“Miss, I’ve made inquiries. This is indeed the Gu family’s business here in Qiankou Town. I really couldn’t have imagined that Gu Pingyuan, who conducts such large-scale commerce, would also operate such a small shop.”

Su Zixuan wore a snow-white lined robe, her bright eyes fixed on that shop, not responding to Sixi’s words. She drew a thousand-tael silver note from her sleeve: “Go ask if there are any Gu family members inside. If there are, give them this silver note.”

“Miss, aren’t you going yourself?” Sixi blinked.

Su Zixuan shook her head.

“I really don’t understand. We’re clearly supposed to go to Shandong, yet we’ve taken this detour to Huizhou just to deliver this silver note?”

“He did save me after all. Now that he’s been banished to the frontier, I’m sending some money to his family – it can be considered repayment.”

“We could have used a money exchange or bank to transfer it. Why make this long journey in person? I really don’t understand what virtue or ability this Gu Pingyuan possesses that would trouble our miss to personally deliver a silver note to his door.” Sixi cast a mischievous glance at Su Zixuan.

Su Zixuan’s face darkened: “I see you’re getting too bold. When I tell you to deliver something, you deliver it. Where do you get off with so much chatter?”

Sixi stuck out her tongue and stepped toward the shop across the street. Su Zixuan gazed at the marketplace reflected in the dim sunlight, somewhat lost in thought as she murmured to herself: “This is where he grew up…”

Sixi had just reached out to knock on the shop’s wooden door when it creaked open.

“The shop just put up its boards. Are you here to buy something?” The person who emerged looked Sixi up and down, then suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “Aren’t you…”

Sixi looked at this woman, seeing that she seemed to recognize her, and was momentarily stunned.

“You recognize me?”

“How could I not recognize you? Aren’t you the young man who helped me out of trouble at the Taigu marketplace?”

“Helped you out?” Sixi noticed her gaze fixed on the short dagger at her waist, and after a moment’s thought, suddenly remembered.

This woman was naturally Chang Yu’er. She had just arrived and settled in today. After the shop closed, feeling restless, she had opened the door wanting to walk around the street and see Qiankou Town. Unexpectedly, upon opening the door, she encountered her former benefactor.

“That day I only had time to thank you, didn’t even ask your honorable name – it was truly discourteous.” Chang Yu’er smiled bashfully. “Properly speaking, I should invite you in for tea, but I’m alone at home, and with the difference between men and women, it’s really inconvenient.”

“Never mind about tea. I want to ask – isn’t this a Gu family shop? Why are you living here?” Su Zixuan had somehow walked over. She had an excellent memory and immediately recognized this as the girl they had rescued at the Taigu market that day. At the time, she had simply couldn’t stand seeing a group of hooligans bullying a weak woman, so she had Sixi intervene to punish them. She never expected to encounter her again here.

“I…” Chang Yu’er felt rather like a woman whose status remained unclear, but finally mustered the courage to say, “I am the Gu family’s eldest daughter-in-law, looking after the business in the shop.”

“The Gu family’s eldest daughter-in-law.” Su Zixuan’s pupils suddenly contracted like a cat’s. “The Gu family’s eldest son, that is, your husband – could he be Gu Pingyuan?”

“Yes.” Chang Yu’er nodded.

Su Zixuan stared at her intently for quite a while, then took the silver note from Sixi’s hand and placed it in Chang Yu’er’s.

Chang Yu’er accepted it in bewilderment, then heard Su Zixuan say: “This is money I owe your husband. Since he’s far away at the frontier, returning it to you is the same.”

Chang Yu’er was about to say that Gu Pingyuan was actually in Huizhou when Su Zixuan completely ignored her, turned around, and hurriedly mounted her horse to leave.

“Miss, are we just leaving like this?” Sixi followed closely behind.

“We came only to deliver the silver note. Now that it’s delivered, of course we must leave!” Su Zixuan’s whip fell one after another, making her blue roan horse neigh repeatedly.

After leaving Qiankou Town for more than forty li, they reached a crossroads where one path led to the official road to Shandong, one to Huizhou Prefecture city, and another to Xiuning. Su Zixuan spurred her horse at full gallop when suddenly a carriage came racing from the Xiuning road, also traveling at breakneck speed. Sixi cried out in alarm, seeing that horse and carriage were about to collide. Su Zixuan pulled her horse aside – the blue roan was a fine steed trained by masters in the capital and actually used its hind legs to push off and lean its body aside to avoid the collision.

The carriage driver also called out repeatedly and pulled in the reins.

Sixi was furious and rushed forward to curse, but was stunned by the face that appeared when the carriage curtain was lifted.

“How is it you?”

“Oh my, it’s Brother Su!” Li Qin’s eyes lit up – he hadn’t seen Su Zixuan for a long time. “What a joy to meet an old friend in a foreign land. How did you come to Huizhou?”

Su Zixuan was also startled inwardly but showed no emotion on her face. Without even dismounting, she said coldly: “Indeed. You Beijing merchants should be operating those salt fields in Lianghuai that you worked so hard to obtain – what are you doing in Huizhou?”

“There are naturally reasons for this.” Li Qin pointed toward the road to the prefecture city, his expression extremely ingratiating. “Not far over there is Huizhou Prefecture city. Though it’s a remote place, there’s a decent inn. I’ve rented the three eastern courtyards and hire Yangzhou cooks to prepare meals daily. Brother Su, since we’ve met again after so long, let me play host so we can catch up properly.”

“Thank you, but we’re in a hurry and have no time for your banquet.” Su Zixuan raised her whip and pointed to the other road.

Li Qin had always coveted Su Zixuan’s beauty, considering that among all the women he’d seen in his life, none could compare to her. Though Su Zixuan firmly refused, he still maintained a smiling face and asked: “Isn’t that the official road to Shandong? What business do you have in Shandong? It’s even more chaotic there than Anhui. I hear Prince Sengge Rinchen is leading Mongol cavalry in fierce battles with Zhang Zongyu’s Nian rebels.”

“There are naturally reasons for this, but I cannot tell you.” Su Zixuan threw his words right back at him, leaving Li Qin speechless with embarrassment.

Just as he didn’t know what to say, urgent hoofbeats came from behind. A chestnut horse arrived in an instant, and seeing carriages and horses blocking the crossroads, the rider slowed down.

“It’s you!”

Su Zixuan was immediately stunned. How could Gu Pingyuan, who should be far away at the frontier, be right here before her eyes?

Gu Pingyuan also hadn’t expected that among the several people standing at this crossroads, he would recognize them all. Li Qin needn’t be mentioned, and as for Su Zixuan, he hadn’t seen her since leaving Prince Chun’s Ten Thousand Tea Gathering. It was there that he had discovered she was actually a woman. Previously he had only thought this Young Master Su was as handsome as a figure from a painting, but looking at her now, she was clearly a beauty of exceptional natural grace. That smooth, fair face bore the stern expression of clear love and hatred, yet when she looked at him, a turn of her eyes brought three parts warmth, giving one a feeling of crystal clarity.

“Weren’t you banished to the frontier? When did you return?” Su Zixuan asked in surprise. She had thought Gu Pingyuan faced a narrow escape from death, never expecting him to return safely so quickly. She suddenly discovered that she actually felt a sense of relief.

Seeing Su Zixuan ignore him while showing such concern for Gu Pingyuan, Li Qin grew even more annoyed and glared at him fiercely.

Hearing the question, Gu Pingyuan thought of Su Zixuan’s actions in Shanxi and the capital, and his heart jumped. This woman had first tried to use strategy to annihilate Sengge Rinchen’s cavalry army, then infiltrated the prince’s mansion, risking great danger to assassinate Empress Dowager Cixi. Gu Pingyuan shook his head inwardly – he had enough troubles of his own, and it was better to avoid provoking such a dangerous character as Su Zixuan.

With this thought, he said nothing, merely nodded slightly, then flicked his whip and spurred his horse toward the road leading to Qiankou Town.

Sixi was furious: “What kind of thing is this surnamed Gu? How dare he be so rude and ignore people!”

Li Qin also chimed in: “What manners could this stinking exile understand? He probably can’t even understand human speech.” Su Zixuan’s face was as dark as pond water. She suddenly spurred her horse and galloped away on the Shandong official road like the wind. Sixi hurriedly followed.

“Miss, we kindly delivered that silver note to him, and Gu Pingyuan really is like a dog that bites…”

Before she could finish, Su Zixuan cut her off: “From now on, don’t mention that name in front of me.”

Li Qin was left thoroughly embarrassed. He stared at Su Zixuan’s retreating figure for a long time, then angrily got into his carriage and shouted at the driver: “Did I pay you to stand around stupidly? Go!”

“Boss Gu, I see heavy worry between your brows since your return.” In the Gu family tea garden, Old Man Min was wrapping tea packages in oil paper, tying each with a red string and hanging them on the tallest tea tree in the garden. This was offering sacrifice to the tea god – unlike the God of Wealth or Buddha who had fixed dates, this was done in spring and autumn after tea leaves were harvested and processed, to thank Tea God Lu Yu for blessing the year’s harvest.

Gu Pingyuan silently helped Old Man Min fold the tea packages. He had been back for two days, and learning from Chang Yu’er about Su Zixuan’s silver note delivery had left his heart quite unsettled. This “Young Master Su” would sometimes try to use him for treasonous acts, sometimes generously give silver. From her words at the crossroads, she clearly didn’t know he had returned to Huizhou, so she must have come specifically to look after his family – such deep kindness was truly hard to accept. Her relationship with the Beijing merchants was ambiguous, with him sometimes enemy, sometimes friend. This person was simply a complete mystery.

Su Zixuan alone would be enough, but there was also Li Qin. This young master of the Beijing merchants had become much more scheming, and behind him stood Li Wantang, who loomed like a mountain in the dark night, unfathomably deep. Their purpose in instigating tea merchants nationwide to boycott Lanxue tea and further boycott Anhui merchants – what was their real aim? Li Wantang was definitely not someone who would harm others without benefiting himself, and without huge profits he wouldn’t make a move. Gu Pingyuan had been pondering this question for the past two days.

The Li family of the capital first established an alliance to boycott Anhui merchants, then sent Li Qin to make secret overtures – was it really just for those few percent of profits? With Li Wantang’s great talent and grand strategy, what he plotted must be more than this. Gu Pingyuan couldn’t figure it out despite racking his brains, only feeling his shoulders heavy with unbearable burden.

