Watertight plans, reading mountains and rivers

The mountains were emerald green, the water shimmering.

The oars sent spray flying, and ripples spread outward, like bashful girls hiding among the reeds, never to emerge again.

Liang Family Jiajun watched Gu Zhengchen laughing and chatting with Patrol Officer Ling and began to take this young man seriously for the first time.

He had thought Gu Zhengchen was merely an inexperienced provincial examination graduate who seized opportunities and curried favor. Now he saw that his father Liang Heng had good reason to regard him in a new light and praise him repeatedly. Not only did he possess strategic insight, he had a frightening ability to turn strategy into action!

He planned more than affairs and people.

He planned the entire game!

Liang Family Jiajun stepped forward and gave Gu Zhengchen, whose smile looked harmless to man and beast alike, a slight nod.

Gu Zhengchen introduced him to Ling Yan. "Patrol Officer Ling, this is Liang Family Jiajun. He is traveling to the Capital to take up a post as an assistant instructor at the Imperial Academy."

"My apologies for not recognizing you."

Ling Yan hurriedly cupped his hands.

Liang Family Jiajun returned the salute, thoroughly pleased with Gu Zhengchen's introduction.

In official circles, connections were immensely important.

An inspector might seem insignificant, but he could prove enormously helpful at a crucial moment. Connections were like a spiderweb; no one knew who stood at the far end of someone else's thread.

Whatever the case, making more friends and fewer enemies could never be wrong.

Ling Yan drew Gu Zhengchen to the bow, took some silver pieces from inside his robe, and offered them to him. "Brother Gu, please accept this as a small token of my gratitude."

Gu Zhengchen declined, his expression serious. "Brother Ling, the entire court knows how harshly the emperor punishes corruption. Do not drive me into a corner with no escape."

"Well..."

Ling Yan hesitated.

Gu Zhengchen glanced at the distant Reed Marsh and said gravely, "You cannot stay here any longer. You should leave as soon as possible."

Ling Yan put away the silver. "I will take my men back to Taizhuang at once."

Gu Zhengchen turned, his bright eyes fixed on Ling Yan. "You cannot return to Taizhuang. You must go to Suqian."

"What?"

Ling Yan looked surprised.

The Taizhuang Grand Canal Patrol Office fell under Yi County, Jining Prefecture, in Shandong Province. But this was Luoma Lake, under Suqian in Huai'an Prefecture. He had crossed jurisdictional boundaries to make arrests. If he quietly took the prisoners home and glossed over the location of the crime in his memorial, the matter would be settled.

Even if the court learned of it afterward, it would not hold him responsible. The emperor had issued an edict to Patrol Offices throughout the realm: "Those who capture armed bandits or deserters gathering to plunder, thereby freeing the people from harm, shall report their deeds for promotion." After all, Horse Thieves on the Grand Canal could flee. Surely officials could not simply watch them escape without giving chase.

Otherwise, would they not be accused of "turning their neighbor's land into a drainage ditch"? Huai'an Prefecture might angrily complain that their Shandong brothers lacked loyalty, refusing to fight the mounted bandits and driving them all into Huai'an instead...

But if they made a brazen show of it, beating gongs and drums until Huai'an Prefecture knew that a Shandong inspector had crossed the boundary to arrest criminals and claim a major achievement, what would Huai'an Prefecture think? What would Suqian County think?

What impressive inspectors you have in Shandong, coming here to kill Horse Thieves and win merit! By comparison, have we become wine sacks and rice bags, idlers drawing salaries for doing nothing?

While rewarding them, might the court send a few imperial envoys to Huai'an and Suqian to put things in order, hanging up a few heads to spur everyone on?

Ling Yan was no uncultured brute. As Investigating Censor Ling Shuo's younger paternal cousin, he had absorbed enough through constant exposure to understand these crucial points.

Gu Zhengchen understood Ling Yan's concerns. "Brother Ling, word of what happened aboard the boat will spread sooner or later. Suqian and Huai'an Prefecture will certainly hear of it."

"Would that not mean trouble?"

Ling Yan's expression darkened with worry.

