MSW Chapter81

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Duan Linzhou, Zhang Chao, and the others weren’t visiting Ningchuan County for the first time.

 

Ningchuan is a coastal area, abundant in seafood, and naturally skilled in its preparation. Zhang Chao, having been to Ningchuan many times, spoke of its seafood as if rattling off family treasures, greatly impressing Zhou Zijin and Mu Ke, who were quite unfamiliar with such things. Duan Linzhou listened from the side, smilingly telling Mu Peixuan, “Since I couldn’t treat Your Highness to Liangdu’s Penglai Xiang, perhaps you’d like to try Ningchuan’s red yeast rice wine instead.”

 

Duan Linzhou continued, “There’s a family here who brews red yeast rice wine. It’s brewed in winter and stored until spring. Its color is bright like amber, and its aroma is rich and mellow. It’s truly a Ningchuan specialty.”

 

Mu Peixuan raised an eyebrow and said, “To receive such praise from Boss Duan, it must indeed be extraordinary.”

 

Zhang Chao interjected, “Boss, you’re talking about Old Man Xie’s wine, aren’t you? That old man has quite a temper. He even picks and chooses when to sell his wine based on the weather and his mood. When he doesn’t feel like selling, he won’t even glance at the silver right in front of him.”

 

Zhou Zijin exclaimed, “Hmph, with such an attitude, we absolutely have to buy his wine today!”

 

The group, disguised as traveling merchants, chatted as they walked into Ningchuan County. Ningchuan County, relying on its docks, was quite prosperous. However, as they moved away from the docks and deeper into the city, Duan Linzhou keenly noticed that the current Ningchuan was somewhat different from when he had last visited. The streets were still wide, but there were far fewer pedestrians, giving off a sense of desolation. It was well past noon, yet there were even some closed shops on the street.

 

Duan Linzhou and Mu Peixuan exchanged a glance. Without much discussion, they first went to an eating house. Although food wasn’t scarce during their sea voyage, they had been on the ship for several consecutive days, eating mostly dried provisions. While enjoyable once or twice, it became tiresome after a while. They took a private room. The eating house wasn’t crowded, and while the waiter was serving their food, Duan Linzhou gave him a few copper coins and asked, “Waiter, I’m a merchant from Yunzhou, and I’ve come to Ningchuan to get some seafood to take back. I’ve been here twice before, but why does Ningchuan seem so…?”

 

He looked a bit troubled, and the waiter, having received the tip, interjected, “It’s probably been a while since the guest last came to Ningchuan, hasn’t it?”

 

Duan Linzhou smiled, “Indeed, it’s been two years since my last visit.”

 

The waiter said, “That explains it. Ningchuan is very different now compared to two years ago.”

 

He sighed, “It’s really only been in the last year or two. The world is in great turmoil, there’s fighting everywhere, and the imperial court has imposed three additional taxes: grain tax, military tax, and training tax. The common people can barely survive.”

 

“After His Majesty moved his residence to Yuzhou, King Xin wanted to build an imperial city in Yu’an, so he conscripted many people for forced labor. Every household had to send a male, and they couldn’t even pay silver to avoid it,” the waiter explained. “A while ago, one could even hear weeping in Ningchuan County every night as well.”

 

The private room fell silent. Seeing this, the waiter quickly said, “Look at me, running my mouth off. Things will get better, eventually.”

 

Duan Linzhou smiled and replied, “Yes, they always do.”

 

“Then please enjoy your meal,” the waiter said. “This humble one will take my leave now. Just call if you need anything.”

 

The chef at the eating house was skilled, and the food was delicious. But with the waiter’s words lingering, even the tastiest dishes seemed steeped in bitter Coptis, leaving a bitter taste in their mouths. It’s better to be a dog in times of peace than a human in times of chaos. The people in the room weren’t children; they had long anticipated this, but having been at sea for a while, far from worldly affairs, and then staying in Ruizhou for so long, they were caught off guard by the sudden harsh realities of the world.

 

After their meal at the eating house, they passed by the Xie family’s wine shop on their way back, only to find its doors tightly shut.

 

A blacksmith emerged from the nearby smithy. Seeing them, he asked, “Looking for wine?”

 

Duan Linzhou nodded. The blacksmith said, “You’re too late.”

 

“Old Man Xie only had one son, who was conscripted last year. Then, a while ago, the imperial court needed people for forced labor to build the imperial city in Yu’an,” the blacksmith explained. “There was no other choice, so Old Man Xie had to close his wine shop and go.”

 

As the blacksmith spoke, he shook his head and turned to walk back into his shop.

 

Zhou Zijin muttered, “Building an imperial city with so much trouble, is it for the young emperor or for himself?”

 

“Sima Zhao’s intent is known to all[mfn]This is a Chinese idiom meaning someone’s ulterior motives are so obvious that everyone can see them.[/mfn].” Zhang Chao commented.

 

Mu Peixuan said, “Enough. Let’s go back. Ningchuan is not a place to linger.”

 

At his words, the others naturally agreed and immediately turned back towards the docks. However, halfway there, Zhang Chao paused, lowering his voice to Duan Linzhou, “Boss, we’re being followed.”

 

Zhang Chao, having long navigated the martial world and constantly brushed with death, possessed an animalistic instinct for danger. He and Jiang Yu exchanged a look of perfect understanding, and silently, they positioned themselves, one in front and one behind, to protect Duan Linzhou. Mu Peixuan discreetly scanned their surroundings, his hand already on the hilt of his sword. Suddenly, a group of Ningchuan County yamen runners blocked their path. The leading Tianqian asked, “Who are you people?”

 

Hearing this, Zhang Chao stepped forward and said, “Lord Officials, we are traveling merchants from Yunzhou. This is our Eldest Young Master and our Second Young Master.”

 

The Tianqian yamen runner scrutinized Zhang Chao, saying, “Yunzhou… you look unfamiliar.”

 

“Show me your travel permits.”

 

Their permits had, of course, been prepared in advance. Zhang Chao handed over everyone’s permits to the Tianqian yamen runner. He flipped through them, then suddenly waved his hand. The yamen runners behind him immediately drew their swords, surrounding Mu Peixuan and the others.

 

Zhang Chao looked at the yamen runner, his tanned face hardening. “Lord Official, what is the meaning of this?”

 

“I see a problem with your permits. Everyone, please come with me to the yamen.”

 

Zhang Chao replied, “Lord Official, our permits bear the seal of the Yunzhou Bureau of Rites. What seems to be the problem?”

 

The Tianqian yamen runner smiled at him and said, “Whether there’s a problem or not, we’ll know once we verify it at the yamen. Let’s go.”

 

Zhang Chao stared at the Tianqian yamen runner, who narrowed his eyes and coldly declared, “I find your behavior suspicious, you guys are clearly pirates in disguise. Come on, arrest them!”

 

As his words fell, the yamen runners rushed forward, brandishing their blades. This sudden turn of events startled the few onlookers who had been peeking out from the street; upon hearing the word “pirates,” they quickly ducked back inside. As soon as they engaged, Mu Peixuan realized that these yamen runners were remarkably skilled, clearly not ordinary officials. It seemed they had been targeted for some time already.

 

Mu Peixuan and his companions no longer held back. In an instant, blades flashed and swords gleamed. A chill wind swept through, carrying the scent of blood.

 

Mu Peixuan shielded Duan Linzhou behind him, while Zhou Zijin protected Mu Ke, who had no martial skills. For a moment, they held their ground. Mu Peixuan’s sword was already stained with blood when he told Zhang Chao, “Retreat to the docks.”

 

These yamen runners were clearly only meant to delay them. As expected, moments later, the thud of hooves rapidly approached, it was the soldiers garrisoned in Ningchuan.

 

Arrows rained down like a sudden shower.

 

They fought as they retreated, and even so, they lost several of their retainers. The dock was thrown into chaos by the commotion, with frightened civilians scattering in all directions. The Tianqian yamen runner loudly shouted, “The authorities are apprehending sea pirates! All bystanders, disperse!”

 

“The authorities are apprehending sea pirates! All bystanders, disperse!”

 

Ningchuan is a coastal region, and the mention of sea pirates immediately changed the complexion of its people. The citizens’ gazes toward Mu Peixuan and the others turned hateful, as if they wished to devour their very flesh and bone. Fortunately, Mu Peixuan and Duan Linzhou had left people on the merchant ship to meet them. They had no intention of fighting a bloody battle with the Ningchuan soldiers, so when they hastily retreated to the merchant ship, they were also somewhat disheveled.

 

That yamen runner turned to the rear of the soldiers. On a black steed sat a young Tianqian. He bowed and said, “Third Young Master, they got away.”

 

“Should we pursue?”

 

“Pursue what? Let them go; we never really expected to keep Mu Peixuan in Ningchuan anyway,” said the Tianqian, who looked no older than twenty-four or twenty-five. He had a pair of upward-sloping phoenix eyes and thin lips, giving him an air of refined nobility. He wasn’t annoyed by the news. “It seems your Shengzun was right; they did take the waterway.”

 

“Fourth Brother is going to come up empty-handed.”

 

The yamen runner smiled but said nothing.

 

“Chen Ye,” the Tianqian mused to himself, “Why would Mu Peixuan, who was perfectly fine staying in Ruizhou, come to Yu’an?”

 

The Tianqian yamen runner, named Chen Ye, replied, “With His Majesty currently in Yu’an, it’s only proper for him to come and pay respects.”

 

Chen Ye’s words were vague. The young man tapped him with his horse whip and chuckled, “Forget it, let my father worry about it.”

 

“We’ve been in Ningchuan for a few days now; it’s time to go back.”

 

Chen Ye responded, “Yes, this humble one will go make the arrangements right away.”