Just as Zhang Xing ran into a wall in his eagerness to advance, Eastern Capital City, which had been shut down for days by summer rain and searches, rapidly came back to life. Indeed, its brief silence seemed to have unleashed even greater vitality.
Heaven Street was packed with people, and everyone within the wards hurried to and fro.
From the northern, southern, and Western Markets to the Luo River and Gentlemanly Ward, the scene even took on something of the splendor of a flourishing age.
Just as Zhang Xing had thought back in Zhengping Ward, Eastern Capital City was destined to swallow everything and digest it.
The reason for this was actually very straightforward. To be specific, this city, possibly the largest in the world, also possessed the greatest purchasing power, the most plentiful labor supply, the cheapest agricultural produce in the world, and, on top of that, what might have been the world's largest established market for handicrafts and luxury goods.
The imperial palace, the powerful nobility, government officials, and the army enjoyed the tax revenues of almost the entire world. They had plenty of money, and they needed luxuries and personal services. Meanwhile, Eastern Capital City's million-plus urban residents provided ample labor. At the same time, the nearby Luokou Granary could send grain and cloth collected as taxes down the Luo River into the city whenever necessary, then dump them on the market at the lowest prices.
That alone was essentially enough to bring the city to life.
But that was not all. Imperial mandates and established patterns of consumption had also designated this city as the trading center for the entire country's high-end commerce.
With everything in place, it seemed that nothing short of military upheaval or administrative orders could really stop this prosperity from continuing.
"A hundred and forty taels?"
Inside Tongtuo Ward, Zhang Xing stared at the painting before him, momentarily exasperated, yet earnest in his challenge. "Why don't you just rob someone?"
The shopkeeper eyed the Embroidered-Mouth Saber at his waist and at least refrained from swearing at him, merely humoring him patiently. "Sir, you get what you pay for. This is an authentic work by a renowned painter from Lord White Emperor's time. It's been hanging here as our shop's showpiece, as everyone knows, and it's always been two hundred taels. Silver has risen in value lately, so a hundred and forty is already very fair."
"Don't try to fool me." Zhang Xing shook his head. "In good times, paintings and calligraphy naturally fetch high prices. In bad times, only gold and silver count as money... how can silver rise in value without paintings falling in price?"
The shopkeeper fell silent for a moment, then asked, "What would you consider a fair price, sir?"
"Half." Zhang Xing named his price without hesitation. "Eighty taels is all I have. If I spend seventy on this painting, I'll still have to scrape together a few other things before I can present a gift to my superior."
"You must be joking, sir," the shopkeeper replied helplessly. "Seventy taels is far too little."
"Seventy taels is no small sum." Zhang Xing made another effort to persuade him. "By your own account, this painting has sat here for years. It's about time you turned it into silver."
"If you'd offered seventy taels a few days ago, when it was raining and people were being arrested, I really would have sold it." The shopkeeper shook his head and carefully rolled up the painting, yet wore a faint smile. "But now, perhaps we'll weather the storm after all, won't we? Let's wait a little. A hundred taels is my lowest price."
Zhang Xing shook his head and reluctantly turned to leave. Even he had to admit that the situation seemed to have improved greatly-indeed, beyond his comprehension. His Intendant's influence over the sovereign far exceeded anything he had imagined.
Even so, he still did not believe that the sovereign, previously so obsessed with his personal authority, would simply settle down.
With these thoughts, Zhang Xing had already left the shop. Rather than trying to buy any more paintings or calligraphy, he dutifully searched through several bookshops, gathering a few novels, poetry collections, unofficial histories, beginner's copybooks, brushes, ink, paper, an inkstone, and little books. They filled a small basket, which he carried in his arms as he left the ward.
Upon reaching Heaven Street, he saw red hair ribbons for sale beneath a covered walkway. His mischievous streak resurfaced, and he bought two feet of red ribbon for "Yue Niang" before returning to Chengfu Ward.
Unexpectedly, as he approached his front door, he found a handcart parked outside and could not help growing tense.