“So fragrant.” Gu Pingyuan finished folding a tea package, held it to his nose to smell, and sighed.

Old Man Min smiled slightly: “Growing good tea is difficult, making good tea not emit fragrance is even more difficult.”

Gu Pingyuan sensed there was meaning behind Old Man Min’s words and turned to look at him.

“Tea leaves are like this – they never deceive people, and you shouldn’t try to deceive them. When the skill isn’t there, tea leaves won’t be fragrant. When the skill is there, tea fragrance can’t be hidden. I’ve been making tea all my life. Though this principle is simple, many people can’t see through it. They think they’re growing tea, not realizing that tea leaves are choosing people.”

Old Man Min’s hands didn’t stop, nor did his words: “I’ve already heard about the difficulty selling Anhui tea. But I don’t take it seriously. The fragrance of Huizhou tea for thousands of years – how could Beijing merchants suppress it? Boss Gu, you must remember one thing: Good tea never worries about selling!”

Gu Pingyuan knew Old Man Min was deliberately trying to resolve his mental knots. Chewing over these words, he slowly nodded.

“Good tea never worries about selling. Said the other way around, tea that worries about selling definitely isn’t good tea, or rather, one doesn’t have good tea to sell.” He raised his head, looking at Old Man Min. “Elder sir, I’ve had a question in my heart these past days. The Beijing merchants clearly contracted hundreds of li of Xinyang tea mountains and bought out Xinyang Maojian, this fine tea, yet they’ve gone to the trouble of coming to Huizhou, making great efforts to suppress prices and buy tea. Could it be that Xinyang Maojian isn’t enough for them to sell?”

“I’m afraid there’s a big secret hidden here. Without figuring it out, you can’t see through what medicine the Beijing merchants are selling in their gourd.” Old Man Min said thoughtfully.

“Brother Heita.” Gu Pingyuan turned and called out, summoning Liu Heita who was turning soil and building ridges at the other end of the tea garden.

“I’ll have to trouble you again. News about the foreign guns will probably come in the next day or two, and I really can’t get away. Could you go to Xinyang for me and see what those Beijing merchants are really up to?” Gu Pingyuan explained the situation.

“No problem, leave it to me.” Liu Heita agreed immediately.

“Don’t be careless. The Beijing merchants contracted the tea mountains, making them the tea farmers’ bread and butter. If you want to ask questions, they might not be willing to tell you.” Old Man Min warned.

“I have a way.”

“Brother Heita, what do you plan to do?” Gu Pingyuan was still worried.

“I’ll take some Lanxue tea packages to Xinyang and find tea farming families, first invite them to drink tea. Tea growers can all taste tea – after trying it they’ll naturally ask about the tea’s origin. Since they have something to ask me, it’ll be much easier when I ask them.”

Gu Pingyuan and Old Man Min exchanged glances, both greatly surprised. Tea farmers cared most about tea, and Liu Heita’s approach of starting from this angle was exactly right. Who would have thought “Zhang Fei threading a needle – finesse within roughness” – Liu Heita actually had this kind of mental acuity and wisdom.

Liu Heita was vigorous in handling affairs, unwilling to wait even a day. He packed provisions and personal items, didn’t even eat lunch, saddled a horse and set off.

His horse had just passed the mountain hollow and disappeared when someone came from the village looking for Gu Pingyuan, saying someone had come specifically to the Gu house to see him. Gu Pingyuan guessed it was about Richard’s foreign guns arriving. Upon inquiry, it was indeed so, except the person had come by the main road and was staying directly in Huizhou Prefecture city, asking Gu Pingyuan to come collect the guns.

Gu Pingyuan had already arranged for carts and horses in Qiankou Town in advance. Based on the quantity of three thousand foreign guns, it would take a substantial convoy to transport them. Fortunately, with tea business now almost at a standstill, the horse teams that should have been traveling to and from Huizhou had nothing to do. Not only was hiring carts easy, the prices were low. The owners of several large cart companies competed for this business so fiercely they nearly came to blows. Finally, Gu Pingyuan mediated, with each company providing some carts and horses to temporarily form a wagon convoy.

Everything was ready except the east wind. Gu Pingyuan excitedly came to Huizhou Prefecture city and headed straight for the largest Tianxing Inn. According to the messenger, British merchant Richard with that batch of foreign guns was staying at this inn.

“Guests from all under heaven, prosperity and gathering wealth” – Tianxing Inn was a century-old establishment. The proprietors had operated it for generations, gradually buying up surrounding residential houses on the street, turning it into several streets surrounding one inn in a square arrangement. The inn’s main gate had high flagpole doors with banners and lanterns hanging above. As Gu Pingyuan passed under the gate, planning to ask at the counter which courtyard the foreigner was staying in, he suddenly heard a familiar greeting.

“Well, what a coincidence. I never expected to run into you wherever I go.”

Standing under the eaves speaking was Li Qin. His face was flushed, his silk robe open at the front, his speech carrying three parts wine, with a woman in light gauze clothing and seductive expression nestled beside him.

Only then did Gu Pingyuan remember that when Li Qin had spoken grandly at Tianshou Garden, he had mentioned staying at Tianxing Inn in the prefecture city. He replied calmly: “Isn’t there a saying that enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road?”

Li Qin squinted, a trace of mockery playing at the corner of his mouth: “After all, you’re a clever man, unlike those Huizhou country bumpkins. Have you figured it out and decided to be the first to sell Lanxue tea to me? I keep my word – one set price, I’ll raise it twenty percent for others, twenty-five percent for you. How about it? We can draw up the contract right now, and I’ll pay the silver note immediately.”

Gu Pingyuan laughed coldly: “Unfortunately you’ve guessed wrong. I’m here on other business. Keep your silver notes for yourself.”

Li Qin wasn’t angry at hearing this, but walked forward several steps closer to Gu Pingyuan, breathing wine fumes, and asked cheerfully: “Then who are you looking for? Is it him!”

He pointed behind himself. Gu Pingyuan looked in that direction and was immediately stunned.

He saw two men emerge from the inn arm in arm, chatting and laughing. One he recognized – it was Chen Qitai, Chief Executive of the Dongting merchant guild who had just caused trouble at Tianshou Garden. The other was a blonde, blue-eyed foreigner in a black woolen jacket. Behind them followed a foreign interpreter, translating for the two men.

Gu Pingyuan suddenly had a premonition of great trouble and glanced at Li Qin: “Who is he?”

“Isn’t he the foreign merchant Richard you came to find?” The mocking smile at Li Qin’s mouth was slowly expanding.

Gu Pingyuan’s face was taut, teeth clenched, staring hard at Li Qin.

Li Qin walked around Gu Pingyuan with his hands behind his back, saying: “Ever since Prefect Yuan assigned you the task of buying foreign guns, I knew that someone as capable as you definitely wouldn’t sit and wait for death, you’d definitely find ways to locate sources. So I had people watching you on one hand, and watching the key water and land routes to the foreign settlements on the other. A few days ago I received news that a batch of foreign guns had shipped from Shanghai – the quantity was exactly three thousand-plus, and the destination happened to be Huizhou.”

Li Qin clicked his tongue: “I also have to admire you – you actually managed to obtain foreign guns that even prefects desperately desire. Originally I wanted to spend big money to buy this batch of guns, but first, the guns were ridiculously expensive, and second, someone hates you even more than I do. When I mentioned these guns were for you, he immediately pulled out silver notes and offered a price the foreigner couldn’t refuse. I might as well tell you – these guns now belong to the Dongting merchant guild.”

Gu Pingyuan heard his head buzzing. Seeing Richard almost in front of him, he pushed Li Qin aside, strode forward to meet him, pulled the purchase contract Hu Xueyan had given him from his bosom, and without a word, thrust it before the foreigner.

Richard frowned as he looked at the contract, his face suddenly showing an embarrassed expression. He chattered away in his foreign language, and the interpreter quickly came over to translate.

“I did sign this contract with Boss Hu, that’s true, but business is about seizing opportunities. He kept delaying collection of this batch of goods, and now foreign gun prices have tripled. This Boss Chen is willing to pay above market price – I have no reason not to sell to him.”

“No reason?” Gu Pingyuan’s face was dark as water as he pointed to the contract in his hand. “Isn’t this the best reason? If a merchant doesn’t honor even a sealed and stamped contract, what kind of businessman is he?”

Richard shrugged. Under Gu Pingyuan’s pressing gaze he was somewhat flustered, trying his best to justify himself: “I’m not failing to honor the contract. Please look carefully – there’s a compensation clause in that contract. I’ll definitely compensate for your losses according to the agreement.”

Gu Pingyuan had originally thought this deal was foolproof. Only now did he examine the contract carefully and indeed found compensation terms at the end – violators would pay damages of fifteen percent of the total price. But Hu Xueyan couldn’t have foreseen that foreign gun prices would rise so much in just a few months, making fifteen percent compensation completely inadequate to constrain the foreign merchant.

“Gu Pingyuan.” Chen Qitai, who had been standing aside arrogantly, now spoke coldly: “The Dongting merchant guild has always avoided the military equipment business. This time we’re making an exception for you. I heard from the Beijing merchant Young Master Li that you’re full of tricks and schemes, that even Mongol princes and Shanxi merchant leaders have fallen to your hands. I really want to see what methods you have to compete with me for this batch of foreign guns.”

“Manager Chen, you’re spending heavily just to do a business that might lose money, all for a matter of pride? This really doesn’t seem like a businessman’s approach.” Gu Pingyuan shook his head.

“Haha.” Chen Qitai laughed. “You’re right – this isn’t business, it’s about saving face. I’ve already offered twenty percent above market price, and today no matter how much silver you bring, I’ll add another half percent. I won’t compete with you on schemes and tactics, only on who has more money. You dared to give silver to eunuchs to suppress our Dongting merchant guild – today let me see just how much silver you really have!”

Gu Pingyuan knew Chen Qitai had won. His silver compared to the Dongting merchant guild was utterly insignificant – never mind competing with them before the foreign merchant, he couldn’t even match a fraction of their wealth. Since the foreign merchant was clearly focused only on profit, what could he use to compete?

“Manager Chen, this batch of guns is yours.” With victory and defeat decided, Gu Pingyuan nodded cleanly and turned to leave.