Gu Zhengchen pointed south and said softly, "What if the Suqian Patrol Office had invited the Taizhuang Patrol Office to join forces against the Horse Thieves on the Grand Canal?"

Ling Shuo frowned. "You mean sharing the credit with Suqian?"

There were only fourteen Horse Thieves, barely enough credit to divide among his own men. If they shared it with Suqian, would they not have worked for nothing?

Gu Zhengchen rolled his eyes. "Brother Ling, what exactly are these men you arrested?"

"Horse Thieves."

"And their horses?"

"What horses-oh..."

Ling Yan's eyes widened. Good heavens, how did I forget that?

They were Horse Thieves, not river pirates.

What were Horse Thieves? Bandits with horses. After plundering boats, they did not remain on the water. They used horses to carry their loot away swiftly, escaping through low hills where government troops would struggle to pursue them.

Gu Zhengchen smiled. "The credit for these men belongs to you. Leave the rest to Suqian. That way, everyone benefits."

Admiring him, Ling Yan stepped back and solemnly cupped his hands. "Brother Gu, your integrity is as clear as a mirror, and your plans leave nothing uncovered. One day, you will surely enter the halls of high office. Allow me to congratulate you in advance!"

Gu Zhengchen smiled calmly.

Ling Yan acted swiftly. After interrogating the prisoners about the whereabouts of their contacts and hidden horses, he personally took two archers in a small boat to Suqian and persuaded its magistrate to act. The magistrate mobilized over fifty yamen runners and Patrol Office archers, who suddenly surrounded the Horse Thieves' hideout. After a chaotic battle, they captured twenty Horse Thieves and thirty-four horses.

The Suqian magistrate was thrilled and lavishly praised Patrol Officer Ling's "great righteousness."

The boat finally reached Suqian.

Seeing Gu Zhengchen come ashore, Ling Yan approached with a smile, remembering to kick one of his archers along the way. The fellow had no sense at all-did he not know to help carry the luggage?

One look at Ling Yan's expression told Gu Zhengchen that everything had been settled. As they exchanged pleasantries, the disembarking passengers all bowed and thanked Patrol Officer Ling and Gu Zhengchen.

Seeing no one nearby, Ling Yan said quietly, "If you encounter trouble in the Capital that you cannot resolve, you can seek out my elder paternal cousin. His name is Ling Shuo, and he is an investigating censor."

Gu Zhengchen's gaze sharpened. "Ling Shuo?"

The name was familiar, as though he had seen it somewhere.

He remembered!

One of Zhu Yuanzhang's four vicious hounds!

Those were not Gu Zhengchen's words, but Old Zhu's own: "These few men are like vicious hounds, and thus people fear them."

The four vicious hounds were Yang Xian, Ling Shuo, Gao Jianxian, and Xia Yu!

They all shared one identity:

Secret inspectors!

The formidable Embroidered Uniform Guard would not emerge until the fifteenth year of Hongwu. Before then, the secret inspectors had always been "charged specifically with observing and listening for misconduct, lawlessness, and rumors involving officials of all offices in the Capital, reporting everything to the throne." They were Zhu Yuanzhang's most important eyes and ears.

What puzzled Gu Zhengchen, however, was that Yang Xian had died in the third year of Hongwu. According to unofficial histories, not long after Yang Xian's death, Ling Shuo had followed him to drink Old Lady Meng's soup of oblivion.

Yet judging by Ling Yan's manner, Ling Shuo seemed to be alive.

Could those unofficial histories have misled me?

Gu Zhengchen saw Ling Yan off, repeatedly urging him not to mention him to anyone. Becoming entangled with investigating censors and secret inspectors was hardly a good thing.

Suqian was a vital waterway junction, far more prosperous than Xiacun or Taizhuang, with numerous boats moored there and countless merchants passing through.

Liang Family Jiajun was in high spirits. Pointing at Suqian's city walls, he said, "This was the site of the Zhongwu Kingdom's capital during the Eastern Zhou. Unfortunately, it was a small kingdom with few people, and Sun Wu and Wu Zixu destroyed it."

Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly, then thought of something. "Few people know the name of the Zhongwu Kingdom. But mention the Chu Overlord and the beauty Yu Ji, and surely everyone knows them."