But when he came closer and saw that it was a small, old cart loaded with clean split firewood, pulled by an elderly peasant in plain clothes with a dust-covered face, he relaxed again.
"Delivering firewood?" Zhang Xing asked curiously, holding his basket. "Why have you stopped outside my house?"
The old man had been sitting on the ground. At these words, he hurriedly stood and tried to explain, but he clearly had trouble speaking fluently. Only after listening for quite some time did Zhang Xing understand. "You mean you used to deliver firewood to this house before the rain... but now no one answers when you knock?"
The old peasant nodded repeatedly.
"Open the door," Zhang Xing called into the courtyard.
The next moment, Yue Niang did indeed slip out with her head lowered and a kerchief wrapped around it, reaching out to take the basket.
"Do we still have firewood?" With his hands free, Zhang Xing stood on the threshold and asked.
"Yes. It's all out drying!" Yue Niang answered with her head lowered, then carried the things straight inside.
Hearing this, the old peasant looked helpless, but could only get up and prepare to pull his cart away.
"Never mind."
Seeing how travel-worn, exhausted, and old the peasant was, Zhang Xing felt a little pity. "How much for this cartload?"
The old peasant immediately brightened and hurried to explain, though he truly was inarticulate. He seemed to say a great deal about difficult roads, being extorted when entering the city, and how hard it was to keep firewood dry on wet ground before finally naming a price.
"It used to be ten coins a bundle, and now you want eleven?" Zhang Xing more or less understood. But seeing how nervous the man was, terrified he would refuse to buy, he sighed inwardly.
Clearly, he had remembered how seventy taels of silver had not been enough to buy a single painting just now. Besides, the two horses in his own backyard seemed to be worth one or two hundred strings of cash. In the end, he could not bring himself to refuse and simply nodded.
The old peasant grew even more delighted and volunteered to carry the firewood into the backyard. The final tally came to eight bundles of dry firewood, totaling eighty-eight coins.
Without saying much, Zhang Xing merely had Yue Niang count out a hundred coins. He also instructed the old peasant to make a delivery every ten days from now on, half firewood and half fodder: wood for lighting fires and cooking, and fodder for the Yellow-Brown Horse.
Naturally, the old peasant left pulling his cart and thanking him a thousand times over.
But immediately afterward, Yue Niang came out again.
"How much did the red ribbon cost?"
"Ten coins." Zhang Xing paused.
"You overpaid," Yue Niang declared confidently. "Two feet usually costs six coins. They saw you were a man who didn't know the price and deliberately cheated you."
Zhang Xing nodded without saying anything, merely taking a new novel from the table in the main room and sitting in the courtyard to read.
A little while later, Yue Niang actually came out again. "Even if you felt sorry for that old wood seller, you shouldn't have given him a hundred coins... ten coins has been the market price for years. He only raised it to eleven because he saw you weren't short of money."
Zhang Xing nodded repeatedly, but kept reading.
Thoroughly discouraged, Yue Niang could only turn back inside, first dutifully bringing out lunch, then going off to practice writing by herself... only that evening, after Qin Bao returned from his shift, did the courtyard grow a little livelier.
"Oh, Brother Zhang."
Inside the main room, Qin Bao had just picked up his rice bowl when he remembered something, his face lighting up. "Xiao Wu, who was wounded in Zhengping Ward, has returned to duty."
"Oh, that's good." Reading as he ate, Zhang Xing nodded and spoke the plain truth.
"The inspector says everyone worked hard before, and now that we're all back, we might as well go enjoy ourselves in Gentlemanly Ward tomorrow night." Perhaps because Yue Niang was beside them, Qin Bao looked a little embarrassed as he held his bowl, but ultimately could not conceal his excitement. "They all say we'll probably visit Du Zhi Han this time... because the inspector seems to be on better terms with her."
"Our inspector certainly has a wide circle of friends, doesn't she?" Zhang Xing finally showed a little interest, but soon returned to his book.