“Wait.” Chen Qitai called out, pulling a stack of silver notes from his bosom. “This is your principal plus compensation silver. I’ll pay you first, then settle slowly with the foreigner. I’ve always been fair in business and never bully people. Since you’ve conceded defeat, I’ll return what silver is rightfully yours.”

Gu Pingyuan accepted the silver notes and looked at Chen Qitai: “Manager Chen, I’ll take the silver since it’s rightfully mine. But you’re wrong about one thing – I haven’t conceded defeat! We each conduct our own business. I don’t want this batch of goods, but I can still buy from other sources.”

The foreign interpreter translated Gu Pingyuan’s words to Richard, who shook his head and said: “Boss Gu, I advise you not to waste your thoughts on foreign guns. The consuls of various countries have already sent letters to merchants – to maintain military balance, no more munitions are to be shipped to the Qing Empire for a year. We are protesting to our home country, but it has had no effect. Even if you search throughout the Qing Empire, no one will sell you foreign guns anymore, nor does anyone have such a massive quantity of firearms.”

“Did you hear that?” Li Qin smiled smugly, came over and pointed at Gu Pingyuan’s nose. “You won’t admit defeat? But you’re bound to lose!”

Gu Pingyuan’s gaze passed over that finger and looked quietly into Li Qin’s eyes: “In Mongolia, in Shanxi, on the Loess Plateau, and several months ago in the capital, I once thought I was bound to lose each time, but in the end, I still won! This time, you might as well see whether I lose or win!”

After speaking, Gu Pingyuan turned and walked out the main gate. Li Qin sneered disdainfully behind him: “A stewed duck – the meat may be tender but the mouth stays tough! A naturally poor fate still wants to turn things around – go dream!”

Gu Pingyuan hadn’t gone far when someone called out from behind – it was the foreign interpreter.

“Mr. Richard says he greatly admires your demeanor for not embarrassing him on the spot. He is indeed in the wrong in this matter, and if there’s anything he can do to make up for it in the future, he’s willing to help with all his might. Oh, but the foreign guns are sold out – Mr. Richard truly can do nothing about that.”

The cooked duck had flown away. Gu Pingyuan was naturally anxious, but in all fairness, though the foreigner had broken the contract, he hadn’t violated the compensation clause in the agreement. Even taking it to court wouldn’t win.

All said and done, he could only blame himself for making enemies of Li Qin and Chen Qitai, who happened to be able to offer a price no one could refuse.

“Please tell Mr. Richard that I appreciate his kind intentions. Though business didn’t work out, friendship remains. I’m willing to make him a friend.”

Gu Pingyuan returned to Qiankou Town with the large convoy, his heart heavy with worries. He had left in high spirits but returned dejected. Returning with empty carts, even a fool could tell this deal had failed. The cart company manager didn’t want to touch a sore spot when Gu Pingyuan was angry, so he waited until reaching Qiankou Town to hesitantly come ask for the cart rental fees, immediately stating he was willing to accept less silver.

Gu Pingyuan knew that with tea unable to sell, even these cart drivers and laborers had no work to do – these were the hardest times. He not only paid the full cart rental but also gave bonus money. The manager was greatly surprised and left with endless thanks.

“Yu’er.” Gu Pingyuan walked absentmindedly for a while, suddenly finding himself in front of his family’s general store. He saw Chang Yu’er wearing a bamboo cloth jacket and a plain moon-white skirt, her hair adorned with a simple silver hairpin without any decoration, busily working in front of the store.

“Yu’er, you…” Gu Pingyuan looked around in amazement. This general store was nothing like it had been a few days ago. Inside and out, everything was organized neatly, every piece of merchandise wiped spotlessly clean, and the goods arranged with great care. The bright, shiny copper vessels and snow-white porcelain were placed at the front, and samples of all the store’s goods were displayed on a newly built large wooden rack outside, arranged in layers with clear hierarchy, making people want to come in and browse.

Chang Yu’er was busy enough that her temples were slightly damp with sweat. Looking up to see Gu Pingyuan had come, she was very happy inside but only smiled with pursed lips: “Elder Brother Gu, you’ve returned.”

Gu Pingyuan was about to ask curiously when Chang Yu’er’s smile slowly faded: “Things didn’t go smoothly?”

“Yes, worse than not doing anything at all.”

Chang Yu’er turned and called to the two shop assistants inside: “Close the shop early today, put up the boards soon.”

The assistants saw the boss had come and hurried to greet him. Hearing they could go home early, they hesitated.

“It’s just getting to the busy evening time – this is when we could sell more goods.”

The other assistant was more perceptive, lightly nudged his companion, and quickly interjected: “Boss, there’s a new Taibai Wine Shop that opened on the front street with private dining rooms. You’ve traveled a long way back and probably haven’t eaten yet.”

Gu Pingyuan found this increasingly strange, but Chang Yu’er asked: “Can ladies go there too?”

“Yes, yes, they’re all separated by five-foot screens – you can hear voices but not see people.”

Chang Yu’er nodded slightly: “Elder Brother Gu, I didn’t know you were coming here. Inside there’s only rough food. Let me be the host – shall we go to that Taibai Wine Shop?” A mischievous smile flashed in her eyes.

At first Gu Pingyuan was completely puzzled, but seeing Chang Yu’er in good spirits made him quite happy. He naturally nodded in agreement. The two left together and soon reached the Taibai Wine Shop.

Gu Pingyuan ordered three meat and two vegetable dishes, a pot of peach blossom wine brewed with cold spring water from Huangshan’s Peach Blossom Creek, and for Chang Yu’er, osmanthus tea with added honey dates. While waiting for the dishes, he had something to say.

“Strange – I’ve never heard of shop assistants being unhappy about closing early and going home. How is it that my store’s assistants are the opposite, acting like they hate not working until midnight before going home?”

Chang Yu’er was pouring wine for Gu Pingyuan and laughed at hearing this.

“Don’t laugh. Just now they clearly didn’t want to close the shop, that’s why they sent us out.” Gu Pingyuan thought Chang Yu’er didn’t understand.

“Elder Brother Gu, there’s something I took the liberty of deciding – you won’t blame me, will you? I noticed that businesses in the south still pay monthly wages, with selling more or less having nothing to do with the assistants, unlike in Shanxi where capable senior assistants get body shares and year-end dividends, everyone working like they’re earning for themselves. Body shares are too big a matter – I didn’t dare do it without discussing with you, but I made a modification. I assigned a few good-selling items in the shop to those two assistants, set a base number, and gave them dividends for the extra they sell.”

“No wonder they’re so diligent – hearing about closing early made their eyes red. Turns out they’re selling ‘their own’ goods.” Gu Pingyuan suddenly understood. “Yu’er, that’s a wonderful idea.”

“Just some small business tricks, how could they compare to you doing such big business?”

“Stop praising me. This time I’m also at my wit’s end, not knowing what to do.” Gu Pingyuan drank several cups heavily and shook his head helplessly.

“I can see you’re in a bad mood.” Chang Yu’er softly advised, “Drinking too quickly hurts the body – drink more slowly.”

“Slowly? That’s only if I could slow down. Prefect Yuan only gave me a month’s deadline, and now nearly ten days have passed, but there’s still no sign of progress.” What Gu Pingyuan worried about most was his old mother, now in Huizhou waiting for his news, probably feeling like each day was a year.

Chang Yu’er quietly listened as Gu Pingyuan finished explaining everything, also frowning tightly: “Never mind not having money – even with money, where could you find three thousand foreign guns? It’s truly impossible.”

“Exactly. Actually, if I really had great wealth in hand, things would be manageable. At worst I could post notices offering five hundred taels per foreign gun to collect them from Taiping and Qing army soldiers, but unfortunately, that would require a huge sum of money, like flowers in a mirror or moon in water – unattainable.”

“The only person I can think of who could produce such a huge sum is Old Master Hu, and he would surely be willing to help us, but the Hu family has even pawned their mansion now, so I fear they’re willing but unable.” Chang Yu’er knitted her brows, desperately thinking for Gu Pingyuan.

“Wait, pawn shop…” Gu Pingyuan suddenly slapped the table and stood up. “Pawn shop…”

“Elder Brother Gu, what about pawn shops?”

“I seem to remember something related to pawn shops, but I can’t think clearly for the moment.” Gu Pingyuan anxiously patted his head.

Chang Yu’er was calmer than him, sorting through the thoughts piece by piece: “Speaking of pawn shops, weren’t you forced to become the fourth counter manager at ‘Wanyuan Pawn’ in Taigu? Think – could it be something from that time?”

“Wanyuan Pawn, foreign guns…” Following this line of thought, Gu Pingyuan’s mind raced, then he suddenly clapped his hands.

“I remember now! Wanyuan Pawn received stolen goods. I went with the chief appraiser Zhu Sheng to collect goods at the Evil Tiger Ravine bandit stronghold.” Since there was no one else in the private room, but walls have ears, Gu Pingyuan lowered his voice. “Your big brother Liu Heita was also at Evil Tiger Ravine then. He couldn’t stand the bandits wanting to kill Nian leader Zhang Zongyu and fought with them. He was outnumbered – I saved him with a foreign gun. Later your big brother joined the Nian.”

“Where did you get the foreign gun?” Gu Pingyuan leaned close to Chang Yu’er, his warm masculine breath making Chang Yu’er’s heart race. Afraid Gu Pingyuan would see her embarrassment, she quickly asked a question.

“The bandits had killed Divine Engine Battalion soldiers passing below the mountain and seized them. They thought the foreign copper was gold and wanted to pawn it. Those were really good guns – ordinary people wouldn’t know how to handle them. I had seen this type of gun that civilians had captured from Russians at the frontier camp, so I knew how to use it.”

Only then did Chang Yu’er learn that Liu Heita had actually been a Nian rebel. She listened in stunned amazement, constantly fearful afterward.

Gu Pingyuan paced back and forth in the private room, finally making up his mind and saying to Chang Yu’er: “There’s no other way. Since foreigners won’t allow guns to be shipped to the Qing Empire for sale, I can only go abroad to buy them.”

“Go… go to what country?” Chang Yu’er was after all a woman, and in her imagination foreign countries were either separated by vast oceans ninety thousand li away, or like in “Journey to the West” where the master and disciples’ scripture-seeking journey took over ten years to return. Her face showed anxious alarm as she stared at Gu Pingyuan.

“Not too far, otherwise I couldn’t return in twenty-odd days. Those guns are Russian-made – to buy them I’d have to go to Russia.”

