Looking north towards the rivers and mountains

Chapter 287 Patrolling the River and Protecting the Road

Chapter 287 Patrolling the River and Protecting the Road

The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th of August.

The dock in the backyard of Huangtian Trading Company was bustling with people.

Teams of people filed ashore, fully armored and in high spirits.

Li Fu, Bian Yuanheng, Gao Daqiang, Wu Shangyuan, and Jiang Sanbao huddled together, looking at the men lined up on the shore, feeling quite smug.

It looks very good and has been tested in many real battles, although they were all small-scale battles, but it has still proven its quality.

The only drawback is the armor.

The armor was made of leather, and the helmet, which had just been made, was also made of leather. Shao Shuyi directly asked for one from the Han army's warehouse and had several leatherworkers make one according to the design.

You know what, it's quite practical. It even covers the eyebrows, neck, and ears, basically only revealing the eyes and nose.

The lips are on the outside.

There is also a tube on the top of the helmet for inserting a tassel, but it is empty at this time.

"The Yellow Armor Army is here!" A porter, who was moving goods, whispered a warning to his companion.

His companion straightened up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked on with envy.

When these dozens of towmen weren't out hauling goods, they either helped move cargo at the docks or underwent military training; it was actually quite hard work.

When they occasionally have free time to chat, they often compare themselves to the "staff" of Shengye Trading Company, since there are only three groups of people who receive training: the staff of Shengye Trading Company's goods storage room, the water carriers of the transportation room, and the boatmen of Huangtian Trading Company.

However, the latter two are usually busy making a living, their training is not regular, and they don't have as much money or food as the former. Therefore, they often envy and fantasize that one day they can become full-time employees and not have to pull ropes, row boats, move goods, or do odd jobs.

"Yellow Armor Army" was their private name for the shop assistants at the trading post. Shao, the bandit leader, was being secretive, calling his soldiers "shop assistants" in a clever way. But to outsiders, they were an army. The name "Yellow Armor Army" was already known to many people, at least in the areas of Matuosha, Huangtiangang, Jiangxiashi, and Xiapu.

Accompanying the five squads of soldiers were a shallow-sailed boat and two deep-sea fishing boats, which were currently moored at the dock and beginning to load dry rations and pickles into the hold. Although Jiangyin Prefecture had promised to provide provisions, Shao Shuyi still could not completely trust the other party and was determined to make his own preparations.

The kitchen also prepared hot meals for them, including meat and fish, and each person was also given a glass of Jiangyin Laojiao liquor as a pre-departure snack.

Accompanied by Liang Tai, Shao Shuyi briefly inspected the five squads of soldiers who had just finished lining up.

Looking at their dark faces and strong bodies, he was very satisfied.

"I won't say anything more. Your team is on their way and I've already told you everything," Shao Shuyi said to the crowd. "This campaign is not for the government, but for yourselves. With the Grand Canal in chaos, trade has plummeted, let alone cloth and raw silk..."

"If the timber is gone, even salt will be difficult to transport out. And if the salt can't be sold, where will you and your family get the clothes and food?"

As he spoke, he walked past Wei Erdi, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Erdi, I heard you just built a new house and got married, and you've incurred a lot of debt because of it. Tell me, what will you do if someone cuts off your livelihood?"

Wei Erdi wasn't exactly a domineering person, but upon hearing these words, he still said without hesitation, "Kill him."

Shao Shuyi nodded in satisfaction, then went to Zeng Yi and asked, "Is everyone at home settled in?"

"Alright," Zeng Yi said calmly.

He had already moved his family here, but only to his own small home. His parents, who lived with his older brother, and his younger siblings remained in Taicang. With them all moving here now, the burden has suddenly become heavier.

"If Bi Si rushes straight to the mouth of the Xicheng Canal, we won't be able to sell salt to Wuxi, nor will we be able to buy grain and silk from there. The trading company won't make money, and you'll be left without funds and supplies. Zeng Yi, what do you think we should do?" Shao Shuyi asked.

