Chapter 143: Secret Agent Xu Ying

Xu Ying brought seven people to Nanchang: the propaganda officer Li Weisheng, Slave Army squad leader Liu Hui, Slave Army fire-team leader Xiao Zhizhong, Regional Commander's office clerk Deng Yan, Wuxing Town innkeeper Huang Daliang, Wuxing Town inn head chef Huang Gui, and Wuxing Town inn assistant cook Huang Fu.

Inside Nanchang city, finding a place to stay was still possible, only the rent was exceptionally expensive.

Finding a shopfront was difficult — the good locations had no vacancies at all.

Xu Ying bustled about for half a month, scouring everywhere inside and outside Nanchang, and finally rented a civilian dwelling outside the Jinxian Gate.

The Jinxian Gate, also called the Fuzhou Gate, lay due south of Nanchang city; outside the wall spread vegetable fields and graveyards. Vegetable sellers entered the city here, funeral processions exited here — hence the sayings "carrying buckets, selling greens, Fuzhou Gate" and "weeping and wailing, Jinxian Gate."

Renting a house outside the Jinxian Gate meant, first, the rent was very cheap; second, buying vegetables was very convenient; and third, if things were exposed, escape was easy.

Further west lay the Huimin Gate, Nanchang's southwest side, where the Puxian Temple and the grain depot were located. Incense-burners and Buddha-worshippers were especially numerous, grain transporters were especially numerous, and many vegetable peddlers also came there to sell.

Further west still was the Guangrun Gate, Nanchang's due west by south, already near the riverside docks. Shops clustered thickly, bustling and extraordinarily lively — this was the prime choice for opening a business!

Xu Ying led his men in inquiries for several days. Shopfronts in the prosperous districts were shockingly expensive, and no one was willing to sublet or transfer.

No help for it — they could only rent a shopfront in a less bustling lane between the Huimin Gate and the Guangrun Gate. The shopfront was not large either; apart from the rear kitchen, it could only fit a few tables.

They also had to give a gift to the ward chief here, then report to the yamen to register; the stall tax had to be paid for certain.

On the first day of business, no proper customers came, but several thugs from the strike gangs did.

"Please come in, honored guests, what would you like to eat?" Squad leader Liu Hui played the shop waiter — he had been an inn waiter before, after all.

The several thugs entered the shop, first slapping their clubs onto the table: "You open an eating house here — have you gone to pay your respects to Fourth Master Xiao or not?"

Xu Ying hurried over, cupped his hands, and said, "Haven't had the chance to pay respects yet."

"No need to go — coming to us is the same," the thug leader banged the table and said. "Your shopfront isn't big either. Hand over half a mace of silver a month, and I guarantee no one will dare make trouble here."

Xu Ying immediately presented copper coins: "Of course one must abide by the rules. Here's half a mace of silver in full; the remaining few cash, please take for tea, elder brothers."

The thugs were very pleased. Although beyond the protection fee each of them would only get a dozen-odd cash, Xu Ying's perceptiveness was still rare.

The thug leader asked again: "What do you sell here?"

"Opening today, preparations are lacking," Xu Ying called out. "Huang Gui, six bowls of chili-oil noodles!"

These two cooks had both been personally trained by Zhao Han, who had taught them over a dozen signature dishes.

"Hiss, so spicy!"

"Spicy, but wonderfully satisfying."

"These noodles are simply superb."

"..."

The six thugs shouted about the heat even as they called it exhilarating — the people of Jiangxi truly had the genes for eating chili.

Xu Ying seized the chance to fish for information: "Your younger brother is newly arrived and doesn't know the local rules. Among the prominent figures nearby, which ones need careful handling?"

The thug leader laughed: "The number-one figure is naturally our Fourth Master Xiao — the cattle and horses from the west of the city to the south all answer to him. Old Master Zhou outside Puxian Temple counts as a figure too; his daughter is the sixth concubine of the Commandant. And there's Old Master Liu at Guangyuan Gate..."

After a round of probing, quite a bit of news was fished out, but it was all about the marketplace conditions outside the city walls.

Finishing a bowl of noodles, the thugs clamored that they hadn't eaten their fill. Xu Ying hastily had the waiter bring more noodles. Once these fellows had stuffed themselves, they had no intention of paying, only grinning: "Shopkeeper, your noodles are good. Your brothers will come again next time — put it on the tab for today."

Tab my foot — they were plainly refusing to pay.

Xu Ying smiled: "Easy, easy. Take care on your way, elder brothers."

In the blink of an eye, the shop had been open half a month. Diners gradually grew more numerous, many of them repeat customers; four of the six tables could be filled.