"Don't you want to go, Brother?" Qin Bao looked increasingly sheepish.
"In books dwell beauties with faces of jade; in books stand houses made of gold." Zhang Xing sighed softly. "I've been thoroughly enjoying following these stories lately, so I really haven't much interest in visiting Gentlemanly Ward. But we won't be paying anyway, and we can hardly make our superior lose face... I'll go. Why wouldn't I?"
Yue Niang, wearing her red hair ribbon, raised her head and seemed about to speak, but in the end could only lower it and continue eating.
The following day, the sky grew brighter still, and gusts of warm wind swept away the morning mist. It was Zhang Xing's turn on duty, so after breakfast he set out early for the island with a new novel, ready to begin another day of the dull, happy existence he had enjoyed ever since the rain ended.
Somewhat unexpectedly, however, Bai Yousi, who was responsible for assigning their tasks, emerged from the Black Tower rather late that day.
Moreover, when she reached them, her expression was visibly unpleasant.
The few subordinates on duty grew nervous at once. Zhang Xing alone kept his head down over his book, pretending not to notice... it was fortunate they now worked in three rotating shifts. Otherwise, with Qian Tang, Li Qingchen, Qin Bao, and all those young men present, Zhang Sanlang would inevitably have seemed rather detached from the crowd.
"Zhang Xing."
Bai Yousi's gaze swept over the subordinates on duty before finally settling on Zhang Xing, yet her question was curious. "Have you opened your sixth Orthodox Meridian?"
"The day before yesterday." Zhang Xing finally closed his book and looked up, perfectly composed. "Are we going on an External Patrol?"
"That's right." Holding her sword against her chest, Bai Yousi studied this subordinate of hers intently. "Guess where?"
"The Western Capital, Taiyuan, or Yecheng?" Zhang Xing answered seriously. "Chengdu is less likely."
Bai Yousi finally smiled. "How did you guess?"
"After Vice Minister Bai was sentenced to death two days ago, I reckoned this would be inevitable. I've been waiting for the opportunity ever since." Zhang Xing spoke sincerely. "But in that case, Inspector, you'll have to wait until we return to meet Du Zhi Han?"
Bai Yousi gave him a long look, then shook her head. "The Intendant has ordered everyone west to apprehend the fugitive Han Shixiong, former governor-general of Liangzhou!"
Everyone stirred, rising to salute and acknowledge the order.
Bai Yousi paused, but still did not look at her other subordinates. Instead, she continued looking at Zhang Xing. "Zhang Sanlang, there are things I find difficult to say. Say them for me."
"Yes." Having put down his book, Zhang Xing first cupped his hands briefly, then turned proudly to face the others. "Colleagues! The reasoning is very simple. Han Shixiong was governor-general of Liangzhou and a Pillar of the State. His uncle still holds office as a Supreme Pillar of the State. We don't know how he escaped, but if we're going west to bring him back, we'll likely have to stake our fortunes and our lives on it... conversely, if we fail to bring him back, even if our Inspector Bai doesn't pay with her life, the Bai Clan will probably have to sacrifice a Grand General of the Guard Prefectures."
"Everyone." Bai Yousi sighed softly, resting her sword against the ground as she faced them. "I've dragged you all into this... if any of you have families or reservations, you may stay behind. I won't insist." At this point, the female inspector looked at Zhang Xing again. "But those willing to go can have Zhang Xing record their names... we leave tonight!"
"Inspector."
After a moment's hesitation, Zhang Xing earnestly called her back. "For better or worse, we're settling trouble for your family this time. For those brave enough to go, shouldn't you give them a few dozen taels up front to provide for their families, as a gesture?"
"How much?" After a brief moment's thought, Bai Yousi immediately nodded. "I'll have my family prepare it."
"How about thirty taels?" Zhang Xing earnestly proposed a figure. "It can't be any less."
PS: Thanks to our new alliance leader, Beneath the Snow and Moon, Mm. Happy New Year, everyone.
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