Chapter 1382: Missing the Mark (Part Two)

“Just small felt scarves, to help you wash away the dust from your journey.”

However, when the palace guards took the baskets, they found them surprisingly heavy. Clearly, the gifts inside were far more substantial than mere “felt scarves.” In fact, each basket contained not only a fine frost-sheep felt, valued at ten gold pieces, but also a scented bead capable of absorbing sweat odor, a mutton-fat white jade ring, and five small gold ingots shaped like fish, each also worth ten gold pieces.

Just at their first meeting, Island Lord He presented each of them with gifts worth hundreds of thousands of coins. This gesture softened Commander Zhao's stern expression somewhat. “Island Lord He is very thoughtful,” he remarked.

He Lingchuan exchanged a few pleasantries, then asked Fan Shuang, “Brother Fan, have the congratulatory gifts been inspected?”

The carriages were already packed and ready to depart, carrying a total of sixteen boxes of gifts.

“Yes, they've been inspected,” Fan Shuang replied with a smile. “Commander Zhao and I checked them together. They're excellent, no issues at all!”

“Seal the boxes,” He Lingchuan commanded.

At He Lingchuan's command, members of the Yangshan Merchant Association climbed onto the carriages and sealed the boxes with strips.

Everyone boarded the vehicles, and the carriages rumbled as they set off toward the east.

The journey to the Yao Kingdom had finally begun.

It was mid-afternoon, and the rain was pouring down.

The Weng brothers were still huddled in the mountain hollow. The natural stone hollow was too narrow for two grown men, and the sparse leaves overhead offered little protection from the heavy downpour. Water droplets trickled down through the rock fissures, creating a steady patter around their feet. They were already thoroughly soaked, but thankfully, they were strong and healthy.

Weng Su was still staring intently at the valley entrance. The curtain of rain drastically reduced visibility, making it almost impossible for him to discern what was happening on the ground.

Weng Xing brushed the water from his face. “Brother, is Xue Zongwu still coming or not?”

Being drenched like this didn't seem like a viable plan. However, if they moved to a different lookout point, they wouldn't be able to see the valley entrance.

The two brothers had waited anxiously for several hours; mid-afternoon was almost over, and there was still no sign of Xue Zongwu's contingent.

“The weather is bad, he might have temporarily changed his plans,” Weng Su mused. “Mountain weather is unpredictable, changing in an instant.”

“So, what should we do?” Weng Xing rubbed his stomach. The few biscuits from breakfast were long gone, and he was hungry again. Although they still had dry rations, he particularly yearned for a steaming bowl of oil-splashed noodles, preferably topped with some fragrant minced meat. He swore he could slurp down an entire bowl in just three mouthfuls.

“Here,” Weng Su said, handing him a wineskin. “Drink some of this wine; it will warm you up.”

Weng Xing took it and gulped down a few mouthfuls.

“Xue Zongwu will definitely come, either right after the rain stops or by tomorrow morning at the latest!” Weng Su declared confidently. “If he doesn't come here, where else would he go?”

He Lingchuan had finally entered the Yao Kingdom. This was the heartland of the entire Shanjin Plain, a truly blessed region that had enjoyed favorable weather and abundant resources for many years. Seventy percent of the Yao Kingdom's territory consisted of plains, making it a well-deserved 'Nation of Plains.' Its area was second only to Luodian, yet its soil and climate were significantly superior. The great Baiquan River traversed the Yao Kingdom from north to south, with countless branches extending from it like capillaries, distributing water across the entire plain.

After entering the Yao Kingdom, Fan Shuang, serving as the guide appointed by the Yao King, actively introduced He Lingchuan to the local customs and conditions of various regions. From the borderlands eastward, the towns and villages He Lingchuan passed through became increasingly prosperous, and their populations swelled. Although these were still rural areas, the roads were maintained to a far higher standard than anywhere else in Shanjin, and there was a constant stream of carriages, merchants, and travelers. He Lingchuan also visited two or three markets, where he found the goods on sale to be exquisitely handcrafted and diverse. He even observed hundreds of varieties of sweets and pastries at a small rural market; arrayed uniformly, their vibrant colors were incredibly striking, and children lingered around them, unwilling to leave.

