At the beginning of the morning hour, the mist had yet to disperse from Tianjin's docks. A pale sun hung above the mastheads, casting glittering light across the river, yet the air carried a chill that seeped into the bones.
Qin Geng rose early and first found Zhou Dawei drinking fermented mung bean juice at a roadside tea stall.
Zhou Dawei had left his official robes behind today. Dressed in a short tunic, he looked no different from an ordinary martial artist and was arguing with the stallkeeper that the fried dough rings hadn't been cooked long enough.
Seeing Qin Geng approach, he pushed his bowl away and wiped his mouth.
"Fifth Master, out this early?"
Qin Geng remained standing beside the table and lowered his voice. "Chief Banner Officer Zhou, there's something I need to let you know. I gave Li Gou my Customs Bureau Truth-Hearing Guard badge yesterday."
Zhou Dawei raised his eyebrows but asked no questions. He merely nodded. "I've met that lad. Sharp fellow, cut out for working the streets. Since you picked him personally, Fifth Master, I'll accept him. I'll put his name on the roster later, but you'll have to make sure he follows the Truth-Hearing Guard's rules."
"Don't worry. I've taught him all the rules."
Qin Geng paused, then added, "But as for the work on the river, the River-Blocking Guard's duties, I can't be everywhere at once right now, and I don't have anyone suitable to take over yet."
Zhou Dawei waved a hand, looking utterly unconcerned. "That's nothing. The Wave-Quelling Bureau has plenty of idle men. I'll transfer two
company officers to keep watch over your stretch for now. Your standing is different these days. The Underground River Department is officially designated a critical area. Making you personally patrol the river