Perfect Encounter - Chapter 3.2
PROOFREAD BY AFREANA
More than ten days has passed since Big Long had arrived in Pingnan County and he has been very busy during this time.
One hundred thousand soldiers and horses have arrived, plus the original 50,000 soldiers stationed in Pingnan County, a total of 150,000 people. There were two major border points between Pingnan County and Southern Qin. One was the Si Xia River, with the two countries occupying its riverbanks opposite each other and driving their boats across the river to each other’s territory. The other was the Stone Spirit Cliff, where the Xiao Kingdom is in the east of the cliff valley, and the South Qin is in the southwest.
Long Da made the arrangements, and captain Hou Liliang’s 50,000 troops joined the Long family army to train in separate camps according to the types of soldiers. Of the 150,000 men, 50,000 were stationed at the city camp behind the high wall of the Si Xia River, and another 50,000 went to the Stone Spirit Cliff. The rest of the men were on standby to guard the barracks in Zhonglan City. The three camps created a triangle shape, and the checkpoints of the roads and post stations between the camps were lined up with flags and signs. The surrounding counties, villages, and countryside connected to Zhonglan City’s main road were all guarded by officers and soldiers.
Big Long acted with force. Strict and disciplined. In just a few days, he submitted a book of new requirements for military defense. Artisans and craftsmen have been recruited and sent to various places and had soon busy. Because of this series of actions, Pingnan County seemed to be following a slogan “ready for war! We will win the war!” The county was truly ready for war!
Yao Kun, the governor, was worried that even if the South Qin had no intention to invade before, wouldn’t they think the Xiao Kingdom had the intention to invade now? This will only intensify the conflict.
Big Long lightly replied: “We are busy in our own home. How can outsiders know?”
Yao Kun was stunned, suddenly reacted, and said: “General, you are right, but building defenses, mobilizing soldiers, training troops, these actions are not necessarily a secret, and common people already know about it. The merchants from South Qin are moving around in Pingnan County, so naturally, they will also know about it.”
Other officials nodded their heads, seemingly not worried about the spies.
Big Long raised his eyebrows: “our Xiao Kingdom has a strong army, tight defenses, and can keep the people safe. Isn’t it good for people to know this? If the South Qin has bad intentions, wouldn’t it be good for them to consider it again? Lord Yao is overly concerned.”
Yao Kun pursed his lips. He has been an official in Pingnan County for more than twenty years, and after several years as the governor, he thought he knew South Qin clearly. He said: “Twenty years ago, the South Qin Kingdom fought a three-year war with the Xiao Kingdom and had been defeated by the old General Long and General Long. Our emperor was kind-hearted, and accepted an offer of peace, opening up the iron ore trade, which led to the peace between the South Qin and the Xiao Kingdom today. The lessons of those years are still fresh in my mind. 17 years ago, I watched them surrender and beg for peace in Zhonglan City. In the past 17 years, the trade between the two countries has become prosperous, and South Qin has gotten richer, but they relied on the peace agreement back then to get to where they are today.”
Yao Kun paused at this point and looked at the officials in the seats, they all nodded their heads, obviously sharing the same opinion as he did. Yao Kun said, “General, in my opinion, it is true the South Qin is making some small moves to make our Xiao Kingdom wary, improve the bargaining chips and take some more benefits from our Xiao Kingdom, but, fighting a war?” Yao Kun shook his head, “They wouldn’t dare.”
This is the second time Yao Kun stated that South Qin had no intention to invade. Big Long nodded to indicate he listened. Twenty years ago, he was just a five or six-year-old boy. During those years of war, he heard a lot from his grandfather and father. The two countries were battered and bruised, especially South Qin. Since then, the South Qin has indeed been honest and docile. Long Sheng was once talking about this battle when drunk and proudly shouted: ” We beat them up, see if they dare to come again!”
Today whether they will come or not, Big Long could not say. The military situation was not based on speculation, he had to look at the information.
As Big Long returned to the camp, the lieutenant Xie Gang was waiting for him.
All the military have spies, spy on the road, spy in water, spy on people, spy on the enemy, etc., The book of war has a saying: “the key to using the military, is necessary to investigate the enemy first.” The Long family army had many spies. Some were scattered outside, some in the army. Each had its own function and strength, and the person in charge of the spies was Xie Gang.
“What have you found?” Big Long asked.
Xie Gang said: “She is the An family’s eldest daughter, An Ruochen. The An family is a big family in Zhonglan City. Her father, An Zhifu, has three restaurants, and two shops, and is preparing to open the largest jade store in Pingnan.”
“Jade?”
“Yes, it comes fromSouth Qin. He recently got close to the jade merchants and mine owners in South Qin and invited them five or six times in the past two months. But it is said in Pingnan County that the one who has the best relationship with South Qin is Master Qian Pei of Fu’an County and this business relationship should be his connection. Qian Pei’s son is Fu’an County magistrate Qian Shixin.”
