Upon boarding the ship, Mo Zi kept her head down to avoid the firelight while stealing glances at the ship’s structure.
The structure was very simple—flat-bottomed with shallow eaves and a deep belly, living quarters at the stern, double masts with sails arranged in rows, the cargo hold uncovered by planks, sunken on all four sides, occupying two-thirds of the hull’s length.
Mo Zi saw the logs stacked inside, and her eyes instantly narrowed—this was it.
Hua Yi said: “Our Second Master didn’t say where to transport it, only said you had other instructions. Boss Zeng, where exactly should this cargo be unloaded?” Speaking as if it were genuine.
And wouldn’t you know it—the guess hit the mark perfectly.
Zeng Hai said: “Ship and cargo together must be delivered to Li Wu at Dahechuan Shipyard. This is the token for meeting—just give it to him as well.”
Dahechuan was within Great Qiu’s borders, separated from Great Zhou’s northern boundary by three mountains. Li Wu was the proprietor of Dahechuan Shipyard, backed by Great Qiu’s most illustrious family, the Kena clan. Mo Zi had never met Li Wu, but she had heard of this person and this shipyard.
Hua Yi made no sound.
Probably his face showed difficulty, making Chief Steward Wang impatient. “Vice Gang Leader Chen said he knows a secret waterway that can avoid the water garrison and enter Great Qiu. The price has all been negotiated—don’t pretend to be troubled and try to raise the price again.”
Hua Yi’s voice: “Price isn’t the problem. Our Second Master’s word is his bond. It’s just that this weather is colder than previous winters—we don’t know if the waterway is clear. If it’s frozen over, that could be troublesome.”
“Deliver the cargo by the end of the first month—I don’t care about the rest. If you can’t deliver it, simply returning the money won’t resolve things.” Zeng Hai still didn’t know his crime of collaborating with the enemy was nearly established, his tone threatening.
Zan Jin leaned close to Mo Zi’s ear. “Only about twenty people on the ship.” While Mo Zi looked at the ship, he assessed the opposition’s combat strength.
“Boss Zeng, I’m just giving you a heads up—us river gang folks look to heaven. Whatever happens in the end, you’ll have to discuss with our Chen Er Master. We can’t control it.” Hua Yi emphasized the two characters Chen Er.
Chen Er had yesterday been caught by Xu Jiu in a trap, a turtle caught in a jar, and was now imprisoned in the punishment hall.
If Zeng Hai went to discuss with Chen Er, they’d be in trouble together. That’s how Mo Zi understood it.
“Enough, less nonsense, hurry up and leave.” After Zeng Hai finished his instructions, he hurriedly turned around. Came by boat, would leave by horse—didn’t want to stay long.
Mo Zi saw him turn and approach, immediately retreated to the side, facing the river, raising her hand to touch her head.
Perhaps she hid too slowly, or perhaps Fei Xia and his two brothers’ physical characteristics were too distinctive—as Zeng Hai walked past, he suddenly turned his head back.
“You… you all…” He was suspicious.
Mo Zi’s heart leaped to her throat. If Zeng Hai recognized her, what should she do?
But before she could think of a compromise solution, Yuan Cheng spoke: “Seize them!”
What about the physical evidence? This thought flashed through her mind. Mo Zi said to Zan Jin and the others: “Quick battle, quick victory!”
Each of Hua Yi’s Qianniu Guards were masters among masters. Though Mo Zi’s side had fewer people, they were also heroes who could fight ten or block a hundred. And Zeng Hai clearly hadn’t anticipated this turn of events. Though he had brought fighters, twenty-some people against their ten-some was as easy as cutting grass—they fell as soon as cut. In moments they were all trussed up like dumplings and thrown into the bottom of the cargo hold.
Zeng Hai’s fat face squeezed his eyes as he still thought of escaping, shouting loudly: “Do you know who I am? If anything happens to me, none of you will have it easy!”
Mo Zi walked out from among the Qianniu Guards, smiling as she asked: “What backing does Boss Zeng have? Tell me about it.”