From a merchant's perspective, He Lingchuan noted that the Yao people's living standards—their clothing, food, housing, and transportation—were far superior to those elsewhere. Trade was also highly developed. Indeed, the Yao Kingdom was clearly more vibrant and a more worthwhile investment than other nations on the Shanjin Plain.

Fan Shuang smiled and told He Lingchuan, “Our country is the wealthiest land on the Shanjin Plain. Dignitaries and accomplished individuals from all nations aspire to settle in the Yao Kingdom.”

“Prosperity and stability are what everyone desires,” He Lingchuan replied with a smile. “Who wouldn't want to come to such a fine place?”

The Shanjin Plain was largely barren and plagued by hardship, with only the Yao Kingdom enjoying stability and prosperity. Naturally, people were desperate to flock here. People gravitate towards success, and wealth flows to where it can grow. For many years, the Yao Kingdom had attracted both people and capital, thriving exceptionally well in what was otherwise considered a 'God-forsaken land.'

Two days later, they arrived at Dou County.

As He Lingchuan's intelligence had indicated, while also a county seat, Dou County's area and population were less than 30% of Taoshui's. No high-ranking officials or prominent families had ever emerged from this obscure, minor county. Even the wealthiest local household had only managed to construct a ten-foot-tall gate tower.

The Yao King's birthday celebration was approaching. Ordinarily, officials, merchants, and transport teams en route to the capital would not typically pass through Dou County. Dou County was certainly not their first choice. Yet, when He Lingchuan's party sought accommodation in Dou County, they found that two or three inns were surprisingly all fully booked!

Fan Shuang was greatly surprised. “Goodness, why are there so many people in Dou County recently?”

He Lingchuan's heart stirred. “Is it not usually like this?”

“Uh, it's usually very quiet here,” Fan Shuang replied. They happened to be passing a bustling eatery, packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people. Fan Shuang repeatedly apologized for the inadequate arrangements and then prepared to use his connections to secure a superior room for He Lingchuan at the best local inn. As for the other members of the Yangshan Merchant Association, they would have to stay at different inns.

“There's no need, truly no need,” He Lingchuan refused promptly, clearly without false modesty. “When traveling, one shouldn't be so particular. Just find me a clean inn. I prefer to stay with my men, and a slightly secluded location is perfectly fine.”

Not staying together would impede their operations. He insisted, and Fan Shuang had no choice but to comply, eventually finding a quiet lodging on the outskirts of the county town. The inn was clean and spacious, though its location was somewhat secluded. This, however, was precisely what He Lingchuan and his group desired. Fewer onlookers meant better freedom of action. A bustling place like Dou County, with its current comings and goings, was no longer a suitable location for covert operations.

For this operation, He Lingchuan brought Wang Fubao and over a dozen Yangshan warriors with him. Accompanying them were Fan Shuang and his retinue, as well as six palace guards specifically dispatched by the Yao King for He Lingchuan's protection! He Lingchuan's journey to the Yao capital was expected to be relatively safe, provided no unexpected complications arose. Thus, the Yao King had only symbolically assigned a few guards to him. Both parties understood that the real trouble would only begin once he met Qingyang. Meanwhile, Wan Si Feng led his subordinates to discreetly patrol the surrounding areas, secretly gathering intelligence and tracking Xue Zongwu on He Lingchuan's behalf. Therefore, He Lingchuan had effectively brought two teams on this expedition: one overt and one covert.

After having dinner with Fan Shuang and returning to his private courtyard, He Lingchuan's expression turned solemn. He had an ominous premonition.

Before nightfall, Wang Fubao entered and quietly handed He Lingchuan a note. “Intelligence from Wan Si Feng,” he whispered.

He Lingchuan read it in a few quick glances, his face turning grim.

Dong Rui's heart sank. “What happened?” he asked.

