Ling Shuo's Patrol Inspector Cousin

The boat set off again, stopped overnight at Hanzhuang, and reached Taizhuang at dusk on the third day.

Liang Family Jiajun stood on the dock, watching Scarface and his two companions carry their chest away. He said quietly to Gu Zhengchen beside him, "They've left, and there was no robbery along the way. Perhaps we were worrying over nothing. If you're still uneasy, we can change boats here. But if we've really been targeted by the Horse Thieves, changing boats won't help."

Gu Zhengchen watched the three departing men intently, doubt in his eyes. Would wolves go out hunting, catch nothing, and simply retreat?

"Let's leave it at that. Perhaps we misjudged them."

Gu Zhengchen replied softly.

"Come, let's take a walk ashore. These past few days aboard have been truly exhausting."

Liang Family Jiajun extended a hand in invitation.

Gu Zhengchen glanced back at Sun Shiba and gave him a meaningful look, then followed Liang Family Jiajun ashore.

Taizhuang could hardly be called prosperous, but it was quite lively. Merchants traveling north and south stopped here to rest, and many stockpiled goods here to facilitate shipments in both directions.

A closer look revealed that medicinal herbs, silk, and grain dominated the trade. Neither Gu Zhengchen nor Liang Family Jiajun needed any of those, but an antiques shop kept Gu Zhengchen lingering for a long while.

These things, counterfeit or not, would all be genuine antiques if I took them back to the future...

Unfortunately, there's no going back.

Once they returned to the boat, Liang Family Jiajun went to rest in the cabin. Sun Shiba sought out Gu Zhengchen. "Those three took their chest to an inn."

"An inn?"

Gu Zhengchen was somewhat surprised. "Just the three of them?"

Sun Shiba nodded, looking relaxed. "Just the three. One of them was holding the chest. Perhaps these people used to be Horse Thieves and have now become law-abiding subjects."

Gu Zhengchen frowned slightly and asked quietly, "Is that what you think too?"

Just then, the boat lurched violently.

A loud shout followed. "Patrol Office inspection! Nobody move!"

Gu Zhengchen turned to look and saw a fierce-looking soldier enter, clad in armor, one hand resting on the saber at his waist. Behind him came two soldiers carrying spears, with bows and arrows on their backs.

Boatman Wang hurried forward to greet him. "Patrol Officer Ling, sir, what brings you here in person today?"

Patrol Inspector Ling Yan weighed what Boatman Wang slipped into his hand, and a smile appeared on his face. He waved his hand and said sternly, "Boatman Wang, inspecting travelers and apprehending thieves are the duties of the Patrol Office. We aren't trying to make things difficult for you. A month ago, the Salt Rebels disturbed the peace around Yangzhou. Prefectures and counties everywhere have issued strict orders for thorough inspections, to prevent criminals from boarding boats and harming the people."

"Well..."

Boatman Wang looked troubled.

Ling Yan said quietly, "We don't care how much contraband you're carrying, but we still have to inspect the traveling merchants' baggage. If something happens because I failed to inspect properly, I can't bear that responsibility."

"All right. Since it's your duty, go ahead and search."

Boatman Wang agreed with a cheerful smile.

Ling Yan nodded slightly and approached a family of three. "Where is your baggage?"

The man nervously took the bundle off his shoulder. A soldier opened it and found only some clothes, coarse steamed buns, and twenty-odd copper coins. He casually took half the coins, then stood up. "Nothing wrong here."

"Sir, that's the money keeping our family alive..."

The man pleaded.

The soldier lowered his head, his expression cold and vicious. "Say one more word, and I won't leave you a single coin."

The man slumped back down.

"Monk, where is your baggage?"

The monk looked up at the soldier, then continued turning his prayer beads. "The people provide me with food and clothing. Why would I need baggage when I travel? With these prayer beads, this alms bowl, and this staff alone, I can journey north and south, east and west."

Feeling slighted, the soldier flared up. "You bald ass..."

"Enough! Show the monk respect!"

Ling Yan stopped him.

At the sight, Gu Zhengchen narrowed his eyes slightly.