At the same time, Xu Ying himself often went into the city, loitering around the prefectural school and the county school in every way. He publicly claimed his name was Huang Ying, a xiucai from Luling County, whose parents and brothers had all been killed by the rebels. He had fled with only a few household slaves and made his way to Nanchang to scrape a living.

Xu Ying had considerable talent to begin with, and after coming and going a few times, he actually made several friends.

And then...

"Worthy brother Zhongcong, this is your fellow townsman, Provincial Graduate Xiao." A friend from the prefectural school made the introduction.

Xiao Puyun clasped his fist in salute: "This humble one is Xiao Puyun, courtesy name Xinzhi."

Xu Ying hurriedly returned the courtesy: "Huang Ying, courtesy name Zhongcong."

Xiao Puyun asked: "I passed the provincial examination in the seventh year of Tianqi. May I ask in which year you entered the school, worthy brother?"

Xu Ying answered: "Entered the school in the fourth year of Chongzhen."

A provincial graduate and a xiucai — no particular connection to speak of.

Moreover, Luling County's number of jinshi was second only to Jishui County; provincial graduates and xiucai were too many to count, so not knowing each other was perfectly normal.

Xiao Puyun said: "Worthy brother, I have established a 'Return-Home Society' in Nanchang. Its members are all scholars from the three counties of Luling, Jishui, and Anfu. We are gathering at Puxian Temple tomorrow — come along too. We ought to unite our hearts and efforts to exterminate the rebel Zhao!"

Xu Ying grew more and more uneasy, but steeled himself and agreed.

The next day, Xu Ying arrived at Puxian Temple and found over thirty people present. Among them was one provincial graduate, thirteen xiucai, and the rest were all child students.

Xu Ying only dared say his home was in Tianhe Town, which belonged to Fei Yinggong's territory — a remote location where he should not run into any "fellow villager."

"Tianhe Town has been taken by the rebel Zhao too?"

A xiucai suddenly spoke up — it was Old Master Huang's son, Huang Shunli. This fellow cupped his hands and said: "I am Huang Shunli. After the rebel Zhao rose up, the first one he killed was my father."

Xu Ying broke out in a cold sweat and responded with a sigh: "Ah, Tianhe Town is right beside Huang Family Town. Though it lies deep in the great mountains, how could it have been spared?"

"This rebel Zhao is truly hateful. I only lament that I could not bring out my money and grain — otherwise I would surely raise troops and fight my way back!" Another xiucai beat his chest and stamped his feet.

Xiao Puyun said: "Brother Jiewu and Brother Yinzhi have already gone to serve under Governor Li. A few days ago, I made a trip to Duchang County — the rebels in Duchang have not many days left. Once the Duchang rebels are destroyed, Governor Li and Circuit Intendant Wang will certainly march south to suppress the rebel Zhao!"

"How has Censor Chen reacted?" a xiucai asked.

Xiao Puyun said: "His Excellency the Regional Inspector has already sent up a memorial. He says he will truthfully report the rebel situation. If His Majesty learns of the affairs here — learns that several counties in Jiangxi have already fallen — he will surely order the troops of Guangdong and Fujian to come and encircle and suppress!"

This was certain. If it were only Zhao Han, perhaps it would not alarm other provinces.

But with Southern Gan, Nanfeng, Yanshan, and Longquan all in revolt — rebel armies blooming everywhere — then outside provincial troops had to be called upon.

"Excellent!" Everyone was overjoyed.

Outside provincial troops, coming to Jiangxi, would certainly burn, kill, and plunder — but what the hell did that have to do with these scholars?

They were all diehards; their families' fields, money, and grain had been stripped away. No matter how savagely the outside troops slaughtered the common people, what the hell did that have to do with them?

This "Return-Home Society" was far too interesting — gathering once every half month, each exchanging the latest news. It was simply a natural intelligence station.

The group ate a vegetarian meal at Samantabhadra Temple, spent the afternoon composing poems and matching couplets, and only dispersed as evening approached.

Xu Ying was just about to leave when Huang Shunli suddenly hurried after him: "Worthy Brother Zhongcong, I am from Huang Family Town and you from Tianhe Town — our home villages are very close. And now we have both suffered hardship and come to Nanchang. With such a bond of fate, we must draw closer from now on."

"That is exactly as it should be," Xu Ying said, going along with him.

The two left the temple together. Huang Shunli asked, "Worthy Brother, you also bear the surname Huang — could we be of the same lineage?"