“Xue Zongwu didn't enter Taoshui; he bypassed it instead,” He Lingchuan said, pressing his knuckles. “It's not just Xue Zongwu; many high-ranking officials and nobles have also avoided Taoshui. Currently, Taoshui isn't even as bustling as Dou County.”

“Why is that?” Dong Rui wondered. “Didn't you say these powerful figures were supposed to visit the Feng family in Taoshui to foster connections?”

“The Feng family has also closed its doors to visitors,” He Lingchuan explained. Wan Si Feng had specifically reconnoitered the area around the Feng residence and found few carriages or horses, the family's main gate tightly shut, and hardly any visitors. “It appears there have been some significant changes in Taoshui.”

This disrupted He Lingchuan's plans. Since Xue Zongwu hadn't even entered Taoshui, their original ambush plan naturally fell through. Plan A had failed before it even began.

He Lingchuan would not give up easily. “We'll have to press on starting tomorrow,” he stated. “Our pace is a bit slow with Fan Shuang accompanying us.” However, they couldn't simply abandon Fan Shuang and the Yao King's palace guards.

Dong Rui suggested, “Where will Xue Zongwu's next stop be? After missing Taoshui, they'll surely need to find somewhere to lodge.”

“This is troublesome,” He Lingchuan said, stroking his chin. “They abandoned Taoshui and turned northeast. I fear they're heading to a ferry crossing to travel by boat!”

“Should we go there too?”

“We were going there anyway,” He Lingchuan replied. “Traveling by boat is the least strenuous.”

That same night, the eyeball spider He Lingchuan had secretly placed on Fan Shuang also transmitted information.

Changes at the Feng family in Taoshui: The Grand Overseer formally impeached Left Prime Minister Feng Zhairao in court, accusing him of accepting massive bribes and engaging in factionalism for personal gain!

It was rare for officials to be entirely incorruptible, especially in the wealthy Yao Kingdom, where even small bribes were not considered significant enough to warrant attention. However, the sum Left Prime Minister Feng Zhairao was accused of receiving was substantial: over four million taels of silver. When this figure of four billion coins was announced, the citizens of the Yao Kingdom's capital were incensed. Commoners couldn't earn that much money in ten lifetimes. Furthermore, the 'over' in 'over four million taels' was still under further investigation; no one had the authority to round down the figure.

Naturally, the populace's attention was fixated on the enormous bribe amount. However, He Lingchuan and Qingyang's focus was on the phrase 'engaging in factionalism for personal gain.' While corruption was certainly deplorable, it was those four words that truly touched upon the monarch's deepest taboos.

This matter had only just broken, less than seven days prior. While common folk in remote towns had yet to hear of it, the upper nobility was already fully aware. Fan Shuang, having been on an overseas mission for too long, was greatly startled when he inquired about it that evening. No wonder everyone was hesitant to go to Taoshui; it was to avoid suspicion during this highly sensitive period, lest they be seen as 'associates' of the Feng family. Xue Zongwu, of course, would also avoid it. With Qingyang closely watching him in the royal court, he certainly wouldn't want to become entangled in scandal at such a time.

The Baiquan River, Longkou Ferry.

From a high vantage point, the ferry resembled a wide-open dragon's mouth, complete with visible whiskers and teeth, thus earning its name.

The Weng brothers stood on the mountainside, gazing down at the myriad sails below, momentarily stunned.

“This many boats?”

At Longkou Ferry, sails dotted the waters like banners, and boats constantly came and went. There were dozens of large vessels alone, and no fewer than two hundred smaller ones.

“We just crossed this ferry three months ago, and there were, at most, five or six boats then, right?” Weng Xing murmured. “What happened? Did Xue Zongwu's decision to come here make all the other officials and nobles decide to join the crowd?”

“I don't know what happened in Taoshui; they've all stopped going there and are now crowding here to take boats,” Weng Su said, his brow furrowing. “This is a problem, so many people!”

The nobles traveling to the capital, instead of going to Taoshui, had all diverted to Longkou Ferry.