“Kyakhta?” Chang Yu’er, worthy of being a Shanxi merchant’s daughter, immediately named the city where Qing and Russian merchants traded.

“No! Kyakhta has year-round inspectors from the Board of Colonial Affairs stationed there. Military equipment trading isn’t permitted, and no one would transport munitions there.” Chang Yu’er suddenly realized with horror: “You couldn’t be thinking of going to…” “Beyond the frontier!” Gu Pingyuan took a deep breath.

“Brother Fan, all you brothers, it’s been so long since we’ve met. Today little brother is hosting – it’s not much, but come, let me toast everyone first.”

The wine was heated shaodaozi, drunk in one gulp like a thin line of fire burning from throat to stomach, making every pore in the body burst open. Gu Pingyuan set down his empty bowl, and someone immediately came to refill it.

The small barrack room was crowded with people, with several tables of steaming hot banquets. The dishes weren’t exotic – all hearty fare like red-braised chicken and plain-boiled pork. The guests included those on crutches, missing eyes, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, bone-thin, dressed differently – some in patched cloth cotton robes, others in what was commonly called “radish silk” purple lamb fur robes. But everyone smiled, looking at Gu Pingyuan seated in the center.

Gu Pingyuan addressed the small, thin man in “radish silk” across from him: “The saying goes ‘a person doesn’t forget their roots, forgetting roots makes one inhuman.’ When I first came beyond the frontier, I understood nothing. On Laba Festival when I was called to Seven Ditch Ravine to cut wood, if not for Brother Fan seeing the weather wasn’t right and forcing that second-grade sheepskin jacket on me to take along, when the blizzard came, I would have frozen to death in that desolate wilderness.”

The small, thin man, “Brother Fan” as Gu Pingyuan called him, waved his hand: “Why keep bringing up old events? We bunch of stinking exiles are locked up by the court in this godforsaken place where birds don’t shit. If we don’t look out for each other, should we rely on the camp officers to care for us?” Though unremarkable in appearance, his manner and spirit were quite heroic. When he spoke, the whole table fell silent, even those arm-wrestling and finger-guessing stopped.

When he finished, everyone burst into laughter. Someone added teasingly: “Brother Fan speaks truly. For those camp officers to think of caring for us – unless it stops snowing in deep winter and starts raining shaodaozi instead.”

“Exactly!” The room full of exiles shouted and cursed, drinking heavily from their cups.

“Little Gu, I said from the start that among our group you were the great talent. Having talent isn’t rare – what’s rare is your good heart. When you became the camp’s clerk, you looked after us old brothers plenty. When some said you were harmed by Officer Xu at Shanhaiguan, I said absolutely not – Little Gu is full of schemes, with just a twitch of his eyebrows he has an idea, he wouldn’t easily be harmed by others. Sure enough, you escaped. We old brothers truly admire you for it.” Brother Fan spoke while raising his bowl to clink with Gu Pingyuan’s, then drained it in one gulp.

Everyone chattered praise. Gu Pingyuan smiled and listened without interjecting. When the room quieted slightly, he said: “Brother Fan, I’ve returned because I encountered difficulties and have come to ask everyone’s help. Speaking of it, it’s also a path to wealth.”

“Our friendship makes talking money seem foreign. Just speak your mind – if there’s anywhere we can help, no one in this room will have a second thought.” Though Brother Fan’s tone was light, his words carried weight.

“Then I’ll speak.” Seeing no outsiders in the room, Gu Pingyuan took out a paper from his chest and slowly unfolded it.

“I came this time to obtain this merchandise.” He pointed to the drawing on the paper.

Everyone crowded around to look. After seeing it, they looked at each other speechlessly.

Suddenly someone said: “I have this thing.”

Immediately someone mocked: “Sun Goucai, as if you could have a foreign gun – are you still dreaming?”

“Hmph, if not for Little Gu returning, none of you would get to see it.” “Sun Goucai” pushed several people aside, clawed out a row of bricks from the kang cracks, and carefully lifted out a foreign gun wrapped in oil paper.

“No mistake, it’s this type of ‘golden hook knot grab.'” Gu Pingyuan’s eyes lit up. He took it and tested it repeatedly – the gun was intact, just lacking bullets and gunpowder.

“I wouldn’t dare hide gunpowder next to the fire kang – it’s all in the big poplar tree’s hollow outside.”

Gu Pingyuan nodded: “This foreign gun is Russian-made, extremely accurate, suitable for mounted combat, even better than British or French foreign guns. I need at least three thousand.”

Three thousand! Everyone exclaimed in amazement. Brother Fan smiled wryly: “Little Gu, you must be joking. If we had three thousand foreign guns, I’d lead these brothers to fight our way out of Shanhaiguan – would we still be here eating wind and drinking snow?”

“I plan to buy from the Russians. I wonder if anyone can take me to contact them.”

“Those Russians are vicious.” Brother Fan said thoughtfully. “Recently they’ve been sending cavalry into Qing territory every few days, attacking villages, robbing people’s wealth, and carrying off many women. The camp has sent troops to intercept them several times, and we’ve gone along to help. I’ve seen with my own eyes that the Russians are tall and brutal – even when our men were already down, they’d follow up with a shot to the head. Last month, that pockmarked fellow from the camp affairs office died at Russian hands, making his lover Fengxiang from the brothel cry for days.”

“Brother Fan is right. These Russians come and go like the wind, impossible to track. Even if you found them, they’re unreasonable and don’t speak our language. Trying to do business with them – before you could say a word, your life would be gone.”

“I won’t hide from you brothers – someone is counting the moments to take my head. If I can’t complete this deal in three to five days, my whole family’s lives will be lost.”

Hearing Gu Pingyuan say this, everyone was moved with alarm, their jovial expressions sobering. “As for the Russians being unreasonable, that doesn’t matter. Though we’re from different countries, I dare assert that Russians must also love money. As long as someone can make connections, I’m confident I can persuade them to sell foreign guns.”

Brother Fan frowned in thought for a long while, then suddenly looked up and asked Sun Goucai: “Goucai, where did you get that foreign gun?”

“This…” Sun Goucai grimaced in difficulty.

“Hmm?”

Seeing Brother Fan’s stern face, Sun Goucai quickly told the truth: “I stole it from Officer Xu. He was demoted to tend horses at Mirror Lake. When he was leaving, I took advantage of his inattention and stole one of his bundles. He was plagued by bad luck then – not having his head chopped off was already great fortune, so losing luggage he could only swallow his anger and leave.”

“Officer Xu.” Gu Pingyuan paused. “He…”

Brother Fan glanced at him: “Little Gu, I heard you were rescued by friends after being injured, so naturally you wouldn’t know what happened later. Those accounts you wrote at the execution ground were crystal clear. The Shengjing General ordered the camp clerks to pull old records for investigation, and indeed Officer Xu had embezzled much silver over the years. Now he couldn’t even make excuses. The General was furious and wanted to behead him. Officer Xu was terrified and used all his family wealth to bribe high and low, finally saving his life.”

“Though he saved his life, he couldn’t save his position. He was sent to the grasslands by Mirror Lake to be a horse groom. Originally when he was demoted but retained his officer status, he still commanded hundreds of grooms and continued to abuse his power. Now completely ruined, having to work alongside those ‘stinking grooms’ – everyone applauded this comeuppance.”

Brother Fan continued seriously to Gu Pingyuan: “I guessed that foreign gun came from Officer Xu. In the camp, only he had dealings with the Russians. He always managed military horses and had secretly sold horses to Russians several times – he knows that route well.”

Brother Fan patted Gu Pingyuan’s shoulder: “If you want to do business with Russians, you’ll probably have to deal with Officer Xu again.”

“This subordinate, Anhui Fourth-Rank Daotai Qiao Henian, pays respects to Your Excellency Yan.” Qiao Henian came to Dragon Ridge Mountain at the Shandong-Anhui border, went straight to Yan Jingming’s main camp, and presented his visiting card requesting an audience.

“So you’re Qiao Henian – rise.” The voice from the seat above was ice-cold. Qiao Henian raised his head and carefully observed this Prefect Yan Jingming whom all Shandong provincial officials feared without exception. Under the array of banners, a purple wooden desk sat in the center, behind which sat a red-capped official with a long face and thick brows, his expression tight and stern. Though showing no anger, he commanded respect without being angry.

“I have been waiting here for some time. Why hasn’t Prefect Yuan come, but sent you instead?” Yan Jingming’s face was frighteningly dark, his words containing thunder-like displeasure within the clouds. Officials on both sides kept their heads low, exchanging uneasy glances.

“Reporting to Your Excellency.” Qiao Henian bowed slightly, ignoring the thunderous anger about to strike, and replied calmly: “When the Dragon Ridge Mountain case occurred, Prefect Yuan was trapped in the provincial capital with all provincial officials by the Taipings. This subordinate was acting in charge of provincial military and political affairs, so this matter has nothing to do with Prefect Yuan – the responsibility lies entirely with this subordinate.”

“You want to take responsibility for Yuan Jiasan?” Yan Jingming left his seat, circled around Qiao Henian examining him. “Allowing soldiers to run wild, slaughtering civilians, rape and plunder, framing them for treason – these are capital crimes. Can you bear them!” His voice contained tremendous pressure. Though Qiao Henian had come prepared, he still involuntarily shivered.

“I have only one head and cannot bear such responsibility. But this subordinate knows that this time there’s no need to take responsibility for Prefect Yuan, because there was originally no responsibility to bear.”

“Hmph, no responsibility?” Yan Jingming flew into a rage, returned to his seat, and heavily slammed the desk, scattering the large pile of documents with a “crash.”

“Look at this – these are blood petitions from the fathers and elders of three villages. This prefect also witnessed with my own eyes Green Standard troops burning villages, raping women, plundering people’s wealth! What more can you argue?”

The famously “iron-faced” Yan Jingming’s fury made all officials tremble. The Fengyang Prefect “Muddled Fish” who had originally sent out the Green Standard troops to suppress bandits went black before his eyes and actually fainted. Looking around the tent, only Qiao Henian straightened his body, showing no fear on his face.

“Your Excellency Yan, since ancient times the countryside has been full of ignorant men and women – that’s why the court sends officials to manage prefectures and counties. If we blindly listen to their unreasonable arguments, what need would there be for prefects and magistrates? As for what you said about allowing soldiers to forcibly seize people’s wealth and rape women – those were all treasonous criminals’ confiscated property and family members. Knowing but not reporting makes one complicit in treason. When the army suppresses them, they naturally suffer the consequences.”