Zeng Hai recognized Mo Zi. His attitude didn’t soften—his arrogance grew even more brazen. “I thought you looked familiar! Steward Mo from Hongyu, you dare lead people to ambush me? From the very start, I found you slippery and oily. You don’t match refined upbringing in the slightest—just mixed goods from the boat gangs. Which blind person made you steward, and you even dare rob my ship here? My Zeng family’s eldest master serves as the current Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor, second master serves as Inspector of Zhongzhou, third and fourth masters control the Three Provinces’ grain and rice shops—one word could make you a beggar. I’m telling you, release me now, and considering we’re in the same trade, we can treat tonight as a misunderstanding. Otherwise, I’ll definitely make Hongyu unable to build ships anymore and roll out of the boat trade.”
“Quite the impressive backing.” Mo Zi exclaimed with interest. “I wonder which branch of the family Boss Zeng comes from? Among your family’s first, second, third, and fourth masters, who are you closest to? Close enough they’d lose their heads for you?”
Zeng Hai spat. “Stop trying to scare me! Think you’re a court official? I’m telling you, even if you really were sent by the court, I’m not afraid. To catch a thief, you need the stolen goods—what evidence do you have that I did something worthy of losing my head?” Scare him? Bah!
“She’s not a court official, but I am.” Yuan Cheng’s face became clear in the firelight. “Secretary of the Central Secretariat Yuan Cheng, carrying the Emperor’s direct command, with discretionary authority to handle dangerous matters threatening these talks. Zeng Hai, you just personally admitted this ship’s cargo is being transported to Dahechuan Shipyard. Dahechuan is within Great Qiu’s territory. Li Wu is the maternal relative of Great Qiu’s most powerful Kena clan. Since Great Qiu declared war on Yuling, Great Zhou has sealed the borders—even ordinary trade goods between the two nations cannot pass. Are you not knowingly violating Great Zhou’s clear legal prohibitions?”
When Zeng Hai heard “Secretary of the Central Secretariat,” he was somewhat dismissive, but upon hearing “Emperor’s direct command,” his expression became more serious. However, when he opened his mouth, he still argued sophistically: “Administrator Yuan, that Great Zhou has sealed the borders and stopped trade with Great Qiu—even three-year-old children know this. However, though national law is strict, it also considers human circumstances. Has the Administrator heard that border trade still flows, though it cannot compare to the past, it’s not entirely prohibited either. The two nations are at war—what does that have to do with common people? Life must still be lived. Zeng Hai does not disregard national law. It’s truly that I’ve cooperated with Dahechuan for many years and have annual contracts. It’s just selling them some lumber. Once this contract is complete, before the two nations resume relations, Zeng Hai won’t renew the contract. If the Administrator has listened to petty people’s words and thinks Zeng Hai is doing some traitorous business with Great Qiu, that would be a tremendous injustice. Even if you gave this humble one ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare. Our Zhongzhou Zeng clan has received the Emperor’s vast blessings and is utterly loyal to His Majesty. Though I, Zeng Hai, am merely from a branch family, I still bear the surname Zeng. This matter is my confused doing and has nothing to do with the main family. But to speak of capital crimes, this humble one must definitely cry injustice. Among those great merchants, how many don’t do business with Great Qiu? I could report a string of names for the Administrator to investigate—absolutely none would be entirely clean. This humble one also knows there was error, willing to pay a fine, and guarantees to no longer keep faith with Great Qiu people, withdrawing this ship’s cargo. Please reconsider, Administrator!”
Zeng Hai was shrewd, Zeng Hai was miserly, Zeng Hai was crafty, Zeng Hai was not at all stupid. He could become Hongtu’s proprietor—regardless of his true nature, he indeed had some ability. According to his words, he was only selling wood, not involving major “prohibited items”—a fine would suffice. And Mo Zi would become the petty person.
“You’re selling wood to Dahechuan?” Yuan Cheng asked.
“Isn’t it all right under the Administrator’s nose? If it’s not wood, what else could it be?” Zeng Hai countered.
It showed that a fourth-rank Secretary of the Central Secretariat didn’t compare to his family’s Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor. And Yuan Cheng said he carried the Emperor’s direct command, not an imperial decree—that diminished somewhat the deference he should fear. Therefore, his attitude remained ultimately arrogant.
