Chapter 730: We Are Xu Family Relatives [Thank You! Again, Thank You! We Owe You]

In early September,

Jiuyuan City, fifteen hundred li from Bianjing,

in the southwest direction of the city,

Jinjin Ferry,

this ferry lies upstream along the Yellow River,

near the right corner of the river’s “ Ji ” shape.

Not far from the ferry,

a military camp guards the crossing,

with tall wooden watchtowers atop its walls and a large Zhou flag standing beside them.

Near the riverbank,

a squad of Zhou cavalry in crimson uniforms stood their horses on the shore,

their leader, a young rider, had a youthful face beneath his helmet and rode a pale chestnut horse with silver mane.

The pale chestnut horse’s coat gleamed with oil-like sheen, its frame towering a full head above the others—clearly a fine steed.

The setting sun slanted down,

gilding the river surface at the autumn afternoon ferry,

the water shimmering with scattered sunlight,

forcing the cavalrymen facing west to raise a hand to shield their eyes and squint slightly.

A cluster of reeds grew near the shore,

their stalks now yellowed, their plumes white, only their leaves still faintly green,

when a northerly wind swept through,

the white plumes bent southward with the stalks, leaves brushing together with a soft “sà sà” sound.

The reeds’ movement drew the young cavalry leader’s gaze—he turned to look, giving his sun-strained eyes a moment’s rest.

“Look! They’re coming!”

Hearing his comrade’s shout, the young leader squinted sharply westward.

Indeed,

a fleet of boats was approaching.

The lead vessel bore a large “Zhou” flag fluttering in the wind.

Beneath the mast hung another banner, inscribed with the characters “Hu Yan.”

Soon,

the massive fleet drifting downstream began to dock in batches.

From the nearby military camp, a large group of soldiers and conscripts marched toward the riverbank, ready to unload the fleet’s cargo.

On the boats,

Hu Yanjiong stood at the stern, watching the fleet behind him,

this fleet having departed from Xingqing Prefecture, passed through Houqu lands, and arrived here.

The vast, miles-long fleet was nearly his own creation.

Now, after spending many days in the northwest, Hu Yanjiong’s skin had darkened from sun exposure, his cheeks weathered by wind and sun.

Pulling his gaze from the fleet, Hu Yanjiong looked northward—the dark blue, endless mountain range came into view.

His personal attendant, Fuding, walked through the cabin to the stern and bowed to Hu Yanjiong: “Commander, I’ve noticed cavalrymen in Hou Fu personal guard attire at the ferry.”

“Hmm?”

Hu Yanjiong turned his gaze toward the ferry.

“Hurry and dock.”

“Yes.”

Soon,

Hu Yanjiong stepped ashore with his attendants,

seeing the young cavalryman dismount and run toward him, Hu Yanjiong smiled: “How’d you get here?”

The young rider bowed with a grin: “Commander! I’ve brought urgent letters from the capital, plus letters from your soldiers’ families—the Marquis ordered me to deliver them all!”

He pulled from his sleeve a small bamboo tube and a stack of letters.

Hu Yanjiong’s mind instantly guessed the reason.

Behind him, Fuding stepped forward with a smile, took the items, and handed the bamboo tube to Hu Yanjiong.

As he reached for the tube, Hu Yanjiong asked with a smile: “You already know?”

The young rider chuckled and nodded vigorously.

Then he stood on tiptoe, gazing at the fleet, and asked: “Commander, do any of these boats carry corn grown by Uncle Deng from the Hou Fu?”

Hu Yanjiong glanced at the note in his hand and replied casually: “Many. Most were loaded by your uncle-in-law.”

“Oh oh!” the young rider replied, still staring at the fleet.

Hu Yanjiong skimmed the note with a smile, learning he now had a very young auntie.

He tucked the note away, looked at the young rider’s eager face, and grinned: “I know you, Chu Zhan—you’re just craving Hou Fu’s roasted corn, aren’t you?”

Chu Zhan shook his head: “Uncle-in-law, I crave steamed corn—and Hou Fu’s sugarcane.”

Hu Yanjiong sighed with a wry smile and waved to his rear.

Fuding understood at once, dashed back to the boat, and returned quickly with a bamboo basket.

