Evening at the docks was the busiest time of day. Whether the Imperial Tutor and the Empress were quarreling, officials were being arrested, or even the war with Western Liang was raging, none of it could stop people here from pursuing their livelihoods.

These events often made them even busier.

For instance, when officials were convicted and sold their possessions to pay fines, merchants gathered at the docks, sorting through the acquired properties to ship to various places.

Or when the war with Western Liang caused shortages of northwestern goods, making trade routes even busier.

Having just finished unloading a boat of goods, several men squatting at the bow to cool off spotted a short, plump man approaching hurriedly, wearing a hat and scarf despite the height of summer. They immediately stood up and called out, “Old Yu, Old Yu!” “Old Yu, what good things are you hiding this time?”

Yu Shang approached with a smile, waving his hand, and a jug of wine was caught by these men.

“You fellows have sharp eyes. This is a good wine I just obtained,” he said.

The men examined the wine bottle, which didn’t look particularly special. “Old Yu, have you been deceived?” “If it’s that good, would you be willing to share it with us?”

Yu Shang was unfazed by their teasing and smiled, “This is an immortal’s brew.” “I, Yu Bo, am generous with everything. The better the item, the more people I want to share it with.” He then gestured to everyone, “Try it quickly.”

Teasing aside, everyone was familiar with Yu Shang’s character. One person tasted the wine first and immediately exclaimed in admiration. The others hurriedly grabbed it, and their exclamations attracted people from all around.

Those few men didn’t keep it to themselves but brought out wine bowls and cups: “Come taste the immortal’s brew Old Yu brought back.”

The dock became extremely lively.

Suddenly, everyone knew Old Yu.

Yu Shang was indeed popular. Though not a wealthy merchant, he was hardworking, honest, and maintained good relationships with everyone at the dock.

Even the porters are gathering around him now.

“Boss Yu, are you going on another trip?” someone asked.

Yu Shang nodded: “I’ve rested long enough. It’s time to go out and make money.”

A familiar merchant asked, “Still going to Yunzhong Commandery?”

Yu Shang smiled and nodded.

“You could do business anywhere. Why do you always travel so far?” someone shook his head. “It’s distant, remote, and now unsafe.”

Yu Shang smiled: “Business can be done anywhere, and although it’s far, remote, and dangerous, that place is my home. Being able to make money and visit home—truly the best business in the world.”

As he spoke, he spotted his carriage at the dock and hurriedly called out as he went over.

Some unfamiliar people asked curiously: “Is Old Yu from Yunzhong Commandery?”

“Yes, he left as a young man, established himself in the capital, has a wife and children, but never gave up his business in Yunzhong Commandery,” a familiar person sighed.

“What’s the point?” young people wondered. “The money earned is spent on travel, turning a big business into a small one.”

But older people understood: “Money can never be fully earned. One’s homeland is hard to leave behind. The older one gets, the more one thinks of their native soil.”

Regardless of the discussions, Yu Shang loaded two boats full of goods and, with his wife and children seeing him off and surrounded by household guards and attendants, departed by boat into the night.

“By autumn, Yu Shang will return fully loaded,” men at the dock holding empty wine bottles calculated on their fingers. “Then we’ll have good wine to drink again.”

The commotion brought by a small merchant quickly dispersed, and the dock began a new round of bustle. Meanwhile, the small merchant left behind the clamor of the capital, through sunrise and sunset, disembarking to ride horses and sit in carriages, through wind and rain, until he finally arrived at Yunzhong Commandery.

At the checkpoint, the goods of the merchant ahead were thoroughly searched, travel documents and identities were checked repeatedly, and money offered as bribes was thrown back. Yu Shang was surprised and asked someone beside him: “Are the checks this strict now? Has the war intensified?”

The merchant beside him chuckled: “The war hasn’t intensified, that’s why they’re checking so strictly.”

What did that mean? Yu Shang was confused.

“Because the war isn’t tense, the generals are having internal conflicts,” a bystander watching the commotion was happy to explain. “A supervisor has come from the court saying they must strictly enforce rules and thoroughly investigate military corruption and bribery.”

Yu Shang understood but shook his head: “The supervisor is overthinking. The military in Yunzhong Commandery is already quite disciplined.”

“Whether they’re disciplined or not, we don’t know. But these new rules have made travel more troublesome,” the previous merchant shook his head, then examined Yu’s cart, seeing it full of small items like needles and thread. “It’s even more troublesome for you with slow travel and long journeys. When will you sell all these goods?”

Yu Shang smiled: “I’ll sell them gradually. These small items are popular in villages and small towns. I’ll just travel farther.”

As they spoke, the line moved forward. When it was their turn to pass through the checkpoint, everyone stopped talking and lined up.

Yu Shang stepped forward without offering bribes, instead taking some water bags from his cart: “For the officers to carry water. It’s hot weather. These are the latest style from the capital, not expensive.”

The water bags were indeed inexpensive. The guards raised their hands to swat them away, but a seated officer nearby squinted, recognizing him, and smiled: “Isn’t this Old Yu? Back with goods?”