“Qiao Henian, what audacity you have, stubbornly accusing the people of banditry and framing the loyal as traitors! I ask you – where’s your evidence? What evidence do you have that the people in Dragon Ridge stronghold were treasonous criminals?”

“Originally someone secretly informed this subordinate.” No matter how harshly Yan Jingming spoke, Qiao Henian maintained his composed demeanor, actually appearing somewhat righteous. “This Zhang Qi secretly communicated with Hong Xiuquan, planning to gather crowds for rebellion. After success, he would divide the territory with the Taipings, ruling half each. He had already chosen his false imperial title – ‘Changle.’ The informant also produced a letter of correspondence between Zhang Qi and Hong Xiuquan. Zhang Qi had written legal documents for others in his youth, with lawsuit papers remaining in the yamen. I had people verify the handwriting – it was undoubtedly his.”

“Muddled Fish” was revived by this time. Hearing Qiao Henian’s complete fabrication stated so convincingly, he couldn’t help but stare at him with wide eyes.

Yan Jingming also began to half-believe: “So you’re saying you have both witness and material evidence? Then where is the informant? Where is the letter?”

“Reporting to Your Excellency, this subordinate feared Zhang Qi would become suspicious and prepared in advance, having the informant return to Dragon Ridge stronghold overnight and send the letter back to Zhang Qi’s study. When the government troops attacked Dragon Ridge, this person unfortunately died from a stray arrow, and the letter was also burned when Zhang Qi set fire to destroy everything.”

“Complete nonsense!” Yan Jingming roared in fury. “The person is dead, the letter burned – you dare to toy with this official! Qiao Henian, you have quite the audacity. Someone, bring me the imperial command tablet!”

“Wait!” Qiao Henian raised his arm and called out. “Your Excellency Yan, though both witness and material evidence are gone, this subordinate dares assert that treasonous traces must still remain in this stronghold. Since Your Excellency had the stronghold sealed, allowing not a scrap of paper in nor a tile out, then searching now will surely yield results.”

Yan Jingming sneered coldly: “Why do you think I’ve been waiting here for Yuan Jiasan? It’s to go into the stronghold with him and verify together. If no treasonous evidence is found, I’m afraid you cannot bear this responsibility.”

“I can bear it! Prefect Yuan sent this subordinate here to handle this matter with full authority. I’m willing to make a wager with Your Excellency – if nothing is found, I’ll willingly accept Your Excellency’s royal justice.” Qiao Henian said decisively.

“Good!” Yan Jingming had already questioned the Green Standard troops who attacked the stronghold and was fully confident. “How shall we search?”

“Your Excellency appoint five people, I’ll also appoint five people. Search them publicly beforehand, then let them into the stronghold. Within six hours, if no evidence of Zhang Qi’s treason is found, this subordinate will accept punishment!”

Yan Jingming lowered his head in thought for a moment, then suddenly raised it, squeezing two words through his teeth: “Agreed!”

Mirror Lake’s grasslands were lush with abundant water and grass. White egrets flew over the lake, white waves rolled within it. When Gu Pingyuan arrived, it was just as the setting sun lay level on the waves, with a fine evening drizzle falling – the scenery was truly beautiful. Being a scholar by nature, though heavy with worries, he still gazed entranced for a while, just having no heart to compose poetry.

However, by the shore was a person wearing a bamboo hat who seemed blind to the beautiful scenery before him. He pulled up reed flowers one by one, wrapped them around stones, and threw them into the water to attract countless carp to feed. Then he used tremendous force to hurl sharp stones, scattering the school of fish.

Gu Pingyuan stood behind him watching for a while before leisurely speaking: “Did the fish offend you, or do you hate that I’m not dead and are taking these carp for me?”

As soon as he spoke, the man leaped up and spun around to look behind him.

“You, it’s you!” A fierce roar followed.

“Officer Xu, it’s been a long time.” Gu Pingyuan said calmly.

Officer Xu gave a sinister laugh, his eyes rapidly searching the surroundings.

“You needn’t look – I came alone.” Gu Pingyuan leisurely walked past him and also sat by the lakeside, breaking off two reed flowers to dip in the water. Carp gathered around them.

“This Mirror Lake is sparsely populated for a hundred li. Besides these fish in the lake and horses on shore, if you killed me and threw me in the lake to feed the fish, no one would know and no one could investigate.”

Officer Xu’s thoughts being exposed in one sentence, he was momentarily stunned, then squinted and looked around warily again.

“I said I came here alone – I didn’t lie to you.”

Officer Xu stared at Gu Pingyuan’s back, his eyes thick with murderous intent: “So you’ve grown tired of living and came here specifically to die?”

“You’re wrong.” Gu Pingyuan clapped his hands and turned back with a good-natured smile. “The grievances between us two – today I plan to write them off completely.”

“Bullshit!” Officer Xu glared at Gu Pingyuan with bloodshot eyes. “Surnamed Gu, we have hatred deep as earth and sky, enmity vast as rivers and seas. Since you’ve come here today, don’t think of leaving with your life.”

“What good would killing me do you?” Gu Pingyuan asked calmly.

“Twisting off your head to kick like a ball would let me vent my anger!”

“How much is this anger worth? I’ll buy it.”

Officer Xu was stunned: “What did you say?”

“You just want to vent your anger. Once vented, you’ll feel good for a moment, but afterward you’ll still have to tend horses day and night in this bitter cold place, living those endless miserable days.” Gu Pingyuan’s gaze was like water, looking calmly at Officer Xu. “If you’re willing to settle our grievances and help me with something, I can make your latter half of life as comfortable as before.”

“Haha!” Officer Xu sneered coldly. “As if I’d believe an exile like you.”

Before he finished speaking, he was stunned again, because Gu Pingyuan untied a bundle from his horse. Opening it revealed a large box, and opening the box, the setting sun shone upon it with dazzling golden light that made one’s heart leap.

“Fifty-tael gold ingots, twenty pieces total, equivalent to ten thousand taels of silver.” Gu Pingyuan said slowly. “Do you still think I’m joking?”

“You… you…” Officer Xu was at a loss, truly unable to understand what Gu Pingyuan wanted to do.

Gu Pingyuan struggled to lift the large box, walked a few steps to the lakeside, turned back and smiled: “If you insist on killing me, that’s fine too. I’ll throw this gold into the lake as my burial goods.” He made as if to throw it.

“Don’t!” Officer Xu blurted out.

“Hahaha!” Gu Pingyuan laughed heartily. “Saving people is always better than killing them. Officer Xu, how about we two enemies find a place to drink a few cups?”

Officer Xu stared at him blankly for a long time, then stiffly nodded his head.

“Gu Pingyuan, I admit I’m not as scheming as you, but if you dare trick me, I don’t necessarily need to pick an unpopulated place to kill you.” Officer Xu picked up a piece of roast goose, bit into it, then downed a cup of wine, speaking menacingly. “Damn it, the wine in this godforsaken place isn’t even as good as Shangyang Fort – barely better than horse piss.”

“As long as you listen to me, within a month, drinking tribute Jade Spring Dew sent to the imperial palace won’t be difficult.” Gu Pingyuan hadn’t touched any food or drink – having important business to handle, he dared not drink alcohol.

“Speak up – what exactly needs to be done?” Officer Xu asked while glancing sideways at the box on the wooden stool. This gold truly moved his heart, and Gu Pingyuan saw all his expressions, inwardly smiling. When Gu Pingyuan encountered difficult opponents and needed to give them money, he always used actual silver, or gold if that didn’t work. Shining silver and glittering gold were far more effective than several light and airy banknotes – now scoring another success.

“Don’t be hasty. First let’s discuss how much you can get after success.” Gu Pingyuan counted on his fingers for Officer Xu to hear. “I’ve inquired – over the years you’ve drunk soldiers’ blood, taken kickbacks, embezzled and accepted bribes, accumulating about fifty thousand taels of silver. This time to save your life, you gave it all to the general’s secretaries and influential officers. Now you’re completely broke, both concubines have run away, earning two strings of cash monthly, living in a thatched hut, eating day-old rice bran.”

“Cut the nonsense.” Officer Xu felt annoyed hearing this. What Gu Pingyuan said was accurate – he was completely broke now. Those two concubines hadn’t run away but were sold by him for money. As the saying goes “going from luxury to frugality is difficult” – someone accustomed to rich food and drink, going two months without meat, couldn’t endure it.

Officer Xu waved his arm violently, overturning several bowls and dishes before him, even knocking over the pewter wine pot. The server hurried over to clean up, muttering: “What are you showing off for? Still think you’re Officer Sir?”

Officer Xu immediately bristled at hearing this, about to throw a punch, when Gu Pingyuan extended his hand and passed over a twenty-tael silver ingot: “How many empty tables does your establishment have?”

The server was stunned: “About seven or eight?”

“Set up banquets like mine at each table. Anyone who wants to eat may come – free food and drink, no charge. But you must tell them Officer Xu is treating.”

“Yes, yes indeed.” Mirror Lake had never seen such a generous customer. The server didn’t dare neglect him and nodded repeatedly as he withdrew.

Officer Xu hadn’t expected Gu Pingyuan to help him save face. He sighed in relief, momentarily not knowing what to say.

“Money truly is a wonderful thing.” Gu Pingyuan seemed deeply moved. “Without money, to make others respect you requires either fighting with fists or persuading with words. How could it compare to just now – toss out a piece of silver and the server’s expression immediately changed.” He glanced at Officer Xu while speaking. “It doesn’t matter that your fifty thousand taels went down the drain – I’ll make it up to you. That ten thousand taels just now was a deposit. After success, I’ll add another forty thousand taels. Use it to buy shops and mansions, concubines and servants – immediately you’ll be Master Xu again.”

Officer Xu listened in a daze, taking a long while to understand.

Fifty thousand taels!

What did this Gu Pingyuan want him to do?

“I want to buy foreign guns from the Russians – the more the better.”

Officer Xu pondered: “Guns aren’t a problem. I know a high-ranking official in a Russian military camp. As long as the price is right, however many you want, I can get. The question is how much silver have you brought?”

Gu Pingyuan held up one finger: “This amount!”

