Chapter 83: 081: Don't You Dare Cross That Young Lady

A li outside Henglin Town stood an illegal customs barrier newly set up by a eunuch.

The working conditions were crude — a few thatched huts thrown up on either bank served as the clerk offices for processing taxes. A rope was stretched across the river to block passing boats, which were allowed through only after paying the tax.

It was the break of dawn, still pitch-black.

Boats coming and going crowded both sides of the barrier, all waiting for daylight so they could pay the tax and pass.

The private checkpoint set up by the eunuch not only raised merchants' tax costs but also greatly increased their time costs. A river once free to travel now required a long wait in line, and the checkpoint did not even operate at night.

Standing outside the cabin, Zhang Tieniu gazed at the checkpoint ahead and said nervously, "Once it's light and the eunuch discovers the two heads are missing, will he send men to block and search here?"

"What are you afraid of? I wasn't even scared to burn down the county yamen," Zhao Han said, amused. "At worst, we go ashore and fight our way through, burn all the customs clerk offices to the ground, and scatter the silver and cash for people to grab."

Murder and arson, spoken of as lightly as child's play.

Zhang Tieniu muttered under his breath, "And you claim to have read the sages' books — you're the real born killer."

After a long wait, day finally broke and the customs barrier began its work.

They queued for about half a shichen before a tax clerk boarded to inspect. He glanced at the wind pennant and asked, "A passenger boat of the Fei household?"

Zhao Han cupped his hands and said, "A servant of the Ehu Fei clan, sent by the young madam to deliver some New Year's goods to her maiden family in Jiujiang."

"New Year's goods are still goods — you pay tax as a cargo boat," the clerk said, making trouble.

Zhao Han quickly replied, "It's just linked-paper made in-house, a small gift for relatives. Sir, the court has regulations — brush, ink, paper, and inkstone are all tax-exempt."

"Then pay the cabin-seating tax," the clerk said with a grin.

"I must trouble you, sir, to raise your hand in mercy." Zhao Han handed over a string of copper cash, all minted by the Nanjing Ministry of Works in the first year of Chongzhen, second in quality only to the Beijing minting of the first year of Chongzhen — the best coins were those minted in the mid-Jiajing period, now rarely in circulation due to bad money driving out good.

The coins minted in the fourth year of Chongzhen were no good — all production had been handed over to the eunuchs, and both weight and material had deteriorated.

The clerk hefted the string, made a quick mental estimate of about five mace of silver, and grinned. "Move along."

"No tax receipt?" Zhao Han asked.

"You still want a tax receipt?" The clerk spread his hands and sneered. "Fine — that'll cost extra."

Zhao Han hurriedly smiled apologetically. "I was just asking. A safe journey to you, sir."

A customs barrier privately set up by a eunuch — what damn tax receipt could there be?

The hired tax clerks were irregular too, too lazy even to enter the cabin and inspect the cargo. How much tax was collected depended entirely on the clerk's mouth; fail to bribe enough and they'd squeeze you to death.

Zhao Han returned to the cabin and laughed. "They really do collect taxes with remarkable convenience."

Pang Chunlai said, "That's how private checkpoints are. I saw plenty of them in Liaodong."

Zhang Tieniu lay on the couch, yawning. "Young master, the New Year is almost here — where are we headed?"

Zhao Han answered, "First to Yiyang County, to find a doctor to treat his injuries."

"That fellow's head was bashed open, his body is covered in gashes and welts, and he's got bruises all over — I doubt he'll live," Zhang Tieniu said, closing his eyes to doze.

At noon, they reached Yiyang.

The passenger boat docked at the Gexi River post station, and Zhao Han went into the city himself to fetch a doctor.

The doctor was startled and clicked his tongue. "These injuries are no light matter."

Zhao Han said, "Just treat him. Whether he lives or dies, no matter."

The doctor removed the cloth strips Zhao Han had wrapped, applied wound salve and re-bandaged him, then after some fuss took his money and left.