"Shao She, no need to ask any more questions. Just lead us up there to fight. I'll bring you Bi Si's head in no time," Zeng Yi said. "It's no big deal."

Upon hearing this, Gao Daqiang glared at Zeng Yi, seemingly blaming him for his arrogant attitude.

Shao Shuyi laughed and said, "Good, very impressive."

After patting Zeng Yi on the shoulder, Shao Shuyi went to the front of Li Fu's team, pointed to Liu Jiu at the back, and said, "Jiulang, you usually practice the hardest. How did it go today?"

Liu Jiu, with a resolute expression, said, "Shao She, just watch how I achieve merit. If we encounter bandits, it's either me or them who will die."

""

Unlike others, Liu Jiuziran seemed to have an obsession in his mind, an extraordinary desire for fame and fortune.

"That's the kind of ruthlessness I'm looking for," Shao Shuyi said with a smile.

He then called out the names of several people, accurately describing their personal and family situations, much to the surprise and delight of those he called out.

After circling around, Shao Shuyi returned to his original position and loudly proclaimed, "The campaign against the four bandits is not for the government, nor just for me alone; it is truly of vital importance to your interests. Now, these bandits are rampant on the Grand Canal, their arrogance unchecked. Every day they linger, your food and clothing will diminish. At this point, there's nothing more to say; there is only one way—"

'

With that, he raised his right hand high, then chopped down forcefully, shouting, "Kill!"

"Kill!" shouted the swordsmen and shieldmen in the front row as they struck their shields with the backs of their swords.

Shao Shuyi raised his right hand a second time and shouted, "Kill!"

This time, those in the back ranks reacted as well. The spearmen struck the ground with their spear shafts and shouted in unison, "Kill!"

Shao Shuyi raised his right hand for the third time.

This time, before he could even shout, all seventy men yelled in unison, "Kill!"

The sound shook the surrounding area, and the killing intent filled the field.

The onlookers all changed color, and even Lu Chaoen, Jiang Cheng, and Wang Xing, who were keeping accounts in the signing room, put down their pens, stood up, and looked out the window.

As the old saying goes, "One man's courage can subdue ten thousand," and now seventy well-equipped men shout in unison, vowing to kill the thieves who threaten their livelihood. Their overwhelming momentum is truly terrifying.

******

In a living room converted from a warehouse not far from the dock, Yu Yuan was talking with Zhou Siwen and his son Zhou Danchi.

"Since Cao She is involved in the smuggling of salt, this river was originally your source of wealth. Now that Bi Si has blocked the canal, your salt goods probably can't get through. You'd better sell them as soon as possible," Zhou Siwen said bluntly.

To be honest, he and Shao Shuyi were somewhat acquainted, but this time, when they pooled their money to hire someone to play for them, his family also had to contribute. So, friendship is friendship, and business is business, and haggling was inevitable.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yuan smiled calmly and said, "My brother does indeed have salt goods to transport via the canal, but they only go as far as Huangbudun Wharf, and that's all they have. However, you who make a living on the canal carry a wide variety of goods, with each business spanning several trades, often dealing in hundreds or even thousands of ingots. If you run out of goods, it won't just be a delay of a month or two; you might even lose all your customers."

These words clearly explain the stakes involved.

They all make their living off the canal. For salt merchants, losing a single order is no big deal, but for them, losing an order could be a devastating blow.

Zhou Siwen had no reply to this, and simply cupped his hands in a gesture of respect.

Zhou Danchi, observing the situation, took over the conversation, saying, "What Yu She said makes sense. However, how much money should be spent and how to allocate it still needs to be planned. The merchants in Wuxi have already raised a sum of three hundred ingots to hire Cao She to patrol the river for a month. I wonder if that's enough?"

Yu Yuan said, "My brother means that he will provide the men, weapons, and boats, while you all will be responsible for the provisions during the river patrol."