All civil and military officials in the city received orders from the prefectural yamen to gather at the prefect’s main hall at the first quarter of the Chen hour. From the provincial treasurer to the chief magistrate, dozens of officials large and small couldn’t figure out what major incident had occurred again. They hurriedly donned official robes and took sedan chairs to Ding’an Street where the prefectural yamen was located.

Upon meeting, everyone immediately felt relieved. The prefect Yuan, who had been gloomy-faced for days, was actually beaming with smiles. Seeing everyone about to perform the formal court greeting, he raised both hands and said: “Wait a moment. Today I’ve gathered all colleagues to relay an imperial edict from the Grand Secretariat. With the sacred edict present, we are all subjects – let us all together request the emperor’s well-being.”

Only then did the civil and military officials realize a sacred edict had arrived. These past days everyone had been secretly speculating that Yuan Jiasan’s governance in Anhui, particularly his handling of Chen Yucheng’s Taiping army, had been utterly disastrous. The next imperial edict would surely bring censure and punishment – most likely his prefectural seat was unstable.

Treasurer Buhe harbored ulterior motives. Relying on being Manchu, he had never really respected Yuan Jiasan, appearing compliant on the surface while actually paying lip service and acting contrary. This time with Taipings surrounding the provincial capital and a major case erupting on the Shandong-Anhui border, he saw these as opportunities. He had long ago had Beijing acquaintances approach the Grand Secretariat leaders through connections. Once Yuan Jiasan left, the prefect position might very well be his.

Buhe had been burning with anticipation recently. Those skilled at reading the wind had already noticed, estimating that Yuan Jiasan’s great tree might fall, so it was better to seek new patrons early. Thus the provincial treasurer’s yamen had been ten times busier than the prefect’s yamen these days. Buhe had even secretly conferred with his secretary in the signing room, already preparing detailed personnel lists for the entire province, waiting only for his new appointment to implement arrangements.

Now seeing Yuan Jiasan radiant with joy, clearly not having been censured, Buhe’s heart pounded. Could Yuan Jiasan have connections he didn’t know about, actually retaining his position? Or though transferred, his new posting was no worse than Anhui prefect? The latter wouldn’t matter, but if the former were true, it would be disastrous.

He was lost in wild thoughts when Yuan Jiasan suddenly called out loudly: “Subject Anhui Prefect Yuan Jiasan leads the capital’s civil and military officials in respectfully requesting the emperor’s well-being!” This shout startled the distracted Buhe, who quickly knelt with the others, performing three kowtows and nine prostrations.

When the ceremony finished, Yuan Jiasan took down the imperial edict covered in bright yellow silk from the incense altar and held it in his hands, turning to unfold it.

“Colleagues, let me read the imperial edict.” Yuan Jiasan coughed and read melodiously.

Buhe knelt on the ground, initially listening with straight posture. But the more he heard, the more wrong it sounded. This was no censuring edict but clearly warm praise. When he heard “Your courage and character are exceptional. Even when the provincial capital was under siege, you could still command with determination, directing Green Standard forces from afar to pacify the Dragon Ridge rebels, eliminating violence in an instant, crushing rebellion at its inception. Your dedication is commendable. You are hereby awarded a yellow riding jacket and a golden nanmu prayer beads. All provincial governors must take this prefect as their model, learning his loyal, brave heart and wisdom. Then great disorder can be pacified soon, bringing great comfort to my heart,” Buhe’s body swayed. He felt dizzy and confused, his mind in chaos.

“Treasurer Bu! Treasurer Bu!”

In his daze, Buhe heard someone calling his name. Looking around bewildered, he realized everyone else had stood up and was standing on both sides, while only he remained kneeling stupidly in the center of the second hall.

Yuan Jiasan had many informants and had long known of Buhe’s secret activities. Though previously helpless, now with imperial backing, he was pleased to see him publicly embarrassed.

“Treasurer Bu, I’m reading an imperial edict here, yet you seem absent-minded – this is truly improper.” Yuan Jiasan said with a stern face.

“Yes, yes. This subordinate was thinking about collecting funds and provisions, momentarily lost in thought. Please forgive me, Prefect Sir.” Treasurer Buhe stood up, feeling his legs trembling and his back completely soaked with sweat.

“Forget it.” Yuan Jiasan glanced at him. “This time you also merit recognition for recommendation. If not for Magistrate Qiao handling this case, had it been someone mediocre, it would have been truly difficult to argue clearly before that troublemaker Yan Jingming.”

“Prefect Sir is too kind. As the saying goes ‘the pure are naturally pure, the turbid naturally turbid.’ Originally it was Your Sir’s achievement. Even without anyone arguing, the court wouldn’t have buried Your Sir’s merits. This subordinate merely contributed slight effort, sharing Your Sir’s worries.”

Only then did Treasurer Buhe notice that somehow Qiao Henian, who had been sent to handle the Dragon Ridge case, was standing beside Yuan Jiasan. He wore fourth-rank snow goose insignia robes and a blue-gold cap button, his manner composed, neither arrogant nor humble, slightly bowing as he conversed with Yuan Jiasan.

“Good, you did very well – much better than certain people.” Yuan Jiasan looked at Qiao Henian with appreciation. “Recently this prefect was irritable due to Taiping military chaos and spoke some harsh words. Don’t take them to heart.”

“What are you saying, Sir?” Qiao Henian immediately bowed to the ground. “For a subject, thunder and rain are both imperial grace. For a subordinate, receiving Your Sir’s personal instruction is this subordinate’s fortune. Without Your Sir’s guidance, how could this subordinate have calmed his mind at Dragon Ridge to unravel the threads and discover the truth of the bandit case?”

“Hahaha.” Yuan Jiasan was repeatedly flattered by Qiao Henian and couldn’t help laughing heartily.

“What a pity.” Someone in the hall suddenly sighed coldly.

Yuan Jiasan felt greatly spoiled and frowned: “Treasurer Bu, you say ‘what a pity’ – do you mean the emperor’s edict is regrettable?”

“This subordinate wouldn’t dare.” Treasurer Buhe had after all navigated officialdom for decades. After his initial confusion, his mind cleared, knowing that if Yuan Jiasan claimed all the glory today, within one evening it would spread throughout Anhui’s official circles. Those originally gathered around him would scatter like birds and beasts, and all his efforts would be wasted. He gritted his teeth – no matter how proud Yuan Jiasan and how honored Qiao Henian appeared, he couldn’t let them take all the credit.

“This subordinate means it’s a pity that though Magistrate Qiao received the prefect’s favor and was entrusted with important duties, he showed poor judgment in guaranteeing that exile Gu Pingyuan. Ordered to buy foreign guns, he took three hundred thousand taels of silver and has had no word since – he’s probably absconded with the gold. Magistrate Qiao, as his guarantor, bears responsibility, and this responsibility is not light.”

“With current military chaos, perhaps something delayed him.” Qiao Henian knew Gu Pingyuan would never flee with the silver – besides, his entire family was detained in the provincial capital. “This subordinate knows this person’s character deeply – he wouldn’t do such a thing.”

“Today is the last day of the one-month deadline!” Buhe smiled coldly. “According to you, with military chaos everywhere, when will it end? Wouldn’t that be indefinitely?” He addressed his superior: “Please Sir, order Gu Pingyuan’s entire family imprisoned immediately, then command Qiao Henian to compensate the provincial treasury’s loss of three hundred thousand taels.”

“This…” With provincial military pay currently tight, the provincial treasury controlling the province’s finances, his insistence on pursuing compensation left even Yuan Jiasan unable to find excuses. He looked at Qiao Henian with difficulty.

Qiao Henian stepped forward: “Sir, this subordinate still dares guarantee Gu Pingyuan. At this moment he’s surely doing his utmost to serve Your Sir. Please Sir, show tolerance and protection, don’t chill a loyal heart.”

“You guarantee?” Buhe sneered. “You’re a fourth-rank official with annual salary of two hundred taels. Even including the integrity-nourishing silver from fire wastage, it’s only over a thousand taels. What do you guarantee with? Unless you’ve embezzled and accepted bribes, having those hundreds of thousands of taels on hand.”

“Treasurer Bu, that’s going too far.” Yuan Jiasan intervened.

“Please Sir, investigate clearly.” Buhe wouldn’t yield an inch, determined to fight this battle. “Being lenient with Qiao Henian and Gu Pingyuan may be easy, but currently the province’s hundred thousand troops all await food and drink. Military supply officers and camp administrators wait day and night at my yamen demanding military pay. These three hundred thousand taels aren’t a small sum – unable to buy foreign guns and now missing, how can this subordinate explain? Please Sir, decide!”

With each “investigate clearly” and “decide,” he was actually challenging Yuan Jiasan publicly. Hearing this, the judicial commissioner and various prefects turned pale, desperately keeping their heads down, not daring to look at their two superiors’ expressions.

Yuan Jiasan’s expression was naturally ugly, but logically Buhe had the upper hand. Even wanting to lose his temper, he couldn’t. He could only look apologetically at Qiao Henian, about to order the Gu family imprisoned in the provincial capital jail, when reports came from outside.

“Reporting to Prefect Sir, a convoy has arrived outside the city. The leader is a Huizhou merchant surnamed Gu, saying he was sent by Your Sir to purchase military equipment and has returned to report. The city defense officer, not having permission, dares not privately admit military arms into the city and requests instructions.”

“Surnamed Gu – what’s his name?” Qiao Henian, surprised and delighted, forgot official protocol and asked first.

“He says his name is Gu Pingyuan.”

“Sir, this person is truly trustworthy. The one-month deadline wasn’t violated – he’s returned on schedule to report.” Qiao Henian excitedly turned back.

“Mm.”

Yuan Jiasan was also pleased. Setting aside other matters, seeing Buhe publicly slap his own face made him happy. With this thought, he decided to give Gu Pingyuan great face while sweeping away this treasurer who was desperate to climb higher.

“Colleagues, currently Anhui’s territory depends entirely on official-civilian harmony to maintain peace and suppress rebellion. Why don’t we honor worthy men? Come, accompany me out of the city to receive these foreign guns.”

The prefect led the way, subordinates naturally followed. A large group bustled out of the prefectural yamen, each taking sedan chairs toward the north gate. Only Buhe remained stunned in place, taking a long while before stamping his foot: “I don’t believe he has such great abilities! If the guns aren’t sufficient, I’ll still charge you with collaborating with bandits and enemies.”

