Tantai and Mieming Are Two People

The boat rocked gently with the waves in the night.

Liang Family Jiajun looked at Gu Zhengchen, who showed no sign of sleepiness, and asked, "What did you talk about with the patrol inspector?"

Gu Zhengchen sat down, took an apple from the basket and handed it to Liang Family Jiajun, then took another and bit into it. He could not help frowning. "Still a little sour and astringent. I asked the patrol inspector for some information. It's just as you said: the Horse Thieves generally target merchants and ordinary people, not officials. Brother Liang, I heard the Patrol Office has rather extensive powers. Is that true?"

Liang Family Jiajun took a bite of his apple, clearly enjoying it. "The Patrol Office doesn't have particularly extensive powers, but it certainly throws its weight around locally. Its posts are mostly set up at important checkpoints and ferry crossings, choke points for travelers. Any excuse will do to skim something off the top."

Gu Zhengchen looked at the apple in his hand, still green-skinned and so sour and astringent. How can you eat it so comfortably? "I've certainly seen them throw their weight around. I just haven't seen what they're capable of."

Liang Family Jiajun smiled. "Although the Patrol Office handles military defense, at the end of the day, these men are bowmen conscripted from among the farmers. They answer to the prefectures and counties, not the Dadu Commander’s Office. How capable could they be? At most, they can deal with thieves, displaced people, and escaped prisoners."

Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly as he chewed his apple. "With them patrolling the checkpoints and crossings, we can rest much easier. I hope we reach the Capital soon so we can settle in."

As the two talked, night deepened without their noticing, and they each retired to rest.

Before dawn, the boatmen were already banging and clattering about, preparing to set sail.

Gu Zhengchen stepped out of his cabin and looked toward the bow. The monk was talking to the boat owner, while the doors to the other cabins remained tightly shut. Their occupants seemed to be asleep still.

Sun Shiba yawned, sat down beside Gu Zhengchen, and said quietly, "You were right. They boarded again in the middle of the night, and now they're all resting in their cabin. They only went ashore to avoid being questioned by the Patrol Office."

"Did you see a fourth man?"

"No, but three merchants arrived one after another during the night, bringing six assistants and quite a lot of luggage."

"Understood. Go get some rest."

Gu Zhengchen sent Sun Shiba off to sleep for a while, then fixed his gaze on the monk at the bow.

Do monks not need to sleep? Whenever I open my eyes, he seems to be awake, and in pretty good spirits, too.

The boat set off, and the passenger cabin grew lively again.

There was a scholar in a long Confucian robe, with a young woman beside him.

The scholar spoke with easy confidence, winning a radiant smile from the woman. "During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a student named Tantai who wished to study under Confucius. But Confucius refused to accept him as a disciple because he was ugly. Later, Tantai traveled south to study in Wu, where he met a man called Mieming. He studied under Mieming and eventually had three hundred disciples..."

"What does that tell us? It tells us that even without Confucius's appreciation, Tantai could still take Mieming as his teacher and achieve great things. This time, I'm traveling to the Capital to take up an official appointment. Although I won't be able to remain there in service and can only become a lowly county magistrate, rest assured, Qiao Niang. Like Tantai, I can accomplish great things!"

Gu Zhengchen raised a hand to his forehead. This fellow really is something...

The monk seemed unable to stomach it and spoke up. "May I ask, young master, is Tantai Mieming one person or two?"

The scholar glanced at the monk. "Two, of course."

The monk asked again, "Then are Yao and Shun one person or two?"

The scholar chuckled. "One, of course."

At that, the monk shook his head, returned to his original spot, and sat down.

Gu Zhengchen glanced at the scholar and sighed inwardly.

Ancient times were not so different from the future. People with only a smattering of knowledge still dared to hold forth with perfect confidence. Most tragically, they thought they knew everything and were absolutely right. Some even became experts, and in their eyes, everyone else was a fool.

Unaware of how ridiculous and laughable they were, they clamored for attention like barking dogs. Still, they did bring a fair amount of amusement to the journey.

The boat picked up considerable speed. After stopping for a night at a ferry landing outside Pi County, they set off again before dawn. This time, Boatman Wang had clearly lost the ease he had displayed over the past few days. The boatmen no longer took turns resting, either; four worked at the front and four at the rear.

Heading south, they had reached Luoma Lake.

Beyond the sixty-li stretch of Luoma Lake lay Suqian.

Gu Zhengchen gazed across the vast lake, deep worry showing in his eyes.

Maling Mountain stood east of Luoma Lake, with long embankments to the north and south. The waters here were calm, and great swathes of Reed Marsh lay not far away. Boats and men hidden in there would be very difficult to spot.

The scholar came out, looked at the distant Reed Marsh, and pointed it out to the woman who had followed him. "I've heard that the Horse Thieves used to hide in the Reed Marsh and rob passing boats. If I governed this place, I would burn all the reeds in one great blaze, leaving the Horse Thieves nowhere to hide and restoring peace to these waters!"

The woman gazed at the scholar with lovestruck admiration. "I always knew you were a capable man, husband."

"Idiot."

Boatman Wang muttered the word under his breath.

Feeling insulted, the scholar glared at him. "Who are you calling names? I am a county magistrate selected by the court through the recommendation system! Insolence toward me is disrespect toward the court. Watch yourself, or I'll have you punished!"

Boatman Wang ignored him completely. Who cares where you're a magistrate? You boarded in Shandong, so you obviously won't be serving as a local official in Shandong. Shout all you like—you have no authority over me.

Burn the Reed Marsh? Has the court run out of talent to choose from?

To think they selected an idiot like this!

How many people around Luoma Lake depend on these reeds to survive? Burn them all, and the Horse Thieves might stop coming, but the ordinary people won't be able to live either.

Reeds had many uses. They could be woven into mats, twisted into ropes, used for roofing and curtains, or made into candlewicks. They could even be woven into rafts for fishing.

Reeds were also medicinal. Their stems and roots could clear heat, promote the production of bodily fluids, relieve agitation, and stop vomiting.

When the boat reached the middle of Luoma Lake, boats were visible both ahead and behind, which eased Gu Zhengchen's mind a little.

Suddenly.

A gust swept across the lake, and Gu Zhengchen felt a sinister chill.

A cabin door opened.

Scarface rubbed his wrist. The two men with missing fingers followed him, and together they carried three chests into the middle of the passenger cabin. Under everyone's bewildered gazes, they opened the chests and took out blades wrapped in clothing.

Everyone's faces changed, and cries of alarm rang out.

Sun Shiba pulled Gu Zhengchen back and signaled to Gu Cheng with a glance. Gu Cheng immediately turned and went back into the cabin.

Holding a gleaming saber in his right hand, Scarface shook a bell with his left. He looked at the panicked passengers, who had nowhere to run, and chuckled, revealing yellowed teeth. "We brothers are bandits. We only want money, not lives. But if anyone doesn't know what's good for him, I don't mind sending him overboard! Put all your money and valuables in the chests. Now!"

Watching this unfold, Gu Zhengchen wondered, How come this isn't like what's written in Water Margin? Aren't you supposed to ask something like, "Now we're in midstream, tell me whether you want broad-blade noodles or wontons"?

Just robbing people outright, without recruiting them into your gang? Then you're finished. If you don't know the routine, how will you grow big and strong and reach new heights of glory...?