Big Long knew Qian Shixin, who was at the council meeting just now. He also heard of Qian Shixin’s father, Qian Pei. This person has a good relationship with South Qin, rumored to have traveled to South Qin when he was young, made a lot of friends there, and returned to Zhonglan City to run an academy. He did not engage in business himself, but made friends with all kinds of merchants and recommended people’s connections, so he did not have to open a store but still earned a lot of money. He also taught many students and children. Yao Kun was one of his disciples. Twenty years ago, when the war between the two countries broke out, with his contacts in South Qin, Qian Pei and Yao Kun risked their lives to spy out some information about South Qin and made a contribution. Yao Kun relied on this to take over the position of governor after the death of the previous governor. Qian Pei did not like to be an official, refused the emperor’s grace and received money and treasures instead. The Qian family shone brightly, and his son Qian Shixin became a fifth-ranking magistrate at the age of 20.
Xie Gang said: “Old Master Qian’s reputation is not good. I heard he has long stopped teaching his disciples and was stuck on money. He became increasingly rampant in his old age because of his connections and previous merits. There’s a word of beating and scolding the servants, trading maidservants, and taking a lot of concubines and maids. I heard Lord Qian finally got angry about this and separated from the family. With one living in the East House, the other one living in the West House, each with their own gateway. Out of sight, out of mind.”
“What’s so special about the An family’s jade business?” Big Long asked while reading the official letters. Jade stones are large in size and weight, so it is convenient to move around on the shipment, and easier to hide and smuggle something. It is not impossible to hide people in boxes.
“The store had not yet opened. I only know that the relationship with the South Qin’s side was organized by Qian Pei, while An Zhifu provided money and people to set up the store. According to the account registered in the Department of Commerce, An Zhifu has given three boxes of goods to pay the money and taxes, more than 1,800 taels of silver.”
The number was huge. Big Long continued to read the files.
“An Zhifu and Qian Pei are not only cooperating in business but are also about to become in-laws. The first miss of the An family is betrothed to Qian Pei, and the wedding date is set for October 24.”
Big Long was startled and raised his head. How could such a marriage happen? An Ruochen and Qian Pei?
“As a bride?”
“Yes.”
Big Long raised his eyebrows. “Did you check An Ruochen’s handwriting?”
Xie Gang took out a piece of paper and handed it to Big Long. “Miss An offered a long-lasting light in the temple. This is the Buddhist sutra she offered in front of the light, which she copied by hand in the temple. It is difficult to say whether she wrote that letter. Although the handwriting is not exactly the same, her words are also strong and quite scholarly. If she intentionally wrote the words on the letter, it may be possible.”
Big Long looked at the hand-copied Buddhist scriptures and pondered over this matter.
An Ruochen was now strolling on the street. She behaved well at home these days, was honest and obedient, asked about wedding preparations and made a list of things she wanted. “Since I’m getting married, I don’t want to treat myself badly.” She fulfilled her wish after seeing the general. Since she was getting married, and it would be good to buy some jewelry and new clothes.
An Zhifu saw her like this, lifted her confinement and let the bookkeeper allocate money for her to buy things. An Ruochen took her maids out to the shopping street.
An Ruochen came out this time to confirm the condition of the rented house and to observe the situation along the road so she could have a plan in mind on the day she escaped. She walked around and looked carefully, but also didn’t forget to buy buy buy buy all the way. Behind her, the little maid’s hand were full of things and she become tired. An Ruochen looked at the time, she let the maid go to the end of the street to buy tea and wait for her, while she would go over after choosing an ointment.
The maid, who was so tired that she could not lift her arms, was relieved and left. An Ruochen saw her enter the tea store, hurriedly picked two kinds of ointment and let the shopkeeper pack it. After taking the things, she turned to the side of the pathway when she saw the maid was not looking her way. There was no one on the street, An Ruochen ran to the end of the lane, turned left, continued to run along the path, and saw an inconspicuous alley.
An Ruochen carefully looked around. There were no stores or vendors here, only small houses and courtyards. The portals were closed and there was a woman holding a child while singing. She closed the door after entering a room, and no sound could be heard on the alley.
Quiet and remote, a good place to hide.
An Ruochen entered Ping Hu East Lane and found the innermost house. The door was broken and the door lock was tied with a red thread, as Lu Daniang said. An Ruochen took the key to unlock the door and opened it.
The house only had a bed and a cupboard, a table in front of the window at the back of the house, and an old chair. The house was small and full of dust, but it should be fine after cleaning up. An Ruochen breathed a sigh of relief and went through the things she needed in her mind. Kettle, water cups, charcoal stove, net basket, bedding, etc. She went to the back window to look at the back of the house. She leaned over to the back window to look around and opened the back door. Behind the house was an aisle with a back wall on the other side, making it look like a small, narrow backyard. There was a water tank on the yard, and two poles with a rope, perhaps for drying clothes.
The right end of the aisle was blocked and walled, but the left wall was half-collapsed. An Ruochen thought of what Lu Daniang told her, saying that the next house was empty, no one lives there and the owner was too lazy to repair the wall. She agreed with the owner to fix it and renew the window paper as soon as possible.
An Ruochen stepped over the wall and saw the next house was really empty, not even a bed. Only a round table and a cupboard, and two chairs.
It’s strange. An Ruochen felt something was wrong.
Ah, yes, both are empty. Why is this house is so clean, while hers is full of dust?
The door suddenly creaked and opened.