When Buhe reached the north gate, it was already wide open. Outside the city at the checkpoint, a long convoy waited. Yuan Jiasan had already proceeded under Qiao Henian’s guidance to approach the convoy.

Gu Pingyuan was truly travel-worn, clearly having journeyed far, his face tanned and thin. Seeing the prefect, he immediately knelt and kowtowed.

Yuan Jiasan no longer mentioned the word “exile”: “Righteous man Gu, it’s rare that you serve the royal cause loyally, returning on schedule. This journey was arduous.”

“I dare not accept such praise – Your Sir is too kind.” As Gu Pingyuan responded, he exchanged glances with Qiao Henian, both feeling gratified.

“Gu Pingyuan, let me ask you – how many foreign guns did you buy on this trip?” Buhe approached, glanced at the covered convoy, and asked coldly.

Gu Pingyuan smiled and pointed behind him: “These front twelve large carts all contain foreign guns I brought back this time. Each cart carries five hundred guns, each gun equipped with three hundred rounds of gunpowder and bullets.”

“Five hundred per cart…” Buhe calculated mentally and looked up in shock. “You mean you bought back six thousand foreign guns?”

When this number was announced, all officials immediately whispered among themselves. The current price of foreign guns was no secret – everyone knew that with Gu Pingyuan’s three hundred thousand taels, buying one thousand foreign guns would be considered a lot. Six thousand guns – it was truly incredible!

“That’s not all.” Gu Pingyuan glanced at everyone’s astonished expressions and smiled slightly, ordering the drivers to bring over the last ten large carts. He personally lifted the oilcloth covering the carts, revealing two gleaming bronze cannons lying side by side, their muzzles as large as vinegar bowls, black and menacing to behold.

These were truly rare items. The Qing army also had cannons in battle, but they were all cast-iron cannons, with a few stone cannons, all enormous in size. Two horses could barely drag one. These bronze cannons were less than half the size of cast-iron cannons, yet appeared more refined and mighty.

“Sir, these are rifled breech-loading cannons. Shells are loaded from behind, with longer range and greater accuracy. The gunpowder is all newly refined, with tremendous power.”

Buhe had long been stunned. He stared at these munitions in disbelief, his mouth involuntarily hanging open. He managed provincial finances and was no outsider to military procurement – he knew the numbers. At current market prices, the batch of goods Gu Pingyuan had obtained couldn’t be had for less than two million taels of silver, yet he had only a fraction of that amount. Could he perform magic tricks?

“Treasurer Bu, the task you and Prefect Yuan assigned me is complete. Please send people to inspect and receive the goods.”

“Wait a moment. Just because they look good on the outside doesn’t mean they’re not ‘gold and jade outside, cotton and straw within.’ Who knows if you got a pile of scrap metal somewhere and had it refurbished? Whether these guns can fire, whether these cannons can explode – who knows? The yamen cannot accept these goods for now.” He had spoken too boldly at the prefectural yamen earlier and really had no way to back down, so he could only give himself an out this way.

But his nitpicking aroused universal anger. All the officials present had been rescued from the siege by the Taipings. Public justice was in people’s hearts – first they were grateful to Qiao Henian, then seeing this Gu Pingyuan he recommended had obtained large quantities of munitions, from now on Hefei could be said to be impregnable as a fortress, their own and their families’ safety assured. Everyone was overjoyed. Yet Buhe insisted on finding fault. Though people said nothing aloud, their faces showed disgust.

“Whether it’s a mule or a horse, we might as well lead it out for a walk.” Qiao Henian sensed the crowd’s mood and immediately voiced support for Gu Pingyuan, saying to Yuan Jiasan: “Today the weather is fine and beyond the north gate is open country. Why not let Gu Pingyuan publicly test these guns and cannons?”

“Very well.” Yuan Jiasan nodded in agreement.

Gu Pingyuan acted very methodically, having people hang large bronze bells on foreign gun targets. When a shot hit, the sound was melodious – you could tell from far away that it hit the target squarely. Testing the foreign cannon was especially spectacular. Gunpowder was buried in advance in an earthen mound. After aiming the sights, one shot hit home. Amid towering flames, the mound exploded thunderously with dirt raining down – the spectacle was truly shocking.

Nothing more needed to be said. Buhe’s face was ashen. Without waiting for the crowd to finish cheering, he angrily swept his sleeves and left.

Yuan Jiasan felt all his recent bad luck had vanished with that cannon shot. His face glowing with satisfaction, he smiled at Qiao Henian: “Magistrate Qiao, you handle assignments excellently and have rare judgment of character. Confining you to governing one county is truly a waste of great talent. Moreover, you now hold fourth-rank insignia, so you should relinquish the Shexian magistrate position. But currently there are no actual circuit intendant vacancies, so I must trouble you to temporarily serve as Huizhou prefect. When a circuit vacancy opens, this prefect will definitely prioritize appointing you.”

Qiao Henian remained silent for a long time after hearing this. Yuan Jiasan frowned – could this person still be unsatisfied?

“Prefect Sir, your appointing me as Huizhou prefect – I’m endlessly grateful. However, what I’m thinking is to do more work, sharing the court’s worries and Your Sir’s labors. Currently the most difficult matter throughout the province is raising military funds. I only hope to make a bit more progress in this matter to repay Your Sir’s kindness in recognizing my talents. Whether it’s temporary appointment or actual position, I leave entirely to Your Sir’s discretion – I dare not argue for more or less.”

“Excellent!” Yuan Jiasan clapped in praise. Generally, officials like to hear subordinates say “willing to work, unwilling to seek office.” Though knowing it’s probably false nine times out of ten, it sounds noble and pleasing to the ear. Moreover, Qiao Henian had gained face for him at court, performed great service before provincial officials, and was so understanding of affairs. Yuan Jiasan greatly appreciated him and decided to reciprocate.

“Magistrate Qiao is brave in taking responsibility and can serve as a model. This prefect has witnessed your great talent – taking on another position shouldn’t be difficult. You need not decline the Huizhou prefect position. I’ll also appoint you as Administrative Secretary of the Provincial Treasurer’s Office, specifically handling military fund-raising.”

“Thank you for Your Sir’s fulfillment!” Qiao Henian and Yuan Jiasan understood each other perfectly. The Administrative Secretary position was seventh rank but managed all major and minor affairs of the Provincial Treasurer’s Office. Qiao Henian had clearly become enemies with Buhe. Now being inserted into the Provincial Treasurer’s Office in this irregular way, he could intervene in everything large and small. It would be difficult for Buhe to act as recklessly as before.

Yuan Jiasan stepped forward and said quietly: “You spoke correctly just now – raising military funds is now the major issue. Relying on the Provincial Treasurer’s Office is probably difficult. Brother Qiao, put more effort into this. If things are handled well, I will definitely recommend you.”

This was treating Qiao Henian as his confidant. Qiao Henian quickly bowed again in thanks.

Yuan Jiasan turned to Gu Pingyuan: “Righteous man Gu, though you don’t say so, this prefect knows this assignment was handled with difficulty. Using several hundred thousand taels to buy back so many foreign guns and cannons is truly meritorious labor. It’s laughable that some previously said you collaborated with rebels – complete nonsense. Tell me, what reward do you want?”

“Sir.” Gu Pingyuan knelt on the ground. “This commoner dares not ask for rewards, only hopes Your Sir will grant one favor.”

“Oh?” Yuan Jiasan glanced over.

Qiao Henian quickly said: “This Gu’s family is still detained in the prefectural city. Gu Pingyuan must be concerned about his mother and wants to request Your Sir to let them return to Huizhou.”

“Rare to see such a filial son. However, detaining your family was ordered by the Ministry of Justice – this prefect has no authority to release them.”

“Please show mercy, Sir.” Gu Pingyuan kowtowed repeatedly.

Yuan Jiasan made a show of consideration before saying: “Very well, this prefect will take this responsibility. You may take your family back to Huizhou temporarily, but the Ministry of Justice’s orders cannot be completely ignored – it will be changed to house arrest. Magistrate Qiao.”

“This subordinate is here.”

“Shexian is under Huizhou jurisdiction – this matter is entrusted to you.”

Qiao Henian bowed in agreement, just seeing Gu Pingyuan look up. Both men smiled at each other.

“Brother Gu, I truly admire you. Using three hundred thousand taels to buy back two million taels worth of goods – even the God of Wealth Fan Li would be helpless with such business. How did you manage it?”

Still in Hefei’s official guesthouse, Qiao Henian had ordered a ten-tael bird’s nest banquet and had a jar of twenty-year-old Daughter’s Red wine brought up. Secretary Hao acted as host, specifically entertaining Gu Pingyuan alone.

“Come, come, big brother will fill your cup. After drinking this cup, you must explain clearly and happily – no being mysterious, or I’ll make you drink penalty wine.” Secretary Hao said seriously.

Gu Pingyuan smiled happily: “Since Magistrate Qiao and Brother Hao are pleased, what do I have to hide from you? Actually, this batch of guns came from the Russians.”

“Russia? Are there Russian foreign merchants in Shanghai’s foreign settlement? I’ve never heard of any.”

“Not Shanghai. I really made a trip beyond the frontier, found officers in Russian military camps, and bought the foreign guns from them. The price I paid wasn’t low. When they sold guns to me, they could turn around and buy another on their homeland’s black market, keeping the silver without punishment. They were happy to stuff guns into my arms. I bought almost all the foreign guns they could obtain. These Russians still weren’t satisfied and insisted on selling me twenty more foreign cannons. I thought that after returning I’d still need to ask Prefect Yuan to release my family, so naturally the more munitions the better – I bought them all.”

“But from here to beyond the frontier, having to purchase military equipment and hire carts to transport it back – how could you manage in time?” Qiao Henian was greatly puzzled.

“Previously it would be impossible, but now it’s nothing.” Gu Pingyuan glanced at Secretary Hao. “Brother Hao, do you remember? Niuzhuang opened a foreign wharf with foreigners’ small steamships running directly from beyond the frontier to Hangzhou and Shanghai.”

“Right, right!” Secretary Hao remembered. “That was mentioned by the female proprietor of Tianzhuang Herbal Medicine Shop. She even wanted to buy ship tickets to send us back.”

“At that time we thought even one person’s ticket was expensive. This time I chartered an entire ship.” Without asking, this must have cost a fortune, but without doing so, Gu Pingyuan couldn’t have returned in time. He didn’t regret spending this money.

