Talking on the Road Stirred Up Trouble

Affected by the unrest in various regions, half the waterways leading from Caoshu Prefecture in every direction had fallen into paralysis. Every port was packed with despairing travelers and merchants.

Even so, ships still streamed endlessly along the great rivers, and the cargo passing through every dock could only be described as a sea of goods.

At Zhou Nanwang's command, a luxurious large ship was assigned to serve as their transport to Dijing.

This great vessel was the painstaking masterpiece of the Craftsmen Guilds' Grand Artisans. No matter how treacherous the waterways, it traveled smoothly; even a carriage on land jolted more than it did.

Its stores held vast quantities of vegetables and meat—ah, and clean drinking water.

It was rather ironic. The ship sailed on water, with boundless water stretching in every direction, yet not a drop of it could be drunk. Anyone who had traveled the waterways knew that ships large and small dumped filth and scrubbed chamber pots into the river day and night. The sour, refreshing flavor of that river water—tsk tsk!

There was no need for oil lamps or candles in the rooms. They were set with luminous pearls, making everything clear day or night, down to the finest detail. Even the carpets on the floor were woven from peacock feathers.

Zhou You thought it was far too extravagant, but several children of great clans traveling with him told him that, all things considered, this ship was still rather plain in its standards.

Once they reached Dijing and saw the Left Prefecture Zhou Family's extravagance, well, it was best to prepare himself mentally in advance.

The surging river flowed day and night without rest. Going downstream, they could travel a thousand li in a day, but the channels were not always clear. Pigs and sheep