“Grapes from Xingqing Prefecture. Take them.”

Hu Yanjiong spoke, and the basket was handed to Chu Zhan.

“Thank you, Uncle-in-law!”

Chu Zhan beamed, unable to close his mouth.

Just as he turned to leave,

hooves clattered in the distance,

Chu Zhan’s cavalrymen quickly moved aside.

A sharp-looking cavalry captain arrived with his men.

“Whoa!”

The captain, whip in hand, dismounted with swift grace and strode toward Hu Yanjiong.

On his way, he glanced at the pale chestnut silver-maned horse.

Chu Zhan, basket in hand, bowed respectfully upon seeing the man, then walked toward his own mount.

Approaching,

the captain bowed and said: “Greetings, Commander Hu Yan. Young Master Xu ordered me to ask if your fleet carries high-quality horse feed!”

“If so, please reroute a few boats to speed up unloading!”

“We have plenty. I’ll handle it personally.”

“Thank you, Commander! I take my leave!”

The captain bowed again, mounted his horse, spurred off—and gave Chu Zhan a nod with a smile.

On shore,

Chu Zhan popped a few grapes from the basket, crunching as he handed them to his comrades: “Huang Mo, yours.”

For each grape he gave away, he ate one himself.

Huang Mo, watching the dust trail left by the sharp captain, asked: “Little Chu, who was that captain? Looked fierce—full of battle aura! You know him?”

Chu Zhan spat a grape seed and replied coolly: “Yeah. His surname is Liao.”

“Liao? The Ice-Faced Killer, Liao Shuye, Liao the Fourth? Him?”

“Mm.” Chu Zhan nodded.

“Why did he nod at you?”

Another cavalryman scoffed: “Dumb? Little Chu serves right beside Marquis Xu! Maybe they met during messenger duty.”

Huang Mo, grape still in his mouth, glared: “I know that! But they say Liao the Fourth has worn a cold face since joining the army—never smiled at anyone! How many messengers have passed through? He’s never nodded to a soul!”

He leaned close to Chu Zhan and whispered: “Little Chu, are you related to Liao the Fourth? These grapes are sweet.”

Chu Zhan raised an eyebrow, gave Huang Mo two or three more grapes, and shook his head: “No. Maybe Liao the Fourth knows I’m close to my family’s Fifth Young Master.”

He glanced at the grapes in the basket, hung it from his saddle, draped his removed outer robe over it, then tugged his reins: “Let’s go. I need to pick up the laundry for my brothers.”

After saying that,

the cavalry unit turned their horses and galloped toward the road leading to Jiuyuan City.

Along the way,

Chu Zhan and his men passed several supply convoys on either side of the road.

Convoys heading to Jiuyuan were full; those heading to the ferry were mostly empty.

Their horses moved swiftly, hooves kicking up dust swept sideways by the northerly wind.

People along the roadside often swallowed the dust, spat curses, and muttered angrily once the riders had passed.

Soon,

Chu Zhan and his men rode into Jiuyuan City.

The city was crowded with civilians and soldiers, so Chu Zhan and his men slowed their pace, riding leisurely through the streets.

There were soldiers in the army who washed clothes, but the clothes washed in camp were never as clean or fragrant as those washed by the washerwomen in the city.

Since the camp lay just outside Jiuyuan City, officers with even minor military merits would send their clothes into the city for washing.

They arrived near a shop in the city.

The shop and its courtyard were filled with the swishing of laundry, punctuated occasionally by women’s voices and the sound of water being splashed.

Along the street, all manner of trades flourished; the air carried the scent of cosmetics and food.

The group reined in their horses at the shop’s entrance.

“Xiao Chu, you stay mounted—I’ll go in with Old Huang.”

As they spoke, two men dismounted and entered the shop.

Chu Zhan, whose buttocks had grown sore from the long ride, stood up in his stirrups, stretched his body, and gazed at the city streets.

His mount was a fine steed, and this movement drew many glances his way.

Not far away stood a two-story wooden building, separated from Chu Zhan by several courtyard gates of city dwellers.

On the building’s upper floor, several courtesans, holding handkerchiefs, waved at Chu Zhan: “Little brother, little brother—your horse is so magnificent! Where did you buy it?”

