Though beggars were plentiful, they were constantly shuffled around. Courtesans of all ages vied for the attention of wealthy gentlemen passing by, hoping to be taken to an inn for a free night's stay in exchange for some sustenance. Amidst the throngs of people, Fei Sheng noticed a few faces from the frontier regions.

Here, there was no sign of a military defeat. Instead, the air was filled with the sour stench of overindulgence in wine and meat, clashing with the imported spices from Juexi and Tea Stone River, creating an unsettling aroma that made one's knees weak. This street resembled a cascade of stars from the celestial vault, gathering the remaining bright lights of Zhongbo, casting an impenetrable darkness around it.

With too many people present, Fei Sheng dared not act presumptuously. Instead, he relied on the clues provided by Liu’er to seek registration within the pawnshop. The cargo was an assortment of grains from Huai Prefecture; the lead clerk, deftly managing the bustling scene, proceeded to inspect each item in strict accordance with their posted sequence, moving with remarkable speed. The junior clerk trailing behind recorded the details with even greater alacrity.

The servant approached the carriage, but instead of presumptuously lifting the curtain, he respectfully bowed towards it and said, "Lords, you've come from the west, each one of you a formidable figure in the world of commerce. In Dungan Prefecture, we do not dare to be disrespectful. Allow me to set the mood for now. After your long journey, consider this light entertainment to alleviate boredom."

Shen Zechuan remained silent.

The shopkeeper, accustomed to dealing with all sorts of merchants and even bandits, was aware that some patrons could have unpredictable tempers. Maintaining his composure, he planted his feet firmly and said, "When you enter the city, it's entirely up to you who you do business with. No one has the right to interfere. All who come and go here are guests, and we're all friends in this remote Dunzhou. We look out for each other. If there are any matters requiring mediation, just send word to our shop, and regardless of your origins, our staff will be at your service promptly, ensuring no delays. But there's one rule I must make clear: all transactions must be recorded in our ledger; anything recorded in our ledger must be genuine. Once it's listed in our establishment and approved by the Yan family, we share our reputation and prosperity in Dunzhou."

After finishing his speech, the shopkeeper bowed once more to the carriage, then gestured with an outstretched arm, guiding them, "We've reserved a courtyard specifically for you, and you can choose whomever you wish to attend to you. Fresh fruits and vegetables are available in abundance. While you reside in Dunzhou, feel free to request anything you desire to eat or enjoy, and the Yan family will take care of it all!"

Fei Sheng secretly gasped. The Xis were wealthy, but not nearly as generous as this. Yan Heru was truly exceptional. Rumor had it that he loved money as if it were his life, yet he spent it lavishly, enjoying grandeur and gold. He had invested heavily in Dunzhou, capturing the hearts of merchants passing through, no wonder the Xi family's shop couldn't compete on the eastern side!

Without further ado, the shopkeeper called out, "Tianji Sixteen Courtyards, welcoming esteemed guests inside!"

The carriage rumbled into motion, guided by dedicated attendants, as it entered the courtyard.

Shen Zechuan faced the carriage window, listening to the melodies from a nearby tavern in the darkness. The colorful lanterns, like dazzling ripples of light, filtered through the carriage curtains, casting a mesmerizing spectacle.

---

As Six Ears entered the courtyard, he couldn't help but marvel, removing his shoes and holding them in his arms before following Fei Sheng. He looked around, muttering, "Goodness gracious... How much silver must have been spent on this..."

Fei Sheng glanced at the corridor and replied, "Not a million or two could achieve this."

Neither Six Ears nor Fei Sheng had ever seen such wealth. After all, during the Xiande era in Qudu, the military expenses for both Libei and Qidong didn't exceed two million taels. Court officials had even cut their own salaries to support the Libei Iron Cavalry and the Qidong garrison, leaving the imperial court desperately impoverished. Yet here, Yan Heru casually spent hundreds of thousands of taels just for entertaining guests.

Indeed, the journey had been arduous, and Fei Sheng dared not let Shen Zechuan endure any longer. After ensuring that the medicine was taken, he instructed his subordinates to fetch water and tidy up the bed. Not daring to urge Shen Zechuan to rest, he quietly instructed Ding Tao to attend to the task.

Fei Sheng did not summon anyone from the Yan family to serve in the courtyard, as the Imperial Guards were stationed layer upon layer around it. He remained at the final layer, prepared to guard under Shen Zechuan's eaves throughout the night. Not only on the ground, but the courtyard's overhanging roofs were also manned by the Imperial Guards. Ding Tao, having slept soundly in the carriage during the day, now sat atop with Li Xiong, sketching and scribbling. Xiao Chiye's words before their departure kept resurfacing in Fei Sheng's mind, causing his heart to race every time Shen Zechuan coughed in the night.

Though Shen Zechuan was unfamiliar with Dunzhou, tonight, for some inexplicable reason, he was plagued by nightmares. The Tea Stone Abyss vanished, replaced by the Jianxing Prince's Mansion.

In the dimly lit room, beneath the gloomy eaves, sat a deaf and mute nanny. Standing in the darkness, Shen Zechuan felt parched. Straining to reach the teacup on the high table, he accidentally knocked it over, sending porcelain shards scattering around his feet, cutting his fingertips.

Shen Zechuan began to sob.

He felt inexplicably devastated, as if he had carelessly broken a precious treasure.

Regardless of Shen Zechuan's sobs, Mother continued to focus on her embroidery with her back turned. Stretching her arm and pressing down, her shadow stretched to Shen Zechuan's feet, transforming into an eerie, elongated creature. She repeated this motion in silence, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

Shen Zechuan's fingers throbbed with pain, and in his distress, he clutched his little robe, using it to wrap around his bleeding finger. The robe quickly soaked through with blood, resembling a camellia flower that had fallen onto snow, its shattered beauty vividly red against the white backdrop.