“Then might Boss Zeng allow this official to conduct a search?” Without concrete evidence, this was the loophole Zeng Hai was exploiting—he would find a way to close it.
“The Administrator may search as he pleases.” Zeng Hai seemed to have been waiting right here. “However, if nothing is found, this humble one requests the Administrator severely punish the one who made false accusations. The boat trade has rules—when those in the same trade compete legitimately, those who use unscrupulous means are expelled. I request the Administrator judge fairly—if Zeng Hai hasn’t committed a capital crime, Hongyu must henceforth withdraw from the boat trade.” Fines were a small amount to him—consider it the ticket price to watch someone have bad luck.
Mo Zi’s gaze was autumn cold. One truly couldn’t underestimate opponents. When you view him as weak, he can bite you back.
“Brother Mo, what do you say?” Zeng Hai’s counterattack was clearly aimed at her, so Yuan Cheng naturally asked her opinion.
Was Mo Zi’s heart nervous at this moment?
Yes!
Because Zeng Hai was too certain, too confident, as if he were truly just shipping a load of wood to Great Qiu. If by chance the ship didn’t contain what she and Yuan Cheng thought, Hongyu would be ruined in her hands.
However, Zeng Hai’s words had flaws. Not obvious, but improper nonetheless. He ran a shipyard—what wood was he selling? Fine, even if he sold the ship along with it, such wood, such cargo ships—didn’t Great Qiu have them? Would they travel thousands of li to buy from him?
“Administrator, I haven’t falsely accused anyone—I merely speak based on facts.” Therefore, she accepted—accepted Zeng Hai’s verbal challenge.
“Excellent!” Zeng Hai answered more eagerly than Yuan Cheng. “Steward Mo, if you can’t find something that would cost me my head, you must henceforth leave the boat trade, and Hongyu must close its doors.”
“It’s a deal.” Mo Zi began descending the cargo hold ladder.
“Administrator Yuan, did you hear that?” Zeng Hai asked Yuan Cheng again.
Yuan Cheng watched Mo Zi’s profile, then turned his gaze back, smiling gently. “I heard. However, if Steward Mo makes a discovery, Boss Zeng, your head will be forfeit.”
Zeng Hai’s expression, just about to show satisfaction, stiffened for an instant, but was quickly covered by a smile.
Mo Zi’s target, of course, was those two piles of wood. So as soon as she reached the ship’s bottom, she reached out and tapped.
The instant she tapped, her expression became very cold. At the same time, she glimpsed Zeng Hai’s corners of his mouth curling with satisfaction that his plan had worked.
The wood was solid wood.
After tapping more than ten times, Mo Zi was already certain—this wood had no problems.
“Please have the Administrator dispatch people to carefully search elsewhere.” One of her strengths was acknowledging crises rather than stubbornly keeping up appearances. When she needed help, she asked. What one pair of eyes couldn’t discover, she would borrow many pairs of eyes for.
Yuan Cheng nodded. With just a wave of his hand, Hua Yi led people with torches to search in different directions.
Chou Yu and his two brothers also joined Hua Yi’s team. Zan Jin and Ding Gou jumped down and stood behind Mo Zi.
“Further searching is futile. How could Zeng Hai disregard his main family and commit treason? Steward Mo clearly deliberately framed Zeng Hai—perhaps because our two shipyards are too close, you find Hongtu an eyesore?” Seeing Mo Zi seek others’ help, Zeng Hai’s heart was set at ease. This person just had a clever tongue. Last time he carelessly suffered a loss, but unfortunately today she was destined to have great misfortune at his hands.
Two ke later, Hua Yi returned to Yuan Cheng’s side and shook his head at him and Mo Zi.
Zeng Hai felt victory was in sight, grinning with his fat mouth. “Brother Mo, oh Brother Mo, people cannot be greedy. You used every scheme against my Hongtu, but white is white, black is black—even heaven is watching. Though you can no longer work in the boat trade hereafter, I advise you to be down-to-earth and conduct yourself properly—perhaps in your lifetime you’ll still have a day to rise again.”
Mo Zi acted as if she heard nothing.
She was thinking—where exactly had she missed something?