Old Zhu had once become a monk at the Imperial Enlightenment Temple. Whether he had actually shaved his head was beside the point; the temple had fed him, and that was an indisputable fact.

In the First Year of Hongwu, Old Zhu had founded the Benevolence and World Academy and appointed the monk Huitan to oversee Buddhist affairs.

In the six years since the dynasty's founding, Old Zhu had largely continued the Yuan Dynasty's policies toward Buddhism. He had not only held grand religious assemblies and issued edicts inviting eminent Buddhist monks to preach, but also built temples extensively and recruited monks.

Favoring Buddhism had been a fundamental policy throughout these early years of the dynasty. That policy would not change until the fourteenth year of Hongwu.

For now, monks enjoyed high status. Even these low-ranking Patrol Office men, who squeezed people for everything they could, did not dare offend them lightly.

In Gu Zhengchen's view, Old Zhu's attitude toward Buddhism was a classic case of crossing the river and tearing down the bridge.

His current support for Buddhism used the Buddha to steady the people's hearts. If everyone believed they were meant to suffer in this life and enter paradise after death, who would oppose the court's rule? Once the court had stabilized the realm, Old Zhu would no longer need Shakyamuni to ferry the people of the Great Ming to salvation.

Thus spoke Old Zhu the Buddha: my subjects are mine to ferry across.

Ling Yan looked at Gu Zhengchen and walked over. "Where is your baggage?"

Gu Zhengchen raised a hand to stop Gu Cheng from speaking, then pointed toward the cabin. "Inside."

"Search!"

At Ling Yan's command, the door opened.

Liang Family Jiajun frowned at the men entering, while Gu Zhengchen looked up at the ceiling.

"Inspector, we've found something!"

A soldier produced a kitchen cleaver.

Ling Yan took the cleaver and looked at Gu Zhengchen and Liang Family Jiajun. "What is this?"

"For cutting vegetables," Gu Zhengchen said calmly.

"There-there's another one."

The soldier had made another discovery.

Ling Yan's face darkened. "And how do you explain this one?"

Gu Zhengchen looked at Liang Family Jiajun, who shook his head without speaking. Gu Zhengchen had no choice but to explain, "For crushing garlic. You should know that some kitchen cleavers can cut vegetables but can't crush garlic..."

"You!"

Ling Yan seethed.

"Inspector, there are two more here!"

Looking at the four kitchen cleavers before him, Ling Yan glared viciously at Gu Zhengchen. "I say you're carrying weapons with the intent to assault and rob! Men, arrest-"

Gu Zhengchen produced an official document from the Ministry of Personnel. "You're a patrol inspector, correct? We're away from home and bought a few kitchen cleavers as local souvenirs. That doesn't violate the Great Ming Code, does it?"

"An-an official?"

Ling Yan's expression shifted slightly, and he hurriedly said, "No, it doesn't."

Whatever office the man held, anyone with an official document from the Ministry of Personnel was certainly above a Subordinate Ninth Rank patrol inspector. These men were probably heading to the capital on business. If they wrote an account of this and sent it to the Ministry of Personnel, his prospects would be ruined. Worse still, he might implicate his older cousin, Ling Shuo.

Ling Shuo had written several times, warning him not to cause trouble under any circumstances. The atmosphere at court was very wrong lately...

"Sir, we were merely carrying out a routine inspection. Ha-ha. Since everything is in order, we won't trouble you further."

Ling Yan cupped his hands and turned to leave.

Gu Zhengchen followed him. "Patrol Officer Ling, let me see you off."

Ling Yan almost wanted to jump into the river. Has he set his sights on me? What am I supposed to do?

"Inspector, might I have a word with you in private?"

Gu Zhengchen smiled.

Ling Yan secretly gritted his teeth. He's after a payoff. Damn corrupt official!

Gu Zhengchen and Ling Yan walked to a secluded stretch of riverbank. Watching lamps being lit aboard the boat, Gu Zhengchen said, "Patrol Officer Ling, would you like to earn merit and make the court see you in a new light?"