They traveled by boat all the way, passing Guixi, Anren, and Yugan, entering Lake Poyang and turning onto the Gan River.

If heading to Ruijin, they could actually have taken a shortcut, turning south from the Xin River onto the Fu River. But the waterway network was far too complex, and the Fei household boatmen did not know the route, so they had to take the long way along the Gan River — which also helped them avoid river bandits.

……

Chen Maosheng woke at dusk. The slightest movement sent pain shooting through his entire body.

"Awake?" Zhao Han set the clay pot on the charcoal stove and stirred the coals. "The congee is cold. I'll heat it for you."

Chen Maosheng looked puzzled and said weakly, "Is that Mr. Zhao? Where am I?"

Zhang Tieniu strode over and sat down. "Last night you were nearly thrown into the river. The young master rescued you and brought you aboard."

"Thank you."

Chen Maosheng had now recalled the events of the previous night. He had been invited to the mansion of that wretched old man. Unexpectedly, guests arrived at the house at the last moment, and the old man had been attending them the whole time, even staying up at night to admire the snow by candlelight.

He had been put up in a guest room when the household's young master suddenly burst in, and under threats and bribes, did that filthy thing.

He was beaten awake in the night, then beaten unconscious again by a flurry of clubs — after that, he remembered nothing.

Zhao Han asked, "Do you have family at home?"

"Yes," Chen Maosheng answered. "Both my parents are alive. I'm registered in Yiyang County."

Yiyang County lay right next to Yanshan and was one of the two great cradles of Jiangxi opera; the Yiyang tune later influenced the development of dozens of regional opera styles.

Zhao Han said, "We've already passed Yiyang. If you want to go home, I'll find a county seat to set you ashore and give you some silver to recover at an inn. Once your injuries heal, you can go home on your own."

Hearing this, Chen Maosheng said nothing, just stared blankly at the cabin ceiling.

"Hey, you're being mighty senseless," Zhang Tieniu said, annoyed. "The young master is speaking to you. Whether you want to go or stay, at least open your mouth."

Chen Maosheng could only say, "Mr. Zhao, I don't want to go back. I… can I go with you?"

Zhao Han laughed. "I'm going to rebel. Are you afraid?"

Chen Maosheng gave a bleak smile. "For someone who's already died once, what is there left to fear?"

"Ha, our rebel band grows stronger by the day," Zhao Han said, thoroughly pleased.

Zhang Tieniu grumbled inwardly: one old pedant, one young scholar, one opera singer, and me, a coolie — four men and we're going to rebel?

Though he had little confidence, Zhang Tieniu still couldn't help fantasizing.

He had even assigned everyone their posts: if Zhao Han became Emperor, Pang Chunlai could be the Chancellor, he himself could be the Great General, and Chen Maosheng could simply be castrated and made a eunuch.

Once the cold congee had warmed a little, Zhao Han poured it into a bowl and instructed, "Tieniu, help him sit up. Be gentle."

Zhang Tieniu had no idea how to tend to a person. He reached out, scooped a hand under Chen Maosheng's neck, and hoisted his upper body up in one motion, the pain nearly making Chen Maosheng faint.

Zhao Han sat close and personally fed the injured man congee.

Chen Maosheng opened his mouth and drank a mouthful. Linking it to his own misfortunes, he gazed blankly at Zhao Han and said, "Mr. Zhao, you are truly kind. Once my injuries heal, I'll become your household slave and sing operas for you every day. I'm very good at serving people — please don't despise me for my filthy body."

These words sent a deep chill through Zhao Han. He quickly suppressed his reaction and said, "I intend to rebel. Once I become Emperor, there will be no debased registers under Heaven. No music households, and no household slaves. Tell me, wouldn't that be good?"

"No debased registers?"

Chen Maosheng's eyes lit up, like stars in the night sky, a nameless emotion ignited. His heart blazed, his whole body brimming with spiritual strength: "Mr. Zhao, I'll follow you to rebel. You must become Emperor!"