Yu Shang hurriedly acknowledged with a smile.

The officer introduced him to the guards: “This is the peddler Yu Bo from Ma Yi. He’s been doing small business for decades. He often brings necessities to our brothers—umbrellas and water bags in summer, warm sleeves in winter—they’re good quality and have led many brothers in the army to buy from him.” At this point, he raised his voice, “I say, Old Yu, are you having us sell goods for you?”

Yu Shang smiled innocently: “Thank you, officers, for looking after my business.”

The officer waved to the guards: “Take them, and later help Old Yu advertise a bit.” Then he beckoned, “Old Yu, give me one more.”

Since the officer had spoken, the guards accepted the gifts. Yu Shang smiled and gave the officer another one.

The officer examined it while waving his hand: “Alright, move along quickly.”

The guards no longer inspected and directly let Yu Shang pass.

“Is this style popular in the capital now?” the officer discussed with the guards. “I’ll give this to Supervisor Fu’s attendants. They should be happy. Coming from the capital to this place, there are many things they’re not used to. This could help ease their homesickness.”

The guards all laughed.

Yu Shang sat at the front of the cart. As the cart sped away, he left the commotion behind, passing through checkpoint after checkpoint, through cities and towns. The places he went became increasingly remote, and the goods on his cart diminished. Until one deep night, only one cart remained in a wild mountain valley, with no sign of people or horses.

…

…

When the morning sunlight spilled over the wilderness, Yu Shang removed his hat and scarf one by one, tossed them up, and then stretched his face toward the sunlight.

He suddenly let out a howl.

Around him, more than a dozen howls immediately echoed.

Yu Shang turned his head to look at more than a dozen men dressed in cloth robes. Although they wore the latest style of robes he had brought from the capital, they looked somewhat strange, perhaps because of their facial features that differed from the common people of Great Xia—

Yu Shang reached up to touch his face. If one looked closely, he also had these features—

“Qi Bo, change into our robes,” the lead man called out strangely, throwing over a robe. “The general specifically had this brought for you.”

Yu Shang caught it and laughed heartily: “Qi Bo thanks the general.” With that, he spread his arms on the galloping horse, removed his original richly patterned robe, and put on the fur-trimmed robe, spreading his arms to the wind.

“I’m home—”

…

…

“You’ve come back just in time,” a man cutting his beard with a small knife in a large tent said. “We’ve run out of the grain from last time.”

Yu Shang frowned slightly: “So quickly?”

The beard-cutting man slammed his knife fiercely on the ground and roared: “It’s not just my Qina tribe eating it! I’m now supporting two—no, three groups of troops. This grain—I’ve barely eaten any of it myself.”

Yu Shang ignored the knife stuck in the ground near his foot and showed no fear of the man’s shouting. He asked with some surprise: “Three groups? Besides the Great King, has the Crown Prince also asked you for grain, General?”

The general was the son-in-law of the Western Liang King and the leader of the Qina tribe. This time, the Western Liang King led his third son personally to war, with the Crown Prince stationed in Western Liang City, while simultaneously summoning the Qina tribe as the left wing.

“This is too much.” Yu Shang shook his head. “The Crown Prince is enjoying peace in the rear, yet he still demands you provide provisions. General, you have it tough.”

Then he smiled again.

“For such meritorious service, one princess is not enough. When it’s time to reward achievements, remember to ask the Great King for two more.”

The Qina leader’s face darkened: “What use are so many women? My troops have suffered too many casualties.” At this point, he looked at Yu Shang, “Since he said all business can be done anywhere, then besides grain, can I buy people?”

Yu Shang shook his head helplessly: “General is joking. People aren’t inanimate objects; they can’t be transported here.”

The Qina leader knew this and was just speaking casually. He kicked the table and said resentfully: “What merit? This war has gone on until now, and all I’ve received is the Great King’s rebukes. The Great King only praises the Crown Prince, saying he’s guarding the rear stably.” At this point, he glanced at those around him, and his guards immediately withdrew.

The Qina leader stepped forward and said in a low voice to Yu Shang:

“The Third Prince says, in the words of Great Xia, we are all making a dowry for the Crown Prince.”

So the Third Prince was dissatisfied too? Even harboring thoughts about the Crown Prince’s position? That person truly was prophetic, Yu Shang marveled inwardly, though his expression revealed nothing. He nodded: “In the words of Great Xia, the Crown Prince isn’t wrong. He is the eldest son, and you all must support him.”

The Qina leader cursed and said, “You’ve been a Great Xia person for too long. Have you forgotten our rules? Whoever is strongest is the Great King!”

Yu Shang touched his face: “Actually, I don’t know which people I belong to—half Great Xia, half Western Liang, and then not a person at all.” After this reflection, he smiled again, “Don’t be angry, General. I came this time to do business by this rule.”

The Qina leader was confused and didn’t understand: “What business?”

Yu Shang took out a command token from his bosom, handed it over, and said: “The business of victory and defeat.”