Equipment wear and tear and rewards. My brother doesn't expect to make money from this, but he also can't let his men work themselves to the bone for everyone while their pockets are empty.

Two ingots a month for 150 men isn't a small amount. However, food, medical expenses, compensation for the wounded and sick, and other miscellaneous costs will be calculated separately. If all four bandits are killed, you will also have to pay a reward of no less than three hundred ingots.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Danchi secretly pondered for a moment.

With the canal blocked, the merchants were losing a considerable amount every day. If spending three or four hundred ingots could bring the canal open, even doubling the profit would be worthwhile. However, his businessman nature prevented him from immediately agreeing. He frowned and said that the amount was substantial and needed to be discussed carefully.

Upon seeing this, Yu Yuan stood up and said, "My brother's ship is already waiting at Huangtian Port. Once you've discussed it, you can come find me anytime."

After saying this, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and stepped out.

The father and son looked at each other in bewilderment.

After a moment, Zhou Siwen sighed and said, "Three hundred ingots a month isn't really much. If we can wipe out Bi Si within a month, offering six or seven hundred ingots wouldn't be unacceptable. Qian Dayong is too shrewd; he's only willing to offer five hundred ingots in total, which is still a bit short."

Zhou Danchi was silent for a moment, then said, "Go back and ask. Wuxi shouldn't have to wait too long. The goods are almost rotting at the bottom of the hold; if it drags on any longer, we won't be able to deliver."

Zhou Siwen nodded slowly.

The father and son left that day, while Shao Shuyi followed them south with seventy soldiers, fifty porters, and three boats. However, they did not go directly to Huangbudun, but instead stopped at Wangjiadu Wharf in Jiangyin, where they met up with twenty patrol archers dispatched by Jiangyin Prefecture.

On August 19th, the Zhou father and son came again, this time with a Wuxi businessman named Zhao Yinong, who was said to be Qian Dayong's brother-in-law.

Upon meeting Shao Shuyi, they immediately unloaded several heavy boxes from the ship.

Shao Shuyi had someone open the front box, and found neatly stacked ingots of Zhiyuan and Zhongtong banknotes, along with a few pieces of silver and a dozen strings of rarely seen copper coins.

Inside the box was a red paper with the donation amounts pledged by each family written in neat small characters: Qian Dayong pledged 30 ingots, Lin Caiyi pledged 25 ingots, Zhao Yinong pledged 20 ingots, and 15 other businesses from Wuxi and Jiangyin pledged varying amounts of money, totaling more than 400 ingots.

The other boxes contained food, cloth, and porcelain, in small quantities, intended as gifts.

Zhao Yinong also handed over a letter, which was written in a sincere tone. The gist of the letter was that the canal was blocked, and the commerce in Jiangyin and Wuxi was in decline. He offered to pay Cao She money and grain to patrol the canal and protect the local area.

In addition, the letter also mentioned that this was the first payment, and that they would ask for more money from them after it was used up.

The letter ended with eighteen handprints, showing that each family took it very seriously.

After reading the letter, Shao Shuyi closed it and put it aside. He then instructed his men to collect the money and told his shop assistant to buy some food and drinks near the dock so that he could treat Zhao Yinong and the others to a meal before they left.

Zhao Yinong hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but lean closer and ask, "Is Cao She confident in dealing with Bi Si's group?"

Shao Shuyi didn't respond to that, but only said one thing: "Go back and tell all the bosses that patrolling the river is not a business transaction. Don't expect to wipe them out in a day or two. Be patient."

Zhao Yinong was taken aback, secretly wondering what this meant. Could it be—he didn't want to completely wipe out Bi Si's gang, but only wanted to drive them away and then collect money from them long-term?

Thinking about this, he became preoccupied again.

At noon on the 21st, the three ships arrived at Huangbudun Wharf in Wuxi and anchored.

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