Wang Cong scratched his head. "It's, it's nothing. A mighty dragon cannot suppress a local snake, and I'm not even a mighty dragon—just a little snake from out of town. I definitely can't suppress the local snakes here."
He said, "The moment our merchant ship arrived at Guangzhou Harbor, it was impounded. We could leave, but the ship and its cargo were gone."
Pan Yun said, "The ship was gone, and you planned to keep carrying this alone without telling me?"
Wang Cong said, "If I can't get it back in the end, of course I'll ask Junior Martial Uncle for help. But wasn't I still trying?"
Pan Yun asked, "Have you found out which faction they belong to?"
Wang Cong immediately braced himself against the table and leaned closer, lowering his voice. "After making inquiries from every direction, I found that the Guangzhou Prefecture Thousand-Household Office took the lead. It was the Regional Military Commission's intention. If we want the ship back, Commander Cao or one of his trusted aides will probably have to speak."
Pan Yun asked, "What about the cargo?"
"Oh, my Junior Martial Uncle, if I were still thinking about the cargo at a time like this, I'd be a fool. The cargo aboard will definitely be presented to those above. We'll be lucky if we can keep the ship."
Pan Yun tapped his forehead. "Look at how timid you are. Your Junior Martial Uncle is the National Preceptor. You had such courage at sea and in Japan—why are you such a coward here? You weren't this timid in South of the Yangtze either."
Wang Cong said, "I'm merely recognizing the times, for only a wise man submits to circumstances. In South of the Yangtze, the local gentry take the lead. Either they mingle in officialdom