Chu Zhan looked up at the call, smiled faintly, but said nothing.

“Little brother, you smile so beautifully—come up to the floor sometime! I won’t charge you a single coin.”

After years in the Hou Fu, common courtesans meant nothing to him.

Some men emerged from the wooden building, heard the courtesans’ calls, glanced at Chu Zhan—especially his horse.

But seeing the attire and gaze of Chu Zhan and his companions, they quickly averted their eyes, forced a smile, and slipped into a nearby alley.

A servant at the front gate of the house across the way also poked his head out, curious about Chu Zhan.

Then,

from inside the laundry shop, Chu Zhan’s two comrades emerged carrying several bundles.

Ahead of Chu Zhan and his men,

a well-dressed old woman led a group of poorly dressed men and women toward them.

Soon, the group halted near the courtyard gate where Chu Zhan and his men stood.

The lead woman smiled ingratiatingly at Chu Zhan,

then stepped up onto the stone steps before the gate,

smiling at the servant at the door: “Young sir, please announce to your mistress that the broker’s agent has arrived.”

As she spoke, the woman slipped a small string of copper coins into the servant’s hand.

The servant weighed the coins in his palm, scanned the crowd at the gate, and nodded: “Wait.”

Watching the servant turn and enter the courtyard,

the broker’s woman turned back, her smile vanishing instantly; she looked with disdain at the woman behind her—high cheekbones, sharp features, and a sallow, starved face—and said:

“Madam Cao, this household was once under the jurisdiction of a military secretary from Xining Prefecture. He earned some merit serving our army at Baigaohebei, and now he’s been promoted to Jiuyuan—his future is bright indeed!”

“If this official hadn’t wanted a concubine who could read and write to keep him company, your daughter would never have had a chance like this!”

Upon hearing this, the poorly dressed, sallow-faced woman hurried to smile: “Thank you so much! If this works, once my daughter is sold, I’ll surely repay you, Madam!”

“Yes, yes! My word is always good!” the accompanying men chorused in agreement.

Only the girl beside Madam Cao—thin, frail, dressed in ill-fitting new clothes—remained silent, head bowed.

Mounted on his horse, Chu Zhan studied the men beside the poor woman; each bore a tattoo on his forehead—clearly exiled convicts.

Hearing the conversation, Chu Zhan shook his head in distaste.

The broker’s woman shot a glare at the men: “You’re all healthy. You could find work at the docks and support your families—why sell your daughter?”

At this, the men beside Madam Cao shrugged: “That’s none of your business, Madam! As long as she’s here, we won’t starve.”

As they spoke,

a servant from the household emerged with a plump, richly dressed woman in brocade, her face heavy with flesh, pointing at the crowd: “Madam, these are the people!”

The official’s wife, dressed in brocade, frowned at them: “Which one is to enter my household?”

“This one—she’s here!” the broker’s woman shoved the girl forward.

“So skinny. Lift your head!” the official’s wife commanded.

Seeing the girl’s face, the official’s wife frowned in disgust: “Ugh! This little wench has characters tattooed on her forehead! Even for the kitchen, I’d find her repulsive!”

“Madam, she can read! She can write!” the broker’s woman hurried to plead.

“Can read?” The official’s wife scanned her up and down, then shook her head: “We don’t want her. What kind of broker are you, bringing such trash to my door? Do you even want to keep doing business?”

“Madam, it’s just hard to find someone who can read!” the broker’s woman tried to explain.

“Cheaper! We’ll sell her cheaper!” one of Madam Cao’s men shouted. “Yes, yes! We’ll sell her!”

“Get out! Get out! If you bring me more trash like this, I’ll slap your mouth full of teeth!” The official’s wife waved her handkerchief, pointing at the broker’s woman with contempt.

“Mother, think of something! We’re all starving—we can’t even afford food!” one of Madam Cao’s men cried.

Hearing this, the sallow-faced Madam Cao shoved the girl in front of her hard, her eyes darting wildly as she searched for a solution.

Chu Zhan and his men had already secured their bundles of clothes and prepared to ride out.

The broker’s woman hurried to smile: “Madam, this won’t happen again! You have my word!”