Zhao Han smiled faintly. "Rest assured, I will certainly become Emperor. First, fill your belly."

Zhang Tieniu steadied Chen Maosheng with one hand and felt the axe at his waist with the other, muttering, "Another one's gone mad."

After this brief contact, Zhang Tieniu was already certain: Pang Chunlai was a lunatic.

Often, after barely a few words, Pang Chunlai would veer into current politics — one moment ranting about how brutal the Tartars were, the next about how corrupt the court was. In any case, his sole aim was to steel Zhang Tieniu's resolve to rebel.

With that sort of crazed attitude, only a man with a broken brain could be anything else!

Goose Lake Town.

After disembarking, Old Five sprinted toward the Fei residence. He had returned even later than Fei Lin.

That day, after bribing the private secretary, Old Five had not left the county seat immediately. Instead, he had taken his leisure, going off to drink and amuse himself.

Just as he was growing tipsy, he suddenly heard a clamor — someone seemed to be shouting in alarm about a fire somewhere.

Old Five paid it no mind and continued finishing his food and wine. Only when he stepped outside did he realize how serious it was. Civil clerks who had escaped were embellishing the story with every telling.

Old Five was scared out of his wits. He fled the city at a dead run and raced home.

Charging all the way back to the inner court of Arching North Garden, Old Five was so exhausted his tongue lolled out. He collapsed at the study door and cried, "M-Master... huff huff huff... disaster... huff... disaster!"

"Come in and speak."

Fei Yuanyi was reading a poetry collection.

Old Five shuffled into the study, bent at the waist, hands braced on his knees, throat parched. "D-Disaster... huff... let me catch... a breath... huff huff huff..."

Fei Yuanyi frowned. "Have the eunuchs raised taxes again?"

"N-No..."

Old Five gasped for air. After recovering slightly, he finally managed to speak in full: "That Zhao Han — he killed the private secretary and the Constable, killed many bailiffs too, and set the Six Offices of the county yamen on fire. When I left the city, His Honor the Magistrate was organizing men to fight the blaze!"

"What!"

Fei Yuanyi shot to his feet in shock, trembling. "How dare he?"

Old Five's heart was still pounding with terror. "Master, do you think he knows it was us who spent silver to throw him in jail? That scoundrel dared to kill and set fires in the county yamen — if one day he... if he comes to our house..."

"It won't come to that, it won't. He wouldn't dare..."

Fei Yuanyi paced back and forth in his study. The more he spoke, the more his confidence crumbled, as if Zhao Han might come for his life at any moment.

Old Five reminded him, "Over at the young madam's place — Zhao Han still has a little sister there."

"Don't touch her," Fei Yuanyi said hastily. "Don't move against his sister. A desperate man like that — we must not provoke him further. He dared to burn the county yamen; what wouldn't he dare to do?"

Old Five explained, "Master, I meant mending the fold after the sheep are lost. What if we take his little sister in as an adopted granddaughter?"

Fei Yuanyi shook his head repeatedly. "Impossible. Killing and arson in the county yamen — that is already tantamount to rebellion. I have kept my name spotless all my life. How can I involve myself with a rebel?"

"Then... bestow some money and goods on his little sister?" Old Five probed.

"That could be done."

Fei Yuanyi untied the jade pendant at his waist and instructed, "Take this jade pendant, and draw five taels of silver as well. Deliver both to the Scenic Walk Garden side."

Old Five was panicking inside — even more than Fei Yuanyi, because he had handled the matter personally.

A man may be a thief for a thousand days, but there is no guarding against a thief for a thousand days.

Zhao Han's whereabouts were now unknown. Who could say whether he was hiding nearby?

If one day Old Five went out on business and Zhao Han speared him dead, he'd have nowhere to cry for justice even in the underworld.

A desperate man — not to be provoked, not to be provoked!

Old Five was filled with regret. Taking the jade pendant and silver, he hurried off to Scenic Walk Garden to mend relations.

From this day forward, Zhao Zhenfang would be his little ancestress.

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(End of chapter)