Liang Family Jiajun seemed well versed in geography and spoke at length. "The Chu Overlord's homeland is a place whose splendid land nurtures outstanding people. Dongyu Mountain lies to the north, the great Si River to the south, the Sui River to the southeast, and Luoma Lake to the northwest..."

He was not showing off his knowledge, but teaching Gu Zhengchen how to read mountains and rivers.

Gu Zhengchen understood his intention and humbly sought his guidance.

Reading mountains and rivers was essential work for any local official.

What mountains, rivers, and lakes lay within the jurisdiction, where the mountains stood, which way the water flowed, how far the waters rose in summer and fell in winter-all of it concerned the people's livelihood and local administration.

The essence of "reading ten thousand books is no match for traveling ten thousand miles" lay in observing mountains and rivers and investigating local customs.

Those who practiced the later era's "special-forces tourism" probably felt the breeze and saw the sights, but had no time to ponder the geography, mountains, and rivers, much less learn local customs or experience local culture.

They checked into an inn and ordered some food and wine.

Looking at Gu Zhengchen, Liang Family Jiajun asked, "Something has been puzzling me. When the Horse Thieves were searching the boat, why did you not have Patrol Officer Ling come forward? Instead, you let them take the loot before attacking. Were you not afraid they would move quickly, slip into the Reed Marsh, and disappear?"

Gu Zhengchen poured a cup of wine and handed it to Liang Family Jiajun. "The cabin was long and narrow, leaving little room to advance, retreat, or maneuver. There were also too many people for a fight. If Patrol Officer Ling and his men had revealed themselves early, do you think the seven of them could have defeated the Horse Thieves?"

"They were merely militia, not soldiers seasoned by a hundred battles. They had little fighting ability. They were suited to shooting arrows from a distance, not close combat. If driven into a corner, the Horse Thieves might have seized us as hostages. Would Patrol Officer Ling attack then or not? You saw their archery..."

The corner of Liang Family Jiajun's mouth twitched.

With Patrol Officer Ling and his men's archery, whoever became a hostage would die first...

"But if they had escaped, our luggage would truly have been lost. Never mind staying at an inn-even reaching the Capital to take up our posts would have been a serious problem."

Liang Family Jiajun still felt shaken.

Gu Zhengchen frowned slightly. Was this Liang Family Jiajun's flaw?

He seemed unconcerned about whether others were robbed or killed. He cared only that he himself was not robbed and suffered no losses!

Knock, knock. "Master, something has happened."

Gu Cheng knocked and called out.

"Come in and tell me."

Watching Gu Cheng enter, Gu Zhengchen asked, "What is it?"

Gu Cheng pointed outside the inn, his expression somewhat awkward. "I just encountered a woman begging at the entrance. She looked like Zhang."

"Which Zhang?"

Liang Family Jiajun looked puzzled.

Gu Cheng looked at Gu Zhengchen without speaking.

Gu Zhengchen set down his chopsticks and said in surprise, "You mean Zhang Shiping's wife, Zhao Ya'er, the young lady of the Zhao Family? They departed half a month before us. How could she be in Suqian? Could you have mistaken her?"

Gu Cheng was unsure. "I have only seen Zhang once, from a distance, so I cannot be certain. But she was alone. There was no sign of Vice Minister Zhang or their servants. Would you like to take a look, master?"

Gu Zhengchen looked toward Liang Family Jiajun.

Liang Family Jiajun looked worried. "Let us go and see. If it really is her, we cannot stand by and do nothing."

Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly, rose, and went outside. Liang Family Jiajun and the others followed.

Gu Cheng led the way. The woman was no longer at the entrance, so they asked around and followed her trail into an alley. Gu Zhengchen stopped abruptly. A short distance away crouched a young woman in ragged clothes, her hair disheveled and her face covered in grime and dust. Beside her sat only a shabby, broken bowl.

When the woman recognized those approaching, tears burst from her eyes, as though she had endured countless wrongs. They rolled down her face, carving two clear tracks, accompanied by a voice so faint it was almost inaudible. "Gu Zhengchen..."