Xu Ying replied, "My ancestors moved out from the prefectural seat, and we did not bring the clan genealogy with us, so I truly cannot say."

"Where does Worthy Brother live?" Huang Shunli asked again.

Xu Ying answered, "Outside the Jinxian Gate, about half a li from the city wall."

Huang Shunli said, "That area is terribly remote. Two or three li further south and it is nothing but graveyards."

"I did not bring much money with me, so I can only live in a poor quarter," Xu Ying said.

"Ah, and am I any different?" Huang Shunli sighed. "When your elder brother fled the prefectural seat, I still had household slaves with me. The moment we reached the dock, the boy servant colluded with my concubine and eloped — all of them ungrateful wolves that can never be fed. These past years, I had only one heir, and he fell ill and died before we even reached Nanchang. Now only my wife remains, never leaving my side through hardship."

Xu Ying consoled him: "Elder Brother, restrain your grief."

Huang Shunli wiped his tears and said, "To be honest with you, these last few days we have nearly run out of rice for the pot. My purse is truly tight, and I wonder… I wonder if Worthy Brother…"

Xu Ying at once smiled and said, "That is easily settled. Just come home with me to fetch the silver."

Huang Shunli had been poor to begin with. Back in Ji'an, when he lacked the money at a brothel, the madam had even detained him and pressed him for payment to ransom himself. Now, cut off from his family's support, his concubine, maids, and boy servants had all run off, leaving only his lawful wife to suffer alongside him.

After this fellow arrived in Nanchang, he could only go around borrowing money from people. Every member of the "Returning Home Society" had been hit up, and now they all avoided him.

Seeing Huang Shunli chase after Xu Ying as he left, the other scholars exchanged knowing smiles, gloating that someone else was about to be made a fool.

By the time they returned to the small rented courtyard, the sky had already gone completely dark.

Huang Shunli followed him in, full of cheerful anticipation, and came face to face with Huang Daliang, who had just returned from the shop.

"Th-third… Third Young Master!" Huang Daliang cried out in shock.

Huang Shunli, however, had no real impression of Huang Daliang. Puzzled, he said, "You are…"

Xu Ying sensed their cover was about to be blown and immediately signaled with his hand. Xiao Zhizhong brought his blade down from behind, then struck twice more, hacking Huang Shunli dead.

Xu Ying gave the order: "Strip everything of value from his body. Dump the corpse in the streets and alleys in the dead of night."

Back in his room, Xu Ying's heart pounded violently. It took him a long while to steady his emotions before he dug out his cipher book and wrote a letter. Its content read: "The Regional Inspector has memorialized the throne. The Emperor now knows. A joint provincial encirclement and suppression may come. The righteous army at Duchang has little time left."

The next morning, not far from his door, Xu Ying saw a crowd gathered around Huang Shunli's corpse.

Even government runners had arrived and were questioning people about the circumstances.

Xu Ying threw himself forward, wailing and sobbing: "Elder Brother, what a cruel death you have died! I should never have lent you that silver, letting villains set their sights on you!"

"You knew him?" a runner asked.

Xu Ying wiped his tears and said, "For the officers to know, this elder brother and I are both xiucai from Luling County. Just yesterday we compared our clan genealogies and found we are truly brothers of the same lineage. That accursed rebel Zhao of Luling slaughtered my family and my elder brother's family — we could only flee here to Nanchang for refuge. Who could have guessed… who could have guessed, my elder brother's purse was tight, so I lent him five taels of silver. He was still full of joy when he left my door, and who would have thought he would meet such a calamity… wuwuwuwuwu… Elder Brother, what an unjust death you have died!"

The members of the Returning Home Society also got the news one after another. They felt not a shred of sympathy for Huang Shunli.

The truth was, this fellow had borrowed money so indiscriminately that people detested him and dogs scorned him. Dead, at least things would be a bit quieter.

To display his own benevolence and righteousness, Xu Ying even took in Huang Shunli's wife to look after her.

This woman, whose maiden name was Liu, was only twenty-one years old, beautiful and dignified in bearing. She had married into Huang Family Town from a neighboring township and had barely lived there a few days before moving with her husband to the prefectural seat.

Even people like Huang Daliang had only seen her twice from a distance, so there was no fear of their cover being blown and her recognizing them.

When word spread that Xu Ying had taken in Huang Shunli's widow to care for her, some scholars thought Xu Ying valued loyalty and brotherhood, while others privately mocked him — and envied him. That young widow was a great beauty, after all.

No matter what, Xu Ying had made a name for himself in the "Returning Home Society," and he was now invariably invited to every gathering.

(End of chapter)