No sooner had she spoken than Madam Cao said: “Madam, Madam! This lady—we’re related to the Xu family!”

Hearing this, the official’s wife turned, narrowed her eyes at Madam Cao, and asked: “The Xu family? Which Xu family?”

“T-that’s the great general—the Brave and Resolute Marquis Xu—who camps outside the city!” Madam Cao pointed toward the outskirts.

“Pfft! You wretched woman, you deserve a slap! You dare claim kinship with the Marquis’s household on nothing but empty words? If you had such a noble relative, would you be selling your daughter?”

The official’s wife glanced at Chu Zhan, who sat mounted nearby, and snapped: “If you dare utter another word like that, I’ll have your teeth knocked out!”

Madam Cao forced a smile: “Madam, we’ve only just been relocated here by imperial decree from Xining Prefecture—we only just learned the great general outside the city bears the surname Xu! We’re not fabricating ties! The broker’s Madam herself said you’re from Xining too—this is fate!”

“Kinship? What kinship?” The official’s wife glanced again at Chu Zhan.

“My late husband’s elder sister’s mother-in-law was close friends with the old lady of the Sheng family—she’s the great-aunt of the Brave and Resolute Marquis!” Madam Cao stammered.

The broker’s woman glared at Madam Cao, her eyes screaming: “Why didn’t you tell me this?”

The official’s wife’s jowls trembled slightly; after another glance at Chu Zhan, she hesitated: “You mean…”

Chu Zhan’s companions, Huang Mo and others, exchanged glances.

Chu Zhan pulled his horse to a stop and said: “What is your family name? Where are your ancestral roots?”

Hearing this,

Madam Cao turned to look—and upon seeing the military uniforms of Chu Zhan’s party, she shuddered violently, her legs weakening as if she might collapse.

The men beside her hurried to support her, cowering like quail, afraid to meet Chu Zhan’s gaze.

“Tell me plainly—if you truly are kin to the Marquis’s household, we won’t ignore you,” Chu Zhan continued.

Hearing Chu Zhan’s words, the official’s wife smiled ingratiatingly: “Yes, yes! This young man clearly has authority—speak quickly!”

The girl, who had kept her head bowed until now, lifted her eyes curiously toward Chu Zhan and his men.

After swallowing hard, Madam Cao said: “My husband’s surname is Cao. Our ancestral home is in southern Suzhou. He once served as county magistrate and had genuine kinship with a collateral branch of the He family—the very family that founded the Baishi Tan Academy. My sister married into the He family.”

Chu Zhan nodded: “Then why were you exiled here?”

The Cao family lowered their heads. Madam Cao hesitated: “When my husband was magistrate… there was a lapse in official duties…”

“Where was he magistrate?” Chu Zhan pressed.

“Wushang County, Liangzhe Road.”

Hearing this, Chu Zhan scanned them again, frowned, and asked: “Wushang County? What exactly happened? Don’t try to hide it—I can just ride to the yamen and check. How long have you been exiled?”

“It was because of the mine… the mine collapsed…”

Before she finished, Chu Zhan’s eyes narrowed, his voice cold: “Xiaoliang Mountain?”

The Cao family looked up in shock—only to meet Chu Zhan’s half-smile.

“Xiao Chu, what’s wrong?” one of his comrades asked, watching his expression.

The official’s wife also stared, confused, between Chu Zhan and the Cao family.

Chu Zhan gave a cold laugh: “Nothing. Who knew a trip out would yield such a discovery.”

Among the crowd, the Cao girl watched Chu Zhan’s expression—and her heart sank.

She had thought him a possible savior—but now his expression revealed no mercy. He looked more like an enemy.

Chu Zhan took a deep breath and addressed the official’s wife: “Madam, please keep an eye on this family.”

“Yes, yes—but may I ask your name?”

“This young man is from the Hou Fu in Bianjing,” one of Chu Zhan’s comrades explained.

The crowd at the gate all smiled nervously.

“Young Master Chu, should my household treat them well?” the official’s wife asked.

“No. Don’t feed them well—but don’t let them starve.”

“Yes! Yes!”

With that, Chu Zhan lightly kicked his horse’s flanks and rode off with his comrades toward the camp beyond the city.

(End of Chapter)