Mo Sang – CH 159

Chapter 159. Opportunity

The black-clad guards, who had arrived swiftly, disembarked, led two horses, and went into the inn next door.

Old Master Qian, on the second floor of the rice shop, watched the guards intently as they entered the inn. A slight unease crept into his heart, and he subconsciously glanced at his son sitting beside him.

Master Qian, meeting his father’s gaze, was bewildered. He instinctively stood up and went to his father.

“Get ready; let’s go aboard and take a look,” Old Master Qian said, turning to the heads and elders of the rice shops. He took two steps to the side and beckoned to his son.

Master Qian hurried over to his father’s side. Old Master Qian pulled him a few steps to the side, leaning against the window, and said in a very low voice, “Do not come aboard. Go and choose a suitable person yourself, and set off immediately to check over there.”

“Where? Jiangning? What happened? Did someone not just come this morning to report that everything was fine?” Master Qian asked, completely bewildered.

“Do not ask so many questions. Just send someone to check. It’s best if nothing’s wrong; better safe than sorry,” Old Master Qian said in a low voice, his brow furrowed as he suppressed a growing sense of unease.

“Alright,” Master Qian quickly replied.

He did not know why, but he could sense his father’s bad mood.

“Get a few more people. You stay on the shore and watch. Do not go any closer. If anything happens, immediately send someone to the boat. We have enough people. Just do not get close.”

Old Master Qian gave this final instruction, patted his son, and walked towards the group of other business owners and guild leaders standing there.

Head Merchant Wu, of the Suzhou rice business, saw Old Master Qian walk past the crowd without looking to the side and could not help but call out, “Brother Qian, are you going alone?”

“Yes, if you want to go, go together. If you are afraid, wait here,” Old Master Qian replied without turning his head.

Head Merchant Wu raised his eyebrows and subconsciously glanced at the others.

Shanyang Rice Shop’s Head Merchant Niu grunted and immediately followed.

He did not quite trust Old Master Qian. If he went alone, who knew what he’d say to the boss and what he’d tell them when he returned!

It was best to just follow and see. After all, he was already in Yangzhou, and at this point, it was a matter of life and death.

Seeing Head Merchant Niu following behind Old Master Qian, Head Merchant Wu hurriedly followed. His purpose in coming to Yangzhou was precisely to confront the boss directly!

The other shop heads and elders followed, some closely, some reluctantly, scattered and hesitant, but all eventually followed.

They could not afford to fall behind if others went, and since everyone else was going, they could not afford to be left behind. Besides, they genuinely wanted to see the boss, hear her words, and discuss things face-to-face.

Li Sangrou stood at the cabin door, watching Old Master Qian, the leader, stride confidently, followed by the other guild leaders and elders forming a long tail behind him.

“Oh ho! So many people, there’s no room in this cabin,” Hei Ma said, standing by Li Sangrou’s side. He glanced at the group, then turned to look at their small cabin on their small boat.

Indeed, there was not enough room.

Old Master Qian had already reached the gangplank, looked up at the ship, met Li Sangrou’s gaze, and bowed slightly.

“Please invite them aboard,” Li Sangrou gestured to the two old Yunmeng Guards standing on the foredeck.

The old Yunmeng Guards did not speak, only waved to Old Master Qian.

Old Master Qian was the first to step onto the gangplank and board the ship.

Li Sangrou stood in the middle of the cabin, watching Old Master Qian enter and watching the long tail behind him board one by one.

Li Sangrou scanned the room, her gaze sweeping over the various business owners and guild leaders who filled half the cabin and the entire foredeck before finally settling on Old Master Qian.

“Where are Zou Wang and his son?” Li Sangrou asked directly, looking directly at Old Master Qian.

Old Master Qian was taken aback. He had not expected Li Sangrou’s first question to be about Zou Wang and his son.

“Lady Li, is it not a bit hasty to ask about Manager Zou and his son right now? We need to discuss this first…” Old Master Qian chuckled awkwardly, but Li Sangrou interrupted him before he could finish.

“First, there’s no ‘we’; it’s just you and me. Second, there’s nothing to discuss between you and me,” Li Sangrou finished speaking and walked past Old Master Qian.

Several business owners who were blocking her way instinctively stepped aside, making way for Li Sangrou.

Li Sangrou stood outside the cabin door, looking at the guild leaders and elders, and said coldly, “First, there’s no room for negotiation regarding the rice business. Second, I will give you one more chance. Set off back now, manage the rice business well, and I will allow you to keep one-third of your fortune.”

As Li Sangrou finished speaking and was about to turn around, Shanyang Rice Guild’s Head Merchant Niu called out, “What if we do not go back?”