“But I still don’t understand – even if Russian foreign guns and cannons were cheap, could your mere three hundred thousand taels buy back so many? You’d have to kill me before I’d believe it.”

“Not three hundred thousand – one million taels!” Gu Pingyuan’s words made Secretary Hao’s eyes bulge as Qiao Henian also stared at him in surprise.

“Borrowed or pawned?”

“Neither – earned.” Gu Pingyuan said with a smile.

Gu Pingyuan had originally planned to take those three hundred thousand tael banknotes and board ship from Hangzhou, heading straight beyond the frontier. But just before boarding, he hesitated. Who knew what price Russian foreign guns would be? Would the silver he brought be enough to buy three thousand guns? If not enough, beyond the frontier would be calling to heaven with no response, calling to earth with no answer. While hesitating, he happened to look up and see the “Hu Qingyu Hall” signboard. “In the north there’s Tongren Hall, in the south there’s Qingyu Hall” – this pharmacy opened by Hu Xueyan spent around a hundred thousand taels annually just on charitable medicine distribution and had long been a golden brand.

Gu Pingyuan immediately thought of a good idea. He visited Hu Xueyan at Fukang Bank, mentioning that with Niuzhuang’s opening as a port and the convenient small steamship transport from the foreign wharf, Panshan Station had become the best hub for north-south medicines. Hu Xueyan, being a commercial genius, was greatly excited upon hearing this. The Anguo medicine market had controlled north-south medicinal trade for years, with prices never in the hands of north-south medicine merchants. Now with this route, they could bypass Anguo market and trade directly, saving time and effort with necessarily rich profits.

Gu Pingyuan took the opportunity to explain his intentions – wanting to use three hundred thousand tael banknotes to buy medicinal materials, transport them on the small steamship to Panshan Station for profitable exchange. Hu Xueyan’s business vision was sharp, seeing this as a good route, so he immediately decided to advance Gu Pingyuan another three hundred thousand taels worth of medicinal materials on credit, as long as Gu Pingyuan could establish this route.

Upon reaching Panshan Station, Gu Pingyuan immediately sought out Fourth Sister Tian. Fourth Sister Tian wanted to help her benefactor on one hand, and on the other, Gu Pingyuan was delivering a path to wealth – how could she refuse? But relying solely on Tian Family Herbal Medicine Shop to handle such a large transaction was truly beyond their capacity. Fourth Sister Tian really worked hard, within two days gathering all nearby medicinal material merchants, actually opening a medicinal materials market. The southern medicines Gu Pingyuan brought were priced more than twenty percent lower than Anguo market prices and were quickly snapped up. Even so, after deducting the three hundred thousand taels to return to Hu Xueyan, he had earned one million taels including principal and profit.

“So much.” Secretary Hao listened slack-jawed, his mouth hanging open as he murmured: “Brother Gu, then we needn’t do anything else – transport medicinal materials a few more times and wouldn’t we become the Qing Empire’s richest man?”

Qiao Henian smiled slightly: “I’m afraid it’s not that easy.”

“Magistrate Qiao sees clearly.” Gu Pingyuan also smiled. “Medicinal materials aren’t food and drink. The goods I transported this time – merchants beyond the frontier need at least three to four months to sell them all. By then news will long since have leaked out. With everyone competing to use this route, where would there be so much profit?”

There was another point Gu Pingyuan didn’t mention. Though Fourth Sister Tian had helped him this time, conversely, his help to Fourth Sister Tian was probably greater. Through this affair, Tian Family Herbal Medicine Shop had become the local medicine trade leader. Gu Pingyuan had completely handed over this route for doing business with Hu Qingyu Hall to Fourth Sister Tian.

“Regardless, you truly conducted this business with head held high. Big brother is happy for you hearing it – we should toast with a large cup.” Secretary Hao raised his cup and drank deeply.

The three drank happily, talking about Treasurer Buhe’s extremely long face during the day, again bursting into laughter.

“Magistrate Qiao, I don’t understand – the Huizhou prefect position is already excellent, yet you insist on also taking the Provincial Treasurer’s Office Administrative Secretary position. Wouldn’t that make you Buhe’s subordinate? Aren’t you afraid he’ll take the opportunity to make things difficult for you?”

“Making things difficult is just official business – nothing to fear.” Qiao Henian said lightly. “Since he’s determined to oppose me, rather than hiding far away unable to see clearly what he’s doing, I’d rather stay close and know myself and my enemy.” This was indeed one of Qiao Henian’s reasons, but he had another deeper reason hidden in his heart that even these two close friends couldn’t mention.

“From Prefect Yuan’s tone, Magistrate Qiao’s handling of affairs at Dragon Ridge Mountain was also extremely smooth. I wonder how it was managed?” Gu Pingyuan asked with a smile.

Qiao Henian’s smile gradually faded as he rubbed his forehead: “I’m somewhat drunk and dizzy. I won’t accompany you further – please drink freely. I’ll ask Secretary Hao to accompany me. I’ll rest a bit – pardon my rudeness.”

Qiao Henian rose and left. Gu Pingyuan looked puzzledly at Secretary Hao: “Big brother, what’s this about?”

“Sigh!” Secretary Hao sighed several times and lowered his voice. “This shouldn’t be shared with six ears – just forget it after hearing. The Dragon Ridge assignment was somewhat unconscionable. Don’t mention it again before Magistrate Qiao in the future.”

Originally, that day Qiao Henian had made a “military pledge” – if he couldn’t find treasonous evidence, he would willingly accept Yan Jingming’s blade.

As it turned out, from sunrise until the sun moved west, with six hours about to pass, the stronghold gates slowly opened and a minor official sent in to search ran out carrying a garment.

When this garment was displayed publicly: made of bright yellow silk with “unifying the realm” sea-water river-cliff patterns embroidered on it, eight treasures standing in water at the bottom, and nine five-clawed golden dragons embroidered in the center.

A dragon robe!

No other evidence was needed – this piece alone was sufficient to prove Zhang Qi had treasonous intentions.

Yan Jingming’s pent-up energy was completely released. Though the people were sent in by himself, and though Qiao Henian had also sent five people, they had been thoroughly searched beforehand – never mind a dragon robe, not even a letter could be brought in. He had spoken too boldly – how could he save face now? But Qiao Henian, considering his dignity, only said the bandits were treacherous and had deceived their superiors, saying many words to give Yan Jingming face, actually earning favor in Shandong official circles.

“Since a dragon robe was found, that proves this case wasn’t wrongful. Why say it was unconscionable?” Though Gu Pingyuan was clever, he couldn’t guess the inside story.

“Fake.” Secretary Hao’s voice dropped three more levels.

From the beginning, Qiao Henian had determined to create false evidence. Among the five people he sent in, two were tailors with needles and thread hidden in their braids. The dragon robe had been taken apart into over twenty pieces, pre-sewn into the linings of two people’s clothes. After entering the stronghold, while others earnestly searched for evidence, only these two tailors slipped into an empty room, taking apart and sewing busily, finally rushing to complete a “dragon robe” to bring out.

Now it was Gu Pingyuan’s turn to be stunned. His mouth half-open, he stammered for a long time before asking: “So this case is considered closed?”

“Sigh, in these war-torn years, which temple doesn’t have wrongly killed ghosts?” Secretary Hao poured wine into his mouth. Seeing Gu Pingyuan still looking absent-minded, he consoled: “At the time, Magistrate Qiao said if he stubbornly sought to clear Zhang Qi and others, this case would have to go to the capital. All defendants and witnesses would need court appearances. Common people would abandon their fields and pay their own travel and lodging expenses – who knows how many more families would be ruined. So it was better to cover it up as a muddled account. Later, when things settle down, he’ll petition the prefect to exempt local taxes as compensation.”

“This can be considered merciful – there’s no other choice.” Gu Pingyuan sighed, feeling his mouth bitter and astringent. He poured a cup of wine and drained it.

Secretary Hao actually had more to say. At the time, Qiao Henian had also said the criminal law family tradition was “save the living, not the dead.” If he acted stubbornly, he would anger Anhui’s official circles. Never mind clearing others’ wrongs – he himself would have to go in to fill the gap. With Qiao Henian’s career and life at stake, Secretary Hao could only swallow his words no matter what else he wanted to say, especially since he had no better ideas.

“Let’s not discuss this.” Secretary Hao changed the subject. “Brother, what do you plan to do next? It seems Prefect Yuan won’t make things difficult for your family anymore. That Ministry of Justice order might be quietly shelved.”

Gu Pingyuan gazed out the window, pondering long before saying: “I’ll naturally escort my mother back to Huizhou first. As for the Taipings, I promised that God of Wealth Hu I definitely wouldn’t let Chen Yucheng’s troops return to reinforce Tianjing.”

“He has legs – if he wants to march his Taiping army away, would he consult with you?” Secretary Hao disagreed.

Gu Pingyuan smiled: “Do you know why when I could have bought only three thousand foreign guns to complete the assignment, I bought twice as many plus all those foreign cannons?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to please Yuan Jiasan…”

“Correct, but I had another purpose. Previously Anhui lacked great generals, but now there’s Cheng Xueqi. He’s a military talent who will naturally make good use of these foreign guns. When Chen Yucheng tries to march away, Cheng Xueqi, relying on superior firearms, will definitely pursue and strike hard. Then the Taipings will inevitably suffer heavy losses. Today I buried explosives at the north gate to test cannons – within days Chen Yucheng will know. Since he knows Qing army firearms are formidable, he won’t dare escort the elderly and children with baggage trains back to Tianjing – that would be like sticking his rear end out for Cheng Xueqi to beat.”

“Hundreds of thousands of taels, such painstaking effort – turns out you’re still doing this for Bai Yimei.” Secretary Hao suddenly understood.

Gu Pingyuan had drunk several more cups, his eyes gradually reddening: “Now Nanjing is clearly a place of death. If she follows Chen Yucheng back, it’s certain death without life. In Anhui, being closer, I can still gradually work on it, helping her think of an escape plan. To tell you the truth, I haven’t given up the idea of persuading Chen Yucheng to surrender to the court.”

“Admirable, admirable.” Secretary Hao was also bleary-eyed with drink. “Brother, you’re truly a romantic soul – this can be considered the utmost in benevolence and righteousness.”

“I directed my heart toward the bright moon, but the bright moon shines on the ditch. Falling flowers, falling flowers have intentions…” Gu Pingyuan lay drunk on the table, still murmuring.