“Then stay,” Li Sangrou replied quickly and decisively without turning around.

Li Sangrou entered the cabin, stood before Old Master Qian, and asked again, “Where are Zou Wang and his son?”

“Lady Li, you clearly do not care about the lives of Manager Zou and his son!” Old Master Qian gritted his teeth, his expression fierce.

“Drag him in,” Li Sangrou ordered loudly.

A black-clad guard pushed through the crowd, shoving Old Master Qian, whose hands were bound behind his back, into the cabin.

The guild leaders and elders froze for a moment, then hurriedly turned around.

On the dock, two rows of black-clad men stood with their hands behind their backs, completely blocking the bow of the ship.

A black-clad guard shoved Master Qian into the crowded cabin, expertly kicking him in the back of the knee, forcing him to his knees. He then pushed up Master Qian’s bruised chin.

“Father!” Master Qian, ignoring the excruciating pain, twisted his body and lunged towards his father.

“Where are Zou Wang and his son?” Li Sangrou asked Old Master Qian again.

Old Master Qian’s face was ashen. “In broad daylight, how dare you?!”

Li Sangrou looked down at Master Qian.

Master Qian, squeezed between Old Master Qian’s legs, twisted and struggled, trying to free his hands bound behind his back and to stand up.

Li Sangrou stepped forward and kicked Master Qian in the shoulder, sending him sprawling backward onto the deck. She took another step forward, stomping between his legs with a slight pressure, causing him to scream in agony.

“Where are Zou Wang and his son?” Li Sangrou asked again, looking at Old Master Qian.

“In Jiangning City! At the rice warehouse!” Master Qian cried out before his father.

Li Sangrou withdrew her foot. “To Jiangning City.”

“Yes!” Hei Ma responded loudly and cheerfully, grabbing Li Sangrou’s crossbow and shoving his way past the crowd before leaping off the gangplank.

Da Chang, carrying leather armor and a spiked club, followed Li Sangrou off the boat.

The ship was filled with merchants, traders, and Old Master Qian, all staring dumbfounded as Li Sangrou disembarked and the neatly dressed black-clad guards followed her.

“What do we do now?” Wu, the head of the Suzhou rice merchant group, reacted quickly, his hands trembling as he asked the crowd.

“Damn it!” Old Master Qian slapped his son, ignoring him and the others, grabbing his long robe and rushing off the ship.

This time, Master Qian was quicker, scrambling to his feet and following his father, calling out “Father!” as he stumbled and ran.

“What do we do? What do we do?” Head Merchant Wu asked again.

“Let’s go back first,” Niu, the head of the Shanyang rice merchant group, said without finishing his sentence, turning and leaving.

“Sigh!” Head Merchant Wu stamped his foot, turned around, and hurried off the ship.

The rest of the men, their faces pale, swarmed off the boat and scattered like birds and beasts.

……………………

Just as dawn was breaking, Zhang Zheng, the garrison commander of Jiangdu City, had finished his martial arts practice and was standing shirtless in the courtyard, practicing calligraphy with his wrist suspended.

His advisor, Master Zhong, hurried in, clutching a bamboo tube.

……………………

Master Zhong was sent from Hangzhou to Jiangdu by orders from General Wu Huaiguo after he became commander-in-chief, to assist Zhang Zheng in official duties.

Among Wu Huaiguo’s and the Wu family’s staff, Master Zhong was a low-ranking advisor, only capable of menial tasks and clerical work, lacking any ability to advise on military affairs.

When Wu Huaiguo first took Concubine Su as a concubine and brought her younger brother, Su Qing, and Zhang Zheng into the army, he instructed the staff to teach them to read and write whenever they had free time.

Of all the staff, only Master Zhong showed compassion for the two children and was willing to diligently teach them to read and write. Before long, this task fell entirely on Master Zhong.

Since being brought into General Wu’s household, Concubine Su, Su Qing’s Elder Sister, had been greatly favored by him. General Wu’s wife and mother also thought Concubine Su was very sensible and capable, and highly valued her. This was common knowledge throughout Jiangdu.

Even those who looked down on Su Qing treated him with the utmost respect and courtesy to his face.

Su Qing was extremely smooth-talking and had a wonderful temper. He always had a smiling face, and at least on the surface, his reputation in Jiangdu City and the army was excellent, though his popularity was questionable.

Zhang Zheng was alone, hot-tempered, ruthless, and had an unpleasantly ugly face. In the army and throughout Jiangdu City, besides General Wu, who valued and protected him, and Su Qing, who was his sworn brother, only Master Zhong genuinely cared for and pitied him, often giving him nagging advice.

Zhang Zheng ignored Master Zhong’s teachings and nagging, never showing any impatience. When his temper flared, only General Wu could restrain him, and only Su Qing and Master Zhong could control him.

After Wu Huaiguo assumed command, he submitted a memorial requesting an imperial decree appointing Zhang Zheng as general, stationed in Jiangdu City, and in charge of the defense of the surrounding four cities. He then carefully instructed Master Zhong before sending him to assist Zhang Zheng with military affairs.

Master Zhong’s sole task upon arriving at Zhang Zheng’s side was to ease tensions between Zhang Zheng and the soldiers, restraining and stopping Zhang Zheng when his temper flared.

Master Zhong was renowned for being a good-natured and extremely approachable man. He would help anyone he could, and he would do so with all his might.

The soldiers all sought his help. Previously, he had no influence with General Wu, but now, his words carried significant weight with Zhang Zheng.

With Master Zhong present, Zhang Zheng’s tyranny and the soldiers’ dislike of him were mitigated, relieving Wu Huaiguo of excessive worry about a potential mutiny by Zhang Zheng.

……………………

“General, a letter has arrived from the river; it’s urgent,” Master Zhong said hurriedly after taking only a dozen steps.

“Sir, slow down. Even if it’s urgent, it’s not a matter of a few steps.” Zhang Zheng put down his pen, took a robe from the guard standing beside him, and, while putting it on, approached Master Zhong, taking the bamboo tube.

“It says that the Boss is coming to Jiangning City. Her journey is not slow; she should arrive by evening at the latest. Take a look.”

Zhang Zheng carefully examined the bamboo tube and handed it to Master Zhong.

“She’s really here? Are we really going to go? Could it be a trap?” Master Zhong frowned as he read it carefully.

“The commander-in-chief’s letter says that Wu Huaiyi died from a crossbow bolt over a foot long piercing his nose and eye, not as the Northern Qi claimed, that he was killed by their commander on the battlefield and that their commander stole the credit.

Wu Huaiyi’s banner was also severed by the same crossbow bolt,” Zhang Zheng said, looking at Master Zhong.

Master Zhong’s face turned slightly pale; this was the first time he had heard of such things.

“You’ve seen the battle report from the Battle of Hefei. During the charge, under that banner with the character ‘Sang,’ stood three people: the one using the crossbow was thin, a towering giant, and a dark-faced man. The thin one was because she was a woman—Li Sangrou. The other two were Da Chang and Hei Ma,” Zhang Zheng continued.

“General, you mean the person who shot and killed Commander Xiao Wu and the one who shot the horse on the battlefield is the same? Both done by this Li Sangrou? The former head of the Ye Xiang Guild in Jiangdu City?” Master Zhong was somewhat incredulous, yet also filled with emotion.

This small city of Jiangdu truly harbored hidden talents.

“It was her. Back then, Ah Qing often talked about her, saying she was not a simple person, loyal and righteous, extremely resourceful, and insightful—all positive qualities.

She shot Wu Huaiyi to death, probably to avenge her brothers in the Ye Xiang Guild.”

Zhang Zheng spoke of Wu Huaiyi’s death with obvious pleasure; he utterly despised his arrogant, rude, and vain former superior.

Upon hearing of his death, he drank several cups of wine with gusto.

“If it really was Boss Sang, it certainly would not have been easy to succeed,” Master Zhong said, his brow furrowed.

“It must be her. Since it’s her, we cannot miss any opportunity.

Even if we do not succeed, it’s nothing; it’s just a few deaths.” Zhang Zheng took a damp handkerchief from his guard, wiped his face and head several times, and then, together with Master Zhong, headed towards the front office.

An hour later, at the Jiangdu City dock, long since deserted, squads of strong soldiers, carrying swords, spears, and bows, jumped into the river, scattering and swimming towards the Jiangxin Island on the opposite bank.

Zhang Zheng stood on a rock, hands behind his back, watching the hundreds of soldiers scattered in the river, swimming towards the Jiangxin Island, then looking at the chaotic Jiangning City across the river, his heart filled with anticipation.

Perhaps he could really kill that leader, that Boss Sang!

That leader, her relationship with Sister Su, what if…

It would be best if she died! The sooner the better! The faster the better!

Master Zhong stood beneath the rock, looking with pity at the river and the soldiers lining up to jump in from the dock. He wanted to sigh but forced himself to hold back.

These hundreds of people, success or failure, were all going for nothing. Alas!

They were all living, breathing people